< Back Matthew Martinez Majority Whip Representative Matthew Martinez is the Vice Chair of the House Education Committee and a member of the Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Martinez represents House District 62 which includes Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano Mineral, Pueblo, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties. Veteran and educator, Rep. Martinez is passionate about post-secondary education opportunities, workforce development, veterans’ issues, and supporting local communities. During the 2023 legislative session, Rep. Martinez sponsored bipartisan legislation to provide financial assistance to high school seniors to pursue career or education opportunities after graduation.

The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to strengthen accountability for public officials and employees in Colorado school districts and special districts. HB24-1073 passed by a vote of 8-3. < Back February 21, 2024 Story, Parenti Bill to Strengthen Government Ethics Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to strengthen accountability for public officials and employees in Colorado school districts and special districts. HB24-1073 passed by a vote of 8-3. “Government ethics rules are critical in preventing corruption in our government and ensuring the public’s trust while holding elected government officials accountable when they violate Colorado’s ethical standards,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer. “We have established ethical codes of conduct that local government officials and employees are expected to abide by. Our legislation would specify that school districts and special districts are also held to this code of conduct so the Independent Ethics Commission can investigate complaints made by Coloradans and hold bad actors accountable.” “The people of Colorado expect government officials at all levels to behave ethically and act in the best interest of the people of our state, but inconsistencies in Colorado law prevent investigation and enforcement of ethical standards,” said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie. “School and special districts operate in every part of our state, employ thousands of people and control billions of dollars of taxpayer revenues. This bill is an important step in reminding all of us, at all levels of government, that we are first and foremost servant leaders and we must all be held to account when we betray the public trust or use our positions for personal gain." The Independent Ethics Commission was created in 2006 to investigate complaints and enforce rules of conduct for public officials and employees. HB24-1073 would expand the authority of the Independent Ethics Commission to include school district and special district officials and employees who report directly to them, such as school superintendents. This bill would allow the Independent Ethics Commission to investigate and enforce complaints of ethics violations by public officials and employees in these districts, improving accountability. Previous Next

Witnesses highlight devastating impact of Trump Administration actions to dismantle consumer protections and let corporations reap record profits by ripping off hardworking people < Back March 19, 2025 Lawmakers Spotlight State-Driven Solutions to Affordability Issues Witnesses highlight devastating impact of Trump Administration actions to dismantle consumer protections and let corporations reap record profits by ripping off hardworking people DENVER, CO – The House and Senate Judiciary Committees today held a joint hearing to examine the Trump Administration’s efforts to protect corporate profits and monopolies at the expense of hardworking Coloradans. As the federal government abandons efforts to save consumers money by holding corporations accountable, states like Colorado are leading the way to lower costs for working families by cracking down on rent algorithms , junk fees , and price gouging that drive up prices on critical necessities like housing, groceries and everyday purchases. “We are living in a time where corporate profits go unchecked while hardworking people struggle to live paycheck to paycheck,” said Senate Judiciary Chair Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “All this while federal agencies meant to protect everyday Americans are being gutted at the whim of an unelected billionaire and a President more interested in his own bottom line than the well-being of the people. This is why the Colorado legislature’s work to hold corporations accountable and shore up consumer protections is so critically important. We will continue to strengthen protections for Coloradans and level the playing field for all.” “While the Trump Administration is helping the wealthiest corporate monopolies rip off the American People by dismantling essential worker and consumer protections, we’re saving Coloradans money and boosting wages,” said House Judiciary Chair Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “Colorado Democrats are making our state more affordable by cracking down on price gouging, junk fees and rent algorithms that drive up housing prices. The testimony we heard today makes it clear that if Elon Musk,Trump and DOGE succeed, corporations will raise prices further and more easily scam Americans out of their hard earned money while preying on the most vulnerable among us.” The committee heard testimony from Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, who was illegally fired by Trump yesterday, and Seth Frotman, the former General Counsel and Senior Advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The witnesses highlighted how dismantling CFPB and FTC efforts to protect consumers will take money out of the pockets of the people who can least afford it while shielding corporations from accountability. In the few months since Trump took office, the administration has halted critical efforts to protect consumers from junk fees and rent algorithms. Elon Musk and DOGE have tried to shut down the CFPB, which was established after the Great Recession to crack down on predatory financial products and practices. Both the FTC and CFPB had been actively engaged on policies to make life more affordable for working people and address these critical issues, but when Trump took office, he stopped those efforts, leaving states like Colorado to fill the gaps. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2021 HOUSE VOTES TO IMPROVE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM, CREATE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION Two lifesaving gun violence prevention bills pass the House on Third Reading DENVER, CO– The House passed two bills to curb the epidemic of gun violence, prevent mass shootings and save lives. The two bills, focused on expanding and improving our background check system and creating the Office of Gun Violence Prevention passed the House on Third Reading. “Colorado is showing that we can do so much more than offer thoughts and prayers in the wake of mass shootings,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Strengthening our background check system and closing the Charleston loophole are a commonsense way to stop firearms from getting into the hands of dangerous individuals, and they have the support of a majority of Coloradans. I’m proud of the work we did today and look forward to more moments of action to come.” “Coloradans have been loud and clear in demanding action to curb the epidemic of gun violence that takes loved ones away from families far, far too often,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Today, the House delivered. While no single bill or initiative will put an end to gun violence, ensuring that violent criminals have a harder time obtaining a deadly weapon is a commonsense step that will undoubtedly save lives.” HB21-1298 , sponsored by Reps. Woodrow and Amabile, prohibits a person who has been convicted of certain violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for five years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault and third degree assault. The bill passed by a vote of 42-21. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. This bill avoids that by creating a state requirement for a firearms dealer to receive approval from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation prior to transferring a firearm. “Colorado has made great strides in the area of gun violence prevention in the past few years, and especially the past few months,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “Today, we voted to establish an innovative office that will centralize these efforts to save lives and prevent gun violence in our communities. Having this office will make our efforts more efficient and effective, and will hopefully provide answers that will guide our path forward.” “The Office of Gun Violence Prevention is designed to respond to the public health crisis that is gun violence by taking cues from affected communities and providing all Coloradans with the type of educational and mental health support that could save lives” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “In addition to the mass shootings we see on the news all too often, gun violence rips communities of color apart every single day in acts of ‘everyday’ violence. I’m proud of the work we did today to reject the status quo and ensure that communities affected by gun violence are properly invested in making necessary change. ” HB21-1299 , sponsored by Reps. Bacon and Sullivan, establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention under the Department of Public Health and Environment. The Office would be responsible for conducting public awareness campaigns about gun violence prevention. It would educate the public about existing state resources and laws, including how to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order, how to access mental health resources and how to store firearms securely. The bill passed by a vote of 40-23. The office would also fund proven community-based violence intervention programs that are focused on interrupting cycles of gun violence through competitive grants. Finally, the Office would be tasked with promoting research and presenting gun violence prevention tools and resources that would be available to the public and to create and maintain a database of research regarding gun violence in Colorado. Previous Next

The House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Mike Weissman to better protect Coloradans from gender-related, bias-motivated crimes. SB24-189 would add transgender identity to Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes and harassment laws. < Back April 16, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Protect Coloradans from Gender-Related, Bias-Motivated Crimes Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Mike Weissman to better protect Coloradans from gender-related, bias-motivated crimes. SB24-189 would add transgender identity to Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes and harassment laws. “The numbers do not lie; the LGBTQ+ community is encountering increased violence and hate crimes,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “This bill modifies Colorado law to include transgender identity as a protected class and works to ensure perpetrators of bias-motivated crimes are held accountable by our criminal justice system. We know trans, nonbinary and gender-expansive people across the country are combating increased threats and violence, and I’m proud to live in a state that steps up to protect our LGBTQ+ neighbors.” SB24-189 , also sponsored by Matt Soper, R-Delta, passed by a vote of 9-1. The bill would improve protections for Coloradans by adding the definition of transgender identity to the protected classes included in Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes and harassment laws. The bill also redefines "sexual orientation" as used in Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes and harassment statutes. This important legislation comes on the heels of recent data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which revealed the highest number of anti-LGBTQ+, anti-trans and gender non-conforming hate crimes ever reported. Additionally, the number of hate crimes based on gender identity increased by over 32 percent from 2021 to 2022. Previous Next

Lawmakers from Jefferson County today released the following joint statement: < Back October 13, 2025 Jefferson County Lawmakers Statement on Lookout Mountain Swastika DENVER, CO – Lawmakers from Jefferson County today released the following joint statement: “We, the legislative delegation from Jeffco, are horrified and deeply saddened by the hateful display of a giant swastika along I-70 near Lookout Mountain. This appalling act is more than vandalism, it is an attempt to spread fear and division in a community that stands for respect, inclusion, and human dignity. “We strongly stand against hate in all its forms. Every person, regardless of race, creed, or religion, deserves the freedom to live without fear. Staining our beautiful open spaces with symbols of antisemitic hate and Nazi propaganda is not who we are and it will never define Jefferson County. “We thank the Jeffco Open Space Rangers, local law enforcement, and community members who acted swiftly to remove the symbol and restore peace. But our work cannot stop there. When hate shows its face, we must respond not only with outrage but with unity, education, and courage. “Let this serve as a reminder that the forces of hate and division have no place here and when they rise, we will meet them together, with resolve and love for one another. “Jefferson County is, and must remain, a place where all people are welcome and safe. We will not be divided by hate. We will rise stronger together.” The following lawmakers represent Jefferson County: House Majority Leader Monica Duran Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter Senator Jesse Danielson Senator Lindsey Daugherty Senator Chris Kolker Representative Tammy Story Representative Shannon Bird Representative Lorena Garcia Representative Lisa Feret Representative Sheila Lieder Representative Rebekah Stewart Representative Brianna Titone Previous Next

U.S. President says he loves it < Back June 18, 2026 JOINT RELEASE: Trump’s High Energy Inflation Drives Up Costs for Coloradans DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff (LCS) and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) delivered the June quarterly economic forecasts. “The forecast shows that not only is inflation driving up costs for Coloradans, but it’s also neutralizing any wage gains workers might have earned even as the economy continues to grow at a steady pace,” said JBC Chair Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver . “Instead of addressing the affordability crisis, President Trump is making light of record-high inflation numbers while Coloradans are feeling squeezed from all sides. From driving down housing costs to creating universal preschool, Colorado Democrats have implemented real solutions to make our state more affordable for families. In stark contrast to Washington, we’re focused on creating communities that are safe, healthier and more affordable.” "The forecast reflects what many Coloradans already feel. The cost of gas, housing, and childcare continues to put pressure on family budgets,” said JBC Vice Chair Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. “Combined with uncertainty from Washington, these challenges create real strain on Colorado's economy and our state budget. We're focused on protecting core services and making sure Colorado is prepared for what comes next, while Colorado's workers and businesses continue to show up, work hard, and move our economy forward." “The forecast reflects what many Coloradans are already feeling: our economy is strong, but rising energy costs and national headwinds are making everything more expensive and dragging down growth in Colorado,” said JBC Member Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “We made difficult decisions during the legislative session to balance our budget, including cuts that no one wanted to make. It’s clear that without reforms to TABOR, the legislature will be forced to make additional cuts to address rising caseload and Medicaid costs. With the interim commission, we are working hard to find solutions so Medicaid can continue to deliver the services people need while putting the program on a more sustainable path.” “As a result of years of thoughtful budgeting and often painful cuts, this forecast shows that we have made the right decisions to put Colorado on strong economic footing even as the chaos in Washington continues to strain our state budget,” said JBC Member Sen. Judy Amabile. “Between corporate tax cuts in H.R. 1, high inflation, and soaring gas prices, we have not been dealt an easy hand, but we’ve been able to preserve crucial services and maintain a healthy reserve. There are certainly difficult decisions ahead, but we will continue to meet the moment.” The Legislative Council Staff (LCS) forecast anticipates General Fund revenue to be $16.57 billion in FY 2025-2026, $18.07 billion in FY 2026-2027, and $19.05 billion in FY 2027-2028. This represents an overall increase of $489 million in the current year and $335 million for FY 2026-2027 as compared to the March forecast . The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) forecast anticipates that General Fund revenue will be $16.93 billion for FY 2025-26, $17.89 billion for FY 2026-2027 and $18.37 billion for FY 2027-2028. This represents an overall increase of $371 million in the current year and a decrease of $102 million for FY 2026-2027 as compared to their March forecast . This revised revenue increase shows a resilient economy and consumers. Medicaid costs have skyrocketed over the last two years, largely due to the increased cost of providing care. In addition to reducing Medicaid spending by $360 million this year alone, lawmakers also established an interim Commission on Medicaid to develop long-term strategies to focus on utilization, reduce spending and ensure sustainability in the program. Rising Medicaid costs continue to impact the state budget; however, the increase for FY 2027-2028 is far less than the $1 billion lawmakers addressed last session. According to LCS scenario B, the General Fund would end FY 2027-28 with a 13.2 percent reserve, $315.4 million less than the statutory requirement. This scenario accounts for a $462.5 million increase in Medicaid spending. This increase is almost half the previously forecasted increase in FY 2026-27. In addition, TABOR will likely trigger a temporary income tax rate reduction that disproportionately benefits the wealthiest Coloradans while requiring over $300 million in cuts to core services like Medicaid that benefit the most vulnerable Coloradans. The LCS and OSPB forecasts anticipate that FY 2027-28 revenue will be above the TABOR cap by $674 million and $52 million, respectively. For the 2026-27 FY (beginning July 1, 2026), revenue is forecasted to be above the cap by $483 million in the LCS forecast and $470 million per OSPB. For the 2025-2026 FY about to end, by the LCS forecast, Colorado’s revenue is below the TABOR cap by $425 million. By the OSPB forecast, revenue is below the TABOR cap by $15 million. Due to corporate tax cuts in H.R. 1, the Family Affordability Tax Credit (FATC) will be entirely turned off for the 2026 tax year, raising taxes on families. Both forecasts released today now expect the FATC to be off for 2027 and 2028 taxes as well. To help blunt some of the cost for Colorado families, Democratic lawmakers created a new tax credit last session, the Family Affordability Credit (FAC). Families who would have been eligible for the FATC will be eligible for the FAC, and while it is a smaller credit, estimates show families could still receive up to $260 for each child under age six and up to $195 for each child between six and 16 because of HB26-1223 . The annual inflation rate (4.2 percent) in the U.S. hit a three-year high in May, up from 3.8 percent in April. This includes a 0.4 percentage point increase in May alone and has almost doubled since February. Trump’s war with Iran has caused an oil shock and increased energy costs nationwide, and is driving rising inflation in Colorado. High energy costs, combined with a weakening job market and worsening household finances, are weighing on families. Economic inequality continues to grow, with low-income families increasingly burdened by credit card debt. While wages have ticked upward for the majority of workers (3.8 percent), including low-wage earners, they have not kept pace with high inflation. In addition, many Coloradans are underemployed or have left the workforce and job growth remains stagnant at 0.1 percent, worsened by an 11 percent decrease in federal government jobs in Colorado. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Shannon Bird to strengthen our workforce and reduce recidivism by ensuring Coloradans who have served their time can re-enter our workforce, acquire professional credentials, support their families, and succeed in their careers. HB24-1004 passed by a vote of 64-0. < Back May 1, 2024 House Passes Bills to Boost Colorado’s Workforce DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Shannon Bird to strengthen our workforce and reduce recidivism by ensuring Coloradans who have served their time can re-enter our workforce, acquire professional credentials, support their families, and succeed in their careers. HB24-1004 passed by a vote of 64-0. The House also passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Jenny Willford that would create a refundable state income tax credit and grant programs to boost registered apprenticeship opportunities. HB24-1439 passed by a vote of 45-19. “This legislation is crucial in bridging the gap between workforce shortages and Coloradans with a criminal history who are trying to break their way out of cycles of incarceration,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, sponsor of HB24-1004. “Current Colorado law makes it difficult for Coloradans with criminal records or histories to qualify for certain careers, reducing their ability to find a good-paying job. With this legislation, we’re streamlining the process for the consideration of Coloradans in these careers to make it easier for them to successfully re-enter our communities and to reduce recidivism.” “We’re committed to addressing workforce shortages in critical industries, which is why we’re passing this legislation to make it easier for people with criminal records to qualify for careers in crucial sectors like health care and construction,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, sponsor of HB24-1004. “This bill would build on our previous laws that strengthen processes for regulators so we can employ previously incarcerated Coloradans in key areas. With this legislation, previously incarcerated Coloradans will have an easier path to success and industries will have more qualified candidates to choose from to fill job vacancies.” HB24-1004 establishes a uniform process for considering criminal records in occupational registration, certification, and licensure applications. The bill includes a wide range of careers from the construction and banking industries to IT. The bill prohibits regulators from automatically refusing to grant or renew a license based on an applicant’s criminal record unless the applicant’s conviction is directly related to a specific element that is still relevant at the time of an individual’s application. Reps. Bacon and Bird passed a 2022 law to ensure that when pursuing a credential, applicants were only denied based on their criminal history if that history would hinder their ability to do their job safely and competently. HB24-1439 , also sponsored by Representative Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, would create a refundable state income tax credit for eligible employers starting in tax year 2025. “Colorado has made a lot of progress in our efforts to expand apprenticeship opportunities, and this bill would help employers offset the costs of creating high-quality registered apprenticeships to connect Coloradans with on-the-job experience and address workforce shortages,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, sponsor of HB24-1439. “By creating a tax credit for employers in new and emerging industries, they can offer apprenticeships that pay a wage so Coloradans can earn money while they learn the ropes of their chosen industry. This legislation would allow us to help local businesses keep their doors open and create a stronger workforce with in-demand skills to keep our communities running.” This income tax credit is available to businesses operating in a new and emerging industry with a registered apprenticeship program. HB24-1439 would also create the Scale-Up Grant Program to start new or expand existing registered apprenticeship programs and the Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grant Program to connect employers or apprenticeship program participants to registered apprenticeship programs. Previous Next

< Back March 8, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES CUTTER-WEISSMAN BILL TO EXPAND DISCLOSURE OF FUNDING IN CAMPAIGNS House Republicans vote to allow mystery ads to continue flooding campaigns (Mar. 8) — A bill sponsored by Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County and Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora to require expanded disclosure of funding behind campaign communications passed the House today. “I’ve had a twenty-five year career in public relations and communications, and have been a strong advocate for fair and ethical communications, ” said Rep. Cutter. “A healthy and functional democracy depends on transparency, so let’s do everything we can to ensure Colorado voters are fully informed.” The bipartisan SB19-068 would require listing the name of any person or entity that spends more than $1000 per year on electioneering communications on the communication itself, be it a television ad, mailer, or a distributed flyer. It would also increase transparency and accountability in elections by including electioneering communications that occur at any point between the primary and general election. “Voters get bombarded by political ads and mailers during elections from mystery sources, making it difficult for Democrats, Republicans and Unaffiliated voters to properly weigh the issues,” said Rep. Weissman. “Today, we took an an important step toward improving campaign disclosure laws. Coloradans deserve all the proper facts when they fill out their ballots.” The bill passed with a final vote of 39-23 with nearly every House Republican voting against it and now heads to the Governor’s desk. The bill is sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada and Sen. Jack Tate, R-Centennial. It passed the Senate with bipartisan support on a vote of 23-12. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Story: Colorado’s broadband funding can be a boon for jobs May 29, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Gazette here . Colorado is slated to receive $826.5 million in federal funding through President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, and this year released another $113 million from the state’s Capital Projects Fund, all to expand broadband access across the state. In addition to closing Colorado’s digital divide, this historic funding has the potential to create thousands of jobs in the process — but only if we hold the companies deploying it accountable to Colorado taxpayers. State legislators recently had the opportunity to put parameters around this nearly $1 billion broadband expansion that would have ensured the creation of long-term, good paying jobs, and promoted a safe build-out and a quality network. Despite sailing through both House committees, passing on the House floor, and passing in the Senate Business Affairs & Labor committee, the bill was purposefully held up on the Senate Appropriations calendar. Now, it’s up to Colorado’s Broadband Office to make sure those guardrails are established and that this historic funding creates good paying jobs in Colorado, while prioritizing a well-trained local workforce that will deploy broadband equitably and safely. Passing HB24-1245 would have been a guarantee to Coloradans everywhere that the state’s upgraded and expanded broadband infrastructure would last for generations to come. This bill would have ensured networks were built responsibly and sustainably by workers making family-sustaining wages and benefits. Across the country, we see internet companies cutting corners and jobs in the industry getting worse. Companies are outsourcing an increasing share of broadband deployment work to contractors, who are often, undertrained and unfamiliar with local infrastructure. When contractors are paid by the job, they often speed through the work, cutting corners and putting safety and quality at risk. While the companies might save a buck, it is our local governments and residents who pay the price: millions in repairs to infrastructure and private property damaged by contractors’ shoddy work, or even dangerous accidents that put residents and local businesses at risk. The bill would have required that the companies that receive public dollars to build broadband pay their workers a family-sustaining wage, also known as prevailing wage, which studies show promotes productivity, reduces injury rates, and helps address the shortage of skilled labor. While legislators failed to pass this law, the state’s broadband office has the power to hold ISPs to this higher standard. It’s crucial they do this now to ensure the money goes into Colorado’s economy, instead of to low-road contractors. Nearly a billion dollars are at stake, and Coloradans deserve a high quality network and high quality jobs, of which thousands will be needed for this massive investment to be fully realized in the years to come. Colorado’s Broadband Office can ensure a higher standard by collecting and publishing workforce plan information; prioritizing applicants that commit to using a directly hired, local workforce; and looking for applicants with robust in-house training programs. The Communications Workers of America, which boasts 3,552 members across Colorado, has made significant investments in its workforce development and apprenticeship programs to help meet this need. If we want to develop the workforce that will be needed to build and maintain these networks, we need to make sure these jobs are good jobs. Colorado has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capitalize on this opportunity for jobs and to build a quality high-speed network that will last, but only by choosing to work with ISPs that invest in good jobs and a sustainable workforce. The stability created in communities by long-term, good-paying career-oriented jobs pays dividends in local economic growth. We cannot risk this historic opportunity to close our country’s digital divide with haphazard build outs by underpaid contractors who lack the training and experience needed to build a quality product. Statewide connectivity and good-paying jobs are things all Coloradans should be able to get behind, and that’s why it’s critical that the Colorado Broadband Office follow through. Sandra Parker is a lobbyist, organizer, and activist for the Communications Workers of America. She has been a union member and activist for 25 years. She is married and lives in Aurora. Rep. Tammy Story moved to Colorado in 1987 with her husband, Mike. For four years, she was a member and leader with the Jeffco Associations Legislative Forum, which is dedicated to discussions concerning education legislation with various stakeholders. Previous Next

< Back February 17, 2023 House Dems Defeat Extreme Abortion Ban Democrats put a swift end to GOP proposals to criminalize abortion, force the government to interfere in medical decisions and spread disinformation about medical abortions DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House Health and Insurance Committee today defeated three extreme Republican bills that would have criminalized abortion in Colorado and spread dangerous disinformation about a so-called abortion pill reversal. The Republican bills would have eliminated access to safe, legal reproductive health care in Colorado. “We won’t let Republican politicians take away Coloradans’ right to an abortion,” said House Health and Insurance Chair, Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “Coloradans deserve the freedom to make their own health care decisions and choices about when to start a family. Make no mistake, if Republicans were in power, they would criminalize abortion in Colorado, throw physicians in jail and put politicians in control of your private medical decisions–we won’t allow this to happen.” “Criminalizing abortion leads to higher maternal mortality rates, with the largest increases among Black women,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver , Chair of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus. “Abortion bans add to the compounding systemic social, health and economic disparities faced by people of color– often from a disproportionate lack of access to health insurance, reproductive and preventative health care, education and skills training, and job opportunities. The extreme bills presented in committee today are dangerous for women, and especially life-threatening for women of color.” In 2022, Colorado Democrats passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), which Governor Polis signed into law. This landmark legislation updated Colorado’s laws to protect reproductive rights and established a fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion. Given the federal instability on reproductive justice issues, RHEA importantly enshrines the right to an abortion and other critical health care services into state law. Coloradans have been absolutely clear that they support the right to an abortion and have repeatedly defeated ballot measures that sought to ban access to abortion. HB23-1119 , sponsored by Representative Scott Bottoms, would have criminalized all abortions in Colorado with no exceptions. This bill would require the state to imprison providers for performing an abortion and would allow individuals to sue health care providers and potentially even patients. Research by CU Boulder shows that banning abortion would lead to a 24-percent increase in maternal deaths. The data is even more distressing for Black people with the expected increase in maternal deaths jumping to 39-percent if abortion were to be banned in every state. HB23-1097 , sponsored by Representative Stephanie Luck, disregards the autonomy of the patient and would have forced providers to administer legislative-prescribed medical treatments. It also violates the patient-provider relationship and permits governmental control over private medical decisions. HB23-1150 , sponsored by Representative Bottoms, would have required physicians to spread misinformation about a so-called abortion pill reversal. Abortion reversals through the use of progesterone are not scientifically proven , do not meet clinical standards and can be dangerous to recommend to a patient. This bill would have required the Department of Public Health and Environment to create and maintain misinformation about the effectiveness of this anti-abortion method. Abortion providers, patients and Coloradans who support abortion rights testified for hours about the dangerous impact of these bills and how they would insert government into families’ private medical decisions Democrats on the committee defeated each bill. ### Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed legislation to require college student health centers to provide on-site abortion medication services. < Back May 28, 2026 ICYMI: Polis Signs Bill to Expand Access to Abortion Care for College Students DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed legislation to require college student health centers to provide on-site abortion medication services. “Despite the Trump administration’s attempts to outlaw abortion entirely, Colorado remains a beacon for safe, legal and protected reproductive health care,” said Rep. Lorena García D-Unincorporated Adams County. “When voters approved Amendment 79, they enshrined the right to an abortion into the Colorado Constitution, and this new law makes sure college students can easily access their constitutionally-protected right to reproductive healthcare. For college students, their entire lives center around campus, and this law makes medication abortion accessible through a student health clinic or pharmacy.” “College students are navigating a nation that continues to undermine their right to abortion care, but Colorado is and will remain a safe haven for reproductive rights,” said Sen. Katie Wallace, D-Longmont. “This law will ensure that students who rely on campus health centers are able to access the healthcare they need, when they need it, where they are.” “In a post-Dobbs era where patients and providers navigate a frightening national landscape, Colorado has stepped up to safeguard reproductive healthcare,” said Rep. Kenny Nguyen, D-Broomfield. “While abortion is legal, it’s not always accessible, and this law makes it easier for college students to access abortion medication on campus. College students shouldn’t have to go through hoops to receive their constitutionally-protected right to an abortion. Our law streamlines access to medication abortion so college students can receive life-saving care.” “Abortion care is healthcare, and college students in Colorado deserve access to that care despite national efforts to deny it,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. “Colorado voters enshrined the right to abortion in the constitution, and with this law, we’re leveling the playing field so students have equal access to that right.” HB26-1335 will expand college students’ access to reproductive healthcare by requiring public and private higher education institutions with student health centers to provide on-site abortion medication. If the college has an on-campus pharmacy, abortion medication must be available to enrolled students. If the college does not have a pharmacy on campus, healthcare providers will be required to submit a prescription for abortion medication to a pharmacy or other prescription drug outlet located off campus. The law will also add privacy protections by requiring institutions to comply with preexisting personally identifying information maintenance and disclosure protections in state law. The law will exempt higher education institutions from the requirement to stock or dispense abortion medication if doing so would conflict with their religious beliefs or practices or if it would jeopardize an institution’s federal grant participation. Colorado Democrats have championed multiple laws to expand and safeguard abortion access in Colorado. This includes legislation to strengthen Colorado's shield laws , protecting patients and providers from hostile out-of-state actions. Last year, Colorado Democrats implemented the will of the voters by enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution. Previous Next