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Governor Jared Polis today signed into law three bills to create jobs and boost Colorado’s rural economies. < Back May 29, 2024 Governor Signs Bills to Boost Rural Economies WESTERN SLOPE – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law three bills to create jobs and boost Colorado’s rural economies. Sponsored by Representatives Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, and Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, and Senators Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, HB24-1001 extends income tax credits and grants available to businesses and their employees through the Rural Jump-Start Program, aiming to reduce the cost of starting a new business or hiring employees in rural economic jump-start zones. “With these bills being signed into law today, we're bringing real results to the Western Slope,” said Lukens, sponsor of HB24-1001, HB24-1237 and SB24-190. “The Rural Jump-Start Program has supported numerous small businesses and created new jobs for rural Coloradans in communities like mine, and I’m proud that this bipartisan law will extend the program. We also passed a law that will support an expanded rail system from Steamboat Springs to Hayden to Craig to address issues that are most impacting rural and rural resort communities, like housing supply and workforce shortages. Finally, I'm proud that my bipartisan legislation to boost child care options for Colorado families is now law, making it easier for parents to find quality child care so they can get back into the workforce and keep our economies thriving.” “Today marks a transformative win-win for Northwest Colorado,” said Roberts, sponsor of HB24-1001 and SB24-190. “As the region’s State Senator, prioritizing economic opportunity and resources for these communities is a top priority. From continuing the successful Rural Jump-Start program to creating new financial incentives to attract large employers to Craig, Hayden, and Grand County, to building passenger rail from Craig all the way to Denver, we are setting Colorado’s rural economies up for success. The policies signed into law today direct crucial resources to communities to enable businesses to open their doors, hire employees, grow their operations, and thrive.” Rural economic jump-start zone are areas within a county with a population less than 250,000 that exhibits certain indicators of economic distress, such as lower per capita income than the state average, lower gross domestic product than the state average, unemployment levels higher than the statewide average, a declining workforce, or a higher concentration of students eligible for free lunch compared to the statewide average. Governor Polis also signed SB24-190 , which makes the design and use of mountain passenger rail more sustainable by incentivizing the transportation of freight from companies that establish operations in coal transition communities along the potential rail line, particularly Craig and Hayden. Sponsored by Senator Roberts, Representative Lukens, and Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, the new law allocates up to $10 million in incentives per year for Hayden and Craig, and Grand, Moffat, and Routt Counties to attract and retain large-scale businesses utilizing freight rail. “From new job opportunities to more transportation options, our Western Slope communities will greatly benefit from this new law,” said McCluskie. “In addition to our Front Range passenger rail legislation, this law will bring our mountain and rural communities closer to an expanded rail system for transit and goods. We’re supporting the Western Slope, especially those in coal transition communities, to boost the economic security of our mountain and rural resort towns.” The proposed mountain line connects Denver to Winter Park, Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig and allows for commuter transit between the towns. However, continued freight use of the rail line is key to the financial viability of passenger rail service. Bringing new businesses into Northwest Colorado will expand economic development, create new jobs in the area, and provide essential support for the rail line. SB24-190 creates an income tax credit through the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) for businesses that choose to locate in a coal transition community and use rail to transport their freight. It also makes more of the region eligible for economic support from OEDIT, creating opportunities for economic diversification in the region and offering needed support for mountain rail development. Potential mountain rail would also facilitate increased tourism in the region, create additional economic growth, and allow locals to commute safely to and from Winter Park to Craig, with stops in between. Finally, the Governor signed HB24-1237 , sponsored by Representatives Lukens, and Mary Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs, and Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, which helps reduce costs for developing child care facilities by providing technical planning, building, construction, and development support. “I’m proud to see our bipartisan legislation to increase affordable child care options signed into law today,” said Marchman. “Quality, affordable child care is essential to support Colorado’s workforce, and by providing funding to develop new and convert existing spaces into childcare centers, we can offer more options to Colorado families.” The new law creates the framework to provide planning and capital grants, as well as technical support for local governments, institutions of higher education, public schools, employers, private partners, builders, and child care providers. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed, outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. < Back February 15, 2024 Committee Passes Bill to Prevent Evictions, Homelessness DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed, outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “After I escaped my abuser, I struggled to make ends meet as a single mom, and I spent endless nights worrying that my son and I would lose the roof over our heads,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Unnecessary evictions perpetuate cycles of abuse and are another barrier that survivors face when they leave their abuser. I’m proudly sponsoring this legislation to prevent Colorado families from being displaced from their homes so they can create an environment for their children to learn, grow, and thrive.” “Far too many Coloradans have ended up homeless because of discriminatory or retaliatory evictions against renters that abided by their lease,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “‘Our ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation protects Colorado renters from avoidable evictions by clearly outlining reasons when an eviction is allowed, protecting renters that pay their rent and abide by their lease from being pushed out of their homes. This critical legislation will help alleviate housing insecurity, reduce homelessness, and protect the health and safety of Colorado renters.” Currently, Colorado law exposes renters to possible arbitrary, retaliatory or discriminatory evictions. The ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation would prevent a landlord from evicting a tenant unless there is cause for eviction. Under HB24-1098 , the reasons a landlord could lawfully evict a tenant include failure to pay rent in a timely manner, destruction of property, or a substantial violation of the rental agreement. The bill also includes allowable reasons for a no-fault lease non-renewal, including substantial repairs or conversion of a residential premises, and selling the property. Some exceptions to the ‘For Cause Eviction’ bill include rentals within the landlord’s primary residence, short-term rentals, mobile homes and for employers who provide housing to employees. Evictions threaten the health and safety of Coloradans, with research showing that individuals who experience an eviction are more likely to report poorer physical or mental health outcomes . In 2023, Denver set a new record of annual evictions, reaching nearly 13,000 filings. Previous Next

< Back April 23, 2019 SECOND CHANCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM GETS APPROVAL IN HOUSE COMMITTEE (Apr. 23) – The House Education committee passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Tony Exum and Rep. Kerry Tipper that creates the Colorado Second Chance Scholarship program to award scholarships to people who have previously served in the Division of Youth Services (DYS) and are pursuing their higher education. “This bill is personal to me because I have a Division of Youth Services facility in my district. If we can get these young people the help they need to get a higher education after they’ve gone through the rehabilitation process, then we can lower the recidivism rate and they’ll be more productive members of society,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. SB19-231 will award scholarships of up to $10,000 each to youth offenders exiting the DYS system to pursue a higher education. It will create a five person advisory board consisting of four people appointed from various state agencies and one person who previously served in a DYS facility to award the scholarships based upon need. “These are kids that made some mistakes early on in their lives, but are now just trying to get back on track to invest in their future and create a better life for themselves. This program might be the only opportunity many of these kids will have to get a fresh start,” said Rep. Tipper, D-Lakewood. “ It will cost a lot more to keep these kids in corrections and perpetuate the cycle than it will to improve their lives with education and give them a more fulfilling life.” Both the advisory board and scholarship program will expire in 2022. SB19-231 passed with a vote of 8-5. It now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back March 1, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO PROTECT WITNESSES, HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT SOLVE CRIMES DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation unanimously by a vote of 64-0 that would help investigators solve crimes and prevent witness intimidation. "No one should get away with intimidating a witness or pressuring someone to withhold critical information from law enforcement,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “We're doing everything we can to protect victims in Colorado, and this bill is a big step in that effort. SB24 bill will give law enforcement and prosecutors additional tools to stop crimes and hold criminals accountable.” SB22-024 , sponsored by Representative Roberts, would prevent witness intimidation and help investigators solve crimes by expanding the ways that witness intimidation may be committed. Under the bill, witness intimidation would include a threat or act that is directed at a person that the perpetrator believes may have relevant information or may be able to exert influence upon a witness or a victim. It also allows prosecutors to charge the crime of intimidating a witness if the perpetrator attempts to persuade a witness to withhold information. Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2021 CÁMARA DE REPRESENTANTES APRUEBA PROPUESTA PARA EXPANDIR EL ACCESO AL VOTo La propuesta legislativa crearía una línea de ayuda para traducir las boletas electorales y requeriría que ciertos condados impriman boletas en idiomas aparte del inglés fue aprobada por la Cámara de Representantes DENVER, CO– La Cámara de Representantes hoy aprobó una propuesta legislativa de la Representante Yadira Caraveo para expandir el acceso al voto y mejorar la participación electoral al expandir el acceso a las boletas electorales multilingües. La propuesta fue aprobada con un voto de 40-23. “Asegurarnos de que más votantes elegibles entiendan bien sus boletas y puedan emitir su voto libremente es bueno para nuestra democracia y bueno para Colorado”, dijo la representante Yadira Caraveo (D-Thornton). “El sistema electoral de Colorado es de los mejores del país y del mundo porque facilita la participación de los votantes en el proceso democrático y a la vez garantiza la integridad de nuestras elecciones. Hoy mejoramos nuestro gran sistema al asegurarnos que los votantes elegibles en Colorado que no hablan muy bien inglés pero quieren hacer oír su voz tengan la oportunidad de hacerlo.” HB21-1011 le daría a todos los votantes acceso a una línea de ayuda que proporcionaría traducción de boletas electorales en los idiomas principales del Censo. Además, requeriría que los condados en donde un idioma minoritario sea hablado por al menos 2,000 votantes elegibles o el 2.5% de los votantes elegibles impriman boletas electorales en ese idioma, ya sea en copias físicas o electrónicamente. Previous Next

< Back January 30, 2023 Workforce Bills Pass Committee DENVER, CO – Two workforce bills to support Colorado workers today passed House committees. HB23-1094, sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens, would boost the agriculture workforce, and HB23-1072, sponsored by Representative Elizabeth Velasco, would ensure disaster emergency response workers are compensated for time working a disaster. “Colorado’s agriculture industry is critical to our state’s economy,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “Our bipartisan bill works to train, educate and uplift the next generation of agricultural workers through hands-on internships and training. Colorado’s future in agriculture is strong, and by ensuring a pipeline toward careers in farming and ranching, we will support our farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses by helping them fill critical open positions in their operations while creating new opportunities for people who want a career in agriculture.” “When disasters strike, local community members are the first on the scene to provide services and support,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “This bill makes sure disaster emergency first responders, volunteers and organizers are compensated for their work. These civil defense workers are ready at a moment's notice to provide assistance to their community during a wildfire or flood and they should be paid for their time on the job.” HB23-1094 passed the House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources committee by a vote of 12-1 and would modify the Agricultural Workforce Development Program which provides financial incentives to farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses to hire interns and provide them with hands-on training and the experience needed to pursue a career in agriculture. This bill aims to jumpstart a lifelong career in agriculture and deepen the workforce pool by increasing the duration of paid internships to up to one year instead of six months. HB23-1072 passed the House State Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs committee unanimously and would change the legal definition of “civil defense worker” so those assisting in the local response to disaster emergencies can be paid for their work. In Colorado, civil defense workers respond to disaster emergencies, including wildfires, floods and severe weather in addition to man-made disasters. Workers that are registered with the Office of Emergency Management or local response units are not currently eligible for compensation from their employers when they directly respond to a disaster. This bill allows civil defense workers, often registered crisis response volunteers, to receive pay from their employers when they respond to future disasters. Previous Next

< Back April 24, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES BILL TO LOWER THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Democrats working to lower the cost of health care (Apr. 24) –Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis’ bill to reduce the price consumers pay for prescription medications passed in the House Health and Insurance committee. The bill will allow the wholesale importation of prescription pharmaceutical products from Canada for resale to Colorado pharmacies. “As a pharmacist, I know there are many Coloradans who are having to choose between feeding their families or the life-saving drugs they depend on,” said Rep. Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County. “We’ve seen drug price increases of nearly 500 percent that are drowning patients. The ability to import prescription drugs from Canada will help lower the cost of health care for struggling families.” Rep. Jaquez Lewis is a licensed pharmacist. As amended in the Health and Insurance Committee, SB19-005 creates the “Colorado Wholesale Importation of Prescription Drugs Act” where the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will apply for a waiver under Federal law to contract with a vendor to design and implement a program to import prescription pharmaceutical products from Canada for sale to Colorado pharmacies. The program design must ensure both drug safety and cost savings for Colorado consumers. “The federal government is failing to help lower the cost of health care, this is a commonsense approach that can help Coloradans and cut the cost of medication,” Rep. Jaquez Lewis added. SB19-005 passed on a vote of 7-4. The bill now goes to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back June 23, 2021 POLIS SIGNS TAX FAIRNESS PACKAGE AND BILL TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES DENVER, CO– Governor Jared Polis today signed HB21-1311 and HB21-1312, the tax fairness package that will boost economic support for hard working families and eliminate the business personal property tax for two-thirds of the businesses that currently have to pay it. Polis also signed SB21-293, which will temporarily reduce property taxes. “Without a doubt, our tax code is more fair today because the package we passed and Governor Polis signed today puts working families and small businesses ahead of well-connected and wealthy special interests,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Colorado will build back stronger because we made the choice to provide significant assistance to the families and small businesses who are critical to the success of our local communities by ending ineffective tax windfalls and loopholes for those at the very top.” “Soon, over 300,000 families and tens of thousands of small businesses will see direct economic assistance for years to come because Democrats in the legislature made the decision to bring more fairness to our tax system,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “The package Governor Polis signed today will expand opportunities for hard working Coloradans, families and small businesses instead of continuing tax breaks for the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations.” HB21-1311 , sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Emily Sirota, would boost the incomes of over 300,000 hardworking Coloradans by increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 25 percent of the federal credit through tax year 2025. The bill also provides economic assistance to hard working Coloradans and families 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. HB21-1312 , also sponsored by Representatives Weissman and Sirota and which was 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. Many of the tax expenditures that these bills seek to close or limit were identified by the State Auditor as ineffective and only benefit a small number of businesses and Colorado’s wealthiest taxpayers. The package seeks to narrow expenditures that benefit only a few individuals and large businesses in order to provide broad tax relief to large numbers of hard working Coloradans and small businesses. Governor Polis also signed SB21-293 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Matt Gray, which would temporarily lower property tax assessment rates on several classes of residential and commercial property. The bill creates three new subclasses of non-residential property: agricultural, lodging, and renewable energy production property. It also establishes multi-family residential property as a new subclass of residential property. The bill applies new, lower assessment rates to these property classes. “Today, we are responsibly reducing property tax rates and targeting assistance to the Coloradans who need it the most, and at the same time, we are protecting Colorado’s local governments, fire districts, schools, police and local libraries that would be devastated by permanently losing nearly $1 billion in revenue every year,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “I’m proud the legislature came together to pass this bipartisan bill that will ensure rural Colorado doesn’t continue to bear the consequences of rising property values in more populated areas of the state.” “The bill Governor Polis signed today thoughtfully creates new categories for properties, such as agricultural properties or single family homes, to temporarily provide direct relief where it’s needed most,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “This is a responsible approach that will help Coloradans and protect the critical services that our communities need right now, like our public schools, which are especially important to help Colorado build back stronger from the pandemic.” The assessment rate on multi-family residences (apartment buildings, condominium buildings) would be lowered from 7.15 percent to 6.8 percent. The assessment rate on single family owner occupied primary residences would drop from 7.15 percent to 6.95 percent. For second homes and short term rental properties, the assessment rate would remain the same. The bill also expands the property tax deferral program to allow homeowners whose tax bills grow by more than four percent since the previous valuation period to defer the amount that exceeds the four percent growth, up to to $10,000. If a statewide measure passes to reduce residential property rates, it would only apply to multi-family properties. For non-residential properties, agricultural and renewal energy production properties would see their rate reduced from 29 percent to 26.4 percent. If a statewide measure passes to reduce nonresidential property rates, it would only apply to lodging properties. Remaining commercial property rates would remain at 29 percent. Previous Next

< Back April 28, 2021 READY FOR PICKUP: HOUSE EXTENDS ALCOHOL TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY DENVER, CO– The House today passed Representative Dylan Roberts’ bipartisan bill to extend the period of time during which restaurants and bars can offer takeout and delivery of alcoholic beverages on second reading. The bill passed by a unanimous vote of 61-0. “Restaurants, bars and other retail businesses are the heart of our local communities and major employers across the state,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “They have been dealt a particularly harsh blow by the pandemic, and many have turned to alcohol takeout and delivery as a critical source of income during tough times. As we work to build back a stronger Colorado, we have to ensure that our state’s small businesses have the support they need to bounce back and thrive. Extending takeout and delivery alcohol and allowing for towns to utilize common consumption areas for a few more years is a common sense way to lend bars and restaurants a hand.” Under a current law also sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts, certain liquor licensees like bars, restaurants, and gastropubs may sell alcohol as part of takeout and delivery orders through July 1, 2021. HB21-1027 , which is also sponsored by Representative Colin Larson, allows these establishments to continue using this critical tool for an additional five years and also allows them to apply for a license to establish a common consumption area, extending a tool many restaurants, bars, and communities have embraced to remain afloat throughout the pandemic. Previous Next

The House today passed a bill to save people money on prescription drugs. < Back March 25, 2024 House Passes Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bill to save people money on prescription drugs. HB24-1010 would streamline prescription drug access for Coloradans with chronic, complex, rare, or life-threatening medical conditions and save them money on life-saving prescription drugs. “Health care decisions should be based on the health and safety of a patient, not dictated by profits for health care insurers,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “Doctors are sometimes required to order medications for their patients through specific pharmacies, which leads to delays in care and additional costs for patients. We need to make sure Coloradans can access the medication they need, when they need it and this bill breaks down prescription drug access barriers while saving Coloradans money.” HB24-1010 , also sponsored by Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, passed by a vote of 48 to 15. The bill would protect Coloradans’ access to critical provider-administered prescription drugs by breaking down unnecessary barriers, including added fees, that make it difficult for patients to access their life-saving medication. The bill would: Prohibit insurance carriers from requiring certain prescription drugs to be available only by specific pharmacies, or only at in-network pharmacies, Prevent insurance carriers from limiting or excluding provider-administered prescription drugs due to the patient’s choice of preferred pharmacy, or Prohibit insurance carriers from imposing additional fees, copayments, or coinsurance due to the patient’s choice of preferred pharmacy or if the provider-administered drug was not provided by a pharmacy in the carrier’s network. Previous Next

< Back April 19, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES REP. EXUM’S BILL TO HELP COLORADO’S MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE (Apr. 19) – The House approved Rep. Tony Exum’s bill to expand the benefits and eligibility for the Property, Tax, Rent, Heat Credit program (PTC Rebate). “This program helps keep some of Colorado’s most vulnerable families and individuals warm and secure in their own homes. This program can help keep people safe and potentially save a life when temperatures plummet,” Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs, said. This program, within the Department of Revenue, provides property tax, rental, fuel and heat assistance to seniors over the age of 65, those with disabilities and surviving spouses over the age of 58. This bill expands these benefits and eligibility for the PTC rebate program. The bill passed the House last session but was blocked in the previously Republican controlled Senate. HB19-1085 passed with a bipartisan vote of 41-23 with Rep. Larry Liston joining Democrats in supporting this bill. The bill now heads to the Senate. Post navigation Previous Next

< Back May 12, 2021 MCLACHLAN BILL EASES PATH TO POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMS DENVER, CO– The House Education Committee today passed bipartisan legislation by a vote of 9-0 that would make it easier for students who graduate from high school early to pursue post-secondary education or workforce training programs. “We have to take an innovative look at how we can help all Colorado’s students learn the skills they need to thrive,” said Education Committee Chair Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This bill will help Colorado build back stronger by increasing access to higher education attainment and workforce training programs for more low-income and underprivileged students. It’s clear that when we give students the opportunity to earn money toward their post-secondary education, it makes it easier and less expensive for them to get degrees and certificates that will help them excel.” Two years ago, the legislature passed SB19-216 with bipartisan support to create the High School Innovation Learning Pilot that incentivizes students to pursue work-based learning opportunities and develop workforce related skills prior to graduating from high school. SB21-106 , sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Mark Baisley, would build on that program by expanding eligibility to include students who graduate from high school early without negatively impacting student counts and district funding levels. The bill is expected to add up to 20 new schools or districts to the pilot, in addition to the 17 currently participating. Previous Next