The House Education Committee passed two bills today. < Back January 29, 2026 House Education Committee Passes Two Bills to Save Students Money and Support Rural Schools DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee passed two bills today. HB26-1016 would save college students and professors money on education materials, and HB26-1027 would address school staffing shortages in rural or smaller school districts. “Our bill saves college students and instructors money by making high-quality education materials, such as textbooks, available and easily accessible at no cost,” said Rep. Jacque Phillips, D-Thornton, sponsor of HB26-1016. “This legislation ensures the state develops and implements open educational resources to reduce barriers to a well-rounded education and support our higher education professors and students alike.” HB26-1016 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would help college students and professors access no-cost education materials, known as open education resources (OER). OERs include free and openly-licensed teaching, learning and research materials, such as textbooks and videos. OERs save students money, help reduce barriers to high-quality education and spur innovation. HB26-1016 passed committee by a vote of 11-2. This bill continues the development and tracks the implementation of OERs in higher education institutions in Colorado, including the number of classes that use no-cost textbooks. The bill also expands the number of professionals on the open educational resources council, which helps develop Colorado’s OERs to include more librarians and professionals from higher education institutions. “We’ve taken bold action under the gold dome to support our schools, teachers and students, especially those in rural and underserved districts,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer, sponsor of HB26-1027. “This legislation allows Board of Cooperative Services (BOCES) executive directors to support our rural and smaller schools and address public education educator shortages without losing their retirement benefits. These retired administrators have specialized lived experience and wisdom, and this bill ensures they can continue to share their talents with Colorado students.” “We’re looking at every avenue to support our rural schools and help address the educator shortage,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango, sponsor of HB26-1027 . “This bill makes it easier for retired BOCES executive directors to return to the classroom, without risking their retirement benefits. In rural communities like mine, it can be difficult to recruit and retain new school administrators, teachers, and support staff. This bill makes sure retired BOCES executive directors can re-enter the workforce and support their local schools.” HB26-1027 would help support Colorado schools by allowing a retired Board of Cooperative Services (BOCES) executive director to re-enter the schools without losing their retirement benefits. Under this bill, BOCES executive directors would join a list of specific education-related positions, including teachers, paraprofessionals, food service professionals, and bus drivers, who can fill vacant positions in local schools without the risk of losing their Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) benefits. BOCES exist to support rural or smaller school districts in Colorado by allowing multiple school districts to combine resources and share staff. HB26-1027 passed committee by a vote of 13-0. Previous Next

If Prop HH passes, Coloradans will receive a $661 TABOR rebate for single filers or $1,322 for joint filers, an increase for everyone making under $100,000 < Back May 6, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Property Tax Reduction Package Will Include Flat TABOR Rebates If Prop HH passes, Coloradans will receive a $661 TABOR rebate for single filers or $1,322 for joint filers, an increase for everyone making under $100,000 DENVER, CO - The House Appropriations Committee today passed a legislative package to lower property taxes for homeowners and businesses and create a flat TABOR refund mechanism that will increase refunds for Coloradans making under $100,000, while simultaneously protecting funding for critical community services. The package is sponsored by Representatives Chris deGruy Kennedy and Mike Weissman and Senators Stephen Fenberg, Chris Hansen, and Nick Hinrichsen. “Everyone deserves to benefit from lower property taxes. If Prop HH passes, Coloradans will all receive the same TABOR refund, putting more money back into the pockets of everyone making under $100,000 while saving homeowners over $1,000 on average on their property taxes,” said Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, sponsor of SB23-303 and HB23-1311. “While Colorado has some of the lowest residential property tax rates in the country, increases in home values will deeply impact homeowners and renters alike. With Prop HH, we’re proposing over $1 billion in savings for homeowners over the next two years and making TABOR refunds more equitable so middle and lower income Coloradans will see a larger refund.” “We’ve worked hard to provide Coloradans immediate property tax relief through Prop HH that will save families across our state more than a billion dollar each year - but not everyone owns property, which is why we’re working to get them relief, too,” Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, said. “This proposal will make TABOR refunds more equitable and directly benefit Coloradans by getting them bigger refunds when they’re needed most.” “Property taxes fund vital community services, from K-12 schools and fire departments to water districts and child welfare,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB23-303 and HB23-1311. “Our property tax proposal will reduce taxes on homeowners, with the bulk of the savings going to people who own homes valued under $600,000, seniors on fixed incomes and veterans. As part of this proposal, Coloradans will receive the same flat TABOR refund they did last year, offering help to Coloradans who don’t own a home and who are facing significant rent increases.” “TABOR refunds should be equitable,” Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, said. “Flat TABOR refunds will ensure that hardworking Coloradans from all walks of life are supported fairly. We’re taking care of property owners through Prop HH, and this proposal will help give folks more financial freedom to fill up their tank, put food on the table, buy school supplies, and pay their bills.” SB23-303 creates a long-term solution to prevent growing home values from raising property taxes, and creates limits that protect homeowners and businesses from steep unexpected increases in their property taxes. Coloradans will vote on this package in November, and if approved these measures will provide sustainable, long-term reductions to property tax rates while delivering immediate savings on property taxes this year. Combined with property tax reductions the legislature previously enacted via SB22-238 , this proposal will cut the average homeowner’s tax increase in half, saving $1,264 on average over the next two years. In total, this package would provide between $900 million and $1.6 billion annually in property tax reductions for homeowners and businesses in Colorado. Other property tax reductions and protections proposed in this plan include: Reducing the residential assessment rate from 7.15 percent to 6.7 percent in 2023 and 2024, and continuing this reduction for primary residences. Incrementally reducing the business property assessment rate from 29 percent to at least 26.9 percent by 2032. Reducing the taxable value of residences by $40,000 in 2023 and 2024, and continuing this reduction for primary residences in future years. Capping the growth in district property tax collections excluding school districts at inflation and allowing local governments to override the cap after giving notice to property owners. Protecting funding for public education and backfilling revenue to fire districts, water districts, ambulance and hospital districts in areas of the state that aren’t growing as fast by dedicating a portion of the state TABOR surplus to backfill them. Providing seniors who currently receive the Homestead Exemption a larger reduction of $140,000 and allowing them to continue to receive this reduction if they move. If Colorado voters adopt Prop HH, HB23-1311 would require the TABOR surplus for FY 2022-2023 to be refunded equally to qualifying taxpayers. Without this legislation, the FY 2022-2023 TABOR refund would be refunded by the six-tier sales tax refund mechanism, giving lower earners smaller refunds than higher earners. If voters do not approve of Prop HH in the November 2023 election, the six-tier mechanism will be applied to TABOR refunds; single filers that make under $50,000 per year would receive a TABOR refund of $454, while single filers that make over $270,000 would receive a TABOR refund of $1,434. Under HB23-1311, Colorado taxpayers could expect to receive a refund of $661 for single filers, and $1,322 for joint filers. This will return more money to everyone making under $100,000 than under the current six tier refund mechanism. Final refund amounts will be determined based on updated revenue statistics. Further, after accounting for the portion of refunds that will backfill property tax reductions, Coloradans who make less than $100,000 can expect to see an increase in their TABOR refund if Prop HH passes. This legislation creates a more equitable TABOR refund mechanism for FY 2022-2023 and supports hardworking Coloradans better afford everyday necessities. SB23-303 passed House Appropriations by a vote of 7 to 4. HB23-1311 passed House Appropriations by a vote of 6 to 4. Previous Next

House Democrats today elected Representative Elizabeth Velasco to serve as co-whip on the majority leadership team for the 75th General Assembly. < Back January 10, 2025 House Democrats Elect Representative Elizabeth Velasco to Leadership Team for 75th General Assembly DENVER, CO - House Democrats today elected Representative Elizabeth Velasco to serve as co-whip on the majority leadership team for the 75th General Assembly. “I am proud to welcome Representative Velasco to the leadership team to join me in uplifting Western Slope voices in the House,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Rep. Velasco is a strong advocate for Colorado’s rural communities and has worked to bolster Colorado’s emergency response systems, improve wildfire-related grants, and generate new funding for land and wildlife habitat conservation and restoration. Her dedication to her communities is evident in the thoughtful and effective legislation she has passed in her first term as a legislator. I’m thankful for Sen. Iman Jodeh’s hard work and dedication to serving our caucus, and I look forward to working alongside Rep. Velasco as she carries forward the work to make our communities a more affordable and safer place for all.” “Representative Velasco has demonstrated great leadership during her time in our caucus, passing legislation that saves Coloradans money, protects our freedoms, and prevents senseless gun violence, and her new role on the leadership team will help us accomplish more for the people of Colorado,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “As the first immigrant lawmaker from Mexico, Rep. Velasco will work tirelessly to protect our immigrant communities, safeguard our air and water and prioritize working families at the legislature.” “I’m honored to have been elected to the leadership team by my caucus, and I am committed to helping us pass legislation that advances our priorities and protects the rights and freedoms of Coloradans,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “As a Western Slope legislator, I will work to ensure voices in my community are heard by championing legislation that will protect Colorado’s waters, combat wildfire threats, and make our state a more affordable place to live. Being the first Mexican-born state representative to serve in Colorado, I know how important immigrants are in communities across our state and the struggles they face. I’m thankful that the Colorado House Democrats have put their trust in me to help guide our caucus as we build on our successes of reducing health care costs, supporting our ranchers and agriculture workers, and protecting the freedoms of all Coloradans.” Rep. Velasco succeeds Iman Jodeh, who was selected for the Colorado State Senate District 29 seat on January 6, 2025. Rep. Velasco joins co-whip Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, who was elected to the leadership team in November 2024. Rep. Velasco was elected to the State House in 2022 to represent House District 57, which encompasses Western Slope communities in Eagle, Garfield, and Pitkin counties. She is the first Mexican-born state representative in Colorado history, the first Latina legislator from the Western Slope, and the first open LGBTQ legislator in Western Colorado. Her accomplishments include making Colorado communities more resilient to wildfire damage , preventing gun violence by strengthening firearm storage requirements, boosting funding for community organizations that provide the tools immigrants need to build a life in Colorado, and improving water quality and tenant protections in mobile home parks. She serves as the Chair of the Wildfire Matters Interim Committee, Vice Chair of the House Energy & Environment Committee and a member of the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources and House Appropriations committees. Previous Next

< Back April 18, 2019 HOUSE GIVES EARLY APPROVAL TO GALINDO-SINGER BIPARTISAN BILL TO REAUTHORIZE COLORADO RESILIENCY OFFICE House also gives preliminary approval to Galindo bill to protect Colorado call center jobs (Apr. 18) – The House gave preliminary approval to Rep. Rochelle Galindo and Rep. Jonathan Singer’s bipartisan bill to reauthorize funding for the Colorado Resiliency Office. Over five years ago, Lyons, Evans, Greeley and other areas of Northern Colorado were hit hard by floods that damaged homes, destroyed two parks and left eight dead. Democrats have been working on disaster relief issues for the past several sessions. “After the floods hit our community, we stuck together and we rebuilt because that’s how we do things,” said Rep. Galindo. “We must continue to work together to help Colorado communities effectively prepare for the next natural disaster or the next flood.” “There are no Democratic or Republican floods, tornadoes or natural disasters. Parts of my district includes Longmont, Lyons and eastern Boulder County and was among the hardest hit areas in the state by the flood and I continue to be proud of the resiliency of our community,” said Rep. Singer. “I’m appreciative of the collaborative, bipartisan approach across the state to make this is reality. This bill will help make our state’s disaster response quicker and recovery more effective.” Rep. Singer is a co-prime sponsor of HB18-1394 which was signed into law last year. The bill created a policy group to help coordinate the state’s response in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and continued the Colorado Resiliency Office, which helps direct long-term rebuilding efforts and community recovery. In 2013, then-Speaker Mark Ferrandino and other lawmakers formed a bipartisan committee to address flood issues. Current State Treasurer and former Rep. Dave Young of Greeley served as co-chair of the committee. This Fall, Rep. Galindo succeeded Treasurer Young as a representative for HD-50 and parts of the district in Evans and Greeley were damaged by the floods. Earlier this month HB19-1292 passed a House committee 8-2 with Republican Rep. Lois Landgraf joining Democrats in support. The House approved HB19-1292l on voice-vote and a recorded vote will be taken at a later date. Previous Next

< Back February 11, 2020 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD Bill would hold corporate polluters accountable and give affected communities a voice DENVER, CO — Representatives Dominique Jackson and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez’s bill, HB20-1143 , today was approved by the House Energy and Environment Committee. The bill would move Colorado closer to guaranteeing environmental justice by increasing air and water violation fines to the level of those imposed by the federal government and creating an advisory committee made up of individuals from the communities impacted these violations. The advisory committee would then direct the funds generated by this legislation towards environmental mitigation efforts, which would seek to minimize or avoid the adverse effects of an air or water quality violation. The committee approved the bill by a vote of 7-4. “For far too long, big, corporate polluters have been infringing on the rights of Coloradans to enjoy clean air and water,” said Rep. Jackson (D-Aurora). “Today we’re making progress towards changing that. A broad coalition of advocates and organizations played a part in making this bill a reality. From the beginning, our objective has been simple: we set out to hold corporate polluters accountable and give communities affected by their pollution a say in how they will be made whole. I’m glad that the committee supported this mission today.” “It’s just common sense: if a corporation recklessly pollutes your backyard, you should get to decide what will be done to repair the damage,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez (D-Denver) . “Making corporations pay the price when they pollute our Colorado air and water while giving a voice to those who have been wronged is environmental justice, plain and simple. I’m proud to see this bill move forward today.” HB20-1143 raises daily state fines for air and water violations to the federal level, which is a little over $47,000. Currently, state fines are $15,000 a day for air violations and $10,000 a day for water violations. Additionally, the bill sets up an advisory committee made up of people impacted by the air and water violations, and that committee would be responsible for directing the money collected by the fines towards environmental mitigation projects. Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2023 Hospital Community-Benefit Bill Advances in House DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster community-based health care services across the state. “Large non-profit hospital systems must invest in community-based programs to qualify for tax exemptions, but broad guidelines often leave communities without the services they need,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “By strengthening accountability for how hospitals spend resources in the community and requiring them to incorporate more feedback, we can ensure these investments reduce costs for consumers, increase access to critical services and improve public health.” HB23-1243 centers hospitals’ community benefit spending around local under-privileged communities by incorporating community feedback into the community benefit implementation plan and restricting the amount of out-of-state spending that can be counted as “community benefit” spending. The bill would also require each reporting hospital to seek feedback from their community during its annual proposed community benefit implementation plan, submit a detailed report about any discussions or decisions at the annual meeting, make the report public, and execute a community benefit plan that addresses the needs of the community as discussed in the annual meeting to better understand the impact of the spending has on the health of Coloradans. Under the bill, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) would be required to hold stakeholder meetings to ensure low-income residents, people of color, people with disabilities, people with serious mental illness, and others experiencing disproportionate health outcomes are fairly represented in the hospital’s community benefit spending plan. HCPF would also create an annual report that summarizes the estimated federal and state tax exemptions of each reporting hospital, establish a minimum annual community investment requirement, and sets compliance requirements for hospitals. HCPF would be able to apply corrective action or fines for reporting hospitals that do not abide by the guidelines set by this bill. Additionally, the bill enhances existing public meeting requirements and ensures representation from the tribal council and Urban Indian Organization who have hospitals within their communities. Institutions of higher learning will also be represented to help bring meaningful input into discussions on spending. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILLS TO SAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MONEY, EXPAND YOUTH ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE BECOME LAW DENVER, CO – Today, Governor Jared Polis signed a pair of bills into law that would reduce licensing fees for mental health professionals and increase access to behavioral health for Colorado youth. HB22-1299 championed by Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley, as well as Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, would reduce license fees ranging from $62 to $262 for mental health professionals regulated by state boards. “This is a thank-you to the frontline mental health workers who have seen firsthand the increase in mental health needs that began pre-COVID and have only accelerated with COVID in our lives,” said Kolker. “We need to keep these essential workers in the profession, and this bill acknowledges their hard work and gives them a break so they can focus on their jobs, and care for patients that desperately need their help and support.” “This session, we prioritized improving behavioral health access, especially for youth and families,” said Young. “We’re waiving licensing fees for psychologists, professional counselors, social workers and other mental health professionals not only to save them money but in recognition of their tireless efforts to provide Coloradans with essential behavioral health services. We are also investing more than $11 million of federal pandemic relief dollars toward addressing Colorado’s youth behavioral health crisis by making it easier for families and youth to access treatment in their own communities. Together, these bills are part of our transformational investment to build a healthier Colorado for all.” “The pandemic has not only exacerbated stress for Coloradans, it has significantly increased the workload for our mental health workers,” said Fields. “To help them out, we’re going to make it easier and cheaper for mental health workers to apply or renew their licenses so our psychologists, counselors, therapists, and social workers can focus on providing critical services to patients, not on paperwork and fees.” Under HB22-1299, Colorado’s hardworking mental health professionals renewing or seeking a license will collectively save nearly $3.7 million. Pandemic pressures have contributed to an increase of Colorado adults seeking mental health services for symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. The Governor also signed SB22-147 , championed by Senator Kolker and Representative Young, which will allow pediatricians to better identify and treat behavioral health conditions and provide school-based support for kids and their families. “Far too many kids in Colorado are struggling with their mental health,” Kolker said. “We must act urgently to address this crisis and provide critical support to our state’s young people where and when they need it most. Together, we can work to end the stigma surrounding mental health, expand access to care, and save lives.” Over the last decade, youth suicide has increased an astonishing 51 percent, as youth behavioral health has reached a crisis level. SB22-147 aims to improve access to behavioral health care services for youth and families through three programs: $4.6 million for the Colorado Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation and Access Program (CoPPCAP): This program provides support and assistance to primary care providers and pediatricians to help identify and treat behavioral health needs. The program connects pediatricians with pediatric psychiatrists who can provide consultations, resources, and referrals for children with mental health or substance use disorder needs. $5 million for the Behavioral Health Care Professional Matching Grant Program : The bill contributes $5 million to an existing grant program to help schools increase the number of school health professionals who can provide behavioral health services to students. $1.5 million for the School-based Health Center Grant Program: The bill invests $1.5 million in funding to expand school-based health centers in Colorado. SB22-147 was developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force . Previous Next

< Back March 24, 2022 UNIVERSAL PRE-K MOVES FORWARD IN HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to deliver universal preschool to Colorado kids. The bill, sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota and Speaker Alec Garnett, would create the Department of Early Childhood to prepare our youngest students for success and save Colorado families thousands of dollars. “We’re one step closer to providing universal preschool in Colorado,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Early childhood education is one of the best tools we have for preparing our kids to thrive. To thoughtfully craft this important bill, we worked alongside local communities, providers and parents from across the state for many months. This work has paid off because beginning in 2023, every four-year-old in Colorado will be able to access high quality, free preschool!” “The reality of universal preschool in Colorado is not far off,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Our legislation is going to save families money by providing free preschool to every four-year-old in the state while giving kids access to the type of high quality early childhood education that sets them up for success in life. The new Department of Early Childhood will be a one-stop-shop for families to easily navigate and access their child’s free hours of preschool. We’ve heard from families in all four corners of our state, they want more early childhood options and we’re making it happen.” HB22-1295 establishes the Department of Early Childhood to elevate early childhood education and ensures that early childhood care is easy to navigate for all Colorado families. The bill will make universal preschool a reality for hardworking families, parents and kids. The new Department of Early Childhood will streamline the early childhood system, making it simpler for families to find and access providers by creating a single application for early childhood programs. The program will provide 10 hours per week of free, high-quality preschool to every child the year before entering kindergarten starting in the 2023 school year, saving families thousands of dollars. The legislation supports mixed delivery preschool options, prioritizing quality, and respecting parent choice, while strengthening and supporting local infrastructure to best serve each community’s individual needs. Speaker Garnett and Representative Sirota sponsored legislation in 2020 that established a unified early childhood system after voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition EE by a two to one margin to provide voluntary, high-quality preschool to Coloradans. The legislation is based on recommendations from early childhood education community leaders, parents, and providers that received unanimous approval from the Early Childhood Leadership Commission . Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to strengthen community and environmental protections during new fence construction in the San Luis Valley. < Back May 27, 2025 Signed! New Law Will Strengthen Community, Environmental Protections SAN LUIS, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to strengthen community and environmental protections during new fence construction in the San Luis Valley. “To protect our environment and the Colorado Way of Life in the San Luis Valley, we need to boost local control surrounding fence construction,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista . “When I visited the newly constructed fence in my community, I was appalled by the negative impact on our environment and the livelihoods of my neighbors. Many San Luis Valley residents have land rights beyond the fence dating back to before Colorado’s statehood. This law requires individuals to submit an application before constructing certain new fences to prioritize local voices.” “It is an honor to work on HB25-1023 alongside Representatives Martinez and Bacon, Senator Simpson, and dedicated and resilient Hispano community leaders. This bill is personal for me – my family’s roots go back in this part of the state for generations, long before it was Colorado or even Mexico,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “In spite of that exceptional and unique history, billionaires repeatedly violated sacred and hard-fought communal land agreements, and in so doing disrupted wildlife, ranching, and community life. HB25-1023 is about honoring those commitments and respecting the rights and agency of our communities.” “Communities in the San Luis Valley have long had the legal right to access lands they held before Colorado became a state, but a massive, private fence now encircles this property, preventing community access and harming the environment,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This law helps prevent further ecological damage and permits access for animal grazing while ensuring that Coloradans and their livestock can still traverse the land their families have called home for generations.” Cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, HB25-1023 requires individuals to submit an application to local government officials before constructing or installing a contiguous fence of a certain size in the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant lands. The law empowers local governments to determine if the benefits of a fencing project outweigh the harms in their community. Local governments must pass an ordinance or resolution opting into these requirements. Recent fence construction on one of the Sangre de Cristo land grant properties has caused environmental damage, including land erosion and limiting wildlife movement, and has kept out local residents with legal access to the land grant. This law takes aim at future, unauthorized fencing construction projects to protect the natural habitats in the San Luis Valley. Previous Next

< Back May 23, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! MARLO’S LAW: FAMILY AFFIRMATION ACT Legislation will modernize Colorado’s adoption laws for parents who use assisted reproduction PUEBLO, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill to simplify the adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproductive technologies. HB22-1153 , sponsored by House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, Representative Kerry Tipper, Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno and Senator Jeff Bridges, will create an accessible and streamlined adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction. Prior to this new law, some parents who conceive using assisted reproduction, often LGBTQ+ couples, had to go through an expensive and time-consuming stepparent adoption process to be recognized as legal parents of their children. Esgar’s wife, Heather, faced a burdensome adoption process to gain parental rights over their biological daughter. The bill was named “Marlo’s Law” after the couple’s daughter. “Prior to this law, my wife would have needed to go through the expensive and ill-fitting step parent adoption process just to be recognized as the legal mother of our child, even though she is Marlo’s biological parent,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Our story is not unique–many parents who conceive using assisted reproduction have walked in our shoes–and this law will make a meaningful impact on families across our state. Marlo’s Law updates the legal process for modern families in Colorado, and I couldn’t be more proud to champion this bill.” “Nobody should face barriers when it comes to being recognized as the parent of their own child, but before today, that’s what too many Colorado families were confronted with,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “Marlo’s Law streamlines a critical process for establishing parent-child relationships and provides equal rights for all families so that new parents can spend more time with their child and less time filling out paperwork.” “This law eliminates barriers for parents who conceive using assisted reproduction, so these families no longer have to go through a burdensome, expensive, and invasive adoption process to establish the parent-child legal relationship,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood . “We’ve modernized the legal process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction so both parents can receive equal protections and rights.” “New medical technology allows people to create families in ways our current laws never conceived of,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “With this bill, we’ve created an easy and straightforward way for couples who use assisted reproduction to enjoy the same equal rights and protections as every other Colorado family.” The adoption process for couples who use assisted reproduction currently requires home visits, court appearances, criminal record checks and countless complicated forms to confirm the parent-child relationship legally, making parenting exponentially more expensive and time consuming for non-traditional families. The law creates a simplified and more affordable process for these families to establish a legal parent-child relationship that must be recognized nationwide and instructs courts to confirm the adoption within 30 days. Previous Next

< Back April 1, 2019 SOLAR GARDENS GROWING: HOUSE APPROVES HANSEN-VALDEZ COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDENS BILL (Apr. 1) – The House approved the Community Solar Gardens bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. This bill modifies Colorado’s community solar garden program by increasing the maximum size of these facilities as well as eliminating burdensome regulations restricting their location. “All citizens should have access to, a direct ownership in, and a direct stake in our clean energy future,” said Rep. Hansen. “Only 25 percent of homes in Colorado are able to put solar panels on their roofs. This bill enables more Coloradans to purchase share in a community solar garden, thereby reducing their carbon emissions and pollution and fostering the creation of good paying jobs all across our state, particularly in rural Colorado.” HB19-1003 will take Colorado’s community solar garden program to the next stage of development by increasing the maximum size of a community solar garden from 2 megawatts to 5 megawatts. It also removes the requirement that a community solar gardens subscriber’s identified physical location be in the same county as that solar garden while keeping the requirement that it be within the service territory of the same electric utility. “We must act on climate and do our part to encourage a greater use of creative renewable energy sources like community solar gardens,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “This bill allows people whose property can’t accommodate the use of solar gardens to still have a hand in our energy future, especially low-and moderate-income Coloradans.” HB19-1003 was approved on a vote of 40-23. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back June 23, 2021 DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CREATED TO SUPPORT COLORADO FAMILIES DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed into law Speaker Garnett and Representative Sirota’s bill to create a new, cabinet-level state agency focused on early childhood education and care, setting up the framework for universal pre-K in Colorado. “This is a great day for Colorado’s kids, parents, educators, and early childhood advocates,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “Guided by their input, this year we set out to ensure Colorado families can access affordable, quality preschool education and early learning services. Today we delivered by creating an innovative new agency that will set us down the path toward guaranteeing universal pre-k to every family in Colorado. Investing in our kids means planting the seeds for a better, more prosperous Colorado to come.” “For too long, Colorado’s early childhood education and care system has been fractured and difficult to navigate,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “After today, our efforts to support, educate and care for our youngest Coloradans will be more efficiently organized and will have the resources and funding they need to make a difference. As a former early learning professional, I know that supporting families during the critical early learning years is among the most impactful things we can do to invest in our childrens’ success.” Based on the recommendations of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission, HB21-1304 creates the Department of Early Childhood as a new, cabinet-level state agency with a mission to expand access to high-quality, voluntary, affordable early childhood opportunities, support parents in accessing programs and services, promote equitable delivery of resources, and unify the fragmented administration of early childhood services to reduce duplicative oversight and administrative burden on families, providers, and educators. The new law also requires the creation of a plan to implement voluntary universal preschool statewide in alignment with Proposition EE, and streamlines existing and new funding sources for early childhood education and care programs. Under this legislation, the Governor will submit the community-informed transition plan to the Joint Budget Committee in November as part of his 2022 budget request, to be considered for further legislative action by the General Assembly in the 2022 session. Previous Next