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SB25-196 will safeguard insurance coverage for preventive health care services in the event of federal action < Back May 12, 2025 SIGNED! New Law Will Bill Protect Insurance Coverage for Preventive Health Care SB25-196 will safeguard insurance coverage for preventive health care services in the event of federal action DENVER, CO – Today, Governor Jared Polis signed legislation sponsored by Senators Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, and Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representatives Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton, and Jamie Jackson, D-Aurora, to proactively protect insurance coverage for preventive health care in the event of federal action. “Regular check-ups, cancer screenings, and immunizations are life-saving care that must be protected,” Jodeh said. “In recent months, we’ve seen dangerous threats to cut fundamental departments at the federal level that protect patients and providers. This new law ensures that even if those cuts do happen, Coloradans’ health care remains protected. Preventative services today mean avoiding emergency events tomorrow—events that can leave families with crippling debt and devastating health outcomes.” “From cancer screenings to routine checkups, preventive health care saves lives,” Lieder said. “In the wake of federal threats to cut fundamental health care coverage, we’re stepping up to protect preventive health care in Colorado. Preventive care saves Coloradans money and leads to better health outcomes for everyone.” “As an emergency care nurse, I’ve seen the worst-case scenarios that happen when preventive care measures are not taken – often because they’re not covered by insurance,” Mullica said. “This law will make life-saving preventive care more accessible and help more patients avoid those worst-case scenarios.” “We know preventive care is one of the most impactful ways to improve patient health outcomes and save money on costly emergency care,” Jackson said . “We won’t sit idly by as preventive health care coverage is put at risk. Preventive care helps level some of the racial disparities in our health care system, and this bill protects access to essential care.” SB25-196 will give the Colorado Commissioner of Insurance within the Department of Regulatory Agencies the authority to reinstate recommendations on preventive care from federal agencies such as the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or the Health Resources and Services Administration in the United States Department of Health and Human Services in the event that any of these agencies are repealed, dismantled, or disempowered. It also permits the Commissioner to consult the Nurse Physician Advisory Task Force for Colorado Health Care in developing their recommendations. Since January, the Trump Administration has made devastating cuts to essential services for Americans. Recently, the administration cut billions of dollars from state health services , prompting measures such as this one to protect Coloradans’ access to health care. Previous Next

The Wildfire Matters Review Committee today advanced five bills to improve wildfire mitigation, bolster the forestry workforce, and increase wildfire awareness. < Back November 1, 2023 Wildfire Matters Review Committee Advances Bills to Better Prepare Colorado for Wildfires DENVER, CO - The Wildfire Matters Review Committee today advanced five bills to improve wildfire mitigation, bolster the forestry workforce, and increase wildfire awareness. Biochar is a type of charcoal produced from plant matter and stored in soil as a means of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Bill 1 , sponsored by Vice Chair Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle, Chair Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, and Rep. Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial, directs Colorado State University (CSU) to study the use of biochar in wildfire mitigation efforts. The study would evaluate beneficial uses for biochar, its impacts on forest health and best practices in creating it, with a report due on its findings by July 1, 2026. “Coloradans are counting on us to help reduce wildfire-risk in their backyard, and these bills put us on a path forward to improving statewide mitigation efforts and education,” said Chair Velasco, sponsor of Bills 1, 2, 5 and 9. “Colorado rural and mountain communities like mine are some of the most at-risk for wildfire damage and are especially vulnerable to high workforce shortages and a lack of resources needed to prevent and combat wildfires. Today, we passed five bills to support communities in boosting their wildfire mitigation efforts, creating emergency preparedness plans, and increasing awareness surrounding residential mitigation efforts.” “I represent many communities on the wildland-urban interface, and they are at an increased risk of wildfires as we continue to feel the impacts of climate change,” Vice Chair Cutter said, sponsor of all five bills. “I'm excited about the bills we advanced today, which will look at innovative ways to remove and utilize biomass, help homeowners with costly slash and debris removal, protect pets, help rural communities apply for grants and raise community awareness about what actions people can take to mitigate their risk. As Vice Chair and longtime member of the Wildfire Matters interim committee, I'm always thrilled to work with stakeholders and colleagues to forward policy to help protect our forests and our communities.” Bill 2 , sponsored by Reps. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, and Velasco, and Sens. Cutter and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, would encourage agencies to address the needs of Coloradans with animals during an emergency, and also include provisions for the evacuation, shelter, and transport of these individuals and their pets. Beginning January 2025, local governments would also be strongly encouraged to make information for animal emergency preparedness available. “Preventing destructive wildfires and protecting our communities begins with good mitigation methods and resources at the local level,” said Snyder, sponsor of Bills 2, 5 and 6. “The bills we advanced today would establish programs to aid local governments with wildfire mitigation, better connect rural communities with grant money to close the gap in their wildfire mitigation and response efforts, and encourage cities and counties to provide pet-friendly emergency shelters and emergency resources. Wildfires are a very serious risk in our state, and these policies will save lives, prevent devastating damage, and protect Coloradans from wildfire threats.” “I saw first hand as the Senator for Louisville during the Marshall Fire, how important responding to the threat of wildfires really is, which is why I am sponsoring two bills to help Colorado families and communities be better prepared,” said Jaquez Lewis, sponsor of Bills 2 and 6. “These bills will provide resources to help folks make plans to ensure that everyone in their families, including their pets, are safe during an emergency, and will improve the aftermath for victims in the cleanup process. I promised I would be there for my community then, and I will continue to work to reduce the risks from wildfires." Sponsored by Reps. Velasco and Snyder, and Sens. Cutter and Will, Bill 5 aims to help rural communities obtain wildfire-related grants. The bill requires that the Rural Opportunity Office provide assistance to rural communities to identify and apply for state and federal grants related to wildfire mitigation, prevention, response, and risk-management efforts. Additionally, the Office of Economic Development and International Trade would maintain a list of government grant programs on its website to further ease the process. The committee also approved Bill 9 , sponsored by Reps. Velasco and Tammy Story, D-Conifer, and Sen. Cutter. The bill would require the Colorado State Forest Service to continue its enhanced wildfire outreach campaign through 2027, as well as other outreach efforts that increase awareness of wildfire risk mitigation in the wildland-urban interface. “When it comes to reducing wildfire risk, we need every Coloradan living in the foothills and forested areas to know how they can protect their homes,” said Story, sponsor of Bill 9. “Living in the wildland-urban interface means we need to take extra precautions to protect our personal property and our neighbors. This includes reducing vegetation and fire fuels within 5 feet of our homes and keeping gutters clean. This legislation ensures communities receive information on effective wildfire mitigation strategies that will keep our beloved communities safer in the wake of a wildfire event. The bill also continues the Colorado State Forest Service’s efforts to educate Coloradans about these science-based strategies, which are our strongest barrier against wildfires.” Bill 6 , sponsored by Sens. Cutter and Jaquez Lewis, and Reps. Snyder and Dickson, would create two programs to support local governments in wildfire risk mitigation. The first program would support county efforts to remove slash, which is a residue created by wildfire mitigation efforts. If passed, the Department of Natural Resources would select counties to participate in the program, and provide information and resources to facilitate slash removal. The second program would help local governments with post-disaster debris removal for residences. Under this bill, the Department of Public Safety would be in charge of providing guidance to local governments to facilitate debris removal. “We’re dedicated to keeping Coloradans safe from the risk of wildfire, and today we advanced bills that will do just that,” said Dickson, sponsor of Bills 1 and 6. “Our bills will help prevent wildfires by keeping our forests healthy and delivering data on the use of biochar to sustainably protect our communities. We'll also help local governments to deal with the aftermath of wildfires, including streamlining cleanup and coordinating federal disaster assistance. I am so pleased these evidence-focused policies will move forward to keep our communities and our forests safe.” The bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2024 session, interim bills will follow the legislative process in the same manner as all other bills. Previous Next

< Back June 11, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO STOP CORPORATE TAX HANDOUTS, PROVIDE $1B TO K-12 INSTEAD DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB20-1420, sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Matt Gray, by a vote of 39-26, with House Republicans standing with special interests at the expense of Colorado’s teachers and students. HB20-1420 ends state tax handouts for corporations and the very wealthy in order to protect funding for K-12 education. The bill preserves economic relief for hardworking Coloradans and small businesses and invests $1 billion to K-12. “We need to make a choice; we can either give taxpayer funded handouts to corporations and wealthy individuals who don’t need them, or we can protect our students and underpaid teachers,” said Rep. Sirota, D-Denver. “Colorado can’t afford to follow politicians in Washington who want companies making $25 million or more to get economic relief while our schools struggle to retain teachers.” “We had to close a $3.3 billion hole in our $12.5 billion budget, and that has meant painful cuts to education that no one wants to see,” said Rep. Gray, D-Bloomfield. “The Fair Tax Act gives hardworking families a boost and invests $1 billion in our schools to protect our students and teachers from these severe cuts while preserving economic relief for those who need it most.” Several provisions in Colorado’s tax code follow federal law and cost the state hundreds of millions a year, but primarily benefit the wealthy. This legislation makes means-tested changes to eliminate state handouts for special interests and the wealthiest individuals while protecting them for hardworking families to avoid devastating cuts to education. CARES Act Loopholes: Eighty-two percent of the benefits from a provision of the CARES Act that allows for the deduction of excess business losses (CARES Act Section 2304) goes to filers with incomes above $1 million. Only three percent of the benefits go to filers with incomes under $100,000. The bill preserves relief for hardworking Coloradans under that threshold while eliminating it for millionaires. The bill also limits the amount of net operating loss deductions a company can claim in one year to $400,000, preserving the deduction for 98 percent of filers while capping them for the wealthiest businesses. Finally, it rejects a CARES Act hand out of interest expense deductions (CARES Act Section 2306) for corporations larger than $25 million, saving the state $2 million a year. Trump Tax Scam “Pass Through” Loophole: The 2017 federal tax bill, pass-through businesses can take a 20 percent deduction off their qualified business income (QBI), essentially reducing the amount of taxable income. In Colorado, a quarter of the benefit of this tax break goes to households with incomes above $1 million, while households with incomes below $75,000 receive only 11 percent of the benefit. The average millionaire gets nearly a $9,000 break from the state while someone making $30,000 to $40,000 may get $70 or $90. The bill preserves the relief for hardworking Coloradans making under $75,000 while eliminating it for those who don’t need it. Insurance Company Handouts: The bill removes a tax break for insurance companies who maintain an in-state office. Just 85 insurance companies in Colorado get a 50 percent tax break averaging $1 million because of an outdated provision that the State Auditor has found is ineffective at its intended purpose. Capital Gains: Colorado allows a tax break for income on investments in personal property and other capital gains, even if that property isn’t in Colorado. It costs the state $8-$20 million a year, and only 0.2% of all Colorado tax filers get this benefit. The very wealthiest 0.1 percent of Americans—taxpayers with AGI over $2 million—received almost half, or 49 percent, of all capital gains income. Previous Next

Governor Polis today signed a pair of bills into law that will save Colorado families millions of dollars a year on housing. < Back May 14, 2024 SIGNED! Bills to Save Coloradans Money on Housing Become Law DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed a pair of bills into law that will save Colorado families millions of dollars a year on housing. SB24-233 , sponsored by the Chair of the bipartisan Commission on Property Tax Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, as well as House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Representative Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, ensures that Colorado homeowners won’t see an increase in their property taxes for tax year 2024 and reduces statewide local taxes by more than $1 billion. "Coloradans are depending on us to meet the moment and provide responsible relief that works for them and their families," Hansen said. "These bills will help save Coloradans money by responsibly reducing property tax rates in a way that balances the needs of homeowners with protecting critical funding for schools, and by making the senior homestead exemption portable and giving older Coloradans the freedom to downsize or sell their homes without paying a tax penalty. I am excited about this opportunity to deliver relief for those who need it most." “After months of hard work on the Commission on Property Tax, I’m proud that our long-term, bipartisan solution will be signed into law to save Colorado homeowners and small businesses money on property taxes,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “This law will responsibly reduce property taxes in a meaningful way to save people money while protecting school funding. We delivered meaningful results for Coloradans and there is no reason for deep-pocketed special interests to move forward with ballot measures that would devastate our communities, school funding, and public safety resources.” In 2025 and beyond, SB24-233 will reduce property taxes by seven to 10 percent compared to current law for homes valued at $700,000 or less. Annual savings will equal $300-$400 for a home valued at $700,000. Savings depend on local mills and any changes in assessed home values. SB24-233 also reduces the commercial property assessment rate to 25 percent by 2026. To offset revenue loss resulting from property tax reductions, SB24-233 directs nearly $380 million from the State Education Fund to backfill school districts, ensuring public schools remain fully funded. Finally, SB24-233 provides protection against future spikes in property taxes by capping an increase in local property taxes at 5.5 percent starting in 2025, creating more certainty for homeowners and businesses. Polis also signed SB24-111 , sponsored by Senators Chris Hansen and Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, alongside Representatives Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton, and Mary Young, D-Greeley, which saves older Coloradans money on their property taxes by making the savings from the senior homestead property tax exemption portable. For 2025 and 2026, SB24-111 creates a new subclass of property, the "qualified-senior primary residence real property", for an individual that has previously qualified for a senior homestead exemption but has moved to a new home. “Spiking housing prices are hitting Coloradans hard - and it’s particularly tough for seniors on fixed incomes,” Kolker said. “Our state is number one in the nation for housing instability among people over the age of 65. Allowing seniors to carry this important benefit with them when they move will save older Coloradans thousands of dollars on their property taxes and help them age in place with the dignity they deserve.” “The Senior Homestead Exemption helps seniors, Gold Star families, and veterans afford housing on their fixed income, and our law would expand eligibility so more people save money,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton. “We’re making the savings from this exemption portable so seniors have the freedom to move or downsize – without losing these important cost-saving benefits. This law is a major priority of mine and I am proud to pass this law that will help address the housing affordability crisis and make larger homes available for new families.” “Seniors want to age at home, and this bill empowers them to do so in a space that works for them,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “This is a straightforward, commonsense law that saves seniors money and makes the benefits from the senior tax exemption portable, giving seniors the freedom to move closer to family or downsize without losing eligibility for tax relief.” Starting in 2025, For this new subclass of property—qualified-senior primary residence real property—the bill sets the assessed value of the property as the actual value minus 50 percent of the first $200,000 of that actual value, which is consistent with the exemption under the senior homestead exemption. Under this law, eligible seniors will benefit from this relief during the 2025 and 2026 property tax years. Previous Next

< Back Rep. McLachlan: Legislators work on tax relief, protecting funding during special session Aug 27, 2024 See more The article was originally posted in the Durango Herald here . As a former educator, I ran for office in 2016 with the priority of passing legislation to increase funding for our public schools and support the needs of both our students and educators. I spent six years as chair of the House Education Committee, overseeing legislation to improve student academic performance, boost the teacher and school personnel workforce, and support our students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2024 legislative session, I had my biggest win at the Capitol – the 2024 School Finance Act. This bipartisan law buys down the Budget Stabilization Factor, fully funding Colorado’s public schools and increasing total funding for public schools by more than $500 million to $9.7 billion. Colorado’s K-12 public education is funded by state General Fund money, local property tax revenue and income tax revenue via the State Education Fund. More than 52% of local property taxes go to our K-12 public education, giving us the capital to hire more teachers and school personnel, provide after-school programs, and improve student achievement. Complications resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, growth and other factors have made our state less affordable, especially in rural areas like Southwest Colorado. Colorado legislators have responded with landmark legislation to reduce the cost of housing, health care and child care. We have taken steps to avoid steep property tax increases by extending and expanding 2021 property tax relief in 2023. Last session, we also passed a bipartisan solution to Colorado’s property tax code to reduce property tax costs. Recently, Gov. Jared Polis called the Colorado General Assembly to convene into a special session beginning on Aug. 26 to pass further property tax relief to avoid two devastating initiatives appearing on the November 2024 ballot. One of these initiatives, lobbied by dark money special interest groups, would reduce revenue for public schools, fire departments, health care, libraries, water infrastructure and public outdoor recreation by nearly $3 billion. The two goals of our special session are saving Colorado homeowners money on property taxes and protecting funding for our communities – like schools and fire districts. We have been working diligently since Polis’ call for a special session to deliver property tax relief for hardworking Coloradans while protecting funding for vital institutions, especially for our public schools and special districts. Colorado has the third lowest property tax in the nation; the bipartisan proposal would reduce the local government residential assessment rate by 0.15 points and the school district assessment rate by 0.1 points. It would also reduce the local government growth cap by 0.25% and set the schools growth cap to 6%. Our priority is to make our state a more affordable place to live for all Coloradans, and these reductions will help homeowners better afford the rising cost of living. Constituent requests have been forwarded to House leadership and property tax committee; as of this writing, we are still waiting to see how all concerns are addressed. As I end my eight-year service to Southwest Colorado, I’m proud to look back on everything we were able to accomplish. We bought down the Budget Stabilization Factor, provided two years of free college and boosted the incomes of hardworking Coloradans with new tax credits. I’m happy to get back to work at the Colorado Capitol to save property owners money while maintaining funding for our public K-12 schools, fire departments and other important community services. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, is serving her fourth term representing La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta and San Juan counties. She has been a journalist and teacher. Previous Next

< Back March 2, 2021 HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES BILL TO PREVENT EXTORTION, PROTECT IMMIGRANTS, WORKERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS DENVER, CO– The House today passed a bipartisan bill to prevent the extortion of undocumented immigrants by closing a gap in current statute. The bill was passed by a vote of 64-0. “This simple bill will ensure that everyone in our communities, regardless of citizenship status, is protected from extortion by our laws,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “The current gap in statutes has left immigrants, especially workers and victims of domestic and sexual violence, vulnerable. By expanding the definition of extortion in our laws, we’re giving prosecutors a crucial tool to make our communities safer.” “While this bill specifically protects immigrants from extortion, advancing the cause of justice and public safety is a goal we should all work towards together,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “The bill we passed today will give prosecutors like me the tools we need to protect vulnerable members of our communities from extortion and hopefully prevent some of these crimes from happening in the first place. I’m proud of the step we took to make our communities safer.” The current definition of criminal extortion already includes the practice of threatening to disclose a person’s immigration status to law enforcement in order to force them to give up something of value. HB21-1057 expands this definition to include coercing another person to either engage in or refrain from engaging in what would otherwise be a legal act. This expanded definition would address instances of wage theft, domestic violence and other instances where a person’s immigration status is used to deny them what is lawfully theirs. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to attract film tourism in Colorado. HB25-1005 creates a tax credit to encourage the Sundance Film Festival, as well as other smaller film festivals, to call Colorado home beginning in 2027. < Back January 29, 2025 Bill to Attract Sundance Film Festival Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to attract film tourism in Colorado. HB25-1005 creates a tax credit to encourage the Sundance Film Festival, as well as other smaller film festivals, to call Colorado home beginning in 2027. “Colorado would be the perfect place for the Sundance Film Festival to call home,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “This iconic film festival has a track record of boosting tourism and economic growth. It would also solidify Colorado’s reputation as a destination for the arts. This bill gives our state an advantage in bringing a world-renowned film festival to Colorado for the next ten years which could also build and boost smaller, local film festivals in Colorado.” “From original films to panel discussions with filmmakers, Sundance is a world-renowned festival that would be right at home in Boulder,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “If Boulder is selected as the next location for the Sundance Film Festival in 2027, we’d see a boost in tourism – which is good for our small businesses, restaurants and hotels. It’s clear Colorado is the right home for this festival, and I’m excited to be joining this effort.” HB25-1005 passed committee by a vote of 12-1. Boulder was recently selected as a top-three finalist to host the iconic Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027 – which will boost economic growth, tourism and Colorado’s reputation as a destination for the arts. As outlined in the legislation, Colorado would stand up $34 million in tax incentives to a film festival that sells more than 100,000 tickets and attracts more than 20,000 out-of-state attendees. Additionally, the bill will also leverage $500,000 annually to support smaller, existing local film festivals that are part of Colorado’s growing film festival ecosystem. If Boulder is selected, the festival would take place starting in 2027 through 2036. Boulder is in the running to host the film festival starting in 2027 with Cincinnati, Ohio and Park City, Utah being other contestants. Majority Leader Monica Duran will replace Speaker McCluskie, a strong supporter of the Sundance Festival’s relocation, as a co-prime sponsor of the legislation after second reading. Previous Next

< Back March 23, 2019 MCLACHLAN INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL ON FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN McLachlan-Wilson bill will help invest in Colorado’s future (Mar. 22) – Rep. Barbara McLachlan and Rep. Jim Wilson, R-Salida introduced a bipartisan bill to fund full-day kindergarten for Colorado’s youngest learners. The budget from the Joint Budget Committee proposes funding full-day kindergarten in a responsible, sustainable manner. “I am excited to introduce this bipartisan bill that will help our state’s youngest learners, especially in our rural communities, ” said Rep. McLachlan, chair of the House Education committee. “As a former teacher I understand the benefits of full-day kindergarten and the importance of investing in our children’s future. I couldn’t be prouder to sponsor this legislation because of the profound benefits it will reap for the hardworking families of our state for many years to come.” “This is great news for kids and parents across Colorado. Full-day kindergarten will help invest in young learners and break down barriers,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett. “Our kids and our state can’t wait. Let’s get this done and start investing in our most precious resource – the next generation of Coloradans.” Many young students lack access to full-day kindergarten but the research shows they will benefit from this learning experience. While Colorado schools have increased access to full day kindergarten over time despite inadequate funding, there are still 14,000 children without access to this important educational resource. Those who lack access often face some of the steepest obstacles to affording the tuition that is charged in many districts or live in communities that cannot afford to cut resources from other parts of the K-12 budget to offer a free full-day experience. Increased state funding would help open doors to a research-proven strategy to improve children’s academic and life success. An added benefit of funding full-day kindergarten is the complementary freeing up of slots in the Colorado Preschool Program for young learners. The text of HB19-1262 can be found here. Previous Next

< Back May 31, 2019 SPEAKER BECKER ANNOUNCES INTERIM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS May 31) – Speaker KC Becker appointed the chairs, vice chairs and other Democratic members of the 2019 interim committees. Earlier this month, House and Senate Leadership announced the formation of a new interim committee focused on studying school safety in Colorado. “We made historic investments in K-12 and higher-ed and took action on climate, health care and economic security. House Democrats have more work to do this interim to prepare for the next legislative session in order to solve problems for hardworking Coloradans, and Coloradans can be confident in the members appointed to these committees who will drive that work forward,” said Speaker Becker. School Safety Interim Committee Rep. Dafna Michaelson-Jenet, D-Commerce City (Chair) Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver Energy Legislation Review Interim Study Committee: Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver (Chair) Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora Rep. Sonya Jacquez-Lewis, D-Longmont Prison Population Management Interim Study Committee: Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver Investor-owned Utility Review Interim Study Committee: Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder Assistant Majority Leader Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Legislative Interim Committee on School Finance: Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon (Chair) Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Tax Expenditure Evaluation Interim Study Committee: Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Adams County (Chair) Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Colorado Springs Making Higher Education Attainable Interim Study Committee: Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango (Vice Chair) Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee: Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Evergreen (Chair) Rep. Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Previous Next

Governor Polis today signed bipartisan legislation into law sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez to allow Coloradans who are incarcerated to earn time off their sentence by pursuing higher education. < Back April 12, 2023 SIGNED! Martinez’s Bipartisan Bill to Help Reduce Recidivism Through College Credits DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed bipartisan legislation into law sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez to allow Coloradans who are incarcerated to earn time off their sentence by pursuing higher education. “With this law, we’re preparing Coloradans who are incarcerated for success by giving them the education and skills they need to thrive after they’re released,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “Education is the number one way to reduce recidivism because it creates strong pathways for people who are incarcerated to earn a degree or certificate, secure a good-paying job after they’ve served their time and support their families. I’m beyond proud of the bipartisan work and support that’s gone into this important legislation.” HB23-1037 , sponsored by Representatives Matt Martinez and Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, will allow 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 (DOC). 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. Currently, people who are incarcerated in the DOC can reduce their sentence through earned time by participating in group living, counseling sessions and through specific work and training. Generally, individuals cannot reduce their sentence by more than 30 percent. This law will add higher education achievements to the list of ways students can reduce their sentence through earned time. HB23-1037 aims to encourage people who are incarcerated in Colorado to pursue higher education and better prepare them for a high-earning career post-sentence. Access to education opportunities while in prison is one of the most efficient and cost-effective tools to reduce recidivism. Colorado’s recidivism rate is 50 percent , one of the highest in the nation. A comprehensive, nationwide study showed that the recidivism rate among people who are incarcerated that earn associate's degrees is around 14 percent and just 5.6 percent for those who earn bachelor's degrees. These recidivism rates are significantly lower than people who were incarcerated that receive no education while in prison. Previous Next

< Back March 12, 2019 REP. SINGER’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROTECTION CASEWORKERS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED HOUSE (Mar. 12) – A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, to protect the personal information of caseworkers that work in child abuse and neglect cases unanimously passed the House. “This bill protects the people who serve as frontline first responders to protect our kids,” said Rep. Singer, chair of the House Public Health Care & Human Services committee. “When these caseworkers are trying to raise their own families and get calls at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning to stand up for vulnerable children, they need a line of defense. This bill will ensure they receive the dignity and respect that their profession deserves.” HB19-1197 makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly put the personal information of a caseworker or their family on the internet if the information poses an imminent or serious threat to the safety of the caseworker or their family. This bill is to address the issue that child protection caseworkers sometimes face with threats against them or their families related to their duties. This protection will also extend to county attorneys who engage in legal action against those charged with child abuse and neglect. Rep. Singer’s bill would also require state or local government officials to deny a request for inspection of these caseworkers under the Colorado Open Records Act, which would serve the same purpose as prohibiting posting the person’s information online. Rep. Terri Carver, R-Colorado Springs, is a co-prime sponsor on this bill. HB19-1197 unanimously passed the House. It now heads to the Senate. Rep. Singer has an extensive background in social work, having served for nearly a decade with child protection and family services in Boulder County. Previous Next

< Back April 5, 2021 HOUSE VOTES TO BOOST OUTDOOR REC INDUSTRY McLachlan’s bill establishes state office to cultivate and promote outdoor recreation industry DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation by a vote of 44-20 to create the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. “Colorado can recover faster and build back stronger by boosting one of our state’s most vital industries, outdoor recreation,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “The outdoor recreation office will help create jobs in rural Colorado and protect the public lands that foster our thriving outdoor recreation economy.” HB21-1223 , which is sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Matt Soper, would formally create the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office in the Office of Economic Development. The Office was formed by the governor in 2015, and this bill would cement the Office in statute and outline the Office’s specific responsibilities and objectives.HB21-1223 calls for the cultivation, promotion, and coordinated development of the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado and for the protection and conservation of public lands, waters, air, and climate. It directs the Office to help address some of the inequities preventing underserved communities from engaging in the numerous recreation opportunities available throughout the state. It calls on the state to partner with the outdoor recreation industry to ensure that the industry serves as a good steward of Colorado’s natural beauty. The Office would support the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado by working with state, federal, local governments and nongovernmental organizations to promote economic development, conservation, stewardship, education, workforce training, and public health and wellness. Previous Next