< Back May 24, 2021 BETTER BALLOTS BILL ADVANCES Reps. Kennedy and Weissman’s bill to ensure voters understand the impact of the ballot measures they’re voting on passes State Affairs Committee DENVER, CO– The House State, Veterans, Military, and Civic Affairs Committee today advanced a bill to give voters more detailed information about the ballot initiatives they are voting on. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “Today we took the first major step towards unrigging Colorado’s ballot initiative process,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Colorado’s voters are entrusted with the responsibility of making enormously consequential decisions for the future of our state, and it’s only fair that they have as much information as possible to guide those choices. Giving voters more accurate and detailed information about what they’re voting on should be an idea that everyone can agree on.” “Our current ballots are giving voters an incomplete picture of the impact of the decisions they’re making,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “This bill will provide voters with crucial information about how a specific ballot initiative will impact individual taxpayers and the public investments they care about. Today the State Affairs Committee voted in favor of better ballots and a more fair initiative process that trusts voters to decide for themselves what’s best for Colorado.” Under current law dating back to the 1992 TABOR law, ballot measures that would increase taxes are required to outline, in capital letters, how much revenue will be raised from said initiative. This bill would provide voters with even more information about the impact of ballot questions on taxpayers and taxpayer-funded programs. For example, the bill would require that for measures that either increase or decrease the individual income tax rate or the state sales tax rate, ballots show a table indicating the average tax burden change for taxpayers in each income bracket. The bill also requires that for ballot measures that reduce state tax revenue, the blue book sent to every voter shows the top three programs the revenue reduction impacts, as determined by nonpartisan legislative research staff. Previous Next

< Back April 18, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES EDUCATION BILLS TO HELP KIDS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO COLLEGE (Ap. 18) – The House gave preliminary approval to two bills that would help teachers drowning in student loan debt and encourage young girls to go into the STEM field. “In Colorado we have 3,000 educator positions going unfilled. This bill will help us address the educator shortage crisis impacting classrooms in our rural, urban and suburban schools,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango, a former teacher and chair of the House Education committee. SB19-003 is a bipartisan bill that would award up to $5,000 of qualified educational loans for up to five years for teachers and educators employed in qualified positions under the program and targets teachers and rural or other hard to fill locations or content areas. The bill also alters the teacher loan forgiveness program, renaming it the educator loan forgiveness program and revises the eligibility criteria for the program. Contributing to a dire shortage of educators in many Colorado communities are a lack of access to affordable housing in rural communities, salaries that are below state or national averages, coupled with sky-rocketing student loan debt and fewer people choosing to enter the profession. SB19-003 passed in the House by a voice-vote. A final vote will be completed at a later date. The House also gave preliminary approval to a bill would get more young women and underrepresented groups more involved in STEM. “We are getting these kids ready for jobs that haven’t even been imagined yet. Right now, we can’t see the full extent of the gender gap in computer science classrooms because Colorado doesn’t gather that information,” said Rep. Esgar. “If we start gathering this information, we can better come up with solutions to solve this problem.” HB19-1277 also provides computer science classroom participation data to understand the extend the gender gap in Colorado. “I am so excited to be sponsoring a bill like this. We need to encourage our students, especially our young girls and underrepresented students to get involved in tech and science, which offer high paying jobs,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Evergreen. “This is a responsible investment in the future of our children and the future of our state.” The bill would provide $250,000 per year to grant funding for three schools and districts who want to offer computer science courses and afterschool programs with an emphasis on participation by underrepresented groups, such as women. HB19-1277 passed by a voice-vote. A final vote will be given at a later date. Previous Next

< Back March 13, 2020 LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCES “PLAN OF ACTION” IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 On Thursday afternoon, leadership of all four legislative caucuses in the Colorado General Assembly agreed on the following “Plan of Action” over the coming days in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak: Step One: House Bill 20-1359 was introduced this afternoon and has passed the House Judiciary Committee and Second Reading in the House of Representatives. This bill will move swiftly through the General Assembly with the goal of being delivered to Governor Jared Polis by Saturday, March 14. This legislation, drafted with the leadership of all caucuses and with the support of both the Colorado Democratic Party and the Colorado Republican Party, will give county political parties more control regarding where their assemblies are to be conducted and what procedures they must follow. This includes allowing for changes in location and allowance of electronic means of participation for delegates and candidates if such means can be secured by those entities. Step Two: A Joint Resolution will be introduced in the House of Representatives to ask the Colorado Supreme Court – via an interrogatory – to clarify the General Assembly’s ability to count legislative days non-consecutively. The State Constitution limits the General Assembly’s session to “no more than 120 calendar days,” but does not clearly define whether that means consecutive days; and a Joint Rule provides for the ability to meet non-consecutively when a public health-related emergency has been declared by the Governor. Clarification from the Supreme Court would avoid the potential risk of litigation over ambiguity regarding the counting of those 120 days. Step Three: A Joint Resolution is currently being drafted that would allow both the Senate and the House to adjourn temporarily. As of now, there is no plan on when that Resolution would be introduced or for what period of time the General Assembly might be adjourned. This is being drafted as a precaution so that we are prepared in the event that the General Assembly decides it is in the best interest of staff, legislators, lobbyists, and the public at large to temporarily adjourn for some length of time. Senate President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo) released the following statement: “Protecting the health and safety of state employees as well as the public, is our top priority right now. We are currently navigating all of our options and will continue to do our due diligence in determining how to proceed in the coming weeks. By taking these next steps, we are laying the groundwork to act quickly if necessary, while allowing essential tenets of democracy to continue. In moments like this, Coloradans need unity, and I applaud my colleagues in both chambers in working together during this difficult time.” Speaker of the House K.C. Becker (D-Boulder) released the following statement: “The health and safety of all Coloradans is our top priority. We are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and are in close contact with state agencies, public health experts and the governor. Any decision we make will be informed by public health experts and our State’s Constitution. Today we are taking steps to prepare the General Assembly for actions we may need to take to protect the public, and I am grateful for the willingness of leaders in both parties and in both chambers to work together during this public health emergency.” Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert (R-Douglas County) released the following statement: “Unlike a sports league, an amusement park, or a parade, the General Assembly is obligated to follow the Colorado Constitution. We are determined to prioritize the health and safety of all who work in – or visit – the Colorado State Capitol, and that means taking these steps to ensure we remain constitutionally compliant in every action we take. I am thankful for Democrat and Republican leadership in both chambers for working collaboratively. This is truly a Colorado effort.” House Minority Leader Patrick Neville (R-Castle Rock) released the following statement: “As a legislature, we need to ensure the safety of not only this body, but more importantly the public. The Capitol sees hundreds, sometimes thousands, of visitors a day and we have a duty to protect them. That being said, we, as legislators, are unable to perform our duties without public input. I cannot represent the people of Colorado if they are shut out of the building. If we go into recess, we have to make certain that no legislative business is done without the participation of the people. As many of my colleagues know, public testimony can make or break a bill.” Previous Next

< Back March 22, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: PRESIDENT FENBERG, REPRESENTATIVES AMABILE, HOOTON AND GRAY COMMEMORATE THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE KING SOOPERS SHOOTING BOULDER, CO – Boulder legislators Senate President Steve Fenberg, Representative Judy Amabile, Representative Edie Hooton, and Representative Matt Gray today released a joint statement commemorating the one year anniversary of the King Soopers shooting: “One year ago, the Boulder community suffered a devastating tragedy when a gunman brutally cut short ten innocent lives. Today, our hearts remain heavy for the families of the victims, and for the entire Boulder community. But faced with tragedy, our community has emerged stronger and more resilient than before. We have been profoundly moved by the myriad ways Boulder County has come together to honor the victims of this tragedy and support their families and one another. As we continue to heal, each of us must recommit ourselves in our service to Boulder and Colorado while continuing our work to protect our neighbors and build a stronger, safer community for us all.” Previous Next

< Back November 20, 2023 Democrats Reduce Property Taxes, Increase Support for Renters and Working People DENVER, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, and Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, today released the following statements upon conclusion of the 2023 Extraordinary Session of the 74th General Assembly: “I’m proud that Colorado Democrats stepped up to meet this moment and provide urgent property tax cuts, relief for working families and support for renters,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Coloradans all across the state are going to save money on their property taxes next year while schools continue to receive the increased funding they desperately need. This responsible package delivers for the Coloradans who are feeling the brunt of our affordability crisis and returns more money to the people who need it the most by boosting the incomes of hardworking families and making Colorado more affordable.” “Over the past few days, Democrats were laser-focused on providing short-term relief to those most vulnerable to the rising cost of living – which means working families, renters, and those on fixed incomes – while protecting our schools and fire districts,” said Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “The legislation we passed provides responsible, much-needed relief to Coloradans who need it the most, while leaving room for more robust discussion on what a long-term fix looks like. I’m proud that we rose to meet the moment and passed legislation that will make our state more affordable and provide responsible relief to the folks who need it most.” “With rising property taxes threatening to upend the lifelong investments seniors, veterans and people on fixed incomes have made in their homes and their American dream, we did everything we could to responsibly lower property taxes while protecting our schools and fire districts,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “As a Latina, it was deeply important to me that all Coloradans, and especially lower-income people and people of color see relief from the rising cost of living in our state, and they will. There’s more work to do starting in January, but Coloradans can be sure that we hear them and are taking action to deliver real results.” “Democrats worked hard to pass legislation to make our state more affordable and deliver targeted relief to some of our most vulnerable Coloradans, ” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “The call for this special session gave us a clear directive for the past few days, but the policies we passed mark the start – not the finish line – for the progress we’ll make next session. In just a few short weeks we’ll be back at the Capitol to build on this work and continue taking bold action to improve the lives of all Coloradans.” SB23B-001 , sponsored by President Fenberg, Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, Speaker McCluskie, and Representative Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, provides over $430 million in property tax relief by increasing the property value exemption for multifamily and single family residential properties from $15,000 to $55,000 and decreasing the residential assessment rate from 6.765 percent to 6.7 percent for the 2023 tax year while protecting funding for locals services, like schools, fire districts and libraries. HB23B-1001 , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, and Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, boosts statewide rental assistance to a total of $65 million, securing an additional $30 million on top of the $35 million from federal funds already allocated. The bill provides financial assistance for rent owed and other related costs for Colorado tenants making at or below 80 percent of the area median income. SB23B-002 , sponsored by Senators Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, and Representatives Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Lorena Garcia, D-unincorporated Adams County, allocates an estimated $35 million in federal funds to expand Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) benefits, which will help families purchase groceries from SNAP retailers during the summer months when child hunger is most severe. Families with children eligible for the national free and reduced-price school meals program will receive $40 a month per eligible child for the summer benefit in 2024. HB23B-1002 , sponsored by Representatives Jenny Willford, D-Northglen, and Mary Young, D-Greeley, and Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, expands the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for tax year 2023 to one of the highest state matches in the country. With the current state EITC at 25 percent, the average tax credit is $521. By increasing the EITC to 50 percent, families will see hundreds of additional dollars back in their wallets next year. SB23B-003 , sponsored by Senators Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, and Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Representatives Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, and Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial, adjusts the TABOR refund mechanism for the 2023 tax year to provide an equal refund of $800 for all taxpayers, increasing TABOR refunds for the majority of filers and by hundreds of dollars for lower-income people. HB23B-1003 , sponsored by Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, President Fenberg, and Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, creates the bipartisan Commission on Property Tax to provide recommendations for long and short term property tax relief and evaluate the impact of property tax related ballot measures filed at the title board this year. The goal of HB23B-1003 is to gather leaders from across the state and key constituencies impacted by property taxes to map out potential long-term solutions to property taxes that have been rising since Coloradans voted to repeal the Gallagher Amendment in 2020. Previous Next

Today, legislation to improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and improve access to publicly funded vaccines was signed into law by Governor Polis. < Back May 10, 2023 Signed! Legislation to Improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, Bring Down Costs for Medication & Vaccines AURORA, CO - Today, legislation to improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and improve access to publicly funded vaccines was signed into law by Governor Polis. HB23-1225 , sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Reps. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial, increases the effectiveness of PDAB to help lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Coloradans. The bill allows PDAB to increase the limit on setting Upper Payment Limits (UPLs) to 18 per year if the board reaches the current annual cap of 12 UPLs and demonstrates a need for additional UPLs. Additionally, the bill improves the criteria for selecting drugs for an affordability review. “Over the past few years we have worked hard to save Coloradans money on life-saving prescription drugs,” said Jaquez Lewis. “Still, too many families’ budgets are squeezed by high costs of medication. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board is an essential tool to keep Colorado prescription drug prices affordable, and these changes will make the Board even more effective at saving families money on their life-saving medications.” “The Prescription Drug Affordability Board was created in 2021 to review prescription drug costs and set upper price limits to prevent price gouging of essential medication,” said deGruy Kennedy. “This year, we’re increasing the number of prescription drugs that the PDAB can create upper price limits for so more Coloradans can benefit from the cost saving measures we’ve enacted.” “House Bill 1225 makes important changes that will increase the impact of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board,” Buckner said. “Too many Colorado families are forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying for life-saving medication, and that has to change. I’m proud to be a part of the effort to continue saving Coloradans money on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.” “The legislature created the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to lower out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, but current law restricts the Board's ability to function,” Dickson said. “This new law extends the Board's lifespan and expands the number of prescriptions it can review, so Coloradans can better access affordable, quality health care.” Governor Polis also signed into law SB23-260 , sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. The bill allows practitioners to ask individuals who seek to receive a publicly funded vaccine to provide proof of health insurance or a government-issued identification card, but does not limit an individual from receiving a publicly funded vaccine if they don’t have those items. The bill clarifies that independent pharmacies may charge vaccine administration fees and not provide publicly funded vaccines to individuals who are unable to pay. However, those pharmacies must provide individuals who are unable to pay with a list of practitioners who will provide the publicly funded vaccine regardless of payment ability. Previous Next

< Back June 3, 2019 GOV SIGNS EXUM’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROTECT HEALTH OF FIREFIGHTERS AND MCLACHLAN’S BILL TO COMBAT WILDFIRES (Jun 3) – Governor Polis signed two bills today that protect firefighters and help combat wildfires and protect public safety. Rep. Tony Exum’s bipartisan bill, which was unanimously passed out of the House, looks to protect firefighters from the dangerous impacts of the manmade Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFA) which is used regularly in the profession. “As a former battalion chief, we often used the material during training and this toxic material increased the health concerns of my fellow firefighters,” said Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “When we used this material, it would frequently contaminate the drinking water of the surrounding communities. This is a long overdue step that we can take to protect our courageous firefighters who fight for us and protect the health of people in our communities.” PFA substances are used to battle high-heat fires. The EPA has deemed this material toxic as it stays in the body for two to seven years upon exposure. HB19-1279 prohibits the use of PFA during firefighting training exercises and includes a fine for compliance failure. The money collected from these fines would go to the Local Firefighters Safety and Disease Prevention Fund. Finally, it also created the Firefighters Foams and Personal Protection Equipment Act, which prohibits the use of PFAs, requires companies to inform consumers if their equipment has been treated with this hazardous material and requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) to conduct surveys to learn if any stations are using this material. Rep. Barbara McLachlan’s bill to help combat wildfires was also signed today by the Governor. “Wildfire season is fast approaching,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango. “Implementing a system to patrol the airspace above the fires will give our firefighters the tools they need to keep our homes, communities and themselves safe.” SB19-020 directs the Center of Excellence (COE) to study and implement a system to patrol the airspace above a wildland fire. The COE was created under SB14-164 in the Division of Fire Prevention and Control in the Dept. of Public Safety. Its mission is to protect Colordoans, land and resources in Colorado by researching, testing and evaluating existing and new technologie that support sustainable effective and efficient aerial fighting techniques. Detection of drones is currently limited to visual observation which poses challenges during a wildland fire. Previous Next

HB26-1283 would prohibit employers from confiscating and sharing an employee’s ID with federal law enforcement agencies < Back April 22, 2026 House Passes Bill to Protect Vulnerable Workers DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to prohibit employers from confiscating identification documents. HB26-1238 passed by a vote of 41-23. “With the passage of this bill, we’re one step closer to establishing clear, legal protections for workers who fear retaliation from their employer,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “HB26-1283 safeguards vulnerable employees, especially those in the construction, service, agriculture, or hospitality industries, from having their personal documents unlawfully shared with federal law enforcement agencies. This bill strengthens protections for immigrant workers and keeps Coloradans safe on the job.” “You need your ID for everything from renting an apartment and driving a vehicle to accessing health care,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “This bill protects workers by restricting an employer from confiscating employees’ and applicants’ personal IDs for more than ten hours. Threats and harassment on the job should never be tolerated, and this bill protects all workers, especially if their employer threatens unlawfully to report them to federal authorities.” HB26-1283 would prevent employers from seizing, demanding, confiscating, retaining or otherwise requiring an employee to surrender their government-issued identification card (ID) for more than a short period of time (up to ten hours), and except for lawful purposes like employment verification or when otherwise required by federal law. To enforce these provisions, the bill creates criminal penalties for unlawful confiscation and allows workers to pursue civil action and have their ID documents returned if their documents were unlawfully seized. Under the bill, employers must advise their employees of these protections. This bill also strengthens protections for employees if their employer unlawfully turns over their ID to federal immigration enforcement authorities or threatens to do so. If an employer holds an employee’s ID or personal document with the intent of harassing or intimidating the employee, they could be charged with a bias-motivated crime. HB26-1238 helps protect immigrant communities, especially for workers employed in the service industry, hospitality, agriculture and construction. In recent years, Colorado Democrats have passed legislation to strengthen existing data privacy and protections guaranteed to all Coloradans, including SB25-276 , which prohibits public employees from sharing personally-identifying information related to immigration status with federal immigration enforcement. Previous Next

HB24-1175 gives local governments the right of first refusal to buy existing affordable housing when a building or complex is up for sale < Back May 30, 2024 New Law Will Preserve Housing Coloradans Can Afford HB24-1175 gives local governments the right of first refusal to buy existing affordable housing when a building or complex is up for sale BROOMFIELD, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to give local governments the right of first refusal to purchase existing subsidized housing and preserve Colorado’s limited affordable housing stock. “With rising rents pricing Coloradans out of their communities, local governments need additional tools to help them preserve existing affordable housing options that work for everyday Coloradans,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Our new law will allow local governments to purchase and preserve affordable housing properties that were made possible by the investment of public dollars. With this legislation, we can maintain and expand affordable housing options in our communities and ease Colorado’s housing crisis.” “Whether it’s Broomfield or Berthoud, housing is a top concern for Coloradans,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield. “This year, we’re tackling Colorado’s housing crisis from all angles. By giving local governments an additional tool to preserve affordable housing stock, Coloradans will be better positioned to find housing options that fit their budget.” “Our law is one of many steps that Colorado Democrats are taking to combat housing instability and displacement,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We need a multi-faceted approach to address our affordable housing shortage, which is why we passed legislation to create new tools for local governments that keep existing affordable housing properties in the rental market.” “Colorado is in the midst of a housing crisis and we must do everything we can to help renters and homeowners,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont. “By giving local governments the chance to make the first offer and create new affordable housing stock, we can ensure more Coloradans – especially lower income families – have an affordable place they can call home.” Many affordable housing buildings are sold and converted to higher priced market-rate units once the affordability restrictions expire. The right of first refusal gives local governments the right to purchase an existing affordable multi-family residential or mixed-use rental property with at least five units if they match any offers that the seller receives and continue to use the property for long-term affordable housing. Under HB24-1175 , owners would be required to notify local governments two years before affordability restrictions expire to allow time for governments to plan in case that property hits the market. For non-subsidized multifamily properties, the law gives local governments the right of first offer before the property is listed for sale. This applies to buildings more than 30 years old with 15 to 100 units. If interested, the local government must respond within seven days and may request additional information, with the seller having five days to comply and the local government another 14 days to make an offer. Accepted offers would lead to a 30-day negotiation period and a 60-day closing period. Previous Next

< Back February 22, 2019 DURAN & LONTINE’S BILL TO ENSURE PREGNANT MOMS HAVE ACCESS TO DENTAL SERVICES THROUGH CHP+ GETS GREEN LIGHT Bill will lead to healthy mothers and healthy babies (Feb. 22) – The House floor approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Monica Duran and Rep. Susan Lontine that will extend eligibility for dental coverage to pregnant women insured through Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) on second reading. Through this bill, all enrollees in this program can benefit from dental coverage. The bill will help nearly 900 pregnant women who are insured through CHP+. “As a dental assistant, I’ve seen many pregnant women come in with dental issues that can affect their baby,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, a certified dental assistant.. “Due to hormonal and diet changes during pregnancy, women are particularly susceptible to gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth decay, that can spread to their babies and cause low birth weight among other issues. This is really important to all of us.” Currently, the medical services board only offers dental services for eligible children enrolled in a CHP+. About 25 percent of all pregnant women in Colorado lack dental insurance coverage. CHP+ is health insurance for children and for pregnant women over the age of 19 who do not qualify for Medicaid. “This bill improves the health of women, their pregnancy outcomes, and the health of new babies,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “Having healthy moms leads to healthy babies, and this is something we all want to see.” HB 19-1038 passed on second reading with bipartisan support through a voice vote. It must go through final reading on the House floor before it gets sent to the Senate. ATTACHED: Headshot of Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge and Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver Previous Next

< Back March 5, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES PAIR OF ALEX VALDEZ’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE BILLS Bills encourage the use of electric vehicles and will help Colorado act on climate (March 4) – The House Energy and Environment committee gave approval today to Rep. Alex Valdez and Rep. Donald Valdez’s bill to modify existing statute governing the existing electric vehicle grant fund. “This bill will help address the threat of climate change and reduce carbon emissions by encouraging more Coloradans to purchase electric vehicles and increasing the travel range of EV’s,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “These upgrades can help rural communities because when drivers have to charge their vehicles, they are going to stop in our rural towns, open their wallets and contribute to the economy.” HB19-1198 allows the fund to be used to fully fund the installation of more charging stations for electric vehicles and help offset operation costs. “It’s time that we bring more charging stations to the rural parts of Colorado. Doing so will help address climate change and expand the accessibility of electric vehicles and their benefits to all Colorado communities,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara. HB19-1198 passed the committee 8-2 with bipartisan support and now heads to the House floor. Rep. Alex Valdez’s Colorado Clean Pass Act also passed in the Energy and Environment committee. HB19-1199 expands the number of electric vehicle owners able that can receive discounted access to HOV, HOT, and Toll lanes by imposing a $35 annual fee. This bill updates the number of eligible cars on a regular basis and gets rid of the current waitlist for the program by lifting the cap on an annual basis. That bill passed in the committee by 7-4 and heads to the Finance committee. Previous Next

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer, today released the following statements on the shooting at Evergreen High School: < Back September 10, 2025 Statements from Sen. Cutter and Rep. Story on Shooting at Evergreen High School DENVER, CO – Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer, today released the following statements on the shooting at Evergreen High School: Statement from Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer: “I am horrified by the shooting at Evergreen High School, and my heart breaks for the students, educators, families and school personnel whose start to the school year has now been marked by inexplicable violence and harm. I am hoping for the swift recovery of the victims, and my thoughts are with them and their families. I am incredibly grateful to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, along with first responders and law enforcement from across the Metro area, for their quick action to protect our community and save lives. “No student should ever fear going to school or face danger like this, and parents should never have to worry when their child is at school. Shootings at schools are far too frequent in our country, and I am sickened that this has happened again in Jefferson County. Our community is strong, and I know we will come together to support the Evergreen High School community in this very difficult time. I am closely monitoring the situation, and I will do everything I can to support our community.” Statement from Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County: “I am heartbroken by the news of the shooting at Evergreen High School and angered at another senseless act of gun violence in our state. Schools need to be safe places, and this tragedy is yet another reminder that we must do better to protect our kids. I am grateful for the rapid response by first responders, medical teams, school staff, and the students of Evergreen High School. My prayers are with the victims, their friends and families, and the entire Evergreen community. I am hopeful for a quick and full recovery for all those injured.” Previous Next