< Back April 29, 2019 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO HELP COLORADANS SAVE FOR RETIREMENT & GET COLORADANS INTO GOOD PAYING JOBS Bills headed to Gov. Polis for signature (Apr. 29) – The House sent two bills to the Governor today to improve the lives of hardworking Coloradans. The House approved the Colorado Secure Savings Plan Board, a bill by Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp and Rep. Chris Hansen, to allow the state of Colorado to study different options to increase the ability of Colorado workers to save more for their retirement. Almost half of private-sector workers do not have access to a workplace retirement plan. “America is in a retirement crisis—people are not saving enough. In our fast-growing economy, we need a plan to make sure workers can save for the long term and retire securely,” said Rep. Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada. “This bill allows the state to study four models including a no-action plan to see what is the best way to help Coloradans who don’t have access to a workplace retirement savings plan save a little at a time throughout their life for a secure retirement.” In our fast-growing economy, we need a plan to make sure workers can save for the long term and retire securely. Rep. Kraft-Tharp is chair of the House Business Affairs & Labor committee. The “Colorado Secure Savings Plan Board,” SB19-173, creates a board of trustees that would study various options for a public-private partnership that would offer a low-fee plan, similar to Individual Retirement Accounts, to employees without access to workplace plans. Upon conclusion of the study, the board would then send the legislature its recommendations for final approval “Retirement looks bleak for many adults in Colorado. Imagine what it looks like for our children. Unless we act, we don’t know how long our kids, nieces and nephews are going to have to work before they can finally retire,” said Rep. Hansen, D-Denver. “This bill is practical, it’s straightforward, and it’s a commonsense approach to examine the different ways we can increase the number of Coloradans who have access to workplace retirement accounts.” The bill passed on a vote of 41-24. It now heads to the Governor’s desk. The House also approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Sullivan and Rep. Rochelle Galindo that would establish a directory with apprenticeship programs within the Department of Labor and it would include salary ranges, critical labor force data, licensure requirements, and other information potential enrollees should know before embarking onto a career pathway. “I firmly believe every hard working American should get a good-paying job no matter their education. There are currently nearly 200 sponsored apprenticeship programs, and that number is constantly evolving and growing,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “This directory can serve as a beneficial tool to help students and young adults grow in their technical training and enter into career fields that offer salaries without the debt of traditional college.” The bill also requires the department to distribute the directory to coordinate with local workforce centers, businesses, and education institutions to raise awareness of the apprenticeship programs so more Coloradans can access them. “This will help expand opportunity for students and accessibility for apprenticeship programs. When I visited various locations that offered these programs, the directors often said the only way they get the word out about these programs is through word-of–mouth,” said Rep. Galindo, D-Greeley. “We need to get these opportunities out there for more students to join the workforce.” In 2018, it was estimated that building trades had a shortage of 60,000 workers in Colorado. The state’s construction industry alone will need at least 30,000 new workers to meet demand in the years ahead. SB19-171 passed on a bipartisan vote of 43-22 and is headed to Governor Polis for signature. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation, sponsored by Representatives Chad Clifford and Yara Zokaie, to protect equal opportunity to housing for Coloradans with disabilities. < Back January 27, 2026 Committee Passes Housing Protections Bill for Coloradans with Disabilities DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation, sponsored by Representatives Chad Clifford and Yara Zokaie, to protect equal opportunity to housing for Coloradans with disabilities. “We’re ensuring Colorado law protects housing accessibility for Coloradans with disabilities,” said Rep. Chad Clifford, D-Centennial. “People with service animals, like a seeing eye dog, are at risk of losing out on housing opportunities because the Trump Administration removed crucial guidelines around housing protections for people with disabilities. This bill would provide some much-needed clarity to both renters and landlords and ensure that Coloradans can find a safe, affordable place to live with their service animals.” “While the Trump Administration rolls back housing protections for people with disabilities, Colorado Democrats are stepping up and ensuring our law keeps people with disabilities safely housed,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins. “Our bill would strengthen protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by clearly outlining housing protections for Coloradans with disabilities. Service animals provide life-saving care for people with disabilities, and no one should have to choose between their service animal and a place to live.” HB26-1045 would establish that it is an unfair or discriminatory housing practice to deny housing to Coloradans due to their live-in service animals. The bill would also create definitions for “assistance animal” and “emotional support animal” to provide clarity to housing providers and Coloradans with disabilities and reduce litigation. The bill passed by a vote of 9-3. Last year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rescinded federal guidelines that outlined the rights that people with disabilities have regarding service animals under the Fair Housing Act. These guidelines also helped landlords, property managers and tenants understand how to distinguish between service animals and Emotional Support Animals. Without these federal guidelines, it is unclear what rights Coloradans with disabilities have and what reasonable accommodations housing providers must provide to these tenants. In recent years, Colorado Democrats have passed laws to bolster housing protections for Coloradans with disabilities. Colorado Democrats passed laws that save Coloradans money on accessibility modifications to rental housing and prevent unjust evictions for Coloradans who rely on safety net programs, like disability insurance. Last year, Rep. Zokaie passed a law to expand protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to protect vulnerable communities, especially Coloradans with disabilities, by allowing victims of discrimination to receive monetary compensation for unfair housing practices. Previous Next

The House Health and Human Services Committee today passed a bill sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Parenti and Jenny Willford to better protect youth and keep them safe when participating in private organized sports.  < Back February 20, 2024 Legislation to Protect Youth in Sports Passed Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health and Human Services Committee today passed a bill sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Parenti and Jenny Willford to better protect youth and keep them safe when participating in private organized sports. “Youth sports are incredibly popular in Colorado at all ages and skill levels. This legislation expands the use of background checks, CPR and First Aid training to ensure our kids can learn, play and compete in the safest environment possible,” said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie . "An important part of protecting kids is working to ensure harm doesn’t happen in the first place.” “Keeping our youth safe while participating in non-school related sports is a top priority,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn . “This legislation would require youth sports organizations to run criminal background checks on coaches and other leading personnel as well as require personnel to receive First Aid certifications to keep our kids safe.” HB24-1080 , which passed committee by a vote of 9 to 3, would require private youth sports organizations to conduct criminal history record checks on personnel who work directly with youth athletes, in both a volunteer or paid position. This bill would also require paid directors, coaches, assistant coaches or athletic program personnel to be CPR and First Aid/AED certified to help youth in the case of an emergency. HB24-1080 aims to prevent childhood sexual assault and keep our youth safe while participating in out-of-school activities. Previous Next

< Back June 12, 2020 BILL TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today passed Representative Dominique Jackson and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to improve air quality on third reading and final passage. The bill passed by a vote of 41-24. “As a pediatrician, I’ve seen the immediate adverse health effects of poor air quality in my young patients,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thornton. “Protecting air quality is always a crucial public health concern, but it’s now more important than ever as Colorado continues to deal with COVID-19 and other respiratory challenges.” “We’ve taken important, concrete steps to improve Colorado’s air quality this year,” said Rep. Jackson, D-Aurora. “In addition to being bold, sensible environmental policy, this bill is also an important, and timely public health proposal. While protecting the air we all breathe, this measure will also help operators throughout our state advance air quality technology. This is common-sense legislation that benefits everyone.” SB20-204 would protect Colorado’s public health and air quality by ensuring that environmental regulations are enforced and working to bring our state into compliance with federal ozone standards.It would create the TABOR-exempt Air Quality Control Enterprise in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The Enterprise would conduct air quality monitoring, assessment, data analysis and research and report on it to the General Assembly to promote science-based air quality policy. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee today passed a bill, sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Kyle Brown, to crack down on ghost guns by strengthening requirements for firearm barrel sales and transfers. SB26-043 passed by a vote of 8-3. < Back March 16, 2026 Gun Violence Prevention Bill to Crack Down on Ghost Guns Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee today passed a bill, sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Kyle Brown, to crack down on ghost guns by strengthening requirements for firearm barrel sales and transfers. SB26-043 passed by a vote of 8-3. “Colorado Democrats have passed gun violence prevention legislation to prevent senseless gun deaths, and our bill would help keep illegal firearms out of our communities,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “We know that 3D printed gun barrels do not work well, meaning that most ghost guns need a gun barrel part. By requiring sales and transfers of this gun part to be done through licensed firearm dealers, we’re helping law enforcement agencies identify individuals who are illegally constructing these dangerous weapons. We’re closing this loophole to crack down on ghost guns and prevent gun violence in Colorado communities.” “This gun violence prevention policy builds on our efforts to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “The number of ghost guns recovered at crime scenes has more than tripled in recent years, putting our communities at risk of gun violence with no way to trace who the gun belongs to. Our bill strengthens our efforts to reduce gun violence and improve public safety across our state.” SB26-043 would require all firearm barrel sales or transfers to be done through a federally licensed firearm dealer. Gunsmithing schools are exempt from the bill. Under the bill, firearm dealers would also be required to keep a record of these transactions for at least five years. Most firearm components can be easily printed and made functional using a three-dimensional (3D) printer, except for a firearm barrel. Typically, individuals who build a ghost gun must use an industrially-manufactured firearm barrel to finish the construction of the firearm. Colorado Democrats passed a law in 2023 to ban “ghost guns” by prohibiting the possession, sale or transfer of unserialized firearms, frames and receivers. The legislature is considering a bill in this legislative session to strengthen this law by prohibiting the 3D printing of firearms, large-capacity magazines or other firearm components. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to remove restrictions that require minimum lot sizes of over 2,000 square feet for single-family homes. < Back February 24, 2026 Stewart, Woodrow Bill to Build More Housing that Hardworking Coloradans Can Afford Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to remove restrictions that require minimum lot sizes of over 2,000 square feet for single-family homes. “Between skyrocketing land values and some of the largest minimum lot size requirements in the country, Colorado still has barriers to building more housing that hardworking Coloradans can realistically afford,” said Rep. Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood. “Current minimum lot size requirements are way out of line with the needs of our communities, which is why we’re sponsoring legislation to cap the requirement to 2,000 square feet. Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or looking to downsize, it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to buy a house that meets your needs. Our bill would open up more affordable housing opportunities for all Coloradans.” “Minimum lot size mandates artificially restrict supply and drive up housing costs,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “This bill builds upon the work we’ve done over the last several sessions and will help spur development—boosting affordability and saving Coloradans money on housing.” Beginning October 1, 2031, HB26-1114 would prohibit subject jurisdictions from requiring that a lot size for a single-family dwelling be greater than 2,000 square feet. It would also prohibit restrictions on lot frontage, setbacks and lot dimensions if these restrictions have the practical effect of preventing single-family homes from being built. Historic districts are exempt from this bill. A 2025 report by the National Zoning Atlas found that 98-percent of land that allows single-family housing has a minimum lot size requirement, with 86-percent of that land having a two-acre minimum lot size mandate. Rep. Woodrow sponsored a 2024 law to support local governments with their efforts to build more housing near public transit, cycling and walking corridors, places of employment and other centers of community. He also sponsored a law to eliminate parking minimum requirements for most new multi-family residential properties within a quarter mile of a transit stop or station to drive down housing costs and reduce traffic. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: COLORADO DEMOCRATIC LGBTQ+ CAUCUS URGES BOARD OF EDUCATION NOT TO CENSOR LGBTQ+ REFERENCES IN SCHOOLS Legislators: “We see this play to change the school standards as a backdoor effort to put in a loophole for discrimination.” DENVER, CO – The Colorado Democratic LGBTQ+ Caucus is urging the State Board of Education not to follow through on a proposal to update its Social Studies Standards and remove any LGBTQ+ references for students below 4th grade. In a letter, the lawmakers wrote that the proposed move conflicts with HB19-1192 , a law the General Assembly passed in 2019 to ensure the inclusion of the history, culture, and social contributions of racial and ethnic minorities, religious minorities, and the LGBTQ+ individuals within those minority groups in public school standards. “When students learn about leaders who reflect their own identities, they feel supported and affirmed, and when students learn about leaders whose identities differ from their own, we hope it will spark empathy and understanding,” the lawmakers wrote. “In order to combat the increasingly overt acts of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia seen in our society today, we need to feel like we belong. We see this play to change the school standards as a backdoor effort to put in a loophole for discrimination.” The move to exclude LGBTQ+ references in Colorado curricula is particularly concerning, the lawmakers wrote, in light of recent legislation passed in Florida and across the country seeking to prohibit schools from using a curriculum or discussing topics of gender identity or sexual orientation and using “age-appropriateness” as a false justification to limit those discussions. “We absolutely agree that there are age appropriate indicators, strategies, modes of communication and learning within each grade-level,” the lawmakers continued. “What we have trouble with is understanding why LGBTQ+ history should be excluded. Children grow up with LGBTQ+ people in their families and they grow up understanding that diverse people can love each other. Then why can they not understand where their struggles for equality began.” “Please adhere to the legislature’s intent from HB19-1192 and do not place restrictions on the standards already in place.” The Colorado General Assembly LGBTQ+ includes Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City), Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D-Boulder County), Sen. Joann Ginal (D-Fort Collins), House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo), Rep. Brianna Titone (D-Arvada), Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver), Rep. David Ortiz (D-Littleton), and Rep. Alex Valdez (D-Denver). The full text of the LGBTQ+ Caucus’ letter is below: April 12, 2022 Office of the Colorado Board of Education 201 East Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80203 Members of the Colorado State Board of Education: The Colorado Democrats LGBTQ+ Caucus is writing today to express our strong concerns about the recent updates to the Social Studies Standards intended for review at the upcoming April 12, 2022 Colorado State Board of Education meeting. There is a clear mandate of the State Board of Education and the Review Committee to create policies for the furtherance of all students. The April 12th agenda currently uploaded on Board Docs lists item 8, Student Learning, “Standards Revision Update: Overview of Public Feedback on Draft Social Studies Standards.” Specifically, we want to address the Review Committee’s response to public feedback: Theme from Public Feedback: Numerous concerns were raised about the age appropriateness of referencing LGBTQ+ in lower grades. Committee General Response: The committee removed all references to LGBTQ below 4th grade. The Legislature passed HB19-1192 with the intent of being inclusive and being sensitive to histories that have typically been excluded. HB19-1192 set out to ensure the inclusion of the history, culture, and social contributions of racial and ethnic minorities, religious minorities, and the LGBTQ+ individuals within these minority groups in public school standards. When students learn about leaders who reflect their own identities, they feel supported and affirmed, and when students learn about leaders whose identities differ from their own, we hope it will spark empathy and understanding. In order to combat the increasingly overt acts of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia seen in our society today, we need to feel like we belong. We see this play to change the school standards as a backdoor effort to put in a loophole for discrimination. Public comments seem to show a pattern in what we are seeing outside Colorado. Specifically, after Florida passed HB1557 there are now 13 other states with similar laws seeking to prohibit schools from using a curriculum or discussing topics of gender identity or sexual orientation and using “age-appropriateness” as a reason to limit these discussions. We absolutely agree that there are age appropriate indicators, strategies, modes of communication and learning within each grade-level. What we have trouble with is understanding why LGBTQ+ history should be excluded. Children grow up with LGBTQ+ people in their families and they grow up understanding that diverse people can love each other. Then why can they not understand where their struggles for equality began. Every human contains a multitude of identities–including a gender identity and a sexual orientation. Whether someone identifies as straight, cisgender, bisexual, non-binary, or transgender, these are all equally valid sexual orientations and gender identities. Logically, if the presupposition is that teaching about the LGBTQ+ community inherently incorporates sexual orientation and gender identity – which it does not and should not need to – and this Board and Review Committee determines that LGBTQ+ social studies curriculum is developmentally-inappropriate until 4th grade, then any social studies curriculum relating to any and all gender identities and sexual orientations should be deemed developmentally-inappropriate until that 4th grade-level. Put simply, if children are deemed too young to learn about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer people and relationships, they are too young to learn about heterosexual or cisgender people and relationships. With this in mind, we are asking this board to restore all references to the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado social studies curriculum below 4th grade, contrary to the recommendation of the Social Studies Standards Review Committee. Censoring topics which could organically arise from a student is not the answer. Ignoring a group of people does not make them cease to exist. Most importantly, we cannot make assumptions about who students are or what their family structure looks like. We cannot ignore the realities that Coloradans are diverse and include LGBTQ+ people. It’s important to not limit the conversations which could stifle inspiration for a kid who knows who they are and gets a glimpse of themselves in a role they may have never imagined. All students deserve that kind of opportunity. Please adhere to the legislature’s intent from HB19-1192 and do not place restrictions on the standards already in place. Sincerely, Members of the Colorado Democratic LGBTQ+ Caucus Previous Next

< Back April 23, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES NEW FINANCIAL LITERACY STANDARDS DENVER, CO– The House today preliminarily approved HB21-1200 on second reading. The bipartisan bill, which is sponsored by Representatives Kipp and Rich, would improve financial literacy standards to help ninth through 12th graders better understand financial products, focusing specifically on higher education loans and financial assistance. “By improving our financial literacy programs, we can help ensure that more Coloradans have the knowledge and tools they need to make life changing financial decisions,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “When we help young people better understand the complicated and high stakes financial decisions they’re making, we can set them on a path to success. This bill would ensure that Colorado students learn about all the financial products they may encounter along the way to paying for higher education and other important obligations.” HB21-1200 would require the Department of Education to include higher education planning tools in financial literacy standards the next time they are updated. Financial literacy standards for ninth through 12th graders would ensure students understand the costs associated with obtaining a degree, managing credit card and student loan debt, buying a home, and saving for retirement. The bill adds how to budget and pay for higher education and how to manage student loan debt to the suggested financial literacy curriculum and requires school districts to inform students and parents about the importance of applying for state and federal financial aid. In Colorado, more than 743,000 people have student loan debt, with an average debt burden of more than $38,000. Coloradans carry approximately $28.6 billion in student debt. The federal free application for student aid (FAFSA) helps determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Research shows that high school seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84 percent more likely to enroll in postsecondary education. Providing students with financial literacy assistance can help them begin building the assets they need for financial stability later in life. Previous Next

< Back January 30, 2020 COVERAGE FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENINGS ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would require insurance plans to better cover colorectal cancer screenings DENVER, CO– Legislation to require health insurance plans to cover colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 45 today passed the House Committee on Health and Insurance 10-0. HB20-1103 is sponsored by Representatives Janet Buckner and Perry Will. “According to the Colorado Cancer Coalition, one in 21 men and one in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime,” said Rep. Buckner (D-Aurora). “There’s more we can do to make sure that Coloradans can access life-saving screenings for colorectal cancer, such as lowering the age when coverage for the screening is required, and that’s what this bill would do.” Under current law, health insurers must provide coverage for preventive colorectal cancer screenings in accordance with the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines. The bill would instead require carriers to provide coverage for screenings in accordance with the current best medical practice guidelines. Plans must cover a colonoscopy or other medical test for colorectal cancer screening and a follow-up test if necessary. Current best practice guidelines recommend that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45 instead of age 50, as under the USPSTF guidelines. Previous Next

The House today passed a bill sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Parenti and Jenny Willford to better protect youth and keep them safe when participating in private organized sports. HB24-1080 passed by a vote of 45-16. < Back February 26, 2024 House Passes Legislation to Protect Youth in Sports DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bill sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Parenti and Jenny Willford to better protect youth and keep them safe when participating in private organized sports. HB24-1080 passed by a vote of 45-16. “Colorado youth participating in out-of-school sports should be safe, which is why we are putting common sense protections into place to ensure that the adults who supervise youth sports have passed a background check and are trained in CPR/AED certification,” said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie. “We owe it to our children to ensure we are doing everything we can to prevent injury and harm and this bill is a critical step to create the safe environment they deserve.” “Kids and parents deserve to know that their sports programs are run by someone they can trust,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn . “Our bill would require coaches and other adults involved in these sports programs to pass a background test and be CPR/AED and First Aid certified to ensure that we’re creating a safe environment for our kids to play in.” HB24-1080 would require private youth sports organizations to conduct criminal history record checks on personnel who work directly with youth athletes, in both a volunteer or paid position. This bill would also require paid directors, coaches, assistant coaches or athletic program personnel to be CPR/AED and First Aid certified to help youth in the case of an emergency. HB24-1080 aims to prevent childhood sexual assault and keep our youth safe while participating in out-of-school activities. Previous Next

< Back January 6, 2020 SPEAKER BECKER ANNOUNCES COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT CHANGES DENVER, CO — Speaker KC Becker (D-Boulder) today announced the following changes to House committee assignments for the 2020 legislative session: Finance Committee: Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp (D-Arvada) replaces Rep. Kerry Tipper (D-Lakewood) and Rep. Shannon Bird (D-Westminster) becomes the Vice-chair. Health & Insurance Committee: Rep. Kerry Tipper (D-Lakewood) replaces Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D-Boulder). Public Health Care & Human Services Committee: The committee will expand to 13 members – 8 Majority members, 5 Minority members. Rep. Jaquez Lewis (D-Boulder) will replace Rep. Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins) and Rep. Mary Young (D-Greeley) will join the committee. Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee: Rep. Mary Young (D-Greeley) will replace Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango) . Transportation and Local Government Committee: Rep. Jovan Melton (D-Aurora) will join the committee, filling a vacancy. State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee: Rep. Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins) will replace Rep. Jovan Melton (D-Aurora). The Judiciary Committee will become a 9 member committee – 6 Majority members, 3 Minority members. House committee leadership and majority caucus appointments are at the sole discretion of the speaker of the House. The 2020 session begins Wednesday. Appropriations Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver Vice-Chair, Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Rep. James Coleman, D-Denver Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon Business Affairs and Labor Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada Vice-Chair, Rep. James Coleman, D-Denver Rep. Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial Education Committee (8-5) Chair, Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango Vice-Chair, Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora Rep. James Coleman, D-Denver Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County Rep. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City Energy and Environment Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora Vice-Chair, Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Finance Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver Vice-Chair, Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Adams County Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial Health and Insurance Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver Vice-Chair, Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Judiciary Committee (6-3) Chair, Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Vice-Chair, Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Adams County Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood Public Health Care and Human Services Committee (8-5) Chair, Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont Vice-Chair, Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley Rural Affairs Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon Vice-Chair, Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara Rep. Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee (6-3) Chair, Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Vice-Chair, Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont Rep. Monica Duran, D-Lakewood Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver Transportation and Local Government Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield Vice-Chair, Rep. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder Rep. Jovan Melton, D-Aurora Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara Previous Next

< Back March 2, 2022 SIGNED! BILLS TO SUPPORT MARSHALL FIRE RECOVERY AND FIREFIGHTER SAFETY Wildfire recovery and prevention bills are part of the JBC’s FY21-22 Budget Supplemental Package DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will aid the Marshall Fire recovery and boost firefighter safety. Marshall Fire Property Tax Reimbursement: As one of the many ways that the state is responding to the Marshall Fire, HB22-1183 will transfer $3.7 million to the impacted counties to ensure they don’t face additional revenue shortfalls as a result of the devastation. “Today, we’re making sure that communities are protected from negative financial impacts from the devastation caused by the Marshall Fire,” said Rep. Matt Gray D-Broomfield. “This bill is a step in the right direction towards helping those impacted by wildfires to recover and build back stronger, safer communities. We know the road ahead is long. We’re committed to helping families affected by the Marshall Fire so they can continue to rebuild communities and create a safer, healthier state in the process.” “This bill is a commitment to the people of Boulder County – we are here for you,” said Rep. Tracey Bernett, D-Louisville. “We’re grateful for the outpouring of support our community received from our neighbors and strangers across the world after the catastrophic Marshall Fire. This bill is immediate relief for our communities to rebuild stronger than before. We’re dedicated to continuing to help the residents impacted by the Marshall Fire recover and to continue to move Colorado forward.” Firefighter Safety: As part of House Democrats’ commitment to creating healthier and safer communities, HB22-1194 will direct additional resources to help our firefighters access the best equipment available. The bill makes $5 million available this year to provide grants to help local fire departments purchase safety and disease prevention gear, and support firefighter safety training. “We’re committed to building safer, healthier communities and that begins with making sure our firefighters have the equipment to safely combat wildfires,” said JBC Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Coloradans rely on firefighters to protect their homes, livelihood and communities. This bill will help firefighters do their job more effectively by giving them access to the best safety equipment available. This is all part of our ongoing wildfire recovery and prevention efforts that will help communities across the state.” Previous Next