The House Finance Committee today passed legislation that would allow notifications for vehicle registration, license plate renewals, and other motor vehicle transactions to be sent electronically. HB24-1089 passed unanimously by a vote of 11-0. < Back March 11, 2024 Hamrick Bill Improves DMV Process, Allows Electronic Communications DENVER, CO - The House Finance Committee today passed legislation that would allow notifications for vehicle registration, license plate renewals, and other motor vehicle transactions to be sent electronically. HB24-1089 passed unanimously by a vote of 11-0. “Electronic communication is the norm, and Coloradans should be given the option to receive DMV transactions and notifications electronically,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “Printing and mailing these communications cost counties hundreds of thousands of dollars every single year. With this bill, we can save counties money while making it easier for Coloradans to navigate the DMV.” HB24-1089 , also sponsored by Representative Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, would create an opt-in option for electronic notifications for transactions and notices, including vehicle registration expiration, plate or placard renewal, fleet vehicle registration renewal, dealer license plate and depot tag issuance, and missing documentation. The bill would not allow for the revocation of a vehicle registration or license plate to be sent electronically. Previous Next

SB26-040 would update the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet the needs of hardworking Coloradans < Back April 21, 2026 Legislation to Create More Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities Passes DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to update the Affordable Homeownership Program that was created by voter-approved Proposition 123 . SB26-040, sponsored by Representatives Katie Stewart and Lesley Smith, passed by a vote of 44-20. “Our bipartisan legislation will help more hardworking Coloradans qualify for down payments and other financial assistance to save Coloradans money on housing,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “While Prop 123 housing projects have shown great success in delivering affordable housing across Colorado, the program isn’t working for every community. By creating more flexibility in this Prop 123 program, our bipartisan bill would make it easier to support hardworking people, especially in rural resort communities like mine.” “Homeownership is a cornerstone of economic stability and wealth building for hardworking people, and our bill uses existing tools to make homebuying a more realistic goal for Coloradans,” said Rep. Lesley Smith, D-Boulder. “Increasing land and labor costs, paired with high interest rates, are making it difficult to build Prop 123 housing with the current eligibility requirements. We want to ensure that this program creates affordable housing options in our communities. This bill makes it less expensive for more hardworking Coloradans to purchase a home.” SB26-040 would expand eligibility for qualified buyers and make practical updates to better serve every Colorado community and meet the reality of the 2026 housing market. The bill would increase the allowable income threshold to qualify for the program to less than or equal to 120 percent of either the statewide Area Median Income (AMI) or the local AMI. This would allow more people to qualify for the program, particularly in rural communities. Rising interest rates and insurance costs have also made it harder for Coloradans to meet the requirement that combined housing costs cannot exceed 35 percent of their income. This bill would create a process to allow some homeowners to spend more than 35 percent of their income on housing when a qualified buyer is not found after six months of advertising, further expanding the availability of the program for Colorado families. Additionally, the bill would allow eligible organizations to temporarily rent units if they cannot be sold in a timely manner and create more flexibility in the program rules. These updates would provide the flexibility for the Affordable Home Ownership Program to adapt to the needs of communities across Colorado, and help ensure that the program is working as intended and serving as many Coloradans as possible. Previous Next

< Back August 10, 2021 CO HOUSE LEADERSHIP APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL DENVER, CO– Speaker Alec Garnett and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar released the following statements after the U.S. Senate gave approval to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a bill to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in American infrastructure. “I’m heartened to see Washington politicians putting partisanship aside to make a much needed investment in our country’s infrastructure,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “The bill championed by President Biden and passed by the Senate today will direct billions of dollars toward necessary improvements to our roads, bridges, rail, public transit, the electric grid, water systems, and broadband. The work we did at the state level this year, like passing SB-260, will allow Colorado to quickly and sustainably capitalize on this funding. I will continue to monitor the progress of this bill and look forward to its final passage.” “Today’s bipartisan bill passage is a win that every Coloradan can celebrate,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “This historic investment in American infrastructure will create jobs, modernize our country’s transportation and keep us better connected. I’m particularly excited to see this bill direct robust funding toward passenger rail, bringing us one big step closer to making projects like Front Range Rail a reality.” Previous Next

< Back May 30, 2019 GOV SIGNS BILL TO ENCOURAGE MORE GIRLS IN STEM INDUSTRY (May 30) – Gov Polis signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Daneya Esgar and Rep. Lisa Cutter that would encourage young girls to go into the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field. “This new law will help get Colorado’s kids ready for jobs that haven’t even been imagined yet. Right now, we can’t see the full extent of the gender gap in computer science classrooms because Colorado doesn’t gather that information,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo. “If we start gathering this information, we can find the solutions to this challenge.” HB19-1277 provides computer science classroom participation data to understand the extend the gender gap in Colorado. The new law would also provide $250,000 per year to grant funding for three schools and districts who want to offer computer science courses and afterschool programs with an emphasis on participation by underrepresented groups, such as women. “We need to encourage our students, especially our young girls and underrepresented students to get involved in tech and science, which offer high paying jobs,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Evergreen. “This new law is a responsible investment in the future of our children and the future of our state.” Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2020 COLORADO SUPREME COURT ACCEPTS INTERROGATORY OF THE GA DENVER, CO — The Colorado Supreme Court today announced that it would take up the question of whether, under the current circumstances of a declared disaster emergency, the General Assembly can suspend the legislative session and pick up where it left off at a later point. The court accepted the bipartisan interrogatories passed by the General Assembly on Saturday, and the court will be accepting briefs on the case over the next week. “The Constitution gives the legislature 120 calendar days to accomplish the important work our constituents elected us to do,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “We are in an impossible situation of either not taking care of the public’s needs by not passing critical legislation, or not taking care of the public’s needs by continuing our work in the middle of a public health emergency. I’m glad that the court has acted rapidly to take up this question, and hope they will see the wisdom in allowing us to suspend operations during this crisis and come back to continue our work when appropriate.” “We are grateful that the court has taken up our request with such speed and urgency,” said President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo. “It is imperative that we get an answer regarding if the Legislature is Constitutionally permitted to suspend the counting of legislative days during a state emergency. The work we do on behalf of Coloradans is critical to the wellbeing of our state, and we sincerely hope to continue our efforts once public safety is secured.” HJR20-1006 asks the Colorado Supreme Court to answer the following question: Does the provision of section 7 of article V of the state constitution that limits the length of the regular legislative session to “one hundred twenty calendar days” require that those days be counted consecutively and continuously beginning with the first day on which the regular legislative session convenes or may the General Assembly for purposes of operating during a declared disaster emergency interpret the limitation as applying only to calendar days on which the Senate or the House of Representatives, or both, convene in regular legislative session? The Interrogatory argues that “If the General Assembly is required to adjourn for a significant period of time to protect the public health[…] legislators will be unable to serve their constituents by debating and acting on many of the bills introduced during the 2020 regular legislative session, and the citizens who elected those legislators to act on those bills will be deprived of representation by their chosen representatives[…]” The Interrogatory asks the court to determine if the General Assembly should be forced to either reduce the length of the session and thereby fail to meet its responsibility to serve the citizens of the state by passing legislation in the public interest, or jeopardize the constitutionality of that legislation, including the state’s annual budget. Interested parties may file a brief by 5:00 PM on Tuesday March 24, and the Colorado Supreme Court case number is 2020SA100. Previous Next

< Back September 6, 2021 ISABELLA JOY THALLAS ACT GOES INTO EFFECT TOMORROW Law requires gun owners to report lost and stolen firearms DENVER, CO– SB21-078, legislation sponsored by Representatives Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod to promote responsible gun ownership, will go into effect tomorrow. The new law aims to prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands by requiring gun owners to report to law enforcement within five days of realizing their firearms have been lost or stolen. “Last session, we took historic action to prevent gun violence in Colorado, passing six commonsense laws that will help save lives,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “The law going into effect today is an educational tool that will help keep firearms out of the wrong hands by setting an expectation for gun owners to report when their firearms are lost or have been stolen. No law will prevent every gun death, but we’ve seen that well-crafted policies–like Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law–save lives, and the Isabella Joy Thallas Act will, as well.” “Lost and stolen firearms are found at crime scenes across the country every day, and data shows that tens of thousands of firearms have been stolen in Colorado in recent years,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “Unreported lost or stolen firearms make our communitiees less safe, and it doesn’t have to be that way. Timely reporting of lost or stolen firearms saves lives, helps prevent crime, and it’s the simple and responsible thing to do if you realize your firearm is missing.” SB21-078 requires an individual who owns a firearm and has reasonable cause to believe that the firearm has been lost or stolen to report that firearm to a law enforcement agency within five days after discovering that the firearm is missing. A first offense for failure to make such a report is a civil infraction punishable by a $25 fine, and a second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine. The bill requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report to enter information about the lost or stolen firearm into the National Crime Information Center database and report the information to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Through an amendment, SB21-078 was renamed the ‘Isabella Joy Thallas Act’, in honor of the young woman who was murdered on June 10, 2020 while she and her boyfriend were walking their dog outside of their apartment in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood. The high-powered semi-automatic rifle used in the killing was stolen. Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation to expand language accessibility for emergency and public safety alerts. The bill passed by a vote of 59-5. < Back April 13, 2023 Velasco Bill to Expand Language Accessibility for Emergency Alerts Passes in the House DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation to expand language accessibility for emergency and public safety alerts. The bill passed by a vote of 59-5. “From wildfires to avalanches, rural and urban Coloradans are reliant on emergency alerts to notify them of potential dangers to themselves or their property,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Limiting notifications to just English leaves non-English speakers without the resources or information they need to react to life-threatening dangers. Our bill will help identify ways to best communicate emergency information to non-English speakers and people with disabilities so everyone has a fair chance to protect themselves and their families.” HB23-1237 , also sponsored by Republican Senator Perry Will, would direct the University of Colorado’s Natural Hazards Center, in consultation with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, to conduct a study to identify how municipalities, sheriff's offices, counties, fire districts, and local 911 agencies can best provide emergency alerts in a non-English language and implement live interpretation during a 911 call. The study would identify essential components of a multi-hazard early warning system needed to successfully reach residents and visitors and would include recommendations for how to better reach at-risk communities that may have difficulties accessing English language text alerts. Previous Next

Two bipartisan laws to allow Coloradans who are incarcerated to earn time off their sentence by pursuing higher education and to expand access to DNA testing after being convicted of a felony are now in effect. < Back October 3, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Bipartisan Laws to Reduce Recidivism and Expand Post-Conviction DNA Testing Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – Two bipartisan laws to allow Coloradans who are incarcerated to earn time off their sentence by pursuing higher education and to expand access to DNA testing after being convicted of a felony are now in effect. “Education is a proven tool to reduce recidivism and improve public safety because it creates strong, post-sentence pathways for formerly incarcerated Coloradans to thrive after completing their sentence,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, sponsor of HB23-1037 . “It is exciting to see higher education institutions from across the state sign on to work with the Department of Corrections to offer courses to Coloradans who are incarcerated. This bipartisan legislation will help Coloradans have the skills and higher education credits they need to secure a good-paying job after their time is served.” “Colorado owes incarcerated people more, which is why I am proud to have championed these bills that will help folks in prison prove their innocence and better prepare them for life outside prison,” Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, Sponsor of HB23-1037 and HB23-1034 said. “Enabling petitioners to access post-conviction DNA testing will help folks prove their innocence and allow them to reclaim their freedom, while expanding educational opportunities will reduce recidivism rates and better prepare Coloradans to find good-paying careers once they’ve left prison. I am happy to see these important new laws go into effect, and I look forward to the transformational changes they will bring to incarcerated Coloradans.” “Wrongful convictions ruin the lives of innocent people across our nation and can lead to cycles of poverty and incarceration that devastate families and perpetuate injustice,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, sponsor of HB23-1034 . “When someone is wrongly convicted, that means the real perpetrator is likely still on the street. This important law makes it easier for those convicted of certain crimes to access post-conviction DNA testing, which can help prove their innocence and identify the actual perpetrator. This law will lead to safer communities and a more just and trusted legal system for Coloradans.” HB23-1037 , sponsored by Representatives Matt Martinez and Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs and Senator Julie Gonzales, allows people who are incarcerated and sentenced for a nonviolent felony offense to reduce their sentence by completing an accredited degree or other credential awarded by an accredited higher education institution while the person is incarcerated in the Department of Corrections. Specifically, people who are incarcerated can receive 6 months of earned time for an earned credential or a 30 credit hour certificate, one year of earned time for a bachelor's or associate's degree, 18 months of earned time for a master’s degree, and two years for a doctoral degree. Five Colorado Universities will offer select courses and certificate programs to people who are incarcerated including Adams State University, Trinidad State University, Pueblo Community College, Colorado State University Pueblo and Regis University. HB23-1034 , sponsored by Representatives Lindsey Daugherty and Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Senators Julie Gonzales and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, aims to help end wrongful convictions by expanding the use of post-conviction DNA testing. Specifically, this law expands the eligibility for people to access DNA testing after being convicted of a felony to include those on parole or probation, registered sex offenders, those charged with a felony but not convicted by reason of insanity and those who have completed their felony prison sentence. Previous Next

< Back July 10, 2024 McCluskie Tours Grand County, Meets with School Leaders GRAND COUNTY, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie this week toured local businesses and summer camps and met with school officials in Grand County to discuss increased school funding under the new school finance formula. “Coloradans in the high country face some of the highest costs of living in our state, which is why I have been focused on making Colorado more affordable so everyone can live, learn, work and play in the places we love,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “It was great to hear from constituents, business owners, and school leaders about their hopes and dreams for our state and how new laws will protect our water, support Colorado agriculture, reduce taxes on small businesses, and lower the cost of housing, child care and health care.” The speaker toured Snow Mountain Ranch, Sisu Farms and Camp Chief Ouray, where she met with summer campers and constituents and highlighted new legislation that will boost rural economies and make living in the high country more affordable. Speaker McCluskie has championed legislation to protect Colorado water and support agriculture, establish the Northwest passenger rail line, reduce property taxes on families and small businesses, and lower the cost of housing and health care in the high country. McCluskie also met with the superintendents and school board presidents for East Grand School District and West Grand School District, which will see nearly 30 percent and 17 percent increases respectively under the new school finance formula she sponsored and passed this year. “It was exciting to meet with Grand County superintendents and school board presidents to learn more about the challenges they face and the incredible opportunities ahead,” continued McCluskie. “The new school finance formula I sponsored this year will significantly increase funding for Grand County schools, which the districts can use to increase teacher pay, reduce class sizes and invest in our students so that every child can thrive.” Previous Next

On August 6, legislation to combat wage theft in all industries goes into effect, boosting the economic security of Colorado workers by ensuring they are paid for their work. < Back July 24, 2025 Wage Theft Prevention Legislation Takes Effect DENVER, CO - On August 6, legislation to combat wage theft in all industries goes into effect, boosting the economic security of Colorado workers by ensuring they are paid for their work. “This new law is a huge win for hardworking Coloradans and continues our bold efforts to boost wages and create an economy that works for everyone,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Wage theft is the largest source of theft in our state, with women and communities of color disproportionately becoming victims of wage theft. With this law going into effect, we’re allowing workers to more quickly access their owed wages and strengthening protections for whistleblowers so Coloradans can receive the money they have worked hard to earn.” “Colorado workers lose hundreds of millions of dollars per year in wages due to theft from bad-acting employers," said Sen. Chris Kolker, D-Centennial. “Many of these workers are heads of their households already struggling to make ends meet. With this legislation, Colorado’s labor force would more quickly and easily access their owed wages so they are fairly compensated for the work they do.” “When employers refuse to pay their employees for the work they’ve already completed, it is the same thing as stealing money out of their wallet,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “Wage theft hurts Colorado workers and families who are struggling to make ends meet. Now that this legislation is in effect, we are providing better support for workers to ensure they can be fairly paid for the work they do.” “I am committed to making sure every hardworking Coloradan receives the money they earned,” said Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge. “This new law fights wage theft and protects whistleblowers so all workers can speak up without fear of retaliation.” HB25-1001 helps protect workers who make wage theft claims and prevent wage theft by holding bad-acting employers accountable and increasing the wage theft claim cap. Currently, wage theft claims are capped at $7,500. This law increases the cap to $13,000 starting July 1, 2026, with that claim amount adjusting for inflation beginning in 2028. Wage theft can include not paying workers minimum wage, non-payment of wages, misclassifying workers as independent contractors or as management to avoid paying overtime, and taking tips that were meant for the employees. The law will expedite the process so the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) can process payments to victims of wage theft more quickly. CDLE can now crack down on worker misclassification, a technique used to avoid providing benefits and overtime wages. To deter employers from stealing wages, CDLE must publish wage theft determinations and update a list of wage theft violators on the division’s website. Under the law, CDLE must report wage theft violations to licensing and permitting bodies if there is a willful violation that is not remedied within sixty days. HB25-1001 allows third parties to bring complaints on a worker’s behalf and extends anti-retaliation and discrimination measures for all workers who raise complaints, allowing for similarly situated employees to speak up for others. A 2022 report by the Colorado Fiscal Institute found that nearly 440,000 low-wage Colorado workers experience $728 million in wage theft annually. Workers of color and women are most likely to be victims of wage theft, and the most common industries for wage theft are retail, construction, and food service. Reps. Duran and Froelich and Sen. Danielson have championed numerous bills to ensure workers receive the wages they’ve earned, including legislation in 2022 that ensures Colorado workers are able to recover legally earned wages. Previous Next

Duran received the Domestic Abuse Survivor Heroes (DASH) Award from non-profit Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abuse during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month < Back October 6, 2023 Majority Leader Duran Receives Award for Domestic Violence Activism Duran received the Domestic Abuse Survivor Heroes (DASH) Award from non-profit Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abuse during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month GOLDEN, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran yesterday was awarded the Domestic Abuse Survivor Heroes (DASH) Award by Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abuse for her ongoing legislative efforts to support survivors. “It is an unbelievable honor to be presented with the DASH Award by Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abuse,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “Unfortunately, my experience with domestic violence is not unique. As a survivor, I have made it my mission at the Capitol to secure more resources and be a voice for those suffering in silence. While we’ve made great legislative progress, domestic violence is on the rise across the country and I am doubling down on my commitment to help foster a violence-free future for all Coloradans.” “From spreading awareness at the state legislature to spearheading policy changes that support survivors of domestic violence, Majority Leader Duran embodies our mission,” said President of Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abuse, Diane Wall. “With Majority Leader Duran’s lived-experience and ongoing advocacy for our cause, she was the obvious choice for this year’s DASH Award. In partnership with champions like Majority Leader Duran, it is our goal to shine a light on this important issue and provide survivors the resources they need to start anew.” Majority Leader Duran has spent her legislative career advocating for survivors' rights and services. In addition to the 2023 DASH Award, Majority Leader Duran was recently awarded the Aquamarine Award by Violence Free Colorado. Majority Leader Duran has spearheaded pivotal legislation supporting survivors, including HB23-1222 , which established standards for domestic violence cases tried in municipalities and increased data sharing, and SB22-183 which invested $48 million toward providing critical resources, programs, and support to victims of crime, including domestic violence. She has also passed laws to protect survivors of domestic violence by strengthening enforcement of requirements that certain domestic violence abusers relinquish their firearms. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law to expand eligibility for the successful Community Revitalization Grant Program that creates jobs and supports local economies, and to modify the Film Incentive Tax Credit to include additional eligible expenses and extend the tax credit. < Back May 28, 2024 Signed! New Laws Will Boost Colorado Communities, Support Film Industry ESTES PARK, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law to expand eligibility for the successful Community Revitalization Grant Program that creates jobs and supports local economies, and to modify the Film Incentive Tax Credit to include additional eligible expenses and extend the tax credit. “I’m proud to have carried Colorado’s first multi-year law that will improve Colorado’s Film Incentive Tax Credit to help support and build our film industry,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, sponsor of HB24-1295 and HB24-1358. "Extending this tax credit will attract new film projects to our state, creating new jobs in the film industry and boosting our economy. HB24-1358 was also signed into law to bolster the Community Revitalization Grant Program, which has provided crucial funding for local communities in every corner of our state, helping local businesses stay in their community while creating essential housing and child care opportunities. Our new law will expand the grant program, dedicating new funding for Colorado communities to maintain the unique character of their town while keeping up with the demand for workforce housing, commercial spaces, and other resources.” “The Community Revitalization Tax Credit supports many communities across Colorado to help them get housing and creative projects built,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, sponsor of HB24-1295. "Our legislation expands the eligibility criteria for the grant program, so we can fund more projects to revitalize communities and downtowns across Colorado and support artists and creators in Colorado’s creative sectors. With this new law, we’re creating job opportunities, boosting small businesses and local Colorado economies, and supporting Colorado artists.” In 2022, Representatives Brianna Titone and Leslie Herod and Senator James Coleman sponsored legislation to allocate $20 million of federal American Rescue Plan funds to the Community Revitalization Grant Program, which the legislature created as part of the Democrats’ Colorado Comeback State Stimulus plan. The program provides gap funding for projects in creative districts, historic districts, main streets, or neighborhood commercial centers to create workforce housing, commercial spaces, and child care centers to support the state’s economic recovery. Projects that have already received funding can be found here . HB24-1295 expands eligibility for the Community Revitalization Grant Program to include projects that are qualified for funding under the Space to Create Colorado Program. The Space to Create Colorado Program helps communities develop affordable housing opportunities, commercial spaces, community gathering spaces, childcare centers, non-profit organizations, and other projects that provide community resources. The law also establishes a refundable tax credit program for tax years 2026 through 2032 for creative industries and mixed-use and creative-use spaces for the general public. HB24-1358 will modify the Film Incentive Tax Credit to include additional eligible expenses and extend the tax credit. These dollars would help spur additional film production in Colorado, creating new jobs in the creative sector. “Colorado is home to many beautiful sceneries that filmmakers would like to showcase, and we’re making it easier for them to afford to film here,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of HB24-1358. “By extending the Film Incentive Tax Credit, we’re opening up more jobs and boosting Colorado’s film industry to attract new projects and support Coloradans in the arts.” Previous Next