< Back April 12, 2021 USE OF RESTRICTIVE HOUSING IN JAILS RESTRICTED BY THE HOUSE DENVER, CO– Today the House passed Representative Judy Amabile’s bill to prohibit local jails from placing certain individuals, like people with serious mental health disorders or pregnant women, in solitary confinement. The bill passed third reading by a vote of X-X. “The psychological stressors of solitary confinement are tantamount to torture, and can have deep, devastating consequences for minors and individuals with serious mental illness,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “By putting guard rails around the use of restrictive housing, we can prevent tragic suicides and instances of self harm. Incarcerated individuals don’t check their human rights at the county jail’s door- I’m proud that we voted in favor of a more compassionate criminal justice system today.” Multiple studies have shown that restrictive housing, also known as solitary confinement, can create psychological stress that clinically compares to the distress of physical torture. According to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care , prolonged solitary confinement is cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment, and harmful to an individual’s health. A 2012 study commissioned by the US Attorney General found that “confined youth who spend extended periods isolated are among the most likely to attempt or actually commit suicide.” The Colorado Department of Corrections and Division of Youth Services both banned the use of long-term solitary confinement in 2017. HB21-1211 would prohibit local jails with a bed capacity of 400 beds or more from placing individuals in restrictive housing if they meet one of several characteristics, including if the individuals are under 18 years old, have a serious mental illness or neurocognitive, visual or auditory impairment, or are pregnant or in the postpartum period. The bill requires that when individuals are placed in solitary confinement involuntarily, jail staff checks on them multiple times an hour and notifies a medical or mental health professional within an hour of placement, as well as the individual’s legal representative or emergency contact within 12 hours of placement. To keep someone in solitary confinement for more than 15 days in a 30-day period would require the sheriff’s office to obtain a written court order. The bill also requires jails to keep records of data regarding individuals placed in restrictive housing. Previous Next

< Back June 8, 2021 HOUSE PASSES EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH, WATERSHED RESTORATION FUNDING DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to make emergency investments to improve access to behavioral health care and address damage to Colorado watersheds from wildfires. “Colorado is facing a mental health crisis, and right now, too many people in our state can’t get the care they need,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “We’re deploying $100 million in federal funds to shore up our behavioral health system and help Colorado youth access critical mental health care. Colorado is going to build back stronger by doing everything we can to significantly expand access to these services for all Coloradans.” “Access to behavioral health care saves lives,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Colorado has seen a 59 percent increase in fatal drug overdoses, as our communities see an alarming rise in the number of Coloradans with a mental health condition. Today, we passed legislation to direct $100 million to boost Colorado’s mental health capacity, so more people in our state can access substance abuse treatment, mental health services and the health care they need to get through the pandemic and bounce back stronger.” SB21-137 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Chis Kennedy, was amended to deploy over $100 million in federal stimulus funds immediately for emergency behavioral health services. The pandemic and its accompanying economic recession has taken a toll on the mental health of Coloradans, with mental health challenges and substance use disorders taking a particularly high toll on people of color and people who live and work in frontier and rural communities. In 2020, fatal drug overdoses increased by 59 percent in Colorado. The bill passed 42-23. As amended and to help address Colorado’s youth mental health crisis, the bill requires CDHS to develop a program to provide emergency resources to licensed providers who face barriers in providing treatment and services to youth whose behavioral health needs require them to be in a residential facility. The department is to contract with and reimburse licensed providers to deliver these services. The General Assembly appropriated $5 million to fund this program. Among its many provisions, the bill provides: recovery-oriented services to individuals with a SUD or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder, support for training programs for providers in rural and metro areas to develop competencies in mental health and substance abuse and grants to nonprofits to provide vouchers to individuals living in rural and frontier communities in need of behavioral health-care services. The amendments also create a Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund and a robust interim process to allocate federal stimulus funds for behavioral health. The Colorado Comeback Roadmap to Building Back Stronger envisions spending over half a billion on behavioral health services. “As climate change causes more devastating wildfires in Colorado, we are seeing significant damage to our watersheds, threatening not only our drinking water, but also the water Colorado ranches, farms, residents, and our outdoor recreation industry needs to prosper,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Half the state is already in a severe drought. We must act now to preserve the resources that make our state a desirable place to live. This bill invests $30 million to restore watersheds after devastating wildfires and sustain our precious water resources for all Colorado communities and industries.” Sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Marc Catlin, SB21-240 , transfers $30 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for the Watershed Restoration and Flood Mitigation Grant Program to help watersheds recover from the impacts of wildfire. The bill also sets aside funds to conduct a statewide watershed analysis that investigates the susceptibility of life, safety, infrastructure, and water supplies to wildfire impacts. The bill passed 60-5. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2021 OVERDOSE PREVENTION BILL PASSES HOUSE Bipartisan proposal to ensure Coloradans suffering from opioid addictions have access to lifesaving drugs passes Third Reading DENVER, CO– The House today passed Rep. Kyle Mullica’s bipartisan bill to make lifesaving overdose reversal drugs more widely available to individuals filling high dosage opioid prescriptions. The bill passed by a vote of 48-15. “As we work to address the root causes of the opioid epidemic, we need to ensure that Coloradans have the tools and knowledge they need to avoid tragedy from striking,” said Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn. “Naloxone has the power to reverse overdoses and save lives. Today we voted to ensure that the Colordans who are most likely to need it can more easily access it.” SB21-011 would require pharmacists to offer an opioid antagonist, such as Naloxone or Naltrexone, when filling a high-dose opioid prescription or an opioid prescription alongside another medication that could place the patient at risk of an overdose. This will ensure that people have life-saving medicine on hand in case of an overdose or when experiencing symptoms of an opioid addiction. The bill would also ensure that patients have the information they need to protect themselves and stay safe. Previous Next

< Back Jenny Willford Chair of State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Representative Jenny Willford is the Chair of the State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee and a member of the House Energy & Environment Committee and represents House District 34 which includes Northglenn and Thornton. Rep. Willford advocates for a healthier Colorado by championing bills that reduce air pollution and prioritize clean, green technology while combat climate change. She also championed legislation that supports working families, improves the continuum of care for older adults and makes health care more affordable and safe for all.

< Back April 19, 2021 LIFE SAVING GUN SAFETY BILLS BECOME LAW DENVER, CO– Two life saving gun safety bills were signed into law by Governor Jared Polis today. The bills seek to prevent suicides, community violence, and tragic accidents by promoting the prompt reporting of lost or stolen firearms and the safe storage of guns when children or other vulnerable populations are present. “There’s no single gun safety policy that can put an end to the epidemic of gun violence in America, but by taking commonsense steps like the two laws signed today, we can start to make a dent and save some lives,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “Reporting a missing firearm is a simple measure that will stop firearms from ending up in the wrong hands and give law enforcement more tools to find these weapons before they end up in crime scenes.” “Coloradans are tired of seeing gun violence rip families apart and take precious lives away from us far too soon,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “Our bill to require that missing firearms be reported to police is a simple and commonsense request that will hopefully prevent senseless tragedies like the one that took Isabella Joy Thallas’ life. I’m immensely proud that we were able to honor her memory by naming this law after her today.” “Asking all gun owners in Colorado to safely store their firearms the way the majority of responsible gun owners already do is a small measure that can save countless lives,” said Representative Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn . “A simple and affordable lock on a firearm could prevent the type of tragedies and injuries that befall Colorado families every day.” “Responsible gun owners who frequently have children in the home should already be locking their firearms away safely,” said Representative Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “I know that many gun owners, including myself, already take this simple step to prevent tragedies. The bill signed into law by Governor Polis today will get us closer to our goal of ensuring everyone practices safe storage.” SB21-078 , sponsored by Representatives Sullivan and Herod, requires an individual who owns a firearm and has reasonable cause to believe that the firearm has been lost or stolen to report that firearm to a law enforcement agency within five days after discovering that the firearm is missing. A first offense for failure to make such a report is a civil infraction punishable by a $25 fine, and a second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine. The bill requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report to enter information about the lost or stolen firearm into the National Crime Information Center database and report the information to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Through an amendment, SB21-078 was renamed the ‘Isabella Joy Thallas Act’, in memory of the young woman who was murdered on June 10, 2020 while she and her boyfriend were walking their dog outside of their apartment in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood. The high-powered semi-automatic rifle used in the killing was stolen. HB21-1106 , sponsored by Representatives Duran and Mullica, will promote responsible gun ownership by creating an educational campaign to encourage gun owners, especially those with children in the home, to properly store their firearms. The bill also requires licensed firearms dealers to provide a locking device at the time of sale or transfer of all firearms. Federal law already requires that handguns sold by licensed dealers be sold with locking devices. Finally, the bill would create the charge “unlawful storage of a firearm” when a firearm is not stored safely and a juvenile or someone who is ineligible to possess a firearm is present, making it a class 2 misdemeanor. Previous Next

< Back March 28, 2022 ANTI-VAXX BILLS DEFEATED Legislation will invest $84.2 million to expand behavioral health care workforce, better connect Coloradans with the care they need DENVER, CO – Lawmakers in the Colorado Senate introduced a pair of bills aimed at improving access to Colorado’s behavioral health care and increasing the state’s health care workforce. The legislation was developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force . SB22-181 : Behavioral Health Care Workforce Development Sponsored by Sens. Jeff Bridges (D-Greenwood Village) and Cleave Simpson (R-Alamosa), Reps. Lisa Cutter (D-Jefferson County) and Tonya Van Beber (R-Weld County) This bill directs the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to develop plans to invest $72 million to bolster and stabilize the state’s behavioral health care workforce, which will help more Coloradans access the critical care they need to thrive. “If we want to achieve our goal of transforming Colorado’s behavioral health system, we need a robust workforce to help us do it,” said Sen. Bridges. “With this bill, we’re going to make a significant investment to expand our behavioral health workforce so we can address our workforce shortage, better meet the needs of patients, and improve patient outcomes.” “As we invest $450 million to improve access to behavioral health in Colorado, we’re taking aggressive action to attract, train and retain the providers we need to provide that quality care,” said Rep. Cutter. “There is a significant shortage of behavioral health care providers in Colorado, and this bill will start to address this challenge by taking a multi-pronged approach that focuses on recruitment, training and collaborative partnerships. A large portion of the funding will go toward scholarships and loan forgiveness for behavioral health care students and training programs to prepare young people for a career in behavioral health care.” The bill will invest a total of $72 million, including: $10 million to improve recruiting and retaining providers who better represent the communities they serve. $6 million to help Colorado colleges and universities promote the behavioral health field and to allow students to participate in activities like job shadowing and internships that expose them to the behavioral health field and create a level playing field so students of all backgrounds can explore a career in behavioral health. $20 million for the Colorado Health Service Corps, an existing program that allows care providers working in designated health professional shortage areas to apply for funding to repay qualifying educational loans. $20 million to create a behavioral health care training curriculum administered by the Colorado Community College System. $6 million to expand the number of peer support specialists in Colorado. Peer support specialists are individuals with lived experience who can help others going through similar experiences, and are a critical component of the behavioral health workforce. $5 million to offer professional development opportunities that improve skills for behavioral health care professionals to better serve people in the criminal justice system, improve cultural competency and expand professional development opportunities for licensed and unlicensed workforce. $5 million to further leverage existing workforce development programs, establish standards to ensure a quality workforce, and reduce administrative burden so that providers can spend more time focusing on patient care. SB22-177 : Investments in Statewide Care Coordination Infrastructure Sponsored by Senator Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood) and Bob Rankin (R-Carbondale) and Reps. Brianna Titone (D-Arvada) and Mary Bradfield (R-Colorado Springs) This bill appropriates $12.2 million to improve Colorado’s statewide care coordination infrastructure to better serve Coloradans seeking behavioral health care. The bill requires the BHA to better train new and existing behavioral health care navigators on available behavioral health safety net system services and delivery, and on ways to better connect individuals seeking care with the support they need. The bill also seeks to cut red tape associated with provider enrollment and credentialing for navigators and care coordination providers, so they can spend less time on paperwork and more time helping Coloradans in need. “While there will always be more work to do to expand and improve our behavioral health care system, we need to make sure Coloradans can fully utilize already existing behavioral health services,” said Sen. Pettersen. “With this new infusion of funds, we can more quickly and efficiently connect Coloradans with care they need. Behavioral health care navigators will be well equipped to help Coloradans navigate these complex systems to deliver quality, accessible services to those that need the most support." “It can be far too difficult to navigate Colorado’s behavioral health care system, so a crucial part of our efforts will be to improve care coordination to help people cut through the red tape that can be a barrier accessing the care they need,” said Rep. Titone. “With this bill, behavioral health care providers will have better tools to connect patients with providers and other specialists who can help them access the care they need, when they need it.” Previous Next

< Back June 7, 2020 COMMITTEE PASSES BILL TO BOOST LOWEST IN THE NATION IMMUNIZATION RATES FOR CHILDREN DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Health and Insurance today passed SB20-163, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullcia, D-Northglenn, and Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, to boost Colorado’s childhood immunization rates. The vote was 7-4. “Colorado’s kids are more vulnerable to a massive outbreak of highly infectious disease than children in almost any other state in the country, and that keeps me up at night,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “As a nurse, I know that boosting our immunization rates is the best way to stop preventable diseases like whooping cough and measles from spreading, and nearly 90 percent of Coloradans agree. Today we’re taking steps to protect our children, our communities, and our health care system from diseases that can spread faster and more viciously even than COVID19.” 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

The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would combat wage theft in all industries, boosting the economic security of Colorado workers by ensuring they are paid for their work. < Back April 1, 2025 Wage Theft Prevention Legislation Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would combat wage theft in all industries, boosting the economic security of Colorado workers by ensuring they are paid for their work. “Wage theft is the largest source of theft in our state, and we are standing firm so Coloradans can receive the money they have worked hard to earn,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Research shows that $730 million in wages are stolen from almost 440,000 hardworking Coloradans every year, with women and communities of color disproportionately becoming victims of wage theft. With this bill, we’re allowing workers to more quickly access their owed wages and strengthening protections for whistleblowers so workers can speak up without fear of retaliation.” “When employers refuse to pay their employee for the work they’ve already completed, it is the same thing as stealing money out of their wallet, and hardworking Coloradans can’t afford to forgo the paycheck that they worked for,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “Wage theft hurts Colorado workers and families who are struggling to make ends meet. Our bill aims to provide better support for workers to ensure they can be fairly paid for the work they do.” HB25-1001 aims to protect workers who make wage theft claims and prevent wage theft occurrences by holding bad-acting employers accountable and increasing the wage theft claim cap. Currently, wage theft claims are capped at $7,500. The bill would increase the cap to $13,000 starting July 1, 2026, with that claim amount adjusting for inflation beginning in 2028. Wage theft can include not paying workers minimum wage, non-payment of wages, misclassifying workers as independent contractors or as management to avoid paying overtime, and taking tips that were meant for the employees. The bill aims to expedite the process of receiving owed wages by allowing the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to pay victims more quickly. This will improve the investigative process and proactively identify violators. CDLE would also be able to crack down on worker misclassification, a technique used to avoid providing benefits and overtime wages. To deter employers from stealing wages, CDLE would be required to publish wage theft determinations and update a list of wage theft violators on the division’s website. Under the bill, CDLE would also report wage theft violations to licensing and permitting bodies and publicize consequences. HB25-1001 allows third parties to bring complaints on a worker’s behalf. The bill also extends anti-retaliation and discrimination measures for all workers who raise complaints allowing for similarly situated employees to speak up for others. Reps. Duran and Froelich have championed numerous bills to ensure workers receive the wages they’ve earned, including legislation in 2022 that ensures Colorado workers are able to recover legally earned wages. A 2022 report by the Colorado Fiscal Institute found that nearly 440,000 low-wage Colorado workers experience $728 million in wage theft annually. Workers of color and women are most likely to be victims of wage theft, and the most common industries for wage theft are retail, construction, and food service. Previous Next

Governor Polis today signed legislation that will save Coloradans money on rental applications. < Back May 4, 2023 SIGNED! Vigil and Weissman Bill to Save Renters Money DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed legislation that will save Coloradans money on rental applications. “As any renter will tell you, application fees add up quickly when you’re shopping around for your next place to call home,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs . “Our law allows rental applicants to pay an application fee just one time and then opt to share that information with multiple landlords. We’re breaking down barriers to securing housing, saving Coloradans money, and most importantly, lifting up renters across our state.” “Coloradans shouldn’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars on rental applications – and now they don’t have to,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora . “Renters sometimes apply for dozens of housing options at once so they can secure a place to live, and each time they pay around a $40 rental application fee. This law permits renters to reuse application documents when applying for housing which will save Coloradans money and make our state’s rental process more equitable in the process.” HB23-1099 builds off the Rental Application Fairness Act that was passed by Colorado Democrats in 2019 by allowing prospective renters to reuse a rental application for up to 30 days without paying additional fees. It also minimizes the number of times a credit score is pulled, protecting a potential renter’s credit score from being continuously damaged from credit score inquiries. Under this law, a landlord must return an application to a potential tenant to reuse if the application is denied and provide a notice of the applicant’s right to dispute the accuracy of the report. All rental reports, credit history, and criminal record documents must come from verified consumer reporting agencies to be eligible for reuse. Previous Next

< Back January 31, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES REP. KENNEDY’S BILL TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY IN HOSPITAL HEALTH CARE COSTS Bipartisan bill will help lower health care costs (Jan. 31) – The House approved Rep. Chris Kennedy’s bill to increase transparency for health care costs in Colorado’s hospitals. “The high cost of health care is impacting consumers and businesses alike. It’s been a real struggle for people 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 hard-working Coloradans.” According to data collected by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), hospital costs account for 39% of health care spending nationwide. Physician and clinical services account for 26%, and prescription drugs and other non-durable medical products account for 11%. 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. By identifying inefficiencies and wasteful spending, businesses and payers will be able to choose more efficient and lower cost hospitals for their networks. 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. The bill passed with bipartisan support with a vote of 39-22. HB19-1001 now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back June 24, 2021 POLIS SIGNS LEGISLATION TO CURB YOUTH ACCESS TO HIGH POTENCY MARIJUANA New law advances research, addresses diversion and helps educate consumers DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Representative Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician, that seeks to address youth access to high-potency cannabis products. “Working with patients, doctors, parents, students, teachers and the marijuana industry, Colorado is leading the way in addressing youth access to high potency cannabis,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “The reality is that it’s too easy for Colorado’s youth to access high potency mairjuana when they shouldn’t be able to, and we don’t have the full picture of how these products impact the developing brain. With Governor Polis’ signature today, it will be harder to divert products from the medical marketplace into the hands of our youth. This law will help educate consumers about high potency cannabis, and it will advance critical research that will give us a better understanding of how high potency products impact developing brains.” “Doctors like myself, school-based providers and parents have all seen firsthand how some of our younger Coloradans have experienced health issues after consuming high-potency marijuana products,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician. “I’m proud that Governor Polis signed this critical law today, which will make a big difference by strengthening the doctor-patient relationship, cracking down on looping and diversion, advancing critical new research and better educating consumers on high-potency products while ensuring we protect patients’ access to medical marijuana.” The law will advance research into the impact of high potency marijuana on the developing brain, address diversion of cannabis concentrates purchased in the medical marijuana marketplace and educate consumers about concentrates through visual representations of a recommended serving size and public awareness campaigns. Advances Research: The law funds and advances critical research into the impact of high-potency cannabis concentrate products on the developing brain and on physical and mental health. It requires the Colorado School of Public Health to conduct a systematic review of the current scientific research into the effects of high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates and identify gaps in order to conduct new research. Under the law, a new scientific review council of doctors and experts will review the report and make recommendations to the General Assembly on appropriate evidence-based regulatory changes and the funding of additional necessary evidence-based research. Addresses Diversion of High-Potency Products: The law cracks down on “looping” and diversion by reducing the amount of medical concentrates someone can purchase in a day and requiring the Marijuana Enforcement Division’s seed-to-sale tracking database, METRC, to update at the point of sale, instead of at the end of each business day. The data collected is confidential and cannot be shared with anyone except when necessary to complete a sale. Enhanced Doctor-Patient Relationship: The law adjusts medical marijuana recommending practices by requiring doctors to specify a daily quantity authorization if it is above the maximum allowed for the patient’s age and to consider a patient’s mental health history when making a cannabis recommendation. For patients ages 18-20, the law requires two physicians from different medical practices to diagnose the patient as having a debilitating or disabling medical condition after an in-person consultation, and the patient must attend a follow-up appointment every six months after the initial visit unless that patient is homebound. Real-Time Medical Marijuana Purchase Reporting: Through a practice known as “looping,” consumers can purchase the daily limit at multiple dispensaries, circumventing the limits and increasing youth access to high-potency cannabis products. The law will crack down on “looping” in the medical marketplace by requiring medical marijuana stores to immediately record transactions in the seed-to-sale inventory tracking system. This will allow the system to identify discrepancies with daily purchase limits, access and retrieve real-time sales data and alert medical mariuana stores if a sale to a patient has exceeded their daily purchase limit for that business day. Reduced Daily Purchase Amounts: The law will limit daily medical marijuana concentrate purchases to eight grams for patients 21 years and older and to two grams for patients between the age of 18 and 20. Patients who had a medical marijuana card before the age of 18, patients who are homebound, for whom a physician has recommended a higher daily authorization, or for patients for whom going to a medical marijuana store on a daily basis presents significant physical or geographical hardship are exempt from these new limits. Consumer Education and Protection: The law will help better educate consumers about high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates by tasking the Colorado School of Public Health with developing a public education campaign, requiring MED to create a tangible education resource on the potential risks of concentrates and that shows visual representations of a recommended serving size be included with every sale and by prohibiting advertisements targeted toward Colorado youth. Previous Next

< Back June 8, 2021 GARNETT APPOINTS ANNIE KAO TO ETHICS COMMISSION DENVER, CO– The House today passed HR21-1005 , a resolution confirming Speaker Alec Garnett’s appointment of Annie Kao to the Independent Ethics Commission. The resolution passed by a vote of 45-20. “Appointees to the Independent Ethics Commission are tasked with the enormous responsibility of holding government to the high standards that our constituents expect of us,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “I have taken the decision to appoint Ms. Kao with the utmost care and responsibility, and I have no doubt that she will fulfill her duties efficiently and with dignity. Her dedication to justice, equity, and ethics is evident in her years of legal experience at the highest level. Ms. Kao is an exemplary Coloradan and I know she will make this body proud.” The Independent Ethics Commission is an independent government body that gives advice and guidance on ethics issues relating to state and local officials. They hear complaints, issue findings and assess penalties and sanctions when appropriate. Appointments to the commission by the Speaker must be approved by a two thirds vote in the house. Annie Kao is a successful and accomplished attorney who has spent decades working in Colorado. She has practiced law at the highest level, working with firms such as Hogan Lovells and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. She has also served as in-house counsel for Vail Resorts, including as Assistant General Counsel, and as lead operations attorney for several world-class resorts including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Whistler Blackcomb. Ms. Kao has also worked to improve equity in the legal system through several leadership roles with Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Most recently, Annie has worked as the Founder and CEO of Ascent Inclusion Consulting, an organization that works with companies in the outdoor recreation industry to ensure people of all abilities and backgrounds are welcomed, treated fairly, and feel at home in the outdoor recreation economy. Speaker Garnett had the opportunity to appoint Ms. Kao after current appointee Debra Johnson submitted her intent to resign effective July 1, 2020. Previous Next