The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to close tax loopholes that allow businesses to deduct meal and drink expenses from their taxable income in order to expand access to healthy foods in lower-income and under-served communities and help small food retailers and small family farms. < Back March 17, 2023 Bill to Boost Food Assistance by Closing Tax Loopholes Advances DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to close tax loopholes that allow businesses to deduct meal and drink expenses from their taxable income in order to expand access to healthy foods in lower-income and under-served communities and help small food retailers and small family farms. “Hardworking Coloradans don’t get to deduct the cost of their meals from their taxes, and when rising costs are impacting everyone we need to take a hard look at loopholes in our tax laws,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “About 33% of Coloradans do not have reliable access to nutritious food, which leads to chronic health issues and expensive health care bills. This bill will boost small food producers, local farmers and food assistance to support everyday Coloradans by closing a loophole only available to a select few.” Currently, Colorado taxpayers collectively cover the cost of the “business meals deduction” because state tax deductions are linked to federal tax deductions. HB23-1008 would “decouple” from these federal income tax deductions, ending the resulting state tax loophole that allows corporations to deduct business meal expenses from their taxes. Ending these tax deductions would support efforts to reduce food insecurity for hard-working Coloradans and fund a tax credit to help our local farmers and food retailers access necessary equipment and better access market opportunities. This bill builds off bipartisan legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2022 to save Coloradans money on healthy foods. The fund created by the 2022 legislation supports programs including the Community Nutrition Incentive Program, which assists women, children, and older Coloradans in subscribing to weekly produce deliveries from a local farm; the Double Up Food Bucks Program, which doubles the value of SNAP benefits in participating markets and stores for fruits and vegetables; and the Community Food Access program, which allows more small retailers to acquire equipment to store and sell produce and supports small family farms in connecting their crops to market demand. HB23-1008 supports and extends these efforts by creating an income tax credit for small food retailers and small family farms and Community Food Access Program consortium participants to cover 75% of the cost of new systems, equipment, and food distribution costs. Partnerships between Colorado farms and food producers boosts revenue and cycles money into local economies. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2022 COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO PREVENT FENTANYL DEATHS PASSES COMMITTEE Legislation significantly increases penalties on dealers and invests in proven public health solutions DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed comprehensive legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Rep. Mike Lynch to combat the fentanyl crisis and save lives. “Today, we took bold action to save lives,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This comprehensive bill will crack down on the dealers peddling death in our communities. The amendments we passed recognize the unique nature of fentanyl; setting the possession level at one gram does not make low-level personal use of fentanyl a felony, but it acknowledges the deadliness of this drug and gets fentanyl off our streets. This bill also invests in proven public health approaches that will expand access to treatment, make Narcan and test strips widely available, and create a robust education and awareness campaign to save lives.” “We are seeing unprecedented numbers of overdose deaths in Colorado. The fentanyl crisis demands an aggressive response that will hold dealers accountable and remove this deadly drug from our streets, and that’s what this comprehensive fentanyl legislation will do,” said Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein. “This solution will save lives by giving prosecutors the tools we need to put dealers in prison and protect our communities. This legislation will allow us to respond aggressively to dealers who take Coloradans’ lives when distributing this drug, and I encourage lawmakers to pass this bill.” “This legislation will give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on fentanyl dealers to get this dangerous drug off our streets,” said Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington. “Fentanyl doesn’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat; people are dying in every community in our state. This bill is a comprehensive solution that will save lives and prevent fentanyl deaths.” HB22-1326 is a comprehensive approach that includes both proven public health solutions and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers to save lives and get fentanyl off Colorado streets. The bill will strengthen criminal penalties on any individual distributing fentanyl. In line with other models for substance use convictions, the bill will also integrate mandatory SUD assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing to ensure people get the treatment they need. The bill focuses on compound fentanyl, which is fentanyl mixed with other drugs or substances, and will provide law enforcement with additional tools to go after dealers while providing treatment options to individuals with an SUD. Individuals who are dealing fentanyl will face increased felony charges, and if the defendant has distributed any amount of fentanyl and it leads to someone’s death, they can be charged with a level one drug felony and face the drug code’s strongest penalties. The bill gives law enforcement tools to require treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. Defendants in possession of any amount of fentanyl compound will be assessed for a substance use disorder and required to complete an education program developed by the Office of Behavioral Health in CDPHE. Individuals assessed as having a substance use disorder will have to complete mandatory treatment. The committee passed an amendment that would make it a felony to knowingly possess more than one gram of fentanyl compound/mixture. Another amendment passed by committee addresses the danger of pure fentanyl. Once Colorado’s labs have the ability to test for the percentage of fentanyl within a compound, this amendment creates a zero tolerance policy for the possession of pure fentanyl. The purpose of the amendment is to turn on a no tolerance policy for possession of pure fentanyl when the testing is available. This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will address root causes and keep people alive. Colorado will save lives by investing in effective public health and substance use prevention and treatment strategies and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves from this more deadly drug. The legislation directs $29 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to implement recommendations from the Behavioral Health Task Force on effective harm reduction strategies and increased access to substance use disorder treatment in the criminal justice system. While public awareness of fentanyl has risen, education campaigns that promote effective overdose prevention tools will save lives. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will develop, implement and maintain an ongoing statewide prevention and education campaign to address fentanyl education needs in the state, including the message that no amount of fentanyl is safe. The bill will also provide grants to develop and implement community-focused education campaigns on the dangers of fentanyl. The proposal also makes opiate antagonists more widespread, which will help save lives by preventing overdoses. Previous Next

Colorado Democrats Advance Bills to Boost Community-Based Treatment and Resources to Prevent Crime and Reduce Recidivism < Back October 24, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Interim Committee Bills to Improve Mental Health and Substance Use Resources Advance Colorado Democrats Advance Bills to Boost Community-Based Treatment and Resources to Prevent Crime and Reduce Recidivism DENVER, CO - The Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems interim committee today advanced five bills to improve access to court diversion programs, increase funding for Colorado’s 911 Resource Center, dispatch community-based mental health professionals to youth and families experiencing a behavioral health crisis, clarify the process for defendants who are found by a court to be incompetent to stand trial, and ensure that individuals are not held in jails if they haven’t committed a crime. Bill 2 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Regina English and Senator Rhonda Fields, would remove jails as an option for substance use disorder commitments when no crime has been committed. Under the bill, local law enforcement agencies would submit a quarterly report to the Behavioral Health Administration regarding how many people have been taken into protective custody, how long they were in treatment, where they were treated, and other data. “Correctional facilities shouldn’t be the largest provider of mental health treatment in our state,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of Bills 2, 3, and 5. “Our bills will remove jails as treatment providers when no crime has been committed, boost funding and resources for judicial districts to alleviate pressure on our jail systems, and keep individuals in their community while they work through a behavioral or mental health treatment plan created by a licensed mental health professional. These changes will help drive down recidivism, get people the treatment services they need, and more quickly bring justice to victims of crimes.” “Coloradans seeking help deserve to be met with well-resourced, comprehensive services and reliable responses,” said Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, sponsor of all five bills. “The legislation I am bringing forward next session will boost resources across a variety of services to ensure that crisis responders and judicial employees are operating efficiently and that Coloradans can continue to rely on these essential community services. I look forward to carrying these bills to guarantee that Coloradans can receive help whenever, wherever, and however they need it.“ Bill 3 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Mary Bradfield and Senator Rhonda Fields, would help address our competency backlog by allowing us to get defendants who are not able to be restored to competency into appropriate treatment more quickly. “Increasing treatment services for substance abuse disorders in our criminal justice system will reduce recidivism rates and offer the tools people need to successfully reenter society,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of Bills 2, 4, and 6. “By offering these services, we can address the root causes of crime and give Coloradans a better chance at a thriving future. We’re also allocating money to help Colorado’s 911 Resource Center properly staff their workplaces and give workers the information and training they need to respond to calls more effectively.” Colorado’s 911 Resource Center supports first responders across the state. Public safety answering points, commonly known as call centers, play an important role by gathering important information for law enforcement, fire departments, and EMS during a call and providing critical de-escalation services before first responders show up on the scene. Bill 4 , sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields and Representative Regina English, would fund the Colorado 911 Resource Center so it can continue to provide services and training to public safety answering points. Bill 5 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Mary Bradfield and Senators Rhonda Fields and Rod Pelton, would codify and expand the Crisis Resolution Team program to provide mobile crisis responses for youth and their families, using community-based services to de-escalate and stabilize Colorado youth during a behavioral health crisis. Additional services would include counseling or therapy, case management to help meet treatment plans, peer support or family skills coaching, medication management, and care coordination. The committee also advanced Bill 6 , sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez and Senator Rhonda Fields and Representatives Regina English and Mary Bradfield. Currently, district attorneys can use an assessment tool to identify individuals who are eligible to be diverted away from the juvenile or criminal justice system and into appropriate services. This bill expands eligible individuals to include juveniles and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those with behavioral health issues, and adds behavioral health services and services for adults and juveniles with developmental disabilities to the list of available diversion services. “Young people and adults who struggle with developmental disabilities or behavioral health issues too often become involved in the juvenile or criminal justice system,” Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, sponsor of Bill 6 said. “This bill will require DAs to consider a young person's mental or behavioral health status when determining if they are eligible for diversion services.” The five bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2024 session, interim bills will follow the legislative process in the same manner as all other bills. Previous Next

< Back February 9, 2023 House GOP Tax Plan: Make More, or Pay More GOP bill increases taxes on middle class and low-income families to cut taxes for millionaires DENVER, CO– House Democrats on the State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee today defeated Republican legislation that would have increased taxes on hardworking Coloradans in order to give thousands of dollars in tax cuts to millionaires. “You shouldn’t have to be a millionaire to benefit from our tax code,’” said State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “The message from Republican lawmakers to Coloradans is crystal clear: "trickle down economics works.’ The bill we defeated today would have increased taxes on millions of Coloradans to give millionaires a $24,000 tax cut. With this proposal, a family would need to earn at least $162,000 a year to avoid paying more in taxes.” “Coloradans deserve a tax system that works for hardworking Coloradans, not the wealthiest taxpayers,” said Joint Budget Committee Member Emily Sirota. “We’ve expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit to increase incomes for working families in our state by closing loopholes for the very wealthy and largest corporations. Permanent tax cuts like the one in this bill hurt middle class and lower-income Coloradans in order to cut taxes for the very wealthy. House Democrats will continue advancing legislation to build a fair tax code that works for all Coloradans.” HB23-1063 , sponsored by Representative Scott Bottoms, increases taxes on Coloradans making under $52,000 per year and joint fillers making under $162,000 per year in order to cut taxes for millionaires by tens of thousands of dollars. By reducing state revenues by billions of dollars, the bill would reduce TABOR refunds as a result. For lower-income taxpayers, this reduction would be more than what they would save through the reduced tax rate under the bill. According to research prepared by the nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff (LCS), single filers with incomes below $52,000 will see an $85 benefit from the reduced tax rate while losing $249 of their estimated TABOR refund. Therefore, these filers will “pay a net $164 more in tax under the bill.” Taxpayers making nearly $300,000 per year, however, will see a tax cut of nearly $4,000, and millionaires would see their taxes cut by over $24,000. The table below, prepared by nonpartisan LCS staff, shows the estimated TABOR refunds and taxpayer savings under the legislation for next year. Joint filers need to make over $160,000 to avoid paying more in taxes under this legislation. Previous Next

< Back March 10, 2021 THE COLORADO RECOVERY PLAN IS HERE DENVER, CO– House and Senate Leadership from both parties and Governor Jared Polis today announced the Colorado Recovery Plan , which will invest roughly $700 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. “This is a bipartisan stimulus that works for Colorado. As we look to build our economy and our state even stronger than before the pandemic, we also have an opportunity to reimagine Colorado’s future and truly create a Colorado for all,” said Governor Jared Polis. “I want to thank the legislature for their collaborative work on this important package of legislation. These one-time, strategic investments will help Coloradans get back to work and not only make important investments in our infrastructure and workforce today, but help keep us moving forward together for years to come.” “We’ve known from the start of the legislative session that forging a just and inclusive recovery for Colorado was our top priority this year,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, (D-Denver). “Today’s announcement represents an important step towards keeping our promise of building back a stronger Colorado. With this bold plan, we’re not only providing support for the small businesses and families who need it most, but also building the economy of the future through strategic investments in infrastructure and our communities.” “The last year has brought immense challenges and unearthed many of the inequities and underlying issues in our society that have been swept under the rug for too long,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo). “To move Colorado forward, we can’t leave anyone behind. This stimulus package will work to ensure that we lift up our most marginalized communities, and provide a pathway to a prosperous future for all. I am grateful for the bipartisan collaboration and bold thinking that guided us as we developed a uniquely Colorado solution to build our state back stronger.” “As we work to build back a stronger Colorado, it’s crucial that we invest in our economy’s most important asset: our workers,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo). “Our stimulus plan supports workers and communities displaced by market changes, makes investments in workforce development, and helps create jobs to get Coloradans back on their feet. We’re investing directly in rural Colorado and the industries that create jobs on the Western Slope, throughout my beloved Southern Colorado, across the Eastern Plains, and everywhere in between.” “The last year has had a devastating impact on small businesses in every corner of our state, across every sector of our economy,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg. “To move Colorado forward, we can’t leave them behind. This stimulus package will ensure that all small businesses, particularly those in marginalized and under-resourced communities, will have the support they need to get their feet back on the ground as soon as possible.” “After the challenges of this last year, it is time to come together and work to restore Colorado. By working together to prioritize fixing our roads and bridges, getting Colorado back to work, and getting students back in school, this is an opportunity to get our lives going again and bring Colorado back to life,” said House Minority Leader Hugh McKean (R – Larimer County). “Senate Republicans are focused on getting people back to work, kids back to school, and funding for our roads and bridges. These are our priorities because they are the priorities of the people of Colorado and we are optimistic to work on them with our colleagues across the aisle,” said Minority Leader Chris Holbert (R-Douglas County) . Developed with bipartisan input from lawmakers and community partners across the state, this stimulus plan prioritizes one-time investments that will have a stimulative effect on the economy, create jobs and benefit the hardest-hit communities. Five big goals will guide dozens of bills narrowly tailored to meet the challenge at hand: Strengthening small businesses Revitalizing our infrastructure Supporting Colorado families Investing in rural Colorado Developing our workforce The plan will be financed by one-time dollars that are available as a result of improved economic projections for the FY 2020-2021 budget year. Previous Next

< Back April 22, 2022 RECORD INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY PASS COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Energy and Environment Committee passed a bill to create a healthier Colorado through air quality improvements and transit investments after the Front Range was declared a “severe” violator of federal ozone standards by the EPA. SB22-193 passed committee by a vote of 8 to 4. “Prioritizing clean air improves our health and builds a pathway toward a healthier future for every Coloradan,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “This transformational investment tackles air pollution from multiple angles, including improving air monitoring, electrifying school buses and cutting back on industrial emissions. Together, we’re investing in a cleaner future for ourselves and generations to come.” “Too often, disadvantaged communities and low-income Coloradans are exposed to higher rates of air pollutants and toxic emissions,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, Chair of the Energy and Environment Committee. “We have a plan to invest in clean air solutions, including electrifying school buses so our youngest Coloradans can breathe cleaner, healthier air. These record investments will work to clean up Colorado’s air and cut back on industrial emissions.” SB22-193 , sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Alex Valdez, would provide funding for several different programs in the transportation and industrial sectors, as well as the Department of Public Health and Environment, to reduce emissions and improve Colorado’s air quality. The bill includes record investments in clean transportation initiatives and air quality monitoring and incentives. SB22-193 will invest $109 million to improve Colorado’s air quality. This includes: $65 million for the Electrifying School Buses Grant Program to help school districts and charter schools convert and replace fossil-fuel reliant school buses with electric-powered school buses. $25 million for the Industrial and Manufacturing Operations Clean Air Grant Program to help private entities, local governments, and public-private partnerships finance projects to reduce industrial emissions through different technologies such as beneficial electrification, renewable energy projects, and methane capture. $12 million for the Community Access to Electric Bicycles Grant and Rebate programs which will ease and accelerate the adoption of electric bicycles by providing businesses, local governments, and individuals discounted e-bikes and easier access to e-bike sharing programs. $7 million for increased and expanded aerial surveying and localized monitoring to help identify leaks at oil and gas facilities. Previous Next

Three new laws to improve healthcare access in Colorado go into effect on August 12. < Back July 29, 2026 Laws to Improve Behavioral and Emergency Healthcare Access Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – Three new laws to improve healthcare access in Colorado go into effect on August 12. HB26-1002 expands access to behavioral health care by modernizing credentialing processes for providers, and HB26-1238 designates EMS as an essential component of Colorado’s health care system. “Even with insurance, Coloradans still face gaps in coverage and are often forced to pay out-of-pocket for behavioral health care,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver, sponsor of HB26-1002. “Our new law, going into effect next month, will make it easier for behavioral health providers to enter an insurance network and receive timely reimbursements. This means more Colorado patients will have access to in-network behavioral health care, which saves them money and time when seeking the care they need.” “Mental health care is still far too difficult for Coloradans to access, even when they have insurance,” said Sen. Matt Ball, D-Denver, sponsor of HB26-1002. “Coloradans seeking help run into confusion over whether a provider is in-network, outdated contact information that leads to dead ends, and unnecessary barriers that keep qualified providers out of insurance networks. These administrative hurdles cost Coloradans time, money, and in some cases, life-saving care. This new law eliminates barriers so that more Coloradans can get care and more qualified providers can see patients.” “Behavioral health care is just as important as physical health care, but Colorado patients still face roadblocks to receiving the care they need through their insurance provider,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of HB26-1002. “Our law addresses ghost networks, so patients can actually receive the care they’re paying for. We’ve worked hard to improve healthcare access and lower costs for Coloradans, and this law continues our efforts by reducing barriers for certain providers seeking reimbursement, improving licensing requirements for social workers and saving patients money on out-of-pocket care.” Cosponsored by Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, HB26-1002 improves access to behavioral health care and substance use disorder treatment by reducing barriers to both providers and patients. Coloradans are nearly eleven times more likely to be forced to rely on costly out-of-network providers when seeking behavioral health care than physical health care. In addition to confusing processes to find providers, insurance companies’ slow, cumbersome, and inconsistent credentialing processes cause delays for providers eager to see patients and patients wait longer to receive care. To help address insurance hurdles, save patients money, and reduce wait times for behavioral health care, HB26-1002 enables more types of providers to join insurance networks and ensures qualified, pre-licensed providers receive the reimbursement they deserve. The law also updates licensing requirements for social workers and addresses misleading “ghost networks,” which offer patients contact information for providers not actually covered by their plan. HB26-1238 designates EMS, including ambulance and air ambulance services, as essential to protecting public health and safety. Once designated as an essential service, EMS would see reduced barriers to performing their duties, similar to law enforcement and fire departments. “No matter the extreme weather or disaster conditions, EMS still shows up to provide emergency, life-saving care to Coloradans in my community,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, sponsor of HB26-1238. “However, despite their importance in rural Colorado, EMS is not designated as an essential service; this law fixes that. Under HB26-1238, EMS will be deemed an essential service, which ensures reimbursement for their life-saving services and improves workforce sustainability. This law reduces strain on our EMS providers and keeps emergency care accessible to Coloradans.” “EMS providers and technicians are often the first professionals to respond when Coloradans are facing an emergency, and the state should recognize their expertise and the importance of their work,” said Sen. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, sponsor of HB26-1238. “This new law uplifts these essential health care workers and removes barriers so they can fulfill their duties to the best of their ability.” Also sponsored by Representative Dusty Johnson, R-Fort Morgan, and Senator Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, this law clarifies operational expectations of EMS during disasters and closures, ensuring that EMS is reimbursed for their travel by expanding permissible uses of existing funds to include EMS. To improve system coordination, HB26-1238 allows licensed ambulance services to participate in telecommunications, mutual aid and interoperable communications systems and receive reimbursement. SB26-138 will also go into effect on August 12, 2026. This law, sponsored by Senators Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada and Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton and Representative Katie Stewart, D-Durango, will limit administrative barriers on healthcare facilities and insurance carriers to save time and reduce overhead. 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< Back March 23, 2021 A DAY AFTER BOULDER TRAGEDY, GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION ADVANCES Previously scheduled hearing on Lost & Stolen Bill moves forward DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today advanced Representative Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod’s bill to prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands by requiring responsible gun owners to report to law enforcement when they realize their firearms have been lost or stolen. The committee hearing, scheduled weeks ago after the legislation had moved through the Senate, comes a day after a tragic mass shooting that took the lives of 10 people in Boulder, Colorado. The bill passed by a party line vote of 7-4. “This bill is about as commonsense and straightforward as gun safety legislation gets,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “By simply requiring that responsible gun owners alert law enforcement when a firearm may have made its way into the hands of a criminal, we truly can save lives. This piece of legislation is overwhelmingly supported by our constituents. 87 percent of Coloradans are in favor of reporting lost and stolen firearms — that includes 81 percent of Republicans and 86 percent of gun owners. This shouldn’t be a Democratic or Republican issue. It’s a life and death issue.” “Reporting lost and stolen firearms to law enforcement is a simple way to prevent crime and save lives,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “As we are tragically reminded of today, gun violence is a plague that we must work to end in Colorado and in our country. While gut wrenching mass shootings like the one that took place near my alma mater yesterday make headlines and capture the nation’s attention, everyday instances of gun violence quietly take lives in our communities every single day. That’s what this bill seeks to remedy. I refuse to offer victims of gun violence only thoughts and prayers. I offer them my action.” SB21-078 requires an individual who owns a firearm and has reasonable cause to believe that the firearm has been lost or stolen to report that firearm to a law enforcement agency within five days after discovering that the firearm is missing. A first offense for failure to make such a report is a civil infraction punishable by a $25 fine, and a second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine. The bill requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report to enter information about the lost or stolen firearm into the National Crime Information Center database and report the information to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Previous Next

The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to ensure individuals housed in jails across the state have a basic and standardized set of rights. The bill passed by a vote of 10-1. < Back January 23, 2024 Committee Passes Bill to Implement Statewide Jail Standards DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to ensure individuals housed in jails across the state have a basic and standardized set of rights. The bill passed by a vote of 10-1. “Providing incarcerated Coloradans the services they need to build a successful life when they leave the justice system will improve public safety and reduce recidivism,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “This bill builds on our 2022 legislation to incorporate insight from behavioral health professionals, law enforcement agencies, and county representatives into jail standards to be used in every jail in our state. This not only benefits incarcerated Coloradans, but also the officers and staffers that work in our jails. I’m proud to continue our collaborative work so we can improve conditions in our jail system.” “All Coloradans deserve safe living conditions, and their health and safety shouldn’t vary greatly depending on which jail they’re placed in,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Our bill extends the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards to ensure that all incarcerated people in Colorado are treated equally. Creating a safer environment in Colorado jails is one of many steps we can take to rehabilitate incarcerated people so they have the tools they need to break cycles of incarceration.” HB24-1054 extends the duties of the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards that address and improve the rights of people incarcerated in jails, including access to health care, visitation, housing and more. Jails must comply with these standards by July 1, 2026, and will have one year to adopt revised standards. The bill also creates a Jail Standards Advisory Committee composed of sheriffs, county commissioners, the state public defender, a health professional, and an advocate from a statewide organization. The Advisory Committee will be charged with conducting jail assessments, establishing standards and procedures, and submitting an annual report and recommendations to the Legislative Oversight Committee. The Attorney General’s office could conduct investigations regarding potential violations of the standards. Under the bill, the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety is required to create a list of funding assistance and resources for jails to offset the costs of complying with the new standards. Previous Next

< Back February 14, 2022 BILL TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HYGIENE PRODUCTS MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO – Legislation to eliminate the state tax on essential hygiene products including feminine hygiene products and diapers passed the House Finance committee today by a vote of 8 to 3. HB22-1055, sponsored by Representatives Susan Lontine and Leslie Herod, would create a tax exemption for all state sales and use taxes on feminine hygiene products and diapers. "We’re working hard to save Coloradans money on hygiene products, including diapers and period products because they are essential everyday items for many families,” said Susan Lontine D-Denver . “This bill showcases our efforts to remove the tax on dignity by ending the state sales tax on essential hygiene products, increasing their affordability for every Coloradan who uses them.” “Too many students in our community are missing school because they don’t have access to period products,” said Leslie Herod, D-Denver. "This bill aims to make period products, diapers, and incontinence products more affordable and save Coloradans money by eliminating sales and use tax. Eliminating the tax on these essential items not only makes these products more affordable but also helps to destigmatize period products so people in Colorado can feel confident in their bodies. HB22-1055 , would create a tax exemption for all state sales and use taxes on feminine hygiene products, diapers and incontinence products. If passed, specific hygiene products would join other tax exempt essentials like food and medicine. The current sales and use tax on essential products falls disproportionately on communities of color and older Coloradans with fixed incomes. Previous Next

< Back April 22, 2019 EFFORT TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE Around $150 billion is wagered illegally on sports every year in the U.S. (Apr. 22) – The House Finance committee passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Majority Leader Alec Garnett that would legalize sports betting in Colorado. This bill would require voter approval if passed by the General Assembly. “Coloradans should have the option of betting on the Rockies in the World Series or the Avs in the Stanley Cup. Voters support funding to protect our water and this will help them do their part,” said Majority Leader Garnett, D-Denver. “Our outdoor economy depends on access to water and healthy rivers and this will help generate much needed funding for the Colorado Water Plan. And it is our hope that this measure will help stamp out black market sports betting.” HB19-1327 would provide a master license to local casinos who can then contract with brick and mortar and/or internet sports betting operators to provide sports betting in Colorado. A 10 percent tax on net sports betting proceeds will be placed in a Sports Betting Fund. That fund will go towards the Water Implementation Cash Fund to fund Colorado Water Plan projects to keep our drinking water safe, our farms and ranches thriving, and keep our rivers healthy. The Colorado Water Conservation Board will govern the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund. Some of the eligible projects for these funds are water storage and supply projects, conversation and land use projects, engagement and innovation activities, agricultural projects and environmental and recreation projects. Organizations in support of this measure are the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Colorado Municipal League, the Colorado River District, the Environmental Defense Action Fund, Western Resource Advocates, and Denver Water. HB19-1327 passed out of the committee with a bipartisan vote of 9-1. It now heads to the House Appropriations committee. The bill is sponsored by Minority Leader Patrick Neville. The Senate sponsors are Sen. Kerry Donovan and Sen. John Cooke. Previous Next

< Back March 28, 2019 DEMOCRATS HANSEN & HEROD CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR NET NEUTRALITY Herod, Hansen bill would protect an open and free Internet (Mar. 28) – The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee passed a bill today to protect a free and open internet in Colorado. The bill to protect net neutrality and safeguard taxpayer money is sponsored by Reps. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “With new leadership in the State Senate and renewed calls to ensure that the internet remains open and accessible, we are pressing forward,” said Rep. Leslie Herod. “The internet is an indispensable part of our lives.” The Trump administration recently rolled back Obama-era rules ensuring a free and open internet. Washington, Montana and Oregon have already passed legislation or taken other steps to protect net neutrality. “Washington D.C. is refusing to protect net neutrality so it’s on the states to act. It’s critical the internet remains open for innovators, consumers and small businesses,” Rep. Hansen said. “Our bill is about protecting taxpayer dollars from being used to support throttled or blocked internet service.” SB19-078 would ensure that: · companies that receive assistance to expand rural broadband provide net-neutral service. · state contracting give preference to internet service providers that deliver net neutrality. · consumers know how to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission to allege that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) has interfered with the open internet. SB19-078 passed with a vote of 4-3 and now goes to the House floor. The House passed a similar bill last session only to have it blocked by the previously GOP controlled state Senate. Previous Next