< Back February 14, 2020 STATE EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS WINS PRELIMINARY HOUSE APPROVAL Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs & Services Act would allow state employees to join together to bargain for better pay and terms of employment DENVER, CO — The Colorado House today gave preliminary approval to the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act. HB20-1153 , sponsored by Representative Daneya Esgar and cosponsored by the entire House Democratic Caucus, would allow state employees to collectively bargain on matters of pay, benefits, and terms of employment. “This bill would enshrine in our laws the Colorado value of empowering workers to fight for a better life for themselves, their families and their communities,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo, the prime sponsor of HB20-1153. “Across Colorado, our dedicated state employees serve our veterans, keep our prisons safe, plow our roads in winter storms and protect our air and water, but their pay and benefits haven’t kept pace. It’s time to rewrite the rules so that our state workers can innovate on the job to improve state services and negotiate for fair wages and working conditions.” The legislation would allow state employees to collectively bargain on pay and benefit issues. It would foster new partnerships between frontline workers and the state that will lead to innovation and better state services. Furthermore, by helping to fill the nearly 1 in 5 vacant state positions, the bill will ensure that Colorado has the experienced and talented workforce needed to serve state residents. This legislation is critical to retaining and recruiting the state workforce Coloradans need and deserve. Stagnant wages have led to increased turnover and state employees working multiple jobs, which negatively impacts the delivery of state services. The bill would not permit state employees to strike, which is similar to collective bargaining laws for state employees in the states that have them. Under the bill, the state is required to participate in good faith in the formalized partnership process. All determinations regarding wage and benefit issues reached through the partnership process must be included in the governor’s budget and be approved by the Joint Budget Committee and General Assembly, a transparent process in which the public can engage. Membership in the union would be completely voluntary, but it’s clear that state employees overwhelmingly support union membership in WINS. For more than a decade, WINS has represented state employees who have been united in their desire to be part of an organization that fights to improve their lives. Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2020 COMMITTEE APPROVES PROPOSAL TO STUDY ORGANIC WASTE AND INCENTIVIZE COMPOSTING DENVER, CO — Reps. Lisa Cutter and Meg Froelich’s bipartisan bill, HB20-1047 , today was approved by the House Energy and Environment Committee. The bill was approved by the bipartisan Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee in October and would call for the creation of a statewide organics management plan. The bill passed committee 7-2 and now moves onto the Appropriations Committee. “Composting is a win-win-win — it prevents landfill overuse, improves soil health, and boosts the carbon storage ability of our agricultural lands,” said Rep Cutter (D-Jefferson County). “Caring for our environment and protecting the Colorado Way of Life require us to take a serious look at waste and how it is disposed of. The study put forth by this bill would give our state the crucial information we need to get even closer to our zero waste goal.” “Increasing compost use in agriculture and other sectors is a wonderful way to pull carbon from the atmosphere using natural processes,” said Rep. Froelich (D-Englewood). “This bipartisan bill, which is the result of months of work and stakeholding in the Zero Waste Interim Committee, will give us the information we need to continue our multifaceted approach to tackling climate change. I’m proud to see it move forward today and will continue to work to see it enacted.” As mentioned, HB20-1047 would establish a statewide organics management plan to study the way Colorado disposes of organic waste and encourage the use of composting as a means of carbon storage. In addition to the environmental benefits, compost use could help agriculture producers improve soil health, leading to enhanced crop value and production. If this bill is enacted, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) would consult with a diverse set of stakeholders and submit their management plan by February 1, 2023 to the House Energy and Environment Committee, House Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. Previous Next

Two bills to support veterans passes committee < Back March 16, 2023 Bills to Save Veterans Money and Improve Veteran Services Passes Committee Two bills to support veterans passes committee DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed two bills that will improve access to veteran services and benefits. “This legislation removes unnecessary barriers to the property tax exemptions that veterans with a disability are owed,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, sponsor of SB23-036 . “I know firsthand how difficult it can be to come home from war and have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to receive the benefits and services that were promised. Our bill streamlines the application process for veterans with a disability to more easily receive property tax exemptions that save them money on housing.” This bipartisan bill, also sponsored by Representative Ryan Armagost, streamlines the property tax exemption application process for veterans with a disability. The Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently created the Summary of Benefits letter, a question-and-answer form that gathers key details of a veteran’s personal information to determine service eligibility. Under SB23-036 , veterans will only need to send the Summary of Benefits letter to the Colorado Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (DMVA) instead of both the DMVA and their county government, expediting the process to receive property tax exemptions. Veterans who have received this exemption before January 2024 will not be required to reapply to continue receiving this benefit. The bill passed unanimously by a vote of 9-0. “The Western Regional One Source is a vital resource to our veterans, military members and their families on the Western Slope,” said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie, sponsor of SB23-154 . “In collaboration with community partners, they're providing a wide range of services from mental and behavioral health, to housing, transportation and more. I'm proud to support my fellow veterans by continuing the Western Region One Source making it easier for all Colorado veterans to access the services they need." SB23-154 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, is a bipartisan bill that continues the Western Region One Source, a one-stop center based in Grand Junction for veterans services. The center opened in 2019 to host various veterans services under one roof, making it easier for veterans in rural areas to be connected to resources like health benefits, employment opportunities, housing, transportation, and more. This bill extends the program to keep the center running until 2030. The bill unanimously passed by a vote of 9-0. Previous Next

< Back April 22, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BILLS TO INCREASE AND STRENGTHEN ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Apr. 22) — The House approved three bills today that would increase access to affordable housing across the state. HB19-1309 creates a low cost and effective Mobile Home Park Act Dispute Resolution and Enforcement Program within the Department of Local Affairs Housing Division. It also provides counties the same permissive authority that home-rule municipalities have to enact and enforce regulations. “Colorado mobile home owners have been raising serious concerns for years about mistreatment from park owners. There are more than 900 mobile parks in Colorado and the lack of enforcement of existing laws is troubling,” said Rep. Hooton, D-Boulder. “ This bill will protect Coloradans who are being exploited by relatively loose regulatory structures.” In addition, HB19-1309 extends the time a homeowner has to sell or move from their home after an eviction from 48 hours to 30 days, and extends the time to cure a late payment from five days to ten days. The bill would help provide protections for mobile home park residents. “In rural communities, affordable housing is at a premium and mobile home parks are an essential part of the solution to our housing crisis,” said Rep. McCluskie, D-Dillon. “However, there are many concerns about how residents are being treated in parks. This bill will create a process for effectively resolving conflicts so mobile home parks can remain a strong housing option for Coloradans.” The bill passed on a final vote of 41-23. The House also passed HB19-1245, sponsored by Rep. Mike Weissman. This bill would contribute more funding to the Housing Development Grant Fund within the Department of Local Affairs. The funding could then be used to improve, preserve, or expand the supply of affordable housing in Colorado. “This bill is a significant and meaningful approach to address the state’s affordable housing crisis,” said Rep. Weissman, D-Aurora. “Housing can strengthen a person’s ability to support a family, maintain a job and live a healthy life. This bill is a calibrated approach that would benefit all of Coloradans – especially our most vulnerable families and individuals.” Under current law, a business can keep 3.3 percent of sales tax that it collects for administration purposes. With this new bill, vendors can retain up to four percent of the vendor fees up to a $1,000 monthly cap. This minor statutory change will result in roughly $23 million in revenue in the first year and would invest $45-50 million per year afterwards. A third of these funds would be used to provide affordable housing to low income families. HB19-1245 passed by a final vote of 36-28. It now heads to the Senate. Finally, the House approved a bipartisan bill, HB19-1319 sponsored by Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, that would creates incentives to assist land developers in providing affordable housing statewide, and also identify undeveloped land owned by the state that could be developed for affordable housing purposes. “Too many hardworking Coloradans are not able to afford a place to live,” said Rep. Bird, D-Westminster. “This is a problem in urban, suburban and rural communities. So many people and communities are counting on us to address this challenge and to make meaningful change. This bill will help our state make use of un-utilized property and remove obsolete regulatory hurdles that stand in the way of funding affordable housing.” HB19-1319 passed with a bipartisan vote of 63-1. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

The bipartisan American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee today advanced three bills. < Back September 26, 2024 JOINT RELEASE: American Indian Affairs Interim Committee Advances Three Bills DENVER, CO – The bipartisan American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee today advanced three bills. This includes bills to extend the interim committee for an additional five years, reclassify bison as big game and recognize Tribal legal authority in arrest warrants and civil commitments. “When we formed this interim committee, we affirmed our commitment to working alongside the sovereign Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and community partners to create stronger government-to-government relationships,” said Chair Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, sponsor of Bill 1. “One of the bills we advanced today will extend this interim committee for another five years so we can continue to keep an open line of communication between American Indian Tribal Nations and the state of Colorado. Lasting, impactful policy is formed when everyone has a seat at the table, and I’m proud to support these bills that will continue to build trust and support.” “The General Assembly has worked intentionally over the past few years to meaningfully integrate Tribal Nations into decision-making at the Capitol but this dedicated committee was an especially important process,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, sponsor of Bill 5. “The American Indian Affairs Interim Committee has been a productive opportunity to work hand-in-hand on the issues and goals of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and all native people living in Colorado. The legislation I’m sponsoring will ensure the state recognizes decisions by Tribal courts, helping to honor the sovereignty of Tribal Nations and improving public safety.” “The Native Ute people were here long before Colorado was a state, and this interim committee is another avenue to build and strengthen our inter-governmental relationship,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of Bill 3 and 5. “The bills advanced today, specifically our legislation to protect bison and recognize an arrest warrant issued by a Tribal court, will help us bridge the communications gap between governments while honoring the sovereignty of the Tribal Nations.” “It is my honor to work alongside leaders of the Native American community. The interim committee moved three good policies forward today,” said Senator Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, sponsor of Bills 1, 3, and 5. “There is still more work to do, and I am committed to these efforts – beyond this interim committee and into the years to come.” Bill 1 , sponsored by Committee Chair Majority Leader Duran, Vice Chair Sen. Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, Sen. Danielson, and Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, extends the American Indian Affairs Interim Committee for an additional five years. Under this bill, after five years this committee will be re-evaluated by the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council members. The extension of this six-member committee would entail a new progress reporting process to continue to examine issues and challenges that impact American Indian Tribal Nations. Bill 3 , sponsored by Sen. Danielson and Rep. Joseph, would reclassify bison as “wildlife” and “big game” unless the bison are owned as livestock. Classifying bison as wildlife would mean that hunting or poaching the animal is illegal unless authorized by rule of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). CPW would manage the bison in order to help maintain the health of the population and provide compensation for farmers and ranchers if damage to property occurs. Under this bill, bison would join classification with other big game, such as elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose and bighorn sheep. Bison are sacred animals to the Tribal community and this bill would help prevent illegal hunting and poaching. Bill 5 , sponsored by Sens. Roberts and Danielson and Reps. Weinberg and Joseph, would change Colorado state law to recognize an arrest warrant issued by a federally recognized Tribe with a reservation within the exterior boundaries of the state. This bill also requires that any commitment order issued by a Tribal court is recognized to the same extent as a commitment order entered by a state court, which includes orders from law enforcement agencies, behavioral health facilities and health care providers. This bill would ensure that a state court shall give full faith and credit to an arrest warrant and civil commitment issued by a Tribal court. The bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2025 session, interim bills will follow the standard legislative process. Today’s meeting also included presentations from the Office of the Liaison for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, Director Melody Delmar, the Division of Criminal Justice within the Department of Public Safety, Director Dr. Matt Lunn, and the Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser. Previous Next

< Back January 6, 2021 JOINT RELEASE: DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP CONDEMNS ATTACK ON AMERICAN DEMOCRACY DENVER – Senate President Leroy Garcia, House Speaker-designate Alec Garnett, Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar today released the following joint statement condemning the violent assault on the US Capitol and attack on American Democracy: “American democracy is under attack. Nothing short of a siege is raining down on Congress, incited by a president who has refused to give up power after a free and fair election and enabled by those willing to turn a blind eye as our foundational principles are trampled. Our democracy is precious and requires constant vigilance and protection. Today was a harrowing reminder that it can crumble without the efforts of everyday Americans working to keep it strong. “Now is the time for every patriotic leader in our nation, regardless of party, to call for peace and an immediate halt to this violent attack. Our country has a rich history of bipartisan cooperation and common sense. We must work together to ensure that these values prevail again and encourage the public to remain peaceful and solemn in the face of those who wish to divide us.” Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens to support outdoor recreation and rural economies. < Back March 9, 2026 Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Outdoor Recreation Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens to support outdoor recreation and rural economies. HB26-1008 passed the House by a vote of 47-17. “In communities like mine, outdoor recreation drives the economy, bolsters our workforce and supports local businesses,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “With the passage of this bill, we’re taking steps now to balance outdoor recreation, wildlife and our natural resources so that future generations can enjoy them as we do. This bill improves collaboration among key conservation efforts, agriculture, private landowners and other public land users to maximize the outdoor recreation potential of Colorado and protect our open spaces.” HB26-1008 is also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction. Colorado’s lands support a $65.8 billion outdoor recreation economy, and this bill directs stewards of our lands to collaborate with stakeholders from all different land-use backgrounds, from wildlife and natural resource advocates to agricultural communities and private landowners. Specifically, this bill formalizes Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) role in leading Colorado’s outdoors strategy to support conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience in the state. As the lead coordinator, CPW will ensure outdoor recreation needs are well-represented in its leadership and increase coordination to anticipate and respond to potential conflicts. The strategy prioritizes integrating data and metrics from existing efforts, partnering with local and federal agencies, and shoring up state capacity in this area. The goal of HB26-1008 is to proactively streamline planning and management so that the state can continue to provide high-quality experiences to all outdoor users. CPW manages 43 state parks and over 350 wildlife areas, covering roughly 900,000 acres in Colorado. Previous Next

The House today on a preliminary vote passed two bills to protect reproductive rights in Colorado. < Back April 4, 2025 Pair of Bills to Implement Voter-Approved Abortion Protections, Strengthen Reproductive Health Care Advance DENVER, CO – The House today on a preliminary vote passed two bills to protect reproductive rights in Colorado. SB25-183 would update Colorado statute to reflect changes necessitated by the passage of Amendment 79. SB25-139 would strengthen Colorado’s shield law to protect patients and providers from out-of-state attacks on reproductive health care. “Colorado voters have spoken – abortion must remain safe, legal and protected,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor of SB5-183. “Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle abortion access or restrict funding altogether, Coloradans believe it’s your constitutional right to access the reproductive health care you need. This bill will expand access to life-saving reproductive health care, including abortion.” “It’s our responsibility to implement the will of the voters, and that’s what this bill does by further protecting and increasing access to abortion in Colorado,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of SB25-183 . “Nationally, the future of reproductive health care is uncertain, however, it’s clear Coloradans trust people to make their own medical decisions without government interference. This bill implements the will of the voters and reduces barriers so public employees can access the essential reproductive health care they need.” “It’s time to fight back against out-of-state interference and Trump administration threats to restrict abortion and health care for LGBTQ+ Coloradans,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of SB25-129. “Whether you're a Colorado resident or not, this shield law will protect your fundamental right to access the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion.” “We’re reaffirming Colorado’s position as a sanctuary for safe, legal and protected reproductive health care by strengthening our shield laws,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of SB25-129. “Our bill expands Colorado’s shield laws to include telehealth and prescription label privacy. In the face of hostile, out-of-state attacks on our reproductive rights, we’re making sure Colorado has the ability to fight back and protect our patients and providers.” SB25-183 would implement the will of the voters by updating Colorado statute to reflect changes necessitated by Amendment 79’s passage. In November 2024, Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 79 (62 percent of the vote statewide ) to enshrine the right to abortion in the Colorado Constitution and remove the state’s prohibition on using public funds to cover abortion care. Beginning on January 1, 2026, the bill would ensure that state employee health insurance plans cover abortion care and require the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to authorize reimbursements for abortion care under publicly funded insurance, including community members with coverage through Health First Colorado, and the Reproductive Health Care Program. SB25-129 protects providers by allowing a practitioner to request to have their name excluded from a medication abortion label. Instead of their name, the prescription would list the prescribing health-care practice. The bill would also prohibit Colorado entities, or a person or entity licensed or regulated by the state, from cooperating with hostile out-of-state investigations related to legally protected health care. Given recent legal action surrounding out-of-state abortion access, this bill fights back against hostile attacks to keep patients and providers safe while accessing legal health care. Additionally, the bill would enhance privacy protections for patients by placing restrictions on health data collecting and published reports published by the Office of the State Registrar. Previous Next

< Back February 23, 2022 EXTREME GOP ABORTION BANS FAIL With SCOTUS poised to repeal Roe v. Wade, Democrats defeat dangerous legislation to ban abortion in Colorado and surveil patients and providers DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House Health and Insurance Committee today defeated three extreme Republican bills that would have banned abortion in Colorado and created a dangerous and invasive registry to track patients and providers. The Republican bills would imprison providers for performing an abortion and would allow individuals to sue health care providers and potentially even patients. “We won’t let Republican politicians take away a patient’s right to an abortion in Colorado,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Make no mistake, if Republicans were in power, they would eliminate abortion in Colorado, put these health care providers in jail and allow private citizens to bring abortion lawsuits against doctors and maybe even patients. These Republican bills are dangerous and would threaten the health and safety of women and health care professionals.” “With the Supreme Court likely to strike down Roe v. Wade, it's more important than ever that we defeat these extreme Republican bills that would ban abortion in Colorado,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver, Chair of the Health and Insurance Committee. “Coloradans have said time and time again that we trust women to make their own decisions and we don’t want to imprison doctors or ban abortion. We won’t let Republican politicians take us back to a time when women died while trying to seek the care they need.” Coloradans have been crystal clear that they support the right to an abortion and have repeatedly defeated ballot measures that sought to restrict access to abortion. HB22-1079 , sponsored by Representative Williams, is an unconstitutional ban on abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill explicitly directs Colorado to disregard federal law and federal courts and would subject Colorado judges who support access to abortion to impeachment. It would allow a private right of action against abortion providers, and potentially patients too. HB22-1047 , sponsored by Representative Neville, would ban abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill also criminalizes miscarriages and would imprison providers who perform an abortion. HB22-1075 , sponsored by Representative Luck, would establish a registry to track and surveil abortion patients and providers. It would create a roadmap for abortion opponents to identify and further threaten abortion patients and providers. Abortion providers, patients and Coloradans who support abortion rights testified for hours about the impact of these bills, how they threaten and intimidate providers, and how they would insert government into families’ private medical decisions Democrats on the committee defeated each bill. Previous Next

The House today passed two bipartisan bills to improve health care in rural Colorado < Back May 8, 2024 House Passes Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen Rural Health Care DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bipartisan bills to improve health care in rural Colorado. The bills, sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens, would designate funding to train, recruit and grow Colorado’s health care work and support rural hospitals as well as promote mental health care in rural communities. “Coloradans living in rural and mountain communities, like mine, deserve access to high-quality health care – including mental and behavioral health care,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “We’re taking steps to support Colorado’s rural health care workforce by driving funding toward rural hospitals and expanding mental health care support for our farmers and ranchers. I’m beyond proud to carry these bills at the Capitol because health care in every community and corner of the state matters.” SB24-221 , cosponsored by Representative Marc Caitlin, R-Montrose, builds upon previous legislation that established the Colorado Rural Health Care Workforce Initiative to expand the number of health care professionals practicing in rural areas. SB24-221, passed the House by a vote of 57 to 6. This bill would designate additional funding for institutions of higher education to expand or establish an existing rural health care track program, as well as over $1.7 million for rural hospitals. SB24-055 , also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, would improve access to behavioral health care in rural Colorado by creating a new Agricultural and Rural Community Behavioral Health program that would work to better connect farmers, ranchers, and their families to behavioral health care. The program would partner with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, health care providers, and directly with agriculture communities throughout Colorado to provide care and support. SB24-055 passed by the House by a vote of 59 to 4. The bill would also establish a working group and centralize 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 bill aims to connect farmers and ranchers with tailored behavioral health care resources. Previous Next

The House Health and Human Services Committee today passed legislation to help fund housing and nutrition services for those on Medicaid. < Back March 5, 2024 Bill Increases Federal Funds for Nutrition and Housing Support DENVER, CO – The House Health and Human Services Committee today passed legislation to help fund housing and nutrition services for those on Medicaid. This cost-neutral plan would lay the groundwork for redirecting federal Medicaid funds to help Colorado families access nutritious food options and secure housing. “Everyone deserves access to healthy, nutritious food and a roof over their heads,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster . “This bill would bring down additional federal funds to help with rental assistance, pantry stocking, housing and nutrition support that will strengthen our communities. Our legislation is a step forward to help and uplift our most vulnerable neighbors, such as youth transitioning out of foster care or older adults seeking nutrition assistance.” “By providing housing and nutrition support for Coloradans who need it the most, we can meet the diverse needs of our state and uplift families,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “This bill allows Colorado to access Medicaid funding for housing and nutrition programs for existing Medicaid patients. For example, Medicaid funding could be used to help someone afford their rent or put food on the table. This bill would save Coloradans money by taking advantage of federal dollars and help ensure our most vulnerable communities are supported.” HB24-1322 , which passed committee by a vote of 8-4, would support Coloradans on Medicaid to afford housing and nutritious meals. Specifically, this bill would direct the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) to conduct a feasibility study and pursue an 1115 Waiver so Medicaid could fund housing and nutrition services. This legislation aims to create a path to redirect Medicaid funding for services that address health-related social needs of Coloradans who already rely on the federal Medicaid program. The feasibility study would determine how Medicaid could pay for specific nutrition-based services such as medically tailored meals and pantry stocking. It could also help with temporary housing, rent, utility assistance, as well as eviction prevention and tenant support. The study would also determine the eligibility requirements to access these services and which populations across the state would benefit the most. Utilizing dollars already spent on housing and nutrition support services through an 1115 Medicaid Waiver would provide Colorado with a federal match and the flexibility to design and improve Medicaid programs to fit the needs of Coloradans. It would also help the state conserve local and state financial resources. This cost-neutral model for redirecting Medicaid funds to housing and nutrition support is successfully being used in more than 15 states across the nation, including Arkansas, California, New Jersey and North Carolina. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to efficiently conserve water by prohibiting nonfunctional turf or invasive plant species on certain property areas. < Back February 29, 2024 House Passes Landscaping Water Conservation Bill DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to efficiently conserve water by prohibiting nonfunctional turf or invasive plant species on certain property areas. SB24-005 passed by a vote of 48 to 14. “Water-wise landscaping can help us conserve our precious water resources and embrace the natural landscapes of Colorado,” said Rep. Karen McCormick. “This legislation would cut back on unnecessary water usage on nonfunctional turf used in medians, greenways and parking lots. Increased climate threats and extreme droughts means we need to effectively manage and preserve the water we all rely on.” “Cutting back on the amount of water we use on nonfunctional turf in commercial areas can help us conserve our water resources across the state,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan. “This bill encourages water-wise landscaping and helps our communities embrace the native plants and species that thrive in Colorado. Coloradans are counting on us to effectively and efficiently manage our water resources, and this bill is a step forward in protecting this vital resource.” SB24-005 would promote water-wise landscaping by prohibiting the installation of nonfunctional turf, invasive plant species, and artificial turf in any newly developed commercial, institutional, industrial, common interest, and state property. This bill would also apply to other little-used areas like parking lots, medians, and transportation corridors. Outdoor watering of landscaping uses about half of all municipal water. Much of this is used to grow nonfunctional turf, which requires large amounts of water to thrive. While some turf is used for parks, sports fields, and yards, much of it serves no community purpose, such as highway frontages and strips alongside industrial properties. The state has supported turf replacement as a key tool for water conservation, and now this bill focuses on limiting its installation in the first place. By transitioning away from nonfunctional turf, the bill encourages developers, city planners, and managers to choose plants that thrive in Colorado’s semi-arid climate. Previous Next