< Back May 10, 2022 PERA REPAYMENT PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bipartisan bill to fulfill the state’s obligation to the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA). HB22-1029, sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird and Shane Sandridge, passed the House by a vote of 58 to 7 and would make up for the suspended 2020 $225 million payment toward PERA. “When the pandemic hit, significant budget cuts forced the state to skip a PERA payment and we owe it to our public employees to repay the debt,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster . “Colorado teachers, state troopers and public workers pay their fair share into PERA and our bipartisan bill ensures the state makes good on its obligation to continue paying down PERA’s unfunded liability. This bill safeguards the future of PERA, protects retirement benefits for thousands of dedicated public employees and preserves our state credit rating.” PERA Repayment : HB22-1029 , would ensure the State of Colorado fulfills its obligation to annually contribute to PERA until the unfunded liability is eliminated. The legislature suspended its annual payment of $225 million to PERA following the significant drop in projected state revenue as a result of the pandemic induced recession. The economy has since rebounded and this bill would make up for the suspended payment. Under this amended bill, the State of Colorado will contribute $380 million, $225 million will go towards the 2020 payment obligation and $155 million will go towards future payments. As part of comprehensive pension reforms from SB18-200, the State of Colorado made an one time payment of $225 to PERA in July 2021 and is on track to make another one time payment in just a few months. This bill would restore the skipped payment to PERA in 2020 and maintain the state’s investment obligations. PERA provides retirement and additional benefits to more 600,000 public employees including state government employees, state troopers, and public school teachers, in Colorado. Colorado’s continued investment toward paying down PERA’s unfunded liability is critical to maintaining a healthy credit rating which determines the cost of borrowing across all state agencies. Previous Next

< Back April 29, 2021 JUDICIARY SETS LIMITS ON USE OF KETAMINE DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today approved Representatives Leslie Herod and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to define the appropriate use of ketamine in law enforcement interactions. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “Elijah McClain should still be alive today, and he’s not the only one whose life has been taken by the misuse of ketamine at a scene with law enforcement,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “We can’t allow the prehospital use of these drugs to go unchecked, and I’m glad we were able to come to a solution that works for Colorado. I am so grateful for the brave testimony of Elijah McKnight and others who shared their stories today. Passing this bill will help keep people safe and ensure that people are treated humanely by law enforcement. It’s the right thing to do.” “As a physician, I know that ketamine can have devastating, even deadly, consequences if used incorrectly,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “We shouldn’t be using these drugs lightly, especially outside of a hospital setting where a patient’s weight, medical history, and other relevant factors are unknown. The bill we advanced today will make law enforcement interactions safer and hopefully prevent tragedies like the ones we heard about in committee today.” HB21-1251 limits the use of ketamine to subdue an individual in pre-hospital settings. The federal government has scheduled ketamine as a controlled substance due to its associated risk factors, and emergency medical service providers, here referred to as ‘paramedics’ must seek waivers to administer ketamine since the drug is outside of their standard scope of practice. In one study , nearly a third of patients who received ketamine in a pre-hospital setting were eventually intubated, 16 times the rate of intubation when administered in an emergency department. Another study found that intubation was undertaken for 63% of patients who received ketamine in pre-hospital settings. The bill prohibits law enforcement from directing a paramedic to chemically incapacitate someone by administering ketamine except in limited circumstances. A paramedic must weigh an individual to ensure accurate dosage and if that’s not possible, at least two people present at the scene must agree with their weight estimation. The paramedic must be trained in the administration of ketamine and must attempt to obtain verbal authorization from a medical director before administering it. Lastly, there must be equipment on site to immediately monitor the vital signs and provide urgent transport. Among other changes, the bill requires a law enforcement officer to intervene and report to the POST board if they see another officer using ketamine on someone, which under the bill would constitute excessive use of force and could lead to permanent revocation of an officer’s POST certification if the incident results in death. Absent a justifiable medical emergency, a paramedic would be prohibited from using ketamine to sedate someone to aid in their arrest or restraint for alleged or suspected criminal conduct. Previous Next

< Back March 3, 2020 HELPING COLORADO FAMILIES GET AHEAD ACT PASSES COMMITTEE HB20-1203 would double tax benefit for working families and fund the state’s Child Tax Credit Denver, CO– The House Committee on Finance today passed Representatives Emily Sirota and Matt Gray’s bill to double the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and fund the state Child Tax Credit (CTC) while closing a tax loophole that primarily benefits the top earning taxpayers in the state. The bill passed 7-4. “The Helping Colorado Families Get Ahead Act is an opportunity to right the wrongs of an unfair system that holds too many hardworking Coloradans back from the benefits of the booming economy they’ve helped create,” said Rep. Sirota, D-Denver. “The Helping Colorado Families Get Ahead Act will help tens of thousands of Colorado families who are struggling to make ends meet,” said. Rep. Gray, D-Broomfield. “By simply closing a loophole that disproportionately benefits upper-income earners and redirecting that money toward helping families put food on the table and afford the rising cost of child care, we can start moving Colorado away from the stunning inequities we all know exist.” The Earned Tax Credit (EITC) lifts 5.6 million Americans out of poverty each year, including nearly 3 million children, and helps over 22 million working families and individuals each year. It is a refundable tax credit calculated based on a recipient’s earned income, number of qualifying children and other factors. Because the EITC is refundable, recipients do not need to have a tax liability to benefit from the credit. The credit is designed to reward work, growing larger with additional earnings. Under current law, Colorado’s state Earned Income Tax Credit provides an additional benefit equal to 10 percent of the federal EITC. HB20-1203 would double the state’s existing Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 20 percent of the federal EITC and fund the state’s Child Tax Credit, which exists in statute but has never been funded. To finance the larger ETIC, HB20-1203 would close a loophole in the state tax code that allows businesses to deduct up to 20 percent of their “pass-through” income. Nearly two-thirds of this existing deduction benefits people who make over $200,000 per year whereas the EITC benefits working families with annual incomes below $56,000. This deduction has only been in place for one year and Colorado is one of only five states that still has it. Previous Next

< Back May 23, 2019 KRAFT-THARP’S BIPARTISAN SALES AND USE TAX BILL SIGNED INTO LAW (May 23) – Gov. Polis signed Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp’s bill to update the way the state collects sales taxes to comply with the South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision “This new law will help small businesses and our economy stay on the path to success,” said Rep. Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada. “I will continue working help simplify our tax system and am thankful to all of the stakeholders involved in getting this bill signed into law.” Rep. Kraft-Tharp has been a staunch advocate for tax reform at the legislature. Kraft-Tharp is chair of the Business and Labor Affairs Committee and chair of the Sales and Use Tax Simplification Task Force Interim Committee. HB19-1240 codifies the Colorado Department of Revenue rule applying destination-based sourcing to all retailers. Online retailers will now be required to collect taxes based on the buyer’s address, and marketplace facilitators, such as Amazon and Etsy, are required to collect and remit sales taxes for the sellers on the platform. Smaller retailers would be able to continue to calculate sales taxes based on their business location until an online system is available to calculate tax rates for addresses. The bill is a result of the 2018 United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v.Wayfair, which expanded the ability of states to collect sales taxes on online purchases. Previously, the standard was that a business had to have a physical presence in a locality in order to pay local sales taxes there. Rep. Kraft-Tharp is also the co-prime sponsor of SB19-006 which requires the development of an electronic sales and use tax simplification system. This new system will help address the patchwork of sales and use tax across the state and help small businesses thrive. This law will require the Office of Information Technology to develop the electronic sales and use tax simplification system following a stakeholder process conducted with the Department of Revenue. It then authorizes the Department of Revenue to accept any returns processed through the new system and also provides a dedicated funding stream to fund and maintain the system. SB19-006 was signed into law this April. HB19-1240 was signed in the Governor’s office today. Previous Next

< Back March 18, 2019 KENNEDY’S BIPARTISAN HOSPITAL TRANSPARENCY BILL HEADED TO GOVERNOR’S DESK (Mar. 18) – Rep. Chris Kennedy’s bill to increase transparency for health care costs in Colorado’s hospitals is headed to Governor Jared Polis’ desk. “The high cost of health care is harming both Colorado consumers and businesses. Hardworking people are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of health care, particularly in rural Colorado where we’re seeing some of the highest premiums in the country,” said Rep. Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “By requiring hospitals to be transparent about their spending, we can increase competition in a way that will reduce costs for all.” The bill passed with bipartisan support in the House with a vote of 39-22 on Jan. 31. HB19-1001 passed with bipartisan support in the Senate with a vote of 34-1 on Mar. 14. It was brought back to the House to approve an amendment added in the Senate, which was concurred. With the new amendments added, the bill passed in the House with a bipartisan final vote of 43-21 today. “I am happy to see this bill passed with such strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. By identifying inefficiencies and wasteful spending, businesses and payers will be able to choose more efficient options and lower hospital costs,” continued Rep. Kennedy. According to data collected by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), hospital costs account for 39 percent of health care spending nationwide. Physician and clinical services account for 26 percent, and prescription drugs and other non-durable medical products account for 11 percent. HB19-1001 will require hospitals to disclose more information about spending on patient care, administration, capital construction, and acquisitions of physician groups; and will require hospitals to show how they’re shifting costs onto the backs of families and businesses. In addition, the data provided to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) will inform the supplemental payments made to hospitals through the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) to incentivize value, not volume. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation by a vote of 50 to 12 to prevent youth overdose deaths and save lives. HB24-1003, sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Mary Young, would make opiate antagonists and drug testing strips available on school buses and in school buildings. < Back February 29, 2024 Bill to Save Lives, Prevent Youth Overdose Deaths Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation by a vote of 50 to 12 to prevent youth overdose deaths and save lives. HB24-1003, sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Mary Young, would make opiate antagonists and drug testing strips available on school buses and in school buildings. “Our students, bus drivers and educators need tools to prevent overdoses and save lives,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This legislation, championed by students at both Durango and Animas High Schools, would allow trained bus drivers to administer opiate antagonists and encourage schools to keep a supply of drug testing strips. Our youth have not been immune to the overdose crisis in this county, and this legislation ensures schools have the tools needed to save a life.” “To help prevent fatal overdoses, we must make it easier for schools to develop plans and policies to save lives,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “Under this bill, we would extend current law to allow Narcan and other opiate antagonists to be used in schools, on school buses, and at school events by trained staff and students. We’re fighting back against Colorado’s overdose epidemic and saving lives.” HB24-1003 , would allow trained bus drivers to administer certain medications, including opiate antagonists such as Naloxone, to students experiencing an overdose. Under current law, if specific educators receive training, they are permitted to administer opiate antagonists to students. This bill extends this protection to bus drivers. This bill would also allow school boards to maintain a supply of opiate antagonists on school buses, and for trained students to possess and administer opiate antagonists on school grounds, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored event. Additionally, HB24-1003 would allow schools to acquire and maintain a supply of testing strips designed to detect the presence of additional harmful components in an opioid, such as fentanyl. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed Rep. Amy Paschal's bipartisan bill to encourage more geothermal energy production and save Coloradans money on their energy bill.  < Back May 27, 2025 SIGNED! Paschal's Bill to Boost Geothermal Energy, Lower Costs COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed Rep. Amy Paschal's bipartisan bill to encourage more geothermal energy production and save Coloradans money on their energy bill. “Colorado’s abundant geothermal energy–the heat beneath our feet–can reduce heating and energy costs and save Coloradans and businesses money,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs. “This bipartisan law will boost geothermal energy production while establishing strong protections for geologic carbon storage facilities. We’re taking steps today to bring low-cost renewable energy sources to market in Colorado to save consumers and businesses money on energy costs.” HB25-1165 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, streamlines the geothermal energy production permitting process to better commercialize this renewable energy source. Geothermal energy can be produced 24/7 and is a stable, renewable source of energy for heating and cooling businesses and homes. This law also establishes a long-term funding mechanism to ensure the safety of geologic carbon storage operations. Geological storage, a form of carbon capture and sequestration, is a climate change mitigation strategy that stores greenhouse gases underground. Beginning in 2026, this bill establishes a stewardship fee to be paid by operators of geologic storage to maintain the geological storage facility and help prevent leaks or damage. Previous Next

< Back March 3, 2022 WASTE DIVERSION BILL PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Energy & Environment Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter that would divert more waste from Colorado landfills and attract sustainable businesses. HB22-1159 passed by a vote of 10-2. “We’ve made no progress in diverting waste from landfills over the last few years and this bill presents an opportunity to increase diversion rates by building a sustainable recycling-based economy,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter D-Littleton. “The Waste Diversion and Circular Economy Development Center is a win-win for Colorado: it attracts sustainable, end-market businesses and helps foster a healthier environment. We’re excited to help expand Colorado’s waste reduction market and make our state a leader in this space.” This legislation would establish the Colorado Circular Economy Development Center, an organization housed in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) designed to develop end-markets for materials recovered and diverted from landfills. While many incentive-based composting and recycling programs exist in the state, there is a gap in the number of Colorado businesses that will process and remanufacture those items. Currently, 88% of materials recovered from landfills in Colorado are sent out of state for processing. In an effort to create a sustainable recycling economy, HB22-1159 would attract new end-market composting, recycling and post-consumer manufacturing businesses to Colorado. It would also assist in Colorado’s statewide goal of diverting 46% of all materials away from landfills by 2036. The bill also makes changes to the Front Range Waste Diversion grant program by removing some restrictions on waste haulers that prevent those with less capital from benefiting from the program. Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2021 JOBS! CLEAN ENERGY CAREER PATHWAYS PASSES THE HOUSE Colorado Comeback bill invests millions into renewable energy job training DENVER, CO– The House today passed Representative Dominique Jackson and Brianna Titone’s bill to invest $5 million into job training and workforce development for the energy sector on third reading and final passage. The 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 40-23. “Renewable energy is a booming sector that is good for the planet and good for Colorado’s economy,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora. “This bill makes a sizable investment to ensure that Coloradans, especially workers displaced by COVID 19 and communities of color, have the tools they need to make a career out of clean energy. The Colorado comeback is on its way, and green jobs are coming with it.” “The energy jobs of the future are renewable, and today we voted to prepare Colorado’s workers to take them on and thrive,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “By investing in job training and workforce development in the renewable energy sector, we’re building back stronger and ensuring our economy reflects both our values and the market trends of the future.” HB21-1149 calls on the Colorado Workforce Development Council to work with local workforce boards, school districts across the state, the Colorado Department of Education, community colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning to create and implement a career pathway for students in the renewable energy sector. The bill invests $5 million into the career pathway so institutions of higher learning and workforce development authorities can implement what is known as the Strengthening Photovoltaic and Renewable Careers, or SPARC, program. The bill establishes that the career pathway developed by the Workforce Development Council should give priority to individuals with job losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and that communities of color should also be prioritized. Previous Next

< Back December 20, 2022 Garnett, McCluskie, Duran and Latino Caucus Co-Chairs Statements on Speaker Pro Tempore Benavidez Resignation DENVER, CO – Speaker Alec Garnett, Latino Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Julie Gonzales and Representative-elect Elizabeth Velasco, and Speaker-designate Julie McCluskie today released the following statements after Speaker Pro Tempore Adrienne Benavidez announced her resignation from the House. Statement from Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver: “Speaker Pro Tempore Benavidez has served the people of our state with distinction and grace, and I have deeply appreciated her partnership and counsel over the last two years as she served in leadership. Rep. Benavidez has passed laws to improve air and water quality for communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change, and she was a champion for Indigenous people in the legislature. As Speaker Pro Tempore, she exemplified what it means to lead and uphold the institution while being a passionate voice for her constituents, and her work has made Colorado a better place for all.” Statement from Latino Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Representative-elect Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, on behalf of the Latino Caucus: “The Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus honors and recognizes the contributions made by Madam Speaker Pro Tempore, Representative Adrienne Benavidez over her six years of service in the Colorado General Assembly. Representative Benavidez has been a bold and fearless leader within both our Latino Caucus and in the Colorado legislature, devoting her time, energy, and expertise to advocating for policies to improve the lives of Colorado’s Latino communities, highlighting the longstanding injustices experienced by Native American communities, and to ensuring social justice for all Coloradans. “Representative Benavidez served as a madrina and a mentor to many of us in the Capitol, for her constituents, and out in the community. Her guidance and expertise will be missed not only by the Latino Caucus but within the Democratic Caucus in the Colorado House of Representatives. We wish her well as she transitions out of the legislature, but make no mistake; our Latino Caucus is strong and united thanks to Representative Adrienne Benavidez.” Statement from Speaker-designate Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon: “I want to thank Speaker Pro Tempore Benavidez for her years of dedication and critical work on behalf of all Coloradans, and I wish her the best of luck on the next chapter of her career in public service. Speaker Pro Tempore Benavidez has always worked to do what’s best for Colorado, and has been a mentor to dozens of lawmakers. I will miss her brilliant legal mind and the deep experience that she brought to every new challenge.” Statement from Majority Leader-elect Monica Duran, D- Wheat Ridge: “Speaker Pro Tempore Benavidez has been a teacher to so many in the legislature and brought her unparalleled intelligence and unbridled work ethic to the Capitol every day to fight for her constituents and people all across our state. Her advocacy on behalf of communities living with polluted air and water led to landmark reforms, increased air monitoring, and important new restrictions on toxic pollution. A leader in the Latino caucus, Rep. Benavidez is someone we all look up to, and I’ve deeply appreciated her mentorship. I wish her the best of luck on whatever comes next in her long career in public service.” Adrienne Benavidez represents House District 32, which includes Commerce City and parts of unincorporated Adams County. Rep. Benavidez sponsored legislation that successfully repealed the death penalty in Colorado and reformed the state’s tax code. She has passed laws to protect our air from toxic pollutants, crack down on catalytic converter theft, reform Colorado’s criminal justice system. Rep. Benavidez led efforts to protect communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change, crafted economic stimulus legislation to boost Colorado’s creative industry, passed laws that prohibit the use of Native American mascots in public schools and created Cabrini Day, which last year replaced Columbus Day as a state holiday in Colorado. Rep. Benavidez is an attorney and management professional. She is a former executive director of the City of Denver’s Department of General Services, which handles city purchasing and manages 128 city buildings. Previously, she directed the state Division of Finance and Procurement under Gov. Bill Ritter. Previous Next

< Back July 13, 2020 NEW PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ+ COLORADANS NOW LAW Coverage for life-saving HIV/AIDS prevention drugs, elimination of prejudiced legal defense, and new process for obtaining gender-conforming birth certificates signed into law. Denver, CO — Today, at the Center on Colfax, Governor Jared Polis signed four bills into law. The bills protect the rights of Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community by making life-saving medicine more readily available, by abolishing a prejudiced and dangerous legal defense and by making it easier for Coloradans to obtain government documents that match their gender identity. Sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Alex Valdez, HB20-1061 allows Coloradans to go directly to a pharmacy to receive either an initial treatment regimen of PrEP or a full treatment regimen of PrEP after a brief consultation with a pharmacist. The new law also prohibits insurance companies from requiring patients to obtain authorization prior to using their benefits to obtain the medications. More than 14,000 people were reported to be living with HIV in the state of Colorado, according to a 2018 report from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “All Coloradans deserve access to life-saving medical care, and this new law will ensure that the most systemically underserved groups have that access,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “HIV impacts the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our state, often people of color who already face systemic health disparities and barriers to getting the care they need. This law will reduce the stigma of HIV and save lives. I’m also very proud that we were able to do away with the discriminatory gay and trans panic defense today, and am so grateful to the trans women of color who brought the issue to my attention and worked tirelessly to ensure the legislature took action.” “This law will ensure that more Coloradans can easily access life-saving HIV prevention medications,” said Rep. Valdez, D-Denver. “We can prevent more Coloradans from contracting HIV and dying from this deadly virus by simply eliminating unnecessary regulation and streamlining services for those who need it most.” SB20-221 , sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Matt Soper eliminates, in practice, the use of a victim’s gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation as a legal defense in which the perpetrator could use ‘sudden heat of passion’ as an justification for criminal wrongdoings. “It’s past time that we eliminated this abhorrent and dangerous legal defense in Colorado,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada. “By ridding our justice system of prejudiced legal defenses like this, we correct a long-standing and cruel injustice in our legal system and make Colorado a safer place for black trans women and our broader LGBTQ community.” Sponsored by Representative Daneya Esgar, SB20-166 clarifies the legal requirements for a minor who is trying to apply for a new birth certificate. Current law specifies that the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issue a new birth certificate with a different sex than what is on the applicant’s original birth certificate when they receice a written request from the minor’s parents or guardians, as well as a signed statement from a professional medical provider. This bill eases legal barriers by removing the requirement that the minor has undergone or is undergoing surgical, hormonal, behavioral health, or other medical or mental health treatment. “Being true to one’s gender identity should never be limited by legal or health accessibility barriers,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo . “This law will ensure that when it comes to official government documents, Colorado recognizes and respects the gender identity of everyone in our state.” HB20-1419 , sponsored by Representatives Daneya Esgar and Lois Landgraf, creates a sustainable funding source to continue essential HIV and AIDS medical treatment programs. The law creates a new cash fund for federal rebates Colorado receives for the state’s drug assistance program, which will now be used to augment funding for the program going forward. “This new law will help protect critical drug assistance programs for Coloradans with lower incomes who need treatment or medications for HIV/AIDS,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo . “By putting the cash rebates right back into the drug assistance program, we will help sustain the program and ensure it continues to serve Coloradans who face challenges accessing the care they need.” Previous Next

< Back November 12, 2019 REP. ESGAR TAKES HELM OF JBC DENVER, CO– Representative Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo) today took the gavel of the Joint Budget Committee after serving as the committee’s vice-chair during the last legislative session. The JBC is responsible for authoring the Long Bill, which sets the state’s annual budget and departments’ spending priorities. “I’m honored to have the privilege to lead the Joint Budget Committee as we work to craft a budget that balances our state’s many competing priorities,” said JBC Chair Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo). “I’m committed to working with Governor Polis and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to write a balanced budget that invests in our state’s future, strengthens our economy so that it works for everyone and protects our Colorado way of life.” “Representative Esgar is a respected voice on budget issues in the legislature and is well known in Southern Colorado for fighting for her constituents and standing up for their priorities,” said Colorado House Speaker KC Becker (D-Boulder). “She will be an excellent JBC chair this session, and I know she will continue to produce results for Coloradans in all parts of our state.” The JBC is meeting this week to receive testimony on state departments’ budget requests. Tomorrow, Governor Polis will present his budget to the committee. The committee will continue to hold hearings and craft the state’s budget as the legislative session convenes in January. Rep. Esgar represents parts of Pueblo, Pueblo West, Beulah, Rye and Colorado City. The granddaughter of steelworkers, she was born and raised in Pueblo. Rep. Esgar is a graduate of Pueblo City Schools and Colorado State University-Pueblo. She has worked as a television news producer and a community organizer focusing on poverty and communities of color in Pueblo. Rep. Esgar is known for her work on issues of equality, education, justice, and poverty. She lives with her wife, Heather Palm, in Pueblo. Previous Next