A broad coalition of elected officials, community organizations, environmental advocates, and transportation leaders today announced the release of joint letters urging Governor Jared Polis, the Regional Transportation District (RTD), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Front Range Passenger Rail District (FRPR) to advance the Northern Front Range Joint Service Passenger Rail (“Joint Service”). < Back November 24, 2025 Speaker Pro Tempore Boesenecker, Elected Officials, and Community Organizations Unite in Support of Joint Service and Passenger Rail to Northern Colorado DENVER, CO — A broad coalition of elected officials, community organizations, environmental advocates, and transportation leaders today announced the release of joint letters urging Governor Jared Polis, the Regional Transportation District (RTD), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Front Range Passenger Rail District (FRPR) to advance the Northern Front Range Joint Service Passenger Rail (“Joint Service”). The letters, signed by 39 elected officials and 17 community organizations, express strong, unified support for the agencies’ collaborative effort to deliver long-overdue passenger rail service connecting the communities between Denver and Fort Collins by January 1, 2029. In addition to Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, letter signers include House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver, and lawmakers representing communities along the corridor, including Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, Boulder, and Broomfield, among others. The Boulder Chamber, Visit Fort Collins, Conservation Colorado, AARP Colorado, and the Longmont Economic Development Partnership also signed on. “This project exemplifies regional cooperation at its best, reducing costs through efficiency, minimizing infrastructure requirements, and ensuring one operator manages the service,” the letters state . “We believe this initiative will catalyze renewed confidence in our transportation future, demonstrating tangible progress toward regional mobility, climate commitments, and economic growth.” The letters highlight that the Joint Service leverages existing transportation resources, innovative funding strategies, and collaboration across multiple agencies, including CDOT, RTD, and FRPR. By consolidating operations and minimizing new infrastructure investment, the project keeps costs manageable and avoids the need for new taxes, while maintaining transparency, accountability, and robust community input. “Joint Service is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to give Coloradans cleaner air, more affordable ways to get around, and stronger, better connected communities,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “By moving this project forward, we’re showing that Colorado is serious about sustainable growth and ready to build the foundation for the next era of Front Range transportation.” The coalition’s letters urge the RTD Board and all relevant agencies to prioritize and fully support the Joint Service project as negotiations with BNSF and important decision points advance through the end of 2025. Previous Next

< Back May 3, 2022 STACKABLE CREDENTIALS BILL PASSES HOUSE Legislation invests $2.6 million of federal pandemic relief toward creating education to workforce pathways DENVER, CO – The House passed a bill today to elevate student-to-career pathways and boost Colorado’s workforce. SB22-192, sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar, expands stackable credential pathways so students have more educational flexibility. “Whether you’re headed back to school or switching careers entirely, stackable credentials offer much needed career flexibility for Coloradans,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Our bill makes it easier for students seeking high-demand careers to have their on-the-job training and previous experience count toward degrees and professional credentials as they upskill and reskill. Sometimes life gets in the way of your educational plans, and alongside postsecondary institutions and workforce development organizations, we’re making career pathways more efficient and flexible so Coloradans can enter and re-enter the workforce prepared.” Stackable Credentials : SB22-192 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Marc Catlin passed the House by a vote of 53 to 12. This bill would expand stackable credential pathways to help Coloradans seeking to further their education or switch careers get the training and credentials they need to land jobs in high-demand industries. This legislation was developed based on recommendations by the state’s Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force , established by HB21-1330 . This bill aims to make it easier for students to obtain and receive credit for critical training and experience prioritized by Colorado employers. Stackable credentials are useful because they take less time to obtain than a full degree, while still demonstrating skills or competencies that employers are looking for. Previous Next

< Back June 9, 2020 HOUSE PASSES SCHOOL FINANCE ACT AND BILL TO TEMPORARILY WAIVE STANDARDIZED TESTING REQUIREMENTS DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB20-1418 , the School Finance Act, sponsored by Speaker KC Becker by a vote of 39-23. “This is one of the most difficult years for education funding in our state’s history, but we did everything we could to prioritize K-12 as we worked to responsibly balance our budget,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “Our schools and teachers still face enormous challenges to meet the needs of our students. We need to find innovative solutions, like getting rid of outdated tax handouts, to protect K-12 funding in the future and begin to address the fundamental inequities in how our state funds public education.” HB20-1418 is the annual School Finance Act, which sets funding levels for all of Colorado’s school districts and charter schools. This year’s proposal shields K-12 from the worst of budget cuts, reducing funding for all districts by $377.6 million from the prior year amidst a $3 billion revenue shortfall. However, with $510 million in federal CARES Act funding and $37 million in additional federal funding for at-risk students intended to help address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, total school funding increases by at least $169 million overall. While the federal funds are not an offset for cuts due to the revenue shortfall, they go a long way to help schools minimize impacts during this unprecedented situation. The School Finance Act pulls funds from marijuana taxes, school capital construction, and various grant programs and cash funds in order to put dollars where they are most needed – core education funding. The bill also makes various changes to reflect COVID-19’s impacts to the school system. It delays the timeline for school districts to adopt their budgets, since the Long Bill was delayed. It also codifies the suspension of various accountability-related provisions to reflect the Governor’s executive orders and directs the Department of Education to convene a stakeholder group to assess the impact of the COVID pandemic on the 19-20 school year and whether additional changes to accountability systems are needed for the 20-21 school year. Another major provision in this year’s School Finance Act corrects an issue with how local school funding levels are set, which has contributed to the underfunding of our schools over the last 25 years. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in Mesa v. State that local school funding is set incorrectly in many districts and violates our own statutes, due to districts lowering their mill levies contrary to voter approval. This School Finance Act corrects this violation without impacting anyone’s property taxes by restoring the mill levy in each district to the rate that was adopted by voters or up to a certain limit, and requires credits to offset any increases to property owners. The House also passed Rep. Cathy Kipp’s bill, HB20-1407 , by a vote of 61-0. The bill would respond to the challenges presented by COVID19 by temporarily giving publicly funded colleges and universities the option to waive standardized testing as a requirement for admission for high school students graduating in 2021. “The pandemic has disrupted life for our students as they work to complete their high school education and begin attending college,” said Rep Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Many students weren’t able to take their standardized tests, so we are changing the requirements for public higher education institutions to allow them to consider other academic credentials, such as GPA and leadership positions when making admissions decisions.” Previous Next

< Back Sean Camacho A Colorado Springs native, Rep. Sean Camacho grew up in a working-class, military family At 18, he earned admission to the Air Force Academy, deployed four times, and used the GI Bill to go to law school. Now, he is raising his two young boys with his wife, Jess, in Denver while practicing law and continuing to serve as an Air Force Reservist. Outside of his legal work, he has advocated for important Democratic issues, helped lead non-profits, assisted veterans and individuals in protecting their rights, and helped at-risk youth develop plans for a successful future. Rep. Camacho serves as the Vice-Chair of the Business Affairs & Labor Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. He represents diverse communities in eastern and central Denver, including Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Congress Park, Hale, Montclair, Lowry, and Windsor Gardens.

The House today passed bipartisan legislation to improve patient access to necessary prescriptions by allowing for pharmacy dispensing machines so Coloradans can access their prescription outside of a pharmacy’s business hours. < Back March 3, 2023 House Passes Prescription Accessibility Bill DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation to improve patient access to necessary prescriptions by allowing for pharmacy dispensing machines so Coloradans can access their prescription outside of a pharmacy’s business hours. “Coloradans with long or untraditional working hours often struggle to access the prescription medication they need because their pharmacy’s hours often don't align with their work schedule,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City . “Pharmacist-monitored dispensing machines would help Coloradans across the state access the medication they need with a remote pharmacist to walk them through the details of their medication. This bill removes unnecessary barriers to improve access to the medication patients need.” HB23-1195 , sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Rep. Matt Soper, passed by a vote of 58-4. It would allow pharmacies to operate automated prescription dispensing machines so patients could access their medication outside of regular pharmacy business hours. The machines would only be placed in pharmacy-licensed locations and would be live monitored to prevent theft. The medication would be stocked in the machine and patients would be able to discuss the prescription with a live remote pharmacist. Previous Next

< Back July 13, 2021 REPS. MICHAELSON JENET, HEROD NAMED AMONG TOP 25 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS DENVER, CO — The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce has named Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Leslie Herod among their 2021 Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business , an annual gala that recognizes women for leadership in business and to the community. “I’m honored to be recognized by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce after a historic legislative session that saw us focus on Colorado’s economic recovery and make tremendous strides to improve our behavioral health system,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, Chair of the House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee. “The laws we passed this session will boost Colorado’s workforce, improve access to child care and provide economic assistance to businesses across the state, creating jobs and forging a recovery where women are positioned to thrive. We know that a healthy and productive workforce is critical for the Colorado Comeback, so we worked hard last session to bolster access to behavioral health care for everyone in our state. I’m proud of our efforts to invest in the health of our communities and help more Coloradans get the care they need to thrive as our economy recovers.” “It’s an honor to be recognized by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce in a year when the legislature worked so hard to help small businesses build back stronger after the enormous challenges of the pandemic,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, Member of the Joint Budget Committee and Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. “This year, I was proud to be the lead sponsor of legislation to continue the successful work of the Energize Gap Fund and support our creative arts industries. As a member of the JBC, it was also a privilege to be able to help fund other pro-business initiatives like the startup loan program, which gives entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed and our economic gardening program, which will help businesses grow sustainably. Passing all of these bills was just common sense: small businesses are the backbone of our economy and will be the key to our recovery.” Previous Next

< Back March 2, 2022 HOUSE ED PASSES BILL TO SAVE EDUCATORS MONEY AND ADDRESS TEACHER SHORTAGE DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed legislation to prepare students for success and address the teacher shortage by saving new educators money on preparation programs. “This has been an incredibly challenging year for students, teachers and parents, and one way we can prepare our students for success is by making sure that every classroom has a qualified educator,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Our legislation will address the educator shortage by saving educators money as they go through their preparation programs and by removing unnecessary red tape that makes it harder to become a teacher in Colorado.” “All across Colorado, and especially in rural areas, schools are struggling to attract and retain quality educators,” said House Education Committee Chair Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “To prepare our students for success, we must address the educator shortage that is impacting our districts. That’s why we are going to save prospective educators money on their preparation programs and practice exams and create new pathways to enter the educator workforce.” HB22-1220 passed by a vote of 8-1 and is sponsored by Representative Cathy Kipp and House Education Committee Chair Barbara McLachlan. The bill includes multiple strategies to address the teacher shortage to help ensure every student in Colorado has access to high quality public education that will prepare them for success. The legislation creates two stipend programs that will save student educators almost $20 million as they pursue the educator preparation programs. It also creates new options to assess prospective educators and allows more prospective educators to obtain temporary educator licenses, breaking down unnecessary barriers to enter the educator workforce. The bill expands opportunities for all teacher candidates and reduces red tape. It would make student teaching a paid position for income-eligible students. These educators would no longer need to work second or third jobs while finishing their teaching programs. The bill also creates a stipend program to pay for teacher competency exams, which can cost educators hundreds of dollars while they complete their licensure program. The bill expands the measures used to examine competency, creating a new pathway to initial licensure for prospective educators that expands how prospective educators can prove their competency. The legislation builds on laws passed in recent sessions to address the educator workforce challenges, such as SB21-185, which invested $15 million into two new programs to recruit and retain educators. It also follows on bills passed earlier this session to encourage retired educators to return to school districts. Previous Next

The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez that would make the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program permanent. < Back April 3, 2025 Bipartisan Martinez Bill to Support Wildlife and Property Owners Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez that would make the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program permanent. “The Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program has been pivotal in helping property owners protect wildlife and outdoor recreation on their properties, and I’m proud to sponsor legislation to make the program permanent,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “Colorado’s natural beauty is one of our biggest draws, and property owners want to do their part in protecting our environment. We’re helping rural Coloradans, like my district in Southern Colorado, be good stewards of their land and protect Colorado for future generations to enjoy.” The Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program offers funding opportunities for landowners who want to protect wildlife habitats, provide wildlife-related recreational access to the public or sell their property to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The program, which is funded by hunting and fishing licenses, is currently set to sunset on July 1, 2027. SB25-049 would continue the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program indefinitely. With support from Great Outdoors Colorado and federal funding, the program has secured over 290,000 acres of conservation easements and over 146,000 acres of public access. SB25-049, also sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, passed by a vote of 13-0. The committee also passed SB25-176 , also sponsored by Rep. Matthew Martinez and Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, to extend the Commodity Handler and Farm Products Act until 2032 to continue the regulation of commodity and farm products. The bill would also increase the limit on the amount of farm products or commodities that a person could buy from $20,000 to $45,000 and allow the amount to be adjusted periodically. SB25-176 passed by a vote of 13-0. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2022 COLORADO MOVES ONE STEP CLOSER TO UNIVERSAL PRE-K! DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota and Speaker Alec Garnett to create the Department of Early Childhood and deliver universal preschool to Colorado kids that will save families money and prepare our youngest students for success. “Decades of research shows that early childhood education is critical for our kids and is one of the most effective tools we have to set up the next generation of Coloradans to thrive,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “This thoughtful proposal, which relies on collaboration with local communities and a broad array of providers, was unanimously approved by the Early Childhood Leadership Commission. Coming in 2023, every four year-old in Colorado can start free high quality preschool that will lay the foundation for a childhood full of learning.” “Universal preschool is going to save families money and prepare our youngest learners for success,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Early childhood education gives kids a leg up and sets the foundation for years of learning. With this legislation, we’re creating a one-stop-shop where every family can access 10 free hours of quality preschool. Colorado families have said loud and clear that they need more early childhood options, and I’m proud to say we’re delivering on our promise to create universal preschool in Colorado.” HB22-1295 establishes the Department of Early Childhood to elevate early childhood education and ensure early childhood care is easy to navigate for 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 easier 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

< Back September 14, 2020 BILLS TO SUPPORT HARDWORKING COLORADANS AND HELP OUR STATE PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES GO INTO EFFECT DENVER, CO — 126 new laws passed during the 2020 legislative session will go into effect today, including laws to help Coloradans succeed professionally and academically and laws to ensure that our state is prepared to deal with the crises we face today and those that may occur in the future. “Despite a budget crisis, an interrupted session, and a global pandemic, we accomplished a great deal for the people of Colorado this year,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “From giving rural economies the boost they need to persevere through COVID and beyond, to creating professional and educational opportunities for Colorado’s young people, we worked to make real change for real people this year. I’m proud that the bills going into effect today will make us better prepared to respond to the changing needs and challenges facing our people.” “This year has taught us that we can’t always plan for the issues we’ll have to face in the future, but we can certainly do our best to set ourselves up for success,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “I’m proud that by making it easier to access wildfire risk mitigation grants and donate food to those who need it most, as well as giving our troops a pay raise when they support us in the toughest of times, we’re helping to make Colorado even more resilient in the years to come.” New laws to deal with the crises facing our state, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-present threat of wildfires are going into effect today: Representatives Tony Exum, Sr.’s bipartisan SB20-091 , which would increase the minimum daily pay for state military forces when they are called to serve during emergencies. SB20-090 , sponsored by Representatives Daneya Esgar and Brianna Titone, which allows food pantries to expand their sources for goods by allowing food donations from correctional facilities and agricultural producers. Representative Julie McCluskies bipartisan HB20-1057 , which makes it easier for lower-income communities, nonprofits and fire districts to receive wildfire risk mitigation grants. As Colorado families continue to adjust to the new normal of working from home and online classes, Rep. Dylan Roberts’ bipartisan SB20-126 will expand and improve access to childcare for Coloradans by ensuring that homeowner associations can’t prohibit the operation of a licensed family child care facility so long as the facility complies with other HOA regulations applicable to all residents. Among the bills going into effect today are several laws to support rural Colorado recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the lingering effects of the last recession: HB20-1003 , the bipartisan bill sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts, will expand on the successful Rural Jump-Start program to help boost economic development in rural Colorado. SB20-002 , sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Bri Buentello, strengthens and cements the successful Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) to ensure that the program continues and make improvements to spur rural economies. The bipartisan HB20-1137 , sponsored by Representative Julie McCluskie, helps small rural communities get the resources they need to develop and establish broadband technology, which is even more important amidst the pandemic. Many big ticket items from the 2020 legislative session will go into effect today, including: The Crown Act , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Janet Buckner, which seeks to prevent discrimination on the basis of hairstyle. HB20-1031 , Representative Adrienne Benavidez and Kyle Mullica’s bill to replace Columbus Day with a new state holiday honoring Frances Xavier Cabrini. The new holiday will be celebrated later this year on October 5. Lastly, three major bills to expand professional opportunities and help all Coloradans succeed become effective today: Two bills sponsored by Representative Tom Sullivan, SB20-081 and SB20-120 , will improve apprenticeship programs and make it easier for students to access and complete these apprenticeships, leading them to greater opportunities and good, well-paying jobs in the future. SB20-006 , the bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Cathy Kipp, will expand access to higher education for Colorado’s students by improving and bolstering the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI). The full list of bills and their effective dates can be found on page viii of the 2020 legislative digest . Previous Next

HB23-1272 saves Coloradans money with more than $60 million in annual tax credits and exemptions to businesses and consumers for decarbonization investments < Back April 6, 2023 Clean Energy Tax Incentives Win Committee Approval HB23-1272 saves Coloradans money with more than $60 million in annual tax credits and exemptions to businesses and consumers for decarbonization investments DENVER, CO – The House Energy & Environment Committee today passed legislation to save Coloradans’ and businesses money by expanding tax incentives for clean transportation, heat pumps, geothermal energy, and industrial emissions reductions. This bill is part of a broader legislative package to incentivize the advancement and adoption of clean energy technologies that build upon federal initiatives to maximize Colorado’s ability to benefit from federal funds, create good-paying jobs and help the state meet its climate goals. “This monumental legislation is pivotal in helping Colorado reach its climate goals while significantly lowering energy costs for businesses and families,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora . “From e-bikes and electric vehicles, to geothermal heating and cooling systems, this bill shepherds clean energy tax incentives to improve our air quality and save Coloradans money. We’re committed to investing in innovative clean energy sources to power our economy and heat our buildings, and this bill builds upon federal investments to help Colorado utilize the latest technology to meet our climate goals and transition to more sustainable energy sources .” “Our bill makes it easier for Coloradans to implement some of the impressive clean energy tools and technologies that not only save them money, but bring us closer to reaching Colorado’s climate goals,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “This bill offers consumers significant tax credits to reduce the cost of electric vehicles, prioritizes incentives for clean energy sources, and will attract new businesses to create good-paying jobs. This bill is good for consumers, businesses, the economy and our planet.” Tax Incentives to Advance Decarbonization : HB23-1272 passed committee by a vote of 8 to 3. This bill would reduce the costs of clean energy technologies for residents and businesses across Colorado through tax incentives. This includes incentives for investments in geothermal electricity development and high-efficiency heat pumps, and for measures to reduce industrial pollution. It would also extend and expand tax credits for electric trucks and passenger vehicles and discounts on electric bikes to help increase adoption of cleaner transportation methods. Specifically, this bill builds upon the federal incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Job Acts to help Colorado maximize the impact of federal dollars. Tax incentives in HB23-1272 are expected to exceed $60 million with individual elements ramping up or down over time depending on available technologies. The bill: Extends and expands the innovative motor vehicle tax credits and creates an additional $2,500 credit for certain electric passenger vehicles. Continues the innovative truck tax credit for electric and plug-in hybrid electric trucks, with the credit ranging between $5,000 and $12,000 depending on the truck’s weight until 2032. Creates a refundable income tax credit for the sale of qualifying e-bikes if the retailer offers a $700 discount to the customer. Designs a refundable income tax credit for the installation of heat pump technology in residential and nonresidential buildings. The credits will vary based on the type and use of the heat pump. Establishes the refundable industrial clean energy tax credit to implement greenhouse gas emissions reductions at qualifying large facilities. Creates the refundable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility tax credit worth up to $1-5 million annually for the costs of constructing a SAF production facility. Previous Next

On August 7, two laws to support rural health care and increase the availability of telehealth services in rural and underserved areas will go into effect. < Back August 2, 2024 New Laws to Support Rural Health Care, Increase Availability of Telehealth Services Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – On August 7, two laws to support rural health care and increase the availability of telehealth services in rural and underserved areas will go into effect. SB24-055 , sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, improves access to behavioral health care in rural Colorado by creating a new Agricultural and Rural Community Behavioral Health program that will work to better connect farmers, ranchers, and their families to behavioral health care. The program will partner with the Behavioral Health Administration, Colorado Department of Agriculture, and stakeholders to work directly with behavioral health care providers and liaisons to provide support to agricultural industry workers and communities throughout Colorado. “Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and their families are struggling to get the behavioral health care they urgently need, and the results have been disastrous,” said Marchman. “Everyone deserves to have behavioral health care created by and for their own communities. This new law will bolster our ongoing efforts to close the rural mental health gap, and ultimately help save lives across our state.” “Coloradans living in rural and mountain communities, like mine, deserve access to high-quality health care – including mental and behavioral health care,” said Lukens. “We’re taking steps to expand mental health care support for our farmers and ranchers in their communities. Mental health matters in every corner of our state, and this new law will improve access, outreach, and connection for our farmers and ranchers to receive the behavioral health care they need.” Also sponsored by Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle and Representative Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, SB24-055 establishes a working group and centralizes existing grant programs within the Colorado Department of Agriculture to better address the root causes of behavioral health issues in rural and agricultural communities. Farmers, ranchers and those in the agriculture industry currently rank fourth in the state for the highest suicide rate. This law aims to connect farmers and ranchers with tailored behavioral health care resources. Sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Representative Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, SB24-168 d irects the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to reimburse the use of telehealth remote monitoring for outpatient services for Medicaid patients and provide coverage for continuous glucose monitoring devices. Also sponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, the new law creates a grant program to assist rural and shortage area providers in obtaining remote telehealth monitoring equipment. Funds from the grant program could also be used for training staff on utilizing remote monitoring equipment. “Expanding access to health care is critical, especially in our rural and mountain communities,” said McCluskie. “Members of my family live with diabetes, and continuous glucose monitors have made living with this disease better for all of us and ensured strong health outcomes for my husband. To help ensure everyone has access to the health care they need when they need it, our law works to expand and encourage telehealth options. This new law also establishes a grant program to help our hospitals and providers implement telehealth technology and better serve our community members.” “Coloradans in my district know firsthand how challenging and expensive it can be to access critical health care services,” said Roberts. “During my time in the legislature, I’ve worked hard to deliver high-quality, affordable health care services to underserved and rural areas and this law expands access to remote health services and continuous glucose monitors, which have proven to be successful at ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time and save so much money in the long-run.” “For many of the residents living in my district, the nearest hospital is miles and miles away, making it hard to receive high-quality health care when they need it,” said Martinez. “This law expands telehealth services into rural and underserved communities like mine so everyone can access the treatment and care needed to live a healthy life. Our bipartisan law also creates a rural-specific grant program to help our health care providers locate and implement telehealth remote monitoring technology in their practice.” Previous Next