Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera today signed bipartisan legislation to expand property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers, such as community land trusts, to build up Colorado’s affordable housing stock. < Back May 25, 2023 SIGNED! New Law Expands Property Tax Exemptions for Affordable Housing Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera today signed bipartisan legislation to expand property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers, such as community land trusts, to build up Colorado’s affordable housing stock. “Expensive land costs make it difficult for affordable housing developers to buy land to build housing opportunities that work for every budget,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield . “Our bipartisan law expands on existing property tax exemptions for nonprofits to incentivize building more affordable homes, saving educators, first responders, and child care workers money on housing.” “The cost of land is often the biggest barrier that keeps affordable housing projects from getting done, especially for nonprofit homebuilders who build housing for our state's workforce,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This new law represents a huge step forward for nonprofit homebuilders and will make it easier for nonprofit developers to do what they do best: build more housing for working Coloradans so that families can afford to live in the communities they call home.” HB23-1184 , sponsored by Representatives William Lindstedt and Lisa Frizell and Senator Dylan Roberts, expands property tax exemptions to include more nonprofit organizations that build and sell affordable housing. It also extends the exemption period from 5 to 10 years to better reflect the development timeline for larger affordable housing projects. The bill creates a new property tax exemption for land owned by community land trusts and other nonprofit affordable homeownership providers that develop permanently affordable for-sale homes. The National Low Income Housing Coalition ranked Colorado as the 8th least affordable state in 2022 and stated that the average renter needed to work 2.3 full-time jobs at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom rental. Data from the American Community Survey demonstrates the racial inequality when it comes to homeownership with 71 percent of non-Hispanic White Coloradans owning their home compared to only 51 percent of Hispanic and 43 percent of Black Coloradans. Previous Next

HB26-1345 would make updates to the performance model funding to capture Colorado’s entire student body, including part-time and transfer students < Back April 23, 2026 Bill to Modernize, Improve Higher Education Funding Formula Passes Committee DENVER, CO — The House Education Committee today passed legislation modernizing Colorado’s higher education funding model to meet the needs of Colorado students, especially those from diverse and underserved backgrounds and non-traditional students. “When we equip our students with the tools and resources they need to succeed, they can land good-paying jobs after graduation,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “ This bill modernizes the higher education funding formula so it better meets the needs of diverse, underserved and non-traditional students based on the recommendations from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education working group. Additionally, our legislation would expand qualified transfers to include more students and prioritize part-time students to better represent Colorado’s entire student body.” “Updating the higher education funding formula shows our commitment to improving student success, especially as their needs evolve,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “Part-time students account for more than half of the students enrolled in higher education institutions, but they’re not accurately accounted for in the funding model. This bill modernizes and improves Colorado’s higher education funding model to better represent Colorado’s student body and drive funding to the students who need it the most.” HB26-1345 implements changes and modifications to higher education funding as recommended by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education’s 2025 Report on the Higher Education Funding Allocation Formula . This bill aims to streamline and modernize higher education data systems and definitions to better meet the needs of Colorado’s student body, including part-time and transfer students. HB26-1345 passed committee by a vote of 13-0. One component of higher education funding relies on a results-informed funding model, and beginning in fiscal year 2027-2028, HB26-1345 would make modifications to this model by: Expanding qualified transfers: The current formula does not recognize four-year transfers as a successful touchpoint, despite 45-percent of Colorado students transferring between schools at least one time. This bill expands qualifying transfers to include those from four-year institutions who immediately transfer to another higher education institution with at least 18-credits earned at the previous institution. Without this modification, only students who earn 18-credits and transfer out of a community college would be counted in the credential completion weights. Prioritizing part-time students: 55-percent of Colorado’s higher education students attend part-time, but they are not included in any outcome measure rate. This bill would create an inclusive retention rate that measures the year-to-year prevalence of both part-time and full-time students. Modernizing graduation calculations: Collaborative programs, including the Bridge and Partnership programs, allow students to complete their degree in a field of study that is not offered by their home institution. However, this can skew the graduation calculations at their home campus. This bill would exclude students who are enrolled in a co-located degree partnership to ensure this population does not negatively impact the graduation calculations of their home campus. Streamlines formula definitions and data sources: This bill cleans up language and definitions in the current formula to make it more streamlined and clear for higher education institutions and policymakers. Specifically, HB26-1345 would make formula “levers” consistent, predictable, and focused on student-centered performance. Additionally, this bill standardizes data sources by transitioning the calculation of retention and graduation rates to the Department of Higher Education’s data system. To respond to shifts at the federal level, this bill also changes the definition of “Pell-eligible” student to “Pell-recipient” to ensure that this metric remains consistent. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee yesterday passed legislation to expand Colorado’s existing “Red Flag” law to proactively combat gun violence and save lives. < Back March 3, 2026 ICYMI: CO Dems Vote to Expand Red Flag Law, Reject Republican Bill to Repeal It DENVER, CO – The House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee yesterday passed legislation to expand Colorado’s existing “Red Flag” law to proactively combat gun violence and save lives. The committee also passed a bill to improve collaboration between law enforcement agencies to quickly identify firearms and generate leads for gun-related crimes. “As Republicans try to repeal Colorado’s life-saving Red Flag law, Colorado Democrats are expanding its impact to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of SB26-004. “Under this bill, educational institutions, in consultation with teachers and co-responders, would now be able to initiate the ERPO process if they believe someone is a risk to themselves or others. This bill would help protect our communities from gun violence.” “Colorado’s Red Flag law is one of the most effective tools that we have to prevent gun violence, which is why we passed our bill to make it more effective and voted down the House GOP’s effort to completely eliminate it,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, sponsor of SB26-004. “Red Flag laws allow certain professionals to file a petition if they believe someone poses a serious threat to our communities. Our bill adds to the list of qualified people who can try to intervene to prevent senseless gun violence and save Colorado lives.” SB26-004 would expand the list of community members eligible to petition for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) and create a new category of institutional petitioners. The bill would add co-responders and health care professionals employed by health care facilities to the list of community members who may petition the court for an ERPO. SB26-004 would also add health care facilities, behavioral health treatment facilities, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions as institutional petitioners that may petition a court for an ERPO. SB26-004 passed committee by a vote of 8-3. Passed in 2019, Colorado Democrats’ original ERPO legislation allows qualified individuals to petition a judge to temporarily remove a firearm from a potentially dangerous individual and interrupt gun violence before it has a chance to occur. In 2023, lawmakers passed legislation to expand the list of qualified individuals eligible to petition for an ERPO to include DAs and other law enforcement officials, licensed health care professionals, educators, and mental health professionals. The committee also voted down a dangerous bill, sponsored by Representative Scott Slaugh, R-Berthoud. HB26-1072 would have repealed Colorado’s Red Flag law and all subsequent changes to the law, like the addition of an ERPO hotline and expansions of qualified individuals who can file an ERPO. By September 1, 2026, HB26-1265 would require each law enforcement agency in Colorado to register with eTrace and opt in to eTrace’s feature that allows for collaboration. HB26-1265 passed committee by a vote of 7-3. "With Trump gutting crucial gun violence prevention tools, Colorado has to step up to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City, sponsor of HB26-1265. “eTrace helps law enforcement agencies identify the last known owner of a gun to identify gun traffickers, stolen firearms and other dangerous crimes. Collaboration across law enforcement jurisdictions, like eTrace, can save lives.” “Effective collaboration among law enforcement agencies is essential to solving gun-related crimes and protecting our communities,” said Rep. Chad Clifford, D-Centennial, sponsor of HB26-1265. “This bill expands access to the ATF's eTrace system by requiring all Colorado law enforcement agencies to register, submit data on recovered or confiscated firearms, and share tracing information with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. By doing so, we equip officers with critical tools to trace firearms used in crimes, disrupt illegal trafficking, and enhance public safety across the state.” Law enforcement agencies would be required to record information into eTrace when they: Recover or confiscate firearms in connection with a criminal investigation, Seize or forfeit firearms in connection with domestic violence crimes, and Obtain an abandoned or discarded firearm. eTrace, a bilingual service, allows for collaboration among all participating law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement can submit trace requests through eTrace to quickly determine the firearm’s origin, helping identify potential firearms traffickers and suspects in criminal investigations. Nearly 640,000 firearm trace requests were completed in fiscal year 2024. Last year, the Trump Administration revoked a policy that prevented gun dealers from selling guns to criminals. Trump also proposed a $400 million cut to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, leaving more pressure on states to address firearm trafficking. The committee also passed HB26-1126 , sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Steven Woodrow, to better enforce Colorado’s permit to sell law. The bill would expand opportunities for firearm dealers to comply with state law without compromising Coloradans’ safety. Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Tisha Mauro that would modify the Economic Development Rate to help attract businesses to Colorado and create more good-paying jobs. HB25-1177 passed by a vote of 62-3. < Back April 3, 2025 Mauro’s Bipartisan Bill to Attract Businesses, Jobs to Colorado Passes DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Tisha Mauro that would modify the Economic Development Rate to help attract businesses to Colorado and create more good-paying jobs. HB25-1177 passed by a vote of 62-3. “The Economic Development Rate allows utilities to offer competitive electric rates to large customers and can be a powerful tool to help drive business to Colorado and create more jobs, but the current qualification requirements severely limit eligible projects,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo. “This bill expands eligible project size and reduces application review timelines to increase the number of projects that can benefit from these lower rates. By attracting more businesses to operate in Pueblo and other Colorado communities, we can create more good-paying jobs, lower electric rates for businesses, and generate more economic growth in our state.” HB25-1177 , also sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, would make adjustments to the economic development rate (EDR) tariff by: Increasing the maximum project size without requiring approval from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) from 20 megawatts to 40 megawatts, Expanding the maximum timeframe for rate eligibility from 10 years to 25 years, and Establishing 120-day deadlines for PUC action for projects larger than 40 megawatts to ensure timely review and approval. To be eligible for the EDR, businesses would have to undergo the societal economic benefit test, which takes into account the economic benefits that the EDR provides for the surrounding community, as well as an evaluation of the marginal cost to ensure other ratepayers in the utility’s territory aren’t negatively impacted. The legislature created the Economic Development Rate in 2018, allowing regulated electric utilities to offer lower rates for up to 10 years to commercial and industrial users who do business in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back January 27, 2020 REP. ROBERTS’ RURAL JUMP-START EXPANSION BILL ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would allow more businesses to access the benefits of the Rural Jump-Start Program DENVER, CO — Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Janice Rich that would improve and expand eligibility for the Rural Jump-Start Program today advanced from the House Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee. The legislation passed 10-0. “The Rural Jump-Start Program is already giving businesses in rural Colorado the support they need to create and keep jobs here in our state,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts (D-Avon). “The bill we moved forward today will ensure that more businesses can take advantage of the program’s benefits and will extend it for more years to come. I look forward to seeing this legislation continue to advance and am grateful for the support that it has received on both sides of the aisle.” HB20-1003 would eliminate provisions that limit eligibility for the Rural Jump-Start Program in order to enable more businesses to take advantage of the incentives and benefits offered in economically distressed areas of rural Colorado. HB20-1003 also extends the program for five years and allows economic development organizations to form Rural Jump-Start Zone programs to authorize new businesses to participate. Representative Janice Rich (R-Grand Junction) is a co-prime sponsor of the legislation. The Rural Jump-Start Program incentivizes businesses to create and maintain jobs in rural parts of Colorado by providing tax relief both to the businesses themselves and to their employees. These businesses must be located in designated economically distressed areas of Colorado known as Rural Jump-Start Zones. Previous Next

Today, legislation to improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and improve access to publicly funded vaccines was signed into law by Governor Polis. < Back May 10, 2023 Signed! Legislation to Improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, Bring Down Costs for Medication & Vaccines AURORA, CO - Today, legislation to improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and improve access to publicly funded vaccines was signed into law by Governor Polis. HB23-1225 , sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Reps. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial, increases the effectiveness of PDAB to help lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Coloradans. The bill allows PDAB to increase the limit on setting Upper Payment Limits (UPLs) to 18 per year if the board reaches the current annual cap of 12 UPLs and demonstrates a need for additional UPLs. Additionally, the bill improves the criteria for selecting drugs for an affordability review. “Over the past few years we have worked hard to save Coloradans money on life-saving prescription drugs,” said Jaquez Lewis. “Still, too many families’ budgets are squeezed by high costs of medication. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board is an essential tool to keep Colorado prescription drug prices affordable, and these changes will make the Board even more effective at saving families money on their life-saving medications.” “The Prescription Drug Affordability Board was created in 2021 to review prescription drug costs and set upper price limits to prevent price gouging of essential medication,” said deGruy Kennedy. “This year, we’re increasing the number of prescription drugs that the PDAB can create upper price limits for so more Coloradans can benefit from the cost saving measures we’ve enacted.” “House Bill 1225 makes important changes that will increase the impact of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board,” Buckner said. “Too many Colorado families are forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying for life-saving medication, and that has to change. I’m proud to be a part of the effort to continue saving Coloradans money on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.” “The legislature created the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to lower out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, but current law restricts the Board's ability to function,” Dickson said. “This new law extends the Board's lifespan and expands the number of prescriptions it can review, so Coloradans can better access affordable, quality health care.” Governor Polis also signed into law SB23-260 , sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. The bill allows practitioners to ask individuals who seek to receive a publicly funded vaccine to provide proof of health insurance or a government-issued identification card, but does not limit an individual from receiving a publicly funded vaccine if they don’t have those items. The bill clarifies that independent pharmacies may charge vaccine administration fees and not provide publicly funded vaccines to individuals who are unable to pay. However, those pharmacies must provide individuals who are unable to pay with a list of practitioners who will provide the publicly funded vaccine regardless of payment ability. Previous Next

< Back July 2, 2020 BILLS TO PROTECT AT-RISK CHILDREN & HELP VULNERABLE FAMILIES SIGNED INTO LAW Denver, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed three bills into law that will improve the child welfare system, protect essential benefits for Coloradans who need them, and provide a one-time payment of $500 to the state’s most vulnerable families to help them during the COVID-19 pandemic. SB20-162 , sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Kim Ransom, makes a number of changes to the child welfare system to better protect vulnerable youth and connect them with the services they need. The new law aims to lower the rate of foster care and group home placement by allowing the state to use federal Family First funding to deliver supportive services in a family’s home, keeping families together whenever safely possible and consistent with the goals for the child or youth. “I’ve worked in the child and youth welfare system, and I’ve seen how important it is to keep children and youth in their homes and help families stay together,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “This bipartisan new law allows our state to use federal funding to deliver evidence-based services in the most appropriate setting. It will help our state keep up with best practices, protect our most vulnerable children and youth, keep children and youth in their communities, and most importantly, reduce placements in group homes and residential facilities.” Currently, when a person is found to have intentionally committed a violation in seeking access to a public assistance program, that person is then barred from accessing any public benefits. SB20-206 , sponsored by Representatives Jonathan Singer and Lois Landgraf, clarifies that recipients are only disqualified from participating in the program in which they were found to have committed the violation. “Everyone deserves a fair shot; we shouldn’t bar our most vulnerable from assistance without due process,” said Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont. “We have to do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now more Coloradans will be able to keep a roof over their heads and food on their family’s table when they’re in crisis.” The governor also signed SB20-029 , sponsored by Representatives James Coleman and Monica Duran, which provides a one-time assistance of $500 to participants in Colorado Works, the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The program connects clients with job and training opportunities, providing support that helps participants become self-sufficient. Colorado Works assistance has not been adjusted for inflation since it was created in 1996, while the cost of living in Colorado has grown significantly since then. In 2019, approximately 35,000 Coloradans received TANF benefits each month, but that figure has likely grown due to the pandemic. “We are in an unprecedented economic and public health crisis, and Colorado families experiencing poverty need immediate help to afford basic needs,” said Rep. James Coleman, D-Denver. “This one-time payment will help vulnerable families make ends meet as our state works to recover from the pandemic.” “Hardworking families across our state are struggling right now to pay their rent or mortgage or to put food on the table,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “We can’t let Coloradans who are experiencing hard times fall further behind during this pandemic and into greater economic hardship or homelessness.” Previous Next

< Back February 25, 2021 BIPARTISAN BILL TO HELP CONDUCT BUSINESS ELECTRONICALLY PASSESS COMMITTEE DENVER, CO– The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird and Matt Soper that would make it easier for entities to conduct business electronically. “With so much in our lives being conducted online at the moment, it just makes sense to give businesses the tools they need to conduct their affairs remotely,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster . “Building back a stronger Colorado means supporting small businesses in every area we can- big and small. Today we made strides towards bringing Colorado’s corporate and business law into the modern digital age, and I’m proud to have played a part.” HB21-1124 updates state law to allow businesses to conduct statutorily required activities electronically. The bill would update the Colorado Business Corporations Act and the Colorado Corporations and Associations Act to allow businesses and entities to electronically distribute notices required under these laws. It would also allow business to conduct shareholder meetings via remote attendance. HB21-1124 updates state law to allow businesses to conduct statutorily required activities electronically. The bill would update the Colorado Business Corporations Act and the Colorado Corporations and Associations Act to allow businesses and entities to electronically distribute notices required under these laws. It would also allow business to conduct shareholder meetings via remote attendance. Previous Next

< Back April 25, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR KIDS More than one million Coloradans experience mental health or a substance use crisis each year (Apr. 25) – The House gave preliminary approval to a bill that would increase access to mental health services for children. Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet’s bill would create a pilot program that provides a social worker in participating schools to follow kids from kindergarten to fifth grade. “We know that services provided sooner rather than later have greater results. Imagine a situation where the social worker engages with the family and identifies safety net insecurities and follows up with wrap-around services,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “The social workers can check-in and prevent an emotional cycle that may go out of control. Support is provided sooner rather than later, and no child slips through the cracks.” HB19-1017 asks the Department of Education to find a pilot district that meets the characteristics including high poverty, ethnic diversity, and a large concentration of students in the foster care system. Within that district, one social worker for every 250 students in the school will be readily available to those students throughout their elementary period. The bill passed on a voice-vote and will receive a final vote at a later date. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to improve transparency with county coroners and their potential financial interests in funeral homes and mortuaries. SB26-105, sponsored by Representatives Matt Martinez and Tisha Mauro in response to the incident with the Pueblo County Coroner, passed by a vote of 11-0. < Back March 31, 2026 Martinez, Mauro Bill to Improve Funeral Home Transparency Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to improve transparency with county coroners and their potential financial interests in funeral homes and mortuaries. SB26-105, sponsored by Representatives Matt Martinez and Tisha Mauro in response to the incident with the Pueblo County Coroner, passed by a vote of 11-0. “Colorado funeral homes have unfortunately been in the headlines for tragic abuses, and Colorado Democrats are taking action to prevent future tragedies,” said Rep. Matt Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “If a county coroner has financial ties to a death care business, it is important that that interest is disclosed to help with potential investigations and improve transparency. Everyone deserves fair treatment, even in death, and this bill is another step that Colorado Democrats are taking to make sure that our funeral homes are following the law.” “Coloradans deserve dignity in death,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo. “With the recent news of numerous Colorado death care businesses mishandling bodies, we’re requiring county coroners in Colorado to disclose financial ties to these businesses. We’re building on the work that we’ve already done to ensure Colorado’s funeral homes and crematories are following proper protocol by creating another tool to improve oversight of the death care industry.” SB26-105 would require a county coroner to disclose if they own, work for, manage, contract with, or otherwise have a financial interest in a death care business. Under the bill, county coroners would post a notice on the coroner’s website and would be prohibited from taking an official action that would impact that business. The bill also changes the county population threshold for the certification requirements for coroners from at least 150,000 to at least 300,000 people, alleviating problems for smaller counties where there may not be enough residents eligible to serve as a coroner according to current law. In 2022, the Colorado General Assembly passed a law directing the state to inspect and investigate funeral homes and crematories for malpractice based on complaints. A 2024 law requires regular inspections of Colorado’s funeral homes and crematories. When the state conducted an annual inspection at Davis Mortuary in Pueblo in August 2025, it found several mishandled bodies , some of which had been decomposing for over 15 years. The mortuary was owned by then-Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter, who is alleged to have used his position to direct deceased people without next-of-kin to his mortuary. The investigation is ongoing. Previous Next

The Recidivism Interim Study Committee today unanimously advanced three bills to improve our understanding of criminal activity by creating a uniform definition of “recidivism”, exploring alternative methods of measuring public safety and desistance from crime, and studying how defendants move through the criminal justice system. < Back October 25, 2023 Interim Committee Advances Bills to Reduce Recidivism and Improve Public Safety DENVER, CO - The Recidivism Interim Study Committee today unanimously advanced three bills to improve our understanding of criminal activity by creating a uniform definition of “recidivism”, exploring alternative methods of measuring public safety and desistance from crime, and studying how defendants move through the criminal justice system. “In order to effectively understand and utilize data on recidivism, we have to start on the same page,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, sponsor of all three bills. “The legislation we’re advancing today will ensure agencies operate with the same definition and understanding of ‘recidivism’, and that the legislature has a comprehensive knowledge of the way Coloradans move through our criminal justice system. With these updates to help us better understand our criminal justice system, we’ll be able to develop more effective legislation that results in just outcomes for Coloradans and safer communities for all.” “Agencies throughout Colorado use varying definitions for ‘recidivism’, making it more difficult to use as a data point when drafting legislation to address public safety concerns,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, sponsor of Bill 1 and 3. “We’re streamlining the definition across Colorado agencies to make ‘recidivism’ a useful tool in policy-making and continued evaluation of our justice system to create a safer Colorado.” Currently, the definition of “recidivism” fluctuates greatly between the Division of Youth Services, Department of Corrections, community corrections, and other agencies. Bill 1 , sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senator Julie Gonzales, and Representatives Judy Amabile and Matthew Martinez, would require the Division of Criminal Justice to create a working group with the purpose of establishing a definition of “recidivism” that can be used by all state entities, making it easier to use data to understand the efficacy of current procedures and legislative or policy changes. “Understanding recidivism rates is a useful tool in measuring successful strategies to decrease future criminal activity, and with this legislation, we are considering additional metrics to create meaningful and effective policy,” said Vice Chair Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of Bill 1 and 2. “Factors like housing status, education, mental health, and social considerations can contribute to the likelihood of someone committing a crime. By expanding our scope and using a consistent definition of ‘recidivism’, we can identify what factors have a positive influence on individuals so we can reduce crime and slow the revolving door of people in and out of prison.” “Time and time again, data has shown us that the most successful strategies to decrease crime are comprehensive approaches,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, sponsor of all three bills. “Our new legislation will bring in diverse voices and provide the necessary resources to take a close look at the efficiency of Colorado’s criminal justice system and, going forward, will help us determine more holistic methods to decrease crime and help Coloradans successfully reintegrate into their communities.” Bill 2 , sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senator Julie Gonzales, and Representative Judy Amabile, would create the Alternative Metrics to Measure Criminal Justice System Performance Working Group to study metrics and methods other than recidivism. These alternative metrics and methods, used in addition to recidivism data, would measure risk-reduction outcomes and life factors that influence successful outcomes, and more effectively determine the efficiency of the criminal justice system. The working group would be required to submit a report to the House Health and Insurance, House Judiciary, Senate Health and Human Services, and Senate Judiciary committees by July 1, 2025 with a summary of their work and any recommendations. The committee also voted to advance Bill 3 , sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senator Julie Gonzales, and Representative Matthew Martinez, requiring the Division of Criminal Justice (division) to conduct a study to examine how individuals proceed through the stages of criminal and juvenile justice proceedings, including sentences and alternative sentencing programs, and make recommendations for creating a more efficient system. The division must submit a report of its findings by June 30, 2025. 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

< Back October 10, 2019 REP. MCCLUSKIE: FAMILIES IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL SAVE OVER $10,000 ON HEALTH CARE NEXT YEAR Savings are largely attributable to Rep. McCluskie’s reinsurance legislation, premiums for plans sold on the individual market will fall by 20.2 percent statewide DENVER, CO– Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, today released the following statement after Governor Polis announced that the final health insurance rates for plans sold on the individual market will fall by 20.2 percent and that families living in the mountains and some rural areas will save over $10,000: “This is big news. Health insurance rates sold on the individual market will be falling dramatically, and the typical family of four living in the mountains and some rural areas of our state will see a savings of over $10,000 next year. Every Coloradan deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care services close to home, and the General Assembly worked tirelessly this past year to deliver on this basic human right. From colorado hospitals and insurance carriers, to the lawmakers who cosponsored this legislation, I am grateful for the collaborative efforts of all the partners and stakeholders who helped secure this reduction in health care costs.” Rep. McCluskie was the prime sponsor of HB19-1168, State Innovation Waiver Reinsurance Program, which was signed by Governor Polis last May. The bipartisan legislation establishes a state reinsurance program, which has successfully lowered health care premiums for plans sold on the individual market. Rep. McCluskie and Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, were also the co-prime sponsors of SB19-004, a bill that facilitated the establishment of the Peak Health Alliance, a health care cooperative that aims to lower costs in rural parts of the state. After starting successfully in Summit County, Peak Health is now expanding into several other counties, including Grand, Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties. In the announcement today, Governor Polis said that the typical family of four living in the mountains who purchase their insurance on the individual market will see a yearly savings of $10,302, and that health care premiums for plans sold on the individual market will fall by 20.2 percent statewide. Previous Next