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< Back Jamie Jackson Jamie Jackson is a dedicated leader committed to equity, community empowerment, and effective governance. As COO of The Naloxone Project, she expands access to life-saving overdose prevention resources. With a background in nonprofit leadership and policy advocacy, Jamie previously served as COO of the Colorado Children's Campaign and has worked to advance social justice, healthcare equity, and community-driven solutions. She is Vice President of Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA) and chairs the Criminal Justice Committee for the Aurora NAACP. Jamie is committed to policies that uplift working families, protect vulnerable communities, and expand access to equitable healthcare. She brings a people-centered approach to governance, ensuring that House District 41 residents have a strong voice at the Capitol. Rep. Jackson serves on the Transportation, Housing & Local Government and Energy & Environment committees.

< 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.

Not only would Building Performance Standards reduce greenhouse gases, they will protect renters from extreme cold and heat < Back Kipp, Valdez, Willford Opinion: Energy upgrades to apartment buildings will help Colorado hit its climate target Aug 16, 2023 See more This story was published in the Colorado Sun on Aug 16, 2023. This week, Colorado air quality regulators can take a major step forward in slashing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from our state’s largest buildings while fighting high energy costs. Today the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission is scheduled to hold hearings and could cast a key vote on a policy called Building Performance Standards. Approving the proposed policy will help solve a major climate problem in Colorado — large buildings like apartments and offices account for 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions statewide. In 2021, our colleagues in the Colorado General Assembly passed a law setting greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets for large buildings statewide. The Building Performance Standards will do exactly that — achieving a 7% cut by 2026 and 20% by 2030. However, benefits of the policy would extend way beyond climate. It would improve health, comfort, safety, energy efficiency, and livability for tenants of apartment buildings statewide. It’s a chance to keep Coloradans healthy and safe, while saving them money on energy bills and advancing climate action. Commissioners must vote to approve the Building Performance Standards. This is an opportunity Colorado can’t afford to miss. Apartment tenants across Colorado are painfully aware of how difficult it is to keep their homes comfortable on the coldest winter nights and hottest summer afternoons. Inefficient units mean needing to use more energy, resulting in higher bills. As soaring fossil fuel prices sent energy costs skyrocketing in the past 18 months, many Coloradans paid three times as much for heating as they did the year before. This compounds our affordable housing crisis; renters in many Colorado cities have experienced double-digit rent hikes in recent years. We must act urgently. Climate change is causing extreme heat to occur more frequently in Colorado . In 2022, the number of deaths and hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses statewide grew by 66% and 58%, respectively, compared with the annual average for the decade prior. Residents over 65 years old were most likely to be stricken, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment . Energy efficiency and electrification upgrades in apartment units help protect residents’ health and safety from extreme heat , but they can be life-saving if a power outage were to occur during a heat wave or a cold snap. New research has found that making these upgrades to apartment buildings in cities with seasonal patterns similar to Denver can allow residents to shelter in place safely for longer periods of time during such an emergency, and reduce deaths in both extreme heat and cold. The Building Performance Standards is a major step in the right direction. It will upgrade buildings, from inefficient fossil-fuel appliances to highly efficient electric solutions, like heat pumps, which both heat and cool, and heat pump water heaters. Studies have found that these kinds of upgrades, in apartment units, result in 22% lower energy use, on average, and about $272 in annual savings on electric bills. If approved, the policy will gradually take effect over coming years, as building owners submit data and launch their improvements. It will implement upgrades to about 1,000 apartment buildings statewide. The state has tried for years to lower the costs of such upgrades through incentive programs, but upgrades have moved at a glacial pace. State requirements are necessary for Colorado to pick up the pace. This Building Performance Standards policy will also help address energy inequity and advance environmental justice. Low-income residents and communities of color experience higher air pollution burdens, often living near major highways, industrial facilities, or power plants. Studies have found that superior ventilation and better insulation will reduce air pollutant infiltration from outside or from neighboring units and common spaces by 3 to 11 times. This is also a huge benefit when wildfire smoke blankets Colorado. For low-income households, dilapidated housing conditions like poor insulation or broken or old heating and air conditioning are among the main reasons for being unable to pay a bill, receiving a disconnection notice, or having service shut off. In Colorado, 71% of low-income households use fossil fuels for heating, so have been more exposed to recent price volatility. Statewide, utility disconnections have skyrocketed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. These households and communities of color are also more likely to lack air conditioning at home. A recent survey of diverse Denver neighborhoods determined that almost one quarter of residents whose annual incomes were below $35,000 lack access to cooling. There’s never been a better time for Colorado to adopt a building performance standard. The recent federal climate law provides up to $200,000 per apartment building for energy efficiency upgrades, and point-of-sale rebates on electric appliances like heat pumps. Incentives from utilities, governments, and more make the upgrades even cheaper. Building Performance Standards will protect every Coloradan, cutting climate pollution and cleaning up the air we breathe. Inefficient buildings burn much more fuel, meaning more nitrogen dioxide pollution and a worsening air quality crisis in Front Range communities. The state estimates that for every $1 spent on upgrades, we get $3 back in benefits, like lower energy bills or lowered health care costs, from cleaner air. We shouldn’t wait any longer. The Air Quality Control Commission should vote yes this week. Previous Next

< Back Meghan Lukens Chair of the Education Committee Representative Meghan Lukens serves as the Chair for the Education Committee and a member of the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Lukens represents House District 26, which spans Northwest Colorado and includes Routt, Eagle, Moffat, and Rio Blanco counties. A former high school teacher, Rep. Lukens’ legislative efforts have been geared toward education funding, boosting teacher pay, supporting rural school districts and preparing our K-12 learners for a lifetime of success. In addition to her education legislation, Rep. Lukens also championed laws to preserve Colorado’s wildlife, waterways and natural areas for generations to come.

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< Back Shannon Bird Rep. Bird represents House District 29, which includes both the Adams County and Jefferson County portions of the city of Westmister. Originally elected in November of 2018, she is now serving in her fourth term in the General Assembly. Representative Bird has previously served as a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the Appropriations Committee, the Chair of the House Finance Committee, the Business Affairs & Labor Committee, the Pension Commission, the Pension Review Subcommittee and the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy. Growing and maintaining a strong state economy, housing affordability and high quality public education are Representative Bird’s three policy priorities. A few examples of her work in these areas include legislation that doubled the state’s annual tax credit for affordable housing, Colorado’s Occupational Credential Portability Program, which allows licensed professionals moving to Colorado to have an easier time transferring their licenses so that they can begin working sooner and the Small Business Recovery Loan Program, which established a $50 million low interest rate loan fund for Colorado small businesses recovering from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic recession. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a B.A. in Economics. She later graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver, earning both an MBA and an MS in Finance. Representative Bird completed her education by earning a J.D. at the University of Denver College of Law. Representative Bird has served her community in numerous ways. She was the citizen chairperson for her school district’s bond and mill levy override campaign; served as board chair of the Five Star Education Foundation and also served on the Westminster City Council just prior to being elected to the Colorado General Assembly. She and her husband David are the proud parents of two children who attend Adams 12 public schools. Representative Bird also manages a menagerie of cats! In her free time, she is an avid reader, who loves to take long walks with friends and spend time with her family.

< Back Rep. Lukens: Friend of the Family Farmer Feb 27, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Steamboat Pilot & Today here . Greetings from the state Capitol. We are about 50 days into the 2024 legislative session, and we have been busy creating laws that help Coloradans. Earlier this month, we hosted 4-H youth from Rangely to Vail, from Oak Creek to Maybell, at the state Capitol. Their advocacy and dedication is a fervent reminder as to why we need to continue supporting agriculture in Colorado. I am proud to work on many bills this legislative session that promote agriculture, a significant economic driver on the Western Slope. Our youth touched on essential questions regarding water, wolves and youth political engagement. These last two months at the state Capitol have flown by. It is an absolute privilege to be here representing House District 26, and I spend every day using my voice to represent the people of HD 26 and our Western Slope values. On many of our agricultural bills, I work closely with many stakeholders, one of which is the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, and I am proud to be a trusted partner and one of this year’s “Friend of the Family Farmer” recipients. It is important to me to advocate for our rural ranchers, farmers and community. Stewards of the Land In Northwest Colorado, we are surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes, which are central to our tourism and agricultural economies. My constituents are true stewards of the land in a multitude of ways, which is why I am bringing forward SB 24-126, Conservation Easement Income Tax Credit. Conservation easements are used for multiple purposes, including creating wildlife habitat, stream restoration and larger open space. In addition, conservation easements foster economic resiliency by keeping families on their land and thus supporting rural economies. We have dozens of examples of small-family operations who have not only been able to access the conservation easement credit, but have been able to keep their ranching and farming operations in production because they were able to permanently protect their land through conservation easements. Our agricultural economy Engaging with the 4-H youth reminds me that we must support not just the current agricultural producers but also the next generation. For this reason, I am proud of HB 24-1138, Tax Credit for Transfer of Agricultural Assets, a bipartisan bill which passed through the Agriculture Committee with unanimous support. Securing agricultural assets like agricultural land, water and livestock can often be an expensive and arduous task, particularly for beginning farmers and ranchers. This bill will establish a tax credit to incentivize agricultural asset owners to sell or lease their agricultural assets to a beginning farmer or rancher. With the increasing age of the average farmer and rancher, we need to do what we can to support the next generation of agricultural producers in Colorado. Challenges confronting rural agriculture This last year has not been easy, with the introduction of wolves on the Western Slope. I continue to hear about how concerned and stressed our community members are. As House Speaker Julie McCluskie, state Sen. Dylan Roberts and I fielded questions from the 4-H youth earlier this month, we could feel the impact of wolf introduction on them and our communities as a whole. Even before the wolf introduction, farmers and ranchers across the country have struggled with mental health issues and a lack of the necessary resources to get help. Therefore, another bill I am working on, SB24-055, Agricultural & Rural Behavioral Health Care, is a bipartisan bill that will create dedicated programs, foster community collaboration and provide crucial funding to support the mental and behavioral well-being of our farmers, ranchers and rural residents. Community engagement and collaboration Stay tuned for more bills coming to support our economy, our environment and education. I am working on a few more bills related to the preservation of water, protecting our youth from bad actors on social media, supporting affordable housing, incentivizing the creation of early child care facilities and promoting economic prosperity. Please contact me at repmeghanlukens@gmail.com with comments, concerns and questions. Also, please send me an email if you would like to be added to my newsletter for more frequent legislative updates. Let’s keep in touch and keep passing bills that make a difference. Onward! Previous Next

< Back Tammy Story Representative Tammy Story is Chair of the Capital Development Committee, member of the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee and a member of the House Education Committee. She represents House District 25 which includes Evergreen, Conifer and parts of Jefferson County. In 2018, Tammy was elected to be the Colorado State Senator for District 16 and has continued her work at the capitol in the House. Her legislative priorities are education funding, student success and teacher pay. In addition to education, Rep. Story has championed multiple bills to mitigate wildfires, create healthier forests, improve natural gas pipeline safety and advocate for safe environmental policy.

< Back Jenny Willford Chair of State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Representative Jenny Willford is the Chair of the State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee and a member of the House Energy & Environment Committee and represents House District 34 which includes Northglenn and Thornton. Rep. Willford advocates for a healthier Colorado by championing bills that reduce air pollution and prioritize clean, green technology while combat climate change. She also championed legislation that supports working families, improves the continuum of care for older adults and makes health care more affordable and safe for all.

< Back Reps. Bacon & Willford: Ready to Fight Legislatively to Provide Air-Quality Win for Coloradans Feb 21, 2024 See more This story was originally published in Colorado Politics here . Colorado’s legislative session lasts just 120 days. It is a sprint from January to May, racing against the clock to get as much good work done for the people of Colorado as we possibly can. But like every dedicated athlete or weekend warrior, we know wins come from the months of dedicated preparation leading up to a race, and that is exactly what we’ve been up to since last spring and in the first few weeks of the legislative session. Last year we fell short of a decisive win with House Bill 23-1294 , the Protecting Communities from Air Pollution Act. Our goal was to improve Colorado’s broken air quality permitting and enforcement system, which has worsened the state’s ozone crisis and kept any marginal improvements from making air in our communities more breathable. And though the version of the bill that passed took a few important steps in the right direction (requiring rule-making on cumulative impacts, updating complaint processes and eliminating loopholes for polluters), we knew our work needed to continue in 2024. Last fall, the Legislative Interim Committee on Ozone Air Quality heard testimony from hundreds of Coloradans who bravely shared their stories about the ways poor air quality has negatively impacted their lives. We also made sure to bring state agencies and industry voices to the table — all of these perspectives were important for us to consider as we pondered and debated the best ways for us to address what is truly a crisis for so many Coloradans. The American Lung Association's 2023 State of the Air report reflects data so many of us know to be true anecdotally: air quality along the Front Range continues to get worse. Every county in the Denver metro area received a failing grade. But up to this point, that evidence, coupled with more bloody noses, increased instances of asthma and lung disease and days of school and work missed because of unbreathable air, have not been enough to make changes that would put Colorado back on the right track. No more — we’re at the starting line, revved up and raring to go as we and our colleagues prepare to launch three bills we believe everyone who cares about the health of their loved ones, communities and the planet, to boot, can get behind. Up first: permitting. Colorado’s permitting processes are standing in the way of ozone attainment by failing to adequately consider the air quality impacts of minor sources — including almost all oil and gas sources. The bill we are sponsoring will ensure emissions from proposed projects are aggregated so regulators get an accurate picture of the emissions a project will produce. It will also require greater scrutiny for permits in the nonattainment area, and require oil and gas operators to obtain a permit to pollute from the Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) before the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) can issue a permit for drilling or fracking. Immediate reduction measures are also critically important for the health of our communities, and our colleague, state Sen. Kevin Priola, is sponsoring a bill to address this. His bill targets a number of different emissions sources: cars, trucks, home appliances and oil and gas operations. By implementing seasonal restrictions on oil and gas production, creating standards for non-road engine emissions, finding ways to make electric appliances more accessible to more people, and setting goals for reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) we will have a fighting chance at getting back into compliance with federal air quality standards. None of those measures will matter, however, if the state doesn’t have the appropriate mechanisms to enforce them. That is where the bill of state Sen. Faith Winter and state Rep. Meg Froelich comes in. Right now, it is often more economical for polluters to pay paltry fines rather than comply; their bill will require repeat violators to pay mandatory fines, in part into a fund that will support environmental mitigation projects. It will also create a public right to enforce the APCD’s regulations if the APCD is not pursuing enforcement. It further takes steps to increase transparency. Our laws should do what they were passed with the intention to do. Communities along the Front Range and across the state, especially low-income and communities of color, have suffered for far too long. Thanks to the work of the Interim Committee, our constituents and advocates, we’ve begun this legislative session more prepared to fight for a win than ever before. Previous Next

< Back Lukens: Local Ideas Become 2024 Legisation Jan 25, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Steamboat Pilot & Today . On Jan. 10, we started our 120-day session at the Colorado State Capitol. Alongside my colleagues from both sides of the aisle and as a member of the Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee and Education Committee, I anticipate an exciting session as I bring forth initiatives that will revitalize the Western Slope that we call home. Economic prosperity I am pleased to announce that my priority bill to create jobs in rural Colorado — Reauthorization of Rural Jump-Start Program — was the first bill introduced in the entirety of the Colorado House of Representatives during the 2024 Legislative Session. While traveling throughout Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Eagle counties over the past year, I have heard from many constituents about the need to support our workforce. For us on the Western Slope, small businesses are vital to the economy of our towns, which is why I am passionate about passing the Rural Jump-Start Program to provide financial incentives to our small businesses. Another priority in the next 120 days is boosting and strengthening our workforce. To continue to increase industry and education collaboration and support the needs of employees, I am introducing a bill to continue investing into the Opportunity Now Program and establish a refundable tax credit. By solidifying the state’s investments into our local communities, we can sow the seeds of transformational change and help families regain their economic footing after the tumultuous last few years. Education and mental health In huge education-related news, the Governor’s budget request officially eliminates the Budget Stabilization Factor, which is a significant win for our students and educators. I look forward to the budget process during which school funding will be a priority. In my experience as a high school teacher and a lawmaker, I’ve noticed that students and teachers lack the resources to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. One of my favorite accomplishments in the past year was earning the Mental Health Legislator of the Year by Mental Health Colorado, and I’m proud to continue prioritizing mental health in schools through a few new bills. Teaching is not an easy job. The last thing our educators need is to feel unsafe in their own classrooms. Another piece of legislation I’m working on would create an Advisory Committee that focuses on reviewing and recommending safety improvements so that our kids and teachers can feel safe and welcome in their schools. Previous Next

Initiative 144 and 145 will reduce pet care in Colorado < Back Rep. McCormick: As a veterinarian and a lawmaker, please don’t let big businesses undermine Colorado pet care Jun 12, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Denver Post here . Initiative 144 and 145 will reduce pet care in Colorado Forty years ago I swore a lifelong oath when starting my career as a veterinarian. Part of that oath affirms that I will use my scientific knowledge and skill to benefit society through the protection of animal health and welfare. It is with that oath, and my lifetime of service to animals and people that I must now sound the alarm to all Coloradans. There are two ballot initiatives being circulated collecting signatures for the fall ballot. These initiatives are being driven by big corporate interests from outside of Colorado. They are Initiative 144 and 145 and are being misleadingly sold to voters as a way to “increase access to veterinary care.” The General Assembly worked very hard this spring in a bipartisan, collaborative way, to develop a robust approach to how best to utilize tele-technologies like video calls in veterinary care. That bill was signed into law by the governor earlier this year, and it passed the House of Representatives unanimously. It is widely supported by veterinarians, veterinary technicians, farmers and ranchers, shelters and humane societies and animal caretakers. The bill strengthens and clarifies that veterinary telemedicine should supplement and not replace in-person care. We absolutely should use telehealth more and this law will make sure it is done right to protect pets. Initiative 144 also has to do with Veterinary Telehealth, but is a danger to pets. 144 would dismantle that well-structured law the governor just signed and eliminate the need for a doctor to ever see your animal in person. The ballot question essentially eliminates the most important tools your veterinarian has to get to the bottom of what is going on — their hands, eyes, ears, and nose. 144 would not benefit people or their animals and would create real safety concerns. It would only help corporate entities focused on profits, allowing them to push medicine to animal owners via online platforms. Animals would be the ones suffering in this situation as they would not be getting accurate care. The second ballot initiative, 145, also funded by outside corporate interests, will allow creation of a new animal health position called a veterinary professional associate or VPA. TA VPA is not licensed to practice medicine, has not gone through an accredited veterinary education program, has not passed a national exam, will not have sufficient liability protections, would not be able to prescribe medicines due to federal law, and will be under-trained through primarily an online master’s program. These VPAs would then be allowed to actually practice veterinary medicine on your pets, including surgery, diagnose diseases, interpret lab test results and prescribe a treatment plan, all without a license. Corporate interests want VPAs to practice medicine without the consumer protection safeguards that exist for licensed veterinarians. If this sounds crazy to you then you can understand my grave concern for the animals of our state for whom we are responsible. Skilled veterinary technicians are already more qualified than this contemplated VPA. They have comprehensive training, take a national exam and are regulated by the state. We passed another strong bipartisan bill to elevate and extend the skills of veterinary technicians with House Bill 1047. There has been over $633,000 granted to Colorado State University by Petsmart Charities to develop a veterinary mid-level position master’s degree. This degree program is not looking to be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) who is responsible for accreditation of every single College of Veterinary Medicine in the country, including CSU’s, and for every school that graduates Veterinary technicians. In order for this master’s degree to work for Petsmart, who partners with Mars,Inc./ Banfield vet clinics, would need ballot initiative 145 to get on the ballot and pass. There has been over $255,000 contributed toward the effort to get these Initiatives on the ballot by the Issue Committee called ‘All Pets Deserve Care’ registered with the Secretary of State. This entity received its largest single donation of $250,000 from Denver Dumb Friends League. The details into DDFL’s financials to know where the $250,000 came from is not publicly available. Mars, Inc. who owns Banfield and VCA veterinary hospitals across the nation have funded studies in the past that have fed a narrative that the U.S. needs to create a new veterinary position in order to keep up with the demand for veterinary care. These studies have been disputed by many reputable veterinary economists since. But the narrative has taken off and is fueling this push to create a new veterinary worker who in reality won’t be prepared to help animals. We need more veterinarians and more veterinary technicians. Let’s focus on solving that problem. Karen McCormick is a state representative for House District 11. Previous Next