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Increase would have been much higher without Colorado Democrats special session legislation which preserved coverage for nearly 30,000 Coloradans < Back October 28, 2025 Paschal Statement on GOP Congress Causing Health Premiums to Double in CO Springs, 75,000 Could Lose Coverage Increase would have been much higher without Colorado Democrats special session legislation which preserved coverage for nearly 30,000 Coloradans DENVER, CO – Representative Amy Paschal today released the following statement after the Division of Insurance announced that 2026 health care premium rates will increase by 101-percent due to Congress’s failure to continue the enhanced premium tax credits. “Despite having months to act, Republicans in Congress have failed to continue the enhanced premium tax credits, adding thousands of dollars to Coloradans’ health insurance costs next year,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs. “Earlier this year, I helped pass a law that will alleviate some of the rate increases and keep tens of thousands of Coloradans insured, but the reality is that premiums are still expected to double, and 75,000 will lose coverage without these tax credits. While we were able to reduce costs for families by over 16.5 percent, Congress must take action to prevent these still unfathomable price hikes for Coloradans in El Paso County and across the state.” Statewide health care rates for individuals who purchase their own insurance are expected to increase by 101-percent due to Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend the tax credits. Open enrollment begins this Saturday, and Coloradans who want coverage in 2026 must choose their plan before December 15. Democrats have repeatedly urged Congress to extend the tax credits, which help make health care more affordable for around 225,000 Coloradans. In August, Rep. Paschal signed onto a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation urging them to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that were intentionally omitted from the GOP’s H.R. 1. The expiration of these tax credits on December 31 will lead to fewer people having health insurance and higher health insurance costs for everyone, including small businesses and Coloradans with employer-sponsored health insurance. If Congress extended the enhanced premium tax credits, the average premium increase would be 16-percent, instead of 101-percent, and some Coloradans would see no increase. Colorado Democrats have significantly lowered health care costs with the state’s reinsurance program, which has saved consumers over $2 billion, and Colorado Option health care plan, which offered the lowest or second lowest cost plan in El Paso County. A recent study by Brown University found that the Colorado Option reduced monthly premiums by $101, even for non-Colorado Option plans. In El Paso County, a family of four saved nearly $4,000 by choosing the Colorado Option plan in 2025. Earlier this year, the Colorado General Assembly returned to the Capitol to combat some of the harm caused by Trump’s Megabill and Congress’s failure to extend the ePTCs. Colorado Democrats passed a law that will invest in Colorado’s reinsurance program and blunt some of the most severe cost increases from the expiring tax credits. This law reduces the statewide average premium increase from 174-percent to 101-percent, saving Coloradans $220 million on health care next year and preventing 28,000 Coloradans from being kicked off their health coverage. The law also stabilizes Colorado’s reinsurance program, resulting in over 16.5-percent in premium savings in the Colorado Springs metro area. In El Paso and Teller counties, the average 40-year-old individual saved over $5,100 from the Reinsurance Program in 2025, and a family of four saved over $19,000 from 2020 through 2025 due to the Reinsurance Program. Previous Next

< Back May 13, 2019 COLEMAN, GONZALES-GUTIERREZ BILLS TO SUPPORT COLLEGE STUDENTS SIGNED INTO LAW (May 13) – Gov. Polis signed two bills sponsored by House Democrats at Metro State University today. First up was Rep. James Coleman’s bill, HB19-1187, which will help increase federal financial aid application completion rates. Colorado students missed out on as much as $50 million in financial aid last year due to students failing to complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. “We are letting our hard-earned taxpayer dollars go to other states because our students are not filling out their FAFSA forms,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver. “This new law will help Colorado get a huge return on our investment in our students, ensure more students have the tools they need to succeed and make our higher-ed institutions stronger.” Finally, Polis signed a bill to expand state financial aid resources for ASSET students. HB19-1196, sponsored by Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, will provide Advancing Students for a Strong Tomorrow (ASSET) students the ability to receive state financial aid. “Increasing the eligibility for state financial aid will help Colorado’s rural institutions that lack financial resources to supplement state financial aid for ASSET students,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “Improving access to higher education by increasing financial assistance will erase our state’s equity gaps and serve as an investment in Colorado’s future.” Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to make menstrual products free to Colorado middle and high school students. < Back June 5, 2024 Gov. Polis Signs Bill to Provide Free Menstrual Products to Students DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to make menstrual products free to Colorado middle and high school students. HB24-1164 makes modifications to the Menstrual Hygiene Grant Program to expand support to rural and underserved districts. “Periods don’t wait – and this important law ensures that Colorado students can access the menstrual products they need, when they need them,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “Without access to menstrual products, our students risk missing out on valuable learning time and can experience emotional distress. Our new law makes menstrual products free and accessible in schools to Colorado’s teens.” “ 67 percent of U.S. students miss valuable school time due to a lack of necessary period products, and the numbers are even higher for low-income and students of color,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Our important bill helps combat period poverty in Colorado by making menstrual products free and accessible in middle school and high school bathrooms. Our students deserve to learn, grow and thrive without the added stress of finding and affording period products – and this new law does just that.” "By signing this bill today, Governor Polis is ensuring every student across the state can go to school without worrying about when your period might arrive, or if you have the products you need to manage it," said Diane Cushman Neal, founder and president of Justice Necessary. "I am proud to live in a state that ensures students can attend class without the worry of having the necessary products to manage their periods, because access to period products, just is necessary." HB24-1164 ensures that Colorado middle and high school students have access to free period products in the bathroom at schools. Under the new law, certain local education providers are required to phase in menstrual products in a portion of their bathrooms, beginning with 25 percent of applicable bathrooms by June 30, 2025 and 100 percent of applicable bathrooms by 2028. This law also expands the Menstrual Hygiene Grant Program in the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to be available to rural and small rural school districts and charter schools located within those districts. The goal of this law is to support more Colorado school districts in providing accessible and free period products to their students. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2019 GOV. SIGNS PAIR OF BILLS TO PROVIDE MORE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES Dem led mental health parity and youth suicide prevention bills now law (May 16) – Gov. Polis signed two bills today that will increase access to mental health resources. The Gov. signed HB19-1269 sponsored by Rep. Lisa Cutter and Rep. Tom Sullivan that will modernize behavioral health insurance coverage laws to align with federal law and close loopholes to increase access to mental health services for Coloradans. “Over one million of our friends, neighbors, and children live with a mental health issue. But over half of them aren’t receiving the help they need,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Evergreen. “It’s time we start treating mental health the same as physical health, getting people the treatment they need, and working towards removing the stigma around mental health issues.” “I have been committed to improving mental health prior to joining the legislature and am honored to be a part of this new law,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “We can’t wait any longer to help improve access to mental health in our communities.” HB19-1269 strengthens prevention and screening laws to shift the current system away from expensive late-stage treatment to early prevention and enforces and makes transparent existing state and federal parity laws and increases consumer protections. Currently, state and federal laws require insurance carriers to provide equal coverage for mental health and physical care. However, many families are being denied coverage or are paying out-of-pocket costs for weeks or months for mental health care services because of loopholes in current law. Gov. Polis also signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Rep. Dylan Roberts to help address youth suicide. “A youth mental health epidemic is unfolding before our eyes and until now, the state has been unable to adequately invest in solutions. Under this new law, Colorado’s kids will be able to access the help they so desperately need. It could save a life,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “The children of our state want more access to mental health resources and we are working to deliver.” Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s son survived a suicide attempt at age 9. The life-saving law, HB19-1120, will reduce the age at which a young person can seek confidential psychotherapy services from a licensed mental health professional without the consent of his or her parent or guardian, from 15 to 12. The bill also requires the Colorado Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of Suicide Prevention, the Youth Advisory Council, and the Suicide Prevention Commission, to create and maintain a mental health education literacy resource bank. The resource bank is available to the public free of charge. “The suicide epidemic knows no bounds and it’s impacting every community. Eagle County had 18 suicides last year in a community of only about 50,000 people,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “This new law will help us address this epidemic and provide more young people the access to mental health services they need. This law will save lives.” Colorado is ranked third for suicides among youth aged 10-14 and fifth for teen suicide overall. Both laws were signed this afternoon at the Center for African American Health in Denver. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law to help identify individuals who are trying to sell a firearm that has been reported lost or stolen or involved in a criminal investigation. < Back June 2, 2025 New Law Helps Identify and Prevent the Sale of Stolen Firearms DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law to help identify individuals who are trying to sell a firearm that has been reported lost or stolen or involved in a criminal investigation. “This law allows federally licensed firearm dealers to request verification that they are not buying lost or stolen weapons,” said Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver. “We’re establishing a procedure and expediting serial number checks so firearm dealers have better tools to help keep our communities safe by identifying guns that have been stolen or involved in an unsolved crime.” “SB25-205 comes from concerns raised by firearm dealers in my district, and is a win for both public safety and responsible small businesses,” said Sen. Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “It ensures that when someone wants to trade in or sell a used firearm, dealers have a clear process and safeguards while they check if a gun is lost or stolen. By guaranteeing timely law enforcement checks, we keep firearm transactions aboveboard and help people buy and sell through safe, legitimate channels. This law also protects dealers from making costly, unintentional purchases that could hurt their business.” “We’ve created this law for the firearm dealers throughout Colorado who want to do their part to keep illegal guns off our streets,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield. “Running serial number checks alerts firearm dealers when they come across lost, stolen or crime-involved firearms that they wouldn’t be able to sell anyway. This law helps firearm dealers protect themselves from bad purchases while making their communities safer from gun crimes.” SB25-205 establishes a procedure to allow a federal firearms licensee to request a firearm serial number check before purchasing a firearm from an individual. Under the law, local county sheriff’s offices must complete the serial number check within three business days of the request. If a licensee has a reason to believe that a person sold or attempted to sell a firearm that is stolen, lost, or involved in an open criminal investigation, they will be required to report the information to law enforcement within 48 hours. Colorado Democrats have passed numerous laws to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, including laws to require gun owners to report when their firearm has been lost or stolen and properly store their firearms when not in use, including in their vehicles . The legislature also cracked down on “ghost guns” to keep unregulated, untraceable firearms out of our communities. Previous Next

SB25-005 would update the 80-year old Colorado Labor Peace Act < Back March 13, 2025 Worker Protection Act Passes House Committee DENVER, CO — The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to update Colorado’s labor law and support workers. SB25-005, sponsored by Representative Javier Mabrey and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, passed the committee by a vote of 7-5. “Updating Colorado's labor laws will yield stronger workplaces and make it easier for workers to negotiate for better pay, benefits and safety on the job,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “I’d like to thank everyone working on this policy for their willingness to continue conversations as this bill moves forward. The status quo is simply not working for Coloradans, as too many people are struggling to get by and make ends meet. By addressing the obstacles posed by the second election, we can establish some basic principles of fairness and workplace democracy that will make it easier for workers to form and sustain unions, and to grow the middle class in Colorado.” “The bar to form a union is unreasonably high, and making it easier will help more Coloradans thrive and create a more level playing field between workers and employers,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Statistics show that unionized workers earn more than non-unionized workers in the same industry. This bill is about empowering workers to negotiate for the wages, benefits and workplace safety they deserve. I want to acknowledge that business leaders and labor advocates have a common goal to create a thriving Colorado economy that responds to our modern workforce needs, and I extend my gratitude for their willingness to move our state forward.” The Worker Protection Act ( SB25-005 ) would update the Colorado Labor Peace Act to make it easier for workers to negotiate a union security agreement clause in the collective bargaining process. Currently, Colorado labor law requires two elections for workers seeking to form a union and collect dues: one that meets the federal standard set by the National Labor Relations Act and a second election which must be won by a supermajority approval of at least 75 percent of those who vote, or 50 percent plus one of all employees eligible to vote, whichever is greater. This process creates a uniquely high threshold for workers to achieve the right to negotiate with their employers. Previous Next

< Back June 15, 2021 SIGNED! $66M TO BOLSTER RURAL ECONOMIES, MITIGATE AND RESPOND TO DISASTERS Colorado Comeback bills seek to mitigate devastation from natural disasters, provide assistance to businesses growing in rural communities DENVER, CO - – Governor Polis today signed four bills into law that will boost rural economies, protect and restore watersheds, and help Colorado address droughts, wildfires and floods. SB21-234 , sponsored by Rep. Lisa Cutter and Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, provides $3 million to the Department of Agriculture to ensure the state is better prepared to anticipate, mitigate, or respond to droughts. The impact of Colorado’s drought was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which has taken a severe economic toll on the agriculture industry. This bill will help the state plan for and mitigate future droughts and climate disturbances. “Human caused climate change is threatening rural economies and Colorado’s agriculture industry with increasingly severe droughts, wildfires and climate events that we haven’t prepared for,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “By working to mitigate climate disasters and investing in our state’s response, we will boost Colorado’s recovery and the economic resiliency of our rural and agriculture-based communities.” “Colorado’s watersheds are critical for our economy and the health of our rivers and waterways,” said Rep Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Recent wildfires, droughts and our changing climate are threatening our watersheds and the economic activity that flows from them. I’m proud the governor signed my bill to invest $30 million to restore and protect our watersheds and sustain our economic recovery as we enter yet another potentially devastating wildfire season.” Sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Marc Catlin R-Montrose, SB21-240 , transfers $30 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for the Watershed Restoration and Flood Mitigation Grant Program to help watersheds recover from the impacts of wildfire. The bill also sets aside funds to conduct a statewide watershed analysis that investigates the susceptibility of life, safety, infrastructure, and water supplies to wildfire impacts. “The Rural Jump Start Grant Program is a proven initiative that drives economic growth in rural and economically distressed communities by incentivizing employers to hire new workers or attracting new businesses,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “The stimulus bill the governor signed today will help create jobs in rural Colorado and extend the Colorado Comeback to more communities and businesses, particularly in parts of our state that are being affected by the market transition away from coal to renewable energy.” Sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, SB21-229 invests $3 million in the Rural Jump Start Grant Program. The program helps economically distressed communities – particularly communities affected by the market transition away from coal to more renewable energy sources – attract new businesses and jobs. Of the grants available, new businesses can receive up to $20,000 for establishing operations in rural jump-start zones and up to $2,500 for each new job they create, while businesses establishing operations in coal transition communities (as identified in the Office of Just Transition Action Plan ) can receive up to $40,000 as well as up to $5,000 for each new job they create. “We just faced one of the worst wildfire seasons on record, we’re still in a severe drought, and we’re looking at another summer of high temperatures and potentially devastating wildfires,” said Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “The funding we’re providing in this bill will help Coloradans recovering from the pandemic protect their property from wildfires. This summer and in the years to come, we’ll have more resources and be better prepared because of the stimulus funds we’re investing today.” “Climate change is causing increasingly devastating wildfires that hurt our economy, businesses and people across our state,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “Wildfire mitigation works. It protects businesses and homes and limits the economic devastation from these disasters. Investing in wildfire mitigation and our state’s response will help Colorado recover faster from the pandemic by putting people to work on fire mitigation projects and protecting communities from the economic aftermath of wildfire destruction.” SB21-258 , sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Meg Froelich, creates the Wildfire Mitigation Capacity Development Fund in the Department of Natural Resources to support wildfire mitigation, expand workforce capacity through investments in Colorado Youth Corps Association and the Department of Corrections SWIFT program, coordinate cross-boundary wildfire mitigation efforts, facilitate engagement with other property owners, and connect priority wildfire mitigation projects with available resources. Additionally, the bill creates the Hazard Mitigation Fund to assist local jurisdictions in obtaining the matching funds required for certain federal hazard mitigation grants. Finally, the bill dedicates almost $30 million across various wildfire mitigation and response funds to help the state bolster wildfire prevention, detection, and response. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to help create more high-quality child care facilities in Colorado and save families money. < Back March 6, 2024 Lukens Bill to Boost Child Care, Save Parents Money Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to help create more high-quality child care facilities in Colorado and save families money. This bill would create incentives and support for local governments and communities with expressed need for more child care facilities, such as rural and mountain towns. “Child care is the foundation to future educational success, and it’s important that our families and kids have access to high-quality child care in their communities,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “This bill would help local governments create and support new child care facilities in their towns, easing the burden on families to find a location that’s close to home and saving them money. When we support families, we strengthen communities and I am committed to helping our youngest learners succeed.” HB24-1237 , also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs, passed by a vote of 11-0, would help reduce costs and burden for child care by providing technical planning, building, construction, and development support to increase child care capacity in communities. Specifically, this legislation would provide incentives and support for local governments, private partners, builders, and child care providers to: Create regulatory alignment and simplification of the processes to develop child care facilities Navigate the process of creating or developing a child care facility Access capital to help with development or renovation of new child care spaces Outlined in the legislation are three specific programs including the Child Care Facility Development Toolkit and Technical Assistance Program to create support mechanisms including training and web resources, the Child Care Facility Development Planning Grant Program to help local governments accelerate the development of new child care facilities, and the Child Care Facility Development Capital Grant Program to directly support the development of care facilities that meet a demonstrable need in a community. Previous Next

< Back March 15, 2021 SCHOOL FUNDING BILL SIGNED INTO LAW Law ensures school districts do not experience significant funding reductions due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases DENVER, CO– Governor Jared Polis today signed into law legislation sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Barbara McLachlan to protect school district funding that otherwise would have been reduced due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases. “The legislature is doing everything we can to put students, teachers, and parents first as we recover from this pandemic and work to build back stronger,” said JBC Vice-Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This funding boost protects schools across our state from catastrophic budget cuts at the worst possible time. I’m proud of how we brought together stakeholders from across the education community to craft this bipartisan solution.” “Our students and educators were among the hardest hit by the pandemic, and I’m proud that we’re doing right by them today,” said House Education Chair Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango . “Building back stronger means making sizable investments in education and working to give our schools the funding they need to get back on track and start bridging the COVID education gap.” SB21-053 , sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Barbara McLachlan, would buy down the Budget Stabilization Factor by $121 million and ensure that schools do not face consequential funding reductions due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases. In addition, the bill allocates an additional $85 million to districts in need, including $25 million to rural schools. Under the bill, all school districts will see their state share of total program funding restored to within two percent of what the legislature adopted in the 2020 School Finance Act. The bill passed by a vote of 52-11 in the House. Previous Next

< Back May 20, 2021 FED STIM INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING, WORKFORCE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVANCE DENVER, CO — House committees today advanced three bills that would allocate federal stimulus dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act toward affordable housing, workforce development and behavioral health. “The need for affordable housing has skyrocketed in Colorado; across our state, hardworking families are struggling to find a place to live or afford their rent or mortgage,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “That’s why the legislature is going to immediately deploy $100 million in federal funds to help finance the construction of 7,000 affordable housing units across the state. This summer, we’ll work alongside experts, lawmakers, community advocates, and state departments to develop recommendations for how we can most effectively allocate the remaining $450 million in federal funds to make housing more affordable in Colorado.” “Housing is a human right, but it’s way too hard in Colorado for middle and lower-income families to find an affordable place to live,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Housing costs are rising faster than wages and salaries can keep up as more people move into our great state. We heard these concerns loud and clear during our statewide listening tour, and we are going to advance transformational changes to make housing more affordable for Coloradans.” HB21-1329 , which passed the House Transportation and Local Government Committee by a vote of 6-4, is sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Steven Woodrow and channels $550 million in federal stimulus funds toward affordable housing efforts. It immediately invests $100 million of that funding to build 7,000 housing units that will help Coloradans who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic obtain affordable housing. The bill requires a broad and diverse stakeholder process during the interim that will develop and make recommendations to the General Assembly for how to allocate the remaining $450 million. The funds will be used on programs or services that address housing insecurity, a lack of affordable housing or homelessness, including construction of new affordable housing units, housing and rental assistance programs and supportive housing programs. HB21-1330 , which passed the House Public and Behavioral Health Committee by a vote of 8-4, is sponsored by Representative Julie McCluskie and Naquetta Ricks and uses federal funds to provide a $50 million boost to the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative. The funding will increase access to robust pathways for workers to obtain news skills, earn higher wages and be prepared for the in-demand careers of the future. The bill seeks to rebuild and revitalize the state’s workforce by supporting students to complete their postsecondary credentials. The funding boost will be used to reverse the significant decline in enrollment in public higher education institutions, high rates of job loss and continuing unemployment, and the overall disruption to the workforce caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also provides $1.5 million in grant funding to school districts to increase the number of students who complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) student aid applications before graduating high school. “The pandemic has disrupted the careers of hardworking people across our state,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This bill will provide direct support to students and workers seeking to complete higher education or skills training programs. It will increase access to critical education programs that help workers obtain new skills and earn higher wages. By boosting our workforce and easing the path for Coloradans to complete their degrees and certificate programs, we will help workers fill good jobs and bounce back stronger from the pandemic.” “I see it every day in my community–hardworking Coloradans struggling to build a better life who don’t have the resources to complete the degree or certificate program that could set them up for a successful career,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “Businesses need skilled workers, and workers and students need affordable pathways to obtain critical skills. That’s exactly what the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative already does. With this $50 million investment in our workforce, we are going to create tremendous opportunities for Coloradans to build successful careers.” Funding allocated under HB21-1330 will provide direct and indirect support to students to incentivize them to complete degree and credential programs, assist in navigating career options and address equity gaps in higher education and the workforce. A portion of the funds will be used for scholarships and financial assistance. Under the bill, higher education institutions will develop student assistance plans that describe how they will spend their allocation to assist students in enrolling, persisting and completing the program. SB21-137 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Chis Kennedy, was amended to deploy over $100 million in federal stimulus funds immediately for emergency behavioral health services. The pandemic and its accompanying economic recession has taken a toll on the mental health of Coloradans, with mental health challenges and substance use disorders taking a particularly high toll on people of color and people who live and work in frontier and rural communities. In 2020, fatal drug overdoses increased by 59 percent in Colorado. The bill passed the Public and Behavioral Health Committee by a vote of 10-3. Among its many provisions, the bill provides: recovery-oriented services to individuals with a SUD or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder, support for training programs for providers in rural and metro areas to develop competencies in mental health and substance abuse and grants to nonprofits to provide vouchers to individuals living in rural and frontier communities in need of behavioral health-care services. The amendments also create a Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund and a robust interim process to allocate federal stimulus funds for behavioral health. The Colorado Comeback Roadmap to Building Back Stronger envisions spending over half a billion on behavioral health services. “This session, we’ve passed legislation to require insurance coverage for annual mental health wellness exams, provide three free mental health sessions for Colorado youth, and create a behavioral health administration, and we’re not done yet,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Colorado will build back stronger if we can connect people with the behavioral health care they need. We are going to use a significant portion of Colorado’s federal relief funds to address urgent needs and bolster our state’s behavioral and mental health capacity.” “The pandemic has had a number of devastating impacts on Coloradans’ mental health, and one distressing pattern we’re seeing is that substance use deaths are rising,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “This bill will help Colorado build back stronger by doing everything possible to reverse the impact the pandemic has had on behavioral health. It creates a process to invest over half a billion dollars to ensure critical resources fund the treatment and care that Coloradans need.” Previous Next

< Back November 11, 2022 Julie McCluskie Elected Speaker DENVER, CO – Speaker-elect Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, today released the following statement after House Democrats elected her the next Speaker of the Colorado House: “It is an enormous privilege to serve the great state of Colorado, and I’m honored to lead one of the largest and most diverse Democratic majorities in our state’s history. The diversity of this body is our strength. As public servants, we are called upon to answer the expectations and needs of the people in our districts and to govern responsibly on behalf of every person in our state–those who voted for us and those who did not. “We have made bold progress to lower health care costs, make housing more affordable, protect our freedoms and invest in our schools, but Coloradans are still struggling in the aftermath of a deadly pandemic, global inflation and the worst wildfires in our state’s history. Even with these challenges, I know that our brightest days are still to come. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what’s best for our state, move Colorado forward and help Coloradans thrive. ” House Democrats will have 46 seats in the 74th General Assembly. The caucus is one of the largest and most diverse ever elected in Colorado. Nearly 75 percent of the incoming Democratic lawmakers are women, nearly 40 percent are people of color, and 13 percent are LGBTQ+. Speaker-elect McCluskie was first elected to the General Assembly in 2018 and represents House District 13, which includes Lake, Chafee, Park, Summit, Grand, and Jackson counties. She currently chairs the Joint Budget Committee. Born and raised in Colorado, Julie and her husband Jamie have spent most of their married years in the Rocky Mountains. They are proud parents of two children, Ian and Cait, and enjoy spending family time in Colorado’s great outdoors. Speaker-elect McCluskie has authored landmark legislation to save people money on health insurance, make housing more affordable, and increase funding for public schools, higher education and wildfire mitigation efforts. She spearheaded efforts last year to direct federal recovery dollars toward innovative strategies that will grow Colorado’s workforce and save Coloradans money as they pursue new skills needed to enter growing industries. She spent more than a dozen years working in Summit School District before serving in the General Assembly. ### Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES PAID FAMILY LEAVE BILL (Apr. 30) – The House gave final approval to Rep. Matt Gray and Rep. Monica Duran’s bill, SB19-188 Family Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI), that will ensure a seamless implementation of the best possible FAMLI policy for Coloradans. The plan creates an outline and execution schedule that lays the groundwork for the implementation of a strong, robust paid family leave policy for Colorado workers and businesses by 2024. “We’ve got consensus across all political spectrums that paid leave should be a reality,” said Rep. Matt Gray. “This is the biggest next step we can take and look forward to taking bigger ones in the future that will help make life better for the majority of workers in our state who don’t have access to paid leave.” “I escaped domestic violence and battled homelessness to keep my son safe but I lost a job and home, and in that moment I made a promise to myself that if I was ever in position to make a difference and be a voice for others, I would,” said Rep. Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill will help offer safe leave. Whether you’re a server, a nurse, a fast food worker, or a lawyer, you should have access to paid leave. Over 90 percent of Coloradans don’t have access to leave to care for a sick loved one or a newborn.” The implementation plan is comprised of a number of analyses that will ensure the program is administered efficiently, effectively, and fiscally responsible, including: A family and medical leave implementation task force, which will be appointed by July 1, 2019 . A report prepared for the taskforce with results from a third-party study and recommendations from experts in the field by October 1, 2019 . An independent actuarial analysis completed by December 1, 2019 . The implementation plan also requires an analysis of the feasibility of contracting with a third party to administer parts of the program as an alternative to administration by the state. The plan does not change the timeline for when Coloradans can start receiving benefits from the program. These analyses will assist in the preparation of legislation in the 2020 legislative session establishing paid family leave in Colorado. Following the establishment of the program, education and outreach will begin on January 1, 2022, the funding stream will be established on January 1, 2023 and benefits will be provided beginning on January 1, 2024. The bill does require that the General Assembly grant permission for implementation of the program by legislation. Eighty eight percent of Coloradans do not have access to paid family leave, and even unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act is inaccessible for 64 percent of working people. That means most Coloradans do not have time off to recover from a serious illness, to care for a sick family member or to welcome the birth of a child. They are often forced to choose between their jobs or taking care of sick loved one. SB19-188 passed by a vote of 40-24. It goes back to the Senate for approval of amendments. Previous Next