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< Back April 17, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES ROBERTS-MCCLUSKIE BILL TO HELP LOWER THE COST OF HEALTH CARE WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT (Apr. 17) – This morning, the House approved a bill with strong bipartisan support to address the high costs of health care in Colorado. The bill is sponsored by Western Slope state Representatives Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. SB19-004 will strengthen Colorado’s laws to allow healthcare cooperatives to incorporate consumer protections like coverage for preexisting conditions. It will also allow the State Insurance Commissioner to work with groups seeking to create co-ops so that they can get their co-op up and running as soon as possible. “The formation of health insurance co-ops across our state where Coloradans collectively negotiate rates directly with providers will help lower the cost of health care,” said Rep. Roberts. “Let’s get this bill to the Governor’s desk so we can start saving people in Colorado money on health care.” This bipartisan bill will authorize the formation of these co-ops across the state which could result in plans that are significantly cheaper than those available today. The bill will also help lower healthcare costs by encouraging consumers to negotiate rates on a collective basis directly with providers and offer plans to individuals, business, and other groups that are more affordable than what currently exists on the market. “Without any action on the federal level to the health care crisis, Colorado communities are finding creative, innovative approaches to making health care more accessible,” said Rep. McCluskie. “This bipartisan bill will help provide solutions to the complicated health care challenges hardworking families face everyday.” Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. The Senate approved the bill on a bipartisan vote of 34-to-1 earlier this month. The bill passed with a bipartisan vote of 61-2. The bill now heads back to the Senate to approve amendments adopted in the House. Previous Next

The House passes three bills to address housing affordability, water quality, and rental protections < Back April 29, 2023 Housing Affordability, Rental Protections, and Mobile Home Water Quality Bills Pass House The House passes three bills to address housing affordability, water quality issues, and rental protections DENVER, CO - The House today passed three bills to increase flexibility in the housing affordability programs approved by voters by the passage of Proposition 123, improve water quality in mobile home parks, and reduce overbearing rental application qualifications, making it easier for lower-income communities to access housing. “From mountain communities to the Front Range, Coloradans are struggling to find housing that they can afford,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB23-1304. “Voters approved of Proposition 123 in the 2022 election to direct resources to create more housing options for Coloradans that are affordable. This bill offers some flexibility for our mountain towns to address the housing shortage. I’m proud to deliver legislation that makes the path to homeownership easier for Coloradans around the state, and especially in rural and mountain communities.” HB23-1304 will ensure the housing affordability programs created through Proposition 123, which voters approved in the 2022 election, can be implemented effectively across the state and have the greatest impact by getting dollars out the door as soon as possible. The bill ensures that tribal governments can access Proposition 123 funds in addition to local governments. It also makes it possible for rural resort communities to access the historic funding of Proposition 123 to accommodate the high cost of living in these areas. Local governments across the state will also be able to partner with neighboring communities to reach their targeted growth rate of three percent. In 2022, voters approved Proposition 123, which created new housing affordability programs funded with surplus state income tax revenue. The proposition dedicated an estimated $300 million to help local governments purchase land for affordable homes, provide financing for low- and middle income multi-family housing and provide direct support to renters, supply debt financing for projects that qualify for housing tax credits, offer grants and loans for nonprofits to help people purchase homes, and fund programs for people experiencing homelessness. HB23-1304 passed the House by a vote of 61 to 4. “Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, sponsor of HB23-1257 . “Mobile home park residents in my district have been forced to live in conditions where their water is colored red and smells like sewage, which is staining their clothing, breaking appliances, and making them and their family sick. No one should have to live like this. Our legislation would improve Colorado’s water quality standards to ensure that mobile park residents have access to clean and safe water.” “Veterans, senior citizens, people with a disability, and racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately represented in mobile home park communities where residents often do not trust the water in their homes,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of HB23-1257 . “This legislation creates a framework to address water quality concerns to better protect vulnerable communities from water that can cause long term health problems.” HB23-1257 addresses water quality concerns in mobile home parks by establishing a water quality testing program and creates a path to remediation for mobile park owners to fix water quality issues discovered through the testing program. Under this bill, all mobile home parks must be tested by July 1, 2028. If the water test does not comply with drinking standards and contamination levels set by the US Environmental Protection Agency, mobile park owners would have to notify residents within 48 hours of receiving the test results in English, Spanish, and any other applicable language. The bill also creates the Mobile Home Water Quality Grant Program to help mobile home park owners, eligible non-profit groups, and local governments to address water quality and wastewater issues in mobile home parks. Mobile home park residents have been raising concern over the poor water quality in their homes in recent years. A 2022 study by the Colorado Latino Policy Agenda found that 30% of Latino Coloradans do not trust or drink the water in their homes, but that number rises to 40% with Latino mobile home residents. Water quality issues are especially difficult to remediate for mobile home park residents because they do not own the pipes or parts that connect their home to the water source. HB23-1257 passed the House by a vote of 45 to 18. “Sky-rocketing rent prices are quickly pricing Coloradans out of their communities,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of SB23-184 . “People are picking up second or third jobs to meet the often excessive income requirements that landlords require just so they have a place to live. By capping income requirements and setting a limit on security deposits, we can create more realistic housing opportunities for hardworking Coloradans that want to stay in their community.” “Senior Coloradans, Coloradans with a disability, and others that rely on a fixed income through public assistance programs are finding it increasingly difficult to qualify for housing because their income isn’t matching the rising cost of housing,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor of SB23-184 . “People are desperate for housing, and some of our vulnerable Coloradans can’t just pick up additional work to offset the increasing cost of living. Our legislation is crucial in keeping our lower-income and fixed income communities healthy, safe, and housed.” Because there are no current regulations to prevent landlords from requiring prospective tenants to make three to five times as much as their annual rent, some hardworking Coloradans find it impossible to qualify for housing opportunities even if they can afford the rent through their income or housing assistance. SB23-184 would expand access to housing by limiting any minimum income requirement to two times the cost of the rent. For prospective tenants with a housing voucher or subsidy, this cap would only apply to their portion of the rent obligation, and landlords wouldn’t be able to inquire about or consider their credit score. Large security deposits can also price renters out of housing. This bill would break down cost-barriers by capping security deposits at two times the monthly rent. Although Coloradans who experience housing discrimination can sue or file a civil rights complaint, they’re not able to raise discrimination as a defense to an eviction. SB23-184 would further protect tenants from eviction by establishing that a violation of the bill's new prohibitions is an unfair housing practice and clarifying that fair housing violations, including source of income violations, are an affirmative defense to eviction. SB23-184 passed the House by a vote of 43 to 22. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2019 DEMOCRATS DELIVER BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS TO HELP LOWER COST OF HEALTH CARE Gov signs McCluskie, Roberts health care bills into law (May 17) – Gov. Polis signed bills sponsored by Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, into law today in Silverthorne and Vail. House Democrats are committed to lowering the cost of health care for hardworking families and these bills help deliver on that promise. First up was the bipartisan HB19-1168, State Innovation Waiver Reinsurance Program law which will help reduce insurance premiums on the individual market by 15-30 percent by helping insurers with high-cost insurance claims, providing much-needed relief to hardworking Coloradans across the state–many of whom are paying up to a third of their income on monthly premiums. 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. Colorado, particularly on the Western Slope, has some of the highest health insurance costs in the country forcing families and individuals to forgo health insurance coverage and putting them at major risk of medical debt if emergencies arise. “We put a great deal of effort into building a reinsurance program that will work for Coloradans. I am thrilled to see it be signed into law so working people can start to save money on health care. Reinsurance is a proven concept that will work to lower the cost of health insurance premiums, especially on the Western Slope,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “This new law will have a meaningful reduction in health insurance rates on the individual market across the state. We don’t have any more time to waste. People are deciding between paying their mortgage and their health insurance right now.” Rep. McCluskie introduced the bipartisan bill in the House with Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction. Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, and Sen. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, are the Senate sponsors. Gov. Polis then signed Rep. Dylan Roberts’ bipartisan HB19-1004. This new law will start developing a publicly supported health insurance option to help put affordable health insurance in reach for many hardworking families across our state. The public option will leverage the efficiencies of our current state infrastructure for greater savings, and will have a goal of becoming available for purchase by Coloradans as soon as the fall of 2020. “The cost of health insurance continues to rise to unaffordable levels, especially in rural Colorado. This new law is a smart approach that will bring competition to the marketplace to help lower the cost of health care,” said Rep. Roberts. “No one should be forced to sacrifice the security of health insurance for themselves and their family based on costs. Everyone deserves choice when they are buying insurance and that is what this law will bring. This bipartisan effort is a Colorado solution that was carefully crafted in a responsible way to create a new, affordable health insurance option in our state.” Earlier in the day, the Gov. signed SB19-004, a bill sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and Rep. McCluskie. This new law focuses on healthcare cooperatives, which aim to lower healthcare costs by encouraging consumers to negotiate rates on a collective basis directly with providers and offer plans to individuals, businesses, and other groups that are more affordable than what currently exists on the market. The law will strengthen Colorado’s laws to allow coops to incorporate consumer protections like coverage for preexisting conditions, and will allow the State Insurance Commissioner to work with groups seeking to create co-ops so that they can get up and running as soon as possible. “The formation of health insurance co-ops across our state where Coloradans collectively negotiate rates directly with providers will help drive down the cost of health care,” said Rep. Roberts. “This new law will authorize the formation of these co-ops which could result in plans that are significantly cheaper than those available today.” “Without any action on the federal level to the health care crisis, Colorado communities are finding creative, innovative approaches to making health care more accessible,” Rep. McCluskie said when the bill passed the House this April. “This bipartisan bill will help provide solutions to the complicated health care challenges hardworking families face everyday.” Sen. Kerry Donovan and Sen. Rankin are the Senate co-prime sponsors of the law. Previous Next

< Back June 8, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL TO SAVE SENIORS $100 MILLION ON HOUSING 140,000 Colorado seniors can now claim new refundable tax credit for housing DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed HB22-1205 , which will save seniors money on housing by creating a temporary new income tax credit. “Coloradans are feeling the pressures of rising costs from pandemic-induced inflation, supply chain challenges and rising gas prices, so we made saving people money our top priority this session,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “We reduced property taxes, made record investments to bring down the cost of housing, and passed legislation to put more money into people’s pockets. With this law, 140,000 low-income Colorado seniors save $100 million on housing. This will cut taxes and directly boost the incomes of older Coloradans who rent their homes or haven’t owned them long enough to qualify for the senior homestead exemption.” “This year we took important steps to alleviate the pressure many families are facing due to pandemic-induced inflation and the rising cost of living, and this new law is a key component of that progress,” said Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver . “This measure will save older Coloradans millions of dollars on housing, make Colorado a more affordable place to live, and ensure seniors can remain in the communities they have called home for years.” “This new law will put $100 million back into seniors’ pockets, save seniors money on housing, and help vulnerable Coloradans afford the rising cost of living in our state,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “With so many Coloradans facing rent increases, higher property taxes, or an unaffordable home market, we passed a package of bills this session to save people money on housing. In addition to the new tax credit signed into law today, Governor Polis has signed bills into law to reduce property taxes by $274 on average and direct $428 million in federal funds to build more affordable homes, develop middle-income housing, and construct innovative and modular homes.” “Rising housing costs are putting folks all across Colorado in a bind, and it’s hitting those on fixed incomes, like many seniors, especially hard,” said Senator James Coleman, D-Denver. “This new law will give those folks immediate relief by creating a new tax break that will save thousands of Colorado money on housing and help them stay in their homes and their communities.” HB22-1205 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Mike Weissman and Senators Chris Hansen and James Coleman, will save Colorado seniors over $100 million on their housing costs by creating a new refundable income tax credit. Seniors with incomes under $75,000 who have not claimed the senior homestead exemption will be eligible for the tax credit through their 2022 income tax returns. The credit starts at $1,000 for taxpayers with incomes below $25,000 and phases out slowly by $10 for every $500 of income above $25,000. Because the credit is refundable, taxpayers will receive the benefit even if the credit exceeds their tax liability. According to the bill’s fiscal note prepared by nonpartisan staff, nearly 60,000 Coloradans will receive the full $1,000 credit, and up to 77,000 additional Coloradans will see tax relief under the law. The chart below from the bill’s fiscal note shows the tax credit amount as it phases out by income level. Previous Next

< Back April 29, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HOUSING, CHILD CARE, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES DENVER, CO – The House today passed SB22-146, which will save middle-income Coloradans money on housing; HB22-1006, which will save families money on child care; and SB11-148, which will fund the construction of behavioral health facilities for Colorado’s land-based tribes, increasing access and reducing the cost of behavioral health care for Colorado tribes. “SB22-146 bill will save middle-income Coloradans money on housing by financing the construction of affordable housing,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of SB22-146. “More middle-income housing will help businesses attract employees and fill jobs in communities where workers simply can’t find an affordable place to live or face costly commutes.” Saving Coloradans Money on Housing: SB22-146, sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Marc Catlin, passed by a vote of 46-16. The bill will expand critical middle-income housing so that more Coloradans and communities have access to affordable housing where it’s needed most. The legislation provides $25 million for the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s Middle-Income Access Program, which serves middle income families and individuals with incomes too high to qualify for low income housing tax credits. Typically, the missing middle is made up of renters whose income is between 80 percent and 120 percent of area median income. To date, the Middle Income Access Program has leveraged $14 million in CHFA-invested funds to support five developments comprising over 600 units. This program has leveraged the original $14 million investment into $140 million for affordable housing. Developments leverage significant private sector investment and have brought much needed housing to communities such as Estes Park, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Gypsum and Denver. “We know that child care is exceedingly expensive and scarce in our state — particularly in our rural and mountain communities — and the cost and lack of services hurts working families,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D- Avon, sponsor of HB22-1006. “By passing this bipartisan bill into law, we will give significant tax relief to child care centers which will allow them to hire more employees, open up more spots for children, and save families money on child care.” Saving Coloradans Money on Child Care: HB22-1006, sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Kevin Van Winkle, passed by a vote of 59-3. The bill will increase child care affordability by incentivizing additional property owners through a property tax exemption to lease space to nonprofit child care centers. The legislation will boost the number of available rental spaces for non-profit child care centers that often serve children, families, rural communities, and communities furthest from opportunity. Right now, infant child care costs nearly 10% more than the average rent in Colorado. Increasing the amount of affordable, accessible child care providers gives hardworking families more options for quality care while saving Coloradans money on child care. “Using once-in-a-generation federal funding, we are prioritizing the behavioral health needs of Colorado’s land-based tribes who often experience disproportionately higher rates of mental health distress without access to the proper resources,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, sponsor of SB22-148. “This $5 million investment of federal funds will go directly toward the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for the purpose of creating or revamping a behavioral health facility to improve mental health outcomes and save Coloradans money on behavioral health care.” Colorado Land-based Tribe Behavioral Health Services Grant Program: SB22-148, sponsored by Representatives McLachlan and Marc Catlin, passed the House by a vote of 56-6. This bill is part of the legislature’s ongoing commitment to addressing Colorado’s behavioral health crisis using $450 million in federal pandemic relief funds secured in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). To further Colorado Tribes’ ability to provide culturally responsive behavioral health care in specialized facilities, this bill will provide a one-time $5 million grant to Colorado land-based Tribes to support building or renovating a tribal behavioral health facility for inpatient services and transitional housing. Previous Next

< Back June 8, 2021 HOUSE PASSES EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH, WATERSHED RESTORATION FUNDING DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to make emergency investments to improve access to behavioral health care and address damage to Colorado watersheds from wildfires. “Colorado is facing a mental health crisis, and right now, too many people in our state can’t get the care they need,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “We’re deploying $100 million in federal funds to shore up our behavioral health system and help Colorado youth access critical mental health care. Colorado is going to build back stronger by doing everything we can to significantly expand access to these services for all Coloradans.” “Access to behavioral health care saves lives,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Colorado has seen a 59 percent increase in fatal drug overdoses, as our communities see an alarming rise in the number of Coloradans with a mental health condition. Today, we passed legislation to direct $100 million to boost Colorado’s mental health capacity, so more people in our state can access substance abuse treatment, mental health services and the health care they need to get through the pandemic and bounce back stronger.” SB21-137 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Chis Kennedy, was amended to deploy over $100 million in federal stimulus funds immediately for emergency behavioral health services. The pandemic and its accompanying economic recession has taken a toll on the mental health of Coloradans, with mental health challenges and substance use disorders taking a particularly high toll on people of color and people who live and work in frontier and rural communities. In 2020, fatal drug overdoses increased by 59 percent in Colorado. The bill passed 42-23. As amended and to help address Colorado’s youth mental health crisis, the bill requires CDHS to develop a program to provide emergency resources to licensed providers who face barriers in providing treatment and services to youth whose behavioral health needs require them to be in a residential facility. The department is to contract with and reimburse licensed providers to deliver these services. The General Assembly appropriated $5 million to fund this program. Among its many provisions, the bill provides: recovery-oriented services to individuals with a SUD or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder, support for training programs for providers in rural and metro areas to develop competencies in mental health and substance abuse and grants to nonprofits to provide vouchers to individuals living in rural and frontier communities in need of behavioral health-care services. The amendments also create a Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund and a robust interim process to allocate federal stimulus funds for behavioral health. The Colorado Comeback Roadmap to Building Back Stronger envisions spending over half a billion on behavioral health services. “As climate change causes more devastating wildfires in Colorado, we are seeing significant damage to our watersheds, threatening not only our drinking water, but also the water Colorado ranches, farms, residents, and our outdoor recreation industry needs to prosper,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Half the state is already in a severe drought. We must act now to preserve the resources that make our state a desirable place to live. This bill invests $30 million to restore watersheds after devastating wildfires and sustain our precious water resources for all Colorado communities and industries.” Sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Marc Catlin, SB21-240 , transfers $30 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for the Watershed Restoration and Flood Mitigation Grant Program to help watersheds recover from the impacts of wildfire. The bill also sets aside funds to conduct a statewide watershed analysis that investigates the susceptibility of life, safety, infrastructure, and water supplies to wildfire impacts. The bill passed 60-5. Previous Next

Two laws will boost condo construction and ensure safe housing for renters < Back July 25, 2025 Legislation to Increase Affordable Condos, Expand Tenant Protections Goes Into Effect Two laws will boost condo construction and ensure safe housing for renters DENVER, CO – Legislation to reduce the cost of housing, expand homeownership opportunities through condo construction, and strengthen enforcement of landlord-tenant laws go into effect on August 6. HB25-1272 is sponsored by Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver, Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, Representative Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and House Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. The law reforms construction defect laws by encouraging condo builders to provide robust warranties and work with third-party inspectors to help prevent, identify, and correct any construction issues upfront, establishing clear guidelines for construction defect claims, and adjusting the statutes of limitation for construction defect claims. “From building equity and generational wealth to lowering housing costs, condos offer numerous benefits to Coloradans looking to buy their first home,” said Bird. “Rising rent and housing prices have made it nearly impossible for hardworking Coloradans to save enough money to buy a home at the median price tag of $550,000. After years of hard work, I'm thankful for everyone who worked closely with us to help craft this new law so we can spur new housing options that Coloradans can afford and offer more Coloradans a fair shot at the American Dream.” “HB25-1272 will make fair and balanced reforms to our construction defects laws, ensuring that high-quality homes are built, problems are fixed before sale and excessive costs that deter development can be reined in,” said Coleman. “This law is a proactive solution that incentivizes responsible development, making it a win-win for homeowners and builders alike. It’s intended to meet the demands of our communities, respond to changing demographics, and provide housing that is adaptable to different housing sizes and needs. With this law going into effect, we can create more attainable housing opportunities and ensure that more Coloradans can achieve the dream of homeownership.” “With a shortage of over 100,000 homes across our state and a decrease in condominium development, it's becoming increasingly difficult for first-time homebuyers to find housing they can afford,” said Boesenecker. “Offering a variety of housing options is a critical piece in making homeownership a reality for more Coloradans. With this law taking effect, we can increase the availability of high-quality starter homes in the market to create more affordable housing options that work for every budget.” “In Colorado’s mountain and rural communities, there are teachers, police officers, small business owners, nurses, and other crucial working folks who desperately want to be able to buy a home and put roots down, but there’s not any housing available for them to purchase,” said Roberts. “For years, construction defects laws have stunted the development of condos and townhomes, generally more affordable housing options for first-time buyers. This new law will change that and help ensure that we have a healthy mix of housing units, allowing more Coloradans to achieve their dream of homeownership.” Beginning January 1, 2026, the law creates the Multifamily Construction Incentive Program. Builders will be able to opt into this program if they offer a warranty for damage and defects and hire a third-party inspector to periodically review construction throughout the building process. In exchange for providing these additional safeguards upfront, builders in the program will receive additional protections against construction defect actions, which can be costly to litigate and discourage condo development. From 2007 to 2022, the number of condo developers working in Colorado declined by 84-percent in part due to the potential for expensive lawsuits. Meanwhile, the median age of first-time homebuyers in Colorado rose from 35 to 38 in the past year. SB25-020 is sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Representatives Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, and Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. This law will ensure safe housing and strengthen renter protections by expanding the Attorney General’s and local governments’ authority to enforce landlord-tenant laws. SB25-020 allows the Colorado Attorney General to seek any penalties or use any enforcement mechanisms available under landlord-tenant laws to enforce housing protections for victims of unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, or domestic violence, as well as documentation requirements for housing agreements, and extends protections regarding bed bug infestations in residential homes. The law gives counties and municipalities the ability to enforce these same landlord-tenant laws in addition to existing provisions the Attorney General may already enforce. “In recent years, we have worked hard to strengthen renters’ protections and level the playing field between tenants and landlords,” said Gonzales. “When apartment buildings fall into disrepair because of neglect and mismanagement, it throws tenants’ lives into chaos, jeopardizes safe living conditions, and disrupts their ability to simply get through their day. This new law empowers local governments and the Attorney General to enforce the laws we already have on the books by holding neglectful management companies who have a pattern and practice of disregarding our safe housing laws to account, with the goal of ensuring that all Coloradans can live in safe and healthy housing.” “As an Aurora legislator, I’m proud to sponsor this new law to ensure renters don’t have to spend multiple years fighting corporate landlords for basic rights,” said Lindsay. “When negligent landlords allowed several properties in my community to fall into disrepair, the city had limited tools to address the issues. This law builds on past work Colorado Democrats have done to ensure renters can live in safe conditions by empowering counties and municipalities to enforce tenant protection laws. No one deserves to live among rodents or without functioning heat or cooling systems, and this law will help ensure Coloradans have a safe place to live.” “For too long, bad actors in property management have ignored tenant complaints, neglected basic repairs, and left communities in crisis. This must end,” said Weissman. “Recent events in Aurora and Denver highlight the urgent need for stronger tools to protect renters. Violations of our state’s safe housing laws cannot be ignored – especially in a housing crisis where every rental unit matters. SB20 is narrowly focused on tackling cases of chronic neglect where tenants have been left without options for far too long.” “This law will hold negligent landlords accountable when they illegally ignore dangerous living conditions,” said Mabrey. “By giving the Attorney General, counties and municipalities more authority to enforce tenant protection laws, Colorado renters will have more advocates in their corner to fight for safe housing. Colorado Democrats are committed to not only making housing more affordable, but also ensuring that these affordable housing options are a safe and healthy place to live.” SB25-020 also establishes a process where, only in severe cases with a pattern of neglect, residential housing may be placed into receivership – a legal process where a court appoints a caretaker to oversee a neglected property to temporarily manage operations, make necessary repairs, and repay debts. The law outlines the process for receivership cases, including providing proper notice to parties, defining powers and responsibilities for entities appointed as receivers, and establishing the process for ending receiverships. Previous Next

The House today passed Representative Meghan Lukens’ bipartisan bill to improve access to Colorado's state parks and wildlife areas. < Back April 11, 2024 Lukens’ Bipartisan Parks Access Bill Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed Representative Meghan Lukens’ bipartisan bill to improve access to Colorado's state parks and wildlife areas. “With the passage of this bill, we are one step closer to saving Coloradans money on state park passes, and hunting and fishing licenses,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This bipartisan bill makes recreational opportunities more accessible for older Coloradans and veterans with disabilities. Colorado’s state parks are teaming with wildlife, outdoor activities and top tier recreation opportunities; this bill helps improve access to our state parks so everyone can enjoy what our beautiful state has to offer.” SB24-161 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, passed the House by a vote of 58 to 2. This bill would make several changes to certain fees, requirements, and procedures related to licenses and passes issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). The goal of SB24-161 is to make hunting, fishing and park passes in Colorado more accessible to those living with a disability and to save older Coloradans money on their passes. Specifically, the bill: lowers the age threshold for senior annual fishing licenses from 65 to 64 years of age; lowers the cost of youth big game and youth small game resident and nonresident hunting licenses by $0.25; Increases eligibility for discounted licenses to veterans with disabilities; allows CPW to establish a harvest permit surcharge of up to $5; and allows revenue from the Keep Colorado Wild pass sales to be used for capital construction costs. Previous Next

The House Finance Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Leslie Herod to expand eligibility for the successful Community Revitalization Grant Program that creates jobs and supports local economies, and creates a tax credit for capital improvements. HB24-1295 passed by a vote of 10-1. < Back March 21, 2024 Bill to Boost Colorado Communities Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Finance Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Leslie Herod to expand eligibility for the successful Community Revitalization Grant Program that creates jobs and supports local economies, and creates a tax credit for capital improvements. HB24-1295 passed by a vote of 10-1. “The Community Revitalization Tax Credit offers significant help to many communities across Colorado to help them get housing and creative projects built,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. "Our legislation expands on our past grant program’s eligibility criteria, so we can fund many projects waiting for funding to revitalize communities and downtowns across Colorado. With this bill, we’re creating job opportunities and boosting small businesses and local Colorado economies.” “The Community Revitalization Grant Program has provided crucial funding for local communities in every corner of our state, helping local businesses stay in their community while creating essential housing and child care opportunities,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. "This bill would bolster the grant program, dedicating new funding that Colorado communities need to keep the unique character of their town while keeping up with the demand for workforce housing, commercial spaces, and other resources.” In 2022, Representatives Brianna Titone and Leslie Herod sponsored legislation to allocate $20 million of federal American Rescue Plan funds to the Community Revitalization Grant Program, which the legislature created as part of the Democrats’ Colorado Comeback State Stimulus plan. The program provides gap funding for projects in creative districts, historic districts, main streets, or neighborhood commercial centers to create workforce housing, commercial spaces, and child care centers to support the state’s economic recovery. Projects that have already received funding can be found here . HB24-1295 would expand eligibility for the Community Revitalization Grant Program to include projects that are qualified for funding under the Space to Create Colorado Program. The Space to Create Colorado Program helps communities develop affordable housing opportunities, commercial spaces, community gathering spaces, childcare centers, non-profit organizations, and other projects that provide community resources. The bill also establishes a refundable tax credit program for tax years 2026 through 2032 for creative industries and mixed-use and creative-use spaces for the general public. The committee also passed HB24-1358 , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Marc Snyder, that would modify the Film Incentive Tax Credit to include additional eligible expenses and extend the tax credit. These dollars would help spur additional film production in Colorado, creating new jobs in the creative sector. Previous Next

< Back March 16, 2021 HOUSE MOVES TO END DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBTQ YOUTH AND PARENTS DENVER, CO– The House today passed HB21-1072, sponsored by Representative Meg Froelich, on second reading. The bill prohibits adoption agencies and foster youth service providers from discriminating against LGBTQ youth or prospective adoptive or foster parents. “No prospective parent should ever be denied the right to start a family, and no young person in Colorado should ever be denied the foster services they need because of who they are or who they love,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Today, as adoption and foster agencies across America update their policies to be more inclusive of LGBTQ youth and parents, we’re building on national momentum to make sure our laws are inclusive and lead to more warm, loving, tight-knit families.” HB21-1072, sponsored by Representative Meg Froelich, would require an out-of-home placement provider to ensure fair and equal access to all available programs, benefits, and services offered by the provider. The bill prohibits a foster service or adoption agency from denying any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or foster parent, or from delaying or denying the placement of a child on the basis of any real or perceived disability, race, creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, or any communicable disease, including HIV of the prospective adoptive or foster parent or the child. In addition, out-of-home placement must be provided in a way that is culturally responsive to the complex social identity of the youth. LGBTQ youth have faced barriers to access critical out-of-home placement services, with some denying services to LGBTQ youth. All Republicans on the committee voted to deny LGBTQ youth equal access to these critical services. Previous Next

< Back April 29, 2022 BILL TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS PASSES HOUSE Legislation will invest $50 million in federal pandemic relief funds toward preventing and responding to homelessness in the Denver-Metro DENVER, CO – The House passed a bill today to fund a homelessness navigation campus in the Denver-Metro. HB22-1378 passed by a vote of 40 to 22 and is part of the Colorado Democrats’ package of bills to prevent and respond to homelessness. “The pandemic has only accelerated our state’s homelessness crisis and this bill allocates $50 million in federal economic relief funds to provide proven human solutions,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora . “Our legislation meets our neighbors where they are and steps up to offer transitional housing, emergency shelter, medical care and skills training – all in one location. I am proud to sponsor legislation that will foster a navigation campus based on nationally-utilized strategies to prevent and address homelessness in our community.” “We need to diversify our tactics for addressing homelessness in Colorado, and this bill funds a one-stop-shop for our neighbors experiencing homelessness to get the services and resources they need,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial . “Whether someone is suffering from a substance use disorder, has struggled to keep a stable job, or is at-risk of becoming homeless, they can seek help at the navigation campus funded by this bill. Preventing homelessness starts at the local level and our $50 million investment in federal funds will jumpstart a navigation campus so Coloradans have resources and support right in their own neighborhood.” Denver-Metro Residential Campus : HB22-1378 , sponsored by Representatives Iman Jodeh and Tom Sullivan directs $50 million to local governments and nonprofits in the Denver-Metro area to build or acquire and then facilitate a regional navigation campus to holistically respond to and prevent homelessness. This campus will integrate emergency, transitional and permanent supportive housing with behavioral health care, substance use disorder treatment, medical care, case management, employment and skills training and more – all in one location. Previous Next

Statewide Housing Challenge Needs a Statewide Solution < Back March 22, 2023 Legislative Leaders, Gov. Polis, Environmental Advocates, Local Government Officials, Business, Labor, and Community Leaders Launch Comprehensive Package to Create More Housing Now Statewide Housing Challenge Needs a Statewide Solution DENVER - Today, Governor Polis, Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, Representative Iman Jodeh, Representative William Lindstedt, Representative Steven Woodrow, Representative Ruby Dickson, environmental leaders, local government officials, housing, business, and labor leaders launched a comprehensive plan to help create more housing now for every Colorado budget. Governor Polis, in partnership with the legislature, is focused on increasing housing options by cutting red tape and allowing and incentivizing efficient housing production that meets the needs of local communities. “By cutting red tape, legalizing more housing choices, strengthening property owners' rights, and planning for future growth, we can create more housing at a lower cost in Colorado communities near where people work or play,” said Governor Polis. “Thank you to this unprecedented broad coalition of business and labor, environmentalists and housing advocates, local elected officials and community leaders who have come together to support an effective Colorado solution to our housing challenges.” “Every Coloradan deserves a safe and affordable place to live, and this proposal will allow us to create a smart, holistic approach that will expand the menu of housing options families and communities are able to choose from,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “Working Coloradans are tired of being priced out of where they live. This bill will cut red tape and expand our housing supply to make sure more Colorado families have a place to call home.” “This collaborative proposal will save Coloradans money on housing and make it easier for people across our state to find a place to live that fits their budget,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Our housing shortage is driving up the cost of living, straining our economy and forcing people to leave their communities or commute further to work. We need to allow property owners the right to build different types of housing like ADUs, duplexes and triplexes to increase our housing stock and make housing more affordable while also respecting the character of local communities.” “From seniors who want to downsize to young adults looking to buy their first home, this plan will help Coloradans across the board find housing that works for them and their budget,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “Seniors and essential workers like teachers, firefighters, nurses and child care providers deserve to live in their communities instead of being pushed out. Coloradans are depending on us to work together and pass meaningful and effective legislation that creates more options for property owners to build more and different types of homes that will drive down housing costs in our state.” “Colorado is growing, but artificial limits on who can live where are straining communities, contributing to long commutes and poor air quality, and costing families money on housing and so much more,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D- Broomfield. “Making sure Colorado has enough housing is a statewide concern that impacts every community and the economic well-being of everyone in our state. Lifting anti-growth laws will help us build the housing Coloradans need, improve our air quality and environment, and stop the irreparable harm to hardworking people from arbitrary limits that drive up the cost of housing.” “This bold legislation will reduce the cost of housing and allow Coloradans to build the homes they want and need,” said Rep. Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial. “Policies that arbitrarily limit our housing supply have far-reaching consequences: they burden Colorado families with high housing and transportation costs, while making it harder to attract new businesses. Eliminating baseless limits on housing construction will save families money, create jobs, and make it easier for hardworking people to find a home in the communities they love. Coloradans are looking to us to craft commonsense policies that make our state more affordable, and this proposal will make a big difference in this effort.” The comprehensive plan establishes a framework for more housing in municipalities while providing flexibility for local leaders to implement the standards to meet their community's needs. The proposal establishes ways for the state and local communities to work together to develop strategies to meet housing goals more broadly and avoid regional imbalances in housing production. State lawmakers and the Governor were joined today by Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams, Boulder Mayor Brockett, Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue, Elise Jones who leads SWEEP, J.J. Ament CEO of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Jonathan Cappelli, Executive Director, Neighborhood Development Collaborative, Rob Gould, President of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and Dennis Eulberg, Executive Director for Colorado Professional Fire Fighters. Earlier today , many environmental champions, housing advocates, the business community and labor leaders, local government officials, and community members offered their support for this comprehensive plan. The proposal also includes opportunities for local communities to implement solutions that are able to address unique circumstances and build on prior local efforts that address housing abundance and affordability. By creating more housing supply, this proposal will lead to increases in home options for every budget so that Coloradans can live in the communities they want without being priced out. The plan also helps us improve air quality, protect open space, conserve our water and plan for future growth while helping prevent displacement. The plan outlines goals to create more housing now including: Legalizing the ability to build more affordable housing types like ADUS, duplexes, triplexes, or townhomes. Incentivizing more multifamily housing in or near transit-oriented and walkable communities to lessen the number of cars on the road, improving air quality, reducing pollution, and saving people money on commutes. Cutting red tape and reducing building limitations to decrease building time and cost and giving more options and flexibility for homeowners to build on their land. Assessing statewide housing needs and identifying affordability strategies tailored to local and regional needs. Provide a framework for state, regional, and local agencies to strategically align investments and policies and track progress. Constructing more homes and creating jobs by eliminating arbitrary laws that prevent property owners from building the housing units local communities need. Many Coloradans are being forced out of their neighborhoods with no hope of ever living close to where they work, which means more congestion on our roads, more money spent on commuting, more pollution, and greater economic challenges. Aging seniors who want to downsize, young people living on their own, and first-time homebuyers can’t find homes because there isn’t enough inventory and the available homes are too expensive. If we don’t act now, we risk facing the point of no return and becoming like California. This is not a problem that can be solved by one city, town, or local government alone. This is a statewide crisis that needs a state-level solution. Previous Next