< Back February 18, 2020 BUENTELLO’S BILL TO SAVE MORE VETERANS MONEY ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO — Rep. Bri Buentello’s bipartisan bill to make it easier for service members, their families and veterans to receive in-state tuition at Colorado community colleges today was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee. “If you served our country and you want to go to school in Colorado, you should be able to receive in-state tuition without going through red tape,” said Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo. “Recently discharged members of the military, veterans or military members and their families who move frequently often face significant bureaucratic hurdles when seeking to qualify for in-state tuition, and today we took an important step towards ending that.” HB20-1275 allows an active or honorably discharged member of the United States armed forces or one of their dependents to be eligible for in-state tuition status at a community college regardless of whether the person satisfies Colorado domicile or residency status. According to militaryspouse.com , military families relocate on average once every two to three years, leading to increased difficulties in satisfying residency requirements. Previous Next

Democratic Leadership and Joint Budget Committee members today responded to the Trump Administration’s immediate freeze of federal funding. < Back January 28, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Democratic Leadership, JBC Members Release Statement on Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze DENVER, CO – Democratic Leadership and Joint Budget Committee members today responded to the Trump Administration’s immediate freeze of federal funding. Statement from Speaker Julie McCluskie, President James Coleman, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senators Jeff Bridges and Judy Amabile, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Emily Sirota: “Today’s freeze on federal funding is a reckless decision that is already causing immediate and far reaching harm to Coloradans across the state. We are still working to understand the breadth of the impacts, but we know that critical food, housing, health and behavioral health care, child care, and anti-poverty services are currently in limbo, causing chaos and uncertainty for Coloradans, safety net service providers, and state and local governments, including law enforcement. Republicans and Democrats must be clear-eyed in this moment that this funding freeze is a brazen abuse of power that will likely have significant economic impacts and cause irreparable harm to Colorado kids, families, seniors, and everyone who calls our state home. We are proud that Colorado will be joining states from across the nation in a lawsuit that will attempt to blunt the impact of this funding freeze on people’s lives. We stand ready to assist in any way we can to prevent further harm.” Previous Next

< Back February 27, 2020 REP. SULLIVAN’S BILL TO CONNECT STUDENTS WITH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS MOVES FORWARD Bipartisan legislation would connect students and school personnel with apprenticeship programs to facilitate placement in apprenticeships DENVER, CO— The House Committee on Education today advanced Representative Tom Sullivan’s bipartisan legislation to connect students and school personnel with apprenticeship programs. The bill passed out of committee unanimously. “Last year, we created the state’s first apprenticeship directory to collect and make available information about the hundreds of apprenticeships open to Coloradans,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “These programs are so important for teaching students the skills they need to work in good-paying jobs. This bill would ensure that we’re doing all we can to connect students and school personnel with these critical apprenticeship programs.” SB20-081, which is also sponsored by Representative Colin Larson, R-Littleton, would ensure that apprenticeship programs can better connect with interested students through school personnel. Currently, the state’s apprenticeship directory does not include contact information for schools. By adding that information, apprenticeship programs will be able to reach more students who may have an interest in learning a trade. The bill will help students and parents know who to talk to at their school if they are interested in these programs and who can help them determine which program might be right for them. It also aims to raise awareness of the availability of apprenticeship programs among school administrators who may not currently know that the directory exists. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law that will make narrowly targeted updates to advance the Front Range Passenger Rail project, a train line that would connect communities from Fort Collins to Pueblo. < Back May 26, 2026 Bill to Update the Front Range Passenger Rail District to Pave the Way for Future Service Becomes Law DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law that will make narrowly targeted updates to advance the Front Range Passenger Rail project, a train line that would connect communities from Fort Collins to Pueblo. “Families in Fort Collins want an affordable, eco-friendly, and convenient way to travel along the Front Range,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “These communities are highly interconnected and our infrastructure should match how Coloradans live, work, and travel every day. This bill creates a strong foundation for this project to advance with accurate boundaries and community input.” “From Fort Collins to Pueblo, passenger rail is coming to Colorado,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “As we get closer to breaking ground on the project, we are narrowing in on details that will help make passenger rail a reality for the Front Range. From going to CSU games and a concert in Denver to commuting for work, the Front Range Passenger Rail will deliver a safe, dependable alternative to car travel.” “For my community in Pueblo, Front Range Passenger Rail means opportunities for employment, visiting family, and enjoying everything Colorado has to offer in a way that meets how Coloradans want to travel,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “This bill lays the groundwork for Front Range Passenger Rail to move forward, creating limitless opportunities for communities along the Front Range, including Pueblo.” “Passenger rail can open up more job opportunities and save Coloradans money on transportation,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs . “This law creates a clear path for the Front Range Passenger Rail to take shape, improving Colorado’s transportation options and infrastructure for the municipalities that have already opted into this rail system. Soon, voters around these stations will get a say on whether or not their community will have Front Range Passenger Rail. This project has been a long time in the making, and I am excited for the opportunities that this will open up for my community in Colorado Springs.” SB26-172 updates the Front Range Passenger Rail District boundaries to focus on municipalities that would be directly served by the rail line and remove municipalities outside of the service area. It also creates residency requirements for the district board members and adjusts how ballot measures are brought by the district, creating options for subdistricts within the district boundaries. Colorado Democrats established the Front Range Passenger Rail District in 2021 to lay the groundwork for a high-speed passenger rail system along the Front Range corridor. This past April, the future train was named “Colorado Connector,” after input from more than 25,000 Coloradans. Last week, the state and relevant governing boards reached an agreement with BNSF to advance to the design phase of the passenger rail project. Service is anticipated to begin by January 2029. Previous Next

< Back January 26, 2023 Water Efficiency and Resiliency Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Energy and Environment Committee today passed legislation to help commercial property owners better finance water and energy efficiency improvements, and increase property resilience. “We’re working to improve an already successful energy efficiency program so more commercial properties in Colorado can save money, on energy, and water,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Our bill expands the C-PACE program to help commercial properties cut down on their energy and water usage, and invest in resilient infrastructure in the face of more frequent and severe weather events caused by climate change. By expanding this favorable financing mechanism we empower building owners to modernize their infrastructure, increase renewable energy deployment and help create good paying jobs.” “We’re committed to preserving and protecting Colorado’s environmental resources, especially water, and our bill makes improvements to the C-PACE program so commercial businesses can improve their resilience and water efficiency,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “We know many commercial properties want to make water and energy efficiency upgrades, and our bill makes the process easier so businesses can begin their energy efficiency improvements sooner.” HB23-1005 passed committee by a vote of 8-3 and is part of the Colorado House Democrats' first five bills. HB23-1005 would protect Colorado's environment and preserve water resources by expanding project eligibility and streamlining the approval process so more commercial properties in Colorado can take advantage of Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE’s) financing program for eco-friendly property upgrades and investments. The C-PACE program allows certain commercial and industrial buildings to finance energy improvement projects through a voluntary property tax assessment that is repaid over a 25-year term. Since 2016, the program has helped finance 116 different projects across the state, totaling almost $250 million in investments. Previous Next

< Back May 6, 2021 BILL TO EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS, SAVE LIVES ADVANCES Judiciary Committee Advances gun violence prevention measure DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today advanced Reps. Judy Amabile and Steven Woodrow’s bill to strengthen Colorado’s gun transfer background check system by preventing individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors from obtaining a firearm for a period of time and closing the ‘Charleston Loophole’. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “When my community was devastated by the senseless actions of a troubled individual with a history of violence, I was left reeling and grasping for answers on how to prevent this from happening again,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “As the investigation continues, it has become clear to me that the shooter’s conviction of a violent misdemeanor should have been the red flag that prevented him from buying a deadly weapon. I’m proud to honor my community with action today.” “Child abuse, hate crimes, possession of an illegal weapon — these are the types of recent convictions that would stop you from obtaining a firearm under this bill,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “While I’m certain we’ll continue to encounter opposition on this legislation moving forward, an overwhelming majority of Coloradans agree it really shouldn’t be controversial. This bill is about saving lives, and ensuring that individuals with a history of violence have a more difficult time getting their hands on the type of weapon that can take a dozen lives in mere seconds.” HB21-1298 prohibits a person who has been convicted of certain violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for 5 years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault, and third degree assault. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. This bill avoids that by creating a state requirement for a firearms dealer to receive approval from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation prior to transferring a firearm. Previous Next

< Back January 9, 2020 SPEAKER BECKER REACTS TO TRI-STATE CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION ANNOUNCEMENT DENVER, CO — Speaker KC Becker (D-Boulder) today issued the following statement reacting to an announcement from the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association outlining the retirement of all coal generation in Colorado and New Mexico: “I applaud Tri-State’s commitment to Colorado’s clean energy future and am impressed by the bold carbon emissions reduction target they set. Meeting our state’s targets requires immediate collective action, and I’m happy to see Tri-State take their role seriously. As our state transitions toward a clean, renewable energy future, we must always keep in mind that this change will bring difficult transitions for Colorado’s energy workers, their families and communities. A commitment to a clean energy future also requires a commitment to a fair and just transition for Colorado’s workers. Protecting and supporting workers and communities through these shifting economic tides remains a top priority for the legislature. I look forward to continuing to work with a broad array of stakeholders to find ways to support and protect working families affected by a changing energy economy. The Just Transition Office created by the legislature last year will work with impacted communities and worker representatives across the state on a plan to support those impacted by the transition away from coal.” Previous Next

< Back January 30, 2020 BILL TO GUARANTEE MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS CHECKS BILL ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would reinforce Colorado as a national leader in mental health parity DENVER, CO– HB20-1086, sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Colin Larson, today passed the House Committee on Health and Insurance unanimously. By guaranteeing insurance coverage for annual mental health wellness exams, the legislation would cement Colorado as a national leader in mental health parity laws. “I’m excited that Colorado is now a big step closer to making annual mental health wellness exams accessible to all,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City) . “Too often, our state’s behavioral health system provides care in crisis situations after a mental health condition has gone untreated. This bill would prioritize preventative mental health care, just like we do for physical health care, so that Coloradans can get the care they need before they face a crisis.” HB20-1086 would require health insurance plans to cover an annual mental health wellness examination as a part of their coverage for preventative health care services. The coverage must be comparable to the coverage for a physical examination, comply with federal mental health parity laws, and not require any deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. The legislation aims to further break down barriers to mental health care. Our current system often treats mental health on an expensive crisis-by-crisis basis. By enhancing access to preventative care, the bill would help provide treatment for mental health conditions before someone is faced with a crisis. It would also reduce the stigma around mental health by ensuring we value preventative mental health care in the same way we currently value physical health care. Colorado is experiencing a persistent and rising suicide rate while far too many residents report barriers to accessing the behavioral health care they need. Suicide is the seventh leading cause of death in Colorado. In 2019, 769,301 Coloradans were unable to get mental health services when needed, and 68 percent reported that cost and insurance coverage were barriers, according to the Colorado Health Access Survey. The legislation is supported by Mental Health Colorado, the Colorado AFL-CIO, the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, the Colorado Association for School Based Health Care, the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, and the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Democratic lawmakers today unveiled three bills that would drive down housing costs and save Coloradans money. < Back January 21, 2026 Gov. Polis and Democratic Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Reduce Housing Costs DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Democratic lawmakers today unveiled three bills that would drive down housing costs and save Coloradans money. These bills would streamline the process for many non-profits, schools and transit districts to be part of the housing solution by building housing on their land (HOME Act), fund transit infrastructure improvements and transit-oriented housing (Transit/Housing Investment Zones) and expand tax exemptions to include non-profit housing developers that build affordable rental properties. “This session, Colorado Democrats are focused on lowering costs, and these three bills will spur more housing now that Coloradans can afford,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB26-1065. “We’re looking to create an innovative funding mechanism for affordable housing near transit hubs, remove barriers to building housing on underutilized land, and encourage more affordable rental housing. These bills will help drive down housing prices, especially in communities like mine in the high country, and bolster Colorado’s transit infrastructure. I’m especially excited that we will be creating housing and transit investment zones that will help local communities finance more housing for every budget.” “Housing costs are one of the biggest pain points for Coloradans and we are doing everything possible to drive down costs. Everyone deserves to find a home that fits their budget. From the HOME Act, to TIF and lifting up our community land trusts, these efforts will build on our work from years past, and I appreciate the legislators for their work to lead on this important issue,” said Governor Jared Polis. “We’re taking a big swing at Colorado’s housing shortage to drive down the cost of housing,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of HB26-1001. “The HOME Act would remove barriers for public schools, non-profits with a history of building affordable housing, public housing authorities and transit agencies that are willing to build housing on their underutilized land. This bill is one of many that Colorado Democrats are bringing forward this year to save Coloradans money on housing." “Too many Coloradans are priced out of their homes and communities because of outdated housing restrictions,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, sponsor of HB26-1001. “The HOME act allows schools, organizations, and local governments to use land that they already own to build the housing our communities need. These groups know what works and should have the freedom to put their land to good use.” “Colorado Democrats are making it easier to build more housing now to reduce housing costs for Coloradans,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, sponsor of HB26-1001. “In Denver, we’re already seeing rent rates drop due to an increase in the housing supply. Our bill would give communities throughout Colorado another tool to get affordable housing projects approved and built and deliver more affordable housing.” Beginning December 31, 2027, HB26-1001 would streamline the process for building affordable housing by allowing non-profit organizations, housing authorities, school districts, state colleges or universities and transit districts to build housing and other community services on their land. Under the bill, local governments could not reject the construction of a residential development due to height, as long as the development is no taller than three stories or 45 feet or adheres to the height standards of the zoning district. These residential developments could also include childcare centers and facilities that provide recreational, social, or educational services to residents. A 2022 report found that removing bureaucratic barriers in the permitting process can expedite the approval process by 28-percent . Lawmakers also unveiled new legislation that will be introduced later today to improve transportation infrastructure, increase transit-oriented housing options that hardworking Coloradans can afford and expand property tax exemptions to include affordable housing non-profits. "The mountain and rural communities that I represent have some of the most severe affordable housing shortages in the state, and so I’m proud to be sponsoring multiple pieces of legislation this session that will help finance and build housing developments that working families need and can afford,” said Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, sponsor of HB26-1065 and SB26-001. “The bills we’re highlighting today will unlock doors for local governments to create new transit infrastructure and housing options, and engage with their communities to invest in innovative housing solutions.” “Colorado is making great progress on our housing, transit and environmental goals, and this bill combines all of these priorities into one effort to save Coloradans money,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of HB26-1065. “Coloradans want transit options where they actually live. This bill would unlock new tools for communities to harmonize affordable housing and mass transit ridership goals to keep hardworking Coloradans from being priced out of the place they call home.” “I’m proud to sponsor two bills to tackle the most common concern I hear from my constituents: the cost of housing,” said Sen. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of HB26-1001 and HB26-1065 . “By making it possible to build more homes near reliable transit and make better use of underutilized land, we are taking action to address Colorado’s housing shortage. At the end of the day, these bills are about making sure the kids who grow up in Colorado can afford to stay here, that seniors can age in place, and that working families are not forced to leave the communities they love.” HB26-1065 , The Transit Investment Area Act, would create a new financing tool to improve transportation infrastructure and establish a tax credit to build more transit-oriented affordable housing. The bill would use tax-increment financing to allow local governments to invest state sales tax revenue into transportation infrastructure. Local governments, in partnership with transit agencies, would be able to apply to create a transit and housing investment zone to fund transportation infrastructure projects, like safety improvements and centering transit stops within the community to increase ridership. The bill would allow up to three transit investment projects to be approved in a calendar year, with no more than six projects funded through the bill in total. HB26-1065 would also create the Colorado Affordable Housing in Transit Investment Zones Tax Credit. This tax credit is reserved for projects that serve low- and middle-income housing within transit and housing zones. The bill would allow up to $50 million in these tax credits per calendar year from 2027 to 2033. HB26-1066 would expand property tax exemptions for affordable housing developers to include non-profit organizations that build affordable rental properties. “Colorado Democrats are here to deliver housing options that Coloradans can afford, which is why we’re bringing this bill to create more affordable rental opportunities,” said Rep. Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood, sponsor of HB26-1066. “The Community Land Trust and other nonprofit housing developers have been important partners in building more homes that Coloradans can afford, and now it will be easier and less expensive for them to develop properties for rent. Our legislation would provide a tax break to non-profits that build affordable rental properties so we can provide more low-cost housing options to hardworking Coloradans.” “From my district in the heart of Denver to the furthest corners of our state, Colorado faces a massive crisis in our lack of affordable housing,” said Sen. Matt Ball, D-Denver, sponsor of HB26-1066. “In this environment, every dollar allocated for affordable housing should go to building affordable housing, not paying taxes on vacant land. I’m proud to sponsor this legislation that will reduce cost burdens on everyday Coloradans and the organizations that build necessary affordable housing.” “This bill would save Colorado renters money by removing barriers to affordable rental housing development,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango, sponsor of HB26-1066. “Land is expensive in my corner of Colorado, and it is stifling rental opportunities that hardworking people can actually afford. With our legislation being introduced today, we’re one step closer to opening up more opportunities for Coloradans to afford rental housing, especially in expensive mountain communities on the Western Slope.” In 2023, Colorado Democrats passed a law to expand property tax exemptions to include more non-profit organizations that build and sell affordable housing. The law also extended the exemption period from 5 to ten years to better reflect the development timeline for larger affordable housing projects. It also created a new property tax exemption for land owned by community land trusts and other non-profit affordable homeownership providers that develop permanently affordable for-sale homes. HB26-1066 would expand this exemption to include affordable rental properties as well as for-sale homes. Previous Next

< Back May 16, 2022 BILLS SIGNED TO SAVE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES MONEY DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law that will save Coloradans money on housing and gas and allow small retailers to keep more of the sales tax they collect, saving businesses money as well. “The legislation signed today will save Coloradans money on housing and put more money back into the pockets of small retail businesses,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of SB22-146 and SB22-006. “This investment will help build more homes and increase the supply of affordable housing that our communities and businesses need to thrive. I’m also excited that small businesses are going to be able to keep nearly $6 million that they can reinvest in their businesses, employees, and other needs.” Saving Coloradans Money on Housing: SB22-146 , sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Marc Catlin will expand critical middle-income housing so that more Coloradans and communities have access to affordable housing where it’s needed most. The legislation provides $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s Middle-Income Access Program, which serves middle income families and individuals with incomes too high to qualify for low income housing tax credits. Typically, the “missing middle” is made up of renters whose income is between 80 percent and 120 percent of area median income, which in the Denver area is $55k-88k per year, increasing with family size. To date, the Middle Income Access Program has leveraged $14 million in CHFA-invested funds to support developments comprising over 600 units across the state. Developments leverage significant private sector investment and have brought much needed housing to communities such as Denver, Estes Park, Keystone, Steamboat Springs and Gypsum. Saving Businesses Money: SB22-006 , sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Marc Snyder, allows retailers with taxable sales under $100,000 per filing period to retain 5.3 percent of the sales tax they collect. Retailers are currently permitted to retain 4 percent of the vendor fee to compensate them for the cost of collecting and remitting sales tax. This new law increases the amount that small retailers can retain, saving retailers $5.9 million over the next two years. “Saving Coloradans money was our top priority this session, and we looked at every way possible, big and small, to put more money back into people’s pockets,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango , sponsor of SB22-006 and HB22-1351. “The bills the governor signed into law today will save Coloradans money at the pump and save small retail businesses nearly $6 million by allowing them to keep more of the sales tax they collect.” “In the last few months, gas prices have been driven up by national and global influences, so at a state level we acted to make sure Coloradans weren’t hit with further price increases,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, sponsor of HB22-1351. “The bill the governor signed today will help Coloradans keep some money in their pockets when they register their cars this year and when they fill up their tanks, all while keeping our state on track to fix our roads.” Saving Coloradans Money at the Pump: HB22-1351 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Barbara McLachlan, will save Coloradans money by lowering vehicle registration costs and delaying the anticipated road usage fees, a two-cent per gallon gasoline fee slated to go into effect in July. This law invests one-time recovery funds to save Coloradans nearly $80 million on transportation costs. Specifically, this will save Coloradans $45 million at the gas pump and nearly $34 million in vehicle registration costs. Previous Next

< Back September 21, 2019 ON PUPPY MILL AWARENESS DAY, REP. DURAN & FIRST GENTLEMAN REIS DRAW ATTENTION TO THE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CANINE FRIENDS Representative Monica Duran and First Gentleman Marlon Reis today spotlighted the inhumane conditions at puppy mills in Colorado and across the country. “I’m honored to be partnering with First Gentleman Reis to shed light on the abhorrent conditions at puppy mills,” said Rep. Duran, D-Wheat Ridge.“Every dog deserves to live in happiness and safety. Our furry friends demand very little in exchange for unconditional love and attention, and I look forward to taking action to address the inhumane treatment of animals in our state.” “Helping animals has long been the work that inspires me. In my advocacy on behalf of Colorado’s animals, I strive to turn good ideas into meaningful actions. I am proud to support efforts at the government level that help to ensure animals are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve while providing for their overall wellbeing and happiness,” said First Gentleman Marlon Reis. “We look forward to the day when cruel puppy mills have nowhere left to sell, and are thrilled to see Colorado lead the way and create more humane standards,” said Aubyn Royall, Colorado State Director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We thank both Representative Duran and our First Gentleman for their commitment to protecting consumers and animals.” Puppy Mill Awareness Day is a national day of action to raise awareness about puppy mills and to encourage advocates to make their voices heard in opposition to canine abuse. First Gentleman Reis and Representative Duran are exploring legislative proposals to ensure the health and safety of dogs and cats. Previous Next

< Back February 11, 2020 EXTENSION OF CONTRACTING SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ADVANCES Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) helps small businesses obtain state and federal contracts The House today passed Representatives Daneya Esgar and Tom Sullivan’s legislation to extend the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for the next five years. The vote was 49-12. “PTAC is an invaluable resource for small businesses across Colorado,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Minority, veteran and women-owned businesses need and deserve our support. Now that the House has passed PTAC, we’re one step closer to giving these businesses five more years of invaluable assistance.” “Entering the world of government contracting can be a nerve-wracking endeavor for a small business,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial . “PTAC is a resource that guides small businesses through the complex process and improves their chances of getting the funds they need. When small businesses succeed, Colorado succeeds.” HB20-1116 would extend the Colorado Procurement Assistance Center for five years. The state currently contracts with a nonprofit to provide procurement assistance services, and that contract will end in September 2020. The bill will also allow the state to contribute additional resources to the program if the nonprofit agrees to match that investment 100 percent. PTAC provides free consulting with procurement counselors, as well as a variety of subject matter experts, to Colorado’s small, women, veteran and minority-owned businesses applying for and performing government contracts at the federal, state and local levels. PTAC also runs free workshops and host events, including a training series, a speaker series and networking events with major federal contractors. The program, which started in 2009, has served over 5,000 clients and helped support 55,000 jobs in Colorado. In 2018 alone, the program helped companies earn a combined $419 million in government contracts and helped create/retain over 8,000 jobs. The program has consistently outperformed its statutorily required performance metrics, serving six times the number of active businesses required by law. It has provided over 1,000 more counseling hours than required by law and sponsored twice as many events. Previous Next