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DENVER, CO - Governor Polis today signed legislation into law to continue the successful I Matter program that connects Colorado youth with free counseling sessions by allowing school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools to support student’s access to mental health care. < Back June 5, 2023 Colorado to Offer Youth Mental Health Screenings DENVER, CO - Governor Polis today signed legislation into law to continue the successful I Matter program that connects Colorado youth with free counseling sessions by allowing school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools to support student’s access to mental health care. “Improving access to behavioral health care for Colorado kids has been my top priority as a legislator, and I’m excited that Colorado will soon offer free screenings to students to help connect them to free mental health resources,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City . “We’ve successfully connected over 8,500 Colorado kids with free counseling sessions since the implementation of our I Matter program in the fall of 2022. This new law will help the program reach more youth in need of care, preventing youth mental health issues from escalating to the point of requiring more serious treatments or interventions.” “I'm proud that Colorado is a leader when it comes to providing accessible, affordable mental health care for our youth. But our kids are in crisis and we must do more,” Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, said . “This new law will help identify issues early on so kids and families can get the support they need. I’m thrilled to champion additional mental health supports for Colorado’s youth." HB23-1003 allows public schools to participate in a voluntary mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth graders. Schools are required to notify parents of the date and time that the mental health screening is scheduled, the purpose, and information about the mental health screener. Parents will have the option to opt their child out of participating, although students over 12 years old could still decide themselves to participate, due to existing Colorado law . The screening will be conducted via a questionnaire and evaluated by a licensed screener. If a student is at-risk for attempting suicide, physical self-harm, harming others, or is in crisis, the licensed screener will immediately notify the parents as well as the school and the school will react according to school crisis response policy. If the licensed screener finds the student in need of further help, they will contact the parent about additional treatment options, including information or a referral to the I Matter program. The I Matter Program was created with the passage of HB21-1258 , sponsored by Rep. Michaelson Jenet, and expanded by HB22-1243 . The program received $15 million dollars in funding from the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions to provide six free therapy sessions to youth across the state and is available virtually and in person. Since the program started in October 2021, over 8,500 Colorado kids have utilized the free therapy services, with almost 44% attending at least four sessions. The participating students come from 59 of the 64 counties across Colorado. Previous Next

Governor Polis today signed legislation that will save Coloradans money on rental applications. < Back May 4, 2023 SIGNED! Vigil and Weissman Bill to Save Renters Money DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed legislation that will save Coloradans money on rental applications. “As any renter will tell you, application fees add up quickly when you’re shopping around for your next place to call home,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs . “Our law allows rental applicants to pay an application fee just one time and then opt to share that information with multiple landlords. We’re breaking down barriers to securing housing, saving Coloradans money, and most importantly, lifting up renters across our state.” “Coloradans shouldn’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars on rental applications – and now they don’t have to,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora . “Renters sometimes apply for dozens of housing options at once so they can secure a place to live, and each time they pay around a $40 rental application fee. This law permits renters to reuse application documents when applying for housing which will save Coloradans money and make our state’s rental process more equitable in the process.” HB23-1099 builds off the Rental Application Fairness Act that was passed by Colorado Democrats in 2019 by allowing prospective renters to reuse a rental application for up to 30 days without paying additional fees. It also minimizes the number of times a credit score is pulled, protecting a potential renter’s credit score from being continuously damaged from credit score inquiries. Under this law, a landlord must return an application to a potential tenant to reuse if the application is denied and provide a notice of the applicant’s right to dispute the accuracy of the report. All rental reports, credit history, and criminal record documents must come from verified consumer reporting agencies to be eligible for reuse. Previous Next

< Back April 8, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: GOVERNOR SIGNS BILLS TO PREVENT CRIME, IMPROVE MISSING PERSONS INVESTIGATIONS DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will prevent crime and improve missing persons investigations. “The legislation signed today will make our communities safer by ensuring that law enforcement has the tools they need to charge suspects in possession of a weapon who were already convicted for a prior offense,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “This bipartisan law, drafted based on recommendations by the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, will ensure consequences for people illegally possessing firearms – a commonsense way to prevent gun violence.” “I am proud of the broad, bipartisan stakeholder work that went into crafting last year’s effort to reform misdemeanor sentencing laws, and today, we continue to build on that success by enacting additional bipartisan legislation which clarifies and strengthens provisions of last year’s reform,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “Today’s bills signed into law will ensure that individuals who threaten public safety while committing the felony act of possession of a weapon by a previous offender will, upon conviction, face mandatory prison time. Our efforts will lead to safer communities by ensuring clarity in our sentencing statutes, and I am grateful that Governor Polis signed them both into law today.” HB22-1257 , sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Matt Soper and Senators Julie Gonzales and Bob Gardner, was developed from recommendations of the bipartisan Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), which includes representation from law enforcement and district attorneys .The commission approved the recommendations with no opposition . The law would update SB21-271, which passed the Senate unanimously last year. SB21-271, which was also developed from CCJJ recommendations, realigned the misdemeanor sentencing grid to better match sentencing guidelines to specific crimes. HB22-1257 will make communities safer by expanding the types of prior offenses that would lead to someone being charged with the crime of “possession of a weapon by person with a prior offense” (POWPO). Republicans in the House largely opposed adding additional prior offenses to the list on the grounds that it would restrict the rights of felons to possess a firearm. “The first hours after someone goes missing are the most crucial, but too often those precious hours are squandered, and that needs to change,” said Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora. “This bill will address those inadequacies and ensure that missing persons reports are taken seriously and responded to promptly. Streamlining our state investigation practices improves the chances of finding missing people, especially missing Indigenous women and women of color, and reuniting them with their families.” “SB22-095 will strengthen our state’s response to missing persons reports and ensure that Colorado promptly initiates investigations and responds when someone is reported missing,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “Investigations into missing Indigienous women and women of color must be initiated promptly every time, regardless of where in Colorado the person went missing or was last seen. I’m proud the governor has signed this important legislation into law.” “Every single missing person report filed in Colorado needs to be acted on quickly, and investigated with care,” said Senator Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “Unfortunately, far too many missing persons cases have been stymied by a broken set of rules that pick and choose which reports receive the level of care everyone deserves. Senate Bill 95 eliminates those barriers and increases the chances of reuniting missing people with their loved ones.” “This law will make Colorado’s law enforcement departments more effective by better coordinating missing persons reports, no matter where they are filed or where in Colorado the person went missing,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Too many missing women, especially woman of color, and their loved ones are still seeking justice because their cases are underreported and under investigated. This law will streamline the process to initiate an investigation to ensure departments are communicating with each other and the Colorado Bureau of Investigations to locate missing persons.” SB22-095 , sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields and Dominic Moreno and Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Bacon, would improve missing persons investigations by clarifying when Colorado law enforcement departments must accept a missing persons report. Under current law, departments are required to accept a report submitted in person if the missing person resides in the agency’s jurisdiction or was last believed to be in the agency’s jurisdiction. The bill expands this requirement to include missing persons who are Colorado residents or were last believed to be in Colorado. It also requires reports to be accepted if they are submitted over the phone or electronically. If the missing person is an adult, the agency must notify the Colorado Bureau of Investigation within eight hours (down from 24 hours), and if the missing person is a child, the agency must notify CBI within 2 hours. Previous Next

SB25-041 will refine competency restoration and sanity examinations while expanding supportive housing for incarcerated individuals < Back June 2, 2025 New Law Will Improve Treatment of People with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System SB25-041 will refine competency restoration and sanity examinations while expanding supportive housing for incarcerated individuals DENVER, CO – The Governor today signed legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, Senator Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Representative and Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, to improve services for people with behavioral health disorders in the criminal justice system. “Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected in their interactions with law enforcement and the justice system, especially people battling serious behavioral health issues,” said Michaelson Jenet. “This new law works to streamline and protect access to the resources that the most vulnerable people in the criminal justice system need to heal and eventually re-enter their communities feeling healthier, stronger and more productive.” “To create safer communities, we need to make sure Coloradans in the criminal justice system with behavioral health disorders receive the care they need to stand trial effectively,” said English. “Without consistent behavioral health care for these individuals, criminal trials are likely to be delayed, which hinders our justice system. This new law streamlines access to inpatient services for those in the criminal justice system to help reduce recidivism and prioritize justice for survivors.” “Coloradans seeking support in the aftermath of mental health crises deserve comprehensive care and a system willing to treat them with dignity,” said Amabile. “Every American is owed the right to fair criminal trial, and we owe it to victims, defendants, their families and their communities to implement an equitable and dignified environment for proceedings to take place.” SB25-041 , cosponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, R-El Paso County, will allow the Colorado Department of Human Services to continue providing inpatient services for up to 90 days after an individual’s case is dismissed because the person is deemed “incompetent to proceed.” It also allows the department to work with community organizations to provide permanent supportive housing for these individuals or those who complete the Bridges of Colorado program . The new law was recommended by the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Interim Committee , which is responsible for overseeing its associated task force and implementing recommendations regarding the treatment of people with behavioral health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Previous Next

Majority Leader Monica Duran will receive the Carpenters Tool Bag Award this evening from the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters to celebrate her advocacy to prevent wage theft. < Back December 13, 2023 Majority Leader Duran to Receive Award for Advocacy Against Wage Theft Denver, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran will receive the Carpenters Tool Bag Award this evening from the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters to celebrate her advocacy to prevent wage theft. “Coloradans rely on every dollar they earned to afford their rent, groceries, and other necessities, and wage theft makes it even more difficult for Coloradans to afford their bills,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “I’m honored to receive this award celebrating the laws we’ve passed to ensure Coloradans receive the money they’ve earned and to hold violators accountable. I am committed to continue championing workers’ rights to ensure that Colorado has the protections our workers deserve.” Majority Leader Duran sponsored SB22-161 , ensuring Colorado workers are able to recover legally-earned wages. The law also modernizes Colorado’s wage enforcement procedures by streamlining the enforcement of wage theft laws and expanding the Department of Labor and Employment’s ability to investigate wage violators. She also voted to approve a 2019 law that makes withholding or stealing wages a criminal offense. A 2022 report by the Colorado Fiscal Institute found that nearly 440,000 low-wage Colorado workers experience $728 million in wage theft annually. Workers of color and women are most likely to be victims of wage theft, and the most common industries for wage theft are retail, construction, and food service. Wage theft can include not paying workers minimum wage, non-payment of wages, misclassifying workers as independent contractors or as management to avoid paying overtime and taking tips that were meant for the employees. Previous Next

Law would stand up health care programs at higher education institutions in Greeley, Fort Collins, Denver and Trinidad < Back May 1, 2024 Polis Signs Bill to Create Northern Colorado Medical School and Boost Health Care Training DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis signed legislation today to help create a new medical college at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), and other construction and renovation projects at various higher education institutions across the state to better support both health care and veterinary care education. HB24-1231, sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Lindsey Daugherty and Senator Kyle Mullica will help address health care workforce shortages in Colorado. “This critical law will help create a new college of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Northern Colorado, which will serve as a strong economic driver for Greeley and the surrounding communities and meet the physician workforce needs of our rural and underserved neighborhoods,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “We’ve taken historic steps to increase access to health care Coloradans can afford and this law builds on those efforts to save people money on health care and address our workforce shortages. From CSU Fort Collins and MSU Denver to Trinidad State College, this law supports new higher education health care projects and programs that will serve generations to come.” “Right now, Colorado faces a significant health care provider shortage causing lapses in care, longer wait times, and limited critical-care services in both rural and urban communities,” Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, said. “As the only working nurse at the Colorado State Capitol, I know how critical it is to build the health care workforce our state needs. I’m proud to have championed this new law that will invest in four institutions committed to addressing the state's health care challenges, and I look forward to continuing my work to ensure every Coloradan has access to the care they need to thrive.” “Across the state, Colorado is experiencing a shortage of critical health care and veterinary providers, which is why we are standing up new medical and veterinary programs to train the next generation of professionals in these fields,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada . “With this law, Colorado will be better positioned to train and educate future osteopathic doctors, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, nurses, and other critical allied health care providers. I’m proud of our work to lower barriers for Coloradans who want to enter these professions and better serve our communities.” HB24-1231 , also sponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, will stand up four projects related to health sciences education programs for medical professions. Specifically, the law will fund the: · Construction of a new College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) · Construction of the Health Institute Tower at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) · Construction of the Veterinary Health Education Complex at Colorado State University (CSU) · Renovation of the Valley Campus Main Building at Trinidad State College This law will jumpstart a second-of-its-kind medical program at UNC, which will streamline 150 new osteopathic doctors into the workforce each year and help address primary health care needs of Coloradans. The UNC College of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to generate $1.4 billion over the next 20 years in economic impact, with an estimated $500 million to remain in Weld County. The law will also provide funding to help higher education institutions train more nurses, veterinarians and other mid-level health care and veterinary care professionals. Colorado is facing a significant health care provider shortage that is causing lapses in care, longer wait times, and limited critical-care services in both rural and urban communities. HB24-1231 is the state’s largest higher education investment aimed at bolstering the state’s health care workforce so Coloradans can receive the health care they need, when they need it. Previous Next

< Back May 22, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES TAX FAIRNESS PACKAGE DENVER, CO– The House this morning passed legislation by a vote of 37-24 to increase the business personal property tax exemption to $50,000, exempting two-thirds of the businesses that currently pay the tax. Later today, the House will debate legislation to provide economic assistance to hundreds of thousands of hardworking families and Coloradans. The two bills boost the state Earned Income Tax Credit, fund the state Child Tax Credit, and raise the exemption for business personal property taxes by limiting loopholes for the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations. “Passing the tax fairness for Coloradans package will provide direct relief to hardworking families and small businesses by closing loopholes that benefit a few of the wealthiest individuals and corporations,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Colorado’s millionaires have only grown their wealth during the pandemic while low and middle-income families are falling further behind and struggling to make ends meet. We can create a fairer tax code and deliver meaningful relief to the people and businesses that need it by ending tax subsidies for those who have already reached the top.” “We have a clear choice in front of us–we can provide significant relief to hardworking families, individuals and small businesses, or we can continue to give tax handouts to the wealthiest people and largest corporations,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Republicans are fighting to protect tax breaks for millionaires and corporations with offshore bank accounts. Meanwhile, Democrats are fighting for economic assistance for hundreds of thousands of hardworking Coloradans and small businesses.” HB21-1312, which passed the House on Third Reading today and which is endorsed by the Colorado Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, would eliminate business personal property taxes (BPPT) for over two-thirds of the businesses that remit BPPT. Currently, businesses with under $7,900 in business personal property do not have to pay BPPT. The bill increases this exemption to $50,000. In addition to providing an important tax cut to tens of thousands of small businesses, raising the exemption means businesses will no longer have to complete and submit burdensome paperwork needed to claim the BPPT exemption. In order to provide this relief, the bill modifies ineffective tax subsidies for the largest businesses, such as strengthening the criteria insurance companies must meet in order receive a 50 percent discount on their insurance premium tax rate. HB21-1311, which will be debated today during Second Reading, would boost the incomes of over 300,000 hardworking Coloradans by increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 20 percent of the federal credit and by funding the state’s Child Tax Credit, which was created in 2013, but has never been funded. In order to provide this relief, the bill closes loopholes primarily used for tax avoidance or which only benefit three-tenths of a percent of taxpayers. Many of the tax expenditures that these bills seek to close or limit have been identified by the State Auditor as ineffective and only benefit a small number of businesses and Colorado’s wealthiest residents. The bills seek to narrow expenditures that benefit only a few individuals and large businesses in order to provide broad tax relief to large numbers of hardworking Coloradans and small businesses. For fact sheets or to learn more about the bills visit taxjustice.co Previous Next

Legislation would improve transit system to help housing, climate goals < Back April 10, 2024 Democrats Unveil Bill to Improve Transit, Meet Housing and Climate Goals Legislation would improve transit system to help housing, climate goals DENVER, CO - Colorado Democrats today introduced legislation to better align the Regional Transportation District (RTD) with initiatives to address housing, climate, and workforce issues. The legislation would also increase accountability and improve coordination between transit systems. “We all share the goal of an excellent multi-modal transit system that gets all riders to where they need to go,” said Governor Jared Polis. “The improvements in this bill will help professionalize RTD’s governance, provide more accountability and transparency to taxpayers which will provide the public confidence needed for additional investments, and give transit agencies across our state more tools to deliver more convenient and low cost transit service. I thank the bill sponsors for their work to strengthen transit in our state, meet the needs of Coloradans, and help support more housing near transportation hubs while expanding ridership and improving Colorado’s air quality.” “Colorado Democrats are focused on addressing issues like housing affordability and workforce development, and transit is a critical piece to help make those a reality," said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield. “Policies allowing density and transit-oriented housing are most effective when paired with a strong transit system for commuters and travelers. This bill will improve RTD services and reliability and position the transit system to better meet the needs of our residents by professionalizing the board, increasing accountability and better aligning RTD planning with community needs.” “Coloradans deserve a reliable mass transit system,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “People can’t get to work, find affordable housing, or reduce car miles traveled without a modern and reliable transit system. Our legislation will boost ridership and get Coloradans where they need to go while helping us meet our housing, climate and transit goals.” HB24-1447 requires the RTD board of directors to create a 10-year strategic plan that outlines the RTD's plans to increase ridership, improve transparency, use district-owned land to prioritize the development of affordable housing and mixed-use, walkable developments, and update parking policies. The plan must support the state's climate, housing, and transportation goals and identify potential funding opportunities that would expand transit and improve equity and efficiencies in the transit system. The bill would also require a study to be conducted regarding the most efficient method of delivering service based on the current and future size of the district, including services for transit-reliant riders.. The RTD Board of Directors would be required to consider the study's findings when they develop their 10-year strategic plan. Currently, there are 15 RTD directors who serve 4-year terms. To bring additional expertise and experience to the RTD board, beginning January 1, 2025, this bill would create a new board of directors made up of: Five directors who would be elected by voters of the district, Two directors appointed by the Governor who would represent the district at large, The executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) or the director's designee, who would serve as a non-voting member of the board, and Two additional non-voting directors who would represent the district at large and would be appointed by the Denver Regional Council of Governments. To improve coordination between transit providers and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), the bill requires a transportation provider to: Submit its proposed fixed-route transit service plans to the MPO, Coordinate with the MPO regarding the implementation of these routes, Ensure that the transit provider's service decisions are consistent with the MPO's regional transportation plan, Coordinate transit and land use decisions to ensure that transit services will be provided to new and existing transit-oriented communities, and Acknowledge established transit centers and provide a preference for transit centers when determining transit services and routes. The bill requires CDOT to establish a bus driver training program to support transit systems statewide, ensure transportation safety, and fill workforce shortages that threaten reliability and often force suspensions of service. Under the bill, RTD would be required to create three public accountability dashboards and create, maintain, and regularly update a website containing information about RTD's financial plan. Previous Next

< Back November 4, 2020 DEMS SECURE HOUSE MAJORITY DENVER, CO — Coloradans voted tonight in favor of continued Democratic leadership of the Colorado House. With ballots still being counted, results indicate that House Democrats will have a strong majority, winning at least 41 seats, with additional races still too close to call. “I’d like to thank the people of Colorado for continuing to put your trust in us and for the clear message you sent tonight about how we can continue moving the state forward for all Coloradans,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Now, we must all work together to help our nation heal, to take control of this pandemic, and to build back a better, stronger Colorado than the one we had before COVID hit.” “From lowering the cost of healthcare to protecting our communities from oil and gas drilling, our Democratic Majority made important progress over the past two years on issues that are important to families across our state,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “We governed responsibly through the pandemic, passing an ambitious COVID relief package to help Coloradans make ends meet and get through this crisis. Tonight, it’s clear Coloradans support what we’ve accomplished and want to see our work continue.” Colorado Democrats strengthened their majority in the Colorado House of Representatives, with David Ortiz victorious in HD-38 , a seat that had previously been held by a Republican. During a victory celebration over Zoom, Majority Leader Garnett sent a clear message about the future Coloradans deserve: “For far too many, and especially for our communities of color, the American Dream is broken, with only flat wages and mounting debt in its wake. Together, we can forge an economic recovery that renews the fundamental promise of America – that if you get a good education, work hard, and play by the rules, you can have a fair shot at success. “To every Coloradan whose support we didn’t earn this time around, we’ll be working for you and your family too. Together we can build back a better Colorado for all.” Election night results as of 9:50 showed Coloradans had definitively re-elected at least 41 House Democrats: Susan Lontine (HD-01) of Denver and Jefferson Counties Alec Garnett (HD-02), Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (HD-04) Alex Valdez (HD-05), Steven Woodrow (HD-06), Leslie Herod (HD-08), and Emily Sirota (HD-09) of Denver County Edie Hooton (HD-10) of Boulder County Tony Exum, Sr. (HD-17) and Marc Snyder (HD-18) of El Paso County Chris Kennedy (HD-23), Monica Duran (HD-24), Lisa Cutter (HD-25), , Brianna Titone (HD-27), and Kerry Tipper (HD-28) of Jefferson County Dylan Roberts (HD-26), Eagle and Routt Counties Dafna Michaelson Jenet (HD-30), Yadira Caraveo (HD-31), Adrienne Benavidez (HD-32), Kyle Mullica (HD-34), and Shannon Bird (HD-35) of Adams County Matt Gray (HD-33) of Boulder and Broomfield Counties Meg Froelich (HD-03), Mike Weissman (HD-36), Tom Sullivan (HD-37), and Dominique Jackson (HD-42) of Arapahoe County Daneya Esgar (HD-46) of Pueblo County Mary Young (HD-50) of Weld County Cathy Kipp (HD-52) and Jeni James Arndt (HD-53) of Larimer County Barbara McLachlan (HD-59) of Archuleta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Ouray, and San Juan Counties Julie McCluskie (HD-61) of Delta, Gunnison, Lake, Pitkin, and Summit Counties Donald Valdez (HD-62) of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Mineral, Pueblo, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties. With thousands of ballots yet to be counted, HD-47 where Bri Buentello is seeking reelection is too close to call. Joining the House Democratic Caucus for the first time in January 2021: Jennifer Bacon (HD-7) of Denver County fills the seat previously held by James Coleman, now the Senator-elect for SD-33 Karen McCormick (HD-11) and Tracey Bernett (HD-12) of Boulder County fill the seats held by Jonathan Singer, who is term limited, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, now Senator-elect for SD-17 Judy Amabile (HD-13) of Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, and Jackson Counties fills the seat held by Speaker KC Becker Lindsey Daugherty (HD-29) of Jefferson County fills the seat held by Tracy Kraft-Tharp, now Commissioner-elect for Jefferson County Naquetta Ricks (HD-40) and Iman Jodeh (HD-41) of Arapahoe County fill the seats held by Janet Buckner, now Senator-elect for SD-28, and Jovan Melton, who is term limited. Races have not been called in: Jennifer Mitkowski (HD-43) Mary Parker (HD-22) Previous Next

< Back May 5, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES COLORADO COMEBACK PACKAGE TO SUPPORT WORKERS, STUDENTS, BUSINESSES, FAMILIES, AND MORE House advances five state stimulus proposals on second reading DENVER, CO– The House today gave preliminary approval to five Colorado Comeback state stimulus proposals to give restaurants a leg up, invest in jobs training, close the COVID learning gap, and boost affordable housing opportunities. The bills are part of the $800 million package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. “Restaurants, bars, and other food service businesses took quite a hit during the pandemic, but many are on the mend as our economy continues to safely reopen,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn. “Extending a crucial tax break that has served as a lifeline for many of these businesses will help our restaurant industry build back stronger. I hope and expect that the summer months will be a boon for small businesses across the state, and I’m proud to say that many of them will be able to take thousands of dollars in additional deductions. HB21-1265 , sponsored by Reps Kyle Mullica and Kevin Van Winkle R-Highlands Ranch, continues a successful sales tax assistance effort passed during the 2020 special session. It allows restaurants, bars, caterers, and food service contractors (such as airline food service contractors and food concession contractors at sporting events) to deduct up to $70,000 in net taxable sales from their monthly state sales tax return for five different locations and retain the resulting sales tax revenue during the months of June, July, and August 2021. “Coloradans who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 are eager to get back to work,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “By investing in the SNAP Employment First initiative, we’re making sure that the Colorado comeback extends to low-income workers across the state. The skills and jobs training provided by this proven program will go a long way toward helping Colorado’s workers find rewarding employment that will support them for years to come.” The SNAP Employment First initiative has successfully helped Coloradans who receive SNAP benefits obtain new skills to thrive and reenter the workforce. HB21-1270 , sponsored by Representatives Tony Exum and Yadira Caraveo, leverages $3 million in state funds to draw down an additional $3 million in federal funds to provide a total of $6 million for jobs and skills training services to SNAP recipients. The funds may also be used to support work based learning opportunities and expanding 3rd party partnerships to expand the SNAP employment and training program’s reach. “Affordable housing has long been a top priority for myself and my colleagues in the legislature,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The pandemic only heightened the need to take bold action to ensure that Colorado families can keep a roof over their head despite the economic turmoil. As we work to build back a stronger Colorado, we’re giving local governments the tools and the funding they need to meet the unique affordable housing needs of their rural, rural-resort, suburban and urban communities.” Local governments are on the forefront of building affordable housing, but often lack the tools and resources to increase the available housing stock. HB21-1271 , sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Iman Jodeh, provides $13 million in incentives and technical assistance to local governments to provide for the rapid deployment of affordable housing projects and to also ensure local communities have the tools and resources they need to help them identify and meet their unique housing needs. HB21-1234 , sponsored by Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, would create and fund the Colorado High Impact Tutoring Program. Data consistently demonstrates that high-impact tutoring, when administered during the school day to groups of four of fewer students by the same qualified tutor at least three times per week, is one of the most effective interventions to raise student achievement. This program would be administered under the Colorado Department of Education and would provide grants to local education providers for high impact tutoring programs designed to address COVID-related learning loss. The bill outlines the process and requirements for applying for funding, and establishes that rural education providers and schools serving low-income or underserved students must be among the criteria taken into consideration in awarding grants. Previous Next

The House today passed the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 state budget package < Back April 10, 2025 Bipartisan FY 25-26 Budget to Protect Investments in K-12 Education, Medicaid Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 state budget package. This bipartisan budget protects critical investments in K-12 education and Medicaid, caps tuition for higher education, and makes responsible reductions across programs and agencies to achieve a balanced budget. “This budget is something we can be proud of because it navigates significant reductions in resources while still meeting our core responsibilities. It’s no secret that protecting essential services, like K-12 education and health care, required strategic reductions to our state’s spending plan,” said JBC Vice Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “From protecting access to health care for our most vulnerable, to fully funding our public schools, and capping college tuition increases, this bipartisan budget invests in the services that Coloradans rely on. Despite having to make painful decisions over the last few months, our efforts preserve the popular services that keep Coloradans safe and healthy and expand opportunity for all." “I’m proud of the thoughtful decisions we made to soften the impact of our $1.2 billion gap while prioritizing the essential services needed by families and older Coloradans,” said JBC Member Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Making these cuts doesn’t feel good; however, TABOR requires difficult tradeoffs in order to protect funding for essential services like K-12 education and Medicaid. While we’ve made progress in Colorado, I remain deeply concerned about federal policies that could harm our economy, increase costs and freeze the federal funding for services Coloradans rely on.“ The state’s $43.9 billion budget contains $16.7 billion in general fund expenditures. This year’s Long Bill, SB25-206 , is accompanied by 61 “orbital bills,” which move through the legislative process alongside the budget and make the statutory changes needed to balance the budget. The Long Bill passed by a vote of 44-21. The vast majority of orbital bills passed with bipartisan support from lawmakers. Protecting Investments in K-12 and Higher Education Protecting K-12 Funding: In just the last few years, Colorado Democrats have increased total funding for our schools by nearly $3 billion. Since the 2018-19 school year, per pupil funding has increased from $8,123 to $11,852 next year. Despite a declining enrollment environment, this year’s budget builds on steady progress to increase the resources going to our classrooms by directing an additional $150 million more from the General Fund into schools as compared to the FY24-25 budget. Ultimately, total K-12 school funding will increase by over $250 million next year through HB25-1320 , the 2025 School Finance Act. Capping Tuition Rates for Higher Education: In recent years, Colorado Democrats have fought to increase college access by limiting tuition increases and boosting funding for financial aid. This year’s budget includes a 3.5 percent cap on tuition increases for in-state students. Continuing Medicaid Services for Vulnerable Coloradans Protecting Medicaid Services that Coloradans Rely On: This year, Colorado Democrats rejected proposed reductions to provider rates and instead secured a moderate 1.6 percent increase and protected Medicaid eligibility, avoiding dire impacts to Coloradans who rely on Medicaid services. However, this progress remains under threat by federal government actions to potentially cut Medicaid. Continuing Dental Services Provided Through Medicaid: This year’s budget protects funding for Coloradans on Medicaid to receive dental care. Supporting Colorado Kids and Families Bolstering Child Care Assistance: The budget invests $15 million in FY24-25 and $10 million in FY25-26 to increase support for the child care assistance program, a vital resource for low-income families to ensure access to quality child care providers which have seen long waitlists and frozen enrollment in many counties due to funding restrictions. Early Intervention Support for Colorado Children: The budget increases support for early intervention services that help bridge developmental gaps for infants and toddlers who were born premature or with other special needs. This year, Colorado Democrats acted swiftly to plug an unexpected gap in funding in FY24-25 by providing $4 million to halt proposed service reductions, and are investing an additional $16.5 million to sustain the program in FY25-26. Healthy School Meals for All: This budget fully funds the Healthy School Meals for All program through the end of the year, preserving what voters previously approved at the ballot. If HB25-1274 passes, a referred ballot measure in November will ask voters to weigh in on whether to continue the program or scale it back. Anti-Poverty Programs Administered by Local Governments: This year’s budget protects programs like TANF and SNAP administered by local governments to serve the most vulnerable communities. Preserving Colorado’s Public Lands and Natural Resources Investing in State Parks: This budget preserves and improves Colorado’s state parks, including $52 million in investments to protect critical habitats, maintain park facilities, and reinforce parks infrastructure. Promoting Water Conservation: This year’s budget protects funding for water conservation and resource management projects to ensure access to clean water for generations of Coloradans to come. Safeguarding Colorado's Civil Liberties Maintaining Election Security: The Trump administration abruptly halted federal support for election security, including from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. This budget keeps Colorado’s elections safe and secure by providing $410,000 for robust security assessments and critical technology for all local elections systems. Defending Against Unlawful Federal Actions: Amidst ongoing uncertainty from the Trump administration, the budget allocates an additional $604,000 for increased support in the Attorney General’s Office to fight reckless, unlawful federal actions and protect federal funding that Coloradans rely on. This year’s budget also sets aside $4 million via SB25-269 and HB25-1321 to protect Colorado from the Trump administration's attempts to freeze federal grants or undermine Colorado’s sovereignty. Previous Next

SB25-005 would update the 80-year-old Colorado Labor Peace Act to empower workers, increase wages and strengthen the middle class < Back May 5, 2025 Worker Protection Act Advances House DENVER, CO — The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to update Colorado’s labor law and support workers. SB25-005 is sponsored by Representative Javier Mabrey and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon. “Since the 1970s, we've seen income inequality skyrocket to levels we haven't seen since the 1920s as union membership has declined due to anti-union laws like the ones we have in Colorado,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “Since the New Deal, we've had one silver bullet for growing the economy, and that's unions. To establish basic principles of workplace democracy and fairness, this bill would make it easier for workers to form and sustain unions. Passing this legislation affirms our support as Democrats for workers and their right to collective bargaining in the workplace.” “To strengthen the middle class, we need to uplift working people and empower unions to fight for them,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This bill gives workers the power to negotiate for a better life for themselves and their families and increase wages, benefits and workplace safety. Unionized workers currently earn more than non-unionized workers in the same industry; this bill is about standing up for workers and strengthening their collective voice.” The Worker Protection Act ( SB25-005 ) updates the Colorado Labor Peace Act to make it easier for workers to negotiate a union security clause in the collective bargaining process. Currently, Colorado labor law requires two elections for workers seeking to form a union and collect dues: one that meets the federal standard set by the National Labor Relations Act and a second election which must be won by a supermajority approval of at least 75 percent of those who vote, or 50 percent plus one of all employees eligible to vote, whichever is greater. This process creates a uniquely high threshold for workers to achieve the right to negotiate with their employers. From the 40-hour work week to child labor laws, unions are incredibly beneficial to our economy, democracy and strengthening working families. Union workers earn 10.2 percent more than non-union workers with similar jobs and qualifications. Unions also play a role in boosting wages across the board – wages in states with anti-worker laws are 3.1 percent lower than in states with these laws. Unions also help reduce income inequality and bridge racial and gender pay gaps. Additionally, unions help increase homeownership and help Coloradans build wealth. For example, working class union households are 13 percent more likely to own a home, and non-white Hispanic households experience a 17 percent increase relative to non-union households. Previous Next