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< Back Javier Mabrey Chair of Judiciary Representative Javier Mabrey was elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives for his first term in office on November 8, 2022. He is the representative for Colorado House District 1, which encompasses Denver’s southwestern neighborhoods. He serves as the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee during the legislative session, and the Committee on Legal Services year round. Javier's mother raised Javier and his brother Thomas on her own in south Denver, and her only source of income was her social security disability check. Javier and his family know what it means to struggle, to rely on food banks, and eventually face homelessness. Javier dropped out of high school after his family dealt with housing instability and homelessness. He went back to school to become an advocate for families like his. He worked his way through community college washing dishes and delivering pizzas before going to Berkeley Law School to pursue a career representing tenants facing eviction. After law school, Javier helped found a non-profit focused on keeping Coloradans in their homes. Since 2020, Javier's organization has represented thousands of Coloradans facing eviction and successfully advocated for significant policy changes to help renters in Colorado. He now works as an eviction defense attorney and community organizer. Rep. Mabrey has continued his work to address Colorado’s housing crisis by carrying legislation that increases habitability requirements for rental properties to protect tenants from living in a housing unit that may cause negative impacts to their health. He has also successfully passed policy to address gun violence and the rising cost of health care by passing legislation that caps the price of a 2-pack of EpiPens at $60 and allows gun violence victims to seek accountability in court.

< Back Steven Woodrow Steven L. Woodrow represents House District 6 located in east-central Denver--The Fightin’ 6th! A class action attorney by trade, Rep. Woodrow brings to the General Assembly his experience as a litigator and detailed understanding of law and policy, to examine an issue, understand where commonalities lie between parties, and execute a plan to bring a favorable resolution for his constituents and community. He is the Vice-Chair of the Business Affairs & Labor Committee and a member of the Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee. Steven was raised outside of Detroit by his hardworking, widowed mother, a public school teacher, who taught him and his sister the importance of a strong work ethic, even in times of struggle. This allowed him to matriculate at the University of Michigan and the Chicago-Kent College of Law, successfully argue multiple landmark appeals, and to head his own consumer protection practice which he started in 2015. Representative Woodrow is a passionate advocate for social, racial, environmental, and economic justice for all Coloradans--believing that healthcare is a human right, every child deserves an excellent education, the American Dream should be accessible for all, and clean air, water, and soil essential. One is never surprised to see him standing strong with those who need help, regardless of age or status and fighting for what is right and true. His goal is to leave every situation and every interaction #BetterThanWeFoundIt .

< Back Rep. Dylan Roberts: The 2022 legislative session concludes with progress on many fronts May 17, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in The Steamboat Pilot & Today. We just concluded one of the most impactful and bipartisan legislative sessions in recent memory. We responded to Colorado’s most pressing needs and passed legislation that will move our state forward. This session focused on saving Coloradans money, improving public safety, building a healthier Colorado and investing in our students. As always, the bills I introduced and led to passage were based on the ideas directly from Eagle and Routt counties residents. Here is some of what got done: Historic investments in housing Ensuring that all Coloradans have an affordable place to call home was my top priority this year. I am thrilled to say that this legislative session represents Colorado’s largest single-year investment in affordable housing. Over the past year, I was honored to chair the Affordable Housing Task Force — a bipartisan panel of legislators, housing experts and local officials tasked with making policy recommendations on housing — and every single one of our recommendations passed with bipartisan sponsorship. In total, we allocated $428 million for housing projects in local communities, with dedicated funds for our rural and rural-resort communities who are grappling with the housing crisis most acutely. Additionally, one of my priority bills to allow counties — with voter approval — to use lodging tax revenue for housing and other workforce needs was signed into law in April. Saving Coloradans and small businesses money In January, we set out to save Coloradans money. We did just that. Because of our work, Coloradans will receive a refund check of close to $500 for single filers and $1,000 for joint filers in September. We lowered property taxes for residential and commercial properties by over $700 million, saving the average homeowner $274. Families will save thousands of dollars a year with free universal preschool and with more affordable child care — a product of my first bill this year, which was an idea directly from my district. We also reduced fees for professional licenses and businesses and took action to save people money at the DMV and the gas pump. I also sponsored and passed a bill allowing restaurants to keep $70,000 of their sales taxes this summer. Protecting our environment We all know that wildfire is a constant threat to our communities. That’s why we continued — and expanded — our support for wildfire mitigation and response measures while taking significant steps to combat climate change and protect our air quality. I also furthered my work protecting our Western Slope water. From investing in interstate compact compliance to a statewide program incentivizing municipal turf replacement, I am proud to continue leading the charge to protect our state’s most precious resource. Public safety I worked very hard on several bills seeking to make our communities safer. My bills cracking down on retail theft, protecting victims’ rights and increasing funding for police and EMS providers all passed. We also passed a comprehensive bill tackling the nationwide fentanyl crisis, which will drastically increase penalties for those who deal fentanyl and dedicate desperately needed resources for addiction treatment, Narcan supplies and more. While this bill is not perfect, it is a necessary step in addressing this lethal drug’s impact on our communities. Historic education investments As I wrote last month, this year’s state budget represents the largest investment in our K-12 system in over a decade, resulting in increased teacher pay and more support for our students, educators and education staff. Mental and behavioral health This year’s session made transformational investments to improve Colorado’s mental health system. In total, $450 million was dedicated to mental health services, which includes assembling the new Behavioral Health Administration, additional mental health beds in our rural communities, recruiting behavioral health professionals, and legal updates making the system more accessible. Standing up for rural Colorado I have always worked to make sure that our region does not get left behind in the halls of the Capitol and this year was no different. One of my passed bills invests $15 million into transitioning communities like Hayden, Oak Creek and Craig, so they can attract businesses and help workers with the energy transition and keep good jobs right here. We also passed bills supporting our agriculture producers, fought for increased funding to help ranchers mitigate the impact of the voter-imposed reintroduction of wolves, and I supported efforts to encourage more geothermal energy development right here in rural Colorado. I now look forward to being home and spending time with family, friends and all of you. As always, I invite you to contact me with feedback, questions, or if you need assistance with your state government. Join me for an upcoming town hall meeting or reach out directly at 970-846-3054 or Dylan.Roberts.House@state.co.us . Previous Next

< Back Rep. Brianna Titone: Colorado needs a right to repair law for agricultural equipment Feb 13, 2023 See more The following op-ed was published in the Greeley Tribune When you buy something and a component breaks, you should be able to fix it. This principle goes beyond the irritation you may feel at how difficult it is to get a replacement part or battery. Many people may be unaware that there is a solution to this frustrating lack of repair problem. Last year, we passed a bill to help people in Colorado who use motorized wheelchairs to be able to fix them themselves or choose someone they trust to make the repair. This was because they had to endure extremely long wait times, parts not being available, and high costs. This law has been exercised successfully and is an example of how we can help consumers take back control over the things they own. In the case of people using wheelchairs, access to the software is also crucial to make small, but critical adjustments. Robin Buldoc lives with her quadriplegic husband, Bruce, in Broomfield. He has a small button he uses on his headrest to move the chair. But the button has an automatic two second timeout, which doesn’t allow Bruce enough time to complete the action. Robin knew this could be changed to seven seconds, which would be enough time, but couldn’t get access to the software to make this change. They had to wait days for the authorized repairer to come and do it. Imagine waiting days or weeks for the one authorized car mechanic to come change a tire on your car. You don’t have to because you have a lot of options, from your handy uncle to the local repair shop to the dealer itself. Most people don’t know that they can use any car mechanic they want because of a right to repair law from 2012 that is similar to the legislation we’ve introduced this year. This year, we are supporting the agriculture community with their right to repair their equipment. I’ve heard many stories about farmers who say they don’t have the luxury to wait for their equipment to be fixed during planting or harvesting seasons. They have enough complex environmental variables and obstacles to deal with — fixing their equipment should not complicate things further. Agricultural equipment has become more computerized over the years. Currently farmers are dependent on using large corporations’ expensive technicians and waiting for them to either visit the farm or having to bring the equipment to the dealer even for simple repairs. The right to repair can make it possible to fix even these simple repairs without dealer intervention. Our bipartisan bill is supported by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the Corn Growers, Wheat Growers, Wool Producers, Fruit and Vegetable Producers, the Cattleman, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. They support this legislation because it will save farmers money on critical equipment repairs, support more independent repair techs, and make it easier for farmers to get back to work in the event their equipment breaks down. The agriculture industry is the largest industry in Colorado and we all have a lot riding on their equipment. I want to be sure they can repair it effectively. This bill will do just that — give farmers more flexibility to fix their own stuff, save time and money, and focus on the important aspects of their work which is providing quality agricultural products. — Brianna Titone represents House District 27 in the Colorado Legislature Previous Next

< Back Amabile: Teens and parents deserve education to prevent harms of social media Feb 17, 2024 See more This story was originally posted in the Daily Camera here . It’s happened to us all at one point or another. You googled a random kitchen gadget, clicked on a clothing ad or read an online article about a pending “snowmageddon” and paid the algorithmic price. Kitchen gadgets, clothing ads and articles about the weather suddenly inundate your feed. This is obviously annoying and, I might add, intrusive. Yet, we are capable of discerning between the risks and rewards of social media and know why our feeds promote the content that they do. But for teens whose brains are at a crucial developmental stage, the risks of this kind of targeting are dangerous. Clicks, likes or even hovering on a post for too long transforms a child’s social media feed, leading them astray and into a perpetual feed of negative and dark content. Content that promotes bulimia, self-harm, bullying and violence. These are the dangers teens encounter and endure on social media platforms. They are a generation who have grown up with social media, and they don’t know a world without it. But we’ve never provided the support and guidance they need to use social media safely. I, alongside my Republican colleague Rep. Rose Pugliese, have introduced HB24-1136 to tackle this issue and give our kids the information they deserve to make informed choices about healthy social media use. This bipartisan bill is an evidence-based and commonsense approach to mitigating these horrible outcomes. The foundation of HB24-1136 is rooted in a simple concept: When people have access to information, they make informed choices. First, the bill will create a first-ever information and resource bank dedicated to educating Coloradans about safe and healthy social media use. It will be available to teens, parents, teachers and anyone who wants to learn how to prevent the negative side effects of social media. Second, the bill ensures information is provided directly to teens while they use various platforms. When someone ages 13 to 17 reaches a level of unhealthy social media use, they will see a popup label alerting them that their usage is becoming problematic. The social media companies themselves have funded research that proved in-app disruptions, like popup labels, are successful at getting youth to stop scrolling. A lot of social media platforms already allow for popup labels, but it’s not uniform, and it’s certainly not the standard. While social media platforms have existed for more than 20 years, the research is burgeoning, and it’s clearly linking problematic social media use with negative mental health outcomes. The longer teens spend scrolling, it increases their chances of anxiety, depression and emotional distress. A quarter of teens report spending more than 4.5 hours per day on social media, and 1 in 6 say they use TikTok and YouTube almost constantly. These high levels of usage are dangerous, and teens need to have access to tools that will help them make healthier choices. Another alarming aspect of social media is that the platform features are designed to be addictive. Scrolling can cause your brain to emit dopamine when you view funny or exciting content. But the brain then continues to want the same dopamine hits, which causes teens to scroll for hours. This is fittingly known as the “doom scroll.” It’s fitting because nothing good comes when you scroll for that long. New research is comparing how substance use and gambling addictions change the brain to how social media is changing the brains of teens. This bill will create a standard so teens and parents do not have to continue navigating these highly addictive and complex social media platforms on their own. This is a public health problem that warrants a public health response. HB24-1136 is the foundation we need to begin tackling this public health threat. Previous Next

< Back Alex Valdez Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee Representative Alex Valdez serves as the Chair of the House Energy & Environment Committee and a member of the Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee and represents House District 5, which includes Denver’s downtown urban core. Rep. Valdez is passionate about environmental issues and champions clean, renewable energy resources and technology under the gold dome. Born and raised in Denver, Rep. Valdez fights for equality and better air quality so all Coloradans enjoy better, cleaner air. He’s also spearheaded legislation to combat animal cruelty, foster small business growth in Colorado and pave the way for EV technology across the state.

< Back Rep Joseph: Air Force proposal threatens Colorado’s workforce pipeline Jun 6, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Daily Camera here . Transferring Air National Guard (ANG) space missions from the state level to the U.S. Space Force (USSF) threatens Colorado’s civilian aerospace and defense industry and jeopardizes our state’s security and path to prosperity. In March, the Secretary of the Air Force sent a Legislative Proposal — titled Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) — to the Hill for consideration by Congress. LP 480 mandates Congress to strip space units out of the Air National Guard and force them into the U.S. Space Force. Colorado’s National Guard, with its unique and significant space unit footprint, plays a crucial role in our state’s aerospace and defense industry. This role, which is under threat from LP 480, is not just a part of our industry, but a key aspect that if lost could hinder the growth of aerospace companies in Colorado and eliminate the community-based social mobility ladder that ANG space units represent. The Guard has a unique dual mission, with both federal and state responsibilities. During peacetime, the governor commands Guard forces through a state adjutant general and during wartime the Guard is commanded by the President through the Department of Defense. The governor can request Guard action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, drought and civil disturbances. As such, LP 480 will affect everything from national security, to capability in space, to governor’s and state’s rights. The ANG makes up 30% of the nation’s space capability and has been conducting space operations for over 27 years. To perform these missions, ANG space personnel receive the same training, security clearances and certifications as their active-duty Air Force (and Space Force) counterparts. ANG space operators, who have a unique skill set, often hold full-time jobs in the civilian sector as their primary employment and work part-time within the National Guard. They can convert their training, skills, clearances and certifications into jobs in the civilian aerospace sectors of their local communities. The average Colorado ANG space operator has 10 years of space experience and over 60% work in civilian aerospace and STEM full-time. This interplay between military space experience and the civilian aerospace sector is a testament to their exceptional capabilities and a win-win-win for our nation. Space operators in the ANG also bring the skills they gain and develop in the civilian sector to their military duties and, by extension, the war fight. American civilian aerospace and defense companies are on the cutting edge of space capabilities. The technologies and strategies they develop today are the capabilities of our nation’s military tomorrow. ANG space operators working for companies like Lockheed, Raytheon and Northrup Grumman don’t have to wait until tomorrow to learn these systems second-hand. These individual service members get the best of both worlds. ANG space operators come from every community, socioeconomic class and background. With the only requirements for service being a certain Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score, medical readiness, a high school diploma and a relatively clean criminal background, the ANG represents an unparalleled development pipeline. The ANG takes young Coloradans straight out of high school and, with a six-year contract, provides them the resources and training to become educated, gain leadership experience, obtain a security clearance and purchase a home. This inclusivity and accessibility is a testament to the ANG’s commitment to our people. The ANG in Colorado offers every Coloradan a pathway toward prosperity and a high-paying job. As a state and nation, our people are our greatest asset. The community-based ANG model of space operations is an investment in our people that pays off multiple times over. At a time when military recruitment is struggling, the aerospace and defense industry is facing overwhelming vacancies, and income inequality is growing, why would we cut out a process that addresses all three? In doing so, we risk not just losing a process, but also the opportunities it provides to Coloradans. ongress must vote “no” on Legislative Proposal 480 to protect our aerospace and defense industry, preserve the industry’s career development pipeline, and ultimately safeguard our national security. These threats to our state cannot be taken lightly, and it is our duty to prevent them. Representatives Junie Joseph and Ryan Armagost are the co-chairs of the Aerospace & Defense Caucus. Previous Next

We’ve reached the crisis point for the Colorado River and the future of the American Southwest. We need creative solutions for living with a River that contains less water, yet has more demands for its limited supplies. < Back Speaker McCluskie: Taking Action Now to Secure Colorado’s Water Future Jul 10, 2023 See more This op-ed was published in print in the Denver Post in July 2023. We’ve reached the crisis point for the Colorado River and the future of the American Southwest. We need creative solutions for living with a River that contains less water, yet has more demands for its limited supplies. We’ve reached the crisis point for the Colorado River and the future of the American Southwest. We need creative solutions for living with a River that contains less water, yet has more demands for its limited supplies. As a resident of the High Country, I know we’ve had exceptional snowfall this year alongside a rainy spring, but one wet year will not solve a decades-long drought that is devastating the West. I represent the headwaters of the Colorado River, the source of water for more than 40 million people including 30 tribal nations – a resource essential to sustaining Colorado’s agricultural and Indigenous cultural heritage. Our entire state relies on the water that flows from here westward, or eastward through diversion tunnels to the Front Range. As the impacts of historic drought compound with increased demands, Colorado leaders have a critical role to play. Our rivers and streams are running at dangerously low levels, threatening everything from drinking water supplies, wildlife and agriculture to tourism and outdoor recreation. To facilitate a unified approach toward establishing drought resiliency, my colleagues Senator Dylan Roberts, Senator Perry Will, Representative Marc Catlin and I created the Colorado River Drought Task Force to protect Colorado’s water future. I recently made appointments to the task force, whose work will begin shortly. By the end of this year, the task force must provide recommendations for state legislation that will be considered in 2024 to address drought through voluntary and compensated reductions in water demands. I will be blunt: we need bold, inclusive solutions developed through careful collaboration of all those who rely on Colorado River water. The job of our appointees will not be easy, but we’re determined to see this through because our future depends on it. In the past 30 years, climate-driven drought has reduced Colorado River flows by 20%, with an estimated additional 30% reduction by 2050. Out-of-state interests are looking to profit by buying up water rights, growing communities are increasing demands on the river, and each of the Colorado River Basin states are gearing up to fight for as much of its water as they can. Just as the threats to our water are varied, so are the uses and demands on our supply. The Western Slope is home to generational farmers and ranchers who need water to provide food for the country. The state's agriculture industry contributes over $47 billion to our economy and employs about 195,000 people. While healthy rivers support healthy farms, they also support tribal cultural practices, and a vibrant outdoor recreation economy. Our rivers and streams support fishing, kayaking, and rafting, while reservoirs support snowmaking, swimming, and other watercraft sports. According to the organization Business for Water Stewardship, Colorado’s river recreation industry accounts for nearly $19 billion in annual economic output and creates 131,000 jobs. To protect Colorado’s water users, we must lead, otherwise we will find ourselves being led. The Colorado River Drought Task Force brings together state agencies, farmers, ranchers, water providers, water conservation districts, Tribal nations, environmentalists and others to make clear recommendations to protect Colorado’s water. The Colorado River touches everyone’s lives, it’s the fabric that weaves together the entire state, and is why the task force must listen, reflect and uplift the voices of our diverse state during the forthcoming public meetings. I expect nothing short of robust, sustainable solutions crafted by the task force helping all sectors of our economy prepare for the increasingly dire consequences of a hotter, drier future. Recommendations from this task force will allow Colorado to become more resilient to the demands of the River and help us adapt to preserve our Colorado way of life. As the first female Speaker from the Western Slope, protecting Colorado's stable water supply is always top of mind. It is now up to each of the members of this task force to be solution-oriented, emphatic, and creative. Future generations require nothing less, and I look forward to seeing recommendations later this year. Speaker Julie McCluskie represents House District 13 which includes Chaffee, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park, and Summit counties. She is the first woman Speaker elected from the Western Slope. Previous Next

< Back Gretchen Rydin Representative Gretchen Rydin is a social worker, therapist, former Littleton city council member, musician, and advocate working to build a stronger, more inclusive Colorado. She brings a unique blend of expertise in social work, mental health, and public service. Her background as a social worker has equipped her with a deep understanding of community needs, especially in serving vulnerable populations. As a therapist, she has consistently advocated for accessible and comprehensive care, recognizing how essential mental well-being is for both individuals and the community. As a council member, she has experience navigating the complexities of local government and working collaboratively to create policies that improve the lives of our residents, which she will continue in the legislature. As a social worker, Rep. Rydin sees firsthand the outsize impact felt by underserved communities, and wants to bring the thoughtful, data-driven approach learned in her social worker training to the state legislature to make sure no Coloradans get left behind as our state grows. She is a member of the House Business Affairs & Labor and the Health & Human Services committees and represents HD-38.

< 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 Rep. McLachlan: 30 bills sponsored, signed in 2024 Aug 1, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Durango Herald here . Recently I wrote about what we in the state Legislature did for Colorado this year; I am proud to have been a part of that team effort. This month, I present the 30 bills I sponsored and the governor signed in 2024: 1. HB24-1009 Requires childcare licensing to be offered in the prevalent language of an area. This helps more children get an early start, and more parents find good jobs. 2. HB24-1003 Trains educators and students in harm reduction for drugs through Naloxone; an Animas and Durango High School bill. 3. SB24-013 Fairly compensates district attorneys and assistant district attorneys, especially in rural areas. 4. SB24-005 Conserves water by prohibiting certain nonessential turf landscape practices. 5. HB24-1446 Improves training resources for science educators. 6. HB24-1444 Expands the American Indian boarding school research program for three more years. 7. HB24-1441 Clarifies the number of members on the state board of nursing. 8. HB24-1257 Continues and expands the Colorado Natural Areas Council, showcasing our extraordinary vistas. 9. HB24-1222 Clarifies terminology referring to the entities administering human services programs. 10. HB24-1154 Codifies the potential financial relationship between traditional and charter schools. 11. SB24-128 Edits an obsolete provision in a Colorado Department of Transportation requirement. 12. SB24-105 Clarifies fuel product fees imposed by Department of Revenue. 13. SB24-103 Adds technical changes to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment statutes. 14. SB24-099 Permits rural school administrators to return to work after retiring with PERA benefits. 15. SB24-078 Adds a licensure opportunity for outdoor nature-based preschool programs. 16. SB24-070 Allows online education programs to offer remote state assessment testing. 17. SB24-031 Permits local authorities to control the spread of noxious weeds. 18. SB24-026 Requires the State Agricultural Commission and the Colorado Water Conservation Board to hold regularly scheduled public meetings. 19. SB24-017 Helps K-12 schools budget by regularly distributing their property tax and state payments over a year. 20. SB24-014 Authorizes a Seal of Climate Literacy high school diploma endorsement, an Animas and Durango High School bill. 21. SB24-204 Makes technical revisions to the procurement code. 22. SB24-194 Adds fire and ambulance districts to the list of districts permitted to impose impact fees. 23. SB24-188 Eliminates the Budget Stabilization Factor for Colorado public schools, raising the per-pupil spending and giving a one-time stipend to rural schools. 24. HB24-176 Updates terminology for individuals enrolled in the state medical assistance programs. 25. SB24-175 Adds doulas to health insurance programs to help improve perinatal health outcomes for the most susceptible. 26. SB24-172 Clarifies language concerning hemp in statutes regulating marijuana. 27. SB24-171 Authorizes the restoration of wolverines in Colorado’s mountains, to take place after about four more years of study. 28. SB243-170 Helps fund the America 250 – Colorado 150 program for a statewide celebration of the two birthdays. 29. SB24-148 Allows certain facilities to practice precipitation harvesting for water conservation. 30. SB24-132 Extends confidential evaluation protections for all educators. As I end my tenure, I finished my sixth year as chair of the House Education Committee, and first year as chair of the House Services Committee and vice chair of the Statutory Revision Committee. I am also vice chair of the Sportsmen Caucus and member of the Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee, and the Interim Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. I was also filled in as the vice chair of the House Finance Committee for 30 minutes during our special session last year. I suppose that will look good on a resume somewhere. 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

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