House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senator Dylan Roberts, Representatives Elizabeth Velasco, Katie Stewart and Meghan Lukens today share their legislative priorities on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly. < Back January 14, 2026 Western Slope Democrats Kick Off Legislative Session DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senator Dylan Roberts, Representatives Elizabeth Velasco, Katie Stewart and Meghan Lukens today share their legislative priorities on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly. “We’re excited to begin another session with Democrats and Republicans from the Western Slope working together on the issues that matter most for our rural and mountain communities,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Affordable housing is top of mind for many, and this year, we’re building upon our efforts to spur the creation of more housing that Coloradans can afford. We’re focused on bringing down costs, equipping workers with the skills and tools they need for good-paying jobs and protecting our public lands.” “I’m looking forward to another session of working for our rural and mountain communities. That will mean moving legislation forward that lowers the cost of living, protects our water, and supports our Western Slope economies and working families,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “I’m excited to be the sponsor of Senate Bill One, a bipartisan effort to cut red-tape to allow communities to access more housing construction funding, and another bill that will lower costs for small agriculture producers.” “While we’ve made important progress to save you money on everyday necessities such as rent and groceries, hardworking families are still feeling the squeeze,” said Representative Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “This session, we will double down on our affordability efforts to save you money where it matters the most, including health care and child care.” “Coloradans expect us to get the job done, and we’ll work across the aisle to find solutions and be a strong voice for rural Colorado,” said Representative Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “I’m looking forward to representing our communities this year and growing our rural economies so that everyone has a fair shot and an opportunity to thrive. I’ll work to bring down costs, create jobs and protect our public lands.” “We’ve invested more than ever before in Colorado’s public K-12 schools, and the new school finance formula drives more dollars directly to our rural school districts,” said Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This session, we will protect the critical investments we’ve made in K-12 education and higher education, prioritize outdoor recreation and make our state more affordable for all.” Previous Next

< Back July 1, 2021 GOV SIGNS BILLS TO PROTECT AND BETTER SERVE COLORADANS WITH DISABILITIES DENVER, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation that will ensure that state resources are in compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and revamp training to improve first responder interactions with people with disabilities. “Every Coloradan should be able to access state services and information online, but not all state websites and services are accessible to people with disabilities,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Denver. “During the pandemic, some Coloradans weren’t able to get critical information or had to wait longer to access it because state websites didn’t meet accessibility standards. The bill Governor Polis signed today will bring Colorado’s state government inline with federal standards to ensure everyone can use and access state services online.” HB21-1110 , sponsored by Representative David Ortiz, requires that all rules promulgated by Colorado departments are at least as strong as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law tasks state agencies with developing an accessibility plan that enables an individual with a disability to access digital content with the same privacy and ease of use as individuals without disabilities. “Today, Colorado is taking an important step forward to ensure that first responders have the training and tools necessary to guarantee safe and appropriate outcomes while interacting with people with disabilities,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Denver. “This new law will bring people together and give voice to people in the disability community to better inform law enforcement, prevent tragedies and protect people with disabilities, who we know are disproportionately more likely to be the victims of crimes and have unique needs and considerations for preserving their wellbeing.” HB21-1122 , sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Colin Larson, establishes a twelve-person commission tasked with performing a detailed study of existing training for peace officers on interactions with persons with disabilities and provide a report to the POST Board by February 28, 2022. The bill requires the resulting curriculum be implemented for basic training and the annual in-service training by July 1, 2022. Once the curriculum is implemented, the commission must monitor the training process, assess any challenges and the effectiveness of the training to present and suggest to the POST Board. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster basic access at places of public accommodations for people with disabilities. < Back April 10, 2023 Ortiz’s Bill to Improve Basic Access for People with Disabilities Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster basic access at places of public accommodations for people with disabilities. “Coloradans living with a disability should be able to visit and enjoy the restaurants, museums and retail stores in their community without having to worry about whether they'll be able to navigate the space,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “This legislation empowers Coloradans living with a disability by allowing them to pursue legal action if a public accommodation space is not accessible. I’m committed to making our public places more accessible and accommodating so they can be enjoyed by everyone.” HB23-1032 ensures that individuals with a disability have legal recourse if they are discriminated against by any place of public accommodation. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network , places of public accommodation include restaurants, theaters, doctors' offices, pharmacies, hotels, retail stores, museums, libraries, amusement parks, private schools and day care centers. HB23-1032 aims to improve accessibility for all Coloradans. Previous Next

< Back May 18, 2021 HOUSE BOOSTS LOW-INCOME UTILITY ASSISTANCE & SNAP ENROLLMENT DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to significantly boost low-income utility bill payment assistance across Colorado. “Too many Coloradans don’t have enough resources right now to make ends meet and are at risk of falling further behind as our economy recovers,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Our direct assistance programs are badly underfunded and rely on a volatile funding mechanism that isn’t meeting the needs of our communities. This bill will help Colorado build back stronger and forge a more inclusive recovery by boosting direct utility bill payment assistance to low income Coloradans.” HB21-1105 creates a sustainable funding source and expands eligibility for low-income assistance programs. The existing funding mechanism for low-income utility assistance is volatile and is not keeping up with the need in Colorado communities for direct assistance. Dozens of counties receive less than 50 percent of their requested energy assistance funds. While exempting low-income customers, the bill directs utilities to collect a $1 fee on electricity customers and a $1 fee on gas customers, which will be used to finance direct utility bill payment assistance and weatherization retrofits to low-income households. The bill also creates a mechanism for cross enrollment with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to maximize the number of eligible Colorado recipients. It also allows water utilities to collect a charge to finance direct water utility assistance for low-income customers. Even before the pandemic hit, one in four Colorado households struggled to pay monthly utility bills. In the last year, Energy Outreach Colorado, which has received federal and state stimulus funding through recent legislation, paid $13 million in bills for 25,000 households, indicating the need for a sustainable funding source. Among the tens of thousands the energy assistance nonprofit serves are seniors, Coloradans with disabilities, and essential frontline workers. Previous Next

< Back May 18, 2024 Gov. Polis Signs Two Bills to Support Students into Law COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two pieces of legislation to support Colorado students. SB24-164 will improve transparency surrounding higher education costs and reduce barriers to completing higher education degrees or certificate programs. HB24-1076 will create the Purple Star School Program to recognize K-12 public schools that provide support to military students and their families. “Throughout my time as an educator and Chair of the Senate Education Committee, it became clear that bolstering the ways students can transfer hard-earned credits is essential to improving student outcomes,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB24-164. “This new law is a pivotal step towards creating a more inclusive, transparent, and student-centric higher education system in Colorado. By prioritizing the needs of students, we can pave the way for greater educational outcomes and economic mobility for students and families.” “Creating a more inclusive, transparent, and student-centric higher education system in Colorado means we put students first,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of SB24-164. “This law will make it easier for students pursuing higher education in Colorado to understand the cost of their degree or certificate. It will also ensure that students transferring from a community college to a four year institution receive credits they deserve for the classes they’ve successfully completed.” SB24-164 is also sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, and House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs. This law will make it easier to transfer college credits, improve transparency in higher education reporting, and ensure rights for students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. Transparency requirements include: Transparency of the cost of postsecondary education; Seamless transfer of general education and transfer pathway courses; Transparency regarding if credits are accepted or rejected from an institution; and The ability to appeal an institution’s decision not to accept transfer credits. A major challenge transfer students face is the transferability of postsecondary credits. On average, transfer students lose a full semester of credits, which translates to time and money lost. There are current methods that exist within Colorado’s higher education framework to ease transitions between higher education institutions such as transferable lower division courses, common course numbering, and guaranteed transfer pathways. SB24-164 will build on this framework by bolstering student rights and easing the transfer of course credits. “Children of military families are especially vulnerable to the changes that come with moving schools, making new friends and joining extracurricular activities mid-season,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, sponsor of HB24-1076. “This legislation will help students that are part of military families during the transition process so they can focus on learning, growing and socializing within a program that fosters support.” “Military families make big sacrifices to support service members and their communities, and it’s critical that we support them as well,” Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB24-1076. “This new law will help uplift kids in military families by making sure they get the support they need to thrive at school. I’m proud to sponsor this law that will help military family members get connected to the support and resources they deserve.” “This important law uplifts our military families which strengthens communities, supports our workforce and recognizes the day-to-day sacrifices made by those who serve our nation and their families,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB24-1076. “As the representative for a community with a long tradition of military service, the bill getting signed into law today will help ease the school transition for kids in military families, making it easier to call our great state home.” HB24-1076 , also sponsored by Senator Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, establishes the Purple Star School Program to designate and recognize K-12 public schools that show a strong commitment to military-connected students and their families. The Purple Star School Program has been adopted by 42 other states and is proven to help military-connected students combat the academic and socio-emotional challenges they often face due to frequent relocation, transferring schools, parental deployment and changing environments. To qualify for the Purple Star designation, schools must: Designate a staff member as a Military Liaison, Maintain a website with resources for military-connected students and families, Maintain student-led transition programs, and Offer professional development opportunities relating to military-connected students. Previous Next

< Back March 27, 2019 BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR TIPPER-CARAVEO BILL TO CREATE 2020 CENSUS GRANT PROGRAM 2020 Census is at risk of being inaccurate (Mar. 26) – The State, Veterans, & Military Affairs House committee passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, and Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, that would create a committee to disperse funds around the state that would ensure a complete count of all Coloradans across the state. The 2020 Census is underfunded and behind schedule. “Experts agree that the census is in jeopardy compared to ten years ago,” said Rep. Tipper. “This is a critical issue that will impact every level of government. Even a one percent undercount on the census would result in the state losing out on over $630 million across a decade in federal money.This is a health equity issue and will have a disparate impact on rural communities.” Valid Census data is tied to billions of dollars federal funding allocations for Colorado. For example, the state received over $93 million in federal funding for Head Start programs and nearly $34 million in Community Development Block Grants in 2016 because of census data. HB19-1239 creates an appointed bipartisan and diverse committee, administered by the Dept. of Local Affairs, to award grants to nonprofits and local governments to ensure a complete count across all of Colorado for the 2020 Census. “The census determines so much for our state. We are in competition with other states for federal dollars. It is in our best interest to compete for the federal pie. This bill will help get us there. This is about counting people,” said Rep. Caraveo. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 7-2. Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, joined Democrats in supporting HB19-1239. The bill now goes to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

Democratic Leadership and members of the Joint Budget Committee today released the following statements after Republicans Gabe Evans and Jeff Hurd cast the deciding votes to pass the GOP megabill, which will kick Coloradans off their health insurance, increase costs and jeopardize services for the most vulnerable people. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law < Back July 3, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: House GOP Passes Megabill to Slash Medicaid & SNAP, Kick Coloradans Off their Health Care DENVER, CO – Democratic Leadership and members of the Joint Budget Committee today released the following statements after Republicans Gabe Evans and Jeff Hurd cast the deciding votes to pass the GOP megabill, which will kick Coloradans off their health insurance, increase costs and jeopardize services for the most vulnerable people. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. “Congressional Republicans’ megabill benefits billionaires on the backs of hardworking Coloradans and Americans,” said President James Coleman, D-Denver. “Millions of Coloradans rely on Medicaid and Medicare, and the drastic cuts to these programs passed in the bill will have devastating impacts from the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains. The legislature will have to respond to these cuts and attempt to blunt the harm, but the budget hole caused by Washington’s recklessness will make it extremely difficult to fund our priorities, from health care to K-12 education and beyond.” “The GOP megabill is dangerous and reckless and will have a ripple effect on the health and success of Coloradans for generations to come,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The billion-dollar impact on our state budget will force the legislature to consider pausing the important progress we’ve made on priorities like education funding, tax credits for working families and efforts to reduce health care premiums. Businesses, rural hospitals, STEM research, food pantries and many others will lose the support that they rely on to serve our communities. This is a disastrous outcome for our state, and it will impact people in every corner of Colorado.” “The GOP megabill bill prioritizes the interests of the wealthiest Americans and powerful corporations over working families,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “While we’re fighting to lower costs for Coloradans, Gabe Evans and Jeff Hurd are kicking people off their health care, slashing food assistance for children and families, cutting clean energy tax credits and jobs, and increasing the cost of student loans. The bill reflects a consistent pattern: advancing the agenda of billionaires and other special interests at the expense of consumer protections and public wellbeing." “The GOP Megabill has far-reaching impacts on Colorado and it goes against everything that we stand for as Democrats,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “From hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable Coloradans losing access to health care to draconian cuts to food assistance programs and tax credits for seniors and working families, the destruction caused by the GOP Megabill will be felt by everyone. Rural hospitals and health care providers could close under this budget, and rural Coloradans will lose health care coverage while Republicans in the state legislature continue to turn a blind eye to what’s happening in Washington. Years of work to make Colorado more affordable and support the low- and middle-class, families, people of color, seniors, veterans and other Coloradans will be at risk now that the GOP has passed this regressive tax policy that favors the ultra-wealthy.” “Here in Colorado, we know what it’s like to make difficult decisions to balance our state budget,” said JBC Chair Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. “Every year, the Joint Budget Committee works across the aisle to do so carefully, thoughtfully, and with the best interests of Colorado families in mind. Gabe Evans and Jeff Hurd just cast the deciding votes on a budget that will hurt Coloradans. This bill slashes Medicaid, hurting families today and shifting costs to people with insurance. We will all pay more for health insurance because of this bill. Finally, this bill will almost certainly force us into a special session to make deep cuts to Colorado’s already tight budget, and those cuts rest entirely at the feet of Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, and Donald Trump.” “The GOP’s cruel megabill will have devastating impacts on our state, and we will do our best to shield Coloradans from as much pain as we can,” said JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “In addition to slashing Medicaid and food assistance, this bill will create a massive hole in our budget and force cuts to other critical programs Coloradans rely on. By passing this bill, Gabe Evans and his GOP colleagues are increasing costs on middle class families and closing the doors of opportunity for hardworking people across our state.” “Republicans in Congress are hellbent on making it harder for everyday Coloradans to stay on Medicaid,” said JBC Member Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Millions of Coloradans rely on Medicaid and Medicare, and the drastic cuts to these programs in the newly-passed GOP megabill will have devastating impacts from the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains. This further compounds our state’s budgetary challenges and will force the Joint Budget Committee to make impossible decisions about the future of Medicaid funding in Colorado and our ability to provide core services to hardworking families.” "The GOP megabill will drive up energy costs, force rural health clinics to shut their doors, and drive up the cost of health insurance for everyone,” said JBC Member Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. "In a tight budget year, we worked diligently to protect the services Coloradans rely on, but Congressional Republicans are jeopardizing everything from food assistance to health care. Colorado’s state budget simply cannot absorb the $1 billion in Medicaid cuts, revenue reductions and other cost increases, which will put health care, food assistance and services for our most vulnerable at risk. The GOP’s priorities are clear – give massive tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of hungry kids and families.” The most recent nonpartisan CBO analysis estimates that the GOP megabill will kick nearly 12 million Americans off their health care. It places a tax on energy, drives up utility costs, cuts food assistance and will force deep cuts to Medicaid and services for Colorado’s most vulnerable people, including veterans and many lower income families. Colorado Democrats—alongside health care providers, conservationists, and community leaders—have repeatedly asserted that this bill would be devastating to the American people and urged Congress not to pass it. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting estimated that the GOP megabill will decrease state revenues by as much as $500 million and increase costs to the state by around $500 million. Even without passage of the GOP megabill or an economic downturn, nonpartisan economic forecasters estimate the state will face a nearly $700 million deficit and that revenues could drop below the TABOR cap in each of the three years in the forecast window. Under these conditions, the state will not be able to replace the loss of federal funding under the GOP megabill and will be forced to consider difficult trade offs and cuts to core services. Previous Next

< Back May 21, 2021 E&E INVESTS IN COLORADO’S CLEAN ENERGY COMEBACK The Energy and Environment Committee today advanced Representative Alex Valdez and Tracey Bernett’s bipartisan bill to put $40 million toward financing clean energy projects DENVER, CO– The House Energy and Environment Committee today advanced a bill to invest in clean energy projects through the Colorado Energy Office. This bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bill passed by a vote of 10-3. “As Colorado’s economy becomes cleaner and greener, we’re working to ensure that innovative clean energy projects can access the private capital entities looking to fund them,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “Clean energy is a booming industry, and as we work to build back a stronger Colorado it makes sense to use proven models to encourage investment in a cleaner future for our state.” “Transitioning to clean energy in Colorado is good for the environment, good for future generations and good for our economy,” said Rep. Tracey Bernett, D-Longmont. “As we help Colorado bounce back from the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic, we have an opportunity to invest in the industries of the future, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today. Our bill will help more clean energy projects get off the ground, save residents and businesses money through energy efficiency and also help to meet our state greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.” SB21-230 invests $40 million in clean energy finance initiatives through the Colorado Energy Office. The majority of the funds will go to the Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), which uses the “ green bank ” model already in operation in over a dozen states to finance clean energy projects and bridge the gaps between businesses and private capital providers. By leveraging limited public funds, the CCEF can draw over $120 million of total investment and create over 2,000 in Colorado communities most impacted by climate change. The remaining funds will be allocated to proven programs within the Colorado Energy Office that support clean energy retrofits, energy-efficient new construction, clean energy lending and funding for the installation of EV charging stations at facilities across the state. Previous Next

< Back April 20, 2021 YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IS ON THE WAY Committee approves Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s bill to invest $9 million into ensuring Colorado’s youth get the mental health support they need DENVER, CO– The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today advanced Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet’s bipartisan bill to dedicate $9 million to provide Colorado’s youth with free mental health screenings and follow-up therapy sessions if needed. The bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $700 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bill passed committee by a vote of 12-1. “Colorado’s young people had enough to worry about before a global pandemic upended the way we live, learn, and work,” said Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City . “As we work to safely reopen our economy, vaccinate our way into herd immunity, and try to get life back to a semblance of normalcy, we have to deal with the youth mental health crisis head-on. This bill is a truly transformational and innovative way to get our kids the mental health support they need as we return to in-person learning.” HB21-1258 would create a temporary youth mental health services program in the Office of Behavioral Health within the Department of Human Services to facilitate access to mental health services for identified needs, including those that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program would provide any young person age 18 and under with an online mental health screening and would then reimburse providers for up to three mental health sessions. This support is intended to prepare children for the return to in-person learning and a review of stress management tools, and to make a plan for ongoing treatment when necessary. We estimate that this program can support up to 25,537 children . Previous Next

< Back January 16, 2019 JOINT PRESS RELEASE: JBC DEMS ON GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL (Jan. 16) – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) welcomed Gov. Jared Polis’ first budget proposal this afternoon. In response to the budget proposal, members of the JBC released the following statements: “After meeting with Gov. Polis to learn more about his budget proposal, I believe his ideas are a solid blueprint which we can build upon for our next budget. I look forward to continued conversations between the JBC and the Governor to see how we can best fulfill these requests and fund these programs in the long-term,” said JBC Chair Sen. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “I thank the Governor for speaking with us today about his budget proposal,” said JBC vice-chair Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “As we start the work of building the budget over the coming months, I look forward to working with the Governor to make responsible investments in education and infrastructure, ensure state employees are paid a living wage, and to lower the cost of living in order to meet the needs of Southern Colorado and our entire state.” “I’m glad we had the opportunity to meet with the Governor to discuss his budget proposal, and we are ready to get to work on a budget that will help us enact these bold ideas without compromising fiscal responsibility,” said Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “As we begin to hammer out the details, I’m confident that we will find viable paths forward on bold ideas like implementing full-day kindergarten, addressing our teacher shortage, funding special education programs, and other critical issues facing Coloradans.” The Governor’s budget includes shared priorities of both House and Senate Democrats, including legislation to lower the cost of out-of-control prescription drugs and creating a public reinsurance program. “We are ready to work with Gov. Polis and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance our shared policy goals and ensure that we responsibly manage our state budget,” said Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “As we move through this process, that means investing in renewable energy, education, health care and transportation solutions that will lead to continued success for Colorado.” Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2019 GOV SIGNS HOUSE DEM BILLS TO MAKE MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING (May 17) – A package of bills that will make substantial investments in Colorado’s affordable housing challenge were signed into law today in Westminster. Together, these bills account for a historic investment in affordable housing in Colorado. Affordable housing is one of the state’s most pressing issues and finding common-sense solutions to addressing the housing crunch has long been a priority for Democratic lawmakers. The first bill signed by the Governor was HB19-1228, Rep. Shannon Bird and Rep. Brianna Titone’s bill to boost the supply of affordable housing in the state by increasing the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which helps leverage private funding for affordable housing projects across the state. “The unique benefit of the tax credit is that it is part of a solution, rather than a band-aid, to concerns we have about keeping people out of poverty, breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty and giving a critical hand up – instead of a hand out,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “ I feel honored to have sponsored this important piece of legislation that will help ensure that more working families will have a safe, quality, affordable place to call home.” “We need to help ease the housing crunch. This bill will help seniors and hardworking people across our state,” Rep. Titone, D-Arvada said when the bill passed the House. “Access to affordable housing can help grow the middle class and our economy which will give back to Colorado in a lot of different ways. This bill has no district boundaries. Affordable housing is needed everywhere across the state.” Affordable Housing Tax Credit raises private sector equity needed to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing. It currently is authorized to allocate only $5 million; HB19-1228 will increase the available tax credits to $10 million in 2020-24. The Affordable Housing Tax Credit supports key affordable housing needs such as workforce housing, homeless housing, and senior housing across Colorado. It’s one of the state’s most effective tools for increasing available affordable housing across the state. Colorado’s Between 2015-2018, the program supported 4,796 affordable rental units. The development of these homes is estimated to have generated over $1.9 billion in economic impact in Colorado. The Governor also signed HB19-1245, sponsored by Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, which will contribute more funding to the Housing Development Grant Fund within the Department of Local Affairs. The funding could then be used to improve, preserve, or expand the supply of affordable housing in Colorado. “This new law is a significant and meaningful approach to address the state’s affordable housing crisis,” said Rep. Weissman. “Housing can strengthen a person’s ability to support a family, maintain a job and live a healthy life. This law is a calibrated approach that will benefit all of Coloradans – especially our most vulnerable families and individuals.” Under current law, a business can keep 3.3 percent of sales tax that it collects for administration purposes. With this new bill, vendors can retain up to four percent of the vendor fees up to a $1,000 monthly cap. This minor statutory change will result in roughly $23 million in revenue in the first year and $45-50 million per year afterwards. A third of these funds would be used to provide affordable housing to low income families. Next on the docket was HB19-1322, sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and Rep Perry Will, R-New Castle. This important new law will expand funding for affordable housing statewide. Under this bill, money will come from the State Treasurer from the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund and be deposited into the Housing Development Grant Fund to supplement existing money. “This new bipartisan law is a responsible way to support affordable housing. It will allow our local communities to decide what is best for them and land support for important projects from the state,” said Rep. Roberts. “Housing is one of the most important issues across the state and this law focuses our rural communities who need help and ensures the state is a strong partner in the effort to support affordable housing projects.” The Governor also signed HB19-1319 sponsored by Rep. Bird. This new law creates incentives to assist land developers in providing affordable housing statewide, and also identify undeveloped land owned by the state that could be developed for affordable housing purposes. ### Previous Next

Legislation would create necessary professional licensure for ABA providers and facilities to reduce fraud and improve safety, reporting and accountability < Back April 29, 2026 Gilchrist, Brown Bill to Protect Children at ABA Facilities and Reduce Fraud Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health and Human Services Committee today passed legislation to keep children safe and prevent abuse in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) clinics. HB25-1425 would establish and require professional licensure for ABA providers and direct the Department of Human Services to create licensure requirements for facilities that treat children. “Our bill strikes the right balance between regulating ABA clinics and providers to keep kids safe and making sure families can access this essential care,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “Children on the autism spectrum can benefit greatly from ABA therapy, but Colorado needs more guardrails in place to ensure children are receiving safe, ethical care from qualified providers. This bill establishes a licensure process for providers and sets the stage for the licensing of facilities to improve accountability, reporting and the quality of care.” “The ABA space in Colorado is largely unregulated and we have seen allegations of abuse, neglect, and fraud,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Children on the autism spectrum deserve high-quality care, and families should be confident in the providers working with their children. This bill makes sure ABA providers and facilities are subject to reasonable regulations as they provide essential care for our kids. Without this bill, bad actors could continue to operate unethical and frankly dangerous ABA facilities that place children in harm's way. The vast majority of states regulate ABA providers, and this bill ensures that both providers and facilities are operating within the law to keep our children safe.” HB26-1425 would establish important regulations and licensure for ABA providers to align Colorado with other states, including Texas, Kentucky, and Washington. The bill also initiates the development of facilities licensure without restricting access to critical therapy services. HB26-1425 passed committee by a vote of 8-5. ABA is one-on-one therapy for patients as young as 18-months through 18 years to support social and communication skills development. ABA is an evidence-based behavioral health treatment primarily used to help manage the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. Currently, there is no licensure requirement for behavioral health technicians and ABA providers in Colorado. Under this bill, ABA providers would be required to apply for professional licensure. As concerns with facility conditions rise, this bill will also take the necessary first steps to ensure ABA facilities are safe, clean, and comfortable for children in ABA therapy. Additionally, ABA clinics that receive notice of a negative licensing action must notify enrolled families of the notice and provide the state with a list of those families. To hold bad actors accountable and keep children safe, HB26-1425 would require ABA providers and facilities to obtain licenses. Both professional and facility licenses require fingerprint-based background checks for providers and staff. To streamline the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) training process, pre-certified providers have a 60-day window to complete certification; without it, they may face disciplinary action or criminal charges. The bill creates the five-member Colorado behavioral analyst licensing board to investigate and consider disciplinary action against providers engaged in unprofessional conduct. Practicing ABA therapy without a license would be classified as a class 2 misdemeanor. In February, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released an audit of ABA therapy in Colorado, finding that some ABA providers are making improper claims for payment. Based on ongoing issues with ABA fraud, the federal government recommends that Colorado refund millions of dollars. An internal report from the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) revealed dozens of cases of child abuse largely due to a lack of ABA oversight. Previous Next