< Back April 29, 2019 EXUM-TIPPER’S SECOND CHANCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM LANDS ON GOVERNOR’S DESK (Apr. 29) – The House gave final approval to SB19-231, 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 been in the custody of 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 our 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 in return, they will be productive members of society,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “ It will cost taxpayers more in the long term than it will to improve the lives of our young people with education and give them a more fulfilling life.” 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. “This is a smart investment in some of our most vulnerable youth. 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 could be the only opportunity many of these kids will have to get a fresh start,” said Rep. Tipper, D-Lakewood. Both the advisory board and scholarship program will expire in 2022. SB19-231 passed by a bipartisan vote of 43-22. It now heads to the Governor’s desk. Previous Next

The House today passed Representative Meghan Lukens’ bipartisan bill to conserve water through more widespread adoption of graywater use. < Back April 5, 2024 Lukens’ Bipartisan Water Conservation Bill Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed Representative Meghan Lukens’ bipartisan bill to conserve water through more widespread adoption of graywater use. HB24-1362 passed unanimously. “With the passage of this bill, we’re conserving our water resources, protecting our environment and upholding the Colorado way of life,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This bipartisan bill encourages local governments to use graywater in irrigation and for non-drinking household purposes, which is a great option for getting the most out of our water. Living on the Western Slope, I’m committed to protecting and conserving our precious water resources – and this bill makes it easier for our communities to recycle water.” HB24-1362 is also sponsored by Representative Marc Caitlin, R-Montrose. This bill would encourage the use of graywater in Colorado to conserve our state’s scarce water supply by authorizing the installation of graywater systems statewide. It also offers flexibility for local governments to opt-out with an ordinance or resolution prohibiting the installation of graywater systems for use in newly constructed residential buildings for indoor use. Water that has been used for washing dishes, laundering clothes, or bathing is considered graywater. Although it might be on its second or third round of use, graywater can be used for non-drinking purposes such as landscape irrigation and toilet flushing. Previous Next

< Back February 28, 2019 GENERAL ASSEMBLY ANNOUNCES UPCOMING INTRODUCTION OF OIL AND GAS LEGISLATION PRIORITIZING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF COLORADANS Denver, CO – Senate and House leadership, joined by Governor Polis and supporters, today announced oil and gas legislation that prioritizes the health and safety of Coloradans will soon be introduced in the General Assembly. The legislation, sponsored by Speaker KC Becker and Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, seeks to provide the most meaningful changes to oil and gas regulations Colorado has seen in more than 60 years. The bill will not only provide peace of mind for Coloradans by clarifying that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s mission is to regulate, not foster, the industry, but will empower local communities to take control over what is happening in their backyards and equip them with the tools they need to stand up for their best interests. “Coloradans simply do not have confidence that the laws in place are sufficient to protect their health and safety. They are right, and they are looking to their leaders for change,” said Majority Leader Fenberg. “For too long, the legislature has stood in the way of common sense reforms that would keep communities safe, and protect the Colorado we love. Today, we are announcing change.” “Right now, oil and gas laws in Colorado tilt heavily toward the industry. We are going to correct that tilt so that health, safety, and environment are no longer ignored by state agencies,” said Speaker KC Becker. “This bill would also ensure that local governments have a greater ability to represent the interests of the people they serve.” “The legislation we outlined today puts health and safety first and gives communities a meaningful seat at the table,” said Governor Jared Polis. “While we know this doesn’t solve all of the problems our communities face, it is a practical approach to finding a solution for many of our issues and providing more stability by updating our laws to reflect today’s realities.” Erin Martinez, the survivor of a tragic gas explosion in Firestone that killed her brother and husband, urged for stronger regulation saying “the only way to make sure this never happens again is to learn from this tragedy and create safer regulations and guidelines that put human safety first.” The full legislation will be introduced in the coming days. Previous Next

Bills reduce the aviation-caused air pollution and update the Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Chemicals Protection Act < Back April 15, 2024 Legislation to Protect Colorado’s Air and Water Advances House Bills reduce the aviation-caused air pollution and update the Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Chemicals Protection Act DENVER, CO - The House today advanced two bills to protect Colorado’s air and water. HB24-1235, sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Shannon Bird, would protect communities from aviation lead and noise pollution. SB24-081, sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Manny Rutinel, would help prevent highly toxic chemicals from seeping into our environment and negatively affecting Coloradans’ health. “Though not used in commercial planes, leaded aviation fuel is still present in Colorado and can have adverse health effects on our communities, especially children and youth,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of HB24-1235 . “This bill will improve our public health and help transition aircraft away from the use of leaded fuel. This community-driven legislation works to ensure that airports are good neighbors to their surrounding communities by addressing both the dangers of lead exposure and the quality of life impacts of noise pollution. I’m proud to champion this bill because it’s good for our environment and our public health.” “As our state’s population grows, smaller airports are seeing more traffic than ever before, which means increased noise and air pollution in our communities,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, sponsor of bill HB24-1235 . “This bill will help aircraft owners to phase out leaded fuel and ensures Coloradans living in aviation-affected communities are represented on the Colorado Aeronautical Board. There is no safe level of lead exposure for our children, and this bill works to clean up our air while prioritizing the health of our neighbors.” HB24-1235 would help ensure communities are protected from aviation noise and lead pollution by easing the transition to unleaded fuels for aircraft owners and airports. Specifically, this legislation would: Incentivize aircraft owners to transition their planes from using leaded to unleaded fuel by providing a refundable income tax credit for qualified expenses Ensures that the lesser of 10-percent or $1.5M of State Aviation System grant funding per year goes toward aiding the transition to unleaded aviation gasoline, and requires grant recipients to both adopt a plan for phasing out sales of leaded gasoline by 2030, and enforce a noise abatement plan Add two members to the Colorado Aeronautical Board who are residents of communities affected by aviation Requires the Division of Aeronautics to work with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment to evaluate, educate, and provide technical assistance to airports regarding adverse impacts of aircraft noise and leaded aviation fuel This bill aims to respond to community concerns about increased aviation activity in the Denver Metro area which is home to two of the top five airports and the most general aviation activity in the country. Leaded fuel, commonly used by aircraft owners, recreation pilots and pilots-in-training, is a leading source of lead emissions and excessive exposure to lead has many harmful health effects across various bodily functions. “We’re one step closer to reducing PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals,’ in our water and environment,” said Rep Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of SB24-081. “Over the years, we’ve made good progress to phase out these dangerous chemicals in our everyday household items, and this bill continues our efforts to fully transition away from ‘forever chemicals’. This bill works with businesses to establish a reasonable timeline to phase out their reliance on ‘forever chemicals’ and prioritize our environment.” “Coloradans are counting on us to fully eliminate PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals’ to protect our water supply and public health,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City, sponsor of SB24-081. “This bill builds upon important work to reduce ‘forever chemicals’ in common household items. By effectively phasing out these harmful chemicals, we can protect our communities from toxic chemicals commonly found in the water we drink and the environment where we all live.” SB24-081 would make updates to the Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Chemicals Protection Act . This 2022 law prohibits the sale or distribution of certain consumer products that contain intentionally-added PFAS chemicals and regulates the use and storage of Class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS. PFAS are synthetic chemicals developed to coat products to make them resistant to heat, water and oil. They are prevalent in a variety of products including nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, cleaning products, and firefighting foams. PFAS break down very slowly in the environment and make their way into water sources, both poisoning the water supply and burdening water districts with billions of dollars in clean-up costs. Scientific research also suggests that exposure may lead to adverse health outcomes. The bill adds additional products with intentionally added PFAS to the scheduled phase-out, including certain outdoor gear and cookware, ski wax, personal hygiene products, cleaning products, artificial turf and other textile articles. The bill also requires a disclosure to consumers of intentionally added PFAS in certain consumer products. Previous Next

< Back May 2, 2023 Legislation to Build More Housing Now Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed landmark legislation sponsored by Representatives Steven Woodrow and Iman Jodeh to create more housing for every budget. The committee passed SB23-213 , which will allow property owners in urban municipalities to build ADUs on their property, enact locally tailored anti-displacement and affordability measures, encourage multi-family housing near mass transit hubs, and reduce minimum parking requirements that drive up housing construction costs and lead to higher rents. “We’ve heard the message loud and clear: we must do more to tackle Colorado's affordability crisis. We must increase our housing supply, reduce costs, and build more housing now,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “We have a decision to make: we can either continue with the status quo of high costs, long commutes, polluted air, and wasted water, or we can grow in a smart, strategic way that facilitates home ownership and housing security. The choice is clear. We must build homes for every Coloradan’s budget, and now is the time to get it done.” “From Aurora to the Western Slope, our lack of housing is the culprit behind the most intractable issues that we face, and that burden is disproportionately carried by lower income people and people of color,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “If we don’t pass this bill, the people who can least afford housing will continue to be pushed out of the communities they love. We were sent to the legislature to do tough things, and this bold legislation will help reduce the displacement of Colorado families, save Coloradans money on housing and make it less expensive to call our state home.” SB23-213 is a comprehensive bill that establishes a framework for more housing in municipalities while providing flexibility for local leaders to implement standards that meet the needs of their community. The proposal establishes ways for the state and local communities to work together to develop strategies to meet Colorado’s housing goals more broadly and to avoid regional imbalances in housing production. The proposal also includes opportunities for local communities to implement solutions that address unique circumstances and build on prior local efforts that address housing abundance and affordability. By creating more housing supply, this proposal will lead to increases in home options for every budget so that Coloradans can live in the communities they want without being priced out. The plan also helps improve air quality, protect open space, conserve water and plan for future growth while helping prevent displacement. The plan outlines strategies to create more housing now including: Legalizing the ability to build ADUs in existing residential areas in urban municipalities, Reducing parking minimums in strategic growth areas, key corridors and transit-oriented developments as well as for accessory dwelling units. Paves the way for more multifamily housing in or near transit-oriented and walkable communities to lessen the number of cars on the road, improve air quality, reduce pollution, and save people money on commutes, Assessing statewide housing needs and identifying affordability strategies tailored to local and regional needs. The bill will provide a framework for state, regional, and local agencies to strategically align investments and policies and track progress, and Constructing more homes and creating jobs by eliminating arbitrary laws that prevent property owners from building the housing units local communities need. A PEW study found that restrictive zoning policies make it more difficult and expensive to build new housing that accommodates a community’s housing needs, which causes home prices and rents to skyrocket. Another 2023 study found that rent prices across Colorado increased by 31 percent on average from January 2017 to January 2023, while municipalities that implemented similar reforms saw minimal rent increases. Cities like Mineappolis, Minnesota, New Rochelle, New York, Portland, Oregon, and Tysons, Virginia have updated their zoning codes to allow for more and lower-cost housing options to address their housing needs. These zoning reforms have successfully limited rental price increases at 0 to 5 percent, compared to Colorado rental increases between 22 to 53 percent. Colorado’s population increased 14.8 percent between 2010 and 2020, but the housing stock only grew by 12.6 percent. With housing stock not meeting population demands and low household sizes, Coloradans are left to compete over limited housing opportunities. In the ten years before 2007, Colorado was building nearly 50,000 homes a year. In the decade that followed, the number dropped to 26,500, leaving the state 175,000 home short of what Colorado needs to stabilize housing prices. Many jurisdictions only allow single-family detached housing, often on a large lot and with significant parking requirements. Research shows that reducing or removing parking mandates can reduce the cost to construct more affordable homes like multifamily housing. It also encourages alternative and environmentally-friendly transportation like walking and biking. Previous Next

< Back March 26, 2021 HOUSE MOVES TO END CIVIL STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CLAIMS DENVER, CO– The House today gave preliminary approval to SB21-073, legislation sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Matt Soper, which would end the civil statute of limitations on claims of sexual misconduct and allow survivors of sexual assault to sue for damages regardless of when the abuse occurred. “Statutes of limitation do nothing to help victims, and today, we took a giant step forward to send statutes of limitations to the dustbins of history,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D- Commerce City. “Justice has no time limit, and now victims will no longer face one in order to seek it. This historic moment has been years in the making and would never have happened without the courageous and fierce advocacy of so many Coloradans who told their painful stories and continued this fight year after year.” SB21-073 would remove the current six year limitation on bringing a civil claim based on sexual misconduct. The bill applies to a cause of action that accrues on or after January 1, 2022, or a cause of action that accrued prior to that date but before the current six year statute of limitations expires. The legislation defines sexual misconduct in statute and eliminates restrictions on civil cases that limit victims to recovering only certain damages. The bill eliminates other restrictions that limit victims’ ability to file a civil action. Previous Next

< Back February 17, 2022 BILL TO BOOST COLORADO WORKFORCE PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – Legislation to boost Colorado’s workforce by breaking down barriers for Coloradans with a criminal history to obtain licensure, certification or registration for many professions and occupations passed the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee unanimously. HB22-1098, sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird and Jennifer Bacon, would make it easier for Coloradans with unrelated criminal charges to obtain the credentials they need to enter a profession. “Access to opportunity is the key to a fulfilling life. We must not allow our laws and regulations to stand in the way of a person’s right to get a job and provide for themselves,” said Rep. Shannon Bird D-Westminster. “This legislation levels the playing field for those involved with the justice system by requiring DORA to evaluate barriers to entering a profession and to also create a standard for Coloradans with criminal records to apply for jobs. We’re working hard to boost Colorado’s workforce by making it easier for qualified, talented individuals to pursue careers in health care, professional trades work and other high-demand jobs." “This session, we’re continuing our work to break down barriers to employment,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon D-Denver. “Right now, many individuals with a criminal record of any kind are barred from applying for certain jobs that are regulated by the state. In the U.S., one in three Americans have a record and communities of color are disproportionately represented. This bill would open up new opportunities for qualified Coloradans who have been involved with the criminal justice system to apply for jobs, begin new careers and boost our workforce.” If passed, HB22-1098 would make it so applicants may only be denied a credential based on their criminal history if that history would hinder their ability to do their job safely and competently. Additionally, the bill allows regulators to issue a conditional credential to a potential applicant with certain guardrails in place. Nearly one in three Coloradans have a criminal record that hinders them from applying for state regulated jobs, including K-12 teaching, child care, health care and other high-demand sectors in Colorado facing workforce shortages. HB22-1098 would make it easier for qualified Coloradans to apply for these jobs if their criminal record does not hinder their ability to do the job safely. Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2022 HOUSE ADVANCES BILLS TO BUILD A SAFER COLORADO Bills would invest in wildfire mitigation efforts and provide grants to enhance security at institutions facing increasing threats DENVER, CO – The House moved a trio of bills today to build a safer Colorado. Two bills, HB22-1012 and SB22-002, invest in wildfire mitigation and prevention efforts. HB22-1077 provides grant funding to ramp up security at faith-based institutions facing increasing threats, including synagogues and mosques. “Wildfires are happening at almost any time of the year, and this session, we are moving forward several pieces of legislation to prevent and reduce the risk of wildfires,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton, sponsor of HB22-1012 and SB22-002 . “The two bills we took action on today will support our volunteer firefighters who step up to protect our communities and will help our state better manage our forests to prevent fires and remove carbon, which is responsible for much of our changing climate.” “Our forests play an important role in reducing the risk of wildfire,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara, sponsor of HB22-1012 . “We’ve seen how fast wildfires can spread in forested areas and how quickly a small fire can grow to one of the largest we’ve ever seen. This bill will improve forest management practices to mitigate the risks of wildfire and help combat climate change.” “Antisemitic incidents reported in Colorado grew by 53 percent in 2021 and reached the highest level nationwide in more than a decade – we need to secure funding now to protect our communities from violence,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, sponsor of HB22-1077 . “I am worried about the safety of my community and this bill provides grant funding so faith-based institutions can improve their security. I am proud to stand behind this legislation that will make Colorado communities safer by ramping up security measures at sacred spaces, including synagogues, churches, temples and mosques.” “With this bill, we’re prioritizing the safety and well-being of Colorado’s minority communities who continue to experience threats and acts of violence at their places of worship,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB22-1077 . “Coloradans deserve to feel safe in their houses of worship, community centers, schools and community spaces and this bill provides grant funding to boost security on hallowed ground. The time is now to provide places of worship in Aurora and around the state with the security resources they need to protect their communities.” Wildfire Mitigation and Recovery: HB22-1012 , sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Donald Valdez, passed by a vote of 45 to 19. This bill improves forest management to mitigate wildfire risks and increase the state’s carbon inventory – the capacity of plants and trees in the state to remove carbon from the air. The bill creates a framework to link forest management and wildfire mitigation goals with efforts to decarbonize the air through healthy forests. Resources For Volunteer Firefighters: SB22-002 , sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter and Perry Will advanced the House on a preliminary vote and would invest $1 million to better prepare local fire departments and their firefighters for wildfires. Specifically, this bill would make local volunteer fire departments eligible for reimbursement for wildland fire suppression activities, including equipment costs and volunteer firefighter recruitment, training and retention. Local fire departments will also be able to use funds from the Local Firefighter Safety and Disease Prevention Grant Program for the replacement or disposal of damaged or obsolete equipment. The bill also creates the Firefighter Behavioral Health Benefits Trust to provide behavioral health care services to firefighters and paid for by public employers. Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program : HB22-1077 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Iman Jodeh passed by a vote of 46 to 18. This bill would create the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program in the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The program would offer grants to eligible entities to enhance the physical security of Colorado’s faith-based and charitable organizations. Currently, the federal government provides grants for this purpose through the Department of Homeland Security, however the increase in threats combined with not enough funding has led to unmet security needs for Colorado-based organizations. As drafted, the bill would provide $1.5 million for these grants with a maximum award of $50,000, allowing nearly 30 additional Colorado organizations to complete critical security upgrades for their facilities. Minority communities are facing a growing threat from violent extremists who are targeting sacred spaces such as mosques, temples and synagogues. In Colorado, there has been an increase in violent rhetoric and threats. In 2019, there was an attempted bombing at a synagogue in Pueblo and an individual was recently arrested after threatening congregants with a weapon outside of the Downtown Denver Islamic Center. Previous Next

< Back May 1, 2019 BILL TO ASK VOTERS TO RAISE TOBACCO TAX AND PUT FUNDING TOWARD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE PASSES HOUSE $1.89 billion in health care costs for Colorado directly caused by smoking (May 1) – The House approved Rep. Yadira Caraveo’s bill that would give voters the choice to raise taxes on tobacco products, including a new tax on liquid nicotine used for vaping. There is currently no tax on liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes. If approved by voters, the referred measure would raise more than $300 million, half of which would go toward early childhood education and half to health care. “In the six years I’ve been a pediatrician, I have seen the rise of the teen vaping epidemic and the negative impacts it is having on their health and development. Kids as young as eleven are vaping and this bill will help decrease youth use of nicotine and tobacco products,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “Right now, there is a major loophole that is allowing vaping products to go untaxed. This will ask voters to close that loophole and put the funding toward early childhood education and health care in order to invest in our children and our state’s well-being.” Rep. Caraveo is the only medical doctor in the legislature. Numerous economic studies in peer-reviewed journals have documented that cigarette tax or price increases reduce both adult and underage smoking. In Colorado, an alarming 33 percent of students use tobacco products and 26 percent of high school students use e-cigarettes, which is twice the national average for teen vaping. Typically, one vaping cartridge contains the same amount of nicotine of a pack of cigarettes. Colorado’s current tobacco tax rate on cigarettes is one of the lowest rates in the country. The average state tobacco tax is $1.79 a pack. Colorado’s tax today is 84 cents a pack. The revenue raised would be reinvested in preventing smoking and vaping, especially among youth, mental health, as well early learning and other health and education programs. Raising the taxes on tobacco products and cigarettes is highly effective at reducing smoking. Nationally, every 10 percent increase in cigarette prices reduces youth smoking by about 7 percent and total cigarette consumption by about 4 percent. Smoking-caused productivity losses in Colorado top $1.27 billion. HB19-1333 was approved on a vote of 34-31. It now goes to the Senate. Supporters of this measure include: Children’s Hospital Colorado, Healthier Colorado, Colorado Children’s Campaign, Mental Health Colorado, Early Childhood Summit, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Parent Possible, Gary Community Investments, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, American Heart Association, The Consortium, Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution, Clayton Early Learning, EPIC, Boys & Girls Club, Healthy Child Care Colorado, among others. ### Previous Next

< Back May 2, 2019 NO MORE SURPRISES: BIPARTISAN BILL TO END OUT-OF-NETWORK BILLING GOES TO GOVERNOR’S DESK (May 2) – A bipartisan bill to address the out-of-control practice of sending consumers out-of-network bills, sponsored by Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, and Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, is heading to the Governor’s desk. “As a legislator, my job is to find a way to ensure Coloradans aren’t dealing with these surprise medical bills through no fault of their own,” s aid Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We are responding to the concerns of families, individuals and seniors who have been hit by these surprise–and often expensive–bills. We think this is a strong bipartisan solution to this problem.” HB19-1174 prohibits out-of-network billing by providers when the patient unknowingly received the care from an out-of-network provider or facility. It also requires providers to inform consumers of their rights regarding bills sent to them by out-of-network providers. The bill does not prohibit patients from incurring out-of-network costs when they intentionally go out-of-network for their care but puts safeguards in place to prevent unexpected medical bills in these situations. Out-of-network bills can be more than 30 times the average in-network rate. Fifty-seven percent of patients who encountered out-of-network bills paid the bills in full because they didn’t know of their right to fight these bills. This legislation is meant to help control costs in out-of-network billing situations by setting a reasonable rate of payment for these providers and facilities. The House re-approved the bipartisan bill on a vote of 54-9. The bill passed out of the Senate with a vote of 31-4. The bill also has bipartisan sponsorship in the Senate with Sen. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, and Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, serving as Senate sponsors Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to improve accessibility at Colorado’s airports by increasing the number of accessible restrooms and walkways, including the voices of Coloradans with disabilities when redesigning large hub airports, and requiring reporting for non-compliance. HB24-1452, sponsored by Representative David Ortiz and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, passed by a vote of 43-18. < Back April 24, 2024 House Approves Bill to Improve Airport Accessibility for Coloradans with Disabilities DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to improve accessibility at Colorado’s airports by increasing the number of accessible restrooms and walkways, including the voices of Coloradans with disabilities when redesigning large hub airports, and requiring reporting for non-compliance. HB24-1452, sponsored by Representative David Ortiz and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, passed by a vote of 43-18. “Basic access in airports means that Coloradans with disabilities have a right to air travel safely and with dignity, but unfortunately that has not always been the case,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Centennial. “From broken wheelchairs to inaccessible restrooms, the disability community faces many barriers to air travel, which can have negative consequences on our health, economic opportunity, and in some cases cost us our lives. This bill gives community living with a disability a seat at the table to advocate for changes so Colorado can serve as a model for accessibility in airports across the world.” “The federal bipartisan infrastructure law has granted historic funding to improve airport infrastructure, and our bill ensures some of that money is used to meet accessibility standards that are required under the law,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The requests that the disability community has made to our airports are not unreasonable - they are essential for the health and safety of our fellow Coloradans. With this legislation, we’re following through with the rights guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure that Coloradans with disabilities have dignity in air travel.” HB24-1452 would require large hub airports to ensure accessibility for travelers living with disabilities, as well as establish specific duties and deadlines for compliance. The bill requires large hub airports in Colorado to: Establish an advisory committee composed of people with various disabilities to provide input during airport renovations to ensure basic access and equity in air travel; Consult with the disability community and advisory committee during the construction of walkways and other airport facilities; Incorporate wayfinding technology for blind or visually-impaired travelers; Create, maintain, and update a dashboard to report and track basic access shortcomings and violations during the travel process, including a public inquiry form that allows an individual to directly report accessibility issues; Develop and provide comprehensive training programs for direct airport staff on proper handling of equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, medical equipment, and adaptive sports equipment; Provide at least one accessible public restroom per terminal, in addition to companion care changing tables; Use elevators to transport power wheelchairs from the tarmac to the jetway and give elevator priority to these individuals. Additionally, HB24-1452 would create a pathway for civil lawsuits against large hub airports for damages resulting from violations of their legal responsibilities. From complex terminal layouts to long distances between gates, passengers with disabilities face infrastructure, information, and customer service barriers at airports throughout the United States. Previous Next

< Back February 20, 2020 LEGISLATION TO COMBAT OPIOID CRISIS PASSES HEALTH AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE Legislation bolsters prevention efforts and would help reduce the rate of opioid deaths. DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Health and Insurance today advanced two bills that will help prevent more Coloradans from developing an opioid use disorder and reduce the rate of opioid overdose deaths. “We can lower the rate of opioid overdose deaths, slow the spread of communicable diseases and prevent more Coloradans from developing a substance use disorder, but we have to adopt best practices for prevention and provide better access to alternative pain therapies,” said Rep. Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “These bills will help keep Coloradans from developing a substance misuse disorder or dying of an overdose,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “Across our state, communities are being devastated by substance misuse disorder, and we need to act now to turn the tide in this deadly crisis. These bills will improve prevention efforts and help keep more Coloradans alive.” HB20-1085 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Leslie Herod focuses on prevention efforts. The bill would encourage best practices to prevent opioid misuse, increase access to alternatives to opioids for pain relief, expand continuing education for opioid prescribers and support the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to work with community partners such as local public health agencies in a variety of prevention efforts. It would also establish screening and brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) as a health care standard. Furthermore, it requires health plans to cover a minimum number of physical therapy, occupational therapy and acupuncture visits per year as alternative pain treatment and would require insurance companies to make opioid alternatives available at the lowest cost-sharing tier applicable. HB20-1085 passed the committee 10-0. HB20-1065 , which is also sponsored by Representatives Kennedy and Herod, aims to lower the rate of opioid overdoses and related deaths and better prevent the spread of communicable diseases that can be associated with the injection of illicit opioids. It would protect people who act in good faith to respond to overdoses by administering an opiate antagonist, such as naloxone, that has expired. The bill would also require insurance plans to reimburse hospitals that provide opiate antagonists to counteract overdoses that often occur upon discharge. To help prevent communicable diseases, the bill would allow pharmacists to provide clean syringes and removes a regulatory barrier to operating syringe exchange programs. HB20-1065 passed the committee 6-4. Opioid use disorder is impacting communities across Colorado. The state recorded 543 opioid overdose deaths in 2018. Data tracking the number of pills dispensed per person shows that some Colorado counties have rates that are higher or at the same level as some of the hardest-hit states, such as West Virginia and Kentucky. A 2018 estimate from the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that the opioid epidemic has cost the US $2.5 trillion from 2015 to 2018. Previous Next