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< Back Rep. Lukens: Friend of the Family Farmer Feb 27, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Steamboat Pilot & Today here . Greetings from the state Capitol. We are about 50 days into the 2024 legislative session, and we have been busy creating laws that help Coloradans. Earlier this month, we hosted 4-H youth from Rangely to Vail, from Oak Creek to Maybell, at the state Capitol. Their advocacy and dedication is a fervent reminder as to why we need to continue supporting agriculture in Colorado. I am proud to work on many bills this legislative session that promote agriculture, a significant economic driver on the Western Slope. Our youth touched on essential questions regarding water, wolves and youth political engagement. These last two months at the state Capitol have flown by. It is an absolute privilege to be here representing House District 26, and I spend every day using my voice to represent the people of HD 26 and our Western Slope values. On many of our agricultural bills, I work closely with many stakeholders, one of which is the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, and I am proud to be a trusted partner and one of this year’s “Friend of the Family Farmer” recipients. It is important to me to advocate for our rural ranchers, farmers and community. Stewards of the Land In Northwest Colorado, we are surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes, which are central to our tourism and agricultural economies. My constituents are true stewards of the land in a multitude of ways, which is why I am bringing forward SB 24-126, Conservation Easement Income Tax Credit. Conservation easements are used for multiple purposes, including creating wildlife habitat, stream restoration and larger open space. In addition, conservation easements foster economic resiliency by keeping families on their land and thus supporting rural economies. We have dozens of examples of small-family operations who have not only been able to access the conservation easement credit, but have been able to keep their ranching and farming operations in production because they were able to permanently protect their land through conservation easements. Our agricultural economy Engaging with the 4-H youth reminds me that we must support not just the current agricultural producers but also the next generation. For this reason, I am proud of HB 24-1138, Tax Credit for Transfer of Agricultural Assets, a bipartisan bill which passed through the Agriculture Committee with unanimous support. Securing agricultural assets like agricultural land, water and livestock can often be an expensive and arduous task, particularly for beginning farmers and ranchers. This bill will establish a tax credit to incentivize agricultural asset owners to sell or lease their agricultural assets to a beginning farmer or rancher. With the increasing age of the average farmer and rancher, we need to do what we can to support the next generation of agricultural producers in Colorado. Challenges confronting rural agriculture This last year has not been easy, with the introduction of wolves on the Western Slope. I continue to hear about how concerned and stressed our community members are. As House Speaker Julie McCluskie, state Sen. Dylan Roberts and I fielded questions from the 4-H youth earlier this month, we could feel the impact of wolf introduction on them and our communities as a whole. Even before the wolf introduction, farmers and ranchers across the country have struggled with mental health issues and a lack of the necessary resources to get help. Therefore, another bill I am working on, SB24-055, Agricultural & Rural Behavioral Health Care, is a bipartisan bill that will create dedicated programs, foster community collaboration and provide crucial funding to support the mental and behavioral well-being of our farmers, ranchers and rural residents. Community engagement and collaboration Stay tuned for more bills coming to support our economy, our environment and education. I am working on a few more bills related to the preservation of water, protecting our youth from bad actors on social media, supporting affordable housing, incentivizing the creation of early child care facilities and promoting economic prosperity. Please contact me at repmeghanlukens@gmail.com with comments, concerns and questions. Also, please send me an email if you would like to be added to my newsletter for more frequent legislative updates. Let’s keep in touch and keep passing bills that make a difference. Onward! Previous Next

< Back Rep. Meghan Lukens: Delivering results for the Western Slope May 8, 2025 See more This story was originally published in the Vail Daily here . As the 2025 legislative session comes to a close, I am proud to report that we have made significant strides in addressing the needs of our Western Slope communities. From enhancing education to improving health care access, increasing affordability, and protecting our natural resources, your input has guided our work at the Capitol and focused on practical solutions that make a difference in Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties. Investments in education As chair of the House Education Committee, improving our education system remained my top priority. I sponsored HB25-1320 , the School Finance Act, which significantly increases funding for Colorado’s public schools. This investment will benefit our rural schools and ensure districts across the state can provide students with the necessary resources to succeed. The bill prioritizes sustainable funding for years to come, with a focus on supporting our most vulnerable students. I also sponsored HB25-1135 , which empowers school districts to establish policies on cell phone use during school hours. This law addresses a concern I’ve heard repeatedly from educators and parents across our district. By allowing local solutions to this challenge, we’re helping students focus on learning while supporting their mental health. Another education priority I championed was SB25-167 , which addresses housing costs for educators by offering accessible mortgages and down payments to help teachers live in the communities where they teach. This initiative aims to support approximately 2,500 educators, strengthening our local districts and improving student outcomes. Making Colorado more affordable As I travel throughout the Western Slope, affordability remains one of the most pressing concerns I hear from constituents. That’s why I am proud of the work we have done this session to ease financial burdens on Colorado families. We took action to eliminate hidden costs that impact your budget by passing HB25-1090 , which requires businesses to be transparent about pricing and eliminates deceptive “junk fees” that often surprise consumers at checkout. We also tackled price gouging during emergencies through HB25-1010 , which prevents businesses from exploiting disasters to inflate prices on essential items like groceries and diapers. For renters, we passed HB25-1004 to regulate how algorithms are used in setting rental prices, preventing coordinated increases among landlords. For everyone dealing with the frustration of unwanted subscriptions, SB25-145 now makes it simpler to cancel recurring charges. We also protected vital health care access in our state budget this year by preserving Medicaid coverage, dental services, and health programs for children. For families with young children, we maintained support for child care assistance and school meals , ensuring that no child goes hungry during the school day. Health and safety This session, we built upon our progress to protect your fundamental right to reproductive health care. Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 79, which enshrined the right to abortion care in the Colorado Constitution. We passed legislation to implement the ballot measure and remove the state’s prohibition on using public funds to cover abortion care. We also passed legislation to strengthen our shield law and protect providers and out-of-state patients from hostile out-of-state investigations related to legally protected health care. Additionally, we passed legislation to ensure emergency access to abortion and miscarriage care by creating a state-level version of the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. Health care access remains crucial for our rural communities. During this session, I sponsored HB25-1222 , ensuring that rural independent pharmacies can use private couriers for prescriptions and receive fair reimbursement. The bill also defines “flex pharmacies” that can operate both in-person and remotely, bringing essential services closer to home for many rural residents. I also sponsored HB25-1223 , which initiates a comprehensive study of capital needs for rural and frontier hospitals throughout the state. This bipartisan effort will help us understand what our healthcare facilities need to meet current standards. I know how scary and challenging it is to drive on our mountain roads during the winter months. I sponsored SB25-069 , which authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation to issue permits to qualified vendors who can help install or remove tire chains or other traction devices for both commercial drivers and passenger vehicles. These vendors will operate at designated highway locations, making winter travel safer and more efficient for everyone who travels our mountain roads. Moving forward together As we look ahead, I remain committed to bipartisan solutions that make Colorado more affordable, protect our natural resources, support quality education, and ensure health care access for all residents. It’s truly an honor to represent the people of Eagle, Routt, Moffat, and Rio Blanco counties. I welcome your thoughts on our accomplishments and your priorities for the future. Don’t hesitate to contact me at meghan.lukens.house@coleg.gov with ideas, comments, or concerns. I invite you to join one of our upcoming town halls this summer to discuss these legislative achievements in person and share your thoughts on issues important to our communities. You can also join my newsletter for more regular updates by emailing me. Let’s keep in touch and continue making a difference in House District 26. Onward! Meghan Lukens of Steamboat Springs is the representative for Colorado’s House District 26, which encompasses Moffat, Rio Blanco, Eagle, and Routt counties. Previous Next

< Back August 29, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: STORY, CUTTER & TITONE JOIN LOCAL LEADERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR TOWN HALL ON ELECTION INTEGRITY Lawmakers tout Colorado Election Security Act championed by Colorado Democrats EVERGREEN, CO – State lawmakers, including Senator Tammy Story, D-Conifer, Representative Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton, and Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, recently held a town hall and community discussion on election integrity at the Evergreen Fire Rescue. The event was also attended by Commissioners Lesley Dahlkemper and Andy Kerr as well as Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder George Stern. Colorado is known for its free and fair gold standard election system, yet Republican-driven election conspiracies in recent years continue to threaten and undermine our democracy. The town hall discussion served as an opportunity for community members to raise their concerns about the impact of these misconceptions as well as learn about the work the state legislature is doing to ensure our elections remain free and fair while continuing to strengthen our democracy. “As state legislators, we must do everything in our power to strengthen our democracy and make sure our elections remain free and fair,” said Story. “Colorado leads the nation in election security, and with the Colorado Election Security Act signed into law this year, we made sure our gold standard election system is even stronger. Every Coloradan should feel comfortable knowing their vote counts and their vote matters. The actions we took this session and the actions we will take going forward will ensure that.” “Our democratic process has been dangerously damaged by lies, and it is more important than ever to stand firm for the truth,” said Cutter. “The truth is that elections in Colorado are amongst the most secure in the nation, and we acted this year to further strengthen our system. Public trust is imperative for a high functioning democracy, so we will continue to pursue commonsense policy solutions so all Coloradans have access to voting and can exercise that right without fear.” "When we passed the Colorado Election Security Act, we took critical steps to defend our elections from those using their positions to undermine and dismantle our free and fair election system," said Titone. "Colorado's voter access and election security are top-tier, and we're pleased to say people who tamper with election equipment or break the laws surrounding elections will be held accountable for their undemocratic actions." This year, Colorado Democrats passed the Colorado Election Security Act , which improves election security by, among other measures, prohibiting anyone from serving as an election official if they have been convicted of any election offense or any offense or conspiracy to commit sedition, insurrection, treason, or conspiracy to overthrow the government. The Colorado Election Security Act further secures Colorado’s gold standard elections by improving training for clerks and election workers, and penalizes anyone who interferes with or obstructs the notification of a potential violation, or retaliates against someone providing notice. The law also prohibits accessing electronic equipment or a reporting system without authorization, makes knowingly publishing passwords or other confidential information a class 5 felony, and directs the Colorado District and Supreme Courts to expedite scheduling and issuance of final rulings of any orders in connection with a violation of election code. Previous Next

< Back August 9, 2024 McCluskie Attends Ribbon Cutting for New Workforce Housing in Buena Vista BUENA VISTA, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie today joined Governor Jared Polis and local leaders at a ribbon cutting ceremony for new workforce housing units in Buena Vista that will support Department of Corrections Employees. “I’m excited to see these new housing options come online for Department of Corrections employees in Buena Vista,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie. “Too many corrections officers and DOC employees have struggled to find a place to live where they can afford, and many have been commuting long distances. This will go a long way toward recruiting and retaining our crucial DOC workforce in Buena Vista and ensuring a higher quality of life for those that live and work here. I want to especially thank Colorado WINS for their work advocating for state employees.” Previous Next

The House today passed two bipartisan bills to boost the math performance of Colorado’s students and train educators in “Stop the Bleed” for emergency, life-saving situations. < Back April 13, 2023 Bipartisan Bills to Boost PreK-12 Math Performance, Train Educators for Emergencies Press Ahead DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bipartisan bills to boost the math performance of Colorado’s students and train educators in “Stop the Bleed” for emergency, life-saving situations. HB23-1231 passed by a vote of 51 to 12 and HB23-1213 passed by a vote of 57 to 6. “As a former teacher, I know the importance of out-of-school programming, which is why we’re making a major investment to improve the math skills of all of our students,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, sponsor of HB23-1231. “By using evidence-informed tools, we can meet students where they are while empowering educators and parents in the process. From educator training to creating math-focused learning opportunities after school, this legislation takes a multi-pronged approach to boost our students' math skills.” HB23-1231 , sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan and Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, invests $25.6 million to incorporate multiple evidence-informed curriculum and intervention strategies into schools, after-school programs, and educator training to improve students’ math performance. Specifically, this bill makes it easier for students to get the support they need to improve their math skills both in and out of school. HB23-1231 permits the Colorado Department of Education to make free training available through a train-the-trainer model and technical assistance in math instruction to empower teachers to incorporate evidence-informed math education in the classrooms and identify areas of improvement for students. The bill would enable schools to send notifications to parents and caregivers if their students are underperforming or struggling in math and incorporates a train-the-parent model to increase understanding of math concepts at home. This bill also creates a new state-based grant program focused on after-school math and STEM improvement. In addition, HB23-1231 takes a compounding approach to improve students' math skills throughout the course of their educational experiences. This includes integrating early numeracy into universal preschool quality standards and establishing a Ninth Grade Success Grant Program to help students tackle math concepts at a critical point in their secondary education. “The more teachers and staff we can prepare for emergency situations, the more likely we are to save a life,” said School Psychologist Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of HB23-1213 . “This legislation makes it easier for schools to get the training and materials needed to stop excessive bleeding. Time is precious in any emergency and this bipartisan legislation ensures teachers, staff and older students have proper “Stop the Bleed” training to respond effectively and efficiently to save lives.” HB23-1213 , sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Mary Bradfield, would require the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to distribute “Stop the Bleed” kits and training materials to K-12 schools that opt into the program. Bleed control kits and training resources contain first-aid materials for treating blood loss in traumatic injuries. This legislation aims to better prepare educators for emergency situations by providing life-saving materials accompanied by training to help keep people alive. “Stop the Bleed” is a straightforward, standardized set of training materials and recommendations for everyday people caring for someone experiencing excessive bleeding through applying pressure to the wound and tying tourniquets to help those trained act quickly in emergency situations. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to protect Colorado renters from arbitrary, retaliatory, and discriminatory evictions. < Back March 14, 2023 House Advances Eviction Protections DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to protect Colorado renters from arbitrary, retaliatory, and discriminatory evictions. “Evictions are devastating for Colorado renters, leading to an increased likelihood of food instability and lower academic achievement in kids, and even causing me to drop out of high school when my family was evicted,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver . “Landlords should only be able to kick you out of your home for instances like lease violations or refusal to pay rent. Preventing unnecessary evictions ensures that families aren’t frivolously pushed out of their communities.” “Evictions are disproportionately filed against low-income and people of color, creating barriers to qualifying for future housing and perpetuating the cycle of housing insecurity,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver . “I have seen the impacts to the families I have worked with over the last 20 years who are regularly faced with housing instability. Colorado law has no just cause eviction protections, allowing landlords to evict tenants even when they pay their rent on time and follow the rules. This legislation will help keep more Colorado families from being unfairly pushed out while allowing landlords the tools they need to keep their units profitable and in good condition.” HB23-1171 creates the Just Cause Eviction Policy in Colorado law to prevent an unnecessary eviction when a tenant abides by the lease agreement and keeps up with rental payments. It permits landlords to evict a tenant when a tenant: Fails to pay rent after the landlord provides a written notice of nonpayment, Commits a substantial lease violation and does not cure it within 10 days of receiving written notice of the violation, Refuses to allow the landlord to enter the property after the landlord has given at least 72 hours of notice, unless the lease requires a longer period of notice, or Refuses to sign a new rental agreement with terms that are substantially identical to the current agreement. It also permits some no-fault evictions, which allow a landlord to evict for demolition, conversion, or substantial repairs to a residence, and for the purpose of allowing the landlord or their family to live in the unit as a primary residence. If a landlord moves forward with a no-fault eviction, they must provide two months’ rent worth of relocation assistance. Renters under 18 years old, over 60 years old, low-income, or with a disability qualify for a third month of relocation assistance. The bill includes certain exemptions from the relocation assistance requirement, including small landlords. The bill exempts short-term rentals and properties owned by landlords who rent out a portion of their primary residence, including an accessory dwelling unit. Previous Next

Legislation would improve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal transfers, ghost guns, and investigations on tip line requests < Back April 10, 2024 Bill to Improve Investigations of Illegal Firearm Activity Passes Committee Legislation would improve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal transfers, ghost guns, and investigations on tip line requests DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed gun violence prevention legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Meg Froelich that would improve investigations of illegal firearm activity. SB24-003 passed by a vote of 8-3, with all Republicans on the committee voting against more resources to crack down on illegal activity. “Colorado Democrats should be proud of what we have accomplished on Gun Violence Prevention, including magazine limits, safe storage, and prohibitions on unregistered “ghost” guns,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “But we must ensure that our law enforcement officials are able to investigate illegal firearm crimes. This bill gives CBI the authority and the resources to act on the investigations with local law enforcement.” “One of my top priorities as a legislator is making our communities safer, which is why I’m proud to carry this bill to help the Colorado Bureau of Investigations prevent gun crimes,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill creates a framework for CBI to identify and prevent illegal firearm transfers and ghost guns, as well as investigations from a tip line, to give them more tools to improve safety in every corner of Colorado.” SB24-003 would give the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the ability to investigate illegal activity involving firearms. It would appropriate $1.7 million to the Department of Public Safety to create a team that investigates individuals convicted of felonies who are attempting to illegally purchase a firearm, and other illegal firearm crimes such as possession of a ghost gun. Previous Next

< Back March 24, 2022 MULLICA’S BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY PASS COMMITTEE Representative Kyle Mullica sponsored two bills to save Coloradans money on housing and to provide licensing fee relief for nurses DENVER, CO – Two bills sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullica to save Coloradans money passed committee today. HB22-1282 would increase housing affordability, homeownership rates and create jobs through innovative housing solutions and is part of the package of bills from the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force. HB22-1298 would provide licensing fee relief for nurses. “Making housing more affordable is a top priority,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Federal Heights . “We’re investing to build thousands of new, affordable homes across the state and boost homeownership in the process. This bipartisan bill will foster new construction and manufacturing jobs that result in more affordable homes for Coloradans. We’re also working to save our nurses money. Our health care professionals have been working tirelessly for more than two years to keep Coloradans safe and healthy. A second bill would cut fees for professional licensing or certification for nurses, aides and technicians so they can save money and have one less thing to worry about.” Innovative Housing Incentive Program: HB22-1282 , sponsored by Representatives Kyle Mullica and Mike Lynch, deploys $40 million to attract, encourage and support the construction of innovative forms of affordable housing to be built all across Colorado. Examples include modular, pre-fabricated, manufactured and other innovative forms of housing. This will quickly boost the affordable housing stock in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, as well as increase the rate of homeownership in communities that have traditionally lacked access to this important wealth-building tool. The legislation will also create jobs by incentivizing new innovative housing companies to manufacture and place their homes in Colorado. HB22-1282 passed the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee by a vote of 9 to 4. Fee Relief for Nurses: HB22-1298 , also sponsored by Representative Mullica, would provide licensure and certification fee relief for nurses, nurse aides and psychiatric technicians. Colorado’s health care workforce is experiencing a major shortage of qualified health care professionals. In addition, above-capacity patient levels and frequent exposure to COVID-19 have only added to the stress for health care professionals working at hospitals, assisted living residences and mental health facilities. This bill aims to save health care workers money on their professional licensing and certification. HB22-1298 passed the House Finance Committee by a vote of 7 to 3. Previous Next

The House today advanced two bills to require continuity of health care coverage and expand presumptive eligibility to include long-term care. < Back March 18, 2024 Bills to Increase Health Care Accessibility Pass the House DENVER, CO - The House today advanced two bills to require continuity of health care coverage and expand presumptive eligibility to include long-term care. “When Coloradans are transitioning to a new health care plan, they can be at risk of losing continued access to their current provider,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of SB24-093. “This legislation improves access to health care by streamlining coverage for the treatment of serious medical conditions when a consumer is transitioning to a new health care plan. We’re ensuring that people can receive the care they need when they need it.” If a person is disenrolled from their health plan and begins receiving coverage from a new insurance provider for certain existing courses of treatment, SB24-093 would require the new provider to cover the treatment as in-network until the course of treatment is completed or for up to 90 days. Qualifying medical circumstances covered by the bill include serious and complex medical conditions, pregnancy, and terminal illness. After the coverage timeframes outlined in the bill have been reached, the new insurance provider would be able to conduct a utilization review to determine continued treatment or authorize additional treatment. SB24-093 passed by a vote of 48-15. “The time it takes to determine a Coloradan’s eligibility for long-term care can delay people with health care needs, like those with disabilities, from receiving the care they need,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of HB24-1229. “This bill is crucial in streamlining and simplifying the eligibility process, so Coloradans can receive necessary and immediate health care that keeps them healthy.” Beginning January 1, 2026, HB24-1229 would remove the requirement for a level of care assessment before a person can access long-term services and supports by allowing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to collect any information required for federal authorization. HB24-1229 passed by a vote of 63-0. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2019 SULLIVAN, GARNETT INTRODUCE LIFE-SAVING EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER BILL Bill named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III (Feb 14) – Today, Rep. Tom Sullivan and Majority Leader Alec Garnett were joined by survivors of gun violence, law enforcement officers and state legislators to unveil new legislation to prevent gun violence and protect first responders. “This is why I’m here – I’m here to help save lives and to make sure what happened to my family and my son doesn’t happen to others,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “This Extreme Risk Protection Order bill is about saving lives. I wear my son Alex’s jacket every single day I come to the state capitol. Watching your child’s body drop into the ground is as bad as it gets. And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that none of you have to do that. I don’t care what party you belong to, I’m going to everything I can until this jacket falls off of me.” Rep. Sullivan’s son Alex was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting on his twenty-seventh birthday. “When an individual is in crisis, loved ones and law enforcement are often the first to see signs that they pose a threat to themselves or others. Extreme Risk Protection Orders can save lives by creating a way for family members and law enforcement to act before warning signs escalate into tragedies,” said Rep. Garnett, D-Denver. “This bill has some of the strongest due process provisions of any ERPO bill in the country. Coloradans refuse to maintain the status quo and refuse to simply live with the consequences of doing nothing to address the epidemic of gun violence.” This bill will give law enforcement another tool to help keep our communities safe.Through this bill, family or law enforcement can petition a judge for an Extreme Risk Protection Order for someone who is exhibiting violent or dangerous behavior. If approved, a temporary order would be placed for up to two weeks. After that, family or law enforcement could petition the judge for a full Extreme Risk Protection Order. If the judge determines, by a clear and convincing evidence standard, that the respondent poses a significant risk of causing personal injury to themselves or others, they could approve the protection order for up to 364 days. During this hearing, respondents will be provided legal counsel at no cost. The respondent can also request to have the order terminated at any point during the 364-day time period. The bill, which was introduced during the 2018 legislative session and which passed the House, is once again named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III, who was killed in the line of duty last New Year’s Eve by an individual in the middle of a mental health crisis. Deputy Parrish was just twenty-nine years old. Law enforcement officials, including Deputy Parrish’s sheriff, Tony Spurlock, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, spoke in favor of the bill at a press conference today. Pelle’s son Jeff is a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy who was also seriously injured responding to the same call with Deputy Parrish. Senators Lois Court, D-Denver, and Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, also spoke at today’s press conference, sharing a statement from Deputy Parrish’s parents Zack and Cris Parrish to remind us all of the need for this life-saving legislation: “It is incumbent upon us to support the Zack S. Parrish, III Law, a measure which will limit the accessibility that a mentally and/or emotionally ill person would have to obtain such weaponry. This is not about taking gun rights away from anyone; it is about protecting our first responders, families, and the community at large, thus reducing these tragedies in the future,” the Parrish family urged. Kaylee Tyner, a senior at Columbine High School spoke at the press conference and led a moment of silence in honor of the one year anniversary of the Parkland High School shooting. Thirteen states have enacted bipartisan ERPO laws (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington). At least 29 other states and Washington, D.C. have considered ERPO laws. Jane Dougherty of Littleton whose sister Mary Sherlach was killed in the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Conn. And who has been a leader on gun violence prevention efforts here in Colorado and in the capitol also spoke at today’s press conference. Colorado lost over eleven-hundred people to suicide in 2017. Studies show that access to a gun in a home triples the risk of death by suicide. Indiana’s firearm suicide rate decreased by nearly eight percent in the ten years after their Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) legislation was enacted. The text of HB19-1177 can be found here. Watch Rep. Sullivan’s remarks here. Previous Next

< Back May 12, 2021 HOUSE BILL WOULD BOOST WILDFIRE AND DISASTER MITIGATION DENVER, CO– The House today advanced HB21-1208 , legislation that would help Colorado communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change and related natural disasters. “As the changing climate threatens structures, livestock, and Coloradans across our state, we have to take action now to help build more resilient communities,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “This bill will help local governments and communities draw down significant federal resources to protect against natural disasters like wildfires and droughts that are devastating our state, forcing Coloradans from their homes, and harming industries that create jobs. Our local communities desperately need a consistent, ongoing source of revenue to fund mitigation resources to fund mitigation projects so they can be better prepared to weather increasingly severe droughts, fires, and record temperatures.” “By investing in natural disaster and wildfire mitigation, we can prevent some of the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in damages and losses consumers and property owners face each year in Colorado,” said Rep Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “Climate change is making natural disasters worse and worse each year, burning people’s homes and threatening job creating industries that rely on our beautiful environment.” HB21-1208, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Gray, would create a natural disaster enterprise to draw down federal funds to help Colorado communities mitigate the impact and reduce the threat of climate-related natural disasters, such as wildfires. The bill establishes a small $2 per year flat fee on some disaster related insurance policies that will be leveraged for three times as much federal funding. The funding will be used to finance disaster mitigation projects in communities that are actively working to increase their resiliency.. The grant program will also provide technical assistance to local governments to help them address and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Previous Next

< Back June 13, 2020 HOUSE GIVES PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO PAID SICK LEAVE, PASSES TELEHEALTH EXPANSION DENVER, CO — The House today gave preliminary approval to legislation that would provide paid sick leave and passed on third reading legislation to expand access to telehealth by a vote of 64-1. “House Democrats are working to help our state get back to work safely by protecting workers when they get sick, so they can stay home and get better without hurting their coworkers or customers,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “No one should have to choose between their paycheck and going to the doctor or caring for a sick child. As a mother of two young boys, I know how important it is to be able to care for them when they are sick.” “As a pediatrician, I know how important it is for Coloradans to get the care they need when they are sick,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thornton. “It shouldn’t matter what industry you work in. All workers should be able to care for themselves or a child or family member. We won’t be unprepared the next time we face a health emergency like COVID-19. With this bill, Coloradans will be able to take time off when they get sick and protect their colleagues without giving up their livelihoods.” SB20-205 , sponsored by Speaker KC Becker and Representative Yadira Caraveo, would allow workers to earn paid sick leave. Currently, 40% of Colorado’s workforce is not afforded the opportunity to earn paid sick days –– creating a “work while sick” culture that increases the transmission of deadly viruses such as COVID-19. The bill allows Colorado workers, including part-time workers, to earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours of work, up to 6 days per year. Sick leave is earned, job-protected time off that workers can use to care for their own health needs or those of a family member. The bill also provides leave during a public health emergency like COVID-19; employees that work 40 or more hours a week will receive at least 80 hours of additional paid sick leave. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has allowed Coloradans across the state to get the care they need without risking their lives,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “Telehealth is critical for our rural communities, improves access to health care and lowers costs. This bill extends access to these critical services so they won’t go away when the public health emergency expires.” SB20-212 , sponsored by Representatives Susan Lontine and Matt Soper, R-Delta, protects access to physical and mental health care via telehealth by continuing policies implemented during the pandemic to expand reimbursement for telehealth services. The bill requires that insurers, including Indian Health Services and Medicaid, continue to reimburse providers for telehealth services. Telehealth coverage helps Coloradans in rural and mountain communities access care without traveling long distances and provides access to care for people served by federally qualified health centers. Previous Next