< Back May 14, 2019 GOV SIGNS ESGAR BILLS TO HELP END SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLING & ADDRESS OPIOID CRISIS Gov Signs Esgar Bills to Help End Surprise Medical Billing & Address Opioid Crisis (May 14) – Today, Gov. Polis signed legislation sponsored by Rep. Daneya Esgar to help end out-of-network medical billing and address the opioid crisis. “I’m proud we were able to ensure Coloradans aren’t dealing with these surprise medical bills through no fault of their own,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo. “This is a big, bipartisan win for consumers and hardworking families and a solution to a problem. We responded to the concerns of families, individuals and seniors who have been hit by these surprise and all too often – expensive surprise medical bills.” The bill was signed at the Pueblo Community Health Center this afternoon. HB19-1174 Prohibits providers from charging exorbitant amounts for out-of-network care when the patient unknowingly went out of network. It also requires providers to inform consumers of their rights regarding bills sent to them by out-of-network providers. The bill does not prohibit patients from incurring out-of-network costs when they intentionally go out-of-network for their care but puts safeguards in place to prevent unexpected medical bills in these situations. Out-of-network bills can be more than 30 times the average in-network rate. Fifty-seven percent of patients who encountered out-of-network bills paid the bills in full because they didn’t know of their right to fight these bills. This legislation is meant to help control costs in out-of-network billing situations by setting a reasonable rate of payment for these providers and facilities. The bill was also sponsored by Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose. The Governor also signed bipartisan bill HB19-1287 to help address the opioid crisis in Southern Colorado at the Crossroads Treatment Clinic in Pueblo. “There are significant barriers for individuals who are seeking treatment and want to be in recovery. This bill will give them the tools to break down these barriers,” Rep. Esgar said. “People often encounter barriers when trying to access treatment to overcome their addiction. This new, bipartisan law puts a system in place that is ready to help Coloradans navigate treatment and recovery options and a system that works for everyone involved.” HB19-1287 now directs the Department of Human Services to implement a web-based tracking system to track available treatment capacity at behavioral health facilities and at programs for medication-assisted treatment and medical detoxification for substance use disorders. This law also directs the Department of Human Services to implement a care navigation system to assist individuals to obtain access to treatment for substance use disorders, including medical detoxification and residential and inpatient treatment. Lastly, the new law creates a grant program for substance use disorder treatment in underserved communities to provide services in rural and frontier communities, prioritizing areas of the state that are unserved or underserved. The bipartisan law is a product of the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Interim Committee. ### Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to boost Colorado’s education workforce. < Back February 23, 2024 House Advances Hamrick’s Bipartisan Bill to Boost Educator Workforce DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to boost Colorado’s education workforce. HB24-1044 , sponsored by Representative Eliza Hamrick, would allow school districts to hire more Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) retirees, without the risk of the retirees losing their retirement benefits. “Colorado’s educator shortage is dire and our students deserve quality education,” said Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “This legislation would allow more retired educators and staff to return to the schools, without the risk of losing their PERA retirement benefits. To address our educator shortage, we need to use every tool available to us. This bill encourages retired teachers to return to the classroom and help our schools and most importantly – our students.” HB24-1044 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would expand the number of service retirees that school districts may hire while still being eligible for PERA benefits. Specifically, school districts would be able to exceed the current 10 retiree cap by 1 retiree for every 1,000 students above 10,000 students. Under current law, school districts may only hire retirees when a “critical shortage of qualified instructors” is established. This bill aims to streamline placing educators in classrooms by instead allowing school districts to hire up to 10 retirees if the district identifies a “need” for additional instructors. Previous Next

< Back February 11, 2020 MORE COMMUNITIES ELIGIBLE FOR WILDFIRE GRANTS UNDER BILL ADVANCED TODAY Legislation would make it easier for projects in lower-income communities to receive grant funding and allow nonprofits and fire districts to also receive grants DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Rural Affairs and Agriculture today passed by a vote of 11-0 Representative McCluskie’s bipartisan legislation to make it easier for lower-income communities, nonprofits and fire districts to receive wildfire risk mitigation grants. “With our changing climate, wildfires are growing more common and more intense, and they don’t discriminate based on how much money a community has,” said Rep. McCluskie (D-Dillon). “This bipartisan legislation will allow more communities, especially those with fewer economic resources, to take advantage of wildfire hazard mitigation grants. These grants fund critical projects that reduce the risk that a wildfire will threaten lives and property.” HB20-1057 , which is also sponsored by Representative Terri Carver, would lower the self-finance threshold for the cost of projects from 50 percent to 25 percent in areas with fewer economic resources. Currently, grant applicants must pay for 50 percent of the cost of a project financed by a grant. By lowering the threshold, more lower-income communities will be able to take advantage of wildfire risk mitigation grants. The bill, which advanced from the Wildfire Matters Review Committee, would also allow nonprofits, entities engaged in firefighting, and fire protection districts to apply for the grants. It extends the grant program until September, 2029. Under current law, the program expires in September, 2022. Wildfire risk mitigation grants are used to finance projects that reduce the risk that wildfire will damage property and infrastructure. Projects typically work to reduce the hazardous materials, such as dead trees and brush, that fuel wildfires and threaten people and property in the wildland-urban interface. Grants sizes have ranged from $4,400 to $152,500. Previous Next

< Back January 28, 2020 OIL AND GAS AND MINING OPERATORS UNDERREPORTING PRODUCTION, LIKELY NOT PAYING THEIR TAXES Audit reveals unacceptable levels of reporting noncompliance and millions in lost tax revenue and fines to the state and local governments DENVER, CO — The Joint Legislative Audit Committee today heard an audit of severance tax systems within the Departments of Revenue and the Department of Natural Resources, which shows unacceptable reporting noncompliance from oil and gas and mining operators that may have left state and local governments without millions in tax revenue. Severance taxes are meant to “recapture a portion of the wealth that is lost when nonrenewable natural resources are removed from the earth and sold for private profit.” These taxes are used to fund water infrastructure, local government projects, and a variety of conservation efforts. “This audit shows how oil and gas operators have failed to pay millions in tax revenue to the state, local governments, and their communities, all the while running expensive television ads to tout their contributions to the state,” said Speaker KC Becker (D-Boulder). “We have one of the lowest severance tax rates in the nation and yet operators aren’t even paying what they owe. This highlights yet another aspect of the oil and gas industry that has gone unchecked for years, and we need a reliable reporting and compliance system so this industry can no longer skirt the system with impunity.” “This report is astounding and reveals years of noncompliance by oil and gas operators, potentially leading to millions of dollars in unreported production,” said Audit Committee vice-chair Rep. Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City). “This money is critical for local governments, and is intended to be used for infrastructure projects in communities impacted by the extraction industry. “I supported this audit because Coloradans and state agencies need to know how much oil and gas is being produced in our state, and it’s now crystal clear that oil and gas operators are failing to pay their taxes and report this information,” said committee member Rep. Kraft-Tharp (D-Arvada). “I look forward to working with the Departments of Natural Resources, Revenue, and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to swiftly fix these extremely troubling issues and get the severance tax system in order.” The audit report found that the state is largely unaware of how much oil and gas is produced because operators have failed to report this information as required by law. As a result, the state has likely lost millions of dollars in severance taxes. Of the 420 operators that produced oil and gas in the state from 2016 to 2018, 316 of them submitted incomplete monthy well reports or failed to submit as many as 50,055 required monthly reports. If the maximum $200 per day fine was imposed for failing to report this information, the state would have collected as much as $308 million in fines from oil and gas operators for the violations over two years. Furthermore, only eight of 79 mine operators submitted production reports in 2017, and 73 percent of the operators in the report’s sample failed to submit Oil and Gas Withholding Statements, which are used to enforce severance tax compliance. After applying all applicable deductions and credits, the state’s effective severance tax rate is just .54 percent of gross revenue for oil and gas. This audit, although focused on 2016 through 2018, shows extensive and systemic failures on the part of industry to comply with state reporting and tax remittance requirements. Previous Next

< Back April 24, 2019 HOUSE MOVES BILL TO KEEP KIDS SAFE Colorado ranks last in kindergarten immunizations (Apr. 24) – The House gave preliminary approval to Rep. Kyle Mullica’s bipartisan bill to address Colorado’s low vaccination rates. Higher vaccination rates decrease the risk of outbreaks of preventable contagious and deadly diseases. “This bill is about the safety of our students. Colorado ranks last in the country for kindergarten immunizations. That’s unacceptable and we need to do better,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “This bill formalizes the process. Colorado needs to be proactive – not reactive. We are in the midst of public health crisis and we can’t wait for a tragedy to occur.” Rep. Mullica is a trained trauma nurse by profession. What HB19-1312 does: · Creates a standardized exemption form and requires all exemptions be submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) or the local public health agency. Non-medical exemptions must be submitted in person to the CDPHE or local health agency; subsequent renewals can be submitted in person or online. · Directs CDPHE to include immunization exemption information in its annual presentation to the General Assembly. · Directs CDPHE to develop educational materials for health agencies and schools addressing the medical benefits of immunizations. · Gives the Board of Health authority to determine school-required immunizations, based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This bipartisan bill strengthens Colorado’s vaccination exemption process by incorporating strategies known to increase vaccination rates without removing personal or religious exemptions. Colorado is seeing an increase in vaccine preventable diseases that are endangering public health. According to a recent report, Coloradans paid $55 million on childhood diseases that vaccinations could have prevented in 2017 alone. Medical experts testified at a House hearing earlier this month in support of this common-sense legislation. Public health and medical experts have raised serious concerns about Colorado’s low vaccination rate. Contagious disease outbreaks are happening around the country, most recently in Washington and New York states. According to the CDC, less than 89 percent of kindergarten-aged children in Colorado have received vaccines for diseases like measles, mumps and rubella. Colorado ranks last in country in this category. That’s below the national average of 94.3 percent and below the level of reaching “herd immunity,” the percentage of the population that needs to be vaccinated to avoid a widespread, public outbreak and protect those with compromised or vulnerable immune systems. Herd immunity is essential in protecting vulnerable people, including newborn babies, seniors and people living with ongoing medical issues. The Senate co-prime sponsors are Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, and Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. The bill passed the House Health and Insurance committee hearing by a vote of 7-4 on April 15. It was approved today on a voice-vote in the House. A recorded vote will be taken at a later date. Previous Next

HB25-1320 will drive $256 million more to Colorado’s K-12 public schools for the 2025-26 school year < Back April 16, 2025 2025 School Finance Act Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed the 2025 School Finance Act on a preliminary vote. This bill will implement the new school funding formula and sustainably drive more funding to Colorado’s K-12 public schools. “The 2025 School Finance Act delivers for our students and teachers by boosting funding by $256 million and turning on the new school finance formula that will drive more resources to the students who need them the most,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “Despite nearly universal declining enrollment, the 2025 School Finance Act ensures that no district drops below the funding amount they received this school year. We’re deeply committed to investing in our K-12 public schools, and this year’s School Finance Act supports rural schools and our most vulnerable students while creating a sustainable pathway to significantly increase school funding.” “As a teacher, I know how important adequate funding is to create an environment where students can succeed,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “The 2025 School Finance Act will invest $256 million more in our public schools this year, meaning funding will rise by over $410 per student on average. The bill implements the new school funding formula to better support every student in our public schools. This bill drives funding to our K-12 schools equitably and sustainably, so our students can maximize their learning potential.” Colorado lawmakers have worked diligently to drive record-breaking funding to Colorado’s K-12 public schools. Since 2019, when voters gave Democrats the trifecta, total funding for schools has increased by over $3 billion, while Colorado schools have lost tens of thousands of students in that time, even after accounting for increased student counts from full-day kindergarten. Since the 2018-2019 school year, average per-pupil funding has increased from $8,123 to $11,852 next year. The 2025 School Finance Act ( HB25-1320 ) would drive $256.7 million more to Colorado’s public schools than last school year, bringing the 2025-26 school funding total to a record $10.035 billion despite Colorado facing a declining student enrollment environment. HB25-1320 acknowledges unique challenges for rural and remote districts, increases education funding to keep up with inflation and prioritizes sustainable funding for years to come. In last year’s School Finance Act , lawmakers delivered on their promise to pay off the Budget Stabilization Factor. At the same time, HB24-1448 modernized the school funding formula used to determine the total program funding for Colorado’s K-12 public school districts for the first time in 30 years. This legislation created a more student-centered formula designed to drive more resources to rural and underserved districts, as well as students living with a disability, at-risk students and English Language Learners (ELLs). For the 2025-2026 school year, HB25-1320 will: Provide $83.2 million more for public schools next year than the old school finance formula. Increase average per-pupil funding by $412, bringing the total per-pupil funding to $11,863. Ensure that 157 of 178 districts will see an average 2.9 percent increase in funding, while the remaining 21 districts with significantly declining enrollment are held harmless. HB25-1320 will implement the new school funding formula at 15 percent per year for six years, and then 10 percent for the final seventh year of implementation, while still maintaining the four-year averaging model for the 2025-26 school year. To help stabilize school funding in a declining enrollment environment, the bill includes a three-year averaging model in 2026-27 if the new funding formula is implemented at 30 percent, otherwise it will remain at four-years. Given the tight budget conditions, largely driven by increased Medicaid costs, Colorado lawmakers have had to address a $1.2 billion shortfall in the state budget. However, HB25-1320 is designed to give the legislature the flexibility to continue increasing school funding while adapting to changing budget realities. To maintain the financial health of the State Education Fund (SEF), HB25-1320 provides the flexibility to adjust the percentage of the formula implemented each year or the averaging components of the formula to ensure a healthy reserve in the fund’s balance. Previous Next

< Back March 12, 2020 BUENTELLO BILL TO FACILITATE ENERGY EFFICIENT SCHOOLS ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo, to improve energy efficiency in schools today advanced out of the House Committee on Energy and Environment. “This has been a really productive session so far, and I’m proud that so many of my bills have advanced,” said Rep. Buentello, D-Pueblo. “I’ve focused on legislation to improve our schools and public education, assist rural law enforcement and support our veterans and service members. This legislation will help our schools become more energy efficient, potentially saving our schools resources they desperately need while also improving our environment.” SB20-124 , which is also sponsored by Representative Perry Will, R- New Castle, would require public school facility construction guidelines for the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program to include consultations with utility companies regarding the use of energy efficiency and beneficial electrification technologies. The objective of the bill is to facilitate new capital projects at public schools that reduce their energy use, saving local taxpayers money that can be used for other critical investments such as keeping local libraries open or fixing roads and bridges. The bill passed 9-1 out of the Energy and Environment Committee. Previous Next

< Back February 21, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO HELP COLORADO RENTERS Titone and Gonzales-Gutierrez’s commonsense bill could help ease housing crunch (Feb. 21) – This morning, the House voted in favor of a bill that would protect renters from unnecessarily high rental application fees. “Unchecked rental application fees that are too high for families and seniors struggling with the rising cost of living have exacerbated Colorado’s affordable housing crisis,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “ We need to do everything we can to ease the housing crunch and increase transparency in the rental application process to ensure bad actors aren’t harming Coloradans seeking a home for themselves and their families. This bill helps accomplish that.” Under current state law, there are no limits on what landlords can charge for a rental application fee, and there are no safeguards to ensure the fee aligns with the actual costs of screening a prospective tenant. “Rental application fees should be used to conduct a consumer credit or reference check – not line a landlords pockets,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “This legislation will provide relief to individuals or families searching for housing from the Front Range to the Western Slope by putting in place a key consumer protection safeguard in the rental application process.” HB19-1106 puts in place commonsense limits on the application fees that renters face as they search for their next rental home. The bill limits application fees to the price of what is necessary to screen residents—such as credit reports, reference checks or tenant screening reports—and ensures the fee is refunded if the applicant is never screened. More than a dozen states have enacted policies that set reasonable terms for the collection and retention of rental application fees. For hardworking individuals or families struggling to find housing, the high cost of non-refundable application fees can easily exhaust their limited financial resources, sometimes making it impossible for them to pay a security deposit or the first month’s rent. The bill was approved by a vote of 40-23 and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back April 8, 2021 FOSTER YOUTH DRIVERS ED CRUISES THROUGH THE HOUSE, IS EN ROUTE TO THE SENATE DENVER, CO– The House today passed Representative Tony Exum’s bipartisan bills to give more of Colorado’s foster youth the opportunity to obtain drivers licenses. The bill passed by a vote of 61-2. “Driving is a rite of passage and a liberating experience for most of Colorado’s teens, and today we voted to ensure foster youth aren’t left out,” said Transportation and Local Government Chair Rep Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs . “Making sure foster kids drive safely and are able to obtain their first drivers licenses will help get them on the road to success. I remain committed to doing everything I can to level the playing field for foster youth in Colorado.” HB21-1084 takes several steps to help foster youth in Colorado learn to drive and obtain drivers licenses. It would ensure that counties are reimbursed for the cost of sending foster youth aged 15 to 21 to driver’s education courses and would remove legal barriers preventing counties and foster youth advocates from teaching foster youth how to drive. Finally, it eases requirements on the types of documentation foster youth must provide when applying for a driver permit or license. Previous Next

Representative Katie Stewart today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s funding freezes and employee layoffs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and their drastic impact on farmers and ranchers in rural Colorado. < Back February 26, 2025 Rep. Stewart’s Statement Regarding USDA Funding Freeze Impacting Southern Colorado DENVER, CO – Representative Katie Stewart today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s funding freezes and employee layoffs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and their drastic impact on farmers and ranchers in rural Colorado. Representative Katie Stewart, D-Durango: “A sweeping funding freeze and employee layoffs at the USDA have jeopardized the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers in Southern Colorado. Freezing federally-supported USDA grant programs is bad for hardworking farmers and ranchers, hurts rural Colorado, and will raise food prices for everyone. "From conservation efforts to localized infrastructure projects, farmers and ranchers were promised funding to improve farming and ranch operations and strengthen our food supply – but this bait and switch could leave them on the hook for unexpected costs. “I urge the federal government to strongly reconsider the federal looming funding cuts at the USDA because rural Colorado’s economy, and the farmers and ranchers who feed us, rely upon it.” Representative Katie Stewart represents HD-59 in Southwest Colorado which includes Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan counties and parts of Montezuma County. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Lorena Garcia to grant funding to community-based organizations that provide crucial services to new immigrants. HB24-1280 passed by a vote of 44-20. < Back May 1, 2024 Legislation to Support New Immigrants Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Lorena Garcia to grant funding to community-based organizations that provide crucial services to new immigrants. HB24-1280 passed by a vote of 44-20. “Diversity makes us stronger, and we must set up new immigrants for success so they can create a better and safer life for themselves and their families,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Supporting new immigrants helps all our communities. By strengthening Colorado’s existing community-based resources, new immigrants will have a better chance of building a thriving life, just like the generations of immigrants before them did.” “Colorado has seen a significant increase in new immigrants, and counties and organizations across the state are struggling to keep up with the demand for necessary services and resources,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Resources like referrals to housing, employment assistance, and school enrollment support have a significant impact on new residents achieving stability here. Our legislation aims to better support the good work that community organizations are already doing to aid new immigrants as they transition to life in Colorado.” HB24-1280 creates the Statewide Welcome, Reception, and Integration Grant Program to grant funds to community-based organizations that provide services to new immigrants within their first year in the United States. Grant money can be used for: Conducting an intake and assessment of needs, Providing cultural orientation and case management Services or referrals to employment services, immigration legal assistance, housing-related services, transportation services, financial orientation, mental and physical health services, interpretation and translation services, and English as a second language courses, Distributing emergency and transitional supplies, and Assisting new immigrant parents to enroll their kids in public schools or summer programs. Previous Next

< Back February 18, 2022 REASONABLE INDEPENDENCE FOR CHILDREN BILL PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to foster youth independence in Colorado passed the House today on Third and Final Reading by a unanimous vote. HB22-1090, sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Kim Ransom, would tighten the definition of child neglect giving kids reasonable independence to walk to school, ride their bikes and play in their neighborhood without adult supervision. “We’re working diligently to foster everyday independence for Colorado’s youth and this bill is a wonderful step in the right direction,” said Rep. Mary Young D-Greeley. “This bill makes it clear that there is no need to get the authorities involved when kids are out and about in their neighborhood, walking to school or playing on the playground. When youth are given independence they grow, learn and thrive and we’re pleased to pass legislation that empowers their right to independence.” HB22-1090 passed out of the House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services unanimously and would tighten Colorado’s broad definition of neglect to exclude everyday activities deemed as reasonable independence that formerly would be constructed as neglect or abuse. This bill also aims to cut back on the amount of unnecessary involvement from child protective services and law enforcement officials. Colorado’s vague definition of neglect has left some parents worried that allowing their kids to walk to school alone could be misconstrued as neglect or abuse. HB22-1090 would allow parents to make family decisions when their child is “of sufficient maturity, physical condition, and mental abilities to avoid substantial risk of physical harm” to participate in activities without their supervision. Examples of these reasonable independence activities include playing outside, traveling to and from sports practices and staying home alone for a reasonable amount of time. Previous Next