< Back March 8, 2021 DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REDUCE COSTS AND INCREASE AFFORDABILITY OF LIFE-SAVING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DENVER – This afternoon, Senators Jaquez Lewis and Gonzales, along with Representatives Caraveo and Kennedy, in partnership with Governor Polis, announced the introduction of SB21-175, a bill to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. “Prescription drugs cost too much and Coloradans are sick and tired of being ripped off. This bill is an important step toward our goal of saving people money on health care,” said Governor Jared Polis. “I want to thank the bill sponsors for their efforts to ensure that hardworking Coloradans can get the medicine they need for themselves and their families without worrying about astronomical costs.” “As prescription drug costs continue to skyrocket, people are forced to make impossible choices,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County, a pharmacist and prime sponsor of the legislation. “This proposal–this group of non-partisan experts–has the potential to save Coloradans as much as 75% on the most unaffordable drugs. We have no choice but to address this issue–we absolutely must get this under control so we can build a healthy Colorado for all!” “The painful and heartbreaking accounts of Coloradans who are forced to choose between filling prescriptions, skipping doses or paying for basic necessities are far too common,” said bill sponsor Representative Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “The skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs is hurting families, and it’s hurting our economic recovery. Coming out of this pandemic, we must build back stronger, and that means making common sense reforms to lower the costs of the drugs that are eating away at the bottom line of so many hardworking Coloradans.” Too many Coloradans skip doses, stretch the length of their prescriptions, or delay filling prescriptions because they simply cannot afford them. As established in the bill, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will convene a panel of experts to investigate prescription drug cost increases, and set guardrails on cost increases for the most expensive prescription drugs in the state. The affordability board would set upper payment limits for prescription drugs that meet certain cost increase thresholds. These payment limits would apply to all purchasers in the state, but will only be placed on the highest cost drugs, with purchasers continuing to be able to negotiate rates for the vast majority of drugs. The board will collect and evaluate the data necessary to review the affordability of prescription drugs and make policy recommendations to legislators. The board will be made up of nonpartisan, unpaid experts who are free from conflicts of interest. “Even prior to the pandemic, nearly 1 in 3 Coloradans struggled to afford the prescription drugs they need to stay healthy, forcing families to choose between buying their prescriptions or paying rent and buying groceries,” said bill sponsor Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “At a time when Coloradans are struggling with the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we should ensure that all Coloradans – particularly in communities of color – have access to affordable health care.” “Prescription drugs are essential to managing, preventing, and curing diseases, but not every Coloradan can access them because cost is a barrier when it shouldn’t even be a consideration,” said bill sponsor Rep Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, a physician. “Coloradans need us to act now. Colorado families are struggling with unfair and unaffordable drug costs. The affordability board will reign in the highest cost drugs and stop the out of control increases that are reaching deeper and deeper into Coloradans pockets and driving up the cost of healthcare for everyone.” A recent poll from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative found that 77% of Coloradans supported the idea of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to analyze and act to lower the cost of certain prescription drugs — and this bill seeks to answer their call. To read the full text of the bill and track it through the legislative process, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-175 Previous Next

< Back June 24, 2021 STATEMENTS ON THE PASSING OF FORMER STATE REP. MIKE MCLACHLAN DENVER, CO — State Representative Barbara McLachlan and Speaker Alec Garnett today released the following statements celebrating the life of former State Representative Mike McLachlan, who passed away on June 23. “Mike was the smartest, funniest, kindest and most loving person I will ever know,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “He spent his life serving, helping and advocating, and has been a true role model for me, our family and our community. I will miss him dearly.” “Mike was a great friend, a dedicated public servant, and a man of immeasurable talent who served his country as a Vietnam Veteran, as Colorado’s Solicitor General, and as a State Representative,” said House Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “He stood up for his community and his fellow Coloradans at every turn, going as far as the Supreme Court of the United States to speak up for what he knew was right. My heart and my thoughts are with my dear friend and colleague Barbara, who has been working tirelessly for over a year to both care for Mike and serve her district, and their children Kate and Brian.” Michael Edward McLachlan was born on April 18, 1946. He served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, and attended law school shortly after his service. He used his legal talents to serve the state of Colorado first as a prosecutor and then as Solicitor General starting in 1999. In his role as Solicitor General, he successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court in Hill v Colorado, where he protected the rights of women seeking reproductive health care. He was elected to represent House District 59 in November of 2012 and served as State Representative from 2013-14, after which he returned to his private law practice. Former Rep. McLachlan was also a former president of the Durango Rotary Club and served on the Southern Ute Tribe-State of Colorado Environmental Control Commission. Previously, he had also served as the chairman of the Judicial Performance Commission for the Sixth Judicial District and as the chair of the Supreme Court Grievance Committee. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and his two children, Brian and Kate. Previous Next

< Back April 25, 2019 REP. FROELICH’S BILL TO INCREASE VOTING ACCESS FOR COLORADANS WITH DISABILITIES UNANIMOUSLY WINS HOUSE APPROVAL Democrats working to increase access to ballot box (Apr. 25) – Rep. Meg Froelich’s bill to increase voting access for people with disabilities unanimously passed out of the House. This important legislation would give voters with disabilities greater access to the ballot box in order to fit their specific needs. “It’s important that we provide equal and secure access to the ballot box for all Coloradans and stop the disenfranchisement of voters,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “We should never disqualify individuals from voting and participating in our democratic process based on a disability.” If signed into law, this bill would require the Secretary of State to establish a process to enable voters with disabilities to mark a paper ballot using nonvisual access or low vision access technology whether the voter is voting in a mail ballot election or voting at a polling location. SB19-202 was approved on a unanimous vote. The bill now heads back to the Senate for approval of amendments. Previous Next

< Back January 14, 2019 HOUSE DEMOCRATS REACT TO MARTINEZ V. COGCC RULING (Jan. 14) – This morning, the Colorado Supreme Court released their ruling on Martinez v. Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). The Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision that the COGCC must condition oil and gas operations on ensuring protection of health, safety, and environment. Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder and Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, chair of the Energy & Environment Committee, released the following statements: “Communities in every corner of our state want to know that their health and safety are being prioritized when it comes to oil and gas operations. This ruling puts the decision back into the hands of lawmakers to take action and we are committed to addressing this concern this legislative session,” said Speaker KC Becker. House Democrats have passed bills in recent years to address the health and safety concerns around oil and gas operations in Colorado. Most of these bills died in the formerly Republican-controlled Senate. “I am frustrated with this ruling, and I share the concerns of my constituents who are worried about protecting our air and water. At the legislature, we will continue working together to protect the health and safety of all Coloradans when it comes to oil and gas operations,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson. The ruling can be found here . Previous Next

HB25-1291 would establish the strongest ride-share regulations in the nation to keep riders safe < Back April 16, 2025 Willford, Froelich Bill to Improve Ride Share Safety Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bill to create new safety requirements for transportation network companies (TNCs), including Uber and Lyft. HB25-1291 passed the House by a vote of 59-6. “This bill isn’t just about what happened to me – it’s about the thousands of survivors who have endured so much pain and suffering because ride-share companies aren’t doing enough to keep riders and drivers safe,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “The person who sexually assaulted me during a Lyft ride was borrowing another driver’s account. To this day, I’m not sure if his account is still active. Our bill establishes important safety standards for ride-share companies, including regular background checks, audio and video recording and barring drivers who were previously charged with serious crimes.” “Between 2017 and 2022, more than 15,000 riders were sexually assaulted during an Uber or Lyft ride. While this number is staggering, we know the real number is likely much higher, and more must be done to protect riders and drivers,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “This bill aims to improve safety by requiring ride-share companies to respond to complaints within 48 hours and disclose the number of assaults and complaints that happened on their watch every year. We’re serious about improving rider safety, and the passage of this bill is a step in the right direction.” The bill creates new safety requirements for TNCs and their drivers. This bill would require: Enhanced background checks Ride-share companies must procure and pay for privately administered background checks on drivers every six months. Stronger driver vetting and clear disqualifications Drivers with a history of convictions for assault, harassment, kidnapping, menacing, domestic violence, or impersonating a driver would be barred from driving with a ride-share company. If a driver is barred from one ride-share company for serious safety concerns, they would be barred from all TNCs. Audio and video recording for all rides to improve All rides will need to have audio and video recording from pick-up to drop-off. Improved transparency and accountability If a driver is convicted or enters a plea, they must notify the TNC within 48 hours of the conviction TNCs must provide annual reports to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General’s Office and legislative committees. These reports must include the number of assaults, harassment complaints, discrimination complaints and accidents. Additionally, TNCs would need to establish certain polices that: Prevent account sharing, imposter accounts and driver impersonation Ensure the safe transport of minors Prohibit free or paid food and beverages during rides Educate drivers on new safety polices Place those accused of serious crimes on probationary status while their case is being reviewed. More than 15,500 Uber and Lyft riders and drivers were sexually assaulted between 2017 and 2022. This number only represents the number of sexual assaults that were reported. On average, only 30 percent of sexual assaults are reported. In March, a former Lyft driver in Denver was sentenced to 290 years in prison for charges related to kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault of more than a dozen women over four years. Previous Next

< Back February 1, 2019 REP. MCCLUSKIE INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO HELP LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR COLORADANS Reinsurance is a proven approach to helping cut health care costs (Feb. 1) – Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, introduced a bipartisan bill today to lower health care costs for Coloradans across the state. Coloradans on the individual market are struggling to keep up with the out-of-control costs of health care, particularly in rural areas of the state. By establishing a reinsurance program Colorado can stabilize the individual marketplace, increase health insurance participation and share the risks more broadly. “I heard in my own community–and in mountain and rural communities across the Western Slope–that access to affordable health care is the single greatest challenge for hardworking families,” said Rep. McCluskie. “The time for action is now, and we must continue working across the aisle to help lower the high cost of health care in our state.” Rising health care costs are driven in part by the underlying cost of care but are exacerbated by an insurance market that assigns the highest risks and highest costs to the individual market. This is particularly the case on the Western Slope and in rural Colorado, causing families and individuals to forgo health insurance coverage and putting them at major risk of medical debt if emergencies arise. Rep. McCluskie introduced the bipartisan bill in the House with Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction. Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail and Senator Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale are the Senate sponsors. This bipartisan HB19-1168 aims to reduce insurance premiums for individuals and families by January 2020 to provide much-needed relief to Coloradans, many of whom are paying up to a third of their income on monthly premiums. Our state, especially the Western slope, has some of the highest health insurance costs in the country. Reinsurance can be considered insurance for Colorado’s health insurers. The bill will establish three tiers, from the highest cost areas of the state to the lowest cost areas, in order to pass savings on to Coloradans. The first tier, consisting of regions in the state with the highest costs, will experience the greatest reduction in premiums, by 30 to 35 percent. The second tier will experience reductions in premiums by 20 to 25 percent. Finally, the third tier, regions with the lowest costs, will experience reductions in premiums by 15 to 20 percent. How a reinsurance program works: The reinsurance program will pay a percentage of claims, also known as the coinsurance rate, once the claim reaches the minimum amount required in order to be eligible for reinsurance coverage. This minimum amount is called the attachment point. The program will continue to pay up to an identified claim amount called the reinsurance cap. Claims costs exceeding the cap are not eligible for reinsurance coverage. By insuring this middle range of claims the bill will help reduce risk in the market. As a result, reinsurance helps drive down costs across the board. The initial premium savings for Coloradans comes from a reduction in the amount paid to hospitals and other providers, which leads to a reduction in the amount paid by health insurers. These savings are then passed along to people purchasing insurance on the individual marketplace. The state will request a section 1332 waiver from the federal government to implement and help fund the reinsurance program, like eight other states have done to implement similar programs. Previous Next

< Back Brianna Titone Representative Titone was elected in 2018 to represent House District 27, which comprises Northern Arvada, Golden, Applewood, and the Northwest JeffCo mountains. She proudly serves as the Chair/Vice Chair of the Joint Technology Committee, the Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee and as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. She also serves as the Chair of the Colorado Democratic LGBTQ+ Caucus, a board member with the Colorado State Internet Portal Authority and The Energy Council, as well as national policy committees for the National Conference of State Legislatures. She is the first openly transgender legislator in the Colorado General Assembly and the first transgender person in the nation elected to a legislative caucus leadership position. She worked as a hydrogeologist and geochemist before becoming a citizen activist on equity issues and eventually running for office. Her extensive education includes undergraduate degrees in Physics and Geology and advanced degrees in Geosciences and Information Communication Technology.

< Back April 7, 2022 HOUSE ED COMMITTEE CLEARS BILL TO IMPROVE STUDENT AND WORKFORCE SUCCESS DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed a bill to improve postsecondary student outcomes through data transparency. This bill was developed based on recommendations from the state’s Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force and will invest $3 million to prepare students for success and boost Colorado’s workforce. “With the proper data, we can improve outcomes for our students as they move through postsecondary education and into their careers,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Our bipartisan legislation invests to create modern, sophisticated data systems that track student success in a multitude of ways to better prepare them for the workforce. Colorado’s workforce is constantly changing and pathways to new, high-demand careers are opening every day. With this bill, we will be able to adapt educational experiences to meet economic demand.” Postsecondary Student Success Data System: Sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Perry Will, this bill will collect student success data to better inform the educational pathways needed to prepare them for the workforce. HB22-1349 invests federal funds to create a public-facing, interactive data system to track student progression from higher education into the workforce. This data system will make transparent student workforce success metrics for all state higher education institutions. The data and information collected will then be used to create better pathways for entering high-demand careers through developing curricula and programs that reflect the needs of Colorado’s economy. Based on recommendations from the Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force , the Colorado Commission on Higher Education will also determine new, dynamic ways to measure student success that could include credential completion rates, postsecondary employment outcomes and price to earning premiums among other factors. HB22-1349 passed committee unanimously. Previous Next

Three bills to improve safety, each named after the young victims of tragic deaths in Colorado, will go into effect August 12. < Back July 27, 2026 Effective August 12: Laws to Improve Safety After Tragic Colorado Deaths DENVER, CO – Three bills to improve safety, each named after the young victims of tragic deaths in Colorado, will go into effect August 12. SB26-060 , sponsored by Senator Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, and Representative Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, will help keep student athletes safe by informing coaches and parents of the mental health risks of concussions. “As researchers learn more and more about the effects of concussions on our brains and mental health, we must ensure coaches, counselors, families, and athletes know the potential impacts,” Daugherty said. “Education saves lives. This new law, named in honor of the athlete Alyssa Peterson, will help more athletes in their journeys of recovery from concussions.” “The health and safety of Colorado’s student athletes is a top priority, which is why it is crucial that parents and coaches are aware of the physical symptoms of a concussion to keep children safe,” said Hamrick. “Our new law adds to training for youth coaches so they’re informed about the mental health risks from a concussion sustained by a youth athlete, including anxiety and depression. We’re stepping up to keep our student athletes safe by updating training requirements and spreading awareness to athletes' parents and the community.” Cosponsored by Senator Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Representative Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, the law, also known as “Alyssa’s Youth Concussion and Mental Health Protection Act,” requires youth coaches to receive training on a broad spectrum of mental health issues. It is named in honor of Alyssa Peterson , who died by suicide following a series of concussions at age 13. Under current law, youth athletic coaches must complete a concussion recognition course and remove an athlete from play if they suspect the athlete has a concussion. They must also inform the athlete’s parents or guardians and advise that the athlete seek an evaluation from a licensed healthcare provider. This law expands the training to include more information on the mental health of youth athletes for coaches at middle, junior and high schools. The mental health education course applies to youth coaches at public and private middle schools, high schools, clubs, leagues and recreation facilities. Additionally, this law requires coaches to inform parents or guardians of athletes who sustain a concussion of possible changes in their mental health as a result of the concussion. Mental health impacts of a concussion can include mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation. HB26-1318 , sponsored by Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Representatives Kenny Nguyen, D-Broomfield, and Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, will improve traffic safety standards around schools. “School zones are not properly or clearly defined, and this confusion has put students at risk,” Cutter said. “Losing a child due to a traffic accident on their way to or from school is tragic and unnecessary. This new law will put in place some commonsense regulations to keep students safe.” “This law is about creating safer streets for Colorado students,” said Nguyen. “With our law going into effect, our communities can create safer roads for students by using technology to enforce school zone speed limits and modernizing Colorado’s traffic laws. Mitigating traffic accidents will reduce risks for pedestrians and cyclists and help save Colorado lives.” “Too many parents have suffered the tragic loss or injury of their child because of speeding and distracted drivers, and our law seeks to make roads around Colorado schools safer for all,” said Froelich. “This law, named Liam’s Law in honor of a Littleton student, creates guidelines for school zones and allows local governments to designate roads as walking and cycling corridors to remove the risk of car collisions. Coloradans deserve safe roads, and now, we are giving our communities more tools to strengthen road safety for Colorado students.” HB26-1318, “the Liam Stewart School Zone Act,” will set roadway signage requirements around schools to strengthen road safety for students and road users. The law will define school zones as all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school boundary, and require these roadways to have signage indicating the 1,000-foot school zone boundary and that driving penalties are doubled in this area. Existing school zones between 200 and 1,000 feet from the school may keep their current school zone boundaries, but must follow the law’s process for modifying these boundaries. Under the law, if a local government wishes to reduce the size of a school zone from its current dimensions, it must first hold a public hearing to ensure the community is aware of this change and given an opportunity to weigh in. The law also allows jurisdictions to expand school zone boundaries as they see fit and to raise revenue through bonding to fund school zone signage. Additionally, local governments may designate streets adjacent to schools as “school streets,” and may close the school street to vehicles and require vehicles to yield to non-vehicle road users. The maximum speed limit on school streets will be set to 10 miles per hour. The law also allows a state or local government to use an automated vehicle identification system to detect traffic violations in a school zone or on a Safe Route to School, which is defined as a designated roadway that is frequented by pedestrians and cyclists when commuting to and from school. This law is inspired by a fatal accident in 2023 that took the life of Liam Stewart, a Littleton middle schooler, who was hit by a car while biking to school. SB26-132 , Magnus’ Law, sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Representative Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, will require law enforcement officers to offer a voluntary alcohol breathalyzer test to drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes that result in death or injury. Law enforcement must advise the individual of their right to refuse the test. "I've worked with victims of tragedies, especially when I worked as Deputy District Attorney, and I know how important it is to have as much evidence as possible from the scene of a serious crash," Roberts said. "Magnus, his parents, family and community didn't get to have that. But, in his honor, we're making sure that no more Colorado families will have to suffer the consequences of that oversight.” “We’re improving accountability for those involved in a vehicle crash that results in serious injury or death,” said Joseph. “This law helps ensure that crucial information, like whether or not drugs or alcohol are found in the system of the involved driver, is captured in a timely manner. I am honored to champion Magnus’ Law to honor Magnus White’s legacy and make our roadways safer for all Coloradans.” The Governor signed SB26-132 on June 4 at a ceremony joined by the family of Magnus White, a 17-year-old cyclist hit and killed by a driver in the summer of 2023. Previous Next

< Back April 29, 2019 EXUM-TIPPER’S SECOND CHANCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM LANDS ON GOVERNOR’S DESK (Apr. 29) – The House gave final approval to SB19-231, sponsored by Rep. Tony Exum and Rep. Kerry Tipper, that creates the Colorado Second Chance Scholarship program to award scholarships to people who have previously been in the custody of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) and are pursuing their higher education. “This bill is personal to me because I have a Division of Youth Services facility in my district. If we can get our young people the help they need to get a higher education after they’ve gone through the rehabilitation process, then we can lower the recidivism rate and in return, they will be productive members of society,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “ It will cost taxpayers more in the long term than it will to improve the lives of our young people with education and give them a more fulfilling life.” SB19-231 will award scholarships of up to $10,000 each to youth offenders exiting the DYS system to pursue a higher education. It will create a five person advisory board consisting of four people appointed from various state agencies and one person who previously served in a DYS facility to award the scholarships based upon need. “This is a smart investment in some of our most vulnerable youth. These are kids that made some mistakes early on in their lives, but are now just trying to get back on track to invest in their future and create a better life for themselves. This program could be the only opportunity many of these kids will have to get a fresh start,” said Rep. Tipper, D-Lakewood. Both the advisory board and scholarship program will expire in 2022. SB19-231 passed by a bipartisan vote of 43-22. It now heads to the Governor’s desk. Previous Next

The House today passed Representative Meghan Lukens’ bipartisan bill to conserve water through more widespread adoption of graywater use. < Back April 5, 2024 Lukens’ Bipartisan Water Conservation Bill Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed Representative Meghan Lukens’ bipartisan bill to conserve water through more widespread adoption of graywater use. HB24-1362 passed unanimously. “With the passage of this bill, we’re conserving our water resources, protecting our environment and upholding the Colorado way of life,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This bipartisan bill encourages local governments to use graywater in irrigation and for non-drinking household purposes, which is a great option for getting the most out of our water. Living on the Western Slope, I’m committed to protecting and conserving our precious water resources – and this bill makes it easier for our communities to recycle water.” HB24-1362 is also sponsored by Representative Marc Caitlin, R-Montrose. This bill would encourage the use of graywater in Colorado to conserve our state’s scarce water supply by authorizing the installation of graywater systems statewide. It also offers flexibility for local governments to opt-out with an ordinance or resolution prohibiting the installation of graywater systems for use in newly constructed residential buildings for indoor use. Water that has been used for washing dishes, laundering clothes, or bathing is considered graywater. Although it might be on its second or third round of use, graywater can be used for non-drinking purposes such as landscape irrigation and toilet flushing. Previous Next

< Back February 28, 2019 GENERAL ASSEMBLY ANNOUNCES UPCOMING INTRODUCTION OF OIL AND GAS LEGISLATION PRIORITIZING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF COLORADANS Denver, CO – Senate and House leadership, joined by Governor Polis and supporters, today announced oil and gas legislation that prioritizes the health and safety of Coloradans will soon be introduced in the General Assembly. The legislation, sponsored by Speaker KC Becker and Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, seeks to provide the most meaningful changes to oil and gas regulations Colorado has seen in more than 60 years. The bill will not only provide peace of mind for Coloradans by clarifying that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s mission is to regulate, not foster, the industry, but will empower local communities to take control over what is happening in their backyards and equip them with the tools they need to stand up for their best interests. “Coloradans simply do not have confidence that the laws in place are sufficient to protect their health and safety. They are right, and they are looking to their leaders for change,” said Majority Leader Fenberg. “For too long, the legislature has stood in the way of common sense reforms that would keep communities safe, and protect the Colorado we love. Today, we are announcing change.” “Right now, oil and gas laws in Colorado tilt heavily toward the industry. We are going to correct that tilt so that health, safety, and environment are no longer ignored by state agencies,” said Speaker KC Becker. “This bill would also ensure that local governments have a greater ability to represent the interests of the people they serve.” “The legislation we outlined today puts health and safety first and gives communities a meaningful seat at the table,” said Governor Jared Polis. “While we know this doesn’t solve all of the problems our communities face, it is a practical approach to finding a solution for many of our issues and providing more stability by updating our laws to reflect today’s realities.” Erin Martinez, the survivor of a tragic gas explosion in Firestone that killed her brother and husband, urged for stronger regulation saying “the only way to make sure this never happens again is to learn from this tragedy and create safer regulations and guidelines that put human safety first.” The full legislation will be introduced in the coming days. Previous Next