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The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to recognize emergency communications specialists, also known as 911 operators, as first responders. < Back January 31, 2024 Lieder’s Bipartisan Bill to Boost Public Safety, Recognize 911 Operators as First Responders Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to recognize emergency communications specialists, also known as 911 operators, as first responders. HB24-1016, sponsored by Representative Sheila Lieder, passed committee unanimously. “911 professionals are a lifeline in the public safety system and work to provide critical resources to those in crisis,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton. “This important legislation would reclassify 911 operators as first responders to recognize their dedication and service to Coloradans. 911 operators are the first ones to connect with a person in crisis, and this bill recognizes their above-and-beyond efforts to streamline public safety in communities across the state.” HB24-1016 , also sponsored by Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, would define emergency communications specialists as first responders. Specifically, this would include emergency communications specialists who receive, triage, process, transmit or dispatch emergency and non-emergency 911 calls for public safety services. This also includes those emergency communications specialists who provide resources to field responders or emergency medical dispatch. Previous Next

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

The bipartisan Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Colorado Jail Standards today advanced three bills including legislation to expand grant opportunities to county jails, create guidelines for jails preparing to consolidate, and improve and modernize communications between those incarcerated and their attorney. < Back November 20, 2024 Jail Standards Interim Committee Advances Three Bills DENVER, CO – The bipartisan Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Colorado Jail Standards today advanced three bills including legislation to expand grant opportunities to county jails, create guidelines for jails preparing to consolidate, and improve and modernize communications between those incarcerated and their attorney. “This summer, the committee met with important voices in the judicial space, including spokespeople for county sheriffs, the Attorney General’s office, and criminal justice advocates, and we are ready to move forward with data-driven legislation that will improve the operational efficiency of our county jails,” said Senator-Elect and Chair Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of Bills 1, 2 and 3. “I’m sponsoring legislation that will bring more money into our county jails, save rural counties money and boost staffing by allowing them to consolidate their jails, and increase access to communication between incarcerated people and their attorneys. These changes will have a significant impact on both county jails and incarcerated Coloradans that will streamline operations, help address the workforce shortages in rural counties, and ensure Coloradans can access legal representation while incarcerated.” “Throughout the interim, we’ve worked alongside many advocates, attorneys and state agencies in the criminal justice arena to develop new, impactful policy to improve our state’s correctional facilities for everyone involved,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor of Bills 2 and 3. “Of the bills we passed today, we are working to cut red tape so our county jails can make necessary safety improvements and have clear guidelines for consolidation. We’re also clarifying and modernizing laws surrounding incarcerated people’s right to no-cost, private phone calls and video communications with their attorney. These bills combined would improve our criminal justice system in Colorado.” Bill 1 , sponsored by Representative Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver and Senator-Elect Amabile, would support grants to maintain, repair, renovate and improve Colorado’s county jails. The bill expands the responsibilities of the commission to include jails in addition to court facilities. The goal of Bill 1 is to ensure Colorado’s county jails have a pathway to receiving grant funding they need to make necessary improvements to their facilities. Bill 2 , sponsored by Representative Garcia and Senator-Elect Amabile, would allow two or more counties to enter intergovernmental agreements to allow them to consolidate jail functions with the purpose of reducing high costs associated with staffing, liability, and operations. It would also make these counties with a population of less than 40,000 eligible for liability coverage under Colorado’s Risk Management Fund. Bill 3 , sponsored by Representative Garcia, Senator-Elect Amabile and Senator Gonzales, would improve communication between a person who is in custody and their attorney. This bill specifically allows those in custody to receive a reasonable number of telephone calls or interactive audiovisual conferencing from their attorney at no cost. The goal of Bill 3 is to improve and modernize communication pathways between those in custody and their attorney by clarifying the right in stature to have no cost, private and unrecorded phone calls or video calls. The bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2025 session, interim bills will follow the standard legislative process. Previous Next

On January 1, 2024, laws to cap the cost of epinephrine auto injectors at $60 for a 2-pack, protect patients during intimate exams and improve eating disorder treatment go into effect. < Back December 18, 2023 Laws to Save Patients Money on Health Care, Protect Coloradans Go Into Effect DENVER, CO - On January 1, 2024, laws to cap the cost of epinephrine auto injectors at $60 for a 2-pack, protect patients during intimate exams and improve eating disorder treatment go into effect. “No one should ever have to choose between paying their bills and being able to afford their life-saving medication, which is why we passed a law that limits corporate price-gouging and makes EpiPens more accessible for all,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, sponsor of HB23-1002. “Currently, EpiPens can be as expensive as $700 for a 2-pack, even though it only costs the manufacturer $8 to produce. On January 1, our new Colorado law will limit the out-of-pocket price of an EpiPen 2-pack to $60, ensuring that Coloradans can afford and access their life-saving medication.” “Colorado families like the ones I represent on the Western Slope have been getting charged an arm and a leg for the EpiPens they rely on to save their lives in emergency situations, and it’s unacceptable,” Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, said. “Nobody should have to choose between paying the bills and affording their prescription drugs. This new law going into effect will lower costs and make life-saving EpiPens much more affordable for working folks.” “With the current price of an EpiPen 2-pack, hardworking Coloradans have to work over one additional week just to ensure they have medication that can save their life during an emergency,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1002. “Symptoms from food allergies can set in quickly, and price should never be a factor for people like myself that rely on emergency medication to keep them safe and alive. I’m proud that our new law will remove cost barriers that prevent many lower-income people and people of color from accessing the medication they need.” Epinephrine auto-injectors are commonly referred to by the trademark name “EpiPen”, which was acquired by one company in 2007. Since then, prices have increased over 660% to $690 for a 2-pack. Because Epi-pens expire a year after purchase, Coloradans have been forced to spend hundreds of dollars annually for medication that can save them from potentially lethal reactions. HB23-1002 creates the Epi-Pen Affordability Program, where uninsured Coloradans with a prescription can apply online through the Colorado Division of Insurance to obtain low-cost epinephrine auto-injectors. Under this bill, manufacturers would be required to provide access to the program on their websites. The bill also requires insurance carriers that provide coverage for epinephrine auto-injectors to cap the out-of-pocket cost to $60 for a 2-pack. HB23-1077 requires health care professionals, students, medical residents and trainees to obtain informed consent prior to a patient being sedated or unconscious before performing intimate examinations, unless in emergency situations. In addition to consent, health care professionals would only be able to perform intimate examinations if it is pertinent to the planned procedure. “This law is common sense - providers should have to get consent from patients to conduct invasive pelvic exams,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, sponsor of HB23-1077. “Too many patients have woken up after a surgery to learn a non-consensual pelvic, prostate, rectal, or breast exam was performed on them, leaving them surprised and traumatized. With this law taking effect, Coloradans can have peace of mind that they won’t undergo exams that they did not consent to.” “Patients deserve dignity,” Assistant Senate Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, said. “Previously, health care professionals jeopardized that by performing unauthorized intimate exams on patients. By requiring health care professionals to obtain consent from their patients before intimate exams are conducted, we’re ensuring patients are able to maintain control over their bodies, and maintain their dignity.” “Many people, like myself, were shocked to hear that it was legal in Colorado to perform intimate exams on a patient while they are sedated for medical training purposes,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor of HB23-1077. “These non-consensual exams were a violation of a patients safety and trust in the health care system, and can force patients to revisit some of their worst traumas and cause unintended, long-lasting impacts. This law protects Colorado patients by requiring consent before any intimate exams are performed, giving them the ability to opt out at any point.” “Creating patient consent protections for intimate exams is simply the right thing to do,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont. “This important new law will ensure patients who have been put under anesthesia or who are unconscious during medical procedures aren’t unknowing or unwilling recipients of intimate exams.” Across the country, medical students and residents are performing unauthorized intimate exams , including pelvic exams for educational purposes, on patients under medical sedation for unrelated surgeries. Patients are not able to consent to these procedures and can experience extreme physical and behavioral trauma responses after learning about the performed exam. This law would create a clear process for obtaining patient consent and non-compliant medical and health care professionals would be subject to disciplinary action by their regulators or the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for not following that process. SB23-176 provides health care protections for those suffering from a diagnosed eating disorder. The law prohibits health insurance plans from using body mass index or any other weight standard when determining the medically necessary and appropriate level of care for a patient. It also prohibits retail establishments from selling over-the-counter diet pills to those under the age of 18-years-old without prescriptions. “Only 1 in 3 people who have an eating disorder will receive the treatment they need to have a healthy relationship with their bodies,” said Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, sponsor of SB23-176. “This law prohibits health insurance companies from denying eating disorder treatments based on outdated standards, like body mass index and ideal body weight. We’re eliminating harmful approaches so we can ensure the health and safety of Coloradans.” “This is a crisis with our youth. Hospitalizations for eating disorders among adolescents has increased by 100 percent since the onset of COVID. Women and LGBTQ+ youth are at particular risk of contracting an eating disorder because of the unrealistic expectations of appearance imposed on them by our society,” Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, said. “We must address outdated and harmful approaches to treating eating disorders and provide care that is respectful to each individual and on par with the latest research.” Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses. According to Mental Health Colorado , one in ten Coloradans live with an eating disorder, showing that the need for action is clear. Previous Next

< Back March 10, 2021 HOUSE ED ADVANCES SCHOOL FUNDING FIX Bill would help ensure fair and sufficient public school funding in every Colorado community DENVER, CO — The House Education Committee today passed HB21-1164, sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar and Speaker Garnett, which would correct an error in Colorado’s property tax system to help ensure fair, equitable and sufficient public school funding across the state. “This is the year we start to correct our broken education funding system to ensure that every child in our state has access to the education they need to thrive,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “All Colorado students and taxpayers deserve a fair and sufficient share of our public education budget. By passing this bill, we can correct an error that reversed the will of voters and which led to enormous inequities in how we fund public schools. This bill sets us on a long overdue path to ensure that every school district has the resources they need to offer the quality education every student deserves.” “It’s past time to fix some of the structural inequities in Colorado’s K-12 school finance system,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Our current school district mill levies were misapplied and don’t comply with the will of the voters to invest in their local schools. Year after year, this error has forced the state to backfill disproportionately more funding to our wealthiest districts while many districts struggle to appropriately fund education. By fixing this mistake, we can slowly make school district funding more fair and bring it in line with what voters have approved.” HB21-1164 forms the basis of a constitutional question to be sent to the Colorado Supreme Court as an interrogatory. The purpose is to align Colorado’s property tax system with original voter intent in local school districts’ “de-Brucing” elections. Between 1994-2002, taxpayers across the state voted to get out from under TABOR imposed caps on school district revenue. Despite the will of the voters to support their local schools, the Colorado Department of Education incorrectly interpreted TABOR and artificially required school districts to collect less revenue. In fact, in 2009, the Colorado Supreme Court held that these mandated reductions were erroneous in its ruling in Mesa Board of County Commissioners v. State . The result has been escalating inequities in school funding across the state, and precious state dollars used to backfill wealthy districts while the system overall is severely underfunded. The 2020 School Finance Act (SFA) took the first step to correct this error. The 2020 SFA aligned statute with the Mesa ruling, treating past tax rate reductions as a mistake if they were enacted to comply with the TABOR limit after local voters had waived that limit. This action reset all district total program mill levies to the rate in place at the time of the successful de-Brucing election, while enacting mill levy “credits” at 100 percent of the difference between the old levy and the corrected levy in order to negate potential impacts to taxpayers during the COVID pandemic. HB21-1164 directs CDE to implement a correction plan for the erroneous reductions in total program mill levies by beginning to incrementally phase out mill levy credits starting in FY 2021-22. This timeline was chosen intentionally to ensure no district has to phase out credits faster than 1 mill per year. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee passed legislation to strengthen protections for Colorado’s mobile home park residents < Back March 19, 2024 Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Mobile Home Park Residents Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee passed legislation to strengthen protections for Colorado’s mobile home park residents. HB24-1294, sponsored by Representatives Andrew Boesenecker and Elizabeth Velasco, would improve accessibility, strengthen rent-to-own contracts, and update tenant protections. “Over the years, we’ve stepped up to improve protections for Coloradans living in mobile parks and this bill clarifies crucial components of the Mobile Home Park Act and rent-to-own contacts,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “We’re continuing to improve protections for mobile home park residents by ensuring that both parties in a rent-to-own agreement are informed of their rights and responsibilities. We’re working to ensure that mobile homes remain affordable, and this bill protects our neighbors and keeps our communities whole.” “We are working to improve language accessibility and housing security for those living in mobile parks across our state,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “This bill would require that vital information related to lot rent increases and maintenance be posted in both English and Spanish. In addition to language accessibility, this bill also closes gaps in current law by updating tenancy and rent protections and improving transparency for rent-to-own contracts. This bill builds upon our efforts to keep mobile home park housing affordable and supports our neighbors.” HB24-1294 passed by a vote of 8 to 3 and would close some of the remaining gaps in the Mobile Home Park Act that have left some park residents vulnerable to displacement and financial harm. Specifically, this bill would update owner and landlord responsibilities, strengthen tenant protections, ensure important park notices and meetings are accessible to Spanish speakers, and clarify the conditions of the sale of mobile homes and parks. The bill also establishes clear provisions for rent-to-own contracts by ensuring that both parties in a “rent to own” agreement are informed of their rights and responsibilities, such as the steps to exercise a purchase option, and the refundability of payments in the event a tenancy terminates prematurely. To improve accessibility, this bill would require that parkwide meetings, and written notices of potential evictions or rent increases, are communicated and accessible in both English and Spanish. Additionally, this bill would clarify the circumstances when park residents are protected against rent increases. Colorado Democrats have passed legislation in recent years to strengthen protections for mobile home residents by improving water quality in mobile home parks ( HB23-1257 ), expanding protections provided under the Mobile Home Park Act (HB22-1287 ), and creating a pathway for residents to purchase the land under their mobile home ( HB20-1201 ). Previous Next

SB23-092 expands renewable energy and reduces carbon emissions on Colorado farmland < Back May 18, 2023 SIGNED! Bipartisan Bill to Increase Use of Agrivoltaics SB23-092 expands renewable energy and reduces carbon emissions on Colorado farmland LONGMONT, CO – Today, Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Representative Karen McCormick’s, D-Longmont, bipartisan bill to support the use of agrivoltaics through grants from the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) was signed by Governor Jared Polis. SB23-092 , cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, and Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, expands access to agrivoltaics, a cutting edge method to generate energy using solar panels over agricultural land without sacrificing significant agricultural production. The bill also directs the CDA to study greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration opportunities in agriculture. “Agrivoltaics are an effective way to increase the productivity of our farmland,” said Hansen. “With some crops, shade from solar panels can actually improve growing conditions, save water and increase output. We are helping to expand renewable energy options and carbon capture techniques that can benefit our farming community and help us reach our climate goals.” "Cleaning up our air takes a multi-pronged approach, and agrivoltaics prioritize clean, renewable energy sources over fossil fuels across Colorado's farmland," said McCormick. "This law expands the use of this cutting edge method to generate energy using solar panels along farmland and saves water in the process. Agrivoltaics provide economic opportunity for agricultural landowners, making it easier for farmland to be kept in the hands of farmers for generations to come. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the state, and these innovative techniques bring us closer to reaching our climate goals and reducing our carbon footprint." 32 million acres of land are used for agriculture in Colorado, nearly half of the state’s surface area. Methods for carbon reduction on farmland studied by the bill include dry digesters, greenhouse gas credits, and sequestration efforts. Additionally, the bill establishes a tax exemption for certain qualifying machinery or equipment from property tax if the agricultural equipment is part of a solar energy generating system that is used for agrivoltaics or aquavoltaics. Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2021 AFTER GEORGIA’S JIM CROW 2.0, DEMS BEAT BACK “BIG LIE” INSPIRED ELECTION BILLS DENVER, CO — The House State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs committee today defeated multiple GOP bills based on “the big lie,” which raised baseless conspiracies about the security and integrity of elections across the country, and here in Colorado. “Colorado’s elections system is a national model for facilitating record turnout and constantly improving voter access while ensuring safety, integrity and security,” said House State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Chair Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “These bills are dangerous attempts to make it harder to vote and undermine faith in our elections based on conspiracies and the ‘big lie,’ which have been repeatedly debunked. In fact, there wasn’t a single piece of evidence presented that anyone voted who wasn’t supposed to or that anything went wrong with our voting systems. Our system has been lauded by both Republican and Democratic secretaries of state, county clerks and recorders, and officials in both parties for nearly a decade.” “From Georgia to Colorado, we are seeing an onslaught of GOP efforts across the country to restrict access to the ballot and make it harder for Americans to exercise their right to vote,” said committee vice chair Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “We won’t stand for these attacks on our democracy in Colorado. We should be looking for ways to increase participation and make it easier to vote, not casting doubt on the best elections system in America.” Dismantle Vote by Mail (HB21-1086 – Luck): This bill would severely limit voter access by requiring voters to submit proof of citizenship in-person at their county clerk and recorder’s office, dismantling our convenient and secure mail-in voting system. Instead of automatically receiving a ballot in the mail, each registered voter would have to go in person to submit additional documents. Voter fraud is extremely rare in the United States, and noncitizen voting is even more rare. This bill is not only a solution in search of a problem, it’s a reckless piece of legislation that would set back our progress and disenfranchise countless Coloradans. Among those directly affected would be military and overseas voters who cannot possibly get to their county clerk’s office in-person. The bill was postponed indefinitely at the request of the sponsor, although two Republicans voted against the motion and to move it forward instead. Redundant And Unnecessary Audits (HB21-1088 – Pico): This bill would require the state auditor to conduct a completely unnecessary and redundant annual audit of the voter registration system. The Secretary of State’s office and county clerks across the state conduct risk-limiting audits, regarded nationally as the gold standard, in every election and have not found any substantial evidence of fraud. Giving Political Party Chairs Influence Over Election Equipment Recommendations (HB21-1170 – Geitner): This bill creates an advisory committee made up of partisan appointees from the state’s two major political party chairs to make recommendations on how to change the state’s voting systems, which are the safest and most secure in the country. Colorado already has a bipartisan commission of experts made up of county clerks, election officials, lawmakers, and voting access and integrity advocates that shouldn’t be usurped by a commission made up only of political party appointments. After they spent months trying to undermine the security of our elections, it would be disastrous to allow partisan GOP political operatives a greater say in how we run them. Commission to Guide Redundant and Unnecessary Audits (HB21-1176 – Holtorf): This bill would create yet another commission to offer recommendations on how to audit Colorado’s elections, despite the fact that the state already has a Bipartisan Election Advisory Commission and already conducts the nationwide gold standard for election audits. By offering bills to fix problems that don’t exist, Republicans continue their efforts to undermine faith in Colorado’s elections. Endless and Meritless Recount Requests (HB21-1053 – Williams): This bill would allow any registered elector in the political subdivision where the election was held to request an electoral recount when one is not otherwise required. Under this bill, the voter requesting an recount could go so far as to specify that the recount be conducted manually, leaving the door open for all kinds of abuse of the recount mechanism. Under current law, recounts are automatically triggered when the margin falls within 0.5 percent of the vote and can be requested by any candidate or their affiliated party within 28 days of an election. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Julie McCluskie: Delivering relief for hardworking Coloradans this special session Dec 8, 2023 See more The story was originally published in the Summit Daily on December 8, 2023 here . On Nov. 17, I gaveled the Colorado House of Representatives into the 2023 extraordinary session to pass an immediate, short-term solution to next year’s rising property taxes. We delivered results that will help the Coloradans that need the most help, especially in our mountain and rural communities that have felt the growing pressure from increasing housing values and the rising cost of living. After four days of robust discussions, we passed a package of bills that provide over $430 million in property tax relief without using TABOR refunds while also supporting hardworking Colorado families by increasing rental assistance, providing equal TABOR refunds and boosting tax relief for working families. Democrats put people over politics and brought ideas to Republicans that had broad bipartisan support. The main focus of the 2023 extraordinary session was SB23B-001, our property tax relief bill that now allows homeowners to exempt $55,000 of their home’s value from taxes. It also decreased the residential assessment rate from 6.765% to 6.7% for the 2023 tax year. The law provides responsible property tax relief while protecting funding for local services, like K-12 schools, fire districts and libraries. We had limited resources and tools to reduce taxes without cutting critical services like education. With this bill, we provided the largest tax reduction we could responsibly deliver without using TABOR surplus and without harming students, teachers or our schools. Our property tax reductions built off of similar legislation from the 2022 legislative session, which passed unanimously in the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. We listened to voters and delivered property tax reductions that protect schools without reducing what the state refunds to Coloradans under TABOR. Our package of bills put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Colorado families in a variety of ways, something that wouldn’t have been possible without a special session. By continuing popular equal TABOR refunds of $800 per filer, 2.3 million taxpayers and everyone making under $104,000 will see larger refunds, and lower income families will see hundreds of dollars more to help afford rent, groceries, health care, child care and other essentials. An identical law passed in 2022 with overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans alike. Additionally, we doubled tax credits for working low-income families, boosting the incomes of over 400,000 hardworking Coloradans by $185 million. Currently, the state Earned Income Tax Credit is 25% of the federal credit, with the average family receiving a $521 tax credit. By doubling the state EITC, working-class families will see hundreds of additional dollars back in their pockets so they can better support their families. Similar legislation passed the House earlier this year by a bipartisan vote of 54-9 with the approval of many House Republicans. We know that renters are undoubtedly struggling to keep up with rising rent and the cost of living. We nearly doubled rental assistance funds to $65 million for the year, keeping Coloradans safely housed so they can break out of cycles of poverty, homelessness and financial insecurity. This boost in funding will prevent thousands of evictions while ensuring landlords don’t suffer from financial losses. Finally, we expanded the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program to connect families with nutrition assistance during the summer months. Keeping kids well-fed is crucial so they can learn and grow. Now, families will receive added financial support to go towards groceries in the summer when school is not in session, saving them money on nutritious food. I’m proud of the work that we accomplished during the 2023 extraordinary session to provide immediate support for the Coloradans facing the brunt of the cost of living crisis. Our property tax relief legislation utilized the tools we have at the state level to help homeowners afford their property taxes next year, giving local governments more time to come up with an effective, long-term solution that meets the needs of their communities. This extraordinary session, we prioritized help to hardworking Coloradans in every corner of our great state, helping them combat our affordability crisis so they can better support themselves and their families. As I prepare for the 2024 Legislative Session, I’m committed to continuing our work in making Colorado affordable for everyone and working across the aisle to deliver results for Coloradans. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to protect Coloradans from wildfires. < Back February 15, 2024 Bill to Keep Coloradans Safe During Wildfire Evacuations Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to protect Coloradans from wildfires. HB24-1033, sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Elizabeth Velasco, would encourage locally created emergency evacuation plans for Coloradans with pets during wildfires or other emergencies. HB24-1033 passed by a vote of 48 to 12. “As wildfires become more destructive and frequent, emergency evacuation plans are important to keep everyone safe,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “This bill encourages local communities to create emergency plans for Coloradans with pets so that they have evacuation options in the wake of disaster. From expanded mitigation efforts to community education, the safety of our neighborhoods depends on emergency planning.” “Rural and mountain communities like mine face frequent wildfire risks,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “To better protect our community members during a wildfire, this legislation would help develop emergency plans for Coloradans with pets, including transportation and other logistics. Our furry friends and pets are valued members of our families, and this legislation helps communities create a plan to keep everyone safe during wildfire evacuations.” HB24-1033 would encourage local emergency management agencies to address the needs of Coloradans with animals during wildfires or other emergencies. This would include provisions for the evacuation, shelter, and transport of these individuals and their pets, including service animals. Beginning January 2025, local governments would also be strongly encouraged to make information for animal emergency preparedness available. This bill was created during the interim by the Wildfire Matters Review Committee and is designed to keep communities and Coloradans safer in the wake of destructive wildfires. Previous Next

< Back May 21, 2019 FULL DAY-K ON THE WAY: MCLACHLAN’S BIPARTISAN BILL ON FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN SIGNED INTO LAW Bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and Senate (May 21) – Today, Gov. Jared Polis signed a bipartisan bill by Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Rep Jim Wilson, R-Salida, to fund full-day kindergarten. The upcoming state budget proposes funding full-day kindergarten in a responsible, sustainable manner. The program is set to begin this Fall. “Full-day K is coming to a school near you beginning this Fall. This is an historic moment for kids, parents and our state, and this program will provide important benefits for hardworking families for years to come. Full-day kindergarten will put Colorado kids all across our state on the path to success,” said Rep. McLachlan. “Access to early childhood education is the best gift we can provide to our young learners.” Many young students lack access to full-day kindergarten, despite research showing they will benefit significantly from this learning experience. While a large number of Colorado schools have increased access to full day kindergarten over time despite inadequate funding, there are still 14,000 children without access to this important educational resource. Those who lack access often face some of the steepest obstacles to affording the tuition that is charged in many districts or live in communities that cannot afford to cut resources from other parts of the K-12 budget to offer a free full-day experience. Increased state funding would help open doors to a research-proven strategy to improve children’s academic and life success. An added benefit of funding full-day kindergarten is the complementary freeing up of more than 5,000 Early Childhood At-Risk Enhancement (ECARE) slots in the Colorado Preschool Program for young learners. Full day kindergarten would go into effect beginning in Fall 2019. Previous Next

House Speaker Julie McCluskie and Senate President Steve Fenberg today made legislative appointments to the Colorado River Drought Task Force. < Back June 22, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Speaker McCluskie and President Fenberg Make Appointments to Colorado River Drought Task Force DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie and Senate President Steve Fenberg today made legislative appointments to the Colorado River Drought Task Force. The appointments were made pursuant to SB23-295 , a new law which establishes a special task force to identify steps the state can take to protect the Colorado River and all who rely on its water. “The Colorado River speaks to the very spirit of our Colorado way of life, and I hope the work of this task force helps protect it for generations to come,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The Colorado River Drought Task Force is a vital step forward toward finding innovative and bold solutions to combat drier, hotter climates that jeopardize our freshwater lifeline and all those who depend on it. The leaders I selected for the task force are committed to a collaborative process that brings every voice to the table and uplifts the needs of Coloradans from around the state. This is the first step in a thorough process to preserve Colorado’s water future.” “Coloradans depend on clean, reliable water to power our economy and our outdoor way of life, and protecting the Colorado River is a key step towards securing the future of our water supply,” said President Fenberg, D-Boulder. “This Task Force will address the challenges facing our water supply head-on, and will help put Colorado on a path to a sustainable water future by finding innovative solutions to safeguard Colorado’s water. I am excited to watch this team work together to protect our most precious resource and ensure clean, accessible water for all.” Speaker Julie McCluskie’s legislative appointments to the Colorado River Drought Task Force: Kathy Chandler-Henry, Eagle County Commissioner , to serve as a representative of a local government located within the boundaries of the Colorado River Water Conservation District that provides water for municipal purposes. Kathy Chandler-Henry, a Western Slope native, is Chair of the Eagle County Commissioners. In addition to her role as County Commissioner, she is President of the Colorado River Water Conservation District Board of Directors, Chair of the Ruedi Water and Power Authority as well as the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Water Quality and Quantity Committee (QQ). She previously served as President of the Eagle River Watershed Council Board of Directors. Mike Camblin, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association , to serve as a representative of a statewide agricultural organization that is the owner of water rights. Mike Camblin lives in Maybell Colorado where he and his family run Camblin Livestock, a 4th generation cattle ranch in northwest Colorado. He serves on the Board of Directors as a Northwestern Quarter Representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. Alexandra Davis, Aurora Water , to serve as a representative of a front range municipal water provider that diverts water from the Colorado River. Alex Davis is the Assistant General Manager of Water Supply and Demand at Aurora Water. She has experience in the public and NGO sector, working for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Department of Natural Resources as the Director of Colorado Interbasin Compact Committee, and in the Colorado Attorney General’s office. Daris Jutten, Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association , to serve as an agricultural producer that owns water rights within the boundaries of the Colorado River Water Conservation District. Daris Jutten is the Chair of the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association Board of Directors and head of the Lazy K Bar Land and Cattle Co., a 5th generation ranching operation in Montrose and Ouray Counties. Aaron Citron, The Nature Conservancy , to serve as a representative of a statewide environmental nonprofit organization with expertise in water rights and Colorado River interstate governance. Aaron Citron is the Associate Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. He leads the Conservancy’s state legislative and government relations efforts as well as the Colorado chapter’s engagement on Colorado River water issues. President Steve Fenberg’s legislative appointments to the Colorado River Drought Task Force: Melissa Youssef, City of Durango , to serve as the representative of a local government located within the boundaries of the southwestern water conservation district that provides water for municipal purposes. Youssef has served on the Durango City Council since 2017. Before she was elected, Youssef founded and served as a CEO of a successful Durango based company, as well as the City of Durango Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Trails 2000 board. Orla Bannan, Western Resource Advocates , to serve as the representative of a statewide environmental nonprofit organization with expertise in water rights and Colorado River Interstate Governance. Bannan is Western Resource Advocates’ Healthy Rivers Strategic Engagement Manager. She helps develop and advocate for policy programs that protect and improve western rivers and works to address water scarcity issues by partnering with regional water boards and emerging leaders in local communities. By December of 2023, after an extensive stakeholding process open to public comment, the task force must make policy recommendations to the General Assembly for demand reduction projects that proactively address the impact of droughts on the Colorado River and its tributaries and: Avoid disproportionate economic and environmental impacts to any one region of the state, Ensure that any program related to the acquisition of agricultural water rights is voluntary, temporary, and compensated, Assure meaningful collaboration among the Colorado River District, Southwestern Water Conservation District, and the State of Colorado in the design and implementation of drought security programs, and Evaluate sources of revenue for the acquisition of program water. A sub-task force consisting of representatives from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Department of Natural Resources would also be established to provide policy recommendations to the General Assembly to address tribal needs. These recommendations would consider the unique nature of tribal water rights and tribal water use. The goal of the Colorado River Drought Task Force is to convene experts and relevant stakeholders to provide effective solutions to the General Assembly so our state can protect the Colorado River and its tributaries. Previous Next