< 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

< Back March 24, 2022 UNIVERSAL PRE-K MOVES FORWARD IN HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to deliver universal preschool to Colorado kids. The bill, sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota and Speaker Alec Garnett, would create the Department of Early Childhood to prepare our youngest students for success and save Colorado families thousands of dollars. “We’re one step closer to providing universal preschool in Colorado,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Early childhood education is one of the best tools we have for preparing our kids to thrive. To thoughtfully craft this important bill, we worked alongside local communities, providers and parents from across the state for many months. This work has paid off because beginning in 2023, every four-year-old in Colorado will be able to access high quality, free preschool!” “The reality of universal preschool in Colorado is not far off,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Our legislation is going to save families money by providing free preschool to every four-year-old in the state while giving kids access to the type of high quality early childhood education that sets them up for success in life. The new Department of Early Childhood will be a one-stop-shop for families to easily navigate and access their child’s free hours of preschool. We’ve heard from families in all four corners of our state, they want more early childhood options and we’re making it happen.” HB22-1295 establishes the Department of Early Childhood to elevate early childhood education and ensures that early childhood care is easy to navigate for all Colorado families. The bill will make universal preschool a reality for hardworking families, parents and kids. The new Department of Early Childhood will streamline the early childhood system, making it simpler for families to find and access providers by creating a single application for early childhood programs. The program will provide 10 hours per week of free, high-quality preschool to every child the year before entering kindergarten starting in the 2023 school year, saving families thousands of dollars. The legislation supports mixed delivery preschool options, prioritizing quality, and respecting parent choice, while strengthening and supporting local infrastructure to best serve each community’s individual needs. Speaker Garnett and Representative Sirota sponsored legislation in 2020 that established a unified early childhood system after voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition EE by a two to one margin to provide voluntary, high-quality preschool to Coloradans. The legislation is based on recommendations from early childhood education community leaders, parents, and providers that received unanimous approval from the Early Childhood Leadership Commission . Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to strengthen community and environmental protections during new fence construction in the San Luis Valley. < Back May 27, 2025 Signed! New Law Will Strengthen Community, Environmental Protections SAN LUIS, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to strengthen community and environmental protections during new fence construction in the San Luis Valley. “To protect our environment and the Colorado Way of Life in the San Luis Valley, we need to boost local control surrounding fence construction,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista . “When I visited the newly constructed fence in my community, I was appalled by the negative impact on our environment and the livelihoods of my neighbors. Many San Luis Valley residents have land rights beyond the fence dating back to before Colorado’s statehood. This law requires individuals to submit an application before constructing certain new fences to prioritize local voices.” “It is an honor to work on HB25-1023 alongside Representatives Martinez and Bacon, Senator Simpson, and dedicated and resilient Hispano community leaders. This bill is personal for me – my family’s roots go back in this part of the state for generations, long before it was Colorado or even Mexico,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “In spite of that exceptional and unique history, billionaires repeatedly violated sacred and hard-fought communal land agreements, and in so doing disrupted wildlife, ranching, and community life. HB25-1023 is about honoring those commitments and respecting the rights and agency of our communities.” “Communities in the San Luis Valley have long had the legal right to access lands they held before Colorado became a state, but a massive, private fence now encircles this property, preventing community access and harming the environment,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This law helps prevent further ecological damage and permits access for animal grazing while ensuring that Coloradans and their livestock can still traverse the land their families have called home for generations.” Cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, HB25-1023 requires individuals to submit an application to local government officials before constructing or installing a contiguous fence of a certain size in the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant lands. The law empowers local governments to determine if the benefits of a fencing project outweigh the harms in their community. Local governments must pass an ordinance or resolution opting into these requirements. Recent fence construction on one of the Sangre de Cristo land grant properties has caused environmental damage, including land erosion and limiting wildlife movement, and has kept out local residents with legal access to the land grant. This law takes aim at future, unauthorized fencing construction projects to protect the natural habitats in the San Luis Valley. Previous Next

< Back May 23, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! MARLO’S LAW: FAMILY AFFIRMATION ACT Legislation will modernize Colorado’s adoption laws for parents who use assisted reproduction PUEBLO, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill to simplify the adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproductive technologies. HB22-1153 , sponsored by House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, Representative Kerry Tipper, Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno and Senator Jeff Bridges, will create an accessible and streamlined adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction. Prior to this new law, some parents who conceive using assisted reproduction, often LGBTQ+ couples, had to go through an expensive and time-consuming stepparent adoption process to be recognized as legal parents of their children. Esgar’s wife, Heather, faced a burdensome adoption process to gain parental rights over their biological daughter. The bill was named “Marlo’s Law” after the couple’s daughter. “Prior to this law, my wife would have needed to go through the expensive and ill-fitting step parent adoption process just to be recognized as the legal mother of our child, even though she is Marlo’s biological parent,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Our story is not unique–many parents who conceive using assisted reproduction have walked in our shoes–and this law will make a meaningful impact on families across our state. Marlo’s Law updates the legal process for modern families in Colorado, and I couldn’t be more proud to champion this bill.” “Nobody should face barriers when it comes to being recognized as the parent of their own child, but before today, that’s what too many Colorado families were confronted with,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “Marlo’s Law streamlines a critical process for establishing parent-child relationships and provides equal rights for all families so that new parents can spend more time with their child and less time filling out paperwork.” “This law eliminates barriers for parents who conceive using assisted reproduction, so these families no longer have to go through a burdensome, expensive, and invasive adoption process to establish the parent-child legal relationship,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood . “We’ve modernized the legal process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction so both parents can receive equal protections and rights.” “New medical technology allows people to create families in ways our current laws never conceived of,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “With this bill, we’ve created an easy and straightforward way for couples who use assisted reproduction to enjoy the same equal rights and protections as every other Colorado family.” The adoption process for couples who use assisted reproduction currently requires home visits, court appearances, criminal record checks and countless complicated forms to confirm the parent-child relationship legally, making parenting exponentially more expensive and time consuming for non-traditional families. The law creates a simplified and more affordable process for these families to establish a legal parent-child relationship that must be recognized nationwide and instructs courts to confirm the adoption within 30 days. Previous Next

< Back April 1, 2019 SOLAR GARDENS GROWING: HOUSE APPROVES HANSEN-VALDEZ COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDENS BILL (Apr. 1) – The House approved the Community Solar Gardens bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. This bill modifies Colorado’s community solar garden program by increasing the maximum size of these facilities as well as eliminating burdensome regulations restricting their location. “All citizens should have access to, a direct ownership in, and a direct stake in our clean energy future,” said Rep. Hansen. “Only 25 percent of homes in Colorado are able to put solar panels on their roofs. This bill enables more Coloradans to purchase share in a community solar garden, thereby reducing their carbon emissions and pollution and fostering the creation of good paying jobs all across our state, particularly in rural Colorado.” HB19-1003 will take Colorado’s community solar garden program to the next stage of development by increasing the maximum size of a community solar garden from 2 megawatts to 5 megawatts. It also removes the requirement that a community solar gardens subscriber’s identified physical location be in the same county as that solar garden while keeping the requirement that it be within the service territory of the same electric utility. “We must act on climate and do our part to encourage a greater use of creative renewable energy sources like community solar gardens,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “This bill allows people whose property can’t accommodate the use of solar gardens to still have a hand in our energy future, especially low-and moderate-income Coloradans.” HB19-1003 was approved on a vote of 40-23. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back June 23, 2021 DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CREATED TO SUPPORT COLORADO FAMILIES DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed into law Speaker Garnett and Representative Sirota’s bill to create a new, cabinet-level state agency focused on early childhood education and care, setting up the framework for universal pre-K in Colorado. “This is a great day for Colorado’s kids, parents, educators, and early childhood advocates,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “Guided by their input, this year we set out to ensure Colorado families can access affordable, quality preschool education and early learning services. Today we delivered by creating an innovative new agency that will set us down the path toward guaranteeing universal pre-k to every family in Colorado. Investing in our kids means planting the seeds for a better, more prosperous Colorado to come.” “For too long, Colorado’s early childhood education and care system has been fractured and difficult to navigate,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “After today, our efforts to support, educate and care for our youngest Coloradans will be more efficiently organized and will have the resources and funding they need to make a difference. As a former early learning professional, I know that supporting families during the critical early learning years is among the most impactful things we can do to invest in our childrens’ success.” Based on the recommendations of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission, HB21-1304 creates the Department of Early Childhood as a new, cabinet-level state agency with a mission to expand access to high-quality, voluntary, affordable early childhood opportunities, support parents in accessing programs and services, promote equitable delivery of resources, and unify the fragmented administration of early childhood services to reduce duplicative oversight and administrative burden on families, providers, and educators. The new law also requires the creation of a plan to implement voluntary universal preschool statewide in alignment with Proposition EE, and streamlines existing and new funding sources for early childhood education and care programs. Under this legislation, the Governor will submit the community-informed transition plan to the Joint Budget Committee in November as part of his 2022 budget request, to be considered for further legislative action by the General Assembly in the 2022 session. Previous Next

The appointment comes as Rep. Shannon Bird steps down from the Joint Budget Committee after three years of service, including one year as Chair < Back November 3, 2025 Speaker McCluskie Appoints Rep. Kyle Brown to the Joint Budget Committee The appointment comes as Rep. Shannon Bird steps down from the Joint Budget Committee after three years of service, including one year as Chair DENVER, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie today appointed Representative Kyle Brown to serve on the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). This appointment was necessitated by Representative Shannon Bird’s announcement on Friday that she will step down from the JBC, effective immediately. “Representative Bird is an exemplary leader who has focused her work on making life in Colorado more affordable,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I’d like to thank her for her commitment to Coloradans and her dedicated service on the JBC, where she boosted investments in higher education, health care and public safety.” “Amidst a federal government shutdown and the economic volatility from the Trump administration, these uncertain times call for exceptional leadership to face the challenges of the moment. Representative Brown is an experienced and effective leader, and has worked diligently to lower the cost of health care for hardworking families,” continued McCluskie. “As a highly regarded health care champion, Representative Brown will play a critical role on the Joint Budget Committee in targeting the explosive costs of Medicaid, lowering the cost of health care and advocating for healthier, safer communities for all.” “I’m honored to begin serving on the Joint Budget Committee and working alongside my colleagues to protect education funding and the core services hardworking people rely on,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “From improving Colorado’s reinsurance program and expanding health care access, to lowering the cost of prescription drugs, my focus has always been saving you money on health care. We will have a difficult budget year ahead as we deal with the fallout of H.R.1, but I am prepared to do the work and defend our most vulnerable communities.” Representative Brown has sponsored key laws to save Coloradans money on health care, supported safety-net providers and clinics, expanded no-cost therapy sessions for youth through iMatter, and lowered prescription drug costs. As the former Deputy Commissioner for Affordability Programs at the Colorado Division of Insurance, he helped design and implement the Colorado Option , which offered the second-lowest-cost plan in 90-percent of Colorado counties last year. Speaker McCluskie also appointed Representative Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver, to replace Representative Brown as Chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee. With a background in public health, Representative Gilchrist sponsored legislation to ensure the state’s science-backed vaccine recommendations are protected if the Trump Administration undermines vaccine guidance. Representative Gilchrist, along with Representative Brown, also sponsored legislation to save Coloradans money on mental health care by standardizing insurance coverage determinations. To combat some of the harm caused by Trump’s H.R.1 and Congress’s failure to extend health care tax credits, Representatives Brown and Gilchrist were the prime sponsors of a new law to blunt some of the most severe cost increases from the expiring tax credits. This law reduces the statewide average premium increase from 174-percent to 101-percent, saving Coloradans $220 million on health care next year and preventing 28,000 Coloradans from being kicked off their health coverage. Previous Next

The House today passed a bill on a preliminary vote to give local governments and eligible entities the right of first refusal when multifamily properties are up for sale, creating opportunities to increase and preserve affordable housing stock. < Back March 6, 2023 Bill to Increase and Retain Affordable Housing Stock Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bill on a preliminary vote to give local governments and eligible entities the right of first refusal when multifamily properties are up for sale, creating opportunities to increase and preserve affordable housing stock. “The right of first refusal is crucial in preserving and creating affordable housing opportunities in Colorado,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins . “Currently, there are only 30 affordable and available rental units per 100 extremely low-income renter households in Colorado. This bill is a proven tool for local governments to be competitive against corporate developers, allowing sellers to receive market rate compensation for the sale of their property while communities retain long-term affordable housing.” “The right of first refusal can prevent the loss of affordable housing stock at a time when Coloradans need more affordable places to live and hedge funds continue to buy up housing and increase rents,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver . “Housing insecurity is a real threat for many Coloradans, impacting the health and safety of our lower-income communities. Under this bill, local governments will have the option to purchase buildings that go up for sale, providing them an additional tool to prevent the loss of housing that Coloradans can afford.” HB23-1190 would allow local governments and other eligible entities a chance to make an offer on a multifamily or mixed-use property listing before other potential buyers. To qualify under this bill, the property would have to consist of five or more residential units in urban counties and three or more residential units in rural or rural resort counties. If the city or county decides to purchase the property, they must match the sale price and maintain the property as affordable housing for at least 100 years. Sellers would be required to notify local governments of the intent to sell or of a potential sale. The local government would have 14 days to exercise the right to first refusal and another 60 days to make an offer on the property. Data from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development found that the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment across the state is $1,505, however the Colorado minimum wage is $13.56. In 2022, a worker would have to make $28.94 per hour to afford housing that did not surpass 30% of their income. The State Demographer suggests that 40,950 new housing units need to be built every year between now and 2030 for the housing market to return to a healthy level, but projects that we will only build around 35,000 per year between 2020 and 2030, demonstrating the need to maintain existing affordable housing options. Previous Next

HB26-1031 protects the integrity of Colorado’s agriculture industry, protects Colorado farmers from unfair competition < Back April 8, 2026 SIGNED! Bill to Prevent Out-of-State Farms from Using Pueblo Green Chile, Palisade Peach Labels HB26-1031 protects the integrity of Colorado’s agriculture industry, protects Colorado farmers from unfair competition DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation into law to support Colorado farmers and agriculture by strengthening consumer protections and safeguarding agricultural products grown in Colorado. “From Trump’s tariffs to imported Argentinian beef, Colorado farmers are already facing considerable headwinds. This new law will help ensure that outsiders who falsely label their produce as Colorado-grown are held accountable for driving business away from hardworking Colorado farmers,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “Pueblo green chile and San Luis Valley potatoes are renowned Colorado agricultural products, and it is important that we prevent bad actors from slapping ‘Colorado-grown’ labels on out-of-state goods. Our new bipartisan law makes false use of Colorado-grown marketing a deceptive trade practice to support local farmers and give consumers peace of mind.” “Colorado is known for its delicious and high-quality agricultural products like Palisade peaches, Pueblo green chiles, and San Luis Valley potatoes – to name a few,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “Consumers want to purchase made-in-Colorado products and should be able to trust the Colorado Proud label. This new law is about supporting Colorado farmers and businesses who make the real deal, right here at home.” HB26-1031 protects the integrity of Colorado-made products and ensures Colorado producers aren’t undercut by mislabeled products imported from out of state. The law prohibits identifying an agricultural product as being produced in Colorado when selling, marketing, advertising or distributing the product unless the product is grown in the state. First approved by the interim Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee, HB26-1031 helps ensure fairness for local producers by cracking down on deceptive trade practices that allow out-of-state products to carry Colorado-made labeling and take market share away from real Colorado-grown foods. Also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Senator Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, the law boosts consumer protections by reassuring Coloradans that their dollars are getting them the local, premium products they expect. The Trump Administration’s tariffs have driven up costs for Colorado’s businesses, farmers, ranchers, and consumers and limited the available international markets for producers to sell their products. HB26-1031 aims to protect Colorado markets for farmers and ranchers to sell their locally-made products and food. Previous Next

SB26-040 will modernize the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet families’ needs < Back May 6, 2026 Legislation to Create More Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities Signed Into Law SB26-040 will modernize the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet families’ needs DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to update the Affordable Homeownership Program created by voter-approved Proposition 123 was signed into law today. SB26-040 , sponsored by Senator Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Representatives Katie Stewart, D-Durango, and Lesley Smith, D-Boulder, will expand eligibility for qualified buyers and make practical updates to better serve every Colorado community and meet the reality of the 2026 housing market. “The Affordable Homeownership Program was designed in 2022, for a 2022 market with low interest rates and lower construction costs than what we see today,” said Amabile. “This new law updates the program to reflect today’s reality and provide the flexibility that Coloradans need. We’re taking a practical approach to make sure this program works as intended so more Colorado families can put down roots and achieve their dream of homeownership.” “This bipartisan law makes the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program more responsive to the needs of our communities, especially in Colorado mountain towns like mine,” said Stewart. “ When Colorado voters approved Prop 123, it created the Affordable Home Ownership Program to help first-time homebuyers with down payments and other financial assistance. This new law will make crucial updates to the program to help more low- and middle-income Coloradans in rural areas qualify for homebuying assistance.” “We’re expanding eligibility and flexibility for this Prop 123 program to deliver more housing assistance for hardworking Coloradans,” said Smith. “The Affordable Homeownership Program was created to help first-time homebuyers secure down payments. Unfortunately, interest rates and construction costs are higher than they were when the program was created. Our law makes necessary adjustments to the program so it can support Coloradans as intended and make homeownership a reality for more hardworking people.” The new law, also sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, will increase the allowable income threshold to qualify for the program to less than or equal to 120 percent of statewide Area Median Income (AMI) or the local AMI. This will allow more people to qualify for the program, particularly in rural communities. Rising interest rates and insurance costs have also made it harder for Coloradans to meet the requirement that combined housing costs cannot exceed 35 percent of their income. The law raises that threshold to 38 percent for homebuyers receiving direct down-payment assistance, and also creates a process to allow eligible organizations to seek a waiver of the housing cost limit entirely when a qualified buyer is not found after six months of advertising. Additionally, the law will allow eligible organizations to temporarily rent units if they cannot be sold in a timely manner and create more flexibility in the program rules. These updates will help ensure that the program is working as intended and serving as many Coloradans as possible. Previous Next

< Back June 6, 2020 WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS DURING HEALTH EMERGENCIES PASS COMMITTEE Denver, CO– The House Committee on Finance today considered and passed legislation, sponsored by Reps. Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod, to protect workers from retaliation when they expose safety-related issues. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “The bill we passed today would ensure that workers feel empowered to speak out when their employers are putting health and safety at risk,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “As this pandemic has shown us, this policy will not only benefit workers, it will benefit our communities and the broader public. Public health is a collective effort, and we need everyone to know that they won’t face workplace retaliation for doing the right thing.” “We’re working to get Colorado back to work and back on track as safely and responsibly as we can,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial . “That means making sure that all workplaces put health and safety first, and protecting employees who speak out when they see wrongdoing. This bill will hopefully give workers the confidence to make their voices heard without fear of losing their jobs.” Colorado has few state-level whistleblower protections, relying primarily on the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which take years to process retaliation claims. HB20-1415 protects Colorado workers from retaliation when they raise concerns about the health and safety of their workplace to their employer, fellow coworkers, the public, or government agencies. It grants workers the right to wear protective equipment to work, and it requires employers to inform employees of their rights to blow the whistle on unsafe conditions. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is charged with managing complaints. Previous Next

Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: < Back May 3, 2024 McLachlan and Simpson Joint Statement on CommonSpirit Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Impasse DURANGO, CO - Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: Coloradans in our communities must have access to hospital care and medical services within a reasonable distance from home, and this impasse puts critical care out of reach for consumers in Southwest Colorado. Coloradans in rural communities often have to travel hours for care, but forcing patients to drive to Colorado Springs or Grand Junction to receive treatment is not an appropriate alternative. It’s time for Anthem and CommonSpirit to put patients before profits and come to an agreement that continues in-network coverage for facilities such as Mercy Hospital in our communities. Previous Next