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The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today to protect Coloradans from wildfires. < Back February 12, 2024 Legislation to Keep Coloradans Safe During Wildfire Evacuations Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today to protect Coloradans from wildfires. HB24-1033, sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Elizabeth Velasco, would encourage locally created emergency evacuation plans for Coloradans with pets during wildfires or other emergencies. “Wildfires can creep into communities quickly, and this legislation outlines an evacuation plan to keep everyone safe,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “This bill encourages local communities to create emergency plans for Coloradans with pets so that they have evacuation options when disasters strike. Encouraging emergency preparedness will keep our communities safer during wildfires and other natural disasters.” “Rural and mountain communities like mine are often at-risk of destructive wildfires that uproot families, businesses and entire neighborhoods,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “To better protect our community members during a wildfire, this legislation would create emergency plans for Coloradans with pets, including transportation and other logistics. For many Coloradans, their pets are valued members of the family and this legislation creates a plan to keep everyone safe during wildfire evacuations. From expanded mitigation efforts to emergency planning, it’s important Coloradans are prepared for wildfire emergencies because the safety of our communities depends on it.” HB24-1033 , passed committee by a vote of 12 to 1. This bill would encourage local emergency management agencies to address the needs of Coloradans with animals during wildfires or other emergencies. This would include provisions for the evacuation, shelter, and transport of these individuals and their pets, including service animals. Beginning January 2025, local governments would also be strongly encouraged to make information for animal emergency preparedness available. This bill was created during the interim by the Wildfire Matters Review Committee and is designed to keep communities and Coloradans safer in the wake of destructive wildfires. Previous Next

HB25-1222 and SB25-069 will improve health and safety in Colorado’s mountain and rural communities < Back July 25, 2025 Pair of Bills to Support Rural Coloradans Goes Into Effect DENVER, CO – Two bills championed by Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, to bolster public health and safety in rural Colorado communities will go into effect on August 6. HB25-1222 , cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, and Representative Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, preserves access to rural health care by: Enabling the delivery of drugs by rural independent pharmacies to underserved communities, Clarifying fair audit recovery practices so rural independent pharmacies don’t close, Allowing remote supervision for pharmacies to improve accessibility for Coloradans, and Beginning on January 1, 2026, ensuring fair reimbursement rates for rural independent pharmacies. For Coloradans living in rural communities, these modifications maintain access to vital prescriptions and healthcare services close to home without having to travel long distances or face unnecessary delays. The implementation of HB25-1222 serves as a lifeline for rural pharmacies in the wake of Congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill , which experts warn puts rural health care facilities at an increased risk of cuts and closure . “Independent rural pharmacies are so important to the people who live in the rural and mountain communities that I represent. They rely on them for essential services like prescription refills, medical supplies, immunizations, and so much more,” Roberts said. “This bipartisan bill would ensure fair reimbursement rates and audit recovery practices so that drug delivery for independent and rural pharmacies are adequate enough to level the playing field against corporate health care giants and safeguard essential health services.” “Health care access in rural communities is already limited, and this law works to preserve the local pharmacies that Coloradans rely on,” said Lukens. “From regular prescription refills to immunizations, our local and independent pharmacies are a lifeline to our communities. This bipartisan law aims to maintain health care access for Coloradans in the rural corners of our state by establishing fair reimbursement rates and permitting telehealth for our local pharmacies.” SB25-069 , sponsored by Sen. Roberts, Rep. Lukens, and Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, allows the Colorado Department of Transportation to authorize third-party vendors and companies to set up a roadside station to help install or remove tire chains or other traction devices on commercial and passenger vehicles. “Preventing avoidable crashes, spinouts, and delays on I-70 and highways across the state is crucial for public safety and saving Coloradans time and money,” continued Roberts. “This bipartisan bill will authorize a proven chain-assist program for commercial trucks that is working in other states as well as close a loophole that will ensure passenger vehicles have proper tires. It is another significant step we are taking to prevent crashes and reduce unnecessary delays on our roads during the winter.” “Western Slope highways can be treacherous in the winter, and this law makes our roads safer by expanding access to winter driving tools, including tire chains, that are proven to help prevent accidents,” continued Lukens. “Communities in my district, like Vail and Avon, are home to world-class skiing resorts that attract visitors from across the globe who might not have experience in driving in mountainous, snowy conditions. This law will improve road safety by creating a controlled environment for drivers to receive assistance installing or removing tire chains and other traction devices.” “Glenwood Canyon has the most accidents and road closures along I-70 nationally, which is why we need this law to protect Colorado drivers,” said Velasco. “Keeping Western Slope roads open and safe is a priority in my district to ensure that residents, tourists and long-haul truckers can get where they need to go quickly and safely. With this law going into effect soon, we can keep Coloradans safer on our roads.” The law, cosponsored by Senator Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, includes procedures and guardrails for issuing a permit to vendors and a requirement that those installing tire chains or traction devices wear reflective clothing and use traffic control devices. The law also requires that, between September 1 and May 31, rental car companies notify their renters of Colorado’s traction laws and the penalties for any violation of the law. Previous Next

< Back March 26, 2019 BECKER-CARAVEO BILL TO PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF COLORADANS & GIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES A VOICE TAKES NEXT STEP (Mar. 25) – The House Finance committee passed a bill to update Colorado’s antiquated oil and gas laws to protect families and individuals from residential drilling by putting health and safety first, empowering local communities, and protecting Colorado’s clean air and clean water. “Oil and gas drilling is happening in neighborhoods at unprecedented levels and if industry continues to ignore the Coloradans who are raising issues around drilling–as they have been for years–they will continue to be in the same position,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “I’m proud of this bill and the stakeholder work that has gone into it because it will finally put health and safety first, protect our air, water and enhance our way of life.” “As a pediatrician and legislator, I support this bill because we should be protecting the health and safety of the children I care for in my clinic every day,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, the legislature’s only doctor and the co-prime sponsor of the bill. “ We shouldn’t prioritize well sites over of the health of wheezing infants. Flow lines shouldn’t be more important than the cardiovascular systems of seniors. That’s why this bill gives tools to local governments to decide what is the right balance between responsible resource extraction and the health of Coloradans.” The bill directs the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to regulate oil and gas development to protect public welfare, and clarifies that local governments have the same authority to regulate the oil and gas industry as they have with every other industry in Colorado – including the mining industry. The bill also removes the prohibition against local governments requiring oil and gas companies to cover the direct costs of regulating, monitoring and permitting the sites in their communities. The bill addresses emissions and air quality by requiring increased monitoring and implementing a rule-making process to reduce emissions to better meet federal regulations. A “brown cloud” returned to Denver earlier this month and reports showed that the air quality was worse than that of Beijing. SB19-181 would also ensure that taxpayers are not footing the bill for cleaning up orphan oil and gas wells that have been abandoned but not adequately plugged. Current bonding requirements are often found to be inadequate to cover the cost of clean-up when a company abandons a well. Clean-up costs for just one abandoned well costs an average of $82,000. Currently, there are more than 260 known orphan wells and 365 associated known orphan well sites in 31 Colorado counties. Finally, SB19-181 also provides increased protections for property owners with regard to forced pooling. Under current law, just one mineral rights owner can start the process of “force pooling” other mineral interest owners and require development of those resources – against the will of the majority of the owners. This bill would raise the threshold and put more transparency and guardrails on the process. The arguments peddled by the oil and gas industry are misleading. The sponsors and proponents of the bill made clear during the hearing that this bill is not a reiteration of Proposition 112, nor is it a moratorium or a ban on drilling. SB19-181 passed the House Finance Committee on a vote of 7-4 and now goes to the Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back March 1, 2022 $27 MILLION TO SUPPORT NURSING FACILITIES MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO – The House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Julie McCluskie to provide an additional $27 million to skilled nursing facilities that are Medicaid providers. “Skilled nursing facilities in Colorado and across the country are facing staffing challenges and funding shortfalls, which is why we are taking swift action to stabilize nursing facilities in Colorado,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “We are going to distribute $27 million in state and federal funds to nursing facilities to keep them from closing so thousands of Coloradans aren’t forced out of where they live.” “The pandemic has taken an enormous toll on Colorado’s nursing facilities, and some are now at risk of closing because Medicaid reimbursement rates are so low and their costs have increased,” said JBC Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Nurses who care for Medicaid patients in skilled nursing facilities have been through so much the last two years and are vastly underpaid. We need to make sure we have the nursing workforce necessary to care for the patients with the greatest need, and this bill will help. We’re moving quickly to shore up our nursing facilities so that Coloradans won’t lose access to affordable skilled nursing options.” HB22-1247 , sponsored by Representatives Herod and McCluskie, passed by a vote of 12-1 and would direct additional payments to skilled nursing facilities that are Medicaid providers to help them address staffing shortages, provide quality care and support their short term solvency. State funding would be matched by federal dollars, bringing the total additional funding for nursing homes to $27 million. The bill also instructs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to seek additional opportunities to draw down federal funds. The legislation also requires the department to establish reporting and result tracking requirements. Nursing facilities across Colorado, especially those with Medicaid patients, have faced funding and staffing challenges, and some have struggled to stay open. At the same time, nurse staffing agencies and travel nursing agencies have been able to attract providers with higher wages than what facilities that care for Medicaid clients can pay, exacerbating the staffing challenges at nursing facilities that are Medicaid providers. Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2019 BILL TO ASK VOTERS TO RAISE TOBACCO TAX AND PUT FUNDING TOWARD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE PASSES COMMITTEE Nicotine smoking costs the state $1.89 billion annually in health care costs (Apr. 26) – The House Finance committee approved Rep. Yadira Caraveo’s bill that would give voters the choice to raise taxes on tobacco products, including a new tax on liquid nicotine used for vaping. There is currently no tax on liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes. If approved by voters, the referred measure would raise more than $300 million, half of which would go toward early childhood education and half to health care. “Colorado values the health of all our children but sadly we rank first in the country for teen vaping. As a pediatrician, I understand the negative consequences nicotine has on brain development and the health of our young people,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thornton. “This measure will help decrease smoking and increase funding for early childhood education and health care.” Rep. Caraveo is the only medical doctor in the legislature. Numerous economic studies in peer-reviewed journals have documented that cigarette tax or price increases reduce both adult and underage smoking. In Colorado, 33 percent of students use tobacco products and 26 percent of high school students use e-cigarettes, which is twice the national average for teen vaping. One vaping cartridge contains the nicotine of a pack of cigarettes. Colorado’s current tobacco tax rate on cigarettes is one of the lowest rates in the country. The average state tobacco tax is $1.79 a pack. Colorado’s tax today is 84 cents a pack. HB19-1333 passed by a vote of 6-5. It now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back June 1, 2021 HOUSE MOVES TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY-DRIVEN GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION SOLUTIONS Reps. Hooton and Daugherty’s bill would adjust the state preemption on gun violence prevention laws, empowering local governments to implement their own solutions DENVER, CO — The House today advanced a bill to declare that the regulation of the sale and transfer of firearms is a matter of both state and local concern, repealing the state-level preemption that currently prevents localities from enacting stricter gun violence laws than those of the state. The bill passed on Second Reading. “We’ve been working to end mass shootings and stem the tide of gun violence in Colorado for years now, and the tragic shooting that reeled my Boulder community this year only made the need to act that much more pressing,” said Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder. “The critical bill we advanced today will give local governments the ability to raise gun safety standards in their communities to meet the needs of their residents.” “Colorado’s vast regional diversity means that the gun violence prevention solutions that come up in Custer County are probably going to look a lot different to those in Denver,” said Rep. Lindsey Daughtery, D-Arvada. “This bill respects the rights of gun owners and follows in our longstanding tradition of local control to allow localities to implement the solutions that make sense for their individual communities.” Current law prohibits a local government from enacting laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit the purchase, transfer, or possession of a firearm. SB21-256 adjusts this prohibition by declaring the regulation of firearms a matter of state and local concern, allowing local governments to set higher standards. Under this bill, local governments would have the authority to enact regulations governing the transfer or possession of firearms, ammunition, or firearm components and accessories, so long as the regulations are more restrictive than state laws on the subject. The bill stipulates that criminal penalties for a violation of local regulations cannot be brought for a person who did not know or could not be reasonably expected to know that they were in violation of the local regulations. And that only civil penalties can be brought for a person violating a local concealed carry regulations with a maximum first offense penalty of $50. Recently, in the weeks leading up to the tragic shooting in Boulder, a court struck down Boulder’s local assault weapons ban. If it had been law at the time, SB21-256 would have allowed Boulder to keep this ban in place. The bill does not change existing law that allows Coloradans to travel freely throughout the state with a firearm in their vehicle. Previous Next

< Back June 14, 2021 ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR RETAILERS, TOOLS TO HELP SMALL BIZ GROW SIGNED INTO LAW DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed two bills into law that will allow retailers to retain the sales tax they collect and provide small businesses with the tools and funding they need to grow. “Colorado’s bars, restaurants, food trucks and retailers have gotten a boost this year from legislation that allows them to keep the sales tax they collect, and now that will continue through the summer,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn. “This law will help keep our recovery on track by supporting the small businesses that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic as they work to get back on their feet and grow.” HB21-1265 , sponsored by Reps. Kyle Mullica and Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, continues a successful sales tax assistance effort passed during the 2020 special session. It allows restaurants, bars, caterers and food service contractors (such as airline food service contractors and food concession contractors at sporting events) to deduct up to $70,000 in net taxable sales from their monthly state sales tax return for five different locations and retain the resulting sales tax revenue during the months of June, July and August 2021. “While it’s been a tough year, there are so many small businesses and entrepreneurs who are primed to grow and take the next step with their businesses,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “This new program that the governor signed into law today will help provide small-and-medium-sized employers the tools, training and funding opportunities they need to jump ahead, create jobs and enter into the next phase of their business.” “There are so many businesses across Colorado that could grow, create jobs and help boost our economy with a little technical assistance, funding or support,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “With this new initiative, Colorado businesses that are ready to expand will have access to critical assistance and tools to help them thrive.” Sponsored by Representatives Lindsey Daugherty and Naquetta Ricks, SB21-241 creates the Small Business Accelerated Growth Program, which is designed to provide small businesses on the verge of major growth with the tools and funding they need to take their small businesses to the next level. The program will support businesses with 19 employees or fewer and provide them with technical, operational, marketing and financial assistance to ensure they can grow sustainably and continue to create jobs. Previous Next

< Back October 14, 2019 REP. CARAVEO RECEIVES NATIONAL CHILD HEALTH ADVOCATE AWARD FROM AAP DENVER, CO — Representative Yadira Caraveo, MD, FAAP (D-Thornton) today received the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) prestigious Child Health Advocate Award during a ceremony at the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the Colorado State Capitol. After receiving the award, Rep. Caraveo released the following statement: “I am honored to have been chosen as this year’s Child Health Advocate by the American Academy of Pediatrics and am enormously grateful to the Colorado chapter of the AAP for helping to make this a reality. As a pediatrician and as a lawmaker, protecting the health and wellness of children has always been my top priority. I am humbled by today’s award, but I have no intention of resting on my laurels — not even for a moment. I will continue to work side by side with wonderful child health care advocates like the AAP to ensure more and better care is readily accessible to all children in Colorado, regardless of their family’s economic status.” Dr. David Keller, Board Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Colorado Chapter and Legislative Policy Committee Chairman released the following statement after presenting Rep. Caraveo with the award: “Through her work in the pediatric practice as well as in the Colorado General Assembly, Dr. Caraveo has repeatedly proven herself as a champion for children’s health. I am so proud to celebrate Dr. Caraveo’s accomplishments today by presenting her with one of the AAP’s most prestigious awards. I know I speak for all of us at the AAP when I say that I look forward to working with Dr. Caraveo as she continues her hard work to protect and defend children’s health.” The National Child Health Advocate Award is given out annually and recognizes the significant accomplishments of public officials and private sector advocates who have served as a voice for children in state and local government. First awarded in 1991, previous recipients have included Roy Romer (former Governor of Colorado), Howard Dean (former Governor of Vermont), Michael Moore (former Attorney General, State of Mississippi) Christine Gregoire (former Attorney General and Governor State of Washington), and William Purcell, MD, FAAP (former State Senator, State of North Carolina). Rep. Caraveo has used her unique experience as the only medical doctor in the legislature to pass laws that improve the health and wellness of all Coloradans. She sponsored a comprehensive sex education law and created a program to increase the usage of primary care to improve the quality and consistency of health care. She also was the co-sponsor of SB19-181, the most comprehensive oil and gas reform law to date which updated Colorado’s antiquated oil and gas laws to put the health and safety of Coloradans first. Representative Caraveo also passed a law to allocate funds to the 2020 Census to ensure a fair and accurate count of all Coloradans. Previous Next

< Back April 12, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES MICHAELSON JENET, ROBERTS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND SUICIDE PREVENTION BILL Suicide is the leading cause of death in Colorado for young people between the ages of 10 & 24 Help is available. If you are struggling, please text TALK to 38255 or call 844-493-8255 (Apr. 12) — A bill sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Rep. Dylan Roberts to help address youth suicide received preliminary approval in the House today. “Sirens are going off. Colorado’s kids are committing suicide at an alarming rate and they should be able to access the help they so desperately need. It could save a life,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “An epidemic is unfolding before our eyes and studies tell us that suicide continues to increase, but we are failing to adequately invest in solutions.” Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s son survived a suicide attempt at age 9. The potentially life-saving bill will reduce the age at which a young person can seek confidential psychotherapy services from a licensed mental health professional without the consent of his or her parent or guardian, from 15 to 12. The bill also requires the department of education, in consultation with the Office of Suicide Prevention, the Youth Advisory Council, and the Suicide Prevention Commission, to create and maintain a mental health education literacy resource bank. The resource bank is available to the public free of charge. “The suicide epidemic knows no bounds and shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It’s impacting our rural, urban and suburban communities. Eagle County had 18 completed suicides last year in a community of only about 50,000 people,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “Today, our state took a step toward addressing this epidemic.” Colorado is ranked third for suicides among youth aged 10-14 and fifth for teen suicide overall. HB19-1120 was approved on voice-vote and a recorded vote will be taken at a later date. The youth suicide prevention bill is part of a package of bills to address mental health in Colorado. Rep. Michaelson Jenet is the sponsor of the bipartisan HB19-1129, Prohibit Conversion Therapy for A Minor which will soon be signed into law , and HB19-1017 to increase access to school social workers in public elementary schools. Previous Next

< Back January 31, 2019 REP. DURAN APPLAUDS DEFEAT OF SO-CALLED “RIGHT-TO-WORK” LEGISLATION (Jan. 30) – This week, the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee defeated a so-called “right-to-work” bill. The bill would have hampered the ability of workers in our state to organize, a right provided through long-standing federal law. “A win for Union Workers today! HB18-1101 (Right to Work) was defeated in committee,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Thank you to all my union brothers and sisters that attended our meeting and had their voices heard.This legislation is bad for workers and bad for our economy.” HB19-1101 would have restricted the ability of unions to negotiate better wages and safer working conditions for workers. This bill would have also prevented employers from exercising their right to hire union-trained and certified employees. If passed, the bill would have had devastating impacts on worker wages and protections, further stacking the deck against hardworking families in our state. A large Economic Policy Institute study from 2011 found that, after controlling for a host of factors, right-to-work states have lower wages on average than states without right-to-work laws. Previous Next

< Back February 21, 2023 House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Encourage Incarcerated Coloradans to Pursue College Credits DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez to allow incarcerated Coloradans to earn time off their sentence by pursuing higher education. HB23-1037 passed the House with nearly unanimous support by a vote of 61-1. “This bill is about preparing incarcerated Coloradans for success when they’re released from prison by giving them the tools they need to thrive,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez D-Monte Vista. “I’m beyond proud to champion this bipartisan bill that received nearly unanimous support from Republicans and Democrats. This bill will reduce recidivism in Colorado by creating pathways for incarcerated people to earn credits toward degrees and certificates that create opportunities for good paying careers after they have served their time.” HB23-1037 , sponsored by Representatives Matt Martinez and Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, would allow inmates sentenced for a nonviolent felony offense to reduce their sentence by completing an accredited degree or other credential awarded by an accredited higher education institution while the inmate is incarcerated in the Department of Corrections (DOC). Specifically, inmates could receive one year of earned time for a bachelor's or associate's degree, 6 months for an earned credential or certificate of 30 credit hours worth, 18 months of earned time for a master’s degree, and two years for a doctoral degree. Right now, offenders in the DOC can reduce their sentence through earned time by participating in group living, counseling sessions and through specific work and training. Generally, inmates cannot reduce their sentence by more than 30 percent. This bill would add higher education to the list of ways inmates can reduce their sentence through earned time. HB23-1037 aims to encourage incarcerated Coloradans to pursue higher education and better prepare them for a high-earning career post-sentence. Access to education opportunities while in prison is one of the most efficient and cost-effective tools to reduce recidivism. Colorado’s recidivism rate is 50 percent , one of the highest in the nation. A comprehensive, nationwide study showed that the recidivism rate among incarcerated individuals who earn associate's degrees is around 14 percent and just 5.6 percent for those who earn bachelor's degrees. These recidivism rates are significantly lower than interacted individuals who receive no education while in prison. Previous Next

The 2023 School Finance Act invests a record $665 million more toward K-12 public education, commits to buying down the Budget Stabilization Factor in the 2024-25 school year < Back May 1, 2023 House Passes Record School Funding Bill The 2023 School Finance Act invests a record $665 million more toward K-12 public education, commits to buying down the Budget Stabilization Factor in the 2024-25 school year DENVER, CO – The House today passed the 2023 School Finance Act, increasing per pupil funding by $1,018. This record investment toward K-12 public schools also reduces the Budget Stabilization Factor by $180 million, mapping out a course to eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor by the 2024-2025 school year. “Increasing funding for our schools is one of the smartest investments we can make because it sets our students on the path to success,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango . “The 2023 School Finance Act reaffirms our commitment to our schools through a record-breaking investment of $665 million more, resulting in $10,614 per pupil. Every school district has different needs, which is why this legislation invests $30 million toward rural schools to help them recruit educators and support the enrichment courses that make education in Colorado well-rounded.” “We’re committed to supporting our teachers and students and this year’s School Finance Act includes the largest buydown ever of Colorado's debt to our K-12 public schools,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Investing in our schools better prepares Colorado's next generation of leaders, and this legislation increases per pupil funding by nearly $1,100 and puts our state on a sustainable path to fully fund K-12 public schools in the next two years. Colorado needs a strong education system, and this bill invests in our schools so they can continue to prepare our students to thrive.” 2023 School Finance Act : SB23-287 passed the House by a vote of 52 to 10 and invests a record-breaking $665 million more in total program funding and raises the statewide average of per pupil funding by $1,018, equating up to $10,614 per pupil. It reduces the Budget Stabilization Factor by $180 million, while committing lawmakers to fully eliminating the Budget Stabilization Factor for the 2024-2025 school year. With this funding, school districts can reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay, and provide individualized support to help students succeed. Additional allocations include: $30 million specifically for large and small rural schools $10 million toward special education preschool support $1 million for gifted and talented universal screening for students $500,000 to support English language learning students and the translation of Individualized Education Programs program documents within special education $300,000 to reimburse schools for expenses related to replacing an American Indian mascot The bill will also create a task force charged with examining Colorado's public school financing system and making recommendations to improve the school finance formula to make it more equitable and student-centered. An additional study will explore what it takes to adequately provide a free and uniform public education for students in Colorado. Previous Next