Republicans in Congress Threaten to Destabilize Individual Health Insurance Market, Leading to a Substantial Cut in Funding for Colorado’s Reinsurance Program < Back June 10, 2025 Congress’ Failure and Devastating, Cruel Bill Could Lead to Tens of Thousands of Coloradans Losing Health Coverage in 2026 DENVER - This week, the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) informed health insurance companies that the agency was revising the expected impact of Colorado’s Reinsurance Program to reflect the Republican controlled Congress’s failure to extend enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) market. Governor Jared Polis wrote to Colorado’s Congressional delegation urging them and Congress to help keep thousands of Coloradans on their health care coverage by extending tax credits for those buying insurance off the health exchange. House Speaker Julie McCluskie and Senator Dylan Roberts also expressed concerns. Since the inception of the bipartisan reinsurance initiative from 2020 through 2025, Coloradans will have saved over $2.1 billion dollars. Failing to extend these enhanced tax credits that are scheduled to expire at the end of the year, when combined with harmful provisions of the Reconciliation bill, will increase costs on Colorado families and individuals. “On top of the destructive proposed cuts to Medicaid, which will throw hundreds of thousands of Coloradans off of their health care, failure of the Republican controlled Congress to extend these ACA tax credits, which have saved Colorado families hundreds of millions in premiums, will throw even more people off of health insurance who rely on reinsurance and marketplace coverage to save money. While Republicans fight with each other, hardworking Coloradans are focused on keeping health care that is accessible and affordable, and want to see costs go down, not up. The Senate should take action to extend these critical tax credits for hardworking families and start from scratch on the reconciliation bill,” said Governor Jared Polis. The Republican controlled House passed Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” by a one-vote margin, 215 - 214. Representatives Pettersen, Neguse, DeGette, and Crow voted no, while Representatives Hurd, Evans, Crank and Boebert voted yes. Governor Polis wrote to Colorado’s members of Congress today: “Amongst its many failures, the Reconciliation bill passed by the House fails to extend the enhanced tax credits that Coloradans rely on to make their health insurance affordable. If the Republican controlled Congress allows those cuts to go into effect, tens of thousands of Coloradans will no longer be able to afford their health care. Coloradans who receive enhanced tax credits will see net premiums increase on average by 104%, simply due to the expiration of these credits. The end of enhanced tax credits will effectively be a tax increase for Coloradans and, moreover, will usher in the return of the “subsidy cliff” - where Coloradans making more than 400% of the federal poverty level (household income of $84,600 for a family of two) are left paying the full cost of their health insurance premiums without any assistance. The combined effect will disproportionately impact households with enrollees over age 55. The end of the enhanced tax credits would significantly reduce the positive benefits of Colorado’s reinsurance initiative by materially reducing the federal support received to reduce individual market rates. Since the inception of the bipartisan reinsurance initiative in 2020 through 2025, Coloradans will have saved over $2.1 billion dollars. The reinsurance initiative operates under an ACA Section 1332 waiver, and is funded by the dollars that would otherwise flow through premium tax credits without increasing costs for the federal government. If the enhanced tax credits are not extended, state reinsurance initiative would have less funding available to lower premiums for all consumers in the market.” The reconciliation bill would also increase red tape for Coloradans and create new barriers to enrollment. “Between the cuts to Colorado's Medicaid coverage and the cuts to Colorado’s ACA market, this bill will dramatically increase the uninsured rate in Colorado, rip away people’s access to health care, and lead to a substantially higher amount of uncompensated care that must be absorbed by Colorado’s hospitals and health care providers. That, in turn, will mean that employers will see their health insurance premiums rise as well. No corner of our health care system will be safe from the damage that this bill will inflict,” the Governor continued. “I urge you to take action, either through amendments to the reconciliation bill or through standalone legislation, to extend these enhanced premium tax credits and to scrap additional provisions in the reconciliation bill that will further raise health insurance costs and make health care unaffordable for many Coloradans.” “If Congressional Republicans fail to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits, many Coloradans who buy their own health insurance will lose the coverage they rely on and many more will see their premiums go up, especially in the high country and rural parts of our state,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “These premium increases and the loss of insurance coverage, on top of the proposed cuts to Medicaid, will be devastating for families and destabilize rural health care systems that cannot absorb the cost of more uninsured patients at their facilities. In Colorado, we’ve worked together to lower costs for families with the successful reinsurance program. Washington Republicans must extend these ACA credits, or Colorado families will be stuck with the bill.” “It is hard to overstate the negative impact that losing health insurance affordability tax credits would have on Coloradans, especially those in our rural and mountain communities,” said State Senator Dylan Roberts (D-Frisco). “Colorado’s bipartisan leadership in using savings from the ACA to create the Reinsurance and Colorado Option programs has kept insurance rates from spiking and allowed tens of thousands of more Coloradans to have access to the financial security of health insurance coverage. Slashing these tax credits will undermine all of that, spike health insurance rates, and lead to more Coloradans being uninsured, particularly the rural residents our state’s Republican members of Congress represent. It’s truly baffling they’d harm their constituents like this.” Previous Next

The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today advanced bipartisan legislation to streamline permitting for Colorado’s ground water. < Back January 27, 2025 Committee Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Colorado’s Drinking Water Resources DENVER, CO – The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today advanced bipartisan legislation to streamline permitting for Colorado’s ground water. The committee also passed a bipartisan House Joint Resolution that would better fund and protect Colorado’s drinking water. “I am proud to carry this bill to streamline the water management process across Colorado, especially for my community in the Western Slope,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, sponsor of HB25-1014. “This bipartisan bill will ease the groundwater permitting process, cutting the red tape to make our water resources more accessible.” HB25-1014 , sponsored by Representatives Meghan Lukens and Dusty Johnson, R-Fort Morgan, passed committee unanimously. This bill would modify Colorado's permitting process for groundwater use. Specifically, this bill would remove obsolete provisions and extend the timeline for Coloradans already permitted to build a water well. The goal of HB24-1014 is to cut red tape, streamline the services and improve the efficiency of the Division of Water Resources within the Department of Natural Resources. “From recreation to agricultural use, water is the most important resource in Colorado and we must do everything we can to protect our rivers, streams, and wetlands,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of HJR25-1004. “Droughts and the impacts of climate change threaten the health and safety of the people, animals, and native species that call Colorado home. Our bipartisan effort will support Colorado’s water infrastructure in rural and mountain communities by helping them acquire water rights, improve water management facilities, and fund other projects that help protect our water resources for future generations to come.” HJR25-1004 , sponsored by Representative Karen McCormick and Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, would update the Water Pollution Control Project Eligibility List to better preserve, protect and conserve water resources in Colorado. The House Joint Resolution passed committee unanimously. The House Joint Resolution modifies which projects are eligible for funding from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund; better protecting the freshwater resources Coloradans use for household use, recreation, agriculture and local economic development. The Drinking Water Revolving Fund is a financial assistance program that offers loans and grants for clean drinking water projects. Forty-nine percent of funding is awarded to disadvantaged communities through grants or principal forgiveness loans to protect communities that otherwise would not have the resources to improve their water infrastructure. Previous Next

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

SB23-190 would protect patients by prohibiting deceptive advertising by anti-abortion centers and unproven so-called “medication abortion reversal” < Back March 30, 2023 House Advances Bill to Prohibit Deceptive Practices at Anti-Abortion Centers SB23-190 would protect patients by prohibiting deceptive advertising by anti-abortion centers and unproven so-called “medication abortion reversal” DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to protect those seeking reproductive health care by prohibiting the use of deceptive advertising by anti-abortion centers (AACs). Part of the Safe Access to Protected Health Care legislative package, SB23-190 cracks down on AACs, also known as crisis pregnancy centers, posing as comprehensive reproductive health care clinics that mislead patients seeking abortion care. "This legislation will protect patients seeking reproductive health care from deceitful, misleading practices touted by anti-abortion centers,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “AACs are known to use deceptive advertising to lure patients in under the guise that they offer the full range of reproductive health care when they do not. These practices put patients at risk, limit their access to care and mislead patients about the so-called ‘medication abortion reversal’ which is medically unethical and unproven. Patients across Colorado deserve access to honest, factual medical information so they can make informed decisions about their own reproductive health care.” “In Colorado, we support your fundamental right to the full scope of reproductive health care, including abortion,” said Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver. “Abortion is legal, but legality doesn’t equal equitable access. Our most marginalized communities are disproportionately targeted by the deceptive advertising practices some anti-abortion centers showcase. There is no room for misinformation or deception when you are seeking medical care, and our legislation makes sure AACs are open and honest about the type of care they provide.” Prohibiting Deceptive Practices at Anti-Abortion Centers: SB23-190 would make it a deceptive trade practice to share information or advertise providing abortion care, emergency contraceptives or for referrals of either of these services when the service is not actually provided. This bill also clarifies that the administration of a “medical abortion reversal” by a health care profession is unprofessional and will be subject to discipline. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists describes “medication abortion reversal” as “unproven and unethical,” and explains that “claims regarding abortion ‘reversal’ treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards'' of care. Earlier this legislative session, Colorado Democrats on the House Health and Insurance Committee defeated HB23-1150 which would have required physicians and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to spread and maintain information about the so-called “medication abortion reversal”. AACs particularly target locations that may lack a comprehensive clinic, often posting Spanish-language billboards in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations and offering free services, such as ultrasounds and counseling, to low-income communities. In Colorado, AACs outnumber abortion-providing clinics 51 to 20 . Anti-abortion centers are the on-the-ground presence of the national anti-abortion movement, posing as comprehensive reproductive health care clinics to intercept patients seeking abortion care, provide false information, and prevent people from seeking abortions. Previous Next

< Back March 24, 2022 SPEAKER GARNETT, GOVERNOR POLIS, COOKE, PETTERSEN, LYNCH, DAS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS UNVEIL BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO PREVENT FENTANYL DEATHS AND SAVE LIVES DENVER, CO – Speaker Alec Garnett, Governor Jared Polis, Senators Brittany Pettersen and John Cooke, Representative Mike Lynch, Colorado district attorneys, public health experts and state lawmakers today unveiled comprehensive bipartisan legislation to combat the fentanyl crisis, remove fentanyl from Colorado communities and save lives. “We are taking bold, comprehensive action to get fentanyl off our streets and save lives,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Working with Colorado’s district attorneys and public health experts, we’ve crafted a proposal that will crack down on the dealers peddling death in our communities and provide treatment options to individuals who need help. By focusing on the root causes of overdoses and going after dealers, this solution will stem the tide of fentanyl deaths in Colorado and protect our communities from this dangerous drug.” “We are acting now to make Colorado neighborhoods and communities safer and we welcome the legislature’s action to save lives and address the dangers of fentanyl. The introduced bipartisan legislation, crafted in partnership with legislative leadership, law enforcement, district attorneys, and public health experts provides a better comprehensive solution that will save lives and improve public safety,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Sheriffs and law enforcement need new tools to hold dealers accountable for distributing deadly fentanyl, and we’re going to give them what they need,” said Sen. John Cooke, R-Greeley. “This bill treats fentanyl seriously and significantly strengthens the criminal penalties for dealing it. Going after the dealers will crack down on fentanyl and prevent more people from dying.” "All over the state, Coloradans are struggling with substance use disorder, our kids are accidentally overdosing on pills, and families are trying as hard as they can to cope and keep on going. This is a heart-wrenching crisis that has traumatized families, destroyed lives and impacted entire communities, an epidemic that requires a thoughtful, forward-thinking and empathetic response,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, chair of the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. “That’s why I spent the last several months working with behavioral health experts, law enforcement, community leaders and others on the Behavioral Health Task Force to help develop the evidence-based policy solutions presented in this bill. This legislation represents an important step forward to combat this crisis so we can get fentanyl off our streets, help people access care they need, and most importantly save lives.” “I’m proud to sponsor legislation that will crack down on dealers of fentanyl and support our law enforcement as they work to stop these drugs from being sold on our streets,” said Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington. “ We’ve come together with a bipartisan solution because fentanyl doesn't care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. This bill is going to prevent overdose deaths and hold dealers accountable when they spread death in our communities.” Fentanyl is a drug unlike any other in its potency, lethality and addictiveness, and people across the country are dying from it at alarming rates. A comprehensive approach including both proven public health solutions and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers will save lives and get fentanyl off Colorado streets. This response was crafted in partnership with law enforcement, district attorneys and public health experts. The bill will strengthen criminal penalties for individuals distributing fentanyl to get dangerous dealers off Colorado streets. In line with other models for substance use convictions, the bill will also integrate mandatory SUD assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing to ensure people get the treatment they need. The bill focuses on compound fentanyl, which is fentanyl mixed with other drugs, and will provide law enforcement with additional tools to go after dealers while providing treatment options to individuals with an SUD. Individuals who are dealing fentanyl will face increased felony charges, and if the defendant has distributed any amount of fentanyl and it leads to someone’s death, they can be charged with a level one drug felony and face the drug code’s strongest penalties. “I’m proud of the work of Speaker Garnett and Colorado’s district attorneys to craft this new approach that will crack down on fentanyl dealers, remove this deadly drug from our communities and save lives,” said Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein. “This crisis demands the comprehensive response we’ve developed, which will provide prosecutors with the tools needed to put dealers in prison and protect our communities. Through this legislation, we will be able to respond aggressively to dealers taking lives when distributing this deadly drug.” The bill gives law enforcement tools to require treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. Defendants in possession of any amount of fentanyl compound will be assessed for a substance use disorder and required to complete an education program developed by the Office of Behavioral Health in CDPHE. Individuals assessed to have a substance use disorder will have to complete mandatory treatment. This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will address the root causes and keep people alive. Colorado will save lives by investing in effective public health and substance use prevention and treatment strategies and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves from this more deadly drug. The legislation directs $29 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to implement recommendations from the Behavioral Health Task Force on effective harm reduction strategies and increased access to substance use disorder treatment in the criminal justice system. “Fentanyl is finding its way into nearly every street drug in Colorado, so we are taking a multi-pronged approach that focuses on public safety and public health,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “The public health strategy emphasizes education, treating addiction, and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves and others. We will increase penalties for drug dealers and deploy proven harm reduction strategies to save lives, help cut off the supply of fentanyl and get people the help they need without turning addicts into felons.” While public awareness of fentanyl has risen, education campaigns that promote effective overdose prevention tools will save lives. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will develop, implement and maintain an ongoing statewide prevention and education campaign to address fentanyl education needs in the state, including the message that no amount of fentanyl is safe. The bill will also provide grants to develop and implement community-focused education campaigns on the dangers of fentanyl. The proposal makes opiate antagonists more widespread, which will help save lives by preventing overdoses. “I am extremely supportive of, and grateful for, the bipartisan bill offered today to combat the fentanyl scourge that has plagued our communities,” said 19th Judicial District Attorney Michael Rourke. “This bill addresses both of the top priorities of Colorado’s prosecutors: increasing the penalties for the possession with intent to distribute, manufacture, dispense or sell this poison in our communities, and holding accountable those who peddle this poison when such conduct results in the death of our fellow citizens.” “Throughout Colorado and across the nation, there have been many tragic deaths and countless lives ruined due to fentanyl,” said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. “We need greater penalties for those who seek to profit from this crisis by intending to distribute or selling fentanyl -- especially for those that lead to a death. Individuals who are poisoned by fentanyl deserve justice and this bill is a positive step forward. And, for those struggling with addiction, this proposal would provide resources and treatment that is long overdue in the State of Colorado. This crisis requires a comprehensive response and that’s what we see in this bill.” “This bill is a crucial step forward in holding accountable those who distribute fentanyl in our community,” said 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason. “Fentanyl is killing our kids. Drug distributors are selling this poison to unsuspecting buyers, leading to tragedy and death. This bill will give us important new tools to prosecute those who are selling this drug and will help us get more fentanyl off the streets.” "In my more than 30 years in law enforcement, I've never seen a drug with such devastating consequences as illicit fentanyl. Too many Coloradans are dying from illegal use of this potent drug, and too many families are being changed forever. Every step we can take to reduce the presence of fentanyl on our streets is a step in the right direction,” said Stan Hilkey, CDPS Executive Director. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to make gun violence prevention and public safety efforts more accessible to parents and legal guardians of students. < Back March 19, 2025 House Passes Bill to Improve Public Safety, Reduce Youth Violence DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to make gun violence prevention and public safety efforts more accessible to parents and legal guardians of students. HB25-1250 aims to keep Colorado youth and our communities safe . “As a gun violence prevention advocate and a former teacher, I know our students are counting on us to boost access to the tools that help mitigate youth violence and senseless gun deaths,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “Our student-supported bill works to increase community awareness and provides parents and guardians with the safe storage resources to communicate with their children about gun violence. Together, we’re taking a public health approach to connect our communities with resources to create a safer, more supportive space for our youth.” “Between raising the minimum age to purchase firearms to improve safe storage, we’re taking a multi-prong approach to addressing gun violence in our communities and schools,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill boosts awareness for parents and guardians by providing them with resources, specifically prevention or intervention services, to help them better communicate with their children about gun violence. Building upon my safe storage legislation from 2021, this bill works to spread awareness, making sure firearms are properly stored to keep our communities safe.” HB25-1250 passed the House by a vote of 43 to 21. The bill would increase education on gun violence prevention and public safety efforts by requiring the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to accessibly list gun violence prevention materials on their website. Specifically, these materials would be posted or linked online so school districts, charter schools, facility schools, a board of cooperative services, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind could distribute these materials at the beginning of each school year to each parent, guardian, and legal custodian of an enrolled student. Under the bill, materials could be provided in written or electronic format, and local education providers would be required to also post the materials to their websites. Denver has worked closely with CU Boulder and Denver Health to use evidence-based approaches to addressing youth violence in Colorado. A Public Health Institute report outlined helpful public health focused strategies to combat youth violence, including the importance of identifying risk factors, intervening before violence can occur, and increasing awareness of this topic as a deterrent of gun violence. In 2023, Rep. Hamrick also sponsored a law to combat youth gun violence by raising the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21. That same year, a bipartisan group of legislators created the Office of School Safety which provides rapid response grants to support safety efforts in public schools, public charter schools, community-based organizations, and cities and counties. Previous Next

< Back September 8, 2022 ROBERTS AND MCLACHLAN CELEBRATE HISTORIC BROADBAND INVESTMENTS Moffat, Routt, and Ouray Counties to receive over $5 million to connect nearly 760 homes to high speed internet AVON/DURANGO, CO – Representatives Dylan Roberts and Barbara McLachlan today celebrated a historic $22.8 million investment in broadband grants that will connect 4,267 homes to high speed internet across Colorado. This funding, awarded last week by the Broadband Deployment Board , comes from a combination of state and federal funds, including $35 million of stimulus funds provided through HB21-1289 . The Yampa Valley Electric Association will receive over $3 million to connect 439 homes in Craig and Hayden. “I’m excited to see this historic investment in broadband infrastructure that will connect over 400 homes in Craig and Hayden to high speed internet,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This is exactly why we directed $35 million to expand high speed internet access in rural Colorado, save people money and build the 21st century infrastructure our families need. Affordable, high-speed internet is critical for our rural residents and economies and with these grants, we’re closer to our goal of connecting nearly every Coloradan. This is great news for Northwest Colorado..” Clearnetworx in Ouray County will receive over $2 million to connect 318 homes in Ouray. “High speed internet has become essential for everyday activities, but access can be a real struggle in our communities,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “The Colorado Broadband Board has already directed millions to expand high speed internet access in Southwest Colorado, and I’m excited to see even more funding flow to our communities that will provide hundreds more families in rural Colorado affordable internet access they need.” The projects announced last week are below, and the full list of projects funded by the Board can be found here : ### Previous Next

Lieutenant Governor Primavera today signed three bills to bolster basic access and support Coloradans living with a disability. < Back May 25, 2023 SIGNED! Three Ortiz Bills to Support Coloradans Living with a Disability DENVER, CO – Lieutenant Governor Primavera today signed three bills to bolster basic access and support Coloradans living with a disability. “Today, we’re improving basic access for those living with a disability and making progress toward meaningful change for all Coloradans,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, sponsor of HB23-1296, HB23-1032 and HB23-1136. “With the three bills signed into law today, we’re reminded that basic access is a right, not a privilege. These laws support the community living with a disability and our efforts to secure housing, governmental services, employment and access to public spaces. We’re also saving families money by expanding insurance coverage for prosthetic limbs, so children can participate in the activities they love.” “We know Coloradans living with a disability face significant barriers that make it harder to secure basic needs,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, sponsor of HB23-1296. “ Our law creates a task force to examine accessibility barriers in employment, housing, and the great outdoors, and uncover solutions to enable all Coloradans to thrive. While this law is a great first step, our work isn’t done; we need to continue to secure basic access for Coloradans living with a disability to strengthen our communities and create more welcoming spaces for everyone.” HB23-1296 creates the Rights of Coloradans with Disabilities task force to study issues concerning Coloradans’ with disabilities, who account for twenty percent of our state. This important task force includes four different subcommittees focused on protecting civil liberties and improving accessibility in state and local government, housing, and the outdoors, as well as modernizing the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. HB23-1032 ensures that individuals with a disability have an opportunity to 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. HB23-1136 , also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, saves Coloradans money and supports youth by modifying Colorado’s current prosthetic coverage law so health insurance plans will be required to cover an additional prosthetic device necessary for physical or recreational activity. Without health plan coverage, Colorado families can incur expensive out-of-pocket costs to cover additional prosthetics because the alternative prosthetic is considered not medically necessary. This law makes it easier for Colorado youth living with limb loss or limb difference to participate in recreational activities such as sports, biking, rock climbing, running, skiing, snowboarding and more. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Bob Marshall that would create a refundable tax credit for eligible seniors. HB24-1052 passed by a vote of 61-2. < Back April 26, 2024 Legislation to Save Older Coloradans $68 Million on Housing Passes DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Bob Marshall that would create a refundable tax credit for eligible seniors. HB24-1052 passed by a vote of 61-2. “Housing affordability is a priority for Colorado Democrats, which is why we’re prioritizing this bill to save our seniors nearly $68 million on housing,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Rental prices have skyrocketed in the last few years, making it nearly impossible for seniors on fixed incomes to keep up. We’re reviving the refundable income tax credit for seniors, especially those who rent their homes, so that older Coloradans can continue to afford to call our state home.” “The senior homestead property tax exemption is a helpful tool for seniors, who largely survive on a fixed income, afford housing, but senior renters also deserve assistance,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch. “Renters are especially vulnerable to rising costs, with nearly 35 percent of Colorado seniors concerned over paying next month’s rent. This legislation works to ensure that all Colorado seniors, regardless if they rent or own their home, can benefit from tax relief.” For tax year 2024, HB24-1052 reinstates a refundable income tax credit for seniors with incomes under $75,000 who have not claimed a homestead property tax exemption. The amount of the credit depends on income and taxpayer filing status. For single filers with income up to $25,000, the maximum credit amount is $800. For taxpayers who could file jointly but choose to file separately, the maximum credit amount is $400 per filer. For every $500 of income above the specified income threshold for single taxpayers, the credit is reduced by $8 for single filers and by $4 for married taxpayers filing jointly or separately. Taxpayers who qualify for a property tax and rent assistance grant or heat assistance grant and have income under $75,000 for single filers or $125,000 for joint filers may receive the maximum credit amount without the income-based reductions. The senior housing income tax credit supported nearly 90,000 Colorado seniors who did not benefit from the senior homestead tax exemption. Previous Next

The Rural Opportunity Office is charged with boosting economic development in rural communities across the state < Back May 20, 2023 Signed! Bipartisan Bill to Create the Rural Opportunity Office RIFLE, CO – Today, Governor Polis signed Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and Representative Barbara McLachlan’s, D-Durango, bipartisan bill to foster economic development in rural communities. SB23-006 , also sponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, and Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, formally creates the Rural Opportunity Office (ROO) within the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. ROO is charged with serving as the central coordinator of rural economic development for the state, supporting communities transitioning away from coal-based economies, and making recommendations to help inform economic development policy impacting rural communities. “Rural communities like those I represent are crucial to Colorado’s economy and character. To ensure we’re building a Colorado where everyone can thrive, we must be proactive in our work to support rural economic development,” Roberts said. “By creating a ‘one-stop shop’ for our small towns in the Rural Opportunity Office, we’re providing the expertise to meet our rural economies’ unique needs and helping communities take advantage of state, federal, and nonprofit opportunities to promote, diversify, and expand economic opportunity. From Craig to Granby, Sterling to Cortez, and everywhere in between, the Rural Opportunity Office will be a vital resource for rural Colorado.” “As a rural Coloradan, I know how crucial our rural communities and agricultural industries are in maintaining Colorado’s economy and way of life,” said McLachlan. “Our new bipartisan law will create the Rural Opportunity Office to uplift rural communities throughout the state by connecting them with resources and opportunities that will boost our local economies and create more good paying jobs.” The Rural Opportunity Office began its work to boost rural economies through supportive development strategies in 2019. In the years since, the ROO has expanded services to assist Colorado’s Tribal nations in their economic development through grant writing support, education campaigns, and technical assistance. Previous Next

< Back March 5, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES ROBERT’S BILL TO UPDATE WINTER MOUNTAIN DRIVING REQUIREMENTS (Mar 5) – The House Transportation and Local Government committee gave approval today to a bill sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts to increase safety and efficiency on our roads by updating and revising language in statutes for motor vehicles driving the I-70 mountain corridor. “Many drivers are not prepared for the winter driving conditions on I-70 and that leads to crashes, spin-outs, and closures along the I-70 mountain corridor,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “Closures on I-70 have dramatic impacts to traffic and the economy on the Western Slope and across Colorado.” HB19-1207 updates current statutes to reflect modern traction technology and traction options. It sets minimum standards for tires being used in the winter in the mountain corridor. It also defines the I-70 mountain corridor by mileposts and sets out clear standards for the timeframe for traction equipments requirements. The heightened traction standards would be in effect from September 1 through May 31 of each year and apply to travel between milepost 133 (Dotsero) and milepost 259 (Morrison). HB19-1207 passed through committee with a bipartisan vote of 9-2 and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

SB24-171 would enhance Colorado’s biodiversity < Back May 20, 2024 SIGNED! Bipartisan Bill to Restore Wolverines in Colorado SB24-171 would enhance Colorado’s biodiversity DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed into law bipartisan legislation to restore the North American wolverine in Colorado. SB24-171 , sponsored by Senators Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Perry Will, R-New Castle, and Representatives Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo, authorizes Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) to reintroduce wolverines and enhance Colorado’s biodiversity. “Wolverines were a natural part of Colorado's landscape for centuries and it’s long past time for us to bring them back and help play our part in restoring this threatened species and improving the health of our mountain ecosystem,” Roberts said. “This is the right way to do wildlife reintroduction - backed by science, supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders through years of deliberation, proper legal protections for agriculture and business, and with bipartisan support.” “Aiding in the restoration of wolverines in Colorado is a win-win for our state’s biodiversity and this threatened species,” said McLachlan. “This reintroduction is backed by biologists alongside a broad coalition of stakeholders and has been deliberated upon for years to effectively and safely bring wolverines back to Colorado. Our beautiful state provides the ideal mountainous habitat for wolverines, who live in solidarity and are built to withstand our cold, snowy winters.” “Wolverines were a part of our state’s natural ecosystem for generations, and this law will responsibly and thoughtfully reintroduce them into the mountainous landscapes in Colorado they once called home,” said Mauro. “Adapted for scavenging and surviving cold, alpine temperatures, wolverines strengthen our state’s biodiversity. This reintroduction effort is years in the making with CPW leaders, including my dad, John Singletary, working to ensure the wolverine reintroduction would be science-based and what’s best for our state’s ecosystem.” Wolverines are the largest terrestrial species of weasel in the world and live solitary lives in high alpine regions, meaning Colorado provides some of the best remaining wolverine habitat in the United States. Wolverines were listed as “threatened” in 2023 under the Endangered Species Act. SB24-171 also requires CPW to create rules for providing payment of fair compensation to owners of livestock for losses caused by wolverines and to create a robust public communications plan. Reintroduction will be contingent on the federal government designating wolverines as a “nonessential experimental population” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Previous Next