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< Back March 18, 2022 BILL TO SAVE SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS MONEY ADVANCES DENVER, CO – The House moved forward a bill today that would reduce several business filing fees. HB22-1001, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Tom Sullivan, advanced on a preliminary vote and is part of the Colorado House Democrats’ first ten bills . “We’re using every tool at our disposal to save small business owners and entrepreneurs money,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “For more than two years, Colorado small business community has felt the squeeze from pandemic pressures. This bill will reduce filing fees and costs associated with opening a business to just $1, putting more money back in the pockets of small business owners. Colorado’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy and this bill saves them money.” “We’re serious about saving Coloradans money, and this bill is specifically focused on the business community,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton . “As a small business owner, I know how tough it can be to start a new business from the ground up. By reducing filing fees, we’re cutting red tape and making it easier for small businesses to open their doors. Colorado is an entrepreneurial state and our small businesses are vital to our economic recovery.” HB22-1001 would reduce several business filing fees and other costs associated with operating a business to $1 through a credit program administered by the Secretary of State’s Office. This includes new business registrations, annual renewals and other fees typically paid to the Secretary of State’s Office. The cost savings associated with this bill would be in effect for one year. Previous Next

< Back March 10, 2022 SCHOOL SAFETY AND STUDENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILLS ADVANCE DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed four bills to boost school safety and improve student access to behavioral health services. “These bills continue our important work to improve school safety, expand access to behavioral health care for students and prepare our students for success,” said Rep. Tony Exum D-Colorado Springs. “This bill gives our public schools the resources they need to make classrooms and school spaces safer by protecting school grounds. It also extends the successful I Matter program, which is currently offering free mental health counseling sessions to Colorado youth across the state.” HB22-1243 , which passed committee unanimously, would invest $14 million toward improving the security and safety of public schools and is part of Colorado Democrat’s Public Safety Package. This bill allocates $6 million to the School Security Disbursement Program over two years, which will be reauthorized by HB22-1120. Based on recommendations of the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force, it also puts $2 million in ARPA funding toward the behavioral health care professional matching grant program and $6 million towards extending the popular I Matter program beyond its scheduled repeal in June 2022. This investment will pave the way to serve youth with free counseling sessions for another two years. “For years, we’ve been working to take a multi-pronged approach to improve school safety that includes both increased access to behavioral health and critical investments in our schools,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City), former chair of the 2019 School Safety Interim Committee. “Extending the I Matter program is the right move. Colorado students across the state are taking advantage of free counseling sessions. I’m proud of each and every young person who has bravely participated in the I Matter program, and I hope by extending the program we can reach even more youth statewide.” Three additional school safety bills also passed the House Education Committee unanimously. HB22-1120 , sponsored by Representatives Kevin Van Winkle and Patrick Neville would reauthorize and make updates to the School Security Disbursement Program, which provides grants for schools to install monitoring equipment and security systems at entrances and exits. Grants can also be used for school emergency response training and student threat assessment training for all school staff. HB22-1274 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Colin Larson, would continue the Colorado Interagency Working Group on School Safety, a 14-member group dedicated to enhancing school safety through the cost-effective use of public resources, which is currently set to expire on September 1, 2022. If passed, this bill would continue the group’s work indefinitely. HB22-1275 , sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Colin Larson, would continue the Colorado School Safety Resource Center Advisory Board which helps in providing resources, training and technical assistance to foster safe and secure learning environments as well as early intervention to prevent crisis situations. The board is set for repeal on September 1, 2022. Previous Next

The House today advanced bipartisan legislation on a preliminary vote to recognize emergency communications specialists, also known as 911 operators, as first responders. < Back February 2, 2024 Lieder Legislation to Recognize 911 Operators as First Responders Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today advanced bipartisan legislation on a preliminary vote to recognize emergency communications specialists, also known as 911 operators, as first responders. “We’re one step closer to securing first responder recognition for our deserving 911 operators,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton. “This important bipartisan legislation would reclassify 911 operators as first responders because of the critical role they play in keeping our communities safe. 911 operators are the first ones to connect with a person in crisis, and this bill recognizes them as skilled first responders who streamline public safety in every community across Colorado.” HB24-1016 , sponsored by Representative Sheila Lieder and Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, would define emergency communications specialists as first responders. Specifically, this would include emergency communications specialists who receive, triage, process, transmit or dispatch emergency and non-emergency 911 calls for public safety services. This also includes those emergency communications specialists who provide resources to field responders or emergency medical dispatch. Previous Next

The House today introduced legislation sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Judy Amabile and Senators Tom Sullivan and Chris Hansen to establish a three-day waiting period to purchase a firearm. < Back February 23, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Colorado Democrats Unveil Bill to Establish Waiting Periods for Firearm Purchases DENVER, CO - The House today introduced legislation sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Judy Amabile and Senators Tom Sullivan and Chris Hansen to establish a three-day waiting period to purchase a firearm. “The research is clear–this legislation will reduce suicide deaths and homicides,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “By delaying access to a firearm, waiting periods create opportunities to intervene and prevent impulsive acts of gun violence. We are committed to advancing commonsense proposals like this bill that will improve public safety and reduce gun violence in our communities.” “Right now, if you want to get your hands on a gun, you can do so with near immediacy,” said Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “Whether you intend to harm yourself or others, waiting periods on firearm purchases delay immediate access to weapons and cut down on impulsive acts of violence. I’m proud to champion this legislation that will save lives and create safer communities for all Coloradans.” “When someone is in crisis, readily accessible firearms make it easier for them to attempt self-harm or engage in other violent acts,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Waiting periods limit options to obtain a firearm for someone who may be contemplating suicide or making a quick decision to engage in violence. No single piece of legislation will stop every gun death, but simple and broadly supported solutions, like three-day waiting periods, will save lives, improve public safety, and make a real difference in reducing firearm-related deaths in Colorado.” “A cooling off period could be the difference between life and death for a person in the midst of a mental health crisis,” Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, said . “This legislation is backed by research and will reduce gun deaths by suicide and homicide. I’m incredibly proud of Colorado’s leadership on this issue and am eager to continue to take meaningful steps forward, like implementing a three day waiting period, to reduce the epidemic of gun violence.” Research shows that creating a waiting period for purchasing a firearm has led to a 7 to 11 percent reduction in suicides by firearm and a 17 percent reduction in firearm-related homicides. In 2020, Colorado had the seventh highest suicide rate in the US, and in 2021, there were 740 suicides by firearm in Colorado, accounting for more than half of all suicides in the state. From 2014 to 2019 , the number of firearm deaths in Colorado was greater than deaths from motor vehicle crashes and opioid overdoses. Among firearm deaths, more than 75 percent were caused by intentional self-harm or suicide. HB23-1219 establishes a three-day waiting period to purchase a firearm. Creating a waiting period delays immediate access to firearms and can help prevent impulsive acts of violence, including suicides, homicides and assaults. Current law mandates that a state and federal background check is complete before a firearm can be transferred. Background checks can typically take far less than three days to complete. In the case they take longer, the firearm cannot be transferred until the background check is complete. Transferring a firearm prior to the expiration of the waiting period would be a civil infraction punishable by a $500 fine for the first offense, and a $500 to $5,000 fine for a second or any subsequent offenses. The bill would not apply to antique firearms or to sales taking place between an active duty military servicemember who is set to deploy overseas and their family. Previous Next

Legislation will help prevent young people from committing gun violence, save lives in Colorado < Back August 2, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: New Law Raising Minimum Age to Purchase a Firearm to 21 To Go Into Effect Legislation will help prevent young people from committing gun violence, save lives in Colorado DENVER, CO – New legislation that raises the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado to 21 will go into effect on August 8. SB23-169 , sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, and Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, raises the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21, with limited exceptions. “Gun deaths in Colorado have been climbing higher and higher every year, and a disproportionate number of them are committed by younger Coloradans,” Mullica said. “As an ER nurse I’ve seen firsthand the devastating ways gun violence impacts our communities, which is why I am proud to champion this new law that will reduce gun violence and save lives all across our state.” “As a survivor of gun intimidation, I am relieved that Colorado law now requires all gun purchasers to be at least 21 years old, which will help reduce senseless gun violence and make our communities safer,” Duran said. “With this new law going into effect, we can save countless lives from preventable firearm-related injuries or death and improve public safety.” “Young people aged 12-24 make up one-fifth of the population, but commit just under half of all gun murders,” Danielson said. “Democrats are committed to doing everything we can to prevent gun violence in Colorado, and our new law will do just that. Raising the age to purchase a firearm will keep more deadly weapons away from our youth, reduce youth suicide rates, and make our communities safer.” “Having been a teacher for over 30 years, I’ve seen how gun violence can interrupt and devastate our kids’ development and well-being,” Hamrick said. “Colorado kids deserve environments that encourage learning, free from gun violence that is much too common in our schools. As a teacher, parent, legislator, and community member, I am proud that our common sense gun violence prevention laws are going into effect soon to better protect our kids.” According to Everytown for Gun Safety, firearms are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased a staggering 61 percent in the last decade. Previous Next

< Back April 23, 2022 HOUSE ADVANCES COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO PREVENT FENTANYL DEATHS Legislation significantly increases penalties on dealers and invests in proven public health solutions DENVER, CO – The House today advanced comprehensive legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Rep. Mike Lynch on a preliminary vote to combat the fentanyl crisis and save lives. “This comprehensive legislation will crack down on fentanyl dealers and deploys a robust public health strategy to get this deadly poison off our streets and save lives,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Far too many Colorado families have experienced the devastating pain of losing a loved one to fentanyl. Under this legislation, people spreading this deadly drug in our communities will have severe consequences, and if someone distributes fentanyl that leads to death, they will face even harsher penalties. This is an aggressive response that acknowledges the deadliness of this drug and invests in proven public health approaches that will expand access to treatment, make Narcan and test strips widely available, and create a robust education and awareness campaign to save lives.” “We are seeing unprecedented numbers of overdose deaths in Colorado. The fentanyl crisis demands an aggressive response that will hold dealers accountable and remove this deadly drug from our streets, and that’s what this comprehensive fentanyl legislation will do,” said Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein. “This solution will save lives by giving prosecutors the tools we need to put dealers in prison and protect our communities. This legislation will allow us to respond aggressively to dealers who take Coloradans’ lives when distributing this drug, and I encourage lawmakers to pass this bill.” “This legislation will give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on fentanyl dealers to get this dangerous drug off our streets,” said Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington. “Fentanyl doesn’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat; people are dying in every community in our state. This bill is a comprehensive solution that will save lives and prevent fentanyl deaths.” HB22-1326 is a comprehensive approach that includes both proven public health solutions and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers to save lives and get fentanyl off Colorado streets. The bill will strengthen criminal penalties on any individual distributing fentanyl. 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 or substances, 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. 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 as having a substance use disorder will have to complete mandatory treatment. HB22-1326 would make it a felony to knowingly possess more than one gram of fentanyl compound/mixture. Additionally, once Colorado’s labs have the ability to test for the percentage of fentanyl within a compound, this bill turns on a no tolerance policy for the possession of pure fentanyl. The bill was amended in the Appropriations Committee to repeal the new felony on June 30, 2025 and to include what is known as a “wobbler” provision that allows individuals who complete treatment to have the felony moved down to a misdemeanor. Amendments adopted on the floor include creating a grant fund for law enforcement agencies to pursue investigations of fentanyl poisonings, providing additional funding to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program and crisis stabilization centers and detoxification centers, and expanding Medication-Assisted Treatment in jails . This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will address 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. 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 also makes opiate antagonists more widespread, which will help save lives by preventing overdoses. Previous Next

< Back February 16, 2023 President Fenberg, Speaker McCluskie Convene Joint Select Committee to Investigate Rising Utility Rates Committee will explore causes of price increases, identify potential solutions to save people money on their energy bills DENVER, CO – Senate President Steve Fenberg and House Speaker Julie McCluskie announced today that they are forming a Joint Select Committee to investigate the causes of Coloradans’ rising utility rates and explore potential actions to prevent future price hikes, saving Colorado’s working families money on their energy bills.The Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates will seek expert testimony from utility companies, relevant agency staff, regulators, consumer advocates, and policy experts in order to better understand issues such as the impact of volatility in natural gas markets, the frequency and justification for rate increases sought by utilities, and other relevant factors. “The recent spikes in energy prices have sent Coloradans’ utility bills through the roof, and it’s costing too many working Colorado families an arm and a leg just to heat their homes,” President Fenberg, D-Boulder, said. “Democrats are committed to making Colorado a more affordable place to live, which is why we’re convening this critical committee so we can uncover the root cause behind high prices and hopefully find solutions that will better protect consumers, improve stability, and save people money on their energy bills.” "Shockingly high utility bills have left Coloradans from Denver to Dillon struggling to heat their homes during the coldest time of the year," said Speaker McCluskie, D-Dillon. "We need to get to the bottom of what's sticking hardworking families with unpredictable and far too expensive utility bills. We’re creating a bipartisan committee to dig into utility bill increases and target solutions that make our state more affordable." The Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates will meet at least three times, and will include lawmakers from both chambers and both sides of the aisle. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Committee may suggest legislative avenues for the General Assembly to consider. Previous Next

< Back January 30, 2020 REP. CARAVEO’S MULTILINGUAL BALLOT ACCESS BILL ADVANCES DENVER, CO– HB20-1081, sponsored by Representative Yadira Caraveo, today passed the House Committee on State, Veteran, and Military Affairs by a vote of 6-3. “It’s essential for our democracy that every citizen in our state have the ability to understand their ballots,” said Rep. Caraveo (D- Thornton). “This bill will make ballot access easier for Coloradans across the state while placing only minimal responsibilities on our local governments.” The bill establishes a hotline run by the Secretary of State’s office to provide access to ballot translation and requires the Secretary of State’s office to have the hotline available for the November 2022 election and for every general election and statewide odd-year election thereafter. County clerks are to make available minority language sample ballots when a language is spoken by at least 2,000 or 2.5 percent citizens of voting age who speak English “less than very well” in a county. These sample ballots would be available in-person beginning in November 2022 and for every general election and statewide odd-year election thereafter. There are over 100,000 Colorado voters who speak English “less than very well,” and over 80,000 of them live in counties where ballots and other election materials are not available in languages other than English. Ballots are often difficult for minority language speakers to comprehend, even if they do speak and read some English. The federal Voting Rights Act only requires the counties of Conejos, Costilla, Denver, and Saguache provide election materials in both English and Spanish, limiting ballot access for Coloradans across the state who speak English “less than very well.” Previous Next

The House today passed a bill that would create more affordable places to live. SB23-001 passed by a vote of 50 to 15. < Back April 26, 2023 House Passes Bills to Build More Housing DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bill that would create more affordable places to live. SB23-001 passed by a vote of 50 to 15. “Public-private partnerships not only increase the supply of housing that works for all budgets, but they also create more good-paying construction jobs,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “We need all hands on deck to address Colorado’s housing crisis, and this is one of many approaches that we’re taking to tackle housing insecurity and create more options that Coloradans can afford.” “Colorado mountain towns are becoming increasingly difficult to afford for educators, construction workers, and everyone in between,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “Land costs make up a large portion of the cost of housing, and this bill will make it easier to build housing that Coloradans can afford on state-owned land, helping us retain our workforce and boosting local economies.” SB23-001 would provide $13 million in funding for public-private partnership projects managed by the Public-Private Collaboration Unit within the Department of Personnel Administration to help develop affordable affordable housing on state-owned land so that Colorado workers like teachers and nurses can find housing that fits their budget. SB23-001 builds on work from previous sessions, including HB21-1274 and SB22-130 , regarding the inventory of underutilized properties and state-owned land. Previous Next

< Back June 10, 2020 VACCINES BILL PASSES! DENVER, CO — The House today passed SB20-163, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn, and Representative Dylan Roberts, D-Avon as well as Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, on third reading. The bill would boost Colorado’s childhood immunization rates. The bill passed by a vote of 40-24. “This has been a long and winding process, but knowing that today’s result will save the lives of countless children and protect our state against tragic viral outbreaks makes it all worth it,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “This bill represents an important step towards streamlining our immunization process and boosting our state’s low vaccination rates without removing anyone’s ability to claim an exemption. I’m proud of what we accomplished today.” “This bill is a simple and sensible way to boost Colorado’s immunization rates and protect our children, all while ensuring that our commitment to parental choice remains intact,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon . “This modest proposal will go a long way towards making our vulnerable communities like newborns, seniors and children safer. We’re one step closer to ensuring that all Coloradans are better protected from viral outbreaks.” “I am proud to see this crucial public health proposal pass the House today,” said Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “These modest improvements have been a long time coming, and they’ll go a long way towards protecting the most vulnerable in Colorado, including those in the Black community.” SB20-163 is designed to get more children fully vaccinated by the time they start kindergarten by encouraging those who do not vaccinate, but who have no objections to vaccinations, to immunize their children. The percentage of Colorado kindergartners vaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella is the lowest rate in the country at 87 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This low rate makes our state particularly vulnerable to a measles outbreak. SB20-163 requires parents who choose not to vaccinate their children to present a standardized exemption form signed by an immunization provider or submit a confirmation form that they took a short online class about vaccinations before they send their children to school. The bill also streamlines the immunization exemptions categories by dividing them into medical and nonmedical exemptions, but makes no changes to who can choose to exempt their children or for what reasons. Lastly, SB20-163 would require all immunizing health care providers to use the state’s Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) data system, though providers wouldn’t be subject to a regulatory sanction for noncompliance. Previous Next

< Back October 30, 2022 Speaker Garnett and Majority Leader Esgar Statements on Passing of Minority Leader McKean DENVER, CO – House Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today released the following statements on the passing of House Minority Leader Hugh McKean. Statement from Speaker Garnett: Emily and I are shocked and heartbroken by the passing of Minority Leader Hugh McKean. We will miss his kindness, the joy that he brought to the capitol every day, and the care that he showed every person he ever met. Hugh was the very definition of a statesman– a genuinely nice guy who always wanted the best for our state and his constituents. His integrity and the deep respect with which he treated every member of the House were a model for every lawmaker he worked with. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Democratic Caucus are with Leader McKean’s family and loved ones. Statement from Majority Leader Esgar: Heather and I join our entire caucus and every Coloradan in mourning the sudden passing of my friend and colleague Leader McKean. Hugh worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents and cared deeply about our state and our future. In our roles as Majority and Minority Leader, we worked closely together every day, with a shared commitment to doing the people’s work. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his loved ones and the House Republican Caucus. ### Previous Next

Lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee today approved two budget requests from Governor Jared Polis to fund critical food access programs during Republicans’ federal government shutdown. < Back October 30, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: JBC Members Swiftly Approve Emergency Funding to Boost Food Banks and Pantries During GOP Government Shutdown DENVER, CO – Lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee today approved two budget requests from Governor Jared Polis to fund critical food access programs during Republicans’ federal government shutdown. The first budget request allocates $10 million to support Colorado food banks and pantries in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) directive to suspend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting November 1. The second budget request extends previously approved funding for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition access through November. “The Republican shutdown is hurting Colorado families,” said JBC Chair Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County . “Regardless of what’s happening in Washington, Colorado is stepping up to keep families fed and kids healthy. This is what responsible budgeting looks like. Focusing on results, not rhetoric, and doing what’s right for the people we represent. For the sake of families across our state and nation, I wish DC would act a bit more like Colorado.” “While Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration play political games with Coloradans’ health care, hundreds of thousands of people in our state are now at risk of losing their SNAP benefits as a result,” said JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Today, Colorado Democrats stepped up to fill the gap and ensure that hardworking families in our communities receive the support they need to put food on the table. Half of the 600,000 Coloradans who benefit from SNAP are children; this emergency budget request pushes past the dysfunction in Washington to help families access food pantries and food banks.” “The JBC’s approval of an additional $10 million to food banks and pantries, plus an extension of funding for WIC, was a no-brainer,” said JBC Member Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities who have lost their lifeline to afford groceries this month because of chaos in Washington. Regardless of your circumstance, everyone should have the basic right to feed themselves and their families.” “The federal SNAP program keeps children from going hungry, which is why we’re stepping up to protect hardworking families from the GOP Congress and Trump Administration’s cuts,” said JBC Member Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We are boosting funding for our food pantries and food banks as well as extending WIC because with SNAP benefits ending, families are depending on us. Unfortunately, kids in our communities are suffering from the fallout of the Congressional Republicans’ government shutdown. In Colorado, we’re acting now to ensure families can put dinner on the table.” SNAP is fully funded by the federal government and administered by the state. On October 10, the USDA informed regional and state SNAP directors that if the federal government shutdown continues, states are to pause funding for November. This means the Colorado Department of Human Services will be unable to issue approximately $120 million of November SNAP benefits. To help families that rely on nutrition assistance, the JBC voted to direct additional funding to food banks and food pantries so they can fill some of the need communities will see when the federal government stops SNAP payments. On Tuesday, Colorado joined 22 other states in a lawsuit to force the Trump Administration to restore SNAP benefits by tapping into an emergency reserve. SNAP provides food assistance to more than 600,000 Coloradans across 330,000 households; more than half of the recipients are children. Additionally, 10-percent of SNAP recipients are older Coloradans and 15-percent are Coloradans living with a disability. WIC supports food access for nearly 100,000 pregnant women, new mothers, and young children in Colorado. Previous Next