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< Back April 5, 2021 HOUSE VOTES TO BOOST OUTDOOR REC INDUSTRY McLachlan’s bill establishes state office to cultivate and promote outdoor recreation industry DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation by a vote of 44-20 to create the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. “Colorado can recover faster and build back stronger by boosting one of our state’s most vital industries, outdoor recreation,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “The outdoor recreation office will help create jobs in rural Colorado and protect the public lands that foster our thriving outdoor recreation economy.” HB21-1223 , which is sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Matt Soper, would formally create the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office in the Office of Economic Development. The Office was formed by the governor in 2015, and this bill would cement the Office in statute and outline the Office’s specific responsibilities and objectives.HB21-1223 calls for the cultivation, promotion, and coordinated development of the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado and for the protection and conservation of public lands, waters, air, and climate. It directs the Office to help address some of the inequities preventing underserved communities from engaging in the numerous recreation opportunities available throughout the state. It calls on the state to partner with the outdoor recreation industry to ensure that the industry serves as a good steward of Colorado’s natural beauty. The Office would support the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado by working with state, federal, local governments and nongovernmental organizations to promote economic development, conservation, stewardship, education, workforce training, and public health and wellness. Previous Next

The House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Regina English that would reduce recidivism by improving access to quality behavioral health care in the criminal justice system. The bill passed by a vote of 6-5. < Back January 21, 2025 Committee Passes Bill to Reduce Recidivism Through Behavioral Health Care DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Regina English that would reduce recidivism by improving access to quality behavioral health care in the criminal justice system . The bill passed by a vote of 6-5 . “This bill will improve public safety by reducing recidivism rates and slowing the cycle of reincarceration,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “Unfortunately, many individuals in custody re-offend once released due to a lack of access to mental health services needed to stabilize and successfully reenter society. Supporting jails that provide behavioral health services and treatments for Coloradans with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders, and overall behavioral health needs will make our communities safer and reduce the likelihood of someone reoffending.” HB25-1008 , also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, R-El Paso County, would allow for funding to be utilized to increase training opportunities for jail staff to provide services and treatments for various behavioral health disorders for Coloradans in custody. The Jail-Based Behavioral Health Services Program, established by a bipartisan law in 2018, provides behavioral health screening and access to services such as therapeutic treatment and psychiatric medication prescriptions to individuals in custody while supporting continuity of care within the community once released. The committee also passed HB25-1058 to update the procedures for not guilty by reason of insanity cases requiring the court, the Department of Human Services, and involved parties to determine whether a sanity examination requires the defendant to stay overnight or longer for further examination. If the defendant is at liberty on summons or on bond, this bill would allow the court to have broader authority during situations when a defendant is placed in custody in order to conduct the sanity examination. The bill passed by a vote of 8-2. Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2022 INTRODUCED! LANDMARK BILL TO EXPAND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS TO OVER 37,000 PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS Building upon the 2020 state workers bill, SB22-230 would more than double the number of public workers with recognized collective bargaining rights DENVER, CO – Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today introduced landmark legislation to support workers by extending collective bargaining rights to more than 37,000 county public service employees, marking a historic step in Colorado’s labor and workers rights movement. SB22-230 builds upon the state workers bill from 2020 to extend similar collective bargaining rights to county workers. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would give public service workers who choose to form a union a seat at the table to collectively bargain on issues like working conditions, job safety, pay and benefits, and to collaborate with management to address shared challenges like staff shortages, retention issues, and improving public services. “County workers kept Colorado running through some extremely difficult years of pandemic disruptions and health and safety hazards,” said Fenberg. “These tens of thousands of unsung heroes have more than earned what nearly every private sector and state worker already enjoy — the right to organize and negotiate for fair and safe workplaces. It’s time for county public service workers to be given the choice to form a union.” “County workers have been on the frontlines during the pandemic and often work dangerous jobs to protect our communities and deliver the services Coloradans rely on,” Esgar said. “We depend on these tens of thousands of workers, and now is the time to have their backs. This bill will give county public service workers the right to form a union to negotiate for fair and safe workplaces and to improve the delivery and efficiency of critical services. County workers who fix our roads, staff our public health departments and protect our communities deserve the right to negotiate for a better future for themselves and their families.” “Across Colorado, tens of thousands of county workers perform hazardous jobs and provide the critical services that keep communities running safely and smoothly,” said Moreno. “These public servants deserve to have a seat at the table to negotiate their employment, just like private sector and state employees currently do. By granting Colorado’s 37,000 county workers the right to choose to form a union, this bill will help Colorado take the next step on the path to ensuring collective bargaining rights for every Coloradan.” Right now, only four out of Colorado’s 64 counties recognize public service workers’ right to collectively bargain. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would guarantee Colorado statutory county workers have the ability to organize and form a union to advocate for safer workplaces and better public services, if they so choose. Additionally, the Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would extend protections to workers who are currently vulnerable to retaliation, discrimination, and coercion for exercising basic union rights. Previous Next

< Back April 28, 2021 BILL TO REDUCE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, MAKE SHOWUPS MORE FAIR CLEARS HOUSE DENVER, CO– The House today passed HB21-1142, legislation sponsored by Representative Bacon that would ensure fairness in police showups and reduce wrongful convictions based on unreliable identifications. “When most people hear about a showup, they think of Law and Order or other police shows, but in reality, these practices are often abused in unfair ways that lead to convictions based on unreliable identifications of people who did not commit a crime,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Charles Battle spent six months trying to clear his name for a crime he did not commit. We cannot allow bias in eyewitness identifications and unreliable showup practices to ruin people’s lives. There have been too many times where law enforcement has unfairly influenced the outcome of the process by engaging in tactics like dressing suspects in the specific clothes described by a witness or even asking the individual in custody to speak a certain way.” A showup is a tactic used by law enforcement to identify a suspect. An eyewitness is asked if the lone individual in police custody is the person they saw commit the crime. It is not the same as a lineup where an eyewitness chooses a suspect from a group of individuals. The Battle family has worked closely with the Denver Police Department to help develop new procedures for showups. The bill was developed in close collaboration with police chiefs and community leaders and passed on a bipartisan vote of 45-17. It requires law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies and procedures aligning their use of show-ups with research-based best practices. This includes explaining the parameters of the protocol to the eyewitness, not making suggestive comments, separating eyewitnesses from one another if there are multiple, and obtaining the services of an interpreter when appropriate. HB21-1142 also directs law enforcement to collect specific information on each showup, including the date and location, the individual’s gender and race, and whether the technique leads to an identification. It would also prohibit courts from admitting evidence from a showup unless the court finds the showup was conducted according to Colorado law. Previous Next

< Back April 29, 2021 BILLS TO PROTECT BORROWERS, USE STATE PROPERTY FOR HOUSING, RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVANCE DENVER, CO– The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed bills that would create consumer protections for mortgage borrowers and require the state to create an inventory of its unused property to determine if any buildings owned by the state could be transformed into affordable housing, renewable energy projects, or child care facilities. HB21-1282 , sponsored by Representative Mike Weissman, would regulate mortgage servicers, including requirements around notification, record keeping, examinations, inspections and enforcement, and a violation would be considered an unfair or deceptive trade practices. An assistant attorney general would be empowered to regulate the industry and receive complaints that could be acted upon. “After the financial collapse of 2008, we put in place rules to ensure that banks and other financial institutions play by the rules and can’t take advantage of consumers who use their products and services,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “But the financial sector has continued to evolve since then and Colorado is lagging behind many other states in oversight of non-bank mortgage servicers even as those entities handle an ever-larger share of the market. This bill ensures that non-bank mortgage services play by the rules and provides the Attorney General with the tools needed to investigate and stop abusive practices that threaten to harm Colorado homeowners.” HB21-1274 would require the state to create an inventory of all unused state-owned real property and determine if any of them could be used for affordable housing, renewable energy projects, or child care facilities. The department that owns the property would be authorized to solicit proposals from and enter into contracts with private partners to capitalize on the potential use of the property “All across Colorado, our state government owns unused properties that could be developed and turned into affordable housing, renewable energy facilities, or child care facilities – three types of projects that nearly every Coloradan wants to see more of,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “We need to put this land to use so that local communities can meet their housing and energy needs while also providing critical capacity for child care for working families.” Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILLS TO SAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MONEY, EXPAND YOUTH ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE BECOME LAW DENVER, CO – Today, Governor Jared Polis signed a pair of bills into law that would reduce licensing fees for mental health professionals and increase access to behavioral health for Colorado youth. HB22-1299 championed by Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley, as well as Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, would reduce license fees ranging from $62 to $262 for mental health professionals regulated by state boards. “This is a thank-you to the frontline mental health workers who have seen firsthand the increase in mental health needs that began pre-COVID and have only accelerated with COVID in our lives,” said Kolker. “We need to keep these essential workers in the profession, and this bill acknowledges their hard work and gives them a break so they can focus on their jobs, and care for patients that desperately need their help and support.” “This session, we prioritized improving behavioral health access, especially for youth and families,” said Young. “We’re waiving licensing fees for psychologists, professional counselors, social workers and other mental health professionals not only to save them money but in recognition of their tireless efforts to provide Coloradans with essential behavioral health services. We are also investing more than $11 million of federal pandemic relief dollars toward addressing Colorado’s youth behavioral health crisis by making it easier for families and youth to access treatment in their own communities. Together, these bills are part of our transformational investment to build a healthier Colorado for all.” “The pandemic has not only exacerbated stress for Coloradans, it has significantly increased the workload for our mental health workers,” said Fields. “To help them out, we’re going to make it easier and cheaper for mental health workers to apply or renew their licenses so our psychologists, counselors, therapists, and social workers can focus on providing critical services to patients, not on paperwork and fees.” Under HB22-1299, Colorado’s hardworking mental health professionals renewing or seeking a license will collectively save nearly $3.7 million. Pandemic pressures have contributed to an increase of Colorado adults seeking mental health services for symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. The Governor also signed SB22-147 , championed by Senator Kolker and Representative Young, which will allow pediatricians to better identify and treat behavioral health conditions and provide school-based support for kids and their families. “Far too many kids in Colorado are struggling with their mental health,” Kolker said. “We must act urgently to address this crisis and provide critical support to our state’s young people where and when they need it most. Together, we can work to end the stigma surrounding mental health, expand access to care, and save lives.” Over the last decade, youth suicide has increased an astonishing 51 percent, as youth behavioral health has reached a crisis level. SB22-147 aims to improve access to behavioral health care services for youth and families through three programs: $4.6 million for the Colorado Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation and Access Program (CoPPCAP): This program provides support and assistance to primary care providers and pediatricians to help identify and treat behavioral health needs. The program connects pediatricians with pediatric psychiatrists who can provide consultations, resources, and referrals for children with mental health or substance use disorder needs. $5 million for the Behavioral Health Care Professional Matching Grant Program : The bill contributes $5 million to an existing grant program to help schools increase the number of school health professionals who can provide behavioral health services to students. $1.5 million for the School-based Health Center Grant Program: The bill invests $1.5 million in funding to expand school-based health centers in Colorado. SB22-147 was developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force . Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Representative Javier Mabrey, Majority Leader Monica Duran, and Senators Julie Gonzales and Nick Hinrichsen, that will prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed by outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. < Back April 19, 2024 SIGNED! Gov. Polis Signs Bill to Prevent Evictions, Homelessness DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Representative Javier Mabrey, Majority Leader Monica Duran, and Senators Julie Gonzales and Nick Hinrichsen, that will prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed by outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. “Our ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation clearly defines in state law when and why landlords can evict tenants to prevent discriminatory and retaliatory evictions,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “This new law will create stability for landlords and renters because it does not prevent landlords from evicting tenants who have violated their lease or are behind on their rent, or where a landlord is getting out of the business. With this legislation becoming law, we will save Colorado families money and help keep roofs over their heads and roots in their community.” “Too many families know firsthand the fear and uncertainty that comes with being evicted from their home, as well as all the difficult consequences that arise because of it,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “We must do more to protect vulnerable renters from being evicted without reason. Our new ‘for cause’ eviction law will improve housing stability, prevent displacement, and keep more of our neighbors in their homes, and I am pleased to see it get signed into law.” “Unnecessary and arbitrary evictions have devastating consequences for Coloradans, which is why we passed legislation to clearly outline reasons landlords can file for an eviction,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Evictions make renters more vulnerable to homelessness, and having an eviction on your record can make it nearly impossible to find housing. I’m excited that our legislation to prevent Coloradans from being displaced is now Colorado law so hardworking Coloradans can remain safely housed.” “Imagine being a respectful neighbor, paying your rent on time, and doing everything right. But your roof leaks, your landlord won’t fix it, and you’re struggling to make ends meet. Do you report it to your local housing authority, so there will be accountability on the landlord to fix it? Or do you keep quiet, knowing that, if you do that, your landlord might not renew your lease? This is just one example of the many cases this bill addresses, to ensure that tenants who are doing the right things don’t lose their housing for arbitrary reasons. It creates stability and financial security for good tenants and their families,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. Currently, Colorado law exposes renters to possible arbitrary, retaliatory or discriminatory evictions. The ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation would prevent a landlord from evicting a tenant unless there is cause for eviction. Under HB24-1098 , the reasons a landlord could lawfully evict a tenant include failure to pay rent in a timely manner, destruction of property, interfering with the right to quiet enjoyment, or a substantial violation of the rental agreement. The law also includes allowable reasons for a no-fault lease non-renewal, including substantial repairs or conversion of a residential premises, and selling the property. Some exceptions to the ‘For Cause Eviction’ law include rentals within the landlord’s primary residence, short-term rentals, mobile homes and for employers who provide housing to employees. Evictions threaten the health and safety of Coloradans, with research showing that individuals who experience an eviction are more likely to report poorer physical or mental health outcomes . In 2023, Denver set a new record of annual evictions, reaching nearly 13,000 filings. Previous Next

GOP bill will cut food assistance and kick Coloradans off their health care < Back May 29, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: General Assembly Dems Oppose GOP Bill to Strip Health Care from Coloradans and Raise Costs DENVER, CO - General Assembly Democrats today sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation, calling on them to oppose President Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ plan to kick Coloradans off their health care and cut food assistance to provide tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. In the letter, the General Assembly Democrats wrote: We strongly oppose President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy that will kick Coloradans off Medicaid and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The legislation threatens the Colorado way of life by making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table and access medical care. Under the ruse of “cutting waste, fraud and abuse,” the bill is nothing more than tax cuts and deregulation for the richest people in our nation at the expense of those most in need. To our Democratic Senators and Representatives, we are proud that you strongly oppose this cruel legislation that will kick Coloradans off their health care and increase costs and hardship for everyone except the ultra wealthy. If the Senate passes this bill, we hope Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert do what is right for Colorado, vote no when it returns to the House, and use their power to protect health care for Coloradans instead of taking it away. The full text of the letter is below: Dear Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Diana DeGette, Rep. Joe Neguse, Rep. Jeff Hurd, Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Jeff Crank, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Brittany Pettersen and Rep. Gabe Evans: We strongly oppose President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy that will kick Coloradans off Medicaid and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The legislation threatens the Colorado way of life by making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table and access medical care. Under the ruse of “cutting waste, fraud and abuse,” the bill is nothing more than tax cuts and deregulation for the richest people in our nation at the expense of those most in need. Colorado is a donor state, which means we pay more in federal taxes than we receive back in federal funding. As state lawmakers tasked with fighting for Colorado, we are taking a stand. Coloradans want their federal dollars working for them in our clinics, hospitals, and food pantries – not frozen by Washington bureaucrats or lining the pockets of billionaires. Kicking qualified Coloradans off Medicaid The Republicans’ plan will have devastating effects on every sector of Colorado’s health care system. Colorado hospitals, clinics, and other providers could lose up to $990 million in annual federal Medicaid funding. We made responsible choices in a tight budget year to protect Medicaid coverage for our most vulnerable community members and to provide emergency financial support to safety net providers, but this level of cost shifting will be too much for the state budget to bear. Proposed cuts to Medicaid will result in an estimated 140,000-230,000 Coloradans suddenly losing health care coverage (11-18 percent of current Medicaid participants). Preventive health care coverage provided through Medicaid saves Coloradans money and leads to better health outcomes. The burdensome administrative barriers proposed in this bill, such as more frequent redeterminations and increased paperwork, will mean that Coloradans who are qualified for Medicaid coverage will have a difficult time receiving it or affording it. The Republicans’ budget also requires new copays for low-income Coloradans, increasing medical costs for families with incomes as low as $22,000 per year. This will force hardworking Coloradans to delay necessary procedures or care and ultimately rely more on emergency room care, straining rural and other hospitals that are already near the breaking point. If this bill passes, critical health care facilities will close their doors, and it will jeopardize access to life-saving care for everyone. The bill prohibits federal reimbursements to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive care like screenings and tests, which will disproportionately impact lower-income women and people of color. By placing restrictions on premium tax credits, this bill will also increase insurance costs for Coloradans and undermine insurance coverage for life-saving reproductive health care, including abortion. Choosing billionaires over hungry kids and hardworking families A drastic and unnecessary overhaul of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Program (SNAP) will drive up state and county costs in Colorado by approximately $260 million annually. The Republican’s bill also creates higher eligibility requirements for food assistance programs, making it harder for Coloradans over 55 and families with children between 8 and 18 years old to receive the support they need. The Biden administration increased SNAP benefits by 21 percent in 2021, which kept 3 million people out of poverty . The Republicans’ bill blocks that administrative power altogether. To our Democratic Senators and Representatives, we are proud that you strongly oppose this cruel legislation that will kick Coloradans off their health care and increase costs and hardship for everyone except the ultra wealthy. If the Senate passes this bill, we hope Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert do what is right for Colorado, vote no when it returns to the House, and use their power to protect health care for Coloradans instead of taking it away. Signed, Colorado State Senators and Representatives House Speaker Julie McCluskie, House District 13 Senate President James Coleman, Senate District 33 House Majority Leader Monica Duran, House District 23 Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senate District 32 Senator Judy Amabile, Senate District 18 Senator Matt Ball, Senate District 31 Senator Jeff Bridges, Senate District 26 Senator Lisa Cutter, Senate District 20 Senator Jessie Danielson, Senate District 22 Senator Lindsey Daugherty, Senate District 19 Senator Tony Exum, Sr., Senate District 11 Senator Julie Gonzales, Senate District 34 Senator Nick Hinrichsen, Senate District 3 Senator Iman Jodeh, Senate District 29 Senator Cathy Kipp, Senate District 14 Senator Chris Kolker, Senate District 16 Senator Janice Marchman, Senate District 15 Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Senate District 21 Senator Kyle Mullica, Senate District 24 Senator Dylan Roberts, Senate District 8 Senator Marc Snyder, Senate District 12 Senator Tom Sullivan, Senate District 27 Senator Katie Wallace, Senate District 17 Senator Mike Weissman, Senate District 28 Senator Faith Winter, Senate District 25 Representative Shannon Bird, House District 29 Representative Andrew Boesenecker, House District 53 Representative Kyle Brown, House District 12 Representative Sean Camacho, House District 6 Representative Chad Clifford, House District 37 Representative Regina English, House District 17 Representative Cecelia Espenoza, House District 4 Representative Lorena Garcia, House District 35 Representative Lindsay Gilchrist, House District 8 Representative Eliza Hamrick, House District 61 Representative Jamie Jackson, House District 41 Representative Junie Joseph, House District 10 Representative Sheila Lieder, House District 28 Representative Mandy Lindsay, House District 42 Representative William Lindstedt, House District 33 Representative Meghan Lukens, House District 26 Representative Javier Mabrey, House District 1 Representative Matthew Martinez, House District 62 Representative Tisha Mauro, House District 46 Representative Karen McCormick, House District 11 Representative Amy Paschal, House District 18 Representative Jacque Phillips, House District 31 Representative Naquetta Ricks, House District 40 Representative Manny Rutinel, House District 32 Representative Gretchen Rydin, House District 38 Representative Emily Sirota, House District 9 Representative Lesley Smith, House District 49 Representative Katie Stewart, House District 59 Representative Rebekah Stewart, House District 30 Representative Tammy Story, House District 25 Representative Brianna Titone, House District 27 Representative Alex Valdez, House District 5 Representative Elizabeth Velasco, House District 57 Representative Jenny Willford, House District 34 Representative Steven Woodrow, House District 2 Representative Yara Zokaie, House District 52 Previous Next

< Back September 7, 2021 DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S CAUCUS OF COLORADO CO-CHAIRS’ STATEMENT ON SB8 DENVER, CO– Representatives Lisa Cutter and Monica Duran, the Co-Chairs of Democratic Women’s Caucus of Colorado, today released the following statement on SB8, the Texas law that will ban abortions as soon as six weeks–before many women know they are pregnant: “The Democratic Women’s Caucus of Colorado strongly supports reproductive rights and the freedom for women to choose what’s best for their bodies. We are outraged at the passage of SB8, the Texas law banning abortions at six weeks. This law is another way to suppress, control, and shame women over their healthcare choices. Despite last week’s unprecedented and unconstitutional attack on abortion rights, Colorado will remain a safe place for patients to access abortion. Coloradans understand that the strength and independence of women promote a healthier and more economically vibrant society by every measure. We will continue to actively work to safeguard women’s rights to have autonomy over their own bodies and uphold the Colorado way of life, putting the health and safety of women first.” Previous Next

< Back July 6, 2022 ESGAR, CARAVEO, MULLICA PRAISE POLIS ACTION TO PROTECT ABORTION PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS DENVER, CO – Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, sponsor of the Colorado Reproductive Health Equity Act , pediatrician Yadira Caraveo, and ER Nurse Kyle Mullica today released the following statements praising Governor Jared Polis’ executive order to protect health care providers and patients’ medical privacy. “I sponsored the Reproductive Health Equity Act to codify reproductive rights into Colorado law because the government should never interfere in a patient’s private medical decision,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Governor Polis’ action today will protect patients and providers from actions taken by Republican state legislatures to criminalize abortion, force rape victims and children to give birth, and prosecute patients who travel out of their states to access an abortion. With more people traveling to our state to get the care they need, Colorado is taking a stand to protect patients’ rights and their private medical information.” “As a doctor, I am appalled that GOP politicians in Republican-led states are limiting women’s freedom to choose and providers’ ability to provide care,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, a primary-care physician. “It is a doctor’s responsibility to care for their patient, but five Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court have allowed nearly half of all states to imprison doctors for providing life-saving medical care. The executive order Governor Polis issued today will protect doctors and pregnant women seeking life saving care from the state and local governments wanting to use their private medical information to put them in prison. Congress must follow Colorado’s lead and protect women’s ability to choose their own reproductive futures.” “Colorado strongly supports reproductive freedom and the right to choose, and I am proud of our work at the state capitol to protect abortion access and codify these rights into state law,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, an ER nurse. “We now live in a terrifying reality where abortion patients in Colorado and the providers who care for them could be arrested in states where Republican legislatures have banned abortion. I serve on the House Health and Insurance Committee where earlier this year every Repubican lawmaker on the committee voted to ban abortion without exception and force rape victims and children to give birth. I’m proud that our governor is taking additional action today to protect providers’ licenses and patients’ privacy, and I’ll continue fighting bills from Republican lawmakers to ban abortion in Colorado.” The Reproductive Health Equity Act updates Colorado’s laws to protect reproductive rights and codifies the fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy and give birth, or to have an abortion. Colorado Democrats are committed to ensuring abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible. Recently, House Democrats defeated three Republican-led bills that would have jeopardized that right, including: HB22-1079 , which would have banned abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill explicitly directed Colorado to disregard federal law and federal court rulings and would subject Colorado judges who support access to abortion to impeachment. In addition, it would have allowed a private right of action against abortion providers, and potentially patients too. HB22-1047 , which would have banned abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill would have also criminalized miscarriages and would have subjected abortion providers to imprisonment. The bill would have forced rape victims and children to give birth. HB22-1075 , which would have established a registry to track and surveil abortion patients and providers. It also would have created a roadmap for abortion opponents to identify and further threaten abortion patients and providers, and facilitate their prosecution should Colorado ban ever abortion. Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2022 GARNETT AND ESGAR THANK PRESIDENT GARCIA FOR HIS SERVICE TO COLORADO DENVER, CO – Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver, and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today released the following statements after Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, announced he will resign on February 23 to accept a position with the Department of Defense. “President Garcia has served Colorado and our nation with distinction, and it has been a privilege to work alongside him to move Colorado forward,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “We have so much to be proud of–from saving people money on health care and prescription drugs to expanding access to substance use treatment, Colorado is a better state because of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m grateful for President Garcia’s service to our state and our nation, and I congratulate him on this important appointment. The Biden Administration is lucky to have him on their team!” “I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together, and I couldn’t be more excited to see my good friend from Pueblo continue his long career of service to our nation at the Pentagon,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Thank you President Garcia for your dedication to Colorado, and for everything you’ve done to support Pueblo and our Southern Colorado communities. I will miss the President’s leadership and ceaseless determination to fight for Pueblo, and I wish him the best as he continues serving our nation at the Pentagon.” Previous Next

< Back April 4, 2019 HOUSE DEMS REACH BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING The House of Representatives is currently debating the “Long Bill” (Apr. 4) – Speaker KC Becker, Majority Leader Alec Garnett, Joint Budget Committee members Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo and Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, reached a bipartisan agreement with the leadership of all four legislative caucuses on transportation funding this afternoon. “We heard loud and clear that Coloradans wanted to find funding for transportation without threatening the monumental investments we’re already making in this year’s budget for education and higher-ed. So we all came to the table,” said JBC Vice-chair Daneya Esgar. “The fact that we were able to fund education and transportation in a responsible manner delivers a win for all Coloradans.” This year’s budget includes a total increased investment in K-12 education of $335.9 million, including funding for the implementation of full-day kindergarten as well as a $77 million boost in the budget stabilization factor buy-down. This budget also invests an additional $120 million in higher education to keep tuition flat for Colorado’s college students. “After careful discussion, we were able to craft a responsible bipartisan agreement that increases funding for transportation without jeopardizing K-12 or higher-ed funding,” said Rep. Chris Hansen. The House lawmakers are currently debating the “long bill” – the legislative budget package. “This is a responsible way to put funding toward roads, bridges and transit,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “I thank members of the JBC, Rep. Garnett and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and in the other chamber for their bipartisan efforts.” “This responsible agreement will keep Colorado on the right path and better fund crumbling roads, bridges and contribute more toward transit,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett. “I thank the JBC members Esgar and Hansen, Speaker Becker and our Democratic and Republican colleagues for working together to get this done.” Democrats at the legislature are focused on responsibly managing tax-payer dollars. CDOT $9 billion backlog of maintenance projects. Previous Next