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< Back September 16, 2021 JOINT RELEASE: AURORA DELEGATION REACTS TO AG REPORT ON AURORA POLICE PRACTICES The Attorney General’s Office released the findings of a patterns and practices investigation into the Aurora Police Department launched following protests surrounding Elijah McClain’s death in 2019 DENVER, CO – Today, members of the Aurora delegation in the Colorado state legislature, including Senators Rhonda Fields and Janet Buckner as well as Representatives Dominique Jackson, Naquetta Ricks, Iman Jodeh, Mike Weissman and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, released the subsequent joint statement in response to Attorney General Phil Weiser’s patterns and practices investigative report released today, which found that the Aurora Police Department consistently breaks the law through racially-biased policing and excessive force: “Today’s report is a glaring picture of how the Aurora Police Department operates, and gives us a full understanding of the gaps that must be filled in order to protect vulnerable families from racist, violent and inhumane police practices within the Department. Thanks to our efforts in 2020 to pass a landmark police reform bill here in Colorado, instances of police violence, prejudice and bad behavior can no longer be swept under the rug. We will no longer tolerate bad actors going unchecked and this report, though disturbing, serves as a path toward dismantling systemic racism and bias within an institution that has lost the trust of our communities. We are incredibly grateful for Attorney General Weiser’s commitment to addressing this ongoing issue in our state and commend him for the work he and his team have put in to come to this conclusion. We remain committed to our collective goal of reforming the way we police in Colorado, advancing racial justice within our communities and working toward a system that is fair and just, one that truly values Black and Brown lives – and having the attorney general and Aurora enter a consent decree agreement is another step toward that goal.” Previous Next

House Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks to open the First Session of the 75th General Assembly. < Back January 8, 2025 Speaker Delivers Opening Day Remarks DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks to open the First Session of the 75th General Assembly. Speaker’s Opening Day Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: Good morning! It is my great privilege to welcome you all to the opening day of the 75th General Assembly! A special welcome to our newly elected members, the fresh faced stars on the House stage. New members, please rise and give a wave! I would also like to welcome the former Speakers of the House: The honorables Alec Garnett, KC Becker, Crisanta Duran, Mark Ferrandino, Terrance Carroll, Frank McNulty, and Russ George. We are so grateful for your public service and leadership, both back then (and for some of you, way back then!) and now. I am pleased to recognize State Treasurer Dave Young! Thank you for your dedication and service to our state. And my deepest love and appreciation to my family - my husband Jamie, my children Ian and Cait, my parents Bob and Etta, Sister Susan, Brother and Sister in law David and Vicki, and their daughter Jaclynn. Members, let’s all thank our families who have been integral to our journeys in public service. I also want to thank our sensational team who work their magic behind the scenes - our clerks, sergeants, custodial staff. To our nonpartisan and partisan staff, including our legislative aides, thank you all so much for your dedication and commitment to the institution. This session is also the first for our new Chief Clerk, Vanessa Reilly! Please give her a warm welcome to this new role. There’s also a new President over in that lower chamber - if you see President Coleman today, make sure you give him a big High Five and a “Let’s Do This!” Now let us pause and give honor to our veterans - for everyone with us today, members and guests alike, please rise or give a wave if you are currently serving in the military or are a veteran of the US Armed forces. We are forever in your debt. Finally, I am proud of the experience and dedication of our majority and minority leadership teams. Will the leadership teams from both sides of the aisle please stand and be recognized. It is truly an honor to serve with all of you. And I am especially grateful to Majority Leader Duran. I know members appreciate your partnership & leadership. Happiest of Birthdays, Majority Leader, this must be the best and craziest birthday party ever. With campaigns in the rear view mirror, election 2024 behind us, our responsibility to govern is now front and center. Good governance calls us all to listen to one another, hear the stories of our constituents and work together to craft lasting policy that meets the demands of the moment. On policies big and small, I know Democrats and Republicans will work together, as we have so many times before. Just look at school finance formula reform, property tax cuts, higher education investments, workforce initiatives, and of course, uncertified potatoes. (While some say the idea for that policy was only half BAKED, eventually you all HASHED it out and it was a SMASHING success. ) With each new session, we have an opportunity to start fresh, and that includes how we manage debate. When relevant to the topic at hand, chairs will uphold members’ rights to free speech. At times, this will be uncomfortable for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The right to free speech coexists alongside our obligation not to spread hatred. I know with the work that lies ahead, Colorado will lead the way. The national spotlight is on us. This is our moment to demonstrate what good, responsive governance and leadership looks like for our country. But folks, our work this year will not be easy. We will need to trim nearly $1 billion from our state budget in a way that ensures strong safety net services for the most vulnerable among us and protects our bipartisan investments in early childhood, schools, colleges and universities. As a result, there may be some unpopular decisions ahead - choices that put truly deserving efforts and priorities in competition with each other for funding. The Joint Budget Committee has a track record of working across party lines to deliver a balanced budget, and it is now more important than ever to continue in this tradition. My thanks to Representatives Bird, Sirota and Taggart in advance for your hard work and those enduring sleepless nights. Even though our budget situation is challenging, I know this body remains committed to investing in our public schools. We will not bring back the budget stabilization factor, and we will implement the new, equitable school finance formula on time that our kids deserve. Thank you Governor Polis for your strong commitment to public education investing in our children year over year . Like too many special education students in Colorado, Jeremiah, who is twelve, needed additional learning supports in school. Not every public school has the resources they need to adequately teach students with Down syndrome. But when his parents found a special education program designed for his abilities, Jeremiah excelled. His academic achievement improved, as did his self-esteem. He found his calling. If you haven’t heard of him yet, you soon will. His calling, it turns out, is acting, and he’s very good at it. Jeremiah is the star of the film “Color Book,” which tells the story of a single father raising his young son with Down syndrome. The power of Jeremiah’s personal story, and his magnificent portrayal of Mason, help shape our understanding of the challenges we see in gaining access to a high quality education and safety net services in our communities. Exciting news! He has been nominated for the NAACP’s outstanding youth performance in a motion picture award. I’m overjoyed that Jeremiah and his family are here with us today. Please give him a round of applause. My goal this session is to protect the progress we’ve made for students like Jeremiah, by increasing funding for special education, at-risk students, English language learners, and rural schools. The hard truth is that we will need to grapple with declining student enrollment. We will navigate this issue carefully while listening to our partners in public education. Our guiding principle must be to keep equity for our students at the heart of our decision making. We wouldn’t be Colorado without our beautiful mountains, brilliant forests, and clean air. Let’s take our water for example. Water is a part of our Western identity, essential to our nearly $50 billion agricultural economy, as well as Colorado’s iconic outdoor recreation and tourism industries. I took a five day ride down the Yampa River this past spring. What a thrill! And I learned one important lesson - that’s how to play defense against those roaring rapids. There’s a saying in the rafting business, “Be sure you Rig to Flip”. That means making sure everything stays secure when your raft guide flips the boat and you’re taken for a swim - it’s all about being ruthlessly prepared, so you protect the people and things you love most. This year, I expect we will continue to face threats to our water resources, and we may have to play defense. But, thanks to leaders from both parties, we have already taken significant steps to protect our state’s most precious resource - yes folks, we are prepared and we are “rigged to flip.” We should be particularly thankful to the many farmers and ranchers doing everything they can to reduce their water use, embrace innovative technologies and help lead us through this drought. Colorado Agriculture truly makes us proud. I also want to mention that soon, we will be creating a new bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Caucus that will put Western Voices at the table on the issues that impact the economies of our communities. We are equally committed to protecting Colorado’s pristine environment, reaching our climate goals and making energy costs more affordable. We’ve made important progress funding transit, front range and mountain rail, and eliminating dangerous pollution. We are so grateful for the work of Representatives Willford and Bacon and all the lawmakers who have prioritized improving our air quality. Like many of you, when I visit my district, the stories I hear most often at town halls, in the grocery store or at neighborhood gatherings continue to be about how hard it is to get ahead. That’s why, this session, we will redouble our efforts to make Colorado more affordable. Inflation is down. Unemployment is low. Home prices and rents are leveling off, and we are starting to see signs that our aggressive multi-year agenda to lower costs for families is bearing fruit. Reinsurance and the Colorado Option are saving Coloradans nearly half a billion dollars this year on health insurance premiums. We cut property taxes for businesses and homeowners, and we cut taxes for middle and lower-income families. Thanks to last year’s refundable tax credit initiative, the cost of tuition and fees at community colleges is now covered for the vast majority of students. Universal preschool, full day kindergarten, and investments in child care are saving families money. Because of our work, Coloradans trust elected officials to GET THINGS DONE. Other states are watching us - they are seeing what’s possible when governors and legislatures do big things together. For example, housing. We've cracked the land use code and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in affordable housing projects and ending homelessness. This year, we will: resolve the stalemate on construction defects reform, tackle algorithms that drive up rent, Ease red tape for religious institutions to build on their own land, incentivize modular home construction, and bring forward creative new approaches to driving down property insurance costs. Let’s foster an even stronger economy in this state by lowering costs for businesses and working families, and finding fair opportunity for all. Let’s do this by taking steps to eliminate wage theft, strengthen worker’s voices, and create low-cost pathways to college credentials, in the big blur between high school college career. And just as we did last year with the quantum technology industry, we will seize opportunities to support innovative economic development, like (capturing the attention of the) Sundance Film Festival and driving millions of tourism dollars into local communities and businesses. But folks, a less expensive Colorado is not our Colorado if we fail to protect our rights and freedoms. When the Dobbs decision came down and the threat to overturn Roe v. Wade was clear, we responded by protecting abortion access in statute. This past November, the voters went one step further and protected that right in our state’s constitution. Similarly, we heard the stories of concern from families in our state and referred a measure to the ballot safeguarding the freedom to marry. And again, voters overwhelmingly approved it. This is leadership. This is Colorado. We don’t know exactly what we will face from this new administration, but they have published their playbook and we are watching. We will be ready to do what is best for the people of this state because we’ve been here before. No matter where we come from, all Coloradans want the same things: to put a roof over our family’s heads, put food on the table, and pursue the American Dream. Throughout our nation’s history, immigrants have been used as a political scapegoat to divide us and distract us from real challenges. Immigrants are an integral part of Colorado’s diverse and thriving communities. Immigrants power our economy and make up 30 percent of our construction workforce, 12 percent of entrepreneurs, 11 percent of STEM workers, and eight percent of nurses in the state. Coloradans do not support mass deportations, separating families, or detaining parents at their children’s schools. In addition to the devastating human cost, mass deportations will cause significant labor shocks and drive up the cost of health care, food, and housing. Democrats and Republicans alike oppose deporting our friends and neighbors who have been here since childhood, built their lives here and are making our communities better places to live. My thanks to the many organizations supporting Colorado’s hard working immigrant families, like the Mountain Dreamers. Mountain Dreamers in Frisco, Colorado work to support immigrants and make the Colorado Dream a reality for more people in our High Country communities. I want to especially thank their team with us today - Peter, Javier, Yerania, and Miriam. Representative Velasco, who was born in Mexico and grew up in mobile home communities in the Vail Valley, and the Latino Caucus are leading our work on this issue, alongside the Aurora delegation, including Representative Ricks - the first African immigrant legislator - and we are so grateful to have their expertise and lived experience in the General Assembly. Colorado will remain a safe haven from attacks on reproductive rights, voting rights, workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, personal liberty, and civil rights. It doesn’t seem all that long ago that Coloradans sent the first transgender lawmaker to the capitol. Now entering her final term, Representative Titone has served with grace and true leadership. I am thankful that Rep. Titone, along with Assistant Majority Leader Bacon, Representative Froelich, and Representative Garcia are ready to step up once again to protect Coloradans’ rights and freedoms. Colorado is primed to lead. Where there is despair, we will light the way and offer hope. We may face challenges from Washington, budget constraints, and distractions right and left, but I continue to find immense joy in doing the people’s work. I know you all do as well. So … Share YOUR story, listen to the STORIES of your colleagues and constituents, and let the stories move you, keep your word, be open with your colleagues, fight for what you believe in, be kind to all, and above all else, hold space for defying gravity. It is my privilege to open the People’s House and welcome you all to the 75th General Assembly. Previous Next

< Back May 27, 2020 2 CRITICAL CHILD CARE BILLS ADVANCE Denver, CO– The Public Health Care and Human Services Committee today advanced two bills that would give Colorado families increased options for child care at a time when it is more crucial than ever. Representative Dylan Roberts’ bill would allow home-based child care in Homeowners’ Association Communities, and Representative Mary Young’s bill would extend the licensure exemption for family child care homes to September 2026. Rep. Roberts’ bill passed 10-0. Rep. Young’s bill passed 12-1. “As we work to get our state’s strong economy back on track, it’s more important than ever to ensure that Colorado families have access to child care,” said Rep. Young, D-Greeley. “This bill would ease the burdens of an extensive licensure process for certain family care homes, and will provide much needed relief as we adjust to a new way of life.” “Your zip code or unnecessary regulations should never be what prevents you from getting the child care your family needs to get to work,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “This bill allows responsible child care providers to safely provide their services in the community that they live in and will incentivize more people to open home child care businesses. We’re working to ensure that Coloradans can get back to work safely, and making child care more accessible and available is an important step in that direction.” SB20-126 would allow a homeowner in a community organized under the “Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act” to operate a licensed family child care home notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the community’s guidelines. Community guidelines on parking, noise, landscaping continue to apply but communities must make reasonable accommodations for fences required by state child care home licensing laws. Licensure requirements for family child care homes are extensive and must include background checks, required training, inspections and more. HB20-1347 would prolong the time period in which certain family child care homes can receive licensure exemptions from the state. Under HB20-1347, family care homes are homes where less than 24-hours of child care is provided. A family care home cannot exceed four children, and no more than two children can be under the age of two. Additionally, the children are not required to be related to the caregiver, but if the caregiver is caring for their own children in addition to non-family members, their own children are included in the four child limit. Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2019 HOUSE PASSES EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK ACT For years, bills to ensure pay equity were blocked at legislature (Apr. 27) – The House passed Rep. Janet Buckner and Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez’s bill to help close the wage gap in Colorado. Currently, the gender wage gap is projected to not close until 2057 in Colorado and 2059 nationally. “This bill is extremely important to me on a personal level. Black women make 56.1 cents on the dollar compared to white men. Pay discrimination is a real and persistent issue that short changes women and their families,” Rep. Buckner, D-Aurora, said. “Women are the sole breadwinners in a growing number of hardworking families in Colorado.We believe we are taking a bold step to help close the gender wage gap by addressing the root cause of pay disparity.” Colorado women are paid 86 cents for every dollar paid to men for doing the same job and African-American women earn 63 cents for every dollar paid to men for doing the same job. The bill, SB19-085, provides an avenue by which Coloradans can, through mediation via the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment and through the court system, seek relief if they have been discriminated against in their compensation based on their sex. The bill puts proactive measures to reduce the gender pay gap and prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on sex. “In order to solve the pay gap, we must address unintentional wage disparity. This bill implements common sense prevention and transparency measures to fight the pay gap,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “We are fighting for women to be treated with the dignity, fairness and respect they deserve. This bill is a Colorado solution that strikes a balance between workers and employers. It’s time for our state to take the lead in achieving equal pay for equal work.” The House was approved the bill on a vote of 40-21. Every House Republican voted to maintain the status quo. The bill goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments. Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation on a preliminary vote to make state funds more readily available to Colorado communities transitioning away from a coal-based economy. < Back April 29, 2025 Mauro’s Bill to Invest in Jobs and Support Coal-Transitioning Communities Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation on a preliminary vote to make state funds more readily available to Colorado communities transitioning away from a coal-based economy. “As market forces shift communities like mine away from a coal-based economy, we’re stepping up to support our communities and create new jobs,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo. “Colorado has invested millions to boost workers, invest in local economies and develop a workforce for the future. Our bill ensures that rural communities can take advantage of grant opportunities that spur the growth of good-paying jobs in renewable energy and invest in local economies.” SB25-037 is also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction. This bill makes existing funding available for coal transition workforce assistance programs for an additional three years to support communities' transition away from a coal-based economy. The bill directs the Just Transition Office in the Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to also prioritize investments in tier two communities, which are communities that are indirectly impacted by coal closures. This includes programs and grants that help communities with workforce assistance and the construction or maintenance of libraries, town halls, police and fire stations. SB25-037 aims to more effectively distribute state-supported grants and programs to communities whose economy was once or is partially reliant on coal. Additionally, this bill extends the reporting deadline for the study on advanced energy solutions in rural Colorado. Founded in 2019, the Office of Just Transition was established to support coal workers, employers and communities as they plan for the future. Market shifts, consumer choices and the advancement of renewable energy sources have required Colorado to step up and create action plans that allow for a smooth economic adjustment for coal transition communities. Previous Next

< Back Rep. McCormick: Ballot initiatives 144 and 145 will not help animals Jun 17, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Longmont Times-Call here . Forty years ago, I swore a lifelong oath when starting my career as a veterinarian. Part of that oath affirms that I will use my scientific knowledge and skill to benefit society through the protection of animal health and welfare. I also promised to prevent and relieve animal suffering and promote our collective public health. And, I swore to do these things keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I promised to forever do what is right for animals, their people and the public. It is with that oath and my lifetime of service to animals and people that I must now sound the alarm to all Coloradans. There are two ballot initiatives being circulated collecting signatures for the fall ballot. These initiatives are being driven by big corporate interests from outside of Colorado. They are Initiative 144 and 145 and are being misleadingly sold to voters as a way to “increase access to veterinary care.” The General Assembly worked very hard this spring in a bipartisan, collaborative way to develop a robust approach to how best to utilize teletechnologies in the delivery and expansion of veterinary care. That bill was signed into law by the governor earlier this year. HB24-1048 Providing Veterinary Services through Telehealth passed the House of Representatives unanimously. It is widely supported by veterinarians, veterinary technicians, farmers and ranchers, shelters and humane societies and animal caretakers. The bill strengthens and clarifies that veterinary telemedicine should supplement and not replace in-person care. We absolutely should use telehealth more, and this law will make sure it is done right to protect pets. Initiative 144 also has to do with Veterinary Telehealth but is a danger to pets. 144 would dismantle that well structured law the governor just signed and eliminate the need for a doctor to ever see your animal in person, essentially eliminating the most important tools your veterinarian has to get to the bottom of what is going — their hands, eyes, ears and nose. 144 would not benefit people or their animals and would create real safety concerns. It would only help corporate entities focused on profits, allowing them to push medicine to animal owners via online platforms. Animals would be the ones suffering in this situation, as they would not be getting accurate, affordable, timely care. The second ballot initiative, 145, is also funded by outside corporate interests and will allow creation of a new animal health position called a veterinary professional associate or VPA. 145 would create an individual who is not licensed to practice medicine, has not gone through an accredited veterinary education program, has not passed a national exam, will not have sufficient liability protections, who would not be able to prescribe medicines due to Federal law and who will be under-trained through primarily an online master’s program, who would then be allowed to actually practice veterinary medicine on your pets. This VPA would be allowed to do surgery on your animals, diagnose diseases, interpret lab test results and prescribe a treatment plan — all without a license. Things only a veterinarian is sufficiently trained and licensed to do. Corporate interests want VPAs to practice medicine without the consumer protection safeguards that exist for licensed veterinarians. If this sounds crazy to you, then you can understand my grave concern for the animals of our state for whom we are responsible and my sincere alarm for public safety in the consideration of a VPA. Skilled Veterinary technicians are already more qualified than this contemplated VPA. They have comprehensive training, take a national exam and are regulated by the state. We passed another strong bipartisan bill to elevate vet techs with HB24-1047 Veterinary Technician Scope of Practice. Ballot initiatives 144 and 145 will not help animals nor the people who care for them. Not only do we not need these measures, they are dangerous. Please do not sign these petitions. Karen McCormick is the state representative for House District 11. She can be reached at rep.karenmccormick@gmail.com . Previous Next

On August 6, 2025, legislation goes into effect to boost the incomes and working conditions for home care workers and increase access to care. < Back July 29, 2025 Law to Boost Incomes, Address Home Care Workforce Shortage Takes Effect DENVER, CO - On August 6, 2025, legislation goes into effect to boost the incomes and working conditions for home care workers and increase access to care. “This law uplifts the voices of home care workers, who are more often women and women of color, to ensure they have safe working conditions and earn a livable wage,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “We’re implementing recommendations crafted by care workers, employers and direct care consumers to create a home care industry that works for all Coloradans. I’m proud to stand by both home care workers and patients to improve everyday life for our residents.” “We must do better to support the essential workers who provide in-home care, which offers dignity and independence to so many Coloradans,” said Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge. “I sponsored the 2023 legislation that created this oversight board, and now it’s time to act on their recommendations. These workers deserve more than our gratitude – they deserve fair pay, stronger protections, and clear access to information on their rights and the compensation they’re entitled to.” “With this law now going into effect, we’re supporting the direct care workforce to ensure Coloradans have access to the quality health care that they deserve,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Our state is falling behind when it comes to providing in-home care services for aging Coloradans, which is why we’re addressing the home care workforce shortage. This law works to respond to the needs of our care workforce to support working families and create a strong, qualified in-home care workforce.” “In-home care workers care for our parents, our grandparents, our loved ones with disabilities, and so many others who deserve to live safely and with dignity in their own homes,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. “While these care providers take care of our family and friends, they often face low pay and poor working conditions, making it hard to stay in the profession. As a result, Colorado is facing a shortage of in-home care workers. This new law is about honoring their work, improving their livelihoods, and ensuring that those who care for others are cared for themselves.” HB25-1328 implements recommendations from the Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board, including: Requiring the board to investigate how health care benefits for direct care workers compare to other industries and how to reduce costs, Establishing a free “Know Your Rights” training, including information regarding wages, rules for travel time, how to file a complaint, current state and federal laws and where they can find more information, Investigating violations related to training and labor standards and fining employers who violate direct care workforce regulations, and Increasing the minimum wage for direct care service workers to $17 per hour starting July 1, 2025, and recommending future minimum wage increases. The Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board was created by legislation , sponsored by Majority Leader Duran and Sen. Danielson, to make recommendations to improve working conditions for direct care workers and address the workforce crisis. Rep. Sirota and Sen. Bridges sponsored a 2024 law creating a state income tax credit for child care workers and direct care workers to boost incomes and address workforce shortages. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills to improve basic access for Coloradans living with a disability. < Back June 3, 2024 SIGNED! Bills to Improve Basic Access for Coloradans Living with a Disability DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills to improve basic access for Coloradans living with a disability. HB24-1360 will create the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO). HB24-1161 will make new electric vehicle charging stations and car sharing programs more accessible. “Despite Federal ADA being law for 34 years, housing, employment, access to participation in government and the outdoors remain inaccessible,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, sponsor of HB24-1360 and HB24-1161. “These important new laws will remove barriers to car travel, streamline employment opportunities and improve basic access for Coloradans living with disabilities. Universal design hurts no one and helps everyone. As I round out my time at the legislature, I am proud of our efforts to shine a light on the everyday barriers faced by people with living disabilities and lay the groundwork for a more accessible, equitable Colorado.” “People living with disabilities experience disproportionately higher rates of poverty and unemployment, which is why Colorado needs to step up and provide the resources to eradicate these barriers,” said Rep. Chad Clifford, D-Centennial, sponsor of HB24-1360. “By creating the Office of Opportunities of Coloradans with Disabilities, Coloradans will have better access to the good-paying jobs and education they deserve, so they have a fair shot at creating a strong future that’s all their own. I’m proud to carry this legislation forward with Representative Ortiz because it prioritizes representation, advocacy and commitment to the success of all.” HB24-1360 , signed into law today, will create a new office within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment The goal of this office is to implement a statewide strategy to facilitate economic stability for people with disabilities and promote successful economic, social, and community integration. Another bill signed into law today, HB24-1161 , will require new electric vehicle charging stations to incorporate federal accessible design recommendations for at least five percent of charging spaces or one space, starting January 1, 2026. HB24-1161 will strengthen the prohibition on blocking access to ADA parking spots, curb ramps, and access aisles including using such a parking spot to pile snow. Additionally, the new law will allow owners of a vehicle in a car sharing program to indicate if their vehicle has been modified to be accessible to people with disabilities and what modifications have been made. Rep. Ortiz has been a long-time champion for disability rights at the Colorado State Capitol. He has led the charge in passing multiple bills to ensure Coloradans with a disability have the opportunity for legal recourse if they are discriminated against, expanding the youth prosthetic coverage law, creating the Rights of Coloradans with Disabilities task force, and trailblazing two right-to-repair laws for wheelchair users. Previous Next

< Back January 14, 2019 FROELICH SWORN IN TO THE HOUSE (Jan. 14) – Upon the vacancy of Senator Jeff Bridges, Meg Froelich, a former Greenwood Village council member, was sworn in today at the state capitol as the next representative for House District 3. A vacancy committee selected Rep. Froelich to replace state Sen. Bridges in the House. “I am excited for to join the House and am thankful to be chosen for this position,” said Rep. Meg Froelich. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to invest in education, transportation and ensure more people can participate equally in our wonderful Colorado way of life.” Rep. Froelich will sit on the Energy & Environment and the Transportation & Local Government Committees. HD3 includes Englewood, Sheridan, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village and northern Littleton. Rep. Froelich is a documentary filmmaker, she sat on the board of NARAL-Pro Choice Colorado and Emerge Colorado. She was also the executive director of the Colorado Institute of Leadership Training. She lives in Englewood with her son Ozzie, a senior at Littleton High School, and their dog Molly. She also has two children in college, Katrina and Annalise. Previous Next

< Back Majority Leader Esgar: Celebrate Pueblo Pride - but don’t forget the work yet to come Aug 25, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in the Pueblo Star Journal. Happy Pueblo Pride! It’s time for another year of celebration for the LGBTQ community here in Pueblo. We take time every August to celebrate the achievements we’ve made as a community and to remember the work we still have ahead of us. As an integral part of Pueblo, the LGBTQ community’s presence has grown over the past two decades and our voices are louder than ever. We’ve worked hard to achieve all that we have, but we haven’t done it alone. I’m also so proud to say that Pueblo is home to many allies – allies who continue to show up year after year. In the early 2000s, I was working as a barista at Wireworks coffee house when a small but proud group of folks attended a modest gathering of solidarity and called it Pueblo Pride. Fast forward to this year, when the festival encompassed the majority of Mineral Palace Park with close to 100 vendors, a day full of entertainment, and thousands of folks attending. The event has grown every year thanks to the all-volunteer board of the Southern Colorado Equality Alliance, southern Colorado’s LGBTQ advocacy organization. I was proud to join the SCEA board shortly after coming out in the mid 2000s. It was a way to connect with our community and begin the work I have made the focus of my life. While serving on the board, we re-started the LGBTQ youth group OutFront and grew the Pride event. OutFront was necessary because at the time there were no gay-straight alliances in a Pueblo high school. OutFront continues to exist today and I’m incredibly proud of our youth in this town. Many GSAs have started in our local high schools since. Pueblo PULP was a monthly independent newspaper full of local articles written by an amazing group of people who cared about this town. I was humbled when I was asked to write a monthly column called Inside Out to be sure our LGBTQ voices could be heard. Through this medium, I was afforded the privilege to share my experiences from the LGBTQ community with anyone who wanted to read about them. The column helped folks understand that we are here, in many different parts of the community, and we deserve to be treated as equals. Before marriage equality was being debated at the state level or became the law of the land in the United States, in Pueblo I helped lead one of the first campaigns to help city employees achieve same-gender domestic partner benefits for health care coverage. A group of LGBTQ folks and our straight allies fought City Council and won this benefit for our city employees. We even managed to stop a petition designed to take away our victory. In 2013, when civil unions passed at the state level, our local county commissioners and county clerk helped the SCEA organize a mass ceremony for those seeking that right. Bo Ortiz was one of the first county clerks to offer marriage certificates to couples in Colorado before the Colorado Supreme Court cleared the way for full marriage equality in our state in 2014. Pueblo has a history of acceptance and allyship for our LGBTQ community, but we also have a strong history of pride and perseverance when it comes to the rights we’ve had to fight so hard for. When we take a moment to celebrate those wins at the annual Pride event, it’s well deserved, but we must also continue the work we’ve done as a queer community and the allies who love us. Our transgender family is attacked, even murdered, in this country and is fighting every day for the rights they deserve. And with the fall of Roe vs. Wade, we know, because Justice Clarence Thomas wrote so, that the Supreme Court is looking to end marriage equality next. We can’t afford to sit back and rest. Our allies will continue to be called on to help us keep the rights we all deserve. State Representative Daneya Esgar is the Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives. She is wrapping up her fourth and final term serving Pueblo County as the Representative for House District 46. Born and raised in Pueblo, Esgar is the proud granddaughter of steelworkers, a product of Pueblo City Schools, and a graduate of Colorado State University Pueblo. She lives in Pueblo with her wife, Heather, daughter, Marlo, and their two dogs, Bella and Huck. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would save people money on housing by updating building codes to only require one stairwell for certain multi-family buildings. < Back April 2, 2025 Bill to Make Housing More Affordable Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would save people money on housing by updating building codes to only require one stairwell for certain multi-family buildings. “This smart stair policy is safe and will help us create more affordable housing in Colorado,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Firefighting technology and fire protection techniques have significantly improved in the last few decades, and it’s time that we modernize our building codes to account for these safety improvements and reduce the cost of building multi-family housing. The bill provides an innovative option making it easier to build family-sized apartments and condos that will help us meet Colorado’s housing needs and save people money on housing.” “Colorado Democrats are committed to passing legislation that will make housing more affordable,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “This bill would eliminate second stairwell requirements for certain buildings to drive down building costs and create more livable space without jeopardizing the health and safety of renters. Coloradans sent us here to pass policy that will make our communities more affordable, and this bill would help open up more housing opportunities that work for every budget.” Beginning December 1, 2027, HB25-1273 would require a municipality of 100,000 or more residents that is served by an accredited fire protection district, fire department, or fire authority to ensure that their building code allows certain multi-family residential buildings up to five stories to be served by a single exit. Additional requirements to qualify for a single-stairway exit include: Buildings no more than five stories tall with up to four dwelling units per floor, Safety features throughout the building that satisfy building codes and other relevant codes, including an automatic sprinkler system and fire resistance and smoke control systems, Stairways no more than twenty feet away from a door to each dwelling unit and 125 feet from the stairway to any point in a dwelling unit, and Buildings constructed of non-combustible or fire-resistive construction materials. The bill would also require a jurisdiction to notify their local International Association of Fire Fighters affiliate and the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Association when they begin the code adoption process. These buildings would also be required to include signage to identify that they are single-stair buildings and have a fire-resistant box that contains keys to the buildings for firefighters to access the building and its units. According to a 2025 Pew Study , there has been no evidence of increased safety risks in New York City, Seattle, the Netherlands, and other jurisdictions that allow single stair apartments to be built. Adding a second stairway to an apartment building can increase building costs by 6- to 13-percent, and single stair apartments can reduce cooling costs by up to 80-percent due to improved window placement, which allows cross-ventilation. Previous Next

The Insurance Rebate Reform Model Act would allow insurance companies to extend discounts to consumers < Back March 19, 2025 Committee Passes Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Insurance DENVER, CO – The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed legislation to save Coloradans money on insurance. “We’re working to save Coloradans money on their insurance, and this bill ensures consumers can receive certain no-cost or discounted add-ons offered by insurance companies,” said Rep. Gretchen Rydin, D-Littleton. “Whether it’s a security camera or flood detection system, there are many no-cost promotions or discounts offered to consumers through their insurance company. This bill updates Colorado’s anti-rebate law to ensure Coloradans can receive promotions, discounts and add-ons that save them money and provide peace of mind.” The Insurance Rebate Reform Model Act ( SB25-058 ) passed committee by a vote of 13-0. This bill aims to save Coloradans money on insurance by allowing insurance companies to extend certain discounts or rebates to consumers. Under current law, discounting the price of insurance below what is stated in the contract is considered a deceptive trade practice. This bill would update the regulatory framework to extend specific discounts while maintaining critical consumer protections. Under the bill, insurance companies would be able to offer discounts or rebates to consumers, if they relate to insurance coverage. In addition, the discounts or rebates must mitigate loss, enhance health or promote financial or wellness literacy. For example, a no-cost or discounted service tacked on to consumer insurance could be an electric system that protects against flood or fire, security cameras and motion detectors. The goal of SB25-058 is to ensure that consumers can benefit from no-cost or discounted insurance add-ons offered by insurance companies that will help keep them safer. Previous Next