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< Back March 15, 2021 SCHOOL FUNDING BILL SIGNED INTO LAW Law ensures school districts do not experience significant funding reductions due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases DENVER, CO– Governor Jared Polis today signed into law legislation sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Barbara McLachlan to protect school district funding that otherwise would have been reduced due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases. “The legislature is doing everything we can to put students, teachers, and parents first as we recover from this pandemic and work to build back stronger,” said JBC Vice-Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This funding boost protects schools across our state from catastrophic budget cuts at the worst possible time. I’m proud of how we brought together stakeholders from across the education community to craft this bipartisan solution.” “Our students and educators were among the hardest hit by the pandemic, and I’m proud that we’re doing right by them today,” said House Education Chair Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango . “Building back stronger means making sizable investments in education and working to give our schools the funding they need to get back on track and start bridging the COVID education gap.” SB21-053 , sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Barbara McLachlan, would buy down the Budget Stabilization Factor by $121 million and ensure that schools do not face consequential funding reductions due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases. In addition, the bill allocates an additional $85 million to districts in need, including $25 million to rural schools. Under the bill, all school districts will see their state share of total program funding restored to within two percent of what the legislature adopted in the 2020 School Finance Act. The bill passed by a vote of 52-11 in the House. Previous Next

< Back May 20, 2021 FED STIM INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING, WORKFORCE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVANCE DENVER, CO — House committees today advanced three bills that would allocate federal stimulus dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act toward affordable housing, workforce development and behavioral health. “The need for affordable housing has skyrocketed in Colorado; across our state, hardworking families are struggling to find a place to live or afford their rent or mortgage,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “That’s why the legislature is going to immediately deploy $100 million in federal funds to help finance the construction of 7,000 affordable housing units across the state. This summer, we’ll work alongside experts, lawmakers, community advocates, and state departments to develop recommendations for how we can most effectively allocate the remaining $450 million in federal funds to make housing more affordable in Colorado.” “Housing is a human right, but it’s way too hard in Colorado for middle and lower-income families to find an affordable place to live,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Housing costs are rising faster than wages and salaries can keep up as more people move into our great state. We heard these concerns loud and clear during our statewide listening tour, and we are going to advance transformational changes to make housing more affordable for Coloradans.” HB21-1329 , which passed the House Transportation and Local Government Committee by a vote of 6-4, is sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Steven Woodrow and channels $550 million in federal stimulus funds toward affordable housing efforts. It immediately invests $100 million of that funding to build 7,000 housing units that will help Coloradans who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic obtain affordable housing. The bill requires a broad and diverse stakeholder process during the interim that will develop and make recommendations to the General Assembly for how to allocate the remaining $450 million. The funds will be used on programs or services that address housing insecurity, a lack of affordable housing or homelessness, including construction of new affordable housing units, housing and rental assistance programs and supportive housing programs. HB21-1330 , which passed the House Public and Behavioral Health Committee by a vote of 8-4, is sponsored by Representative Julie McCluskie and Naquetta Ricks and uses federal funds to provide a $50 million boost to the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative. The funding will increase access to robust pathways for workers to obtain news skills, earn higher wages and be prepared for the in-demand careers of the future. The bill seeks to rebuild and revitalize the state’s workforce by supporting students to complete their postsecondary credentials. The funding boost will be used to reverse the significant decline in enrollment in public higher education institutions, high rates of job loss and continuing unemployment, and the overall disruption to the workforce caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also provides $1.5 million in grant funding to school districts to increase the number of students who complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) student aid applications before graduating high school. “The pandemic has disrupted the careers of hardworking people across our state,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This bill will provide direct support to students and workers seeking to complete higher education or skills training programs. It will increase access to critical education programs that help workers obtain new skills and earn higher wages. By boosting our workforce and easing the path for Coloradans to complete their degrees and certificate programs, we will help workers fill good jobs and bounce back stronger from the pandemic.” “I see it every day in my community–hardworking Coloradans struggling to build a better life who don’t have the resources to complete the degree or certificate program that could set them up for a successful career,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “Businesses need skilled workers, and workers and students need affordable pathways to obtain critical skills. That’s exactly what the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative already does. With this $50 million investment in our workforce, we are going to create tremendous opportunities for Coloradans to build successful careers.” Funding allocated under HB21-1330 will provide direct and indirect support to students to incentivize them to complete degree and credential programs, assist in navigating career options and address equity gaps in higher education and the workforce. A portion of the funds will be used for scholarships and financial assistance. Under the bill, higher education institutions will develop student assistance plans that describe how they will spend their allocation to assist students in enrolling, persisting and completing the program. SB21-137 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Chis Kennedy, was amended to deploy over $100 million in federal stimulus funds immediately for emergency behavioral health services. The pandemic and its accompanying economic recession has taken a toll on the mental health of Coloradans, with mental health challenges and substance use disorders taking a particularly high toll on people of color and people who live and work in frontier and rural communities. In 2020, fatal drug overdoses increased by 59 percent in Colorado. The bill passed the Public and Behavioral Health Committee by a vote of 10-3. Among its many provisions, the bill provides: recovery-oriented services to individuals with a SUD or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder, support for training programs for providers in rural and metro areas to develop competencies in mental health and substance abuse and grants to nonprofits to provide vouchers to individuals living in rural and frontier communities in need of behavioral health-care services. The amendments also create a Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund and a robust interim process to allocate federal stimulus funds for behavioral health. The Colorado Comeback Roadmap to Building Back Stronger envisions spending over half a billion on behavioral health services. “This session, we’ve passed legislation to require insurance coverage for annual mental health wellness exams, provide three free mental health sessions for Colorado youth, and create a behavioral health administration, and we’re not done yet,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Colorado will build back stronger if we can connect people with the behavioral health care they need. We are going to use a significant portion of Colorado’s federal relief funds to address urgent needs and bolster our state’s behavioral and mental health capacity.” “The pandemic has had a number of devastating impacts on Coloradans’ mental health, and one distressing pattern we’re seeing is that substance use deaths are rising,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “This bill will help Colorado build back stronger by doing everything possible to reverse the impact the pandemic has had on behavioral health. It creates a process to invest over half a billion dollars to ensure critical resources fund the treatment and care that Coloradans need.” Previous Next

< Back November 11, 2022 Julie McCluskie Elected Speaker DENVER, CO – Speaker-elect Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, today released the following statement after House Democrats elected her the next Speaker of the Colorado House: “It is an enormous privilege to serve the great state of Colorado, and I’m honored to lead one of the largest and most diverse Democratic majorities in our state’s history. The diversity of this body is our strength. As public servants, we are called upon to answer the expectations and needs of the people in our districts and to govern responsibly on behalf of every person in our state–those who voted for us and those who did not. “We have made bold progress to lower health care costs, make housing more affordable, protect our freedoms and invest in our schools, but Coloradans are still struggling in the aftermath of a deadly pandemic, global inflation and the worst wildfires in our state’s history. Even with these challenges, I know that our brightest days are still to come. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what’s best for our state, move Colorado forward and help Coloradans thrive. ” House Democrats will have 46 seats in the 74th General Assembly. The caucus is one of the largest and most diverse ever elected in Colorado. Nearly 75 percent of the incoming Democratic lawmakers are women, nearly 40 percent are people of color, and 13 percent are LGBTQ+. Speaker-elect McCluskie was first elected to the General Assembly in 2018 and represents House District 13, which includes Lake, Chafee, Park, Summit, Grand, and Jackson counties. She currently chairs the Joint Budget Committee. Born and raised in Colorado, Julie and her husband Jamie have spent most of their married years in the Rocky Mountains. They are proud parents of two children, Ian and Cait, and enjoy spending family time in Colorado’s great outdoors. Speaker-elect McCluskie has authored landmark legislation to save people money on health insurance, make housing more affordable, and increase funding for public schools, higher education and wildfire mitigation efforts. She spearheaded efforts last year to direct federal recovery dollars toward innovative strategies that will grow Colorado’s workforce and save Coloradans money as they pursue new skills needed to enter growing industries. She spent more than a dozen years working in Summit School District before serving in the General Assembly. ### Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES PAID FAMILY LEAVE BILL (Apr. 30) – The House gave final approval to Rep. Matt Gray and Rep. Monica Duran’s bill, SB19-188 Family Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI), that will ensure a seamless implementation of the best possible FAMLI policy for Coloradans. The plan creates an outline and execution schedule that lays the groundwork for the implementation of a strong, robust paid family leave policy for Colorado workers and businesses by 2024. “We’ve got consensus across all political spectrums that paid leave should be a reality,” said Rep. Matt Gray. “This is the biggest next step we can take and look forward to taking bigger ones in the future that will help make life better for the majority of workers in our state who don’t have access to paid leave.” “I escaped domestic violence and battled homelessness to keep my son safe but I lost a job and home, and in that moment I made a promise to myself that if I was ever in position to make a difference and be a voice for others, I would,” said Rep. Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill will help offer safe leave. Whether you’re a server, a nurse, a fast food worker, or a lawyer, you should have access to paid leave. Over 90 percent of Coloradans don’t have access to leave to care for a sick loved one or a newborn.” The implementation plan is comprised of a number of analyses that will ensure the program is administered efficiently, effectively, and fiscally responsible, including: A family and medical leave implementation task force, which will be appointed by July 1, 2019 . A report prepared for the taskforce with results from a third-party study and recommendations from experts in the field by October 1, 2019 . An independent actuarial analysis completed by December 1, 2019 . The implementation plan also requires an analysis of the feasibility of contracting with a third party to administer parts of the program as an alternative to administration by the state. The plan does not change the timeline for when Coloradans can start receiving benefits from the program. These analyses will assist in the preparation of legislation in the 2020 legislative session establishing paid family leave in Colorado. Following the establishment of the program, education and outreach will begin on January 1, 2022, the funding stream will be established on January 1, 2023 and benefits will be provided beginning on January 1, 2024. The bill does require that the General Assembly grant permission for implementation of the program by legislation. Eighty eight percent of Coloradans do not have access to paid family leave, and even unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act is inaccessible for 64 percent of working people. That means most Coloradans do not have time off to recover from a serious illness, to care for a sick family member or to welcome the birth of a child. They are often forced to choose between their jobs or taking care of sick loved one. SB19-188 passed by a vote of 40-24. It goes back to the Senate for approval of amendments. Previous Next

Legislation would limit insurer-required prior authorization, improve health care transparency and remove barriers to accessing care < Back March 11, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Health Care Access Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to streamline access to health care. HB24-1149, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird, would modify requirements for prior authorization of certain procedures and prescription drugs so Coloradans can receive the care they need. “Insurance companies’ prior authorization requirements often delay care and cause health conditions to worsen or completely discourage Coloradans from seeking the health care they need,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Our bipartisan bill eases some of the current prior authorization requirements and keeps healthcare decisions between patients and providers. We’re also focused on improving health insurer transparency so patients will know what procedures, medications and prescriptions are covered.” HB24-1149 , also sponsored by Representative Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, passed by a vote of 55-6. It would improve Colorado’s prior authorization requirements to streamline health care services, and procedures, and increase access to prescription drugs for patients. Due to health care insurer requirements surrounding prior authorization, 94-percent of physicians report care delays because of prior authorizations. This also leads to an overall increase in treatment abandonment by patients. This bill would help improve access to care by eliminating repeated prior authorizations for some patients, extending prior authorizations up to one year or the course of treatment and protecting patients from denials for approved care. To help improve consumer transparency, the bill also requires carriers, private utilization review organizations, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to: Publicly disclose information online about current prior authorization requirements including data on request determinations, exemptions, approvals, denials and prescription drug formularies Annually review and eliminate prior authorization requirements for services and drugs that are commonly approved Adopt a standard template to help patients understand their benefits Additionally, this bill would also streamline care by alerting prescribers about what preferred medications are covered, including the specific prior authorization criteria. The goal of HB24-1149 is to reduce barriers to accessing health care by reducing the prior authorization requirements, especially for patients seeking medication or treatment they have already been prescribed. Previous Next

< Back February 9, 2022 HOUSE ADVANCES K-12 FUNDING BOOST, FY21-22 BUDGET SUPPLEMENTAL PACKAGE Supplemental package includes funding to support Boulder County, help fire departments purchase new safety equipment, open Sweetwater Lake State Park and get the new Department of Early Childhood up and running DENVER, CO – The House today advanced the FY21-22 supplemental budget package . The package of bills will boost funding for public schools, reduce the amount the state owes to school districts, provide grant funding to help fire departments purchase safety equipment, and kickstart efforts to get the new Department of Early Childhood off the ground and running. “The budget package will significantly increase funding for public education to prepare our students for success and ensure they have the resources they need in their classrooms to thrive,” said JBC Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The package makes a critical investment to get the new Department of Early Childhood up and running and save Coloradans money on child care. I’m proud that we’re making additional resources available to our fire departments and especially excited that we’re doing everything we can to open our newest state park, Sweetwater Lake, as soon as we can.” “We’ve made tremendous progress to make school funding more equitable and direct additional resources into public education, and I’m excited to continue that work by further reducing the Budget Stabilization Factor and providing new funding for at-risk students,” said JBC Member Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This package makes responsible investments in public education, public safety, and critical health and pay equity evaluations to support Colorado’s workforce and boost communities all across our state.” School Finance: HB22-1186 will buy down the Budget Stabilization Factor by $68 million and provide an additional $91 million to districts to better serve at-risk students. By holding total program funding steady amidst an increase in property tax revenues and an enrollment decline, the legislature will reduce the Budget Stabilization Factor. As the legislature moves to improve how at-risk students are counted, the bill would significantly increase funding to districts with higher numbers of at-risk students. Department of Early Childhood: Years of hard work to save Coloradans money on child care is paying off. Starting next year, Coloradans are going to save money on child care. In 2020, the legislature put Proposition EE on the ballot, which voters overwhelmingly passed. Then in 2021, Democratic lawmakers created the Department of Early Childhood to implement universal Pre-K. Now, HB22-1197 will get the Department of Early Childhood up and running so it can launch universal Pre-K on the timeline voters expect. Firefighter Safety: As part of House Democrats’ commitment to build healthier and safer communities, HB22-1194 will direct additional resources to help our firefighters access the best equipment available. The bill makes $5 million available this year to provide grants to help local fire departments purchase safety and disease prevention gear. Marshall Fire Property Tax Reimbursement: As one of the many ways that the state is responding to the Marshall fire, HB22-1183 will transfer $3.7 million to the impacted counties to ensure they don’t face additional revenue shortfalls as a result of the devastation. Sweetwater State Park: Over the last few years, we have invested in exciting additions to our state park system and significant new resources to improve our parks. Soon we’ll be adding another beautiful classic Colorado open space for all Coloradans to enjoy. HB22-1177 will help open Sweetwater Lake State Park, the newest park in our system, even sooner. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Manny Rutinel that would continue the first-of-its-kind I Matter youth mental health program. SB24-001 passed by a vote of 50 to 13, with the majority of Republicans voting against the bill. < Back April 26, 2024 House Passes Bill to Extend the Successful I Matter Program DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Manny Rutinel that would continue the first-of-its-kind I Matter youth mental health program. SB24-001 passed by a vote o f 50 to 13, with the majority of Republicans voting against the bill. “We’re one step closer to extending the successful I Matter Program in our state, which means our youth can continue to have access to no-cost therapy when they need it,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Over the years, the I Matter Program has connected over 11,000 kids to therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and other mental health challenges. Programs like I Matter remove barriers to access and help our youth receive the behavioral and mental care they need.” “By extending the I Matter Program, we’re doubling down on our commitment to ensure our youth can receive the behavioral and mental health care they need,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City. “No-cost therapy breaks down access barriers for youth and their families. Since its introduction, the I Matter Program has provided more than 50,000 essential therapy sessions – this bill continues this successful, important program to ensure we’re addressing the needs of our youth.” The popular I Matter connects youth with a licensed mental health therapist for up to six free virtual counseling sessions, but the program is currently set to repeal on June 30th, 2024. SB24-001 would continue the I Matter program until June 30, 2034, ensuring Colorado students can continue receiving quality mental health care at no-cost to them or their families. The I Matter program was established in the 2021 legislative session and expanded by HB22-1243 . The legislature also passed a law in 2023 allowing school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools to support student’s access to mental health care. I Matter has served over 11,000 Colorado youth since 2021 and provided over 50,000 sessions. According to the Colorado 2023 Kids Count report , youth suicide in 2023 decreased 30 percent from the year before. Previous Next

< Back February 20, 2020 FEDERAL FUNDS FOR WILDFIRE AND FLOOD MITIGATION COULD COME TO COLORADO UNDER HB20-1142 Legislation creates a state fund for local governments to help them secure federal resources for wildfire hazard mitigation DENVER, CO– The House Committee Energy and Environment today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter to make it easier for communities to secure federal funding for wildfire hazard mitigation projects. The bill passed 7-4. “From Colorado Springs and Salida to Jefferson County and Durango, wildfires have burned through communities across Colorado, destroying homes, critical infrastructure and livelihoods,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “Nearly half of Coloradans live in areas at risk from wildfires, a threat that won’t go away unless we act. I’ve seen the heartbreaking toll on families who have lost everything while we continue to leave millions of federal dollars on the table that could help. This bill will allow our communities to take advantage of federal funding to reduce the risk of wildfires and floods, which have had catastrophic impacts on our friends, our neighbors and our state.” With limited state resources, Colorado communities are in desperate need of federal funding for wildfire hazard mitigation projects. These initiatives take a land and building code-based approach to reducing the hazards that cause wildfires to spread and increase their intensity. Nearly half of the state’s population lives in an area at-risk of wildfire, and that figure grew 45 percent from 2013-2018. The federal government has several grant programs that states can take advantage of to reduce wildfire hazards and risks, but they often require a local match. Recently, the City of Colorado Springs had to walk away from $2 million in federal funding because they couldn’t come find the small local match needed to accept the grant. Furthermore, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is creating a grant program known as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) to provide resources for local governments to facilitate the development of hazard mitigation plans and support projects that improve building codes. Colorado needs to be positioned to take advantage of these newly available resources. HB20-1142 would create a cash fund to offer grants to local communities that they can leverage to take advantage of BRIC funding. The bill would allow the state to pull down federal funding for these critical projects. The funding for the cash fund would come from a very small .05 percent fee on premiums for some property and hazard insurance that would total approximately $3 per policy holder. The bill is supported by the Colorado Municipal League. Previous Next

The House Education Committee today passed a bipartisan bill to support higher education and address Colorado’s veterinary shortage. < Back February 6, 2025 Committee Passes Bill to Support Higher Education, Increase Access to Veterinary Care DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed a bipartisan bill to support higher education and address Colorado’s veterinary shortage. HB25-1131 , sponsored by Representative Andrew Boesenecker, passed by a unanimous vote. “Plain and simple, Colorado needs more veterinarians, and this bill expands student access to CSU’s world-class College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “By eliminating the student enrollment cap at CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, more students can jumpstart their future careers in veterinary care. This bill helps our state to address the shortage of veterinary care, especially in rural and underserved communities.” HB25-1131 , also sponsored by Representative Dusty Johnson, R-Fort Morgan, would increase access to veterinary care, especially in rural and underserved communities. Specifically, this bill would eliminate the cap on the number of veterinary students admitted at Colorado State University (CSU). CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is ranked as the #2 veterinary school in the nation and works in partnership with CSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This bill would make it easier for students to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and help tackle Colorado’s rising veterinary care shortage. Previous Next

< Back April 6, 2021 ACCESS TO VETERAN’S SPECIALTY COURT GETS UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE APPROVAL DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today passed Representative David Ortiz’s bipartisan bill to provide veterans in the justice system greater access to a veteran’s specialty court by a vote of 10-0. “Multiple combat deployments take their toll on all veterans, and while some are able to thrive when they come home, others have greater difficulty,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “Untreated and undiagnosed mental health struggles in veterans can lead to acting out and even legal struggles. Veteran’s courts are better equipped to support former service members who may be caught up in the justice system precisely because of struggles related to their service, but almost a third of our veterans live in parts of Colorado without access to one. This bill is a crucial step to ensuring that more veterans are aware of and able to access this lifeline.” Veteran’s specialty courts, also known as veterans treatment courts, are intended to serve current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have behavioral health issues like substance use disorder or trauma spectrum disorder. In certain instances, these courts can offer veterans the possibility of replacing jail time and strict punishments with supervision, treatment, and accountability programs to help them better reintegrate into society. The first veterans court program opened in 2009 in El Paso county, the 4th judicial district, and since then five more have been created. Under current law, courts are required to ask about a defendant’s veterans status and, in the event that they are in a jurisdiction with a veteran’s specialty court, inform them that they may be entitled to receive services from this court. HB21-1016 would allow veterans suffering from a mental health condition related to their military service, whose trial occurred in a jurisdiction without a specialty court, to petition to transfer to a jurisdiction with a specialty court to complete their sentence or probation supervision and receive their post-conviction treatment. The bill also stipulates that veterans in all jurisdictions must be informed of these new rights. Previous Next

< Back April 25, 2022 HOUSES PASSES BILL TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY AT THE PUMP DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to save Coloradans money on gasoline by lowering vehicle registration costs and the anticipated statewide road usage fee. HB22-1351 invests one-time dollars to provide Coloradans relief now and keep transportation projects on pace. The bill passed 38-25, with all House Republicans voting against lowering vehicle registration fees. “In the last few months, gas prices have been driven up by national and global influences, so at a state level, we have a responsibility to adapt and do whatever we can to save Coloradans money at the pump,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “A lot has changed with global events, supply chain challenges and the war In Ukraine driving up the cost of gas. This bill will help Coloradans keep some money in their pockets when they register their cars and fill up their tanks all while keeping our state on track to fix our roads and create jobs.” “Coloradans are feeling the impacts of pandemic-induced inflation and supply chain challenges that are driving up the cost of gas, so we are providing immediate relief by lowering the cost of registering your vehicle and saving you money when you fill up at the pump,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This bill will provide relief to Coloradans when they need it most while keeping critical infrastructure projects on schedule.” HB22-1351 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Barbara McLachlan will save Coloradans money by lowering vehicle registration costs and the anticipated road usage fees, a two-cent per gallon gasoline fee slated to go into effect in July. This bill invests one-time recovery funds to save Coloradans nearly $80 million on transportation costs. Specifically, this bill will save Coloradans $45 million at the gas pump and nearly $34 million in vehicle registration costs. This bill considers the effects that global factors, including pandemic recovery and the war in Ukraine, have had on the rising cost of gasoline. An amendment adopted by the committee extends the break on road usage fees by an additional three months, allowing the next General Assembly to look at economic conditions at that point in time to determine if a further suspension is necessary. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2022 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS Legislation would distribute $35 million from the transformative Economic Recovery and Relief Funds to support nonprofits serving communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic DENVER, CO – The House Transportation & Local Government Committee today passed a bill that would boost funding for community-based nonprofit social service organizations, specifically those that provide critical support to communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. “During the pandemic, our nonprofits went above and beyond to provide necessary resources and services to their communities, it’s time they receive extra support,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This bill directs $35 million in pandemic recovery funds to our nonprofits so they can continue to positively impact our neighbors and build stronger communities. We’re thankful for our nonprofits and we’re proud to provide them with support to keep their doors open and serve our communities in need.” “Nonprofits are at the heart of nearly every community, but many of them are struggling to stay afloat,” said Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder. “Our legislation invests in local nonprofits, many of which stepped up to provide food service, youth resources and COVID emergency information, during the pandemic. When the world came to a halt, Colorado’s nonprofits worked tirelessly to meet the needs of their community and I’m proud to sponsor legislation that supports their efforts.” HB22-1356 , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Edie Hooton, will provide $35 million in federal pandemic relief funds to nonprofit social service organizations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Small community-based nonprofits have played an important role in delivering critical services to families and communities that were directly impacted by the pandemic. These organizations continue to fill critical gaps, but face significant challenges as they respond to longstanding community needs that were only exacerbated by the pandemic. HB22-1356 passed committee by a vote of 10-3. Financial constraints often limit these organizations’ ability to serve additional Coloradans and those constraints are more challenging under recent economic conditions. The grants are designed to support small community-based nonprofits that largely serve individuals who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and experienced significant financial pressures. Eligible entities will be able to apply for grants as large as $100,000 to expand program capacity, foster professional development for employees or engage in strategic planning to grow their organization and maximize the use of funds. During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly set aside $700 million in federal pandemic relief funds to use for economic recovery and relief initiatives in the years ahead. This legislation uses $35 million of this funding to support essential organizations that are doing critical work in Colorado communities to help families recover from the pandemic. Previous Next