The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to expand language accessibility for emergency and public safety alerts. < Back March 27, 2023 Velasco Bill to Expand Language Accessibility for Emergency Alerts Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to expand language accessibility for emergency and public safety alerts. “English fluency should not determine whether or not you have the information to protect yourself and your family from an emergency situation that could threaten your safety and wellbeing,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Wildfires, landslides, and other natural disasters are very common in our rural and mountain towns and Coloradans rely on notifications that connect them to resources to survive. With over 40 languages spoken throughout the state, we have to learn how to communicate emergency information to all Coloradans in a way that is accessible to them.” HB23-1237 , also sponsored by Senator Perry Will, passed by a vote of 8-1 . The bill would direct the University of Colorado’s Natural Hazards Center, in consultation with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (division), to conduct a study to identify what municipalities, sheriff's offices, counties, fire districts, and local 911 agencies need to provide emergency alerts in a non-English language and live interpretation during a 911 call. The study would identify essential components of a multi-hazard early warning system needed to successfully reach residents and visitors and would also include recommendations for how to better reach at-risk communities that may have difficulties accessing English language text alerts. Previous Next

SB25-002 will increase the supply of affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers on factory-built structures like tiny homes and modular housing < Back May 8, 2025 Signed! Bill to Reduce Housing Costs, Boost Stock of Factory-Built Housing SB25-002 will increase the supply of affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers on factory-built structures like tiny homes and modular housing DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, and Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, and Representatives Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, and Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood, to reduce housing costs by boosting the stock of affordable factory-built housing was signed into law today. SB25-002 will increase the stock of affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers to the construction, installation, and inspection of factory-built structures like tiny homes and other types of modular housing. Modular housing is usually less expensive than traditional, stick-built homes constructed on-site and can be assembled faster, which can help expand permanent housing opportunities and build more affordable housing options. “Right now, the people that keep our communities running – teachers, nurses, and firefighters – can’t afford to live where they work,” said Exum. “Expanding opportunities for them and their families to thrive and grow together in a stable, safe environment is vital to strong, lasting success for Colorado communities.” “Our law will improve coordination between state and regional partners and cut down on duplicative steps to build more affordable housing in our communities,” said Boesenecker. “Modular homes are a high-quality alternative to traditional housing construction materials, but are faster to assemble and cheaper to build. This law allows us to strategically use tools that have proven to create more affordable housing options for hardworking Coloradans.” "Every Coloradan should be able to afford to live where they work," said Bridges. "We have an affordability crisis here in Colorado, and while there's no silver bullet for housing, there are silver BBs. This is one of them. This legislation will increase Colorado's housing stock by bringing down construction costs, giving more folks the opportunity to live where they work, raise a family, and call Colorado home.” “Modular homes are a creative and proven solution to drive down housing costs and allow more Coloradans to realize their dream of homeownership,” said Stewart. “Construction costs, miscommunication and doubling up on regulation have been significant barriers to building affordable housing, and this law aims to streamline regulations to fully benefit from the potential of modular housing. With this new law, we can make high-quality housing more affordable across Colorado.” This bill directs the State Housing Board in the Department of Local Affairs to develop regional building codes for factory-built structures by July 1, 2026. The new building codes supersede current regulations only for factory-built structures. Previous Next

< Back April 12, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON TUITION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills that will save Coloradans money on higher education tuition and behavioral health services. HB22-1155 passed by a vote of 41-19 and is sponsored by Representatives Perry Will and Julie McCluskie. The bill would expand in-state tuition to more Colorado students and families. Under current law, students must reside in Colorado for at least three years before they are eligible for in-state tuition. This bill changes the requirement to allow any student who graduates from a Colorado high school and has resided in the state for one year to receive in-state tuition. “The bill we passed today will save families and students money as they pursue their higher education degrees,” Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB22-1155. “Every Coloradan should have access to higher education opportunities that will set them up to thrive, and our workforce needs in the high country and across Colorado are significant. By reducing the cost of higher education, we’ll prepare more students for success and open the door for more high school graduates to access the education they need to secure better paying jobs and address our workforce shortage.” HB22-1278 passed by a vote of 46-14 and is sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Rod Pelton. The bill will improve Coloradans’ access to behavioral health services and save Coloradans money. This bipartisan bill is designed to streamline behavioral health care access for Coloradans through the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). “This legislation takes the next step to stand up Colorado’s new Behavioral Health Administration, which will work to make mental health care and substance use disorder treatment less expensive and easier to access,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of HB22-1278. “The pandemic has only exacerbated the long standing challenges Coloradans have faced when trying to access the behavioral health care they need to thrive. This bill will boost access to the care Coloradans need and cut the red tape that prevents too many people from getting the help they need.” The bill would establish a comprehensive, accountable behavioral health safety net system available in every region of Colorado. This includes 15 different critical behavioral health services including substance use, crisis services, criminal justice diversion, trauma informed care, youth services and more. The BHA will reduce bureaucracy by consolidating fragmented behavioral health networks into one behavioral health administrative services organization (BHASO) per region. The push for this legislation stems from patient frustration surrounding disjointed behavioral health care services. With this bill, patients would be able to more easily access behavioral health services in their community. Previous Next

The Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee (COYAC) yesterday voted to advance three bills that would require public schools to address a student by their preferred name in school, study the existing barriers to gender affirming care, and create a loan repayment program for school mental health professionals. < Back October 26, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Colorado Youth Advisory Committee Recommends Bills to Improve Dignity for Students, Get More Mental Health Professionals Into Schools DENVER, CO - The Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee (COYAC) yesterday voted to advance three bills that would require public schools to address a student by their preferred name in school, study the existing barriers to gender affirming care, and create a loan repayment program for school mental health professionals. Bill 1 would require public schools to address a student by their preferred name in school and in school-related publications without requiring the student to obtain a court-ordered name or gender change. The bill also establishes the Non-Legal Name Changes in Schools Task Force under the Department of Education to help examine existing school policies regarding non-legal name changes, and provide policy recommendations for school districts. “Prioritizing the health and well-being of all Colorado youth makes our families and communities more resilient. All kids should feel safe and accepted in order to grow, learn, and thrive, ” said COYAC Chair Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of Bills 1, 5, and 6. “We need to strengthen these protective factors, particularly for families of LGBTQ youth who have been met with hostility for raising their children in an accepting and affirming environment, and for youth who lack resources for mental health support. I'm proud of our student participants' hard work on these policies, and look forward to advancing what we've accomplished together. Our bills will provide clarity to schools when addressing students by their preferred names, increase mental health support with loan repayments to school mental health professionals, and map out access to gender affirming care across our great state. By implementing these improvements and sharing essential resources, we will better support Colorado kids so that all can thrive.” “Every year, legislators on the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee join bright, engaged students to collaborate on legislation that supports their future success,” said COYAC Vice Chair Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, sponsor of all three bills. “This year, the bills we are advancing prioritize the mental health and well-being of students and address much needed staffing shortages for mental health professionals who work in schools. Students deserve to feel safe, confident and supported at school, and these bills mark meaningful steps towards making that a reality for every Colorado kid.“ “Every Colorado child deserves to live and learn with dignity, but right now too many kids have to deal with stigma and harassment. Tragically, 82 percent of trans youth have contemplated suicide at some point in their lives,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, sponsor of all three bills. “By letting kids go by their preferred name in class and increasing access to gender-affirming care, Bills 1 and 6 will give students and young people the support and security to be themselves in the classroom and throughout their lives. Bill 5 meanwhile will help school mental health professionals save money, and make it easier and more appealing to enter this critical profession. These bills are common sense steps that will help students across the state feel more comfortable and confident while they learn and grow.” Bill 5 is a bipartisan bill, also sponsored by Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, that would create the Licensed School Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program in the Department of Higher Education, and require the Commission on Higher Education to adopt program policies, review applications for loan repayment, and report annually on the program. Applicants must be licensed and have a masters or doctoral degree in a program that qualifies the applicant to be a mental health professional and must agree to work as a school mental health professional in Colorado for at least three consecutive academic years to qualify. Bill 6 directs the Department of Public Health and Environment to study the disparities and inadequacies in Colorado’s gender-affirming health care sector. The study will investigate the number of gender-affirming health care providers and facilities throughout the state, the availability of resources for these providers, the number of patients seeking this type of care, the prevalence and impact of non-prescribed treatments, and the availability of insurance coverage. The three bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2024 session, interim bills will follow the legislative process in the same manner as all other bills. Previous Next

Legislation shields legally-protected health care providers, patients and helpers < Back April 14, 2023 SIGNED! Bill to Protect Reproductive Health Care Patients and Providers, Ensure Access to Critical Care Becomes Law DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law legislation sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Reps. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, that establishes protections from criminal prosecutions for receiving, providing, or assisting with legally-protected health care – including abortion and gender-affirming care – ensuring these overreaching interstate actions will not be recognized by the state of Colorado. SB23-188 also prevents Colorado from recognizing or enforcing civil lawsuits concerning protected health care that are penal in nature or without jurisdiction, and prevents Colorado state employees from participating in or assisting with interstate investigations or divulging information concerning protected health care. “The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade unleashed a wave of anti-abortion legislation across the country, and it’s putting Coloradans' ability to access critical reproductive and gender-affirming care in jeopardy,” Gonzales said. “Any barrier to health care in our state is unacceptable and puts lives at risk. This new law will protect the people who both seek and provide that care in our state, and will ensure that Coloradans can continue to access the life-saving care they need to thrive.” “We’ve seen nationwide attacks on our fundamental reproductive freedoms, but here in Colorado, we protect those seeking or performing legal, reproductive health care, including abortion,” said Froelich. “This law codifies important protections for legally protected health care services to make sure our patients, providers, and assistors are shielded from interstate prosecution, retaliation, and imprisonment. We’re making it clear – Colorado will never extradite a provider or patient to another state because Colorado respects bodily autonomy, privacy and the right to make your own medical decisions.” "We must do everything we can to protect vital health care professionals in Colorado,” said Jaquez Lewis. “As a pharmacist, if I dispense certain drugs that are considered abortion care medication in repressive states, I could be extradited, charged with homicide and fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am proud to champion this new law that ensures health care experts will feel safe making medically necessary decisions." “Anti-trans bills in other states and other egregious attempts to limit who we are will not stand in the way of our legal right to access gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Colorado,” said Titone. “Our law not only affirms the right to protected health care, but prevents other states from enforcing their regressive anti-abortion and anti-trans laws on people seeking treatment or living in Colorado. Research proves having access to gender-affirming care is validating and life-saving. I’m proud to champion a law that prioritizes patients and providers, protects our privacy and upholds your fundamental rights to reproductive and gender-affirming health care.” Previous Next

New law protects visitation rights for incarcerated Coloradans < Back June 4, 2025 Right to Visitation, Family Connection Becomes Law New law protects visitation rights for incarcerated Coloradans DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to ensure that Coloradans who are incarcerated have visitation rights with their family and loved ones . “This law is about treating incarcerated Coloradans as humans and making their re-entry into their communities more successful to reduce recidivism and improve safety across our state,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “From alleviating stress to fostering hope, human connection has proven to provide many benefits for incarcerated Coloradans and our communities. This law ensures that incarceration does not prevent Coloradans from accessing their support systems during some of the most traumatic times in their life.” “Families are where we find strength, healing, and support,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “But for too many families, the criminal justice system creates barriers that fracture these bonds. Regular visits, phone calls, and moments of connection empower families to support their loved ones’ journey toward rehabilitation. This new law helps to make our justice system a tool for repair and recovery, not a weapon of division.” “Visitation is rehabilitation, and revoking visitation privileges should never be a tool to force justice-involved Coloradans to work or as a form of punishment,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “America abolished slavery in the 1800s, yet incarcerated Coloradans are being forced into labor just to be able to have a conversation with their friends and family. This law ensures that Coloradans, regardless of whether or not they are incarcerated, have the right to access their loved ones.” “Ensuring that people who are incarcerated have the right to connect with their loved ones makes all Coloradans safer,” said Senator Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs. “It reduces recidivism, supports rehabilitation, and eases the transition back into our communities after incarceration. Currently, people can lose family visitation rights – including contact with their children – as a form of punishment. Protecting the right to family connection leads to better outcomes for individuals, families, and communities across Colorado.” HB25-1013 protects visitation rights for incarcerated Coloradans to ensure they can stay connected with their family, friends, and loved ones and be set up for success after they serve time and re-enter the community. Visitation includes in-person visits, family time visits, phone calls, and video calls. A study found that visitation in prison results in a 26 percent decrease in post-release criminal activity as well as a 28 percent reduction in new convictions overall. Previous Next

Majority of House Republicans co-sponsor extreme “personhood” bill that would consider a fertilized egg to be a person, criminalize abortion and jeopardize IVF < Back March 4, 2024 Personhood Bill to Ban Abortion and IVF Defeated DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee defeated a bill cosponsored by a majority of House Republicans, including the Minority Leadership, that would criminalize abortion without exceptions and effectively prohibit in vitro fertilization (IFV) treatments. “Abortion and IVF treatments are safe, legal, and protected in Colorado – we will not let Republicans legislate away our fundamental rights,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Make no mistake: if Republicans were in power, abortion and IVF treatments would be criminalized, and pregnant people who miscarry or seek essential abortion care could be charged with homicide. In Colorado, your rights are protected, and we will always fight back against attacks on your reproductive freedoms.” “Sweeping abortion bans, like the one defeated by Democrats today, disproportionately impact communities of color and are dangerous to women’s health,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “Nearly 70 percent of House Republicans signed on to co-sponsor this abortion ban; their goal is to eliminate safe, legal abortion, criminalize IVF treatment and send mothers to jail for seeking life-saving health care. This bill endangers the health of pregnant people and bans family planning methods that many Coloradans rely upon as their only option to have children.” HB24-1224 , sponsored by Representative Scott Bottoms, R-Colorado Springs and co-sponsored by 13 other House Republicans, would have redefined a "person" to include an unborn fetus at any stage of development from the moment of fertilization, which would criminalize all abortions without exceptions. Under this bill, those who receive abortion care or miscarry in certain circumstances would be punished and subjected to existing state law relating to prenatal neglect, homicide or assault. This sweeping definition of personhood would have included frozen fertilized eggs, also known as embryos, used in IVF treatment. Under this bill, there would be no exception even if the embryos are damaged or nonviable. In February, the Alabama Supreme court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered ‘children’ under state law, further jeopardizing the legality of IVF and the treatment conducted by providers. Coloradans overwhelmingly support the right to an abortion and have repeatedly defeated ballot measures that sought to ban access to abortion. In 2022, Colorado Democrats passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA). This landmark legislation updated Colorado’s laws to protect reproductive rights and established a fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy to term, or to have an abortion. In 2023, Democrats passed the Safe Access to Protected Health Care Package which protects the rights of patients, providers, future health care professionals, and those assisting patients in accessing and receiving care. Previous Next

< Back February 7, 2023 Bill to Offer Youth Mental Health Screenings Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today passed a bill to conduct mental health screenings in schools to help determine the mental well-being of students and continue the successful I Matter program. “In 2021, almost 70% of Colorado students reported that they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet. “We created the I Matter Program to provide six free therapy sessions to Colorado youth, a successful tool in addressing mental health issues for over 5,000 kids so far. This bill would use a mental health screening within our schools to more easily identify students that could benefit from resources like the I Matter Program.” HB23-1003 would permit public schools to participate in a voluntary mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth graders. The school would be required to notify parents of the date and time that the mental health screening is scheduled, the purpose, and information about the licensed mental health screener. Parents would have the option to opt their child out of participating, although students over 12 years old could still be screened due to Colorado law . The screening would be conducted via a questionnaire and evaluated by a licensed mental health screener. If a student is at-risk for attempting suicide, physical self-harm, or harming others, the screener would immediately notify the parents as well as the school and the school would react according to school crisis response policy. If the screener finds the student in need of further help, they will contact the parent about additional treatment options, including information or a referral to the I Matter program. The I Matter Program was created with the passage of HB21-1258 , sponsored by Rep. Michaelson Jenet, and expanded by HB22-1243 . The program received $15 million dollars in funding from the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions to provide a mental health screening followed by six free therapy sessions to youth across the state and is available virtually and in person. Students use a screening tool through the program’s website to match them with licensed mental health professionals that best fit their needs, including bilingual services. If the student needs additional services or shows signs of needing immediate help, their assigned care navigator connects them to long-term mental health care providers or crisis support, including Colorado Crisis Services. Since the program started in October 2021, over 5,500 Colorado kids have utilized the free therapy services, with almost 44% attending at least four sessions. The participating 5,655 students come from 59 of the 64 counties across Colorado. Previous Next

< Back May 26, 2021 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE INVESTS IN HOUSING, COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION Two Colorado Comeback bills to help local governments revitalize their communities and use underutilized hotels and motels to provide housing for the homeless DENVER, CO– The House Transportation and Local Government Committee today approved two bills to revitalize our communities and provide transitional housing to individuals experiencing homelessness. These bills are a part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. “COVID 19 has made it clear how desperately Colorado needs to deal with our housing and homelessness crises directly,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-242. “Allowing local governments to convert underutilized hotels, motels, and perhaps holiday inns into sustainable dwellings for people experiencing homelessness is a creative and thoughtful way to start chipping away at these enormous issues.” “We have a serious housing and homelessness issue in Colorado, and this is a common sense way to get people a roof over their heads,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-242. “COVID-19 has shown us that for so many Coloradans, the situation is dire. Building back stronger means facing our affordable housing issue head on.” SB21-242 would expand the Housing Development Grant Fund to allow the funds to be used for tenancy support services, including those that target individuals experiencing homelessness. Specifically, this expansion will allow grants and loans to go to local governments and nonprofits to help them rent, acquire, or restore underutilized hotels or motels to provide immediate housing for people experiencing homelessness. Grant recipients are encouraged to invest in hotels and motels that are women and minority-owned, as well as those that are ADA compliant. The bill provides $15 million in funding for the Grant Fund. The bill passed by a vote of 6-4. “The Community Revitalization Grant Program will allow us to create opportunity from the economic tragedy that was COVID-19,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-252. “This grant program will allow communities across the state to invest in shovel-ready revitalization projects that will create jobs, stimulate local economies and turn empty storefronts on mainstreet into corridors of opportunity. ” “Even before COVID forced some small businesses to shut down, there were small towns and main streets across Colorado that were clearly in need of some love,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, sponsor of SB21-252. “This grant program will provide one-time funding to kick start projects that will restore our towns to their former glory, making a meaningful impact on economic development in the arts and other industries, creating good jobs, and promoting tourism for our state. It’s time to bring back the luster to our once vibrant community gems.” SB21-252 would create the Community Revitalization Grant Program within the Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) and provide it with $65 million in Colorado Comeback State Stimulus Funding, in addition to allowing gifts, grants, and donations to be contributed into the fund. The Program’s grants would help revitalize our main streets and downtowns by providing funding for creative construction and revitalization projects that combine commercial spaces with community spaces. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would save people money on housing by updating building codes to only require one stairwell for certain multi-family buildings. < Back April 2, 2025 Bill to Make Housing More Affordable Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would save people money on housing by updating building codes to only require one stairwell for certain multi-family buildings. “This smart stair policy is safe and will help us create more affordable housing in Colorado,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Firefighting technology and fire protection techniques have significantly improved in the last few decades, and it’s time that we modernize our building codes to account for these safety improvements and reduce the cost of building multi-family housing. The bill provides an innovative option making it easier to build family-sized apartments and condos that will help us meet Colorado’s housing needs and save people money on housing.” “Colorado Democrats are committed to passing legislation that will make housing more affordable,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “This bill would eliminate second stairwell requirements for certain buildings to drive down building costs and create more livable space without jeopardizing the health and safety of renters. Coloradans sent us here to pass policy that will make our communities more affordable, and this bill would help open up more housing opportunities that work for every budget.” Beginning December 1, 2027, HB25-1273 would require a municipality of 100,000 or more residents that is served by an accredited fire protection district, fire department, or fire authority to ensure that their building code allows certain multi-family residential buildings up to five stories to be served by a single exit. Additional requirements to qualify for a single-stairway exit include: Buildings no more than five stories tall with up to four dwelling units per floor, Safety features throughout the building that satisfy building codes and other relevant codes, including an automatic sprinkler system and fire resistance and smoke control systems, Stairways no more than twenty feet away from a door to each dwelling unit and 125 feet from the stairway to any point in a dwelling unit, and Buildings constructed of non-combustible or fire-resistive construction materials. The bill would also require a jurisdiction to notify their local International Association of Fire Fighters affiliate and the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Association when they begin the code adoption process. These buildings would also be required to include signage to identify that they are single-stair buildings and have a fire-resistant box that contains keys to the buildings for firefighters to access the building and its units. According to a 2025 Pew Study , there has been no evidence of increased safety risks in New York City, Seattle, the Netherlands, and other jurisdictions that allow single stair apartments to be built. Adding a second stairway to an apartment building can increase building costs by 6- to 13-percent, and single stair apartments can reduce cooling costs by up to 80-percent due to improved window placement, which allows cross-ventilation. Previous Next

< Back October 23, 2019 ZERO WASTE COMMITTEE ADVANCES BILLS TO IMPROVE STATE’S RECYCLING RATE Bills will incentivize development of new end-market users of recycled materials, create a public awareness campaign to increase recycling and establish a statewide organics management plan DENVER, CO — The Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee today advanced two bipartisan proposals to improve the state’s recycling rate. One bill incentivizes the development of new end-market businesses for recycled materials and creates a public education campaign on recycling. The second bill requires the state to develop a comprehensive organics management plan. “The two bipartisan bills we advanced today will put our state on the road to recycling more, trashing less and being better stewards of our environment and natural resources,” said Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee Chair Rep. Lisa Cutter (D-Evergreen). “Improving Colorado’s recycling rate, which is well below the national average, will continue our state’s progress addressing climate change and divert more waste from landfills. Without action, we will continue filling the ground with thousands of acres of waste, jeopardizing our air and water and risking our state’s reputation as an environmentally friendly place to live and visit.” “Our state’s low recycling rate means we rely heavily on landfills, which can harm our environment and will leave a lasting impact on the natural beauty that in many ways defines our state,” said Rep. Meg Froelich (D-Englewood). “Today, we passed two bipartisan bills and took a big step forward to address this critical issue. Our legislation will reduce waste by helping create new markets for recycled materials, establishing a public education campaign on recycling and increasing compost use in agriculture and other sectors.” “I’m proud that Fort Collins has the best overall recycling rate in Colorado, but we still have work to do to improve our statewide recycling rate, move towards ‘Zero Waste’, and act on climate,” said Rep. Jeni James Arndt (D-Fort Collins). “Our committee made significant progress today, advancing two bipartisan bills to incentivize recycling and ensure Colorado continues taking action to protect our environment.” Last April, Legislative Council approved Rep. Cutter’s request to create the Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee. Colorado only recycles about 17.2 percent of the state’s waste, a rate that hasn’t increased in recent years and is much lower than the national average of 35 percent. In 2016, the state set a goal of recycling 28 percent of its waste by 2021, which would divert an additional 1.5 million tons of waste from landfills. With the state’s population increasing and Coloradans producing more waste than before, the committee has been hearing testimony, conducting research and traveling to innovative recycling facilities in order to develop a path forward to improve Colorado’s recycling rate. The first bill the committee advanced creates a stakeholder group to study how to establish a recycling market development center. The center would support the development of businesses that process recyclable materials or reuse them in their products sold to consumers. Under the bill, the Pollution Prevention Advisory Board is authorized to create a formula to provide a partial reimbursement of local personal property taxes to businesses that reclaim or recycle materials. The bill also requires CDPHE to administer a statewide recycling education campaign to increase residential recycling across the state. The campaign aims to inform Coloradans about specific recyclable materials and recycling habits that can increase recycling rates and make the state’s recycling efforts more efficient. The second bill would establish a statewide organics management plan. This can help agriculture producers improve soil health, leading to enhanced crop value and production. The CDPHE will consult with stakeholders and submit the management plan by February 1, 2023 to the House Energy and Environment Committee, House Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. Previous Next

Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks at the Elevating Rural Colorado Partnership celebration in Keystone, CO, and discussed recent efforts to boost career pathways in rural Colorado and support rural public schools. < Back July 22, 2024 McCluskie Addresses Elevating Rural Colorado Partnership Education Celebration KEYSTONE, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks at the Elevating Rural Colorado Partnership celebration in Keystone, CO, and discussed recent efforts to boost career pathways in rural Colorado and support rural public schools. The event, organized by Colorado Succeeds, the Colorado Education Initiative, Empower Schools, and Lyra Colorado, celebrated five years of progress and partnership to boost rural education opportunities. “From new, low-cost pathways to higher education and good paying jobs to significant new funding for rural public schools, there are so many incredible success stories to celebrate for the high country,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Students in our communities will soon see more resources in their classrooms, and many are already taking advantage of new opportunities we’ve created to complete skills training and degree programs that will set them up for success.” Speaker McCluskie has been a champion of legislation to create new, affordable pathways to complete higher education degrees and programs in rural Colorado that set up students to thrive. She sponsored legislation to create the Opportunity Now Grant program, which funds collaborative efforts with higher education, businesses, trade associations and unions to create new training and degree programs in growing industries with workforce shortages. The Speaker has also led efforts to fully fund public schools and significantly increase funding for rural schools and districts that serve more at-risk, English language learners, and special education students. This year, she passed a new School Finance Formula, which changed how schools are funded for the first time in nearly 30 years. This will result in a 12 percent ($5.2 million) increase in funding for Summit County Schools when the new formula is fully implemented, according to the school finance simulator tool developed by nonpartisan staff at the legislature. Previous Next