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The House today passed legislation to strengthen local fence construction laws in the San Luis Valley. < Back February 6, 2025 House Passes Bill to Strengthen Local Fence Construction Laws DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to strengthen local fence construction laws in the San Luis Valley. HB25-1023 passed by a vote of 45-19. “With this bill, we’re protecting our environment and the Colorado Way of Life in the San Luis Valley,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista . “Many San Luis Valley residents have land rights beyond the fence dating back to before Colorado’s statehood, and now they’re barred from accessing the land. This bill, rooted in local control, will require individuals to submit an application before construction begins to prioritize local voices and environmental protections.” “Communities in the San Luis Valley have long had the legal right to access lands they held before Colorado became a state, but a massive, private fence now encircles this property, limiting access and damaging the environment,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This bill would prevent further ecological damage and ensure access for animal grazing caused by unauthorized fence construction. With this legislation, we’re making sure Coloradans, and their livestock, can access the land their families have called home for generations.” HB25-1023 would require individuals to submit an application to local government officials before constructing or installing a contiguous fence of a certain size in the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant lands. The bill would make local governments responsible for determining if the benefits of a fencing project outweigh the harms. Additionally, local governments may pass an ordinance or resolution opting in to these requirements altogether. Recent fence construction on one of the Sangre de Cristo land grant properties has caused environmental damage, including land erosion and limiting wildlife movement, and kept out local residents with legal access to the land grant. This bill takes aim at future, unauthorized fencing construction projects to protect the natural habitats in the San Luis Valley. Previous Next

< Back June 16, 2020 GOVERNOR SIGNS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES! Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs & Services Act will allow state employees to join together to bargain for better pay and terms of employment DENVER, CO — The Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis today. HB20-1153 was sponsored by Representative Daneya Esgar and cosponsored by the entire House Democratic Caucus. The new law will allow state employees to collectively bargain on matters of pay, benefits, and conditions and terms of employment. “State employees have been at the forefront of our state’s fight against COVID-19,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo. “In addition to their crucial public health work, these public servants care for our veterans, keep our prisons safe, plow our roads in winter storms and protect our air and water. Getting this bill passed was a top priority of mine in the 2020 legislative session, and I’m beyond proud to see the Governor sign it today. Thanks to their tireless work, advocacy and dedication, state workers will soon be able to negotiate for the pay, benefits and working conditions they deserve.” This law will allow state employees to collectively bargain on pay and benefit issues. It seeks to foster new partnerships between frontline workers and the state that will lead to innovation and better state services. Furthermore, by helping to fill the nearly 1 in 5 vacant state positions, the bill will ensure that Colorado has the experienced and talented workforce needed to serve state residents. This legislation is critical to retaining and recruiting the state workforce Coloradans need and deserve. Stagnant wages have led to increased turnover and state employees working multiple jobs, which negatively impacts the delivery of state services. The Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act does not permit state employees to strike, which is similar to collective bargaining laws for state employees in the states that have them. The law does require the state to participate in good faith in the formalized partnership process. All determinations regarding wage and benefit issues reached through the partnership process must be included in the governor’s budget and be approved by the Joint Budget Committee and General Assembly, a transparent process in which the public can engage. For more than a decade, WINS, the state’s public employee union, has represented state employees who have been united in their desire to be part of an organization that fights to improve their lives. Membership in the union is completely voluntary, but it’s clear that state employees overwhelmingly support union membership in WINS. Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES REP. HOOTON’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO EXPAND MEDICAL MARIJUANA PRESCRIPTIONS (Apr. 30) — The House voted in favor of a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Edie Hooton that would add a condition for which a physician would prescribe an opioid, primarily for acute pain, to the list of disabling medical conditions that authorize a person to use medical marijuana for his or her condition. “The opioid epidemic doesn’t discriminate, it affects all ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic status. Medical marijuana is an option to help people with their disabling pain without the repercussions of addictions that we are seeing in this epidemic,” said Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder. SB19-013 creates a statutory right to use medical marijuana for a patient with a condition for which a physician would prescribe an opioid for pain. Typically, these conditions are for acute pain and under current law, we already allow the ability for medical marijuana to be prescribed for different kinds of pain like chronic or debilitating pain. The bill creates the same rights, limitations, affirmative defense, and exceptions from criminal laws for these conditions as the constitutional right to use medical marijuana for other conditions. Rep. Hooton sponsored a similar bill last year but it was blocked in the previously Republican-controlled Senate. This year there was a breakthrough. SB19-013 passed with a bipartisan vote of 47-16 and now heads back to the Senate for approval of amendments. It previously passed the Senate 27-7. Previous Next

Majority Leader Monica Duran today delivered the keynote presentation at the 36th Annual Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) Conference. < Back October 16, 2024 Majority Leader Duran Delivers Keynote Presentation for Annual Domestic Violence Conference KEYSTONE, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran today delivered the keynote presentation at the 36th Annual Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) Conference. Majority Leader Duran’s presentation, “My Journey to Hell and Back”, highlighted parts of her personal, professional and political life. “I’d like to thank COVA for inviting me to deliver the keynote presentation at their annual conference – it’s truly an honor,” said Majority Leader Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “Domestic abuse is difficult to talk about, let alone escape with a young son, and I wouldn’t be here today without the fearless advocates and resources that helped me get back on my feet. I’m beyond proud of our recent legislative efforts to support survivors and curb gun violence in Colorado. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which serves as both a reminder for how far we’ve come and how much further we must go to create a safer state for us all.” Majority Leader Duran has been a longtime advocate for survivors of domestic violence and violent crime. During the 2024 legislative session, Majority Leader Duran sponsored a law to strengthen protection orders for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual violence. She also sponsored important gun safety legislation, including laws to improve conceal carry permitting and expand extreme risk protection orders . In recent years, she passed laws that improved standards for domestic violence cases tried in municipalities , invested $48 million with a funding boost of $3 million toward survivor programs and strengthened requirements for certain domestic violence abusers to relinquish their firearms. In addition to passing vital survivor-forward laws, Majority Leader Duran has also been awarded the 2023 Domestic Abuse Survivor Heroes (DASH) Award from non-profit Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abuse, 2023 Violence Free Aquamarine Award and the 2024/2023 Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) Legislator of the Year Award. Previous Next

< Back March 15, 2019 REP. COLEMAN: COLORADO CAN’T AFFORD TO RANK AT BOTTOM FOR FAFSA COMPLETION Coleman’s bill would help Colorado students receive federal aid for a postsecondary degree (Mar. 14) – The House Education committee passed Rep. James Coleman’s bill to help increase federal financial aid application completion rates. Colorado students missed out on as much as $50 million in financial aid last year due to students failing to complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. “We are letting our hard earned tax payer dollars go to other states because our students are not filling out their FAFSA forms,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver. “This bill will help Colorado get a huge return on our investment in our students, ensure more students have the tools they need to succeed and make our higher-ed institutions stronger.” Completing a FAFSA form increases the odds that Colorado’s high school students – particularly low income students and students of color – will attain a postsecondary degree, increasing their future earnings and success. Studies show that 90 percent of high school seniors who complete FAFSA attend college directly after high school. Boosting Colorado’s FAFSA completion rate will boost our state’s college and postsecondary institution enrollment rate. If passed, the program would begin in 2019. HB19-1187 was approved by the House Education committee unanimously and now goes to the House Appropriations committee. The state board of education will distribute funding to education providers that receive a grant under the School Counselor Corps Grant Program, for the purpose of educating and supporting students and families with the completion and submission of the free application for federal student aid or applications for state student aid. Previous Next

Representative Eliza Hamrick today visited Pickens Technical College and The Excel Center to learn more about post-secondary education and workforce opportunities for Coloradans. < Back September 17, 2024 Rep. Hamrick Visits Technical College AURORA, CO – Representative Eliza Hamrick today visited Pickens Technical College and The Excel Center to learn more about post-secondary education and workforce opportunities for Coloradans. “I’d like to thank the folks hosting me at Pickens Technical College and The Excel Center – it was great to hear about their emerging programs to not only meet our workforce needs but make it easier for students to succeed in any career,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial . “Under the gold dome, we’ve worked hard to make it easier for Coloradans to find and take advantage of workforce opportunities, including the Care Forward program which has successfully boosted our health care workforce through zero-cost credentials.” Rep. Hamrick toured both Pickens Technical College and The Excel Center. Pickens offers 25 certificate programs , in everything from the skilled trades to healthcare, to adults and high school students as part of the Aurora Public Schools and the Colorado Community College System. The Excel Center makes it possible for adults to earn their high school diploma at no-cost . Both education centers are designed to improve access to skills training and make it possible for Coloradans to begin a career they love. During the 2024 legislative session, Rep. Hamrick championed a number of bills designed to uplift education opportunities and local communities. This includes legislation to boost apprenticeship programs and expanding community-based behavioral health care grants . Rep. Hamrick also supported multiple workforce bills, including new laws to expand concurrent enrollment , uplift careers in high-demand sectors such as construction and health care and a tax credit to make the first two-years of college free for low and middle-income students. Previous Next

SB25-002 will increase the supply of affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers on factory-built structures like tiny homes and modular housing < Back May 8, 2025 Signed! Bill to Reduce Housing Costs, Boost Stock of Factory-Built Housing SB25-002 will increase the supply of affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers on factory-built structures like tiny homes and modular housing DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, and Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, and Representatives Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, and Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood, to reduce housing costs by boosting the stock of affordable factory-built housing was signed into law today. SB25-002 will increase the stock of affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers to the construction, installation, and inspection of factory-built structures like tiny homes and other types of modular housing. Modular housing is usually less expensive than traditional, stick-built homes constructed on-site and can be assembled faster, which can help expand permanent housing opportunities and build more affordable housing options. “Right now, the people that keep our communities running – teachers, nurses, and firefighters – can’t afford to live where they work,” said Exum. “Expanding opportunities for them and their families to thrive and grow together in a stable, safe environment is vital to strong, lasting success for Colorado communities.” “Our law will improve coordination between state and regional partners and cut down on duplicative steps to build more affordable housing in our communities,” said Boesenecker. “Modular homes are a high-quality alternative to traditional housing construction materials, but are faster to assemble and cheaper to build. This law allows us to strategically use tools that have proven to create more affordable housing options for hardworking Coloradans.” "Every Coloradan should be able to afford to live where they work," said Bridges. "We have an affordability crisis here in Colorado, and while there's no silver bullet for housing, there are silver BBs. This is one of them. This legislation will increase Colorado's housing stock by bringing down construction costs, giving more folks the opportunity to live where they work, raise a family, and call Colorado home.” “Modular homes are a creative and proven solution to drive down housing costs and allow more Coloradans to realize their dream of homeownership,” said Stewart. “Construction costs, miscommunication and doubling up on regulation have been significant barriers to building affordable housing, and this law aims to streamline regulations to fully benefit from the potential of modular housing. With this new law, we can make high-quality housing more affordable across Colorado.” This bill directs the State Housing Board in the Department of Local Affairs to develop regional building codes for factory-built structures by July 1, 2026. The new building codes supersede current regulations only for factory-built structures. Previous Next

HB23-1286 increases the fines for injuring or killing a law enforcement K-9 < Back April 24, 2023 Duran Bill to Support Police Working Animals Passes House HB23-1286 increases the fines for injuring or killing a law enforcement K-9 DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Ryan Armagost that would increase fines for injuring or killing service animals, police K-9s and horses. HB23-1286 passed by a vote of 61 to 3. “Police K-9s are valued members of the team that works to respond to tragedy and keep our communities safe,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “Our legislation makes it clear – if you severely injure or kill a service or police animal, you will face fines. Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Colorado. We support our K-9 heroes, especially those recently lost in the line of duty, because they are valued members of our homes and families.” HB23-1286 aims to increase fines for injuring, killing or displaying cruelty to service animals, certified police working dogs and horses. Under this legislation, there would be a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 and a requirement to complete appropriate treatment programs for subsequent convictions of cruelty to animals. Additionally, under this legislation, there would be a $2,000 minimum fine for subsequent offenses of cruelty or aggravated cruelty against service animals, certified police working dogs and horses. HB23-1286 would also order restitution be paid toward vet services or the governmental or police agency if a service animal,certified police working dog, or police working horse is killed or injured. Police K-9s across the state provide crucial support to officers. In 2022, K-9 Jinx of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office was killed in the line of duty. Earlier this year, K-9 Graffit , of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was killed in the line of duty. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2023 Bill to Improve Judiciary Training in Assault, Domestic Violence Cases Advances DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed a bill to better equip the judicial system and judicial personnel with the tools needed to understand the complex issues that victims of crimes like sexual assault and domestic violence face. “As a survivor of domestic violence, I know how difficult and distressing it can be for victims to come forward with their story,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D- Wheat Ridge . “Victims of crimes like domestic violence or sexual assault are often forced to relive their trauma while navigating the judicial system in order to hold their aggressor accountable. This bill is essential in understanding how to create a judicial system that incorporates trauma-informed practices and training to better protect and support victims and survivors.” HB23-1108 , a bipartisan bill that passed out of committee by a vote of 11-2, creates a task force to examine current victim and survivor awareness and responsiveness trainings within the Office for Victims Programs. The task force would report their findings and make recommendations on how to improve trainings for judicial personnel to better serve victims and survivors of crimes including sexual assault, harassment, and domestic violence. The task force would be required to submit a report including findings and recommendations to the House and Senate Judiciary committees by November 1, 2023. Previous Next

< Back June 30, 2020 HEMP POLICY STREAMLINING BILL BECOMES LAW BROOMFIELD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law Representative Barbara McLachlan’s bill supporting Colorado’s agricultural producers by streamlining state hemp policy and aligning it with federal policy, and securing Colorado’s position as a leader in the development of hemp markets . “Colorado’s farmers are growing hemp on tens of thousands of acres across our state,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango. “Now that the federal government has finally recognized the agricultural importance of hemp, we’re bringing our state laws into alignment and streamlining regulations for our industrial producers. Colorado has never been afraid to lead the way and set an example for the rest of the country, and our hemp production industry is no different.” Between February 28, 2019, and February 27, 2020, Colorado registered 2,748 properties and 2,037 growers to grow industrial hemp outdoors on 86,880 acres and indoors on 16.3 million square feet. Since 2013, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) has regulated industrial hemp under state law. However, in 2018, the federal Farm Bill normalized hemp production by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act and adding regulatory requirements for states, including a provision that requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve state regulatory plans. The CDA will submit its hemp management plan to the USDA for approval later this year. SB20-197 changes Colorado’s statutes and brings them into alignment with the new federal laws surrounding hemp. Among other changes, this new law will improve oversight by redefining the makeup and authority of the Hemp Advisory Committee, improving and modernizing testing requirements for hemp samples and hemp plots, and specifying unlawful acts and establishing penalties for the industry. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Mike Weissman: ‘Dobbs’ anti-abortion decision joins shameful Supreme Court rulings Jun 25, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in The Aurora Sentinel. “I am no longer a person”. “I cried for hours this morning.” “I don’t know what it is to be American.” These were the reactions of several women friends I talked to about to the radical, dangerous Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court last Friday. In overturning 50 years of settled law, the Court did two kinds of grievous harm: first, to every woman in our country and second, to its own legitimacy. The first harm is obvious. By throwing out long-standing law that the U.S. Constitution protects abortion rights, Dobbs instead subjects women to the whims of politicians in state legislatures, some of whom are even more radical and dangerous than the Court’s decision itself. “Trigger” bans are already going into effect, extremist laws have recently been passed in states like Oklahoma, and vigilant enforcement mechanisms have been passed in states like Texas. These are not laws that women should be subjected to in any free society. It is important to note that abortion remains legal, available and safe in Colorado. Fortunately, this is the case in some other states as well, states whose laws respect women’s autonomy. But Dobbs means that a woman’s right to control her own body and life now depends on what state she lives in. The radical justices who overturned Roe may believe their decision will reduce abortions. However, their decision will mostly make access to abortion less equal. Women with means living in restrictive states will travel to other states to exercise their right to bodily autonomy. Women with lesser means may rely on financial support from abortion funds, which have attracted much new notice for precisely this reason, or may have to self- manage an abortion without support from a medical professional. Even in the least trying of circumstances, women in restrictive states will pay for the Court’s decision in time away from home and work and certainly in emotional turmoil for being put through such travails by their own government. That travail and turmoil is the basis of the second grievous harm of the Court’s decision – to its own legitimacy. We’ve been here before, and the injuries have been very slow to recover from. The 1857 Dred Scott case helped precipitate the Civil War. The 1896 Plessy case upheld the Jim Crow-era “separate but equal” doctrine. Numerous early 20th century cases exemplified by the Lochner decision struck down worker protection laws during a period of rapid industrialization and dangerous working conditions. During World War II, Korematsu upheld internment of Japanese Americans in camps, some of which were here in Colorado. More recently, Bowers v. Hardwick upheld criminalization of consensual sexual activities between adults. Dobbs now joins this shameful history of cases that have departed from our nation’s core principles. Americans’ opinions about abortion rights vary, but very few people would agree with the idea that the U.S. Constitution should offer zero protection at all, leaving the matter entirely to the whims of radical state politicians who could criminalize medical providers, those who assist women in obtaining abortions, or even pregnant women themselves. Yet in substituting their own feelings about abortion rights for decades of settled law, that is exactly what the Court majority has done. A Court that acts in this way cannot be counted on to safeguard other rights that Americans enjoy. For example, last week, days before Dobbs, the Court’s Vega decision weakened the landmark, decades-old, Miranda case concerning the right against self-incrimination. The most radical members of the Court are, at least, not hiding the ball. In a concurring opinion, Justice Thomas explicitly urged reconsideration of cases affirming the Constitutional rights to use contraception, to consensual sexual activities between adults, and to marriage equality. In the face of a Court bent on eliminating Constitutional rights, state legislatures matter more than ever. In Colorado, our legislature acted this year to protect abortion rights in state law, and I was proud to support this. In Colorado today, women still have sovereignty over their own bodies and lives. Tragically, this is not true in all other states. In the face of decisions like Dobbs, I’m sure my friend isn’t the only one struggling with “what it is to be American” right now. She added, “my heart is in pain” due to the decision. Mine is too. But as a man who believes women are his equals under the law, as an attorney, and as a state legislator, I will find resolve in that pain for the struggles that now lie ahead. State Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, represents House District 36. Previous Next

< Back May 9, 2022 HOUSE PASSES TWO BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HOUSING Legislation would invest $185 million of federal pandemic relief dollars toward creating more affordable housing and empowering mobile homeowners to purchase their parks DENVER, CO – The House passed two bills today to make housing more affordable. SB22-159 and SB22-160 are part of a package of bills recommended by the Transformational Affordable Housing Task Force to invest $185 million to save Coloradans money on housing. SB22-159, sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz, D-Littleton and Perry Will R-New Castle, passed the House by a vote of 42 to 23. Despite bipartisan sponsorship, 23 House Republicans voted against this bill which would allocate $150 million to build more affordable housing, a record setting investment for the state of Colorado. “Today, we passed the largest affordable housing investment in state history and I’m proud of the bipartisan work we’ve done this session to save Coloradans money on housing,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, sponsor of SB22-159 . “However, I’m disappointed my Republican colleagues voted against building more homes in Colorado when more home construction is exactly what we need to bring down housing costs. This legislation invests $150 million to create, modify and improve Colorado’s affordable housing stock and is self-sustaining so Coloradans now and in the future can save money on housing. I’m proud to send this bill forward because it fulfills our promise to make housing more affordable for Coloradans across the state.” Revolving Loan Fund Invest Affordable Housing : SB22-159 , sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz and Perry Will would invest $150 million to create the Transformational Affordable Housing Revolving Loan Program to develop and integrate housing-related infrastructure, provide gap financing for affordable housing development projects, and preserve and rehabilitate existing affordable housing. “Resident owned communities are the key to keeping more Coloradans living in mobile parks housed,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of SB22-160 . “Mobile homeowners often face an uphill battle when it comes to fighting lot-rent price increases, so our legislation invests critical resources to empower mobile homeowners to purchase the land their homes sit on. This bill keeps mobile homes affordable, protects our neighbors and keeps our communities whole.” “Despite their name, mobile homes are difficult and expensive to move, which is why empowering mobile homeowners to buy the land their homes sit on saves them money and keeps them housed. Our bill expands critical protections for mobile home park residents so they can invest in their own communities,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB22-160 . Loan Program Resident Owned Communities : SB22-160 , sponsored by Representatives Andrew Boesenecker and Mandy Lindsay, passed the House by a vote of 41 to 24. This bill would invest $35 million into the newly created Mobile Home Park Resident Empowerment Loan and Grant Program Fund. The Fund will provide financing to eligible mobile home homeowners so they can purchase the land under their homes and convert into a resident-owned community. Additionally, the bill establishes a mechanism for nonprofits to receive grant funding to provide technical assistance to homeowners and help them build the capacity, resources, and know-how to organize and purchase their mobile home park. This bill will provide a critical financial tool for mobile homeowners across the state at risk of displacement or exorbitant lot rent increases that often occur when a park is sold from one for-profit owner to another. Previous Next