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Witnesses highlight devastating impact of Trump Administration actions to dismantle consumer protections and let corporations reap record profits by ripping off hardworking people < Back March 19, 2025 Lawmakers Spotlight State-Driven Solutions to Affordability Issues Witnesses highlight devastating impact of Trump Administration actions to dismantle consumer protections and let corporations reap record profits by ripping off hardworking people DENVER, CO – The House and Senate Judiciary Committees today held a joint hearing to examine the Trump Administration’s efforts to protect corporate profits and monopolies at the expense of hardworking Coloradans. As the federal government abandons efforts to save consumers money by holding corporations accountable, states like Colorado are leading the way to lower costs for working families by cracking down on rent algorithms , junk fees , and price gouging that drive up prices on critical necessities like housing, groceries and everyday purchases. “We are living in a time where corporate profits go unchecked while hardworking people struggle to live paycheck to paycheck,” said Senate Judiciary Chair Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “All this while federal agencies meant to protect everyday Americans are being gutted at the whim of an unelected billionaire and a President more interested in his own bottom line than the well-being of the people. This is why the Colorado legislature’s work to hold corporations accountable and shore up consumer protections is so critically important. We will continue to strengthen protections for Coloradans and level the playing field for all.” “While the Trump Administration is helping the wealthiest corporate monopolies rip off the American People by dismantling essential worker and consumer protections, we’re saving Coloradans money and boosting wages,” said House Judiciary Chair Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “Colorado Democrats are making our state more affordable by cracking down on price gouging, junk fees and rent algorithms that drive up housing prices. The testimony we heard today makes it clear that if Elon Musk,Trump and DOGE succeed, corporations will raise prices further and more easily scam Americans out of their hard earned money while preying on the most vulnerable among us.” The committee heard testimony from Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, who was illegally fired by Trump yesterday, and Seth Frotman, the former General Counsel and Senior Advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The witnesses highlighted how dismantling CFPB and FTC efforts to protect consumers will take money out of the pockets of the people who can least afford it while shielding corporations from accountability. In the few months since Trump took office, the administration has halted critical efforts to protect consumers from junk fees and rent algorithms. Elon Musk and DOGE have tried to shut down the CFPB, which was established after the Great Recession to crack down on predatory financial products and practices. Both the FTC and CFPB had been actively engaged on policies to make life more affordable for working people and address these critical issues, but when Trump took office, he stopped those efforts, leaving states like Colorado to fill the gaps. Previous Next

The House today on a preliminary vote advanced legislation to attract film tourism to Colorado. < Back March 12, 2025 House Advances Bill to Attract Sundance Film Festival DENVER, CO – The House today on a preliminary vote advanced legislation to attract film tourism to Colorado. HB25-1005 creates a tax credit to encourage the Sundance Film Festival to call Colorado home beginning in 2027 and support other small film festivals. “Colorado would be the perfect place for the Sundance Film Festival to call home,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “This iconic film festival would solidify Colorado’s reputation as a destination for the arts, boosting tourism and significant economic growth in the process. The legislation we advanced today encourages the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival to call Colorado home for the next ten years.” “From original films to panel discussions with filmmakers, the Sundance Film Festival would be right at home in Boulder,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “If Boulder is selected as the next location for the Sundance Film Festival in 2027, our small businesses, restaurants and hotels will benefit from the boost in tourism. This bill helps strengthen Colorado’s reputation as a destination for the arts and will create new jobs in our state.” Boulder was recently selected as a top-three finalist to host the iconic Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027 – which would boost economic growth, tourism and Colorado’s reputation as a destination for the arts. As outlined in the legislation, Colorado would stand up $34 million over the next ten years, or $3-5 million per year, in tax incentives to a film festival that sells more than 100,000 tickets and attracts more than 20,000 out-of-state attendees. A recent economic impact report of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Utah revealed the festival created 1,730 jobs for residents, generated $69.7 million in wages, $132 million in GDP and generated almost $14 million in state and local tax revenue. Additionally, the bill will also leverage $500,000 annually to support small or existing local film festivals entities that are part of Colorado’s growing film festival ecosystem. If Boulder is selected, the festival would take place starting in 2027 through 2036. Boulder is in the running to host the film festival starting in 2027 with Cincinnati, Ohio and Park City, Utah being other contestants. Previous Next

< Back May 21, 2021 BILL TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO– The House Education Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Julie McCluskie to create critical new teacher training, recruitment, and retention programs. The bill passed 7-1. “Teachers are used to doing two things at once, and that’s what we’re doing here in Denver as we work to help students get back on track while also addressing one of the most significant long-term challenges in education: our educator shortage,” s aid House Education Chair Rep. Barabara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This bill helps Colorado build back stronger from the pandemic by investing in two new initiatives that will train and recruit more teachers, create teaching jobs, and prepare Colorado schools for the future. Importantly, it will also provide mental health support to educators, which will help districts retain more teachers.” “Schools across Colorado are struggling to find teachers to hire and to retain the teaching force they already have,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The programs we’re creating will encourage new teachers into the profession, pay for critical training and certification programs, and make it easier for high-school students and graduates to earn postsecondary credentials to become educators. We have a lot of hard work ahead to bring more people into the teaching profession, but this bill is a big step forward to address Colorado’s teacher shortage.” SB21-185 would reduce the teacher shortage in Colorado by helping districts retain and recruit new teachers. The bill directs the department of education to publicize teacher preparation programs and facilitate entry into the teaching profession. Specifically, the bill creates the Educator Recruitment and Retention (ERR) program in CDE to provide support to local education providers to recruit, select, train, and retain highly qualified educators across the state. Eligible ERR participants may receive up to $10,000 for the tuition cost of participating in an educator preparation program. Furthermore, the bill allows a public or charter school to hire a teacher who holds an adjunct instructor authorization to teach in all content areas. The bill restores two grant programs that were cut last year due to the pandemic: the Quality Teacher Recruitment Program and the Educator Loan Forgiveness Program. In addition, the bill creates the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation program (TREP), which would aim to increase the number of students entering the teaching profession and create a more diverse educator workforce to reflect the diversity of the state. A TREP participant may concurrently enroll in postsecondary courses in the two year directly following the year in which the participant was enrolled in grade 12. Finally, the bill charges the University of Colorado with establishing and operating an educator well-being mental health program to provide support services for educators. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist to save Coloradans money on health care. The bill would reduce health care costs for families by standardizing insurance coverage determinations to ensure that mental health care is based on clinical evidence, not profit margins. HB25-1002 passed by a vote of 54-9. < Back February 10, 2025 Legislation to Save Coloradans Money on Mental Health Care Passes DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist to save Coloradans money on health care. The bill would reduce health care costs for families by standardizing insurance coverage determinations to ensure that mental health care is based on clinical evidence, not profit margins. HB25-1002 passed by a vote of 54-9. “Health care coverage decisions should be made based on the best evidence based recommendations of health care professionals, not on profit margins,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Right now, too many Coloradans struggle to receive the care they need while insurance companies continue to deny coverage for behavioral health care. This bill helps standardize insurance coverage decisions so Coloradans can actually access the behavioral health services they pay for.” “Health insurance companies should cover services for mental health care at the same level they do for all other care, but far too often they deny claims when the care is necessary,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “When insurance doesn’t cover claims, that drives up costs for families, and it makes it harder for Coloradans, especially young people, to receive critical care, as too many still don’t receive care at all. Colorado has made major strides in recent years to invest in behavioral health care, and this bill carries on this work by ensuring providers can’t deny insurance coverage for medically necessary health care. We’re saving Coloradans money on health care and improving access to the care people need.” HB25-1002 would make sure that insurance companies use transparent, evidence-based criteria and programming when deciding whether mental health care should be covered under an insurance plan. This bill would also codify the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act into state law, requiring mental health services to see the same amount of coverage as physical health services. The goal of HB24-1002 is to ensure that insurance providers are covering mental health care and to limit gaps in insurance coverage for Coloradans. The bill also clarifies state law around mental health parity and requires the use of clinical standards from select national organizations to ensure parity. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: COLORADO DEMOCRATIC LGBTQ+ CAUCUS URGES BOARD OF EDUCATION NOT TO CENSOR LGBTQ+ REFERENCES IN SCHOOLS Legislators: “We see this play to change the school standards as a backdoor effort to put in a loophole for discrimination.” DENVER, CO – The Colorado Democratic LGBTQ+ Caucus is urging the State Board of Education not to follow through on a proposal to update its Social Studies Standards and remove any LGBTQ+ references for students below 4th grade. In a letter, the lawmakers wrote that the proposed move conflicts with HB19-1192 , a law the General Assembly passed in 2019 to ensure the inclusion of the history, culture, and social contributions of racial and ethnic minorities, religious minorities, and the LGBTQ+ individuals within those minority groups in public school standards. “When students learn about leaders who reflect their own identities, they feel supported and affirmed, and when students learn about leaders whose identities differ from their own, we hope it will spark empathy and understanding,” the lawmakers wrote. “In order to combat the increasingly overt acts of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia seen in our society today, we need to feel like we belong. We see this play to change the school standards as a backdoor effort to put in a loophole for discrimination.” The move to exclude LGBTQ+ references in Colorado curricula is particularly concerning, the lawmakers wrote, in light of recent legislation passed in Florida and across the country seeking to prohibit schools from using a curriculum or discussing topics of gender identity or sexual orientation and using “age-appropriateness” as a false justification to limit those discussions. “We absolutely agree that there are age appropriate indicators, strategies, modes of communication and learning within each grade-level,” the lawmakers continued. “What we have trouble with is understanding why LGBTQ+ history should be excluded. Children grow up with LGBTQ+ people in their families and they grow up understanding that diverse people can love each other. Then why can they not understand where their struggles for equality began.” “Please adhere to the legislature’s intent from HB19-1192 and do not place restrictions on the standards already in place.” The Colorado General Assembly LGBTQ+ includes Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City), Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D-Boulder County), Sen. Joann Ginal (D-Fort Collins), House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo), Rep. Brianna Titone (D-Arvada), Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver), Rep. David Ortiz (D-Littleton), and Rep. Alex Valdez (D-Denver). The full text of the LGBTQ+ Caucus’ letter is below: April 12, 2022 Office of the Colorado Board of Education 201 East Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80203 Members of the Colorado State Board of Education: The Colorado Democrats LGBTQ+ Caucus is writing today to express our strong concerns about the recent updates to the Social Studies Standards intended for review at the upcoming April 12, 2022 Colorado State Board of Education meeting. There is a clear mandate of the State Board of Education and the Review Committee to create policies for the furtherance of all students. The April 12th agenda currently uploaded on Board Docs lists item 8, Student Learning, “Standards Revision Update: Overview of Public Feedback on Draft Social Studies Standards.” Specifically, we want to address the Review Committee’s response to public feedback: Theme from Public Feedback: Numerous concerns were raised about the age appropriateness of referencing LGBTQ+ in lower grades. Committee General Response: The committee removed all references to LGBTQ below 4th grade. The Legislature passed HB19-1192 with the intent of being inclusive and being sensitive to histories that have typically been excluded. HB19-1192 set out to ensure the inclusion of the history, culture, and social contributions of racial and ethnic minorities, religious minorities, and the LGBTQ+ individuals within these minority groups in public school standards. When students learn about leaders who reflect their own identities, they feel supported and affirmed, and when students learn about leaders whose identities differ from their own, we hope it will spark empathy and understanding. In order to combat the increasingly overt acts of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia seen in our society today, we need to feel like we belong. We see this play to change the school standards as a backdoor effort to put in a loophole for discrimination. Public comments seem to show a pattern in what we are seeing outside Colorado. Specifically, after Florida passed HB1557 there are now 13 other states with similar laws seeking to prohibit schools from using a curriculum or discussing topics of gender identity or sexual orientation and using “age-appropriateness” as a reason to limit these discussions. We absolutely agree that there are age appropriate indicators, strategies, modes of communication and learning within each grade-level. What we have trouble with is understanding why LGBTQ+ history should be excluded. Children grow up with LGBTQ+ people in their families and they grow up understanding that diverse people can love each other. Then why can they not understand where their struggles for equality began. Every human contains a multitude of identities–including a gender identity and a sexual orientation. Whether someone identifies as straight, cisgender, bisexual, non-binary, or transgender, these are all equally valid sexual orientations and gender identities. Logically, if the presupposition is that teaching about the LGBTQ+ community inherently incorporates sexual orientation and gender identity – which it does not and should not need to – and this Board and Review Committee determines that LGBTQ+ social studies curriculum is developmentally-inappropriate until 4th grade, then any social studies curriculum relating to any and all gender identities and sexual orientations should be deemed developmentally-inappropriate until that 4th grade-level. Put simply, if children are deemed too young to learn about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer people and relationships, they are too young to learn about heterosexual or cisgender people and relationships. With this in mind, we are asking this board to restore all references to the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado social studies curriculum below 4th grade, contrary to the recommendation of the Social Studies Standards Review Committee. Censoring topics which could organically arise from a student is not the answer. Ignoring a group of people does not make them cease to exist. Most importantly, we cannot make assumptions about who students are or what their family structure looks like. We cannot ignore the realities that Coloradans are diverse and include LGBTQ+ people. It’s important to not limit the conversations which could stifle inspiration for a kid who knows who they are and gets a glimpse of themselves in a role they may have never imagined. All students deserve that kind of opportunity. Please adhere to the legislature’s intent from HB19-1192 and do not place restrictions on the standards already in place. Sincerely, Members of the Colorado Democratic LGBTQ+ Caucus Previous Next

Legislation would extend the successful CLIMBER Program which provides low interest loans to Colorado small businesses < Back April 18, 2024 Ricks’ Bill to Support Small Business, Create Jobs Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Finance today passed legislation to support Colorado small businesses. HB24-1453 would permanently extend the successful CLIMBER (Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery) Loan Fund to better support small businesses. By the end of 2024, the CLIMBER Program will provide $250 million in loans to Colorado small businesses. “Colorado’s small businesses are the backbone to our thriving, growing economy,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “This bill extends the successful small business loan program, CLIMBER, to uplift our small businesses, create jobs and boost local economies. The CLIMBER Program provides low-interest loans up to $500,000 to help Colorado small businesses expand, increase pay for their employees, open up new locations and more. Our small businesses make Colorado unique – and this bill gives our small businesses a leg up as they positively impact our communities.” HB24-1453 , passed by a vote of 11-0. This bill would extend the successful CLIMBER Program which is set to expire later this year. The goal of HB24-1453 is to make the CLIMBER Program permanent and to better support underserved businesses with the resources and expertise needed to secure these favorable loans. The bill would transfer the program from the Colorado Department of Treasury to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, which houses various programs and resources to support and ensure the success of under-capitalized businesses.To extend the CLIMBER Program and keep it operating long-term, this bill would also ensure $35 million in allocated funds stay with the program and allow for the recapture of repaid loans and other funds to be used for future loans to small businesses. Under the program, small businesses with up to 99 employees may apply for working capital loans between $10,000 and $500,000. These loans can be used to hire more employees, start or expand brick-and-mortar storefronts, get new businesses off the ground and more. Of the loans already distributed by the CLIMBER Program, it is estimated to have supported 1,098 jobs and provided capital to create at least 86 positions. Since its creation in 2020, the CLIMBER Program has provided 246 small business loans across 26 counties totaling over $18 million dollars. Previous Next

< Back May 25, 2021 PUBLIC HEALTH PASSES BILL TO INCREASE MEDICAL PROVIDERS FOR SENIORS DENVER, CO– The House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee today SB21-158, sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Monica Duran, which seeks to increase the number of geriatrtic medical providers in Colorado. “Colorado’s older population is growing quickly, but we’re already facing a shortage of qualified medical providers who specialize in treating people over the age of 65,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada . “We have to ensure that Colorado has the medical workforce needed to provide care to everyone as they get older. By allowing nurses and physicians assistants who work with geratric patients to participate in loan forgiveness programs, we will incentivise more providers to enter and stay in this critical field.” “We know that Colorado, like the rest of the nation, is facing and will continue to deal with a medical provider shortage unless we take action that encourages more providers to commit to treating older patients,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “I’m excited to see legislation move forward that will encourage more people to treat seniors by expanding eligibility for loan repayment to providers that commit to providing geratric care.” SB21-158 changes the Colorado Health Service Corps Program, a loan repayment program, to include geriatrric advanced practice providers. Under the bill, registered nurses and physician assistance with geriatric training or experience could participate in the loan repayment program on the condition they commit to providing geriatric care to older adults in health professional shortage areas. Colorado has an aging population. Colorado has the third fastest growing population over the age of 65, and Coloradans over age 65 are the fastest growing age group in the state. By 2050, the state demography office estimates that more than one in five Coloradans will be over age 65. Not only is there a national doctor shortage, but estimates also expect a significant shortage of providers who treat older patients. Previous Next

Representative Meghan Lukens yesterday was honored as a Legislative Rural Schools Champion by the Colorado Rural Schools Alliance. < Back October 3, 2024 Rep. Lukens Honored as Legislative Rural Schools Champion HAYDEN, CO – Representative Meghan Lukens yesterday was honored as a Legislative Rural Schools Champion by the Colorado Rural Schools Alliance . Rep. Lukens was recognized for her legislative efforts to increase public school funding and drive more resources to mountain schools. “Thank you for selecting me as a Legislative Rural Schools Champion, it’s a true honor to be recognized for my work to boost funding for our rural K-12 schools,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “Increasing funding, resources and support for our public schools has been one of my top priorities as a legislator, and I’m incredibly proud of our legislative efforts to modernize the school finance formula to better support our rural and underserved districts. This session, we also fully paid off the budget stabilization factor, which means our schools can receive the funding they need to hire and retain staff as well as purchase much needed supplies. Thank you, Colorado Rural Schools Alliance!” During the 2024 legislative session, Rep. Lukens supported groundbreaking education legislation including HB24-1448 , the new public school finance formula, which will increase funding for rural and underfunded districts and SB24-188 , the 2024 School Finance Act, which boosts funding for schools by eliminating the budget stabilization factor (BSF). The 2024 School Finance Act will help school districts increase teacher pay, recruit school staff, reduce classroom sizes and purchase new textbooks. Rep. Lukens also supported legislation to make permanent the successful iMatter Program which provides six, free therapy sessions to Colorado students under 18-years-old. In addition to HB24-1448 and SB24-188, Rep. Lukens was the prime sponsor of education legislation to bring more school psychologists to Colorado, establish an Educator Safety Task Force and extend privacy protections for our educators. Previous Next

< Back June 3, 2020 SPONSORS INTRODUCE BILL TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE Ensures transparency in police departments and consequences for those who use excessive force Denver, CO – Today, Senate President Leroy Garcia, Senator Rhonda Fields, Representative Leslie Herod, and Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez unveiled legislation to improve public confidence in the integrity of law enforcement. The bill formalizes repercussive actions regarding police brutality and requires increased transparency by requiring the use of body-worn cameras. “Communities of color have been brutalized by police discrimination and violence for far too long and the recent demonstrations reflect that,” said President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo). “Police officers are in a position of public trust and should be held to the highest standard of conduct and accountability. But countless officers have escaped justice–eroding people’s confidence in those responsible for protecting the community. We need to root out those causing this erosion and reform our police transparency and repercussion standards.” “Coloradans who have taken to our streets to protest injustice and declare that Black Lives Matter were sparked by an incident in Minnesota, but we’ve seen similar tragedies happen in our own state,” said Black Caucus Chair Leslie Herod (D-Denver). “We need to make changes here at the State Capitol and at statehouses across the country. We will take action to protect black lives, hold law enforcement accountable, and ensure that police officers truly serve and protect all of us.” Additional transparency measures outlined in SB20-217 include mandating that all law enforcement agencies must track and publicly report data, including demographic information on uses of force, stops of civilians, searches of civilians, and forced entries into homes. This information will then be used by the Department of Public Safety to complete an annual report. The bill also works to rein in the use of deadly force by officers – bringing Colorado law in line with Supreme Court precedent which specifies that deadly force may only be used when there is an imminent risk to human life. If any peace officer is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or fails to intervene in the inappropriate use of physical force, they will be immediately terminated, de-certified, and barred from any future posting. Furthermore, SB20-217 works to prevent the rehiring of officers who are found untruthful, terminated for cause, or are decertified, by listing them in a database that would prevent them from moving from one law enforcement agency to another, where they could continue to do harm. Finally, this legislation would remove the ability of officers to avoid public accountability by removing their eligibility for qualified immunity which has shielded officers from consequences and denied families justice In the U.S., African Americans are at least 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than white people. They are also 1.3 times less likely to be armed compared to Caucasians. Even more alarmingly, and despite well-documented cases of the use of excessive force, 99% of killings by police have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime. According to recent studies , there are solutions that are proven to significantly reduce the number of police killings, but few departments have adopted them. Previous Next

41 Colorado Democrats fighting for hardworking Coloradans at the Capitol & across our state DOWNLOAD

< Back April 16, 2019 HOUSE GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL TO BETTER FUND SCHOOLS, TRANSPORTATION & HIGHER-ED The bipartisan proposal would go to the 2019 ballot (Apr. 16) – The House approved a bipartisan proposal by Speaker KC Becker and Rep. Julie McCluskie to better fund public schools, higher education and transportation. Colorado has one of the best economies in the country but the arbitrary TABOR cap severely restricts the state budget, preventing the investment of revenue already generated from growth in the economy. The cap also limits Colorado’s ability to invest in basic functions of government. As a result, Colorado’s investment in public schools, higher education, and transportation and infrastructure consistently rank at the bottom of the nation. “Colorado’s state budget should be able to grow with the economy so we can make important investments in our future,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “It’s commonsense to simply ask voters whether the state can keep and spend the money collects in taxes and that’s what we’re proposing. We are not investing enough in K-12, higher-ed and transportation. This bipartisan proposal won’t solve all our problems but it will help protect our way of life.” “When times are good, we have a responsibility to invest in the things we care about most – public schools, higher education, and transportation. This is about giving voters a say in protecting our Colorado way of life,” said Rep. McCluskie, D-Dillon. Witness after witness testified in support of the bills at an April 1st House Finance committee hearing. This effort is supported by a broad, bipartisan coalition. Click here to see the current list of supporters. Colorado’s TABOR amendment restricts the amount of revenue all levels of government (state, local and schools) can retain, preventing the state from benefiting from economic growth and making critical investments. All but four of the 178 school districts in Colorado have obtained voter approval to retain and spend excess revenue. Of the state’s 272 municipalities, 230 municipalities have obtained voter approval to retain and spend all or a portion of excess revenue collected. Of the state’s 64 counties, 51 counties have obtained voter approval to retain and spend all excess revenue. The state has not yet followed suit, having only temporarily suspended the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) limit because of budget constraints through the voter-approved Referendum C in 2005. In the last 27 years since TABOR was voted into Colorado’s Constitution, our state population has increased 50 percent – more than 2.3 million additional people live in our state in 2019 than in 1992. For decades, Colorado has not been able to keep up with the demands of growth because of the outdated fiscal restraints imposed on the state by TABOR. There is a $9 billion project backlog at the Colorado Department of Transportation. Investing in our state’s infrastructure and transportation system is critical for economic development, especially in rural Colorado. HB19-1257 refers a measure to the Fall 2019 statewide ballot asking voters to authorize the state to annually retain and spend all state revenues in excess of the TABOR cap. HB19-1258, a companion bill, contingent on voters approving the referred measure. It splits up the revenue retained due to the measure to be spent 1⁄3 each on public schools; higher education; and roads, bridges and transit. At a news conference when the bill was introduced in March, Speaker Becker read a statement from Gov. Jared Polis about the measures: “Governor Polis supports allowing the state to keep the tax revenue it already collects. This common sense policy does not alter the right of citizens to vote on taxes but allows Colorado to keep pace with a growing economy. The governor is engaging bipartisan civic leaders across the state because he believes broad bipartisan support is essential to win in November.” HB19-1257 was approved by a vote of 41-23 and HB19-1258 was approved by a vote of 41-23. Both measures now head to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back February 7, 2020 EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS APPROVED IN COMMITTEE DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Education today passed Representative Barbara McLachlan and Tony Exum’s bill to create the Higher Ed Student Emergency Assistance Grant program by a vote of 8-5. The program would offer emergency grants to help students at state institutions of higher education stay in school and graduate. “Students who are forced to decide between dropping out of college and paying for a financial emergency deserve our support,” said Education Committee Chair Rep. McLachlan (D-Durango). “This grant program will pick up, with just a small amount of financial investment, where student financial aid leaves off. This grant program will ensure that determined and hard-working students can finish their degree and fill the many job vacancies that require a post-secondary degree.” “A financial emergency like a flat tire or family crisis shouldn’t be what stops a great student from obtaining their degree,” said Rep. Exum, Sr. (D-Colorado Springs). “I was very pleased to see the House Ed Committee advance our bill today and get us one step closer to creating this grant program. Low income students face a much steeper climb towards graduation, and I’m proud to say we have their back.” HB20-1110 would create the Emergency Completion and Retention Grant Program within the department of higher education. This grant program seeks to improve our state institution’s retention and completion rates by providing emergency financial assistance, capped at $500 while enrolled at an institution of higher education, to students who are experiencing qualifying financial emergencies. The bill recognizes that, while student financial aid programs exist to reduce the overall cost of a student’s attendance at a college or university, there are certain financial emergencies that force students to choose between continuing their education or paying for the emergency. The grant program outlined in this bill would remedy these types of situations. In order to qualify for one of these grants, students must qualify for in-state tuition, meet state financial aid eligibility criteria and be more than 60% done with their required coursework, among other requirements. State higher education Institutions must prioritize eligible low-income students, first generation students, and students who lack other financial resources. ### Previous Next