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The House today passed a bill, sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, that aims to prevent discrimination in public schools based on disability, race, sexual orientation and other protected classes. < Back May 7, 2026 Bacon Bill to Prevent Discrimination in Schools Passes DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bill, sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, that aims to prevent discrimination in public schools based on disability, race, sexual orientation and other protected classes. “Our legislation makes it clear that Colorado students deserve protections if they experience discrimination based on their skin color, sexual orientation and disability,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “With the Trump Administration slashing funding for the federal Office of Civil Rights, it is crucial that Colorado strengthen civil rights protections to protect students. Students deserve a safe learning environment. This bill would help ensure that students who experience discrimination have a pathway to accountability and a remedy to ensure equal access to quality education.” HB26-1141 , which passed by a vote of 42-22, would prohibit public K-12 schools, higher education institutions and their employees from discriminating based on a protected class, like disability, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and national origin. The bill also adds pregnancy and prenatal status to the definition of “harassment and discrimination" in K-12 public schools. The bill outlines discrimination in K-12 schools and higher education institutions as denying a person the full and equal enjoyment of a public accommodation when the school: Excludes a student from participating in school programs or activities, Denies educational services, benefits, or opportunities to a student without a legitimate, non-discriminatory basis and treats the student differently than a similar student, and Fails to take prompt and effective steps to address a complaint that they have created a hostile environment based on a protected class. The bill allows an impacted student or their family to file a discrimination complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division. The division is also able to create rules specifically for how to address these types of complaints. Higher education institutions, including community and technical colleges, would be required to establish a discrimination complaint process. They would also be required to designate a Title VI coordinator to ensure compliance with the bill and Title VI, educate students and employees about the complaint process, manage and respond to grievances and publish data on violations. Since Trump started his second term, he has slashed the US Department of Education’s workforce by nearly 50 percent , including firing half of the staff in the Office for Civil Rights and closing seven of the 12 regional offices. The Office of Civil Rights leads investigations of discrimination at schools and higher education institutions across the country. Assistant Majority Leader Bacon previously passed a law that clearly defines what is considered harassment and discrimination in Colorado’s K-12 public schools. She also passed a law in 2024 that ensures that schools and educators have trauma-informed resources to support youth against harassment and discrimination. 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 June 3, 2020 TWO ESSENTIAL CHILD CARE BILLS PASS HOUSE Denver, CO– The House today passed two bills that would give Colorado families much-needed flexible child care options. Representative Dylan Roberts’ bill would allow home-based child care in Homeowners’ Association Communities, and Representatives Mary Young and Sonya Jaquez Lewis’ bill would extend the licensure exemption for family child care homes to September 2026. Rep. Roberts’ bill passed 62-2. Rep. Young’s bill passed 48-16. “As we work to recover Colorado’s strong economy, Colorado workers and families need access to child care more than ever,” said Rep. Young, D-Greeley . “I’m thrilled that this bill passed with bipartisan support. Colorado families need flexible child care options, and this bill eases some of the licensure requirements for certain family care homes. Now more than ever, it’s important that we take steps to get back to work safely and responsibly.” “This bill gives parents more options and more information about home-based child care facilities,” said Rep. Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder . “With daycare and preschool costs doubling almost twice as fast as overall inflation, this bill will also keep child care costs lower.” “This bill will give Colorado families even more child care options, something we desperately need as we take steps to support workers and small businesses and strengthen the economy,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon . “This is a win, win bill. Not only can Coloradans be assured that their children are being taken care of by a licensed establishment, but this bill also paves the way for more child care businesses to open, giving people the chance to open their home child care businesses more easily.” SB20-126 , Rep. Roberts’ bill, would allow a homeowner in a community organized under the “Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act” to operate a licensed family child care home notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the community’s guidelines. Community guidelines on parking, noise, landscaping continue to apply but communities must make reasonable accommodations for fences required by state child care home licensing laws. Licensure requirements for family child care homes are extensive and must include background checks, required training, inspections and more. HB20-1347 , Rep. Young’s and Rep Jaquez-Lewis’ bill would prolong the time period in which certain family child care homes can receive licensure exemptions from the state to September 1, 2026. Under HB20-1347, family care homes are homes where less than 24-hours of child care is provided. A family care home cannot exceed four children, and no more than two children can be under the age of two. Additionally, the children are not required to be related to the caregiver, but if the caregiver is caring for their own children in addition to non-family members, their own children are included in the four child limit. Caregivers are required to notify parents that they are operating under a legal license exemption. The state is required to provide educational information on the state licensing website for caregivers who are interested in becoming licensed. Previous Next

On January 1, 2026, a slate of consumer protection legislation goes into effect to crack down on surprise junk fees and increase access to stable housing for renters. < Back December 15, 2025 Bills to Increase Price Transparency, Protect Colorado Renters and Consumers Go Into Effect On January 1, 2026, a slate of consumer protection legislation goes into effect to crack down on surprise junk fees and increase access to stable housing for renters. HB25-1090 , sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota, D-Denver and Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, cracks down on ‘junk fees’ and requires price transparency. “Unexpected, undisclosed fees cost consumers hundreds of dollars every month,” said Cutter. “These ‘junk fees’ can make informed budgeting decisions feel impossible for consumers. This law will increase transparency for consumers, helping them make informed purchase decisions and ultimately save more of their hard-earned money.” “Hidden ‘junk fees’ often add up to hundreds of dollars in monthly expenses for Coloradans, and this new law cracks down on these surprise costs to save people money,” said Sirota. “Whatever the ‘junk fee’ is disguised as, the goal is to hike up prices and drain money out of the pockets of hardworking Coloradans to increase corporate profits. We’re putting an end to junk fees, so Coloradans know the upfront cost of products, goods and services.” “Opaque or dishonest fees cost Americans up to $90 billion per year, taking an average of $650 annually out of the pockets of working families that could be better spent on household essentials like health care and child care,” said Weissman. “Honest, upfront business owners deserve a fair playing field and consumers deserve price transparency in order to make informed financial decisions.” “Junk fees are often not disclosed until a consumer is ready to check out or after they’ve paid a non-refundable security deposit, which means Coloradans end up paying higher prices than they are expecting,” said Ricks. “Addressing junk fees in our state has been one of my biggest priorities, and this law champions honest pricing so Coloradans can make buying decisions that fit their budget.” HB25-1090 standardizes transparent prices upfront, in many cases prohibiting pricing information from being advertised unless the final total price is disclosed. The law prohibits the misrepresentation of pricing information, requires the purpose of a fee that is not part of the total price to be disclosed, and restricts the fees landlords can charge for utilities and third-party services. To prevent excessive fee hikes, the law caps fee increases at 2 percent annually. HB25-1236 is sponsored by Senators Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, and Weissman, and Representatives Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, and Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins. It specifies that a prospective renter who receives a housing subsidy cannot be required to include a credit history report, a credit score, or an adverse credit event in their tenant screening reports. “This law is just another step to making Colorado a more affordable, accessible, and equitable place to live and rent,” said Jodeh. “It’s part of our commitment to supporting women, people of color, and low-income Coloradans who have a weak or nonexistent credit history as they secure safe housing for themselves and their families.” “Our new law, going into effect in the new year, will make the process of home hunting more affordable for Colorado renters,” said Lindsay. “Colorado Democrats are committed to protecting renters and making Colorado a more affordable place to live. This law saves renters money on application fees and helps low-income renters find safe and stable housing.” “Renters who are already struggling should not be forced to reveal irrelevant information to potential landlords and blow their budgets on application fees before they’re even approved,” said Weissman. “This legislation would make safe and stable housing for low-income renters more accessible and affordable by protecting their personal information and limiting duplicative fees.” “This law supports Coloradans who have no credit score or a weakened credit history by helping them secure safe and affordable housing without paying duplicative fees,” said Zokaie. “Searching for housing shouldn't be expensive. With this new law, we’re allowing tenants to receive and share their screening reports and expanding protections for Coloradans on housing subsidies." The law also removes a requirement that screening reports be given directly to landlords from reporting agencies, since reporting agencies are often unable to do so. SB25-079 , sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Representative Jamie Jackson, D-Aurora, also goes into effect January 1, 2026. The law protects Coloradans from scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks which target the elderly and other vulnerable populations. The bill requires an owner or operator of a virtual currency kiosk to list certain disclosures, provide an electronic receipt, and fully refund a customer’s first transaction if it is international and determined by law enforcement to be fraudulent. The law also establishes a maximum transaction limit of $2,000 per day for new customers and $10,500 for existing customers. Previous Next

< Back January 24, 2020 DANGEROUS GUN BILLS DEFEATED Dems praise bipartisan school safety measures, stop bills that would have allowed dangerous high capacity magazines that can shoot 50 or 100 rounds back on Colorado streets Democrats on the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today defeated HB20-1040 and HB20-1099, two dangerous gun bills that would have allowed armed teachers in Colorado schools and once again permitted high capacity magazine sales in the state. “These two bills would have endangered students’ lives and allowed weapons capable of quickly shooting a hundred rounds onto our streets,” said committee member Rep. Emily Sirota (D-Denver). “I worked hard on the School Safety Committee to craft bipartisan legislation to save students’ lives. We should focus on bills that will keep our students safe. Instead, we’re debating the same dangerous proposals year after year.” “We’ve seen too much devastation caused by high capacity magazines to go back to when these extremely dangerous accessories could be sold in our state,” said committee member Rep. Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins). “I’ve heard from many constituents and Coloradans across our state who fear gun violence and are deeply concerned for their safety. I also heard it when I was a school board member for seven years. Putting guns into classrooms won’t make them safer.” The National Association of School Resources Officers strongly opposes allowing guns in schools because in an active shooter situation, it could cause confusion and lead law enforcement to mistakenly identify someone not in uniform as an assailant. They also point out the wide discrepancy, often hundreds of hours in training requirements, between law enforcement and concealed carry permit holders. There have been multiple incidents where students have accessed firearms that adults brought on campus. Research shows that access to a firearm triples the risk of suicide and doubles the risk of a homicide occurring, all while we know young people in this age group are at some of the highest risks for behavioral health conditions and suicide. House Democrats have instead focused on bipartisan school safety reforms , developed from dozens of hours of expert testimony, that aim to save lives in school. These bills would enhance the Safe2Tell program, expand access to mental health in schools, and improve existing school safety initiatives. The second bill Democrats defeated would have allowed the sale of high capacity magazines, like the one used in the Aurora shooting, back on Colorado streets. Research from Everytown on mass shooting incidents where data was collected on magazine size found that 58 percent of these incidents involved firearms with high-capacity magazines. There were twice as many fatalities and 14 times as many injuries on shootings where high-capacity magazines are involved. In Dayton Ohio, an assailant shot 26 people in 32 seconds. Previous Next

< Back April 9, 2019 FROELICH’S BILL TO INCREASE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION BENEFITS AT CSU-GLOBAL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY Since 2018, CSU-Global has graduated over 18,000 students (Apr. 9) – Rep. Meg Froelich’s bipartisan bill to allow Colorado State University’s Global Campus to offer students who are National Guard Members tuition benefits unanimously passed in the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee. Currently, CSU-Global students cannot seek financial aid or receive tuition benefits through the National Guard’s state statute as an institution for which the National Guard members can utilize their tuition benefits. “CSU-Global is a really good fit for National Guard members because CSU-Global is designed to serve non-traditional students. Many of our National Guard members travel outside of the country to keep us all secured and safe,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Giving our troops the ability to utilize their tuition benefits at CSU-Global will allow them to serve while also working to complete their higher education.” Nearly 40 percent of CSU-Global students are Colorado residents who reside in 63 out of the 64 counties in the state. Roughly 15 percent of those students are military affiliated. “I have a CSU-Global campus in my district and I want to help those students be successful on their path to higher education while they continue serving our great state,” Rep. Froelich added. SB19-194 unanimously passed in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back January 11, 2023 SPEAKER MCCLUSKIE MAKES COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie today made additional committee appointments for the 74th General Assembly. The appointments were necessitated in part by the resignation of Rep. Adrienne Benavidez. “I'm excited to make these new committee assignments and kick off our work to help more people in our state live their Colorado dream,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Each and every lawmaker in their respective committees will help us achieve our legislative priorities of building a Colorado everyone can afford, protecting our air and water, investing in education, improving public safety and protecting our freedoms. Now, let’s get to work!” Majority Committee Assignments for the 74th General Assembly. Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee Chair, Representative Karen McCormick, D-Longmont Representative Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs Representative Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango Representative Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Representative Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs Appropriations Committee Chair, Representative Emily Sirota, D-Denver Vice Chair, Representative Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins Representative Leslie Herod, D-Denver Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora Representative Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs Business Affairs and Labor Committee Chair, Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Vice Chair, Representative Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Representative Regina English, D-Colorado Springs Representative Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood Representative William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield Representative Javier Mabrey, D-Denver Representative Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo Education Committee Chair, Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango Vice Chair, Representative Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista Representative Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver Representative Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley Energy and Environment Committee Chair, Representative Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Vice Chair, Representative Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn Representative Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial Representative Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Representative Alex Valdez, D-Denver Representative Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs Representative Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Finance Committee Chair, Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Vice Chair Representative Junie Joseph, D-Boulder Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Representative Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood Representative Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Representative William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield Representative Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch Health and Insurance Committee Chair, Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Vice Chair, Representative Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Representative Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County Representative Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood Representative Karen McCormick, D-Longmont Representative David Ortiz, D-Littleton Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Representative Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn Judiciary Committee Chair, Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Vice Chair, Representative Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Representative Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver Representative Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County Representative Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch Representative Said Sharbini, D-Brighton Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Representative Steven Woodrow, D-Denver Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee Chair, Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City Vice Chair, Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Representative Regina English, D-Colorado Springs Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver Representative Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair, Representative Steven Woodrow, D-Denver Vice Chair, Representative David Ortiz, D-Littleton Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins Representative Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver Representative Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Representative Said Sharbini, D-Brighton Representative Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee Chair, Representative Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Vice Chair, Representative William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins Representative Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial Representative Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora Representative Javier Mabrey, D-Denver Representative Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo Representative Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie Representative Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2022 BILL TO MAKE CHILD CARE MORE AFFORDABLE PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House passed a bill to save families money on child care. SB22-213 invests $50 million of federal pandemic relief dollars toward increasing child care capacity and boosting the professional child care workforce. “The pandemic has made it even more difficult for families to find affordable, high-quality childcare and as a result, many parents, especially moms, are leaving the workforce to care for their kids,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood . “We’re investing $50 million toward expanding Colorado’s child care facilities and training more professionals to bring down the cost of child care. This bill will help us provide critical support for working families who’ve been stretched thin to ensure their children have a safe place to learn and thrive during the workday.” “Colorado’s child care system has been stretched thin for years, so we’re taking the initiative to fill funding gaps and make child care more affordable and accessible,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “Our bill invests federal pandemic relief dollars toward training more child care professionals and expanding our state’s child care capacity so families can more easily access quality care.” Child Care Support Programs: SB22-213 , sponsored by Representatives Kerry Tipper and Alex Valdez passed the House by a vote of 41 to 22. This bill aims to boost Colorado’s economy and make it easier for families to access child care by increasing capacity across the state and better developing the workforce to help Coloradans get the training they need to provide that care. This bill utilizes $50 million of federal pandemic relief dollars to boost child care capacity by providing $16 million in grant funding to open a new child care center or expand capacity at an existing licensed childcare facility. It will also invest $10 million to support the employer-based child care facility grant program, which will help business owners and other employers provide convenient, high-quality child care on-site while parents are at work. SB22-213 also adds $15 million to the successful workforce recruitment and retention grant program and provides $7.5 million to support and train license-exempt informal caregivers working with young children in their communities. Previous Next

< Back March 31, 2021 HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH TRUMP TREATMENT PLAN FOR COVID-19 DENVER, CO– The House Health and Insurance Committee today defeated dangerous legislation sponsored by Representative Stephanie Luck that recklessly promotes the use of drugs like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19. “The end of this pandemic is closer than ever, but we’ll never reach the light at the end of the tunnel if we ignore science and instead insert politics into medical decision making,” said Dr. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “Getting shots into arms and continuing to take common sense public health precautions like wearing a mask will end the pandemic. Taking hydroxychloroquine against the advice of the FDA and instead as modeled by politicians with no medical experience, like a former president whose response to this crisis was an unmitigated disaster, will only result in greater contagion and potentially dangerous side effects.” “We have one pathway to ending this pandemic, and that’s getting as many shots into arms as we can,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Boulder. “Colorado has relied on science and data to successfully reduce the spread of the virus and save lives, and we’ve done significantly better than many other states. We’re seeing people avoid the treatments and vaccines that we know work because Trump and other top officials in his administration led them down an unproven path. As a veterinarian, I’m concerned that this bill encourages the use of a deworming treatment primarily used in horses as a cure for COVID-19. We can’t have patients playing doctor and ignoring the scientific data.” HB21-1202 promotes the dangerous practice of prescribing hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin off-label for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. The World Health Organization has warned against using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, and the FDA has been vocal about the dangers of using ivermectin , especially veterinary ivermectin. The use of these drugs can cause adverse effects in patients, and they have been proven to be ineffective in treating COVID-19. The vaccines the FDA has approved for emergency use have been proven highly effective at preventing COVID-19. New research shows they are likely to be effective at stopping the spread of the virus, as well. All Coloradans will be eligible for the vaccine this Friday, April 2. For more information about where you can get vaccinated visit here: https://bit.ly/39yFt0d Previous Next

Two laws to improve and secure access to housing will go into effect on Jan 1, 2024. HB23-1186 allows Coloradans to participate in eviction proceedings remotely, reducing the number of default evictions of tenants unable to participate in person. HB23-1184 expands property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers and helps increase Colorado’s affordable housing stock. < Back December 19, 2023 New Laws to Improve Access to Housing, Support Renters Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – Two laws to improve and secure access to housing will go into effect on Jan 1, 2024. HB23-1186 allows Coloradans to participate in eviction proceedings remotely, reducing the number of default evictions of tenants unable to participate in person. HB23-1184 expands property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers and helps increase Colorado’s affordable housing stock. HB23-1186, sponsored by Representatives Mandy Lindsay and Iman Jodeh and Senators Tony Exum and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, allows individuals in residential eviction cases to participate in county court proceedings remotely. “Under this law, Coloradans can attend their eviction hearings remotely, which will drastically reduce the number of no-show, default evictions and keep families housed,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. “Whether it be unreliable transportation, inflexible work schedules, lack of child care, health conditions or something in between, there are many reasons why someone may not be able to attend their eviction proceedings in person. This important law will help vulnerable Coloradans retain their housing.” “Colorado is in the midst of a housing crisis, and it’s critical we do everything we can to alleviate it and keep folks housed,” said Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmon t. “There are lots of reasons someone may be forced to miss their eviction proceedings, including lack of transportation or child care or a sudden emergency - but that doesn’t mean they should be evicted. This new law will prevent no-shows, improve accessibility, and keep more Coloradans housed.” “Remote eviction proceedings will improve no-show rates and prevent the displacement of Coloradans who can least afford to lose their homes,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora . “From lack of reliable child care to work obligations, we know these situational burdens disproportionately fall on low-income Coloradans. Through remote eviction hearings, we’re breaking down barriers to give more Coloradans a fair shot to avoid eviction and the cycles of poverty and economic instability that often follow.” “We’re working hard to make sure more Coloradans can find and stay in homes, and this new law to provide improved protections for folks facing evictions is a big step towards that goal,” said Sen. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs. “Breaking down barriers to participation in eviction proceedings will make it easier for Coloradans to defend themselves and avoid being evicted simply for not being able to attend a hearing.” Under this law, individuals must communicate with the courts 48 hours prior to their hearing if they would like to participate remotely or in-person. HB23-1186 aims to improve accessibility for attending eviction proceedings especially for those living in rural areas, Coloradans with disabilities and those with additional circumstances that make it difficult to take time off work. Data collected from courts in other states shows that by expanding ways to participate in eviction cases reduces “no-show” rates and improves court procedures. HB23-1186 is expected to decrease the number of Coloradans with a no-show default eviction by over 7,800. HB23-1184 , sponsored by Representatives William Lindstedt and Lisa Frizell and Senator Dylan Roberts, expands property tax exemptions to include more nonprofit organizations that build and sell affordable housing and increases the Area Median Income to qualify for this housing from 80% to 100% or 120% for rural resort communities. It also extends the exemption period from five years to ten years to better reflect the development timeline for larger affordable housing projects. The law creates a new property tax exemption for land owned by community land trusts and other nonprofit affordable homeownership providers that develop permanently affordable for-sale homes. This exemption only applies to the land and not the home. “Expensive land costs means it's more difficult for non-profit housing developers to secure land and begin building affordable housing that every community needs,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield . “Our new law will expand property tax exemptions for non-profit affordable housing developers. Coloradans are counting on us to create more affordable housing options so our teachers, child care providers and health care workers can afford to stay in their communities, and this law is a step in the right direction.” “The cost of land is often the biggest barrier that keeps affordable housing projects from getting done, especially for nonprofit homebuilders who build housing for our state's workforce,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco . “This new law represents a huge step forward for nonprofit homebuilders and will make it easier for nonprofit developers to do what they do best: build more housing for working Coloradans so that families can afford to live in the communities they call home. Previous Next

< Back May 26, 2021 BILLS TO INCREASE COVERAGE FOR CRITICAL HEALTH SERVICES ADVANCE DENVER, CO – The House Health and Insurance Committee today advanced two bills that would increase access to critical health services. SB21-009 would create a program to provide a 12-month supply of contraceptives and counseling services, and SB21-016 would require insurance plans to cover health services for sexually transmitted infections. SB21-009 , which is sponsored by Representative Yadira Caraveo, a physician, allows more Colorado families to make their own choices about when to start a family. The bill establishes the Reproductive Health Care Program, which would provide a 12-month supply of contraceptives and counseling services without prior authorization or co-pays to eligible individuals, regardless of citizenship status. Women who receive a year’s supply of oral contraceptive are 30 percent less likely to experience an unintended pregnancy than those who receive one or three-month supplies at a time. “Too many Colorado women, in particular people of color and Latinas, don’t have access to reproductive health care or contraception options,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a physician. “Barriers to accessing contraceptives exacerbate health inequalities by leading to unintended pregnancies, lack of comprehensive sexuality education, higher rates of maternal mortality, and inferior care for chronic illnesses for which contraception is vital. This bill will help provide access to necessary reproductive health care services.” SB21-016 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Kyle Mullica, an ER nurse, requires health plans to cover several critical preventative health services regardless of cost, such as osteoporosis screening, screenings for urinary conditions and sexually transmitted infection (STI) health care services, such as vaccinations for STIs. The bill would require coverage for diagnosis and treatment of STIs and contraceptive and family planning services. Importantly, it would reduce surprise billing for annual wellness visits by ensuring co-pay free coverage for STI testing and prevention, and closing gaps in family planning coverage. “We can’t hide from the facts–Coloradans will have better health outcomes if they have coverage for the critical screenings and treatment they need, and that’s what this bill does,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We’re seeing too many LGBTQ Coloradans face challenges accessing critical health services, screenings or treatments for common conditions. We can do better–this bill ensures that everyone in our state has access to the care they need to live healthy lives.” “Access to preventative health care and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, like cervical cancer, save lives,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, an ER Nurse. “No one should go without a screening that could diagnose a life-threatening condition or forgo treatment for that condition because their health insurance doesn’t cover it.” Previous Next

< Back May 18, 2021 COMMITTEES ADVANCE MATERNAL HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY BILLS DENVER, CO– Two House Committees today advanced two bills addressing maternal and social determinants of health in Colorado. The Judiciary Committee advanced Rep. Leslie Herod’s bill about perinatal pregnancy protections, particularly for those giving birth while incarcerated, by a vote of 7-4, while the Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee passed Reps. Leslie Herod and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to create a strategic plan to address health equity disparities in underrepresented populations by a vote of 8-4. “Our country is facing both a maternal mortality and a health equity crisis, and today we took bold steps to address both,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “American women face subpar perinatal and postnatal care, and for Black and Indigenous women, it’s far worse. Maternal mortality in our communities is two to three times higher than that of white women. The bills we advanced today will work in tandem to improve health care for expecting mothers and communities of color.” “I see the devastating manifestations of Colorado’s health disparities play out in my medical clinic far too often,” said Doctor Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “The bill we advanced today will improve health equity in our state and help chart our course toward better health outcomes for Black, Brown and Indigenous communities in Colorado.” SB21-193 , considered by the Judiciary Committee today, takes several steps to address maternal health inequality in Colorado. It ensures a pregnant person’s advance directive is honored the same way as one coming from a non-pregnant person, addressing what’s known as the pregnancy exclusion clause that was recently found unconstitutional by a federal judge. The bill also requires the Colorado Civil Rights Commission to receive reports regarding culturally incongruent maternal care provided to pregnant women or those in postpartum care, and it adds protections for pregnant people in jails and state correctional facilities. SB21-181 , considered by the Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today, expands and improves the existing Health Disparities Grant Program and requires the Department of Public Health and Environment to prepare a biennial report on health disparities and how best to address social determinants of health for underrepresented populations. Previous Next