< Back June 8, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS, CREATE JOBS Bipartisan benchmarking proposal would improve energy efficiency of buildings DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation by a vote of 41-23 to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, which will lower energy costs and create jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits. “By passing benchmarking policies like this, we can save consumers and businesses money on their energy bills and reduce energy consumption,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “This bill asks owners of the largest buildings to report on their energy use and then meet new energy efficiency standards that will save their tenant’s money and reduce energy use. It will help us meet our climate goals while saving Coloradans money at the same time.” “We have to make addressing climate change a top priority, and by reducing how much energy commercial buildings use, we can save consumers money and reduce the emissions that are hurting our environment,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “Benchmarking is an innovative way to encourage more energy efficient buildings and create good jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits and mechanical system upgrades.” HB21-1286 , which is sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Alex Valdez, would require the owners of certain large commercial buildings to collect and report energy use to the Colorado Energy Office, and by 2026, to demonstrate that they have met new energy efficiency performance standards. The proposal, known as benchmarking, asks building owners to measure their energy use in the first year and then continue to monitor and report their performance and meet new energy efficiency standards. The proposal helps tenets and businesses save money on their energy costs while creating jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits, mechanical system upgrades, electrical work, engineering, and recommissioning. In the next eight years, the bill is expected to save consumers $447 million on their energy bills, 3,200 gigawatt-hours of electricity, 7,700 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and reduce CO2 emissions by 1 million metric tons. More than one-third of Colorado buildings are already benchmarking, demonstrating that this policy is both widely popular and achievable. Large commercial, multifamily, and public buildings account for roughly 15 percent of all energy used in Colorado, which means that there is considerable opportunity to reduce electricity used by increasing the energy efficiency of these buildings. Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2023 House Passes Bill to Limit Fees on Payments to Health Care Providers DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation to expand payment options for health care insurance providers to reduce fees charged by insurance carriers. The bill passed by a vote of 57-4. “Colorado health care providers have been forced to pay fees on every electronic payment transaction with insurance companies, which are often passed on to the patient to cover,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “Insurance companies often require health care providers to accept payments through virtual credit cards so they can take advantage of ‘cash back’ features that boost their profits at the expense of consumers. This bill would allow providers to choose a payment option that works best for them, saving them and their patients money and protecting smaller providers that are struggling to keep their doors open in our communities.” Virtual credit cards (VCC) are one-time-use payment cards that don’t require bank account information for a health care claim payment to be made. The use of VCC became popular in 2014 after the Affordable Care Act required all health care insurers to allow providers to pay electronically. Insurance companies favored VCC payment options because of utilizing “cash back” or other revenue share features that came with VCCs, but VCCs charge providers fees between 2-5% to accept payments. Currently, some Colorado providers are forced to accept reimbursement payments through VCC payments, which makes the care they provide more expensive because of the high fees associated with the VCC method. This bill expands payment options and requires Colorado providers to offer a method of payment that is not a credit card and does not require an additional fee paid by consumers. The bill also prevents the imposition of a fee for changing a payment method and requires an explanation of benefits be shared with each payment. The bill will now move to the Colorado State Senate. Previous Next

Representatives Cathy Kipp and Andrew Boesenecker today released the following statements regarding the incident at Colorado State University: < Back September 6, 2024 Fort Collins State Reps Statements on Incident at CSU Fraternity FORT COLLINS, CO - Representatives Cathy Kipp and Andrew Boesenecker today released the following statements regarding the incident at Colorado State University: Statement from Representative Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins: “Racism has no place in Colorado. Everyone on campus can and should feel safe at all times, and I deeply appreciate Colorado State University’s commitment to inclusivity. We stand in solidarity with all those affected by these events and look forward to seeing the results of the university’s review of this incident.” Statement from Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins: “Colorado State University and the Fort Collins community do not stand for racism and hatred of any kind. We understand CSU is collecting information regarding the incident that occurred at a fraternity on Thursday, and we condemn racism in the strongest terms. I am committed to moving Fort Collins forward as a place free from hatred, and I stand in solidarity with all impacted community members.” Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed HB24-1173 into law, which will increase access to electric vehicle charging stations. < Back May 21, 2024 New Bill to Boost Electric Vehicle Charging Signed Into Law DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed HB24-1173 into law, which will increase access to electric vehicle charging stations. “Coloradans are adopting electric vehicles at record rates because they are less expensive to own and operate and are good for our air,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “This new law will make it easier for drivers to charge up their vehicles and travel across our state. Making EVs cheaper and easier to own improves our environment, provides choices to consumers and saves Coloradans money.” “Electric vehicles will reduce pollution and help us meet our statewide climate goals, while also saving Coloradans money on gas and maintenance costs,” said Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson. “As more and more Coloradans make the switch to electric vehicles, we must have a charging infrastructure that gives drivers the freedom to move throughout our beautiful state. From the Eastern Plains to the Western Slope, this new law will ensure electric vehicle drivers are able to charge up and enjoy every corner of Colorado.” “Expanding access to electric vehicles is a key component of our strategy to reduce emissions and create a healthier environment,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont. “As someone who has traveled around a good part of Colorado in an EV, this new law will make it easier to find EV charging stations so we can give Coloradans more travel options while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.” HB24-1173 , sponsored by Representative Alex Valdez and Senators Kevin Priola and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, expands access to electric vehicle charging by removing barriers to new charging stations. The new law streamlines the permitting and approval process for new charging stations to make it easier for Coloradans to charge their EVs. The new law intends to balance local responsibilities while removing arbitrary roadblocks for new charging stations. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES ‘CONVERSION THERAPY’ BAN ON MINORS (Feb. 15) — A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo banning the harmful and widely discredited practice of ‘conversion therapy’ on young people had final passage on the House floor today. “We are talking about the lives of kids. This is a ‘therapy’ that has been proven to be dangerous and harmful. We have to start supporting our kids regardless of their sexuality or gender identity. They deserve so much better than this,” said Rep. Daneya Esgar, co-chair of the LGBTQ caucus. The bill protects our LGBTQ youth in Colorado from a dangerous and discredited practice that is aimed at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity. “This bill is about allowing Coloradans to be their authentic selves. This dangerous practice harms children and falsely makes them believe that something is wrong with them through the use of shame, rejection and psychological abuse,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet. “We need to put an end to a practice that makes these youths six times more likely to have depression and eight times more likely to attempt suicide.” HB19-1129 includes disciplinary actions for any licensees with their licensing board if conversion therapy is practiced on young person. The bill is aimed at state-licensed medical and mental health practitioners who falsely claim that being gay, bisexual or transgender is a mental illness. The American Psychological Association found that the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy on young people makes them three times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, six times more likely to fall into depression, and eight times more likely to attempt suicide. This is the fifth time this bill is being introduced at the legislature and Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s second time bringing it forward. If passed, this bill would make Colorado the 16th state to pass a conversion therapy ban on minors. The bipartisan bill passed with a vote of 42-20 and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

The House Finance Committee today passed legislation, sponsored by Representatives Bob Marshall and Eliza Hamrick, to create more flexibility for employees and employers to strengthen Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) retirement benefits. HB26-1026 passed by a vote of 9-2. < Back February 9, 2026 Marshall, Hamrick Bill to Expand Retirement Options Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Finance Committee today passed legislation, sponsored by Representatives Bob Marshall and Eliza Hamrick, to create more flexibility for employees and employers to strengthen Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) retirement benefits. HB26-1026 passed by a vote of 9-2. “This bill would improve flexibility for retirement planning for employees and ensure they have access to investment tools that significantly contribute to their retirement funds,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch. “This bill would expand retirement investment opportunities and allow Coloradans to buy credits for periods of unemployment on an actuarially sound basis, like caring for an aging or disabled loved one, so they don’t have to push back their retirement plan just because of a career gap. By expanding retirement planning and investment options, we’re giving Coloradans more power and control in their retirement goals.” “We’re expanding retirement pathways for public school employees, judicial staff and other hardworking Coloradans who work in the public sector,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “Colorado Democrats believe that our economy should work so every Coloradan can thrive, which means ensuring public employees can retire with a stable, livable retirement pension. This legislation gives Colorado public employees more options with how and when they save for retirement.” Currently, PERA members can purchase service credit for up to five years of non-PERA-affiliated jobs to boost their retirement benefits, like higher benefit amounts or allowing them to retire earlier. HB26-1026 would expand this option to allow PERA members to purchase service credit for up to five years of unemployment under certain conditions, so PERA members can build up their retirement despite career gaps. The bill would also offer more investment opportunities by requiring PERA-affiliated employers to offer both tax-deferred and Roth voluntary contribution options for 401k and 457 plans and make these options available for all employees. Under HB26-1026, PERA-affiliated employers would also participate in and offer PERA’s deferred compensation plan to all employees, ensuring that all PERA members have access to both pre-tax and Roth voluntary contributions. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Lisa Feret to reduce workplace violence for health care workers. SB25-166 passed by a vote of 53-10. < Back April 17, 2025 Feret Bill to Reduce Workplace Violence Against Health Care Workers Passes DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Lisa Feret to reduce workplace violence for health care workers. SB25-166 passed by a vote of 53-10. “Health care workers are far more likely to experience workplace violence than any other profession, necessitating this legislation to keep Colorado health care workers safe,” said Rep. Lisa Feret, D-Arvada. “Health care workers should never have to worry about their physical and emotional safety on the job, and this bill gets us one step closer to providing the safety and security they deserve.” SB25-166 would add a workplace violence performance metric to the state’s quality incentive program and empower the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to consult with stakeholders to address workplace violence. In consultation with stakeholders, HCPF would develop workplace violence performance metrics, explore funding opportunities, and provide legislative recommendations. The group would include Medicaid providers, hospital associations, rural hospital representatives, nurse representatives, and relevant state agencies. HCPF would be required to consult with the Department of Public Health and Environment and other stakeholders by September 1, 2025. The bill would also empower HCPF to assess hospitals’ adoption of a formal workplace violence policy. Health care and social service workers experience the highest rates of workplace violence-related injuries and are five times more likely to be injured on the job compared to other industries. Previous Next

Latest press releases and op-eds from Colorado House Democrats. NEWSROOM PRESS RELEASES > OP-EDS > Bacon, Lukens Celebrate Passage of Prop NN November 4, 2026 Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon and Representative Meghan Lukens today released the following statement on the passage of Proposition NN. Bacon, Lukens Celebrate Passage of Prop NN Colorado Democrats Secure Resounding Majority in House November 3, 2026 With tonight's win, the upcoming 2027 session will mark the fifteenth consecutive session with a Democratic majority in the Colorado House Colorado Democrats Secure Resounding Majority in House Economy remains resilient while Colorado households bear the cost of federal policies September 18, 2026 Diesel prices hit record level as Trump's war with Iran continues Economy remains resilient while Colorado households bear the cost of federal policies

< Back April 11, 2023 Bills to Combat Deforestation and Improvement Wildfire Evacuations Advance in the House DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to help our forests recover from deforestation and better prepare communities for evacuations following a wildfire or other disaster. “Wildfires have not only devastated Colorado families, ranches, and businesses, but they have also ravaged our forests and caused thousands of acres of deforestation,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer, sponsor of SB23-1060 . “We’re taking steps toward more effective forest restoration by using Colorado-grown nursery seedlings to reforest burned areas and build climate-resilient watersheds. Allocating funding to the Colorado State Forest Service Nursery will help mitigate the risk of wildfires, protect communities and preserve our water resources.” HB23-1060 updates and expands the operations of Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Nursery to help them meet seedling trees and shrubs conservation demands and increase reforestation efforts. In Colorado, seedlings are used for burned forest restoration, creating climate-resilient watersheds and forests and enhancing carbon storage. $5 million was allocated toward the CSFS Nursery last year from HB22-1323 and additional funding would help complete the upgrades and expectations of shade house structures, improve seed storage and seedling processing, amongst other needs that will help meet growing demand. “While Colorado continues to build more homes to keep up with growing demand, we must consider wildfire risk and evacuation plans to ensure the safety of all Coloradans during an emergency,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of HB23-1075 . “By studying best practices for evacuations, we can gather data to implement effective policy to protect Coloradans from wildfire threats and other dangers to public safety. This bill will help ensure that evacuations are orderly and quick and that communities understand what they’re supposed to do when a major fire breaks out.” HB23-1075 requires the Office of Emergency Management to conduct a study to identify and assess the availability of technology to help with evacuation and clearance time modeling in local emergency management plans. The study will also evaluate the feasibility of requiring developers to perform evacuation and clearance time modeling for proposed developments in a wildfire rise area. The study must be completed by December 1, 2023 and the Department of Public Safety would be required to report the findings during the 2024 legislative session. Previous Next

< Back November 4, 2019 BIPARTISAN PROPOSALS ADVANCED TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION DENVER, CO — The Making Higher Education Attainable Interim Study Committee today advanced three bills that would make it easier for Coloradans to access and pay for higher education. “Recent research from the Colorado Department of Higher Education shows that earning a college or post-high school degree leads to longer life expectancy, better health and higher incomes, but the cost to attend these institutions has been rising quickly, while Colorado continues to rank near the bottom of state spending on higher education,” said Committee Vice-Chair Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango). “I’m excited that our committee advanced three critical bills that will make it easier for all Coloradans to access higher education and get the degree that’s right for them.” “Colorado, and especially Fort Collins, has exceptional institutions of higher education, but it is becoming increasingly more difficult for students to pay for or attend our world-class colleges and universities,” said committee member Rep. Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins). “The bills we passed today will make higher education more attainable for Coloradans. I look forward to furthering our important work to support Colorado’s students pursuing a postsecondary degree or credential and to continuing the fight to reduce the cost of these degrees for our students.” According to the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado ranks 47th nationally for state appropriations on higher education. The report also showed that from 2008 to 2018, tuition at public two-year institutions in the state rose by 52 percent and tuition at four-year public institutions rose by 68 percent. Nearly half of all young adults in Colorado hold student loans, and student debt has been increasing faster than the national average according to a report from the Student Borrower Protection Center. 1. Modifications to Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative: The first bill would make modifications and improvements to the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI). Since 2014, COSI has provided a strong network of student support and scholarship programs to reduce the financial burden on eligible students and increase higher education program and certification completion rates. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to help students successfully integrate into the workforce. The bill makes a number of changes to the scholarship program that will increase the availability of wrap-around services to scholarship recipients and increase the participation of other postsecondary education providers to make the program more efficient and expand the pool of Coloradans it can serve. Sponsors : Representative Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins) and Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) 2. Providing College Credit for Work Experience: The second bill would require the Commission on Higher Education to adopt and implement a plan to award college credit to eligible Coloradans for previous work experience. The plan will prioritize the fastest growing industries as identified by the Department of Labor and Employment’s Talent Pipeline Report, and will ultimately require institutions of higher education, including area technical colleges, to accept and transfer academic credit for approved work-related experiences. This bill recognizes that many Coloradans acquire valuable experience before deciding to pursue a postsecondary degree or credential, and rewards them for that experience so that they are more likely to complete their degree and reenter the workforce. Sponsors: Representative Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango) and Senators Tammy Story (D-Evergreen) and Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) 3. Improving the Student Success Innovation Pilot Program: The third bill approved by the committee would create a pilot program within the Department of Higher Education to incentivize collaboration among institutions of higher education within Colorado to increase student completion rates and overall success. Under the bill, participating institutions would convene and study common barriers to student success and devise a program that addresses those barriers. The bill includes robust reporting requirements that outline student outcomes and cost, and other key indicators of success. This bill recognizes that many students pursuing a postsecondary degree face unique barriers and require innovative solutions to ensure their success. Sponsors: Representative Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins) and Senator Tammy Story (D-Evergreen) Previous Next

< Back Michael Carter Rep. Michael Carter is proud to call Aurora home. His wife has taught in the community for over two decades, his three children attend Aurora Public Schools, and he practices law in Aurora to protect the community’s most vulnerable. Becoming a state representative is not his first experience in public service. Rep. Carter is a third-generation Army Veteran and he served as the Vice President of the Aurora Public School Board of Education. After receiving his law degree from the University of Denver, he worked as a public defender and a private criminal defense attorney. From safer schools for our students to affordable housing for working families, Rep. Carter is committed to developing policy solutions that work for all Coloradans and move our state forward. He will utilize his experience in the criminal justice system and K-12 public education to improve public schools and uphold the values of justice. Rep. Michael Carter is the representative for House District 36 serving Adams and Arapahoe counties and he serves as the Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee.

< Back January 28, 2020 REP. MCLACHLAN’S COLLEGE CREDIT FOR WORK EXPERIENCE BILL ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would allow college students to obtain academic credit for work experience DENVER, CO — Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Mark Baisley that would make it easier to obtain academic credit for work-related experiences across all state institutions today advanced from the House Education Committee. The legislation passed unanimously. “As a former teacher, I know that some of the most important education a student can get happens outside of the classroom,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango). “This bill would allow students who have had formative educational experiences in the workplace to get the academic credits they need to complete their degrees in a more affordable and expedited way. As Colorado employers continue to struggle to fill jobs that require a post-secondary credential, it is critical that we do everything we can to help students get the skills they need to compete in a 21st century economy. This bill would have a lasting and important impact on non-traditional students in my district and across the state, and I’ll keep working to make it a reality.” HB20-1002, which advanced from the Making Higher Education Attainable Interim Committee, would require the Commission on Higher Education to create a model to award academic credit for work-related experiences. The credits would be acceptable and transferable across all state institutions, improving access and affordability for non-traditional students. The bill also includes a provision that will require state institutions to develop a mechanism through which students can test out of any undergraduate class through an individual assessment or other testing means. Previous Next