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

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

The appointment comes as Rep. Shannon Bird steps down from the Joint Budget Committee after three years of service, including one year as Chair < Back November 3, 2025 Speaker McCluskie Appoints Rep. Kyle Brown to the Joint Budget Committee The appointment comes as Rep. Shannon Bird steps down from the Joint Budget Committee after three years of service, including one year as Chair DENVER, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie today appointed Representative Kyle Brown to serve on the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). This appointment was necessitated by Representative Shannon Bird’s announcement on Friday that she will step down from the JBC, effective immediately. “Representative Bird is an exemplary leader who has focused her work on making life in Colorado more affordable,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I’d like to thank her for her commitment to Coloradans and her dedicated service on the JBC, where she boosted investments in higher education, health care and public safety.” “Amidst a federal government shutdown and the economic volatility from the Trump administration, these uncertain times call for exceptional leadership to face the challenges of the moment. Representative Brown is an experienced and effective leader, and has worked diligently to lower the cost of health care for hardworking families,” continued McCluskie. “As a highly regarded health care champion, Representative Brown will play a critical role on the Joint Budget Committee in targeting the explosive costs of Medicaid, lowering the cost of health care and advocating for healthier, safer communities for all.” “I’m honored to begin serving on the Joint Budget Committee and working alongside my colleagues to protect education funding and the core services hardworking people rely on,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “From improving Colorado’s reinsurance program and expanding health care access, to lowering the cost of prescription drugs, my focus has always been saving you money on health care. We will have a difficult budget year ahead as we deal with the fallout of H.R.1, but I am prepared to do the work and defend our most vulnerable communities.” Representative Brown has sponsored key laws to save Coloradans money on health care, supported safety-net providers and clinics, expanded no-cost therapy sessions for youth through iMatter, and lowered prescription drug costs. As the former Deputy Commissioner for Affordability Programs at the Colorado Division of Insurance, he helped design and implement the Colorado Option , which offered the second-lowest-cost plan in 90-percent of Colorado counties last year. Speaker McCluskie also appointed Representative Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver, to replace Representative Brown as Chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee. With a background in public health, Representative Gilchrist sponsored legislation to ensure the state’s science-backed vaccine recommendations are protected if the Trump Administration undermines vaccine guidance. Representative Gilchrist, along with Representative Brown, also sponsored legislation to save Coloradans money on mental health care by standardizing insurance coverage determinations. To combat some of the harm caused by Trump’s H.R.1 and Congress’s failure to extend health care tax credits, Representatives Brown and Gilchrist were the prime sponsors of a new law to blunt some of the most severe cost increases from the expiring tax credits. This law reduces the statewide average premium increase from 174-percent to 101-percent, saving Coloradans $220 million on health care next year and preventing 28,000 Coloradans from being kicked off their health coverage. Previous Next

The House today passed a bill on a preliminary vote to give local governments and eligible entities the right of first refusal when multifamily properties are up for sale, creating opportunities to increase and preserve affordable housing stock. < Back March 6, 2023 Bill to Increase and Retain Affordable Housing Stock Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bill on a preliminary vote to give local governments and eligible entities the right of first refusal when multifamily properties are up for sale, creating opportunities to increase and preserve affordable housing stock. “The right of first refusal is crucial in preserving and creating affordable housing opportunities in Colorado,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins . “Currently, there are only 30 affordable and available rental units per 100 extremely low-income renter households in Colorado. This bill is a proven tool for local governments to be competitive against corporate developers, allowing sellers to receive market rate compensation for the sale of their property while communities retain long-term affordable housing.” “The right of first refusal can prevent the loss of affordable housing stock at a time when Coloradans need more affordable places to live and hedge funds continue to buy up housing and increase rents,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver . “Housing insecurity is a real threat for many Coloradans, impacting the health and safety of our lower-income communities. Under this bill, local governments will have the option to purchase buildings that go up for sale, providing them an additional tool to prevent the loss of housing that Coloradans can afford.” HB23-1190 would allow local governments and other eligible entities a chance to make an offer on a multifamily or mixed-use property listing before other potential buyers. To qualify under this bill, the property would have to consist of five or more residential units in urban counties and three or more residential units in rural or rural resort counties. If the city or county decides to purchase the property, they must match the sale price and maintain the property as affordable housing for at least 100 years. Sellers would be required to notify local governments of the intent to sell or of a potential sale. The local government would have 14 days to exercise the right to first refusal and another 60 days to make an offer on the property. Data from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development found that the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment across the state is $1,505, however the Colorado minimum wage is $13.56. In 2022, a worker would have to make $28.94 per hour to afford housing that did not surpass 30% of their income. The State Demographer suggests that 40,950 new housing units need to be built every year between now and 2030 for the housing market to return to a healthy level, but projects that we will only build around 35,000 per year between 2020 and 2030, demonstrating the need to maintain existing affordable housing options. Previous Next

HB26-1031 protects the integrity of Colorado’s agriculture industry, protects Colorado farmers from unfair competition < Back April 8, 2026 SIGNED! Bill to Prevent Out-of-State Farms from Using Pueblo Green Chile, Palisade Peach Labels HB26-1031 protects the integrity of Colorado’s agriculture industry, protects Colorado farmers from unfair competition DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation into law to support Colorado farmers and agriculture by strengthening consumer protections and safeguarding agricultural products grown in Colorado. “From Trump’s tariffs to imported Argentinian beef, Colorado farmers are already facing considerable headwinds. This new law will help ensure that outsiders who falsely label their produce as Colorado-grown are held accountable for driving business away from hardworking Colorado farmers,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “Pueblo green chile and San Luis Valley potatoes are renowned Colorado agricultural products, and it is important that we prevent bad actors from slapping ‘Colorado-grown’ labels on out-of-state goods. Our new bipartisan law makes false use of Colorado-grown marketing a deceptive trade practice to support local farmers and give consumers peace of mind.” “Colorado is known for its delicious and high-quality agricultural products like Palisade peaches, Pueblo green chiles, and San Luis Valley potatoes – to name a few,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “Consumers want to purchase made-in-Colorado products and should be able to trust the Colorado Proud label. This new law is about supporting Colorado farmers and businesses who make the real deal, right here at home.” HB26-1031 protects the integrity of Colorado-made products and ensures Colorado producers aren’t undercut by mislabeled products imported from out of state. The law prohibits identifying an agricultural product as being produced in Colorado when selling, marketing, advertising or distributing the product unless the product is grown in the state. First approved by the interim Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee, HB26-1031 helps ensure fairness for local producers by cracking down on deceptive trade practices that allow out-of-state products to carry Colorado-made labeling and take market share away from real Colorado-grown foods. Also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Senator Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, the law boosts consumer protections by reassuring Coloradans that their dollars are getting them the local, premium products they expect. The Trump Administration’s tariffs have driven up costs for Colorado’s businesses, farmers, ranchers, and consumers and limited the available international markets for producers to sell their products. HB26-1031 aims to protect Colorado markets for farmers and ranchers to sell their locally-made products and food. Previous Next

SB26-040 will modernize the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet families’ needs < Back May 6, 2026 Legislation to Create More Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities Signed Into Law SB26-040 will modernize the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet families’ needs DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to update the Affordable Homeownership Program created by voter-approved Proposition 123 was signed into law today. SB26-040 , sponsored by Senator Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Representatives Katie Stewart, D-Durango, and Lesley Smith, D-Boulder, will expand eligibility for qualified buyers and make practical updates to better serve every Colorado community and meet the reality of the 2026 housing market. “The Affordable Homeownership Program was designed in 2022, for a 2022 market with low interest rates and lower construction costs than what we see today,” said Amabile. “This new law updates the program to reflect today’s reality and provide the flexibility that Coloradans need. We’re taking a practical approach to make sure this program works as intended so more Colorado families can put down roots and achieve their dream of homeownership.” “This bipartisan law makes the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program more responsive to the needs of our communities, especially in Colorado mountain towns like mine,” said Stewart. “ When Colorado voters approved Prop 123, it created the Affordable Home Ownership Program to help first-time homebuyers with down payments and other financial assistance. This new law will make crucial updates to the program to help more low- and middle-income Coloradans in rural areas qualify for homebuying assistance.” “We’re expanding eligibility and flexibility for this Prop 123 program to deliver more housing assistance for hardworking Coloradans,” said Smith. “The Affordable Homeownership Program was created to help first-time homebuyers secure down payments. Unfortunately, interest rates and construction costs are higher than they were when the program was created. Our law makes necessary adjustments to the program so it can support Coloradans as intended and make homeownership a reality for more hardworking people.” The new law, also sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, will increase the allowable income threshold to qualify for the program to less than or equal to 120 percent of statewide Area Median Income (AMI) or the local AMI. This will allow more people to qualify for the program, particularly in rural communities. Rising interest rates and insurance costs have also made it harder for Coloradans to meet the requirement that combined housing costs cannot exceed 35 percent of their income. The law raises that threshold to 38 percent for homebuyers receiving direct down-payment assistance, and also creates a process to allow eligible organizations to seek a waiver of the housing cost limit entirely when a qualified buyer is not found after six months of advertising. Additionally, the law will allow eligible organizations to temporarily rent units if they cannot be sold in a timely manner and create more flexibility in the program rules. These updates will help ensure that the program is working as intended and serving as many Coloradans as possible. Previous Next

< Back June 6, 2020 WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS DURING HEALTH EMERGENCIES PASS COMMITTEE Denver, CO– The House Committee on Finance today considered and passed legislation, sponsored by Reps. Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod, to protect workers from retaliation when they expose safety-related issues. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “The bill we passed today would ensure that workers feel empowered to speak out when their employers are putting health and safety at risk,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “As this pandemic has shown us, this policy will not only benefit workers, it will benefit our communities and the broader public. Public health is a collective effort, and we need everyone to know that they won’t face workplace retaliation for doing the right thing.” “We’re working to get Colorado back to work and back on track as safely and responsibly as we can,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial . “That means making sure that all workplaces put health and safety first, and protecting employees who speak out when they see wrongdoing. This bill will hopefully give workers the confidence to make their voices heard without fear of losing their jobs.” Colorado has few state-level whistleblower protections, relying primarily on the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which take years to process retaliation claims. HB20-1415 protects Colorado workers from retaliation when they raise concerns about the health and safety of their workplace to their employer, fellow coworkers, the public, or government agencies. It grants workers the right to wear protective equipment to work, and it requires employers to inform employees of their rights to blow the whistle on unsafe conditions. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is charged with managing complaints. Previous Next

Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: < Back May 3, 2024 McLachlan and Simpson Joint Statement on CommonSpirit Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Impasse DURANGO, CO - Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: Coloradans in our communities must have access to hospital care and medical services within a reasonable distance from home, and this impasse puts critical care out of reach for consumers in Southwest Colorado. Coloradans in rural communities often have to travel hours for care, but forcing patients to drive to Colorado Springs or Grand Junction to receive treatment is not an appropriate alternative. It’s time for Anthem and CommonSpirit to put patients before profits and come to an agreement that continues in-network coverage for facilities such as Mercy Hospital in our communities. Previous Next

< Back April 5, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES BILL TO MODERNIZE BEHAVIORAL COVERAGE LAWS More than one million Coloradans experience mental health or a substance use crisis each year (Apr. 5) – The House Public Health Care and Human Services committee passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Lisa Cutter. and Rep. Tom Sullivan that will modernize behavioral health insurance coverage laws to align with federal law and close loopholes to increase access to mental health services for Coloradans. “Kids as young as nine and ten are attempting suicide. This issue isn’t going away until we address it,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Evergreen. “Over one million Coloradans deal with a mental health issue, and over half of them aren’t getting the help they need. Imagine what the world would be like if your friends and family dealing with these issues were able to get the help they need.” HB19-1269: Strengthens prevention and screening laws to shift the current system away from expensive late-stage treatment to early prevention Enforces and makes transparent existing state and federal parity laws and increases consumer protections Eliminates gaps and loopholes in current law to ensure no more Coloradans fall through the cracks “This is something I’ve been involved in for the last six years and I am glad to be a part of this legislation,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “We know that recently a student from Cherry Creek high school died by suicide. This is not something we can wait on, we need to take action now.” Currently, state and federal laws require insurance carriers to provide equal coverage for mental health and physical care. However, many families are being denied coverage or are paying out-of-pocket costs for weeks or months for mental health care services because of loopholes in current law. HB19-1269 was unanimously approved by the House Public Health Care and Human Services committee. It now heads to the Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2023 Bill to Improve Judiciary Training in Assault, Domestic Violence Cases Advances DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed a bill to better equip the judicial system and judicial personnel with the tools needed to understand the complex issues that victims of crimes like sexual assault and domestic violence face. “As a survivor of domestic violence, I know how difficult and distressing it can be for victims to come forward with their story,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D- Wheat Ridge . “Victims of crimes like domestic violence or sexual assault are often forced to relive their trauma while navigating the judicial system in order to hold their aggressor accountable. This bill is essential in understanding how to create a judicial system that incorporates trauma-informed practices and training to better protect and support victims and survivors.” HB23-1108 , a bipartisan bill that passed out of committee by a vote of 11-2, creates a task force to examine current victim and survivor awareness and responsiveness trainings within the Office for Victims Programs. The task force would report their findings and make recommendations on how to improve trainings for judicial personnel to better serve victims and survivors of crimes including sexual assault, harassment, and domestic violence. The task force would be required to submit a report including findings and recommendations to the House and Senate Judiciary committees by November 1, 2023. Previous Next

HB25-1130 boosts labor protections for construction jobs by state agencies < Back June 3, 2025 Governor Signs New Law to Support Workers on Public Construction Projects DENVER, CO – The Governor today signed legislation sponsored by Senators Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, and Representative Michael Carter, D-Aurora, to allow public projects to use Project Labor Agreements to ensure worker protections. “The health of Colorado’s public sector depends on high-quality, well-paid jobs protected by Project Labor Agreements that work for both employers and workers,” Danielson said. “We’ve passed measures in recent years to expand apprenticeship opportunities and build a skilled, protected workforce, and this law will broaden these protections to the public construction sector.” “This law allows public construction projects to use Project Labor Agreements to extend workplace protections and bargaining rights to workers on these projects,” Carter said. “Project Labor Agreements are similar to union contracts and offer workers better pay and safer conditions while leading to higher quality work and faster completion of public projects.” “I am committed to ensuring that Colorado workers are paid fairly for their work and protected from unfair employer practices,” Kolker said. “This law simply extends existing worker protections to make Colorado law consistent across all sectors.” “I have proudly passed laws in the energy and public sectors to create safer work conditions and ensure Coloradans are paid a fair wage for their work,” Duran said. “This law seeks to extend protections to Colorado workers on public projects, making Colorado law more consistent across all sectors to protect Colorado workers.” HB25-1130 implements project labor provisions to ensure that state projects, like their energy sector counterparts, have the option and authorization to utilize this procurement method. The new law defines a project labor agreement as a collective bargaining agreement between a lead contractor for a public project and construction labor organizations to establish the terms and conditions of employment of the construction workforce on the public project. These agreements must include guarantees around strikes and lockouts, requirements to resolve disputes before project completion, and policy objectives regarding underrepresented minorities in the construction industry. This legislation builds on the Colorado Quality Apprenticeship Training Act of 2019, also sponsored by Senator Danielson and Majority Leader Duran, to establish apprenticeship protections for public projects and a 2023 law , also sponsored by Duran, to create clear and fair working standards for Colorado workers transitioning into the clean energy sector. Previous Next

< Back February 17, 2023 Titone’s Right to Repair Agriculture Equipment Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to save farmers and ranchers money and time on costly agricultural equipment repairs. “Right to repair gives farmers and ranchers the tools, information and parts they need to repair their equipment so they can get back in the field,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “Often, farmers are forced to spend outrageous amounts on equipment repairs and are left waiting months for a repair technician. This bill gives farmers and ranchers the freedom to fix their own equipment or hire local technicians, saving them money and time and getting them back to work faster.” HB23-1011 passed the House on a preliminary vote and would require agricultural equipment manufacturers to comply with existing consumer right to repair laws. Specifically, agricultural equipment manufacturers would need to provide necessary parts, software, firmware, tools or documentation to independent repair providers and owners at a fair and reasonable price. Under this bill, agricultural equipment manufacturers or dealers selling on behalf of the manufacturer cannot upcharge for any repair items. This bill aims to save farmers and ranchers money on necessary equipment repairs while speeding up the repair process. Agriculture is one of the largest and leading industries in the state of Colorado. HB23-1011 is supported by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the Corn Growers, Wheat Growers, Wool Producers, Fruit and Vegetable Producers, the Cattleman, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Last year, Representatives Titone and Ortiz passed two trailblazing right to repair laws specifically for wheelchair users. These laws require wheelchair manufacturers to provide parts and software to consumers and eliminate the need for prior authorization to repair powered wheelchairs and other complex mobility devices for Medicaid recipients. These laws provided the framework for HB23-1011. Previous Next