< Back February 26, 2019 DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE LOCAL WAGE OPTION LEGISLATION Growth in worker wages spurs consumer spending & a healthier economy (Feb. 25) – Today, Rep. Rochelle Galindo, D-Greeley, and Rep. Jovan Melton, D-Aurora, were joined by county commissioners, workers and business owners to unveil new legislation to provide local governments the option to raise the minimum wage within their jurisdictions. The Senate sponsors of the bill are Sen. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City and Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge. “We are giving the power to set the local minimum wage to our municipalities and counties,” said Rep. Galindo. “Our state is so diverse and what works for Denver is not necessarily going to work for Greeley or Trinidad. The Local Wage Option is a tool that can help Colorado’s workers and communities thrive.” HB19-1210 would allow local governments to adjust their minimum wage to more effectively address the local cost of living, rather than have to adhere to a statewide standard in a state where local real estate markets and health care costs vary dramatically. “This really is a simple concept. Colorado is a very diverse state with a lot of diverse local economies and one size does not fit all,” said Rep. Melton. “It’s important that we address that state dynamic by giving more of a say to our local communities to determine what best fits their needs, and what best helps their communities and their families.” The bill would allow counties and cities to increase the minimum wage in their localities beyond the state minimum wage, currently at $11.10 an hour. “Colorado has a rich history of local control, and this legislation carries that tradition forward,” said Kevin Bommer, Deputy Director of the Colorado Municipal League, which has endorsed the bill. “Municipal leaders will have the ability to determine, along with businesses and citizens in the community, whether or not to increase their local minimum wage.” Research shows that wage growth spurs consumer spending and a healthier economy and that concerns of potential negative impacts to businesses or jobs are not borne out in the data on this issue. The bill was introduced today in the House. The bill text can be found here. It will now await a hearing in the Transportation & Local Government committee. Previous Next

< Back June 1, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: POLIS SIGNS BILL TO SAVE FAMILIES MONEY ON CHILD CARE VAIL, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed HB22-1006 into law. The legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Kevin Van Winkle and Senators Kerry Donovan and Jim Smallwood, will reduce child care centers’ costs by reducing their property taxes. “Cutting taxes for child care centers just makes sense, and I am so glad my bill to do just that has been signed into law,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “Child care is one of the largest costs young families are facing, and finding child care can be extremely challenging or impossible, particularly in rural Colorado. That’s why I introduced this bill. With these savings, we expect child care centers across the state to be able to lower prices, hire more employees, and create more child care openings for families. Further, it will be a powerful financial incentive for new child care centers to open their doors.” “With pandemic-induced inflation hitting families hard, Democrats are laser focused on making Colorado a more affordable place to live,” said Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. “This new law will give child care providers a much-needed break, and help address our workforce shortage by allowing them to open up new facilities and free up parents to return to work.” HB22-1006 will make child care more affordable by incentivizing additional property owners to lease space to nonprofit child care centers through a property tax exemption. 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 availability of affordable, accessible child care providers gives hardworking families more options for quality care while saving Coloradans money on child care. Previous Next

< Back April 18, 2019 REP. FROELICH’S BILL TO INCREASE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION BENEFITS AT CSU-GLOBAL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY Since 2018, CSU-Global has graduated over 18,000 students (Apr. 18) – Rep. Meg Froelich’s bipartisan bill, to allow Colorado State University’s Global Campus to offer students who are National Guard Members tuition benefits unanimously passed in the House. Currently, CSU-Global students cannot seek financial aid or receive tuition benefits through the National Guard’s state statute as an institution for which the National Guard members can utilize their tuition benefits. “Giving our troops the ability to utilize their tuition benefits at CSU-Global will allow these individuals to serve while simultaneously working to complete their higher education,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “I want to help National Guard Members be successful while they continue serving our great state.” Nearly 40 percent of CSU-Global students are Colorado residents who reside in 63 out of the 64 counties in the state. Roughly 15 percent of these students are military affiliated. “CSU-Global is designed to serve non-traditional students. That makes it a really good fit for National Guard members because many members are overseas to keep us safe here in Colorado,” Rep. Froelich added. The bipartisan bill now heads to the Governor’s desk. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to protect funding for core services, like K-12 education and healthcare, if Initiative 175 is approved in the November election. HB26-1430, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker and Rep. Emily Sirota, passed by a vote of 9-4. < Back May 5, 2026 Bill to Safeguard K-12 Education, Healthcare Funding from Initiative 175 Cuts Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to protect funding for core services, like K-12 education and healthcare, if Initiative 175 is approved in the November election. HB26-1430, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker and Rep. Emily Sirota, passed by a vote of 9-4. “We all want to see more funding for roads, but Initiative 175 is dangerous and irresponsible and could lead to devastating cuts to K-12 education, higher education, healthcare and public safety,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Initiative 175 would lead to a new budget stabilization factor for K-12, rural hospitals closing, and higher tuition costs in order to fund highway construction. We all want better roads, and we’re working hard to make that happen, but we can’t do that at the expense of K-12 education funding and life-saving healthcare services that Coloradans depend on. Our bill is a last-resort fail-safe to encourage initiative 175 proponents to come to the table with a more responsible alternative that won’t close hospitals and schools or slash funding for road safety initiatives that save lives.” “This year’s budget was one of the hardest budget processes I have ever been through, and Initiative 175 completely undermines all of the hard work that we did to protect Medicaid coverage and education funding,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Initiative 175 would make the budget crisis even more dire, diverting over $700 million from K-12 education and healthcare to benefit one special interest group instead. Initiative 175 misleads voters by asking a simple question without presenting any of the consequences of voting yes. We’re making sure voters know what this measure could mean for our state, and we’re taking steps to protect education and health care should it pass.” If approved, Initiative 175 would require the state to spend around $700 million a year on highway projects without providing any new revenue. This comes on the heels of back-to-back-to-back $1 billion cuts to the budget. Initiative 175 would require $700 million in cuts to K-12 education, higher education and Medicaid, leading rural hospitals and clinics to close, tuition to increase, and to a new budget stabilization factor for K-12. In addition to devastating education and healthcare funding cuts, Initiative 175 would defund the DMV, the Peace Officer Standards and Training fund, the Emergency Medical Services fund and DUI prevention efforts. If Initiative 175 were to pass in November, HB26-1430 would make a number of changes to transportation funding to mitigate the harms from the initiative. Contingent on Initiative 175 being adopted by voters, the bill would temporarily reduce the excise tax on gasoline and special fuel, vehicle registration fees and road usage fees. The reduced revenue would open up more general fund dollars to support critical government functions like education and healthcare, reducing the revenue that would have to be refunded under TABOR. Also known as the Colorado Budget Protection Act, HB26-1430 would create the Support Road Transportation Fund to house the $700 million allocated by the approval of Initiative 175. The money in this fund would replace certain transportation-related general fund transfers. In April, the legislature passed a bipartisan budget that protected K-12 education and core healthcare services while making reductions across state departments, lowering the state’s reserve and reducing Medicaid spending to close a $1.2 billion deficit. This deficit was caused by H.R. 1’s tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy, TABOR and growing Medicaid costs. Despite these challenges, the Joint Budget Committee was able to prevent bringing back the Budget Stabilization Factor and protect funding for universal preschool and core healthcare services. More than 40 organizations sent a letter asking proponents of Initiative 175 to withdraw the proposal, stating that the measure would force the General Assembly to make major reductions to Medicaid, K-12 education and higher education. The letter is backed by the bipartisan Joint Budget Committee as well as transportation, education, healthcare, environment, business and labor institutions and community groups. Previous Next

< Back June 12, 2020 SECURE SAVINGS PASSES THE HOUSE! DENVER, CO – The House today passed Speaker KC Becker and Representative Tracy Kraft-Tharp’s bill to tackle Colorado’s growing retirement savings crisis. The bill would make it easier for hardworking Coloradans to invest in their futures and take their retirement savings with them when they change jobs, or if they work multiple jobs. The bill passed by a vote of 41-24. “This bill will give small businesses the option of providing a retirement savings program to their employees without breaking the bank,” said Rep. Kraft Tharp, D-Arvada. “I’m proud of the work we did to come up with a modern, pro-worker, pro-business solution to the retirement crisis facing our state.” “Our country is barreling towards a retirement crisis, and it’s up to us to ensure hardworking Coloradans have the tools they need to save for their future,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “The Secure Savings program will benefit our state’s small businesses and hardworking Coloradans alike. Today we voted to create a modern, flexible retirement savings system to reflect Colorado’s 21st century economy.” Currently, nearly half of Coloradans in the private sector aged 25 to 64 don’t have retirement plans at work . SB20-200 would create a state-facilitated retirement savings program to be managed by private firms chosen through a competitive solicitation process. This program would give workers the ability to invest through pooled, professionally managed accounts with low fees to save a portion of their wages through automatic payroll deductions. There is also an opt-out provision for workers who already have a retirement plan of their own or who are not in a position to deduct a portion of their wages. This system would give small businesses the opportunity to provide their employees access to a retirement savings program at a low cost to the business. It would also allow hardworking Coloradans to move from job to job or work multiple jobs and contribute to the same account. Previous Next

< Back January 31, 2023 House Passes Bill to Ensure Language Access for Insurance Coverage DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to enhance language requirements for insurance information for non-English speakers. “With this legislation, more Coloradans will have access to critical insurance documents in the language in which they are most comfortable,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Insurance documents can be complicated to understand. Ensuring that all Coloradans have accurately-translated information allows them to choose the best plans and coverage for themselves and their families.” HB23-1004 , which passed by a vote of 49 to 14, would require insurers to have insurance policy information professionally translated or be certified from a professional translator in a non-English language. It also requires insurers of auto, home, and renters’ insurance to offer policy documents in the same language that is used for advertisements and to provide the policy application, policy and any related documents in any language upon request. Previous Next

< Back April 1, 2019 HOUSE SENDS LIFE-SAVING EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER BILL TO GOVERNOR’S DESK Bill named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III (Apr. 1) – The House gave final approval today to the Extreme Risk Protection Order bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, and Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver. This life-saving bill would provide a critical tool to help prevent gun violence and suicide and protect families and first responders. The bill has been in the works for over a year and includes input from law enforcement, the mental health community, advocates for gun violence prevention and elected officials on both sides of the aisle. “Today, the House and the legislature stood up and did the right thing,” said Rep. Sullivan. “One of the reasons I ran for office was so I could tell all of you about my son Alex who lit up rooms and was beloved, and so I could tell all of you about other victims and families of gun violence. This bill will give law enforcement and families the tools that they need to stop tragedies from constantly happening and save lives.” Rep. Sullivan’s son, Alex was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting on his twenty-seventh birthday. Sullivan wears Alex’s jacket every day and wore it during the course of the debate in the House. “Colorado took a big step forward today. Today, we rejected the status quo and finally put forward meaningful change that can truly save a life,” said Majority Leader Garnett. “I am grateful for the support of Rep. Sullivan, who championed this carefully crafted bill and all those who stood shoulder to shoulder with us every step of the way. This bill is supported by the majority of Coloradans because it will help save the lives of law enforcement and members of our communities.” HB19-1177 will give law enforcement another tool to help keep our communities safe. Through this bill, family members or law enforcement can petition a judge for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) for someone who is exhibiting violent or dangerous behavior or is at significant risk of causing personal injury to themselves or others. If approved, a temporary order would be placed for up to two weeks and the court would hold a hearing to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for an ERPO. During this hearing, respondents will be provided with legal counsel at no cost to ensure due process rights are protected. If the judge determines, by a clear and convincing evidence standard, that the respondent poses a significant risk of causing personal injury to themselves or others, the protection order may be approved for up to 364 days. The respondent can also request to have the order terminated at any point during that time period. The bill, which was also introduced during the 2018 legislative session and passed the House with bipartisan support, is named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III, who was killed in the line of duty New Year’s Eve in 2017 by an individual in the middle of a mental health crisis. Law enforcement officials, including Deputy Parrish’s Sheriff, Tony Spurlock, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, testified at a Feb. 21 House hearing on the bill. Pelle’s son Jeff is a Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy who was also seriously injured responding to the same call with Deputy Parrish. Attorney General Phil Weiser submitted a letter in support of the legislation. Former U.S. Attorney John Walsh explained to the committee during the hearing how the language in the bill is legal under the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Hours of testimony during House and Senate committee hearings in support of the bill included survivors and their families as well as gun owners and members of law enforcement. Fourteen states have enacted bipartisan ERPO laws (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington). At least 29 other states and Washington, D.C. have considered ERPO laws. A U.S. Senate committee held a hearing on an ERPO bill this March. Colorado lost over 1,100 people to suicide in 2017. Studies show that access to a gun in a home triples the risk of death by suicide. Indiana’s firearm suicide rate decreased by nearly eight percent in the ten years after their ERPO legislation was enacted. The House concurred with Senate amendments to the bill and it was approved on a final vote of 38-25. The bill now goes to Gov. Polis for his signature. Previous Next

Legislation passed today includes strengthening consumer protections during the ticket buying process and legalizing water-wise landscaping options for Coloradans living in HOAs < Back April 26, 2023 House Passes Bills to Combat Deceptive Ticket Sale Practices and Drought Legislation passed today includes strengthening consumer protections during the ticket buying process and legalizing water-wise landscaping options for Coloradans living in HOAs DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to protect Coloradans from deceptive ticket sale prices and combat drought through removing barriers to water-wise landscaping in Homeowner Associations (HOAs). “Between hidden fees and deceptive sales practices, it’s no secret that ticket purchasing can be a frustrating process to navigate ,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, sponsor of SB23-060. “People travel from all over the country to visit our famous venues, and sometimes they’re turned away because they unknowingly purchased a counterfeit ticket on a third-party website. Our bill improves fans’ protections in the ticket purchasing process and prevents fraudulent tickets from ending up in the marketplace.” "We need to keep tickets in the hands of fans and this bill works to address the deceptive practices that lead to sky-high ticket prices which keeps Coloradans from seeing their favorite artists or teams," said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB23-060 and SB23-178. “I’m proud we also passed SB23-178, which will allow water-wise landscaping for homeowners in HOAs, saving them money and conserving water right in their backyard. Property owners should be able to swap their water-intensive lawn for beautiful native landscaping without HOAs standing in the way.” SB23-060 passed by a vot e of 49 to 16 and would implement new protections for consumers purchasing tickets online, including against “speculative ticketing”, a process where brokers sell tickets they do not yet possess. The bill would require a ticket reseller to have actual possession of a ticket before making it available for resale. It also requires online companies to clearly and transparently display “all-in prices”, which are inclusive of all service charges and other fees required to purchase the ticket. “As Colorado combats historic drought conditions, water-wise landscaping is a great place to cut back our freshwater usage,” said Rep. McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of SB23-178 . “Our legislation allows Coloradans living in HOAs the opportunity to have drought-tolerant landscaping options for their lawns, which supports biodiversity and saves Coloradans money. Beautiful yards don’t have to be water-intensive lawns, and this bill reduces barriers to having landscaping that’s eco-conscious and sustainable.” SB23-178 , passed by a vote of 48 to 17 and would reduce barriers facing Colorado homeowners in homeowners associations (HOAs) who wish to replace their lawns with water-wise landscaping. SB23-178 would promote water-wise landscaping, emphasizing native plants that better sustain Colorado’s local ecosystem while requiring little or no irrigation. The bill would require HOAs to select and pre-approve three water-wise landscape designs for homeowners to choose from. The bill would also prevent an HOA from requiring hardscape on more than 20 percent of a landscape area and prohibiting vegetable gardening in a homeowner’s front yard. About half of the water used in single-family homes in Denver goes toward “outdoor use,” according to Denver Water . Last year, the legislature passed legislation to create the Turf Replacement Program , which provides financial incentives for voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water-wise landscaping. SB23-178 complements that initiative by helping homeowners who may not need financial incentives but are hindered by HOA regulations. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to prohibit the term “excited delirium” from being used in law enforcement and other first responder training or incident reports, or listed as a cause of death on a death certificate. HB24-1103 passed by a vote of 42-19. < Back February 13, 2024 House Approves Legislation to Bar the Use of “Excited Delirium” DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to prohibit the term “excited delirium” from being used in law enforcement and other first responder training or incident reports, or listed as a cause of death on a death certificate. HB24-1103 passed by a vote of 42-19. “An excited delirium diagnosis has typically been made when someone is in the middle of a crisis, and the response has led to avoidable and unnecessary repercussions, and sometimes death,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Medical professionals have spoken out about their skepticism of this term and making decisions based off a debunked diagnosis distracts us from solving the real issue at hand. Our legislation would ensure that we aren’t training law enforcement or emergency responders on excited delirium so we can focus on effective de-escalation responses.” “Excited delirium has historically been used to justify excessive force against Black Coloradans and people of color while avoiding accountability for the harm caused,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “By removing the term from law enforcement and first responder trainings, incident reports, and death certificates, we can hold people accountable for aggressive, and often lethal, interactions.” HB24-1103 would prohibit the term “excited delirium” from being used in law enforcement and other first responder training or incident reports, or listed as a cause of death on a death certificate. The bill would also bar the terms “excited delirium syndrome”, “hyperactive delirium”, “agitated delirium”, and “exhaustive mania”. Last year, a 9NEWS investigation tied more than 225 deaths across the U.S. to the use of the term, including the death of Elijah McClain in Colorado. His death in 2019 gained national attention when paramedics injected him with a lethal amount of ketamine after believing he exhibited “excited delirium.” The paramedics and a police officer involved in the incident have since been convicted of criminally negligent homicide. In December 2023, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board unanimously voted to remove the term “excited delirium” from training documents. Organizations like the American Medical Association, the National Association of Medical Examiners, and the American College of Emergency Physicians have spoken out against the term. California passed legislation last year to ban the term from being used on a law enforcement officer’s incident report, on a death certificate or autopsy report, and in testimony in civil court. Rep. Herod also sponsored a 2021 law that prohibits law enforcement from compelling, directing, or influencing a paramedic to administer ketamine. The law set forth strict requirements before a paramedic can administer ketamine in a prehospital setting. Previous Next

< Back March 8, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: Senate, House Unveil First Slate of Bills to Address Colorado’s Behavioral Health Crisis Legislation includes $168 million to increase access to care for youth, address inequities and improve behavioral health outcomes, & increase school-based resources for kids Denver, CO – Yesterday, the Senate and House introduced a slate of legislation aimed at addressing Colorado’s behavioral health crisis using a portion of the $450 million in federal pandemic relief funds secured in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The bills were developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force . The legislation will increase access to behavioral health care for children and youth, help implement innovative community based-programs to address inequities and improve behavioral health outcomes, and increase access to behavioral health resources in schools. “We set off the year with an ambitious goal of addressing Colorado’s behavioral health crisis and helping folks get the care they need, and this first package of bills is our first step in achieving that goal,” said Sen. Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood), Chair of the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. “With these bills, we are well on our way to providing greater support for our kids and families, as we continue to work toward creating a behavioral health system that is accessible and equitable for all.” HB22-1281 : Funding for Community Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Gap Grants, sponsored by Senators Faith Winter and Bob Rankin & Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez: In an effort to ensure Coloradans across the state—including children, youth and families—have access to the behavioral health care they need, this bill will invest $90 million in grant funds for local governments and nonprofit organizations to implement innovative, community-based programs with the goal of meeting regional gaps and transforming behavioral health outcomes across the state. “Every community in our state is facing unique challenges when it comes to behavioral health care access, which is why we’ve designed a grant program that will respond to the specific gaps in each of our communities to increase access to care,” said Behavioral Health Care Transformational Task Force Vice Chair Serena Gonzales- Gutierrez (D-Denver). “This legislation will provide resources directly to our communities to support locally-tailored solutions across the entire continuum of care. It will also ensure that there is a care access point for youth and family-oriented care closer to their communities.” “Accessing behavioral health care in our state can be complex and difficult, making it challenging for Coloradans to get the care they need to maintain their health and well-being,” said Sen. Faith Winter (D-Westminster). “We recognize that different parts of the state have different needs when it comes to addressing mental health and substance use disorders, which is why we’re making a critical investment to address these inequities as we continue working toward building a healthier Colorado for all.” HB22-1283 : Youth and Family Residential Behavioral Health Care, sponsored by Senators Janet Buckner and Kevin Priola & Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Mary Bradfield: Colorado does not have adequate capacity to serve children and youth with complex behavioral health needs. As a result, too many children are sent out-of-state to access treatment, far away from their families and support network. This bill will invest $54 million to support intensive youth and family residential and outpatient care, ensuring that children, youth, and families can access behavioral health treatment and services they need right here in Colorado. “Kids all across Colorado deserve access to quality behavioral health care, but our current system isn’t getting them the care they need,” said Sen. Janet Buckner, (D-Aurora). “I am proud to champion this important legislation that will improve access to behavioral health care for youth in Colorado, and help make sure that every family in our state is able to receive the vital care they need to thrive.” “Colorado youth and families need places to turn for residential and outpatient behavioral health care to get the care they need, but these options are limited and are often hard to access in Colorado,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City). “My family had to seek out of state education options for our child, and it was hard to have him so far away. Families should be able to access the services they need in Colorado. The legislation we’re advancing will build and fund a youth residential treatment facility at Fort Logan with up to 16 beds and provide operational support for additional 30 beds across the state.” SB22-147 : School and Pediatric Behavioral Health Care Integrations, sponsored by Senators Chris Kolker and Jerry Sonnenberg & Representatives Mary Young and Rod Pelton: Over the last decade, youth suicide has increased an astonishing 51 percent, as youth behavioral health has reached a crisis level. The bill will expand behavioral health investments for Colorado youth by $11 million, allowing pediatricians to better identify and treat behavioral health conditions and providing school-based supports for kids and their families. “Far too many kids in Colorado are struggling with their mental health,” said Sen. Chris Kolker (D-Centennial). “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." “We are going to direct over $11 million to expand access to behavioral health resources in schools to help prepare our students for success and provide them the resources they need to thrive,” said Rep. Mary Young (D-Greeley), who has spent decades working in behavioral health in Colorado schools. “This legislation will expand school-based health centers across the state, invest in having more mental health professionals in our schools, and significantly boost our capacity to offer critical mental health services to Colorado youth.” Another bill, HB22-1243 , puts an additional $2 million in ARPA funding toward the behavioral health care professional matching grant program and extends the popular I Matter program beyond its scheduled repeal in June 2022, paving the way to serve youth with free counseling sessions for another two years. HB22-1243 will be heard in the House Education Committee on Thursday, March 10. Previous Next

< Back March 2, 2022 BILL TO FOSTER CIVIC-MINDED BUSINESSES MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO – A bill to foster civic-minded businesses and innovators passed the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today by a vote of 9 to 4. Modifications To Colorado Public Benefit Corporation Act, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird and Senator Pete Lee would make it easier to start businesses that positively impact communities and a healthy environment across Colorado. “We want to make Colorado the best place to start a business that broadens horizons in arts, culture, the environment and other community-focused sectors,” said Rep. Shannon Bird D-Westminster. “Coloradans care about the businesses that reside in their neighborhood because it changes the fabric of their community. This bill will make it easier for civic-minded business leaders and innovators to open businesses that make the community a top priority while also turning a profit. We’re excited to champion legislation that fosters community-driven businesses and movies Colorado forward.” SB22-045 would break down barriers for corporations to register as public benefit corporations. Specifically, this bill would modify the “Public Benefit Corporation Act of Colorado” to simplify the conversion procedures for forming a public benefit corporation (PBC). PBCs are businesses that have a positive effect on a community’s art, charity, culture, economy, education, environment, literature, medicine, religion, science or technology scene. PBCs are becoming more popular with both consumers and employees that believe corporations should contribute more to the community they reside in and make conscious efforts to reduce their negative environmental impact. The changes in this bill are necessary for Colorado to remain a competitive place for business leaders to form PBCs as other states, including Delaware, reform their laws in a similar way. Previous Next

< Back June 22, 2021 TITONE, DAUGHERTY STATEMENT ON ARVADA SHOOTING, DEATH OF OFFICER GORDON BEESLEY Arvada lawmakers mourn loss of 19-year veteran of the Arvada Police Department DENVER, CO — Representatives Brianna Titone and Lindsey Daugherty (D-Arvada) today released the following statement in response to the shooting that took the life of Arvada Police Department Officer Gordon Beesley and a still-unnamed civilian. “Our peaceful community is reeling from what has become a tragically familiar incident of gun violence, this time taking the life of Officer Gordon Beesley and another innocent person enjoying an afternoon in Old Towne Arvada. By all accounts, Officer Beesley was a kind, generous individual who served his community with dignity and passion. He worked with high school students and developed close personal bonds with them, demonstrating his commitments to the Arvada community. Today, we mourn this untimely passing and send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims.” Previous Next