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Representative Brianna Titone will participate today in a White House event on state actions to protect reproductive health care rights. < Back June 15, 2023 Titone Attends White House Event on Reproductive Rights WASHINGTON DC - Representative Brianna Titone will participate today in a White House event on state actions to protect reproductive health care rights. “Colorado is leading the way as a safe haven for Americans that live in neighboring red states and need access to reproductive health care, including abortion and gender-affirming care,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada . “While some states have passed dangerous anti-abortion and anti-trans legislation, Colorado passed legislation I sponsored that protects Americans from being prosecuted for traveling here to receive abortion or gender-affirming care. We’ve also passed new laws to crack down on deceptive advertising of abortion services and make reproductive health care more accessible. In a post-Roe America, people are relying on state legislatures to protect reproductive freedom, and Colorado is demonstrating exactly what states should do across the country.” The White House hosted over 80 state legislators, including Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Representative Brianna Titone, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision that made abortion rights a state-level issue. The legislators came from 41 states to discuss legislation that protects and expands access to abortion care following state-level attacks on reproductive rights after the Dobbs decision. In the 2023 legislative session, Colorado Democrats passed three laws that ensure abortion and gender-affirming care are accessible to both Coloradans and those who travel to Colorado to receive the care they need. SB23-188 , sponsored by Representative Brianna Titone, prevents Colorado from recognizing or enforcing civil lawsuits concerning protected reproductive health care that are without jurisdiction, and prevents Colorado state employees from participating in or assisting with interstate investigations or divulging information concerning protected health care. SB23-189 works to close gaps in accessing reproductive health care, including abortion, by limiting surprise medical billing and removes patient cost sharing for reproductive health care services and treatment. The last law in the Safe Access to Protected Health Care package is SB23-190 . This new law makes it a deceptive trade practice to share information or advertise for abortion care, emergency contraceptives or referrals of either of these services when the service is not actually provided. This law also clarifies it is a deceptive practice to advertise providing a “medication abortion reversal”. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists describes “medication abortion reversal” as “unproven and unethical,” and says that “claims regarding abortion ‘reversal’ treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards'' of care. Previous Next

The House Education Committee last evening passed legislation to make gun violence prevention and public safety efforts more accessible to parents and legal guardians of students. < Back March 7, 2025 Legislation to Improve Public Safety, Reduce Youth Violence Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee last evening passed legislation to make gun violence prevention and public safety efforts more accessible to parents and legal guardians of students. HB25-1250 aims to keep Colorado youth and our communities safe . “As a long-time educator and an advocate for gun violence prevention under the gold dome, I know that parents and legal guardians want access to tools that help mitigate youth violence and senseless gun deaths,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “We know that increasing awareness within our communities makes parents and guardians better equipped to seek prevention or intervention services, and to communicate with their child about this topic. This bill takes a public health approach, coupled with our previous gun violence prevention efforts, to help connect our communities with the resources they need to create a safer, more supportive Colorado for all youth.” HB25-1250 passed by a vote of 7-5. The bill would increase education on gun violence prevention and public safety efforts by requiring the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to accessibly list gun violence prevention materials on their website. Specifically, these materials would be posted or linked online so school districts, charter schools, facility schools, a board of cooperative services, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind could distribute these materials at the beginning of each school year to each parent, guardian, and legal custodian of an enrolled student. Under the bill, materials could be provided in written or electronic format, and local education providers would be required to also post the materials to their websites. Denver has worked closely with CU Boulder and Denver Health to use evidence-based approaches to addressing youth violence in Colorado. A Public Health Institute report outlined helpful public health focused strategies to combat youth violence, including the importance of identifying risk factors ,intervening before violence can occur, and increasing awareness of this topic as a deterrent of gun violence. In 2023, Rep. Hamrick also sponsored a law to combat youth gun violence by raising the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21. That same year, a bipartisan group of legislators created the Office of School Safety which provides rapid response grants to support safety efforts in public schools, public charter schools, community-based organizations, and cities and counties. Previous Next

SB25-196 would safeguard insurance coverage for preventive health care services in the event of federal action < Back April 25, 2025 Bill to Protect Insurance Coverage for Preventive Health Care Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to proactively protect insurance coverage for preventive health care should the existing federal protections be repealed or eliminated. SB25-196 passed by a vote of 40-22. All House Republicans voted against the measure. “From cancer screenings to routine checkups, preventive health care saves lives,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton. “In the wake of federal threats to cut fundamental health care coverage, we’re stepping up to protect preventive health care in Colorado. Preventive care saves Coloradans money and leads to better health outcomes for everyone.” “We know preventive care is one of the most impactful ways to improve patient health outcomes and save money on costly emergency care,” said Rep. Jamie Jackson, D-Aurora. “We won’t sit idly by as preventive health care coverage is put at risk. Preventive care helps level some of the racial disparities in our health care system, and this bill protects access to essential care.” SB25-196 would give state insurance agencies the authority to reinstate guidelines on preventive care from federal agencies that existed in January 2025 or comply with recommendations by the Nurse Physician Advisory Task Force for Colorado Health Care (NPATCH). The state could reinstate preventive care guidelines if the following federal entities are repealed, dismantled, or disempowered: the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or the Health Resources and Services Administration in the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It would also permit the state to consult the NPATCH to develop recommendations about updating and modifying the current list of preventive coverage. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case to determine the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement to cover no-cost preventive services, such as cancer screenings and HIV medication. Since January, the Trump Administration has made devastating cuts to essential services for Americans. Recently, the administration cut $250 million from state health services, prompting measures such as this one to protect Coloradans’ access to health care. The ACA has laid a strong foundation for a healthier future for Americans by making health care coverage more affordable and prioritizing no-cost clinical preventive services. The ACA covers more than 100 preventive health care services, including annual check-ups and screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and some cancers. More than 44 million Americans rely on ACA health care coverage, including nearly 300,000 Coloradans . Previous Next

< Back April 17, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES ROBERTS-MCCLUSKIE BILL TO HELP LOWER THE COST OF HEALTH CARE WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT (Apr. 17) – This morning, the House approved a bill with strong bipartisan support to address the high costs of health care in Colorado. The bill is sponsored by Western Slope state Representatives Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. SB19-004 will strengthen Colorado’s laws to allow healthcare cooperatives to incorporate consumer protections like coverage for preexisting conditions. It will also allow the State Insurance Commissioner to work with groups seeking to create co-ops so that they can get their co-op up and running as soon as possible. “The formation of health insurance co-ops across our state where Coloradans collectively negotiate rates directly with providers will help lower the cost of health care,” said Rep. Roberts. “Let’s get this bill to the Governor’s desk so we can start saving people in Colorado money on health care.” This bipartisan bill will authorize the formation of these co-ops across the state which could result in plans that are significantly cheaper than those available today. The bill will also help lower healthcare costs by encouraging consumers to negotiate rates on a collective basis directly with providers and offer plans to individuals, business, and other groups that are more affordable than what currently exists on the market. “Without any action on the federal level to the health care crisis, Colorado communities are finding creative, innovative approaches to making health care more accessible,” said Rep. McCluskie. “This bipartisan bill will help provide solutions to the complicated health care challenges hardworking families face everyday.” Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. The Senate approved the bill on a bipartisan vote of 34-to-1 earlier this month. The bill passed with a bipartisan vote of 61-2. The bill now heads back to the Senate to approve amendments adopted in the House. Previous Next

2023-24 state budget includes investments in water, education, community behavioral health services and wildfire mitigation efforts < Back April 4, 2023 House Advances “Colorado for All” Budget to Help Communities Thrive 2023-24 state budget includes investments in water, education, community behavioral health services and wildfire mitigation efforts DENVER, CO – The House today advanced the FY 2023-2024 Long Appropriations Bill to invest in families, prepare our students for success, and build healthier communities across the state. The state’s $38.5 billion budget is a $1.2 billion increase over last year’s budget. Two-thirds of that increase is attributable to the end of enhanced federal Medicaid match rates, which are expiring as the declared COVID public health emergency ends. “Working together, we’ve crafted a balanced budget that strengthens our economy, supports hardworking Coloradans and their families, and prepares our students for success," said JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “The priorities in this year's budget include more funding for our schools and teachers, support for our community behavioral health centers and more funding for public safety programs and our water resources. We're committed to governing responsibly, and that includes creating a budget that protects critical services, addresses the most pressing needs in our communities and moves Colorado forward." "This budget builds a stronger Colorado for all by investing in our schools and supporting the services that help our communities thrive," said JBC member Emily Sirota, D-Denver . "We're making significant investments to support those most in need, including jumpstarting Colorado's universal preschool program, boosting nutrition assistance for Colorado families and funding measures to address our workforce and housing needs. Coloradans across the state are counting on us to pass a budget that puts hardworking families first and builds an economy where everyone can thrive." The budget sets aside a total of $469 million in General Fund for one-time investments to address workforce-related needs, housing affordability demands, economic development initiatives and wildfire mitigation and response resources. The budget maintains a 15-percent ($2.3 billion) General Fund reserve to prepare for the next economic downturn, and designates $543 million in cash assets for the constitutionally required State Emergency Reserve to help Colorado respond to disasters like wildfires and floods. Preparing Students for Success Increasing Funding for K-12: Preparing our students for success and investing in Colorado’s public schools is a top priority this legislative session. In this budget, the total funding for public schools will increase by $485 million, including a record increase in per-pupil funding by $900 per student. Additionally, it includes a $1 million allocation for the School Transformation Grant Program, which trains and supports school leaders working to turn around academic performance in the state’s lowest performing schools. Final action on the budget stabilization factor, per pupil funding, and total program funding will come later in the session in the annual School Finance Act. Investing in Higher Education: The FY 23-24 budget also focuses on the needs of higher education by investing $145 million, a 10-percent increase year-over-year in funding toward state institutions, with a 5 percent cap for in-state tuition increase and additional funding for College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipends from $104 per credit hour to $116 per credit hour for full time students. Creating Healthier, Stronger Communities Supporting Health Care Providers: This state budget focuses heavily on ensuring Coloradans can live safe, healthy lives in communities across the state. Specifically, this includes a 3 percent provider rate increase , to help providers facing cost increases and implements the new 5 percent across-the-board increase for state employees, ensuring a $15 minimum wage for every state employee. Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Care: To expand access to behavioral and mental health services for Coloradans, this budget allocates $80 million toward behavioral health community programs to help Coloradans access care in their neighborhood, and includes funding to implement the Office of Behavioral Health. Increasing Immunization Rates: The budget also includes $3.8 million to bolster staffing and operating expenses to implement a statewide media campaign to increase routine immunization rates through the use of a mobile clinic program. Housing Support: Everyone deserves a place to live, and this budget works to make critical investments to keep Coloradans housed including a $1.6 million in additional housing support that enable individuals to transition from institutions to living and thriving in their community, and $2.2 million to address factors contributing to youth homelessness. Saving Coloradans Money on Health Care: Primary Care Grants: To support uninsured or underserved patients, the budget includes a $14 million allocation toward the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s Primary Care Fund Program to increase access to health care services. Dental Benefits: The budget eliminates the annual $1,500 cap on the adult dental benefits. Eliminating Medicaid Co-pays: To better support Coloradans, the budget eliminates mandatory copay requirements for Medicaid patients accessing pharmacy and outpatient services. Supporting parents of new children: $1.7 million investment toward perinatal services, including new doula and donor milk benefits. Increasing Funding for Nutrition Assistance: The budget includes a $16.7 million investment to meet the increased demand for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), so Coloradans can access and purchase healthy foods. Safer Communities: To improve the safety and security of communities, the budget invests $5.4 million to help the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and $300,000 for the Children’s Advocacy Centers’ child abuse investigation fund. Investments for Wildfire Mitigation, Water Resources, and Parks, Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Wildfire Response: As Colorado combats harsh wildfires and record-breaking droughts, this budget provides badly-needed support to help our state better address. The budget provides $26 million to fund the acquisition of a second Firehawk helicopter which will improve the state’s ability to respond to catastrophic wildfires. Wildfire Mitigation & Defense: $5 million toward the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program to help our state conduct critical forest restoration. In order to better understand the origins of wildfires in our state, the budget also includes $3.2 million to increase resources for fire investigation and data collection. Colorado River & Water Plan: To proactively address the Colorado River water crisis and record drought, the budget includes a $1.5 million investment to help the state’s negotiating position and implementation of its interstate commitments related to the Colorado River. The budget also invests $6 million in the Small Communities Water and Wastewater Grant Fund to draw down $60 million in federal funds, and $12.6 million towards implementation of the state Water Plan. Parks & Wildlife Support: The FY 23-24 budget outlines investments in our natural areas to keep them safe, funded and accessible to more Coloradans. This includes investments to support Colorado’s state parks through increasing resources for the Department of Natural Resources to hire new staff and park rangers. As well as $1 million toward the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Fund to make outdoor recreation safer. The House will consider additional components of the budget package tomorrow to support facility schools, school safety initiatives and the Universal Preschool program, among other priorities. Previous Next

< Back March 30, 2021 HOUSE VOTES TO CREATE NEW RIGHTS FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT A day after voting to remove the civil statute of limitations for sexual assault, House votes to give sexual assault survivors new rights. DENVER, CO– The House today passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Meg Froelich to give new rights to survivors of sexual assault seeking access to rape kit evidence. The vote was 64-0. “Survivors of sexual assault who have come forward and subjected themselves to a forensic exam deserve timely answers and control over how the evidence in their case is used,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “This bill will ensure that survivors have a say in how and when rape kit evidence is processed and disposed of, and will guarantee that they stay informed throughout the process. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to stand with survivors this week.” HB21-1143 creates new rights for survivors of sexual assault. Under the bill, survivors would have the right to be notified when forensic medical evidence is submitted for testing, when law enforcement has received the results of the analysis, and 60 days prior to the destruction of the evidence. Survivors would also have the right to object to the destruction of the evidence, to be informed of whether a DNA sample was obtained from the analysis and matched to any DNA profiles in state or federal databases, and to receive physical documentation describing their rights under the law, as well as nearby resources, after the exam has been completed. Previous Next

< Back May 3, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILL TO PREPARE AT-RISK STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis signed legislation into law today that will create a new method for identifying and serving at-risk students. HB22-1202, sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Julie McCluskie and Senators Rachel Zenzinger and James Coleman, will more accurately count at-risk students and direct additional resources to school districts that serve at-risk students. “Modernizing the way we identify at-risk students will direct proper funding toward schools and prepare all Colorado students for success,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “Under this law, the state will create a new well-rounded method for pinpointing at-risk students that goes beyond those eligible for free and reduced-price lunches to include data from Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus program. But every child lives a different home life, so the data collection will also consider important socioeconomic factors that can affect academic success such as parent incarceration, unhoused status and English as a Second Language. This law will get school districts the funding they need to meet the needs of their at-risk students so their students can grow, thrive and achieve.” “As we introduce more precise factors into the school funding formula, we can increase the likelihood that our resources will be used in the most equitable manner, to the greatest degree of success,” said Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada . “The at-risk measure is one of those factors in need of greater precision and definition; and thanks to HB22-1202, we will eventually be able to support the children who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in a true at-risk condition.” “I am proud Colorado is taking steps to identify, serve and support each and every student,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie D-Dillion “Research has shown to better serve at-risk students, we need to look at the bigger picture and consider more than just a couple of socioeconomic factors that might hinder academic success–and this law does just that. This law creates a new definition in the formula so Colorado can more accurately identify at-risk students and provide their school districts with more funding to meet their needs.” “We know that, right now, we don’t do enough to support our at-risk students, and that needs to change,” said Sen. James Coleman, D-Denver . “More accurately identifying our at-risk students will allow us to do a better job allocating the critical resources school districts need to serve them. This bill will help us better prepare all of Colorado’s students for success.” HB22-1202 will create a new method in the school finance formula to identify students who are at risk of below-average academic outcomes due to socio-economic disadvantages or poverty. The new formula aims to better pinpoint at-risk students by considering multiple socio-economic factors that affect them. Based on the new formula, school districts would be eligible for more state funding beginning in the 2023-24 school year to better prepare their at-risk students. A recent statewide poll revealed that 83% of respondents consider it important to provide resources and support to students who are falling behind so teachers can make sure every student has an opportunity to get back on track. Previous Next

< Back October 31, 2019 BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE SCHOOL SAFETY MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO — The bipartisan School Safety Committee today advanced five bills to improve school safety in Colorado, including improving coordination among state agencies working on school safety, expanding access to behavioral health training for educators and mental health days for students, and enhancing the Safe2Tell program. “Our goal must be that not one more child dies by violence in school, and we must always strive for this goal as we work to advance solutions that make our classrooms and campuses safer,” said School Safety Committee Chair Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City). “I’m proud of our bipartisan work, and I am grateful for the citizens, advocates, and agencies that have helped us develop these bills. The legislation we advanced today will help ensure that we are spending our state’s limited resources as best we can while improving students, parents and teachers’ access to the support and services they need.” “Too many students are facing violence in our schools, and we have a profound responsibility to address this crisis and save lives,” said Rep. Emily Sirota (D-Denver). “These bipartisan bills will provide better and enhanced resources to our students, teachers, and parents, and they will ensure that all levels of state government are aligned in our common goal of protecting our children and improving school safety.” “Above all, our students deserve to feel safe in our schools. I believe that we have made significant progress on this committee in doing just that,” said School Safety Committee Vice Chair Sen. Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora). “We have worked together to come up with a package of five bipartisan bills that will help address the crisis we are experiencing in our schools. We have put forth legislation that will provide a comprehensive, evidence-based, consistent approach to addressing school safety and the behavioral health of our students, filling the gaps that exist across schools and districts, providing improved oversight, and enabling us to continue moving forward on this critical issue. We know there is more work to be done, but this is a big step in the right direction, and I am grateful to our committee members for their diligence and commitment.” “I am proud of each of the bills voted out of committee today, because we will improve school safety in the immediate future by ensuring the safety of students at school and addressing the behavioral health needs of young people,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales (D-Denver). “We also will continue these critical efforts through a working group comprised of the people who are directly impacted by the need for school safety collaboration: educators, law enforcement agencies, the relevant state agencies, and lawmakers. We have benefited greatly over this interim of creating a space to listen to one another, describe our challenges, and work toward solutions, and this working group will allow that important work to continue.” Interagency Working Group on School Safety: While several Colorado school safety programs are national models and are studied across the country for their effectiveness and innovation in this critical field, last month the State Auditor released a report that found some inefficiencies, duplications, and shortcomings in coordination and communication between state agencies. The final bill advanced today would establish a state working group of all the agencies and groups working on school safety issues to streamline programs and improve communication across agencies in response to the audit’s findings. The group will study the use of lockdown drills, identify school safety best practices districts can adopt, improve transparency and facilitate interagency coordination. Sponsors: Reps. Michaelson Jenet and Van Winkle; Sens. Gardner and Gonzales Expand Behavioral Health Training for Educators: This bill would direct the Department of Education to develop and offer a voluntary “train the trainer” program that will help teachers learn skills to assist their students who are struggling with behavioral and mental health challenges. Students report a need for trusted adults to confide in, and many teachers and parents have expressed interest in being better equipped to talk with students about difficult subjects and provide them the support they need. Teachers would learn many skills including the use of trauma-informed approaches to improve school climate and culture and how to identify behavioral health challenges. It would also help them identify and access available resources, services and treatment available to their students, bullying and suicide prevention, and de-escalation techniques in crisis situations. Sponsors: Sen. Fields; Reps. Sirota and Beckman Enhancements to Safe2Tell: Safe2Tell, developed in Colorado after the Columbine tragedy, provides students a confidential way to report and talk with someone about behavioral health issues and has become a national model. Other states have taken Colorado’s lead and made improvements, adapting the now 20 year old program for new technologies and best practices developed in recent years. The Safe2Tell enhancements would include aligning the Safe2Tell program and the crisis hotline more closely to ensure that individuals in crisis can rapidly access crisis counseling. It would also align the processes for all types of incoming tips and adjust the annual advertising campaign to raise awareness about the program and reduce its misuse. Finally, it would enhance law enforcement’s ability to prevent imminent physical harm. Sponsors: Reps. Michaelson Jenet and Van Winkle; Sens. Fields and Lundeen Behavioral Health Sick Days: The second bill would require school districts to include mental and behavioral health concerns as excused absences in their attendance policies in order to reduce stigma and encourage students to prioritize their health. Writing this explicitly into school absence policies will help normalize students taking time away from school in order to improve their behavioral health and is a step towards a full understanding of parody between physical and behavioral health. Sponsors: Sen. Fields and Rep. Michaelson Jenet Services for Juveniles with Severe Behavioral Health Conditions: The legislation tasks the School Safety Resource Center to convene a working group to conduct a gap analysis with respect to the adequacy and availability of behavioral health treatment for children and youth. The goal is to ensure that behavioral health services are available for those who have a severe need. Sponsors: Reps. Beckman and Michaelson Jenet; Sen. Gonzales Previous Next

< Back April 6, 2022 REP. HEROD STATEMENT ON PASSING OF FORMER STATE SEN. GLORIA TANNER DENVER, CO – Representative Leslie Herod, D-Denver, the chair of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado, today released the following statement on the passing of former State Senator Gloria Tanner, the first Black woman elected to the Colorado Senate: “Senator Tanner was a trailblazer whose determination and commitment to Colorado improved the lives of all people in our state, and I join Coloradans in mourning her passing. Gloria’s tireless devotion to serving our community uplifted the lives of so many Coloradans and families. Gloria was a mentor to us all. As the founder of Colorado Black Women for Political Action and the co-creator of the National Organization of Back Elected Legislators, she fostered an entire generation of leaders who will continue her legacy and make their mark on our state and nation– just as she would have wished. Topday, we celebrate her life and legacy as she ascends to join our ancestors.” Previous Next

< Back June 8, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS, CREATE JOBS Bipartisan benchmarking proposal would improve energy efficiency of buildings DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation by a vote of 41-23 to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, which will lower energy costs and create jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits. “By passing benchmarking policies like this, we can save consumers and businesses money on their energy bills and reduce energy consumption,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “This bill asks owners of the largest buildings to report on their energy use and then meet new energy efficiency standards that will save their tenant’s money and reduce energy use. It will help us meet our climate goals while saving Coloradans money at the same time.” “We have to make addressing climate change a top priority, and by reducing how much energy commercial buildings use, we can save consumers money and reduce the emissions that are hurting our environment,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “Benchmarking is an innovative way to encourage more energy efficient buildings and create good jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits and mechanical system upgrades.” HB21-1286 , which is sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Alex Valdez, would require the owners of certain large commercial buildings to collect and report energy use to the Colorado Energy Office, and by 2026, to demonstrate that they have met new energy efficiency performance standards. The proposal, known as benchmarking, asks building owners to measure their energy use in the first year and then continue to monitor and report their performance and meet new energy efficiency standards. The proposal helps tenets and businesses save money on their energy costs while creating jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits, mechanical system upgrades, electrical work, engineering, and recommissioning. In the next eight years, the bill is expected to save consumers $447 million on their energy bills, 3,200 gigawatt-hours of electricity, 7,700 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and reduce CO2 emissions by 1 million metric tons. More than one-third of Colorado buildings are already benchmarking, demonstrating that this policy is both widely popular and achievable. Large commercial, multifamily, and public buildings account for roughly 15 percent of all energy used in Colorado, which means that there is considerable opportunity to reduce electricity used by increasing the energy efficiency of these buildings. Previous Next

< Back September 8, 2022 ROBERTS AND MCLACHLAN CELEBRATE HISTORIC BROADBAND INVESTMENTS Moffat, Routt, and Ouray Counties to receive over $5 million to connect nearly 760 homes to high speed internet AVON/DURANGO, CO – Representatives Dylan Roberts and Barbara McLachlan today celebrated a historic $22.8 million investment in broadband grants that will connect 4,267 homes to high speed internet across Colorado. This funding, awarded last week by the Broadband Deployment Board , comes from a combination of state and federal funds, including $35 million of stimulus funds provided through HB21-1289 . The Yampa Valley Electric Association will receive over $3 million to connect 439 homes in Craig and Hayden. “I’m excited to see this historic investment in broadband infrastructure that will connect over 400 homes in Craig and Hayden to high speed internet,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This is exactly why we directed $35 million to expand high speed internet access in rural Colorado, save people money and build the 21st century infrastructure our families need. Affordable, high-speed internet is critical for our rural residents and economies and with these grants, we’re closer to our goal of connecting nearly every Coloradan. This is great news for Northwest Colorado..” Clearnetworx in Ouray County will receive over $2 million to connect 318 homes in Ouray. “High speed internet has become essential for everyday activities, but access can be a real struggle in our communities,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “The Colorado Broadband Board has already directed millions to expand high speed internet access in Southwest Colorado, and I’m excited to see even more funding flow to our communities that will provide hundreds more families in rural Colorado affordable internet access they need.” The projects announced last week are below, and the full list of projects funded by the Board can be found here : ### Previous Next

< Back January 28, 2020 STATE EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL ADVANCES Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs & Services Act would, for the first time, allow state employees to collectively bargain for better pay and benefits DENVER, CO — Representative Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo) today released the following statement after HB20-1153, the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act, passed the House Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs by a vote of 6-3: “This is a great step forward for the tens of thousands of hardworking Colorado state employees who deserve the essential right to collectively bargain for better pay and benefits. This bill is long overdue and will foster important partnerships between the state and front line state employees to improve state services. “House Democrats are committed to improving pay and benefits for our state employees, and this legislation will help us achieve this important goal. It will help us fill the hundreds of state positions that are currently vacant while improving retention rates. I will always fight for our state employees, and I’m pleased to see this bill move forward.” The legislation would allow state employees to collectively bargain on pay and benefit issues and improve state services by fostering new partnerships between frontline workers and the state. The bill would not permit state employees to strike, which is similar to collective bargaining laws for state employees in the states that have them. Previous Next