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< Back May 31, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: BILLS SIGNED TO ADDRESS AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS Laws direct $155 million to create a statewide grant program and regional navigation campus in the Denver-Metro area DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will provide $155 million to address and prevent homelessness across Colorado. HB22-1377 , sponsored by Representatives Steven Woodrow and Tony Exum and Senators Chris Kolker and Julie Gonzales, directs $105 million in flexible grant funding to local governments and nonprofits that are pursuing innovative measures to address the needs of individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. These initiatives may include emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and property conversion, as well as wraparound services and care coordination. “This package of legislation works to address and prevent homelessness across Colorado by funding innovative measures that provide shelter and help people transition to permanent housing,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Local governments and nonprofits can’t fill this need on their own, so the state is stepping up to fund the programs and projects we know will help provide the housing and supports people need to get back on their feet and thrive.” “The crisis of unhoused Coloradans has only grown, and we must take action,” said Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial. “This law will enable local communities to better tackle this crisis, and arm them with resources to implement innovative, community-driven strategies that address and prevent homelessness and get more Coloradans the help they need.” “Too many Coloradans, including over 1,000 veterans, are experiencing homelessness across our state,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “This legislation provides funding for critical services and shelter for people in immediate need of a safe place to sleep and will also help people transition out of homelessness. We worked to ensure that each community in Colorado would have an opportunity to access this funding. From reducing the cost of housing and increasing access to behavioral health care to making Colorado more affordable and boosting skills training programs, we’re doing everything we can to address the root causes of homelessness and create opportunity for everyone in Colorado.” “We’ve seen clearly over the past few years that crisis exacerbates inequality. As our state’s housing issues have worsened significantly, even more Coloradans find themselves without a place to call home,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, Vice Chair of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force . “This new law is critically important, and will help local communities connect unhoused Coloradans to essential support and resources. It’s only a start – but providing these resources will help folks get back on their feet by expanding access to the housing, care and support services that they need.” HB22-1378, sponsored by Representatives Iman Jodeh and Tom Sullivan and Senators James Coleman and Chris Hansen, directs $50 million to local governments and nonprofits in the Denver-Metro area to build or acquire and then facilitate a regional navigation campus to holistically respond to and prevent homelessness. This campus will integrate emergency, transitional and permanent supportive housing with behavioral health care, substance use disorder treatment, medical care, case management, employment and skills training and more – all in one location. “The homelessness crisis in our communities demands an innovative approach that will deploy best practices and comprehensive strategies, and that’s what we’re doing by creating a central location where people can get the wraparound services they need to avoid homelessness,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “I am proud of this legislation that creates and funds a regional navigation campus in the Denver-Metro area that will integrate health care, job services and housing supports – some of the best practices available to reduce and prevent homelessness.” “The homelessness crisis has hit our communities hard, and addressing it requires all hands on deck, which is exactly the approach this legislation takes,” said Senator James Coleman, D-Denver . “This law will connect folks without stable housing to the services, care and housing they need, and give more Coloradans support to help them move forward and thrive.” “As a veteran, it is deeply troubling to see so many people who served our nation struggle to find safe and stable housing and access to the job services and health care they need,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “I’m proud Governor Polis has signed our legislation into law to invest in proven strategies that will reduce and prevent homelessness. This new regional campus will be a one-stop-location for people experiencing homelessness to be connected with behavioral health care, job training, housing options and other critical services that we know help people find long-term housing and employment.” “Too many of our neighbors are struggling to find a place to call home, and they need assistance,” said Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver . “This law will provide significant new resources to support folks experiencing homelessness, and give nonprofits and local governments more capacity to address this crisis and help more Coloradans get back on their feet.” Previous Next

< Back June 4, 2020 POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION (PASSED BY THE COLORADO GA 2015-2019) HB15-1285 : Widespread Use of Body Cameras Sponsors: Rep. Daniel Kagan , Sen. John Cooke Summary: Creates a grant program for law enforcement agencies to purchase body cameras and to train law enforcement officers in their use. Establishes a study group best practices on the use of body cameras and to develop those policies for law enforcement agencies. HB15-1287 : Police Training Improvements Sponsors: Rep. Angela Williams , Sen. John Cooke Summary: Expands the Peace Officers Standards and Training board from 20 to 24 members, expands the POST board’s duties to include completing a review and evaluation of the basic academy curriculum and establishing subject matter expertise committees to develop skills training programs, academic curriculums, and POST board rules. Duties also include the development of a community outreach program and development of a recruitment program that creates a diversified applicant pool. Requires the POST board to include anti-bias, community policing and de-escalation courses in regular in-service training. HB15-1290 : Stop Police Interference Cop Incident Recordings Sponsors: Rep. Joe Salazar , Rep. Daneya Esgar , Sen. Lucia Guzman , Sen. David Balmer Summary: Guarantees a person’s right to film any incident involving a police officer. If an officer seizes or destroys a recording without consent or a warrant, or if the officer interferes with the recording or retaliates against the person making the recording, that person is entitled to damages and a civil penalty of $15,000. SB15-185 : Police Data Collection And Community Policing Sponsors: Sen. Mike Johnston , Sen. Rhonda Fields Summary: Known as the ‘Community Law Enforcement Action Reporting’ Act, or CLEAR Act. Requires each law enforcement agency to report disaggregated offense and arrest information – the numbers and types of charges that resulted from arrests; the race and gender of the defendants; the associated incident report numbers; convictions at trial, acquittals, plea agreements, and dismissals; and the race and gender of the defendants. Also requires reporting on the number of parole hearings held and the race, ethnicity, and gender of the inmates who received parole hearings, as well as those who are granted or denied parole. SB15-217 : Data Collection After Officer-Involved Shootings Sponsors: Sen. Ellen Roberts , Sen. John Cooke , Rep. Angela Williams Summary: Requires that after an officer-involved shooting occurs, the peace officer’s law enforcement agency provides the division of criminal justice with demographic information on the officer and individual shot and search, citation, and arrest information related to the incident. Colorado law enforcement agencies will provide this information for all shootings that occurred between 2010 and 2015, and for each successive year until 2020. SB15-218 : Disclosure of Misrepresentations by Peace Officers Sponsors: Sen. Ellen Roberts , Sen. John Cooke , Rep. Angela Williams Summary: Requires a state or local law enforcement agency that formerly employed a peace officer who applies for employment to another Colorado agency to disclose to the hiring agency information indicating whether the officer’s employment history included any instances in which the officer made a knowing misrepresentation. SB15-219 : Peace Officer Shootings Transparency Measures Sponsors: Sen. Ellen Roberts , Sen. John Cooke , Rep. Joe Salazar Summary: Requires law enforcement agencies to develop protocols for involving other law enforcement agencies in the investigation of a peace officer-involved shooting, requiring that detectives investigating an officer-involved shooting not come from the officer’s own agency. Also requires a district attorney who declines to file criminal charges against a peace officer in a peace officer-involved shooting to make a written public disclosure of their findings that were the basis for not charging the officer. HB16-1117 : Record Custodial Interrogations Sponsors: Rep. Daniel Kagan , Rep. Lori Saine , Sen. Irene Aguilar , Sen. John Cooke Summary: Requires Colorado law enforcement agencies to make video recordings of all interrogations of suspects when they are investigating class 1 or class 2 felonies or felony sexual assaults, reducing the incidence of false confessions as well as bogus claims of coerced confessions. HB16-1262 : Law Enforcement Background Check Employment Waiver Sponsors: Rep. Angela Williams , Sen. John Cooke Summary: Requiring law enforcement job applicants to sign waivers allowing their previous employers to release the applicants’ personnel records, and giving the state Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Board the authority to deny certification to an applicant who entered into a deferred judgment. The bill addresses the problem of officers who have committed serious offenses but are able to hide their past by latching on with a different police force. HB16-1263 : Racial Profiling Prohibition Sponsors: Rep. Angela Williams , Sen. Jessie Ulibarri Summary: Updates the police profiling statute to forbid consideration of race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability in a law enforcement decision to pull a driver over or make a pedestrian stop. HB16-1264 : Ban Law Enforcement Use of Chokehold Sponsors: Rep. Jovan Melton , Sen. Mike Johnston Summary: Prohibits police officers from using a chokehold, except to save their own lives. HB16-1265 : Expunge Arrest Records Based On Mistaken Identity Sponsors: Rep. Jovan Melton , Rep. Daneya Esgar , Sen. Mike Johnston , Sen. John Cooke Summary: Allows someone who’s arrested in a case of mistaken identity to have the arrest deleted from his or her police record, free of charge. Currently, the arrest record remains unless the arrestee goes to court, at considerable expense, to have it removed. HB19-1119 : Peace Officer Investigation Open Records Sponsors: Rep. James Coleman , Sen. Mike Foote Summary: Makes some aspects of an internal investigation file of a peace officer’s conduct with the public subject to an open records request. Allows some information to be redacted, and also allows the custodian of a file in which there is an ongoing criminal case to deny inspection of the file. The file becomes open for inspection after all the charges are dismissed or the defendant is sentenced. Applies to files of internal investigations were started after 4-12-19. HB19-1244 : Expand Peace Officer Mental Health Support Program Sponsors: Rep. Jonathan Singer , Sen. Rhonda Fields , Sen. John Cooke Summary: Requires law enforcement agencies to develop policies to support officers involved in a shooting or fatal use of force. Policies must address pre-incident training and preparation, support for the officer at the scene of the incident, post-incident support and services, guidelines for temporary leave or duty reassignment, and guidelines for return to duty. All policies must be completed by 1-1-20. Agencies must review them on a biennial basis. SB19-091 : Support Peace Officers Involved in Use of Force Sponsors: Sen. Rhonda Fields , Sen. John Cooke , Rep. James Coleman , Rep. Terri Carver Summary: Opens the peace officers’ mental health support grant program to additional “eligible applicants”, which include other types of law enforcement agencies, a statewide association of police officers and former police officers, and organizations that provide services and programs that promote the mental health wellness of peace officers. SB19-166 : Peace Officers Standards And Training Board Revoke Certification For Untruthful Statement Sponsors: Rep. Dylan Roberts , Sen. Rhonda Fields , Sen. Bob Gardner Summary: Requires the Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) board to revoke the certification of a peace officer if they knowingly made an untruthful statement or omitted a material fact on an official criminal justice record, while testifying under oath, or during an internal affairs investigation. The law enforcement agency certifies that it completed an administrative process, including any appeals process, as defined by a published policy of that agency and determined by a clear and convincing standard of the evidence. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Junie Joseph and Rebekah Stewart to improve accessibility in new and renovated buildings and facilities for Coloradans with disabilities. HB25-1030 passed by a vote of 41-22. < Back February 5, 2025 House Passes Bill to Boost Building Accessibility for Coloradans with Disabilities DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Junie Joseph and Rebekah Stewart to improve accessibility in new and renovated buildings and facilities for Coloradans with disabilities. HB25-1030 passed by a vote of 41-22. “Coloradans with disabilities rely on certain accessibility features in going about their daily lives, and it’s important that new and renovated buildings such as schools and health facilities meet or exceed the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “With this bill passing the House today, we’re standing by our commitment to Colorado’s disability community by improving accessibility requirements in building codes throughout our state and supporting basic access to public buildings.” “The Americans with Disabilities Act has been law for over 30 years, yet gaps in enforcing those accessibility requirements continue to act as a barrier to Coloradans with disabilities,” said Rep. Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood. ”As a former local government official, I know this bill will benefit our communities by creating a guideline for local governments to follow when it comes to accessibility updates, mitigating lawsuits and making our communities more accessible for all.” Beginning January 1, 2026, HB25-1030 would require local governments that adopt or amend a building code to ensure that they meet or exceed the accessibility standards set by the International Code Council and existing laws. The State Housing Board would also be required to meet or exceed these standards when it comes to substantial updates to uniform construction and maintenance standards for hotels, motels, and multiple dwellings in jurisdictions with no local building code. The Division of Fire Prevention and Control would be responsible for ensuring that building codes for public schools and health facilities meet accessibility standards. Colorado Democrats have championed many laws in recent years to break down accessibility barriers for Coloradans living with disabilities, including creating the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office to implement a statewide strategy to promote successful economic, social, and community integration. Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2022 HOUSE ADVANCES BILL TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, REDUCE EMISSIONS, AND SAVE PEOPLE MONEY DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that will update building codes to improve Colorado’s air quality, reduce emissions, and save people money on their utility bills. “By building right the first time, we’ll save Coloradans money on their utility bills, improve our air quality and reduce harmful indoor air pollution,” said Rep. Tracey Bernett, D-Louisville. “All Coloradans deserve homes and buildings that are efficient, resilient, healthy and ready for the future. By passing this bill, we’ll address one of the largest sources of pollution in Colorado, make it easier and cheaper to own an electric vehicle, and consumers will be better protected from utility price spikes. This bill will help the 25 percent of Coloradans who are energy burdened save money on their utilities.” “By building high quality, efficient new buildings, Coloradans will save money on their utility bills, and both our indoor and outdoor air will be healthier for everyone,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “This bill doesn’t ban anything; it simply moves our state forward with updated building codes that benefit everyone, improve our air, lower utility costs and foster healthier communities.” HB22-1362 , sponsored by Representatives Tracey Bernett and Alex Valdez, would update Colorado’s building codes to improve energy efficiency, save Coloradans money, and reduce harmful indoor and outdoor air pollution. The bill preserves all appliance and utility options for consumers, including natural gas, and does not transfer enforcement responsibility away from local governments. Owners and occupants of existing homes and buildings would only be affected if their local government chooses to upgrade their building codes and the building owner chooses to undergo a major, permit-authorized renovation or addition. For cities and counties that have adopted building codes, the legislation updates building codes to ensure that new buildings are constructed right the first time by incorporating electric vehicle charging capabilities, solar and electric-ready wiring, to save building and homeowners thousands off the costs of retrofitting their homes and saving them money on utility bills. While not mandatory, the codes encourage all-electric homes, which research shows cost less to build and save building owners money over their lifecycle. The bill includes $3 million in grant funding to help cities and counties adopt and enforce updated building codes, $1 million in grants for training for builders and contractors, and $22 million in grants and incentives to help finance energy efficiency upgrades. Previous Next

< Back January 12, 2022 FIRST 10 BILLS SAVE COLORADANS MONEY, IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS DENVER, CO — House Speaker Alec Garnett today introduced the first 10 bills of the 2022 legislative session, which highlight key agenda priorities of the House Democrats: saving families money on everything from child care to driver’s license costs, helping Coloradans start a business, and improving public safety through smart crime prevention initiatives. “Families, businesses and teachers are all going to save money with the bills we introduced today,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “I’m excited to continue moving Colorado forward by focusing on key priorities like making quality health care accessible and affordable and preparing our students for success. We’re laser-focused on creating a healthier, safer, more affordable Colorado for everyone.” “The first bills introduced this session highlight our dedication to saving Coloradans money, improving public safety and preparing our students for success,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “The pandemic has been challenging for families and businesses across Colorado. We are committed to delivering transformational changes that address the most pressing needs in our communities. The bills introduced today are going to put more money back into Coloradans’ pockets, boost our health care workforce and improve public safety by preventing crimes from happening in the first place.” Cutting Fees to Start Your Own Business ( HB22-1001 ) Representatives Lisa Cutter and Tom Sullivan, Senators Brittany Pettersen and Chris Kolker This bill will help save money for Colorado small businesses that have faced adversity and uncertainty throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill will save businesses and entrepreneurs money by cutting fees to start your own business and other costs associated with business filings. Preparing Students for Success by Expanding Concurrent Enrollment Opportunities ( HB22-1002 ) Representatives Mike Weissman and Jennifer Bacon, Senator Janet Buckner This bill will prepare students for success by expanding the number of students who can participate in the ASCENT concurrent enrollment program. The ASCENT program gives students an accelerated opportunity to earn a postsecondary credential, coordinating school districts and community colleges to help prepare students for quality jobs. Preventing Youth Violence and Crime ( HB22-1003 ) Representatives Lindsey Daugherty and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Senator Julie Gonzales This bill will provide grants to local governments and school districts to improve public safety, prevent crime and reduce recidivism. The bill focuses on youth support and interventions, and services to prevent crime from happening and prevent juveniles from entering the criminal justice system in the first place. Saving Coloradans Money at the DMV ( HB22-1004 ) Representatives David Ortiz and Mary Young, Senators Rhonda Fields and Chris Kolker This bill will freeze DMV drivers’ license fees for next year, saving Coloradans money when they go to renew their licenses. Boosting the Health Care Workforce ( HB22-1005 ) Representatives Julie McCluskie and Perry Will, Senator Bob Rankin The bill will extend the state income tax credit for health care “preceptors,” mentors who help and encourage people to enter the health care workforce. The bill will allow more of these mentors to access the credit and expands the program to include addiction counselors and registered nurses. The bill would extend the credit until 2033. It is currently set to expire in 2023. Saving Parents Money on Child Care ( HB22-1006 ) Representatives Dylan Roberts and Kevin Van Winkle, Senators Kerry Donovan and Jim Smallwood This bill will save parents money by expanding access to affordable child care. The bill will expand the types of child care facilities that are exempt from property taxes, saving child care centers money and making child care more affordable. Saving Homeowners Money on Wildfire Mitigation ( HB22-1007 ) Representatives Donald Valdez and Mike Lynch, Senators Pete Lee and Cleave Simpson This bill will save homeowners money on wildfire mitigation measures performed on their property. With climate change bringing ever more destructive and frequent wildfires like the Marshall Fire to Colorado, this bill will help prevent future destruction and costly rebuilding through expanded mitigation. The bill will create a grant program to support outreach efforts to landowners in high wildfire hazard areas and change a state income tax deduction to a state income tax credit worth up to $625 of a landowner’s wildfire mitigation expenses. Saving Families Money on Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment ( HB22-1008 ) Representatives Kerry Tipper and Mark Baisley, Senators Steve Fenberg and Faith Winter This bill will help Coloradans looking to start a family save money on fertility treatment. The bill will update legislation passed last year to ensure that insurance plans cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, which is often a prohibitively expensive health care treatment for people wanting to start or expand their family. Extending Skills Training Proven to Prepare Students for Success ( HB22-1009 ) Representatives Matt Gray and Tom Sullivan, Senator Rachel Zenzinger The bill will prepare students for success by extending the workforce diploma pilot program originally established in 2019 and set to be repealed later this year on July 1, 2022. Program participants earn certificates and industry recognized credentials, unlocking economic opportunities to help them provide for themselves and their families. Saving Educators Money and Expanding Child Care Options ( HB22-1010 ) Representatives Emily Sirota and Tonya Van Beber, Senators Janet Buckner and Barbara Kirkmeyer The bill will save educators money and prepare our youngest learners for success by creating a refundable income tax credit for early childhood educators. Educators working in or leading a child care program would be eligible for the credit for the next five years. Previous Next

< Back July 1, 2025 Bird, Sirota, McCluskie and Duran Urge Congressional Republicans to “Vote No” DENVER, CO – JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, Rep. Emily Sirota, Speaker Julie McCluskie and House Majority Leader Monica Duran today sent a letter to Republican members of Colorado’s Congressional Delegation to raise concern about the state budget impacts of the GOP’s megabill and to urge them to vote no. In the letter, the members wrote, “ Colorado simply cannot absorb the financial blow your bill will strike to our budget. We are deeply concerned that as a result of your votes, Colorado will be forced to consider: Limiting the senior and veteran homestead exemption, thereby increasing property taxes on seniors and veterans Increasing tuition for higher education Further reducing the Earned Income Tax Credit and Family Affordability Tax Credit, which will increase taxes on working families. Reducing funding for corrections, impacting public safety Cutting funding for services that support children and people with disabilities Scaling back the reinsurance program, which would increase health care premiums for people who buy their own insurance. While there has been a lot of focus on the Medicaid, SNAP and energy provisions of your bill, we want to make sure that you are aware of the other consequences of your bill should it pass. None of these choices are good for Colorado, and every single one will be the result of Congress passing this bill.” The full text of the letter is below: Representatives Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Hurd and Jeff Crank: We write to you once again to urge you to vote against the GOP budget reconciliation bill. Time and time again, Coloradans across the state from health care providers in rural areas to business and utility owners and utilities have shared the devastating impacts this bill will have: Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans could lose their health insurance Rural health clinics and facilities will struggle to stay open Energy costs will increase Children and veterans will lose food assistance As the lawmakers responsible for writing our state budget, we want to bring to your attention additional consequences this bill will force on our state. If you pass this bill, the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budgeting expects state General Fund revenues to decline by almost $600 million per year, and costs to the General Fund will increase by as much as $650 million per year, creating a billion dollar hole in our budget. In order to maintain SNAP benefits for children, seniors and veterans who depend on them, we would have to replace $180 million each year in lost funding that we simply do not have. This is just not possible—your votes will force deep cuts to nutrition assistance that keeps children and veterans from going hungry. The changes you propose to Medicaid could result in Colorado losing as much as $1 billion in health care funding that we will not be able to backfill, putting health coverage at risk for nearly 150,000 Coloradans. The impact on rural areas, people of color, veterans and people with disabilities will be staggering. The $25 billion fund to support rural clinics is simply a drop in the bucket when compared to the over $1 trillion in cuts you are making to Medicaid. Colorado simply cannot absorb the financial blow your bill will strike to our budget. We are deeply concerned that as a result of your votes, Colorado will be forced to consider: Limiting the senior and veteran homestead exemption, thereby increasing property taxes on seniors and veterans Increasing tuition for higher education Further reducing the Earned Income Tax Credit and Family Affordability Tax Credit, which will increase taxes on working families. Reducing funding for corrections, impacting public safety Cutting funding for services that support children and people with disabilities Scaling back the reinsurance program, which would increase health care premiums for people who buy their own insurance. While there has been a lot of focus on the Medicaid, SNAP and energy provisions of your bill, we want to make sure that you are aware of the other consequences of your bill should it pass. None of these choices are good for Colorado, and every single one will be the result of Congress passing this bill. While we understand that you do not need to balance the federal budget—as demonstrated by your votes for this bill that will increase the deficit by trillions of dollars—we do balance our budgets in Colorado. We have had to make hard choices in the last year to protect core services for hardworking families, and we will have to make many more in the year ahead. However, the choices this bill will force us to make are far worse and will be devastating for our state. Vote no. Sincerely, Representative Shannon Bird, Vice Chair of the Joint Budget Committee Representative Emily Sirota, Joint Budget Committee Member Speaker Julie McCluskie House Majority Leader Monica Duran Previous Next

< Back April 19, 2022 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS BILL DENVER, CO – The House Transportation & Local Government Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to provide volunteer firefighters with more resources and tools to combat wildfires. “Colorado’s wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive — it is critical that we invest our firefighters so they have the tools they need to protect our land, homes and lives,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton. “The work of local fire departments will only become more difficult as climate change continues. So our bipartisan bill provides the funding our local fire departments need to upgrade old equipment, recruit new seasonal firefighters, improve training and address the behavioral health needs of our firefighters.” Resources For Volunteer Firefighters : SB22-002 , sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter and Perry Will would invest $5 million to better prepare local fire departments and their firefighters for wildfires. Specifically, this bill would make local volunteer fire departments eligible for reimbursement for wildland fire suppression activities, including equipment costs and volunteer firefighter recruitment, training and retention. Local fire departments will also be able to use funds from the Local Firefighter Safety and Disease Prevention Grant Program for the replacement or disposal of damaged or obsolete equipment. The bill also creates the Firefighter Behavioral Health Benefits Trust to provide behavioral health care services to firefighters and paid for by public employers. SB22-002 passed committee unanimously. As climate change elevates the threat of destructive wildfires in Colorado, this bill aims to provide funding to Colorado’s local fire departments so they have the resources needed to purchase necessary equipment, train seasonal firefighters and respond safely to wildfires. Previous Next

< Back June 24, 2022 SPONSORS OF COLORADO’S LAW TO PROTECT ABORTION BLAST SCOTUS RULING TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE DENVER, CO – Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Meg Froelich, sponsors of Colorado’s Reproductive Health Equity Act , today released the following statements after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Statement from Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo: “This decision by five Republican-appointed Justices is a travesty of justice, a perversion of our Constitution, and a tragedy for the American people. In a ruling that restricts the rights of all Americans and opens the door to ban marriage equality and contraception, the Court has stripped millions of women of our bodily autonomy, reproductive freedom, and the rights that have been the law of the land for over fifty years. We knew overturning Roe vs. Wade was a real possibility, which is why I lead the charge on the Reproductive Health Equity Act to protect abortion because we trust people to make their own, private medical decisions. It was signed into law in Colorado, but our fight isn’t over. We must continue our efforts to protect access to abortion in Colorado and support the countless individuals who will have to travel to our state for an abortion or carry unsafe pregnancies to term.” Statement from Representative Meg Froelich, D-Englewood: “For decades, Republican politicians and secretive outside groups worked to put conservatives in power on the Supreme Court in order to overturn Roe v. Wade and ban abortion. With this decision, ultra right-wing politicians are now free to impose their own beliefs on everyone else, send abortion providers and patients to prison, and put bounties on anyone who helps them. In large parts of our country, women have become second-class citizens overnight and no longer have the right to determine their futures and make decisions that impact their livelihoods. People in these states will be forced to carry pregnancies to term, travel out of sate, or seek potentially unsafe abortions, a burden that will disproprtinately fall on women of color and lower-income Americans. This disgraceful decision imperils the lives of those seeking an abortion and threatens the health, economic security and freedom of millions of Americans.” The Reproductive Health Equity Act updates Colorado’s laws to protect reproductive rights and codifies the fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy and give birth, or to have an abortion. At least 519 laws to restrict abortion care have been introduced in 41 states so far this year according to the National Women’s Law Center . Colorado remains committed to ensuring abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible. Recently, House Democrats defeated three Republican-led bills that would have jeopardized that right, including: HB22-1079 , which would have placed an unconstitutional ban on abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill explicitly directed Colorado to disregard federal law and federal court rulings and would subject Colorado judges who support access to abortion to impeachment. In addition, it would have allowed a private right of action against abortion providers, and potentially patients too. HB22-1047 , which would have banned abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill would have also criminalized miscarriages and would have subjected abortion providers to imprisonment. HB22-1075 , which would have established a registry to track and surveil abortion patients and providers. It also would have created a roadmap for abortion opponents to identify and further threaten abortion patients and providers. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to combat wage theft and boost the economic security of workers in the construction industry, ensuring construction workers receive pay for their work. < Back February 9, 2024 Wage Theft Prevention Passes House Committee DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to combat wage theft and boost the economic security of workers in the construction industry, ensuring construction workers receive pay for their work. “Wage theft is a serious problem in Colorado, with over $720 million in wages withheld from hardworking Coloradans every single year,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “The construction industry, which includes many Latino and immigrant workers, has disproportionately high rates of wage theft that leave workers questioning how they’re going to pay their bills. This legislation is crucial in ensuring that Coloradans get paid for the work that they do and holding contractors who do not honor commitments to pay their employees accountable.” “We rely on construction workers to build infrastructure that allows our communities to grow, like needed housing supply and transportation projects, and they deserve to get paid for their hard work,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “No one should have to fight for money they are owed. This bill honors the hard work that goes into constructing our housing and transportation projects by ensuring construction workers are paid for their labor.” HB24-1008 improves wage theft accountability by requiring general contractors to cover lost wages if a subcontractor commits wage theft and increases transparency to improve compliance. It also imposes a $2,000 fine on a subcontractor if they do not forward a written demand for payment to the general contractor. Reps. Duran and Froelich also sponsored legislation in 2022 that ensures Colorado workers are able to recover legally-earned wages. The law modernizes Colorado’s wage enforcement procedures by streamlining the enforcement of wage theft laws and expanding the Department of Labor and Employment’s ability to investigate wage violators. A 2022 report by the Colorado Fiscal Institute found that nearly 440,000 low-wage Colorado workers experience $728 million in wage theft annually. Workers of color and women are most likely to be victims of wage theft, and the most common industries for wage theft are retail, construction, and food service. Construction workers are particularly at risk for wage theft due to the high rates of subcontracting and other labor market intermediaries. Wage theft can include not paying workers minimum wage, non-payment of wages, misclassifying workers as independent contractors or as management to avoid paying overtime and taking tips that were meant for the employees. The bill passed in committee by a vote of 8-3. Previous Next

Today the bipartisan 2026 School Finance Act was signed into law. SB26-023, sponsored by Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Representatives Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, and Emily Sirota, D-Denver, drives $180 million more to Colorado’s K-12 public schools for the 2026-27 school year. < Back May 28, 2026 JOINT RELEASE: 2026 School Finance Act Signed Into Law DENVER, CO – Today the bipartisan 2026 School Finance Act was signed into law. SB26-023 , sponsored by Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Representatives Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, and Emily Sirota, D-Denver, drives $180 million more to Colorado’s K-12 public schools for the 2026-27 school year. “As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, upholding our promise to Colorado students, teachers, and schools is my number one priority,” said Kolker. “During an extremely challenging budget year, we worked hard to ensure we don’t backslide on the important progress we’ve made to eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor and drive more funding to our schools. While there is much more work to do to ensure Colorado is a national leader in public education funding, I’m proud that despite budgetary constraints we were successfully able to increase per pupil funding and protect funding for Colorado’s public schools.” “The 2026 School Finance Act, which makes meaningful investments in K-12 education and keeps the student-centered formula in place, is now law,” said Sirota. “We were forced to make painful decisions because of our TABOR limit and Colorado’s budget deficit. However, we were able to protect core education funding. We’ve taken bold action to drive more dollars to our public schools, and I’m deeply proud of that work. This year’s school finance act builds upon Colorado Democrats' mission to fully fund our schools, increase teacher pay and set our students up for a lifetime of success.” “As any teacher will tell you, fully funded schools make all the difference to our students, and I’m thrilled to help deliver record funding to K-12 education with the 2026 School Finance Act,” said Lukens. “Despite budgetary constraints, we still delivered record investments in K-12 education and increased per-pupil funding. The 2026 School Finance Act boosts per-pupil funding by $449, bringing the total per-pupil funding to $12,325. There is more work to be done to fully fund our schools, but this year’s school finance act is an important step in the right direction.” Also sponsored by Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, SB26-023 sets statewide per pupil funding at $12,325 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, an increase of $449 as compared to FY 2025-2026 funding levels, bringing total K-12 funding for the upcoming fiscal year to $10.2 billion and increasing total program funding by $180.79 million. The General Fund contribution to K-12 education is increasing significantly thanks to the Kids Matter Fund created by Democrats last year, which is forecast to invest more than $216 million in Colorado’s schools next year. Under SB26-023, the new school finance formula ( HB24-1448 ) is implemented at 30 percent and includes a three-year averaging model to help stabilize school funding in a declining enrollment environment. This follows requirements in last year’s School Finance Act that phased in the implementation of the new school funding formula at 15 percent per year for six years, and then 10 percent for the final seventh year of implementation. This year, Democrats also increased funding by $14 million to continue free preschool access for all Colorado kids and increased funding by $38 million to implement the voter-approved Proposition MM to preserve access to free school meals for students. Since the 2020-2021 academic year, Democrats have increased total program funding from $7.2 billion to $10.2 billion for the upcoming year despite a declining enrollment environment. Per-pupil funding has increased from $8,100 to $12,300 in that time as well. Previous Next

< Back May 18, 2021 COMMITTEES ADVANCE MATERNAL HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY BILLS DENVER, CO– Two House Committees today advanced two bills addressing maternal and social determinants of health in Colorado. The Judiciary Committee advanced Rep. Leslie Herod’s bill about perinatal pregnancy protections, particularly for those giving birth while incarcerated, by a vote of 7-4, while the Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee passed Reps. Leslie Herod and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to create a strategic plan to address health equity disparities in underrepresented populations by a vote of 8-4. “Our country is facing both a maternal mortality and a health equity crisis, and today we took bold steps to address both,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “American women face subpar perinatal and postnatal care, and for Black and Indigenous women, it’s far worse. Maternal mortality in our communities is two to three times higher than that of white women. The bills we advanced today will work in tandem to improve health care for expecting mothers and communities of color.” “I see the devastating manifestations of Colorado’s health disparities play out in my medical clinic far too often,” said Doctor Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “The bill we advanced today will improve health equity in our state and help chart our course toward better health outcomes for Black, Brown and Indigenous communities in Colorado.” SB21-193 , considered by the Judiciary Committee today, takes several steps to address maternal health inequality in Colorado. It ensures a pregnant person’s advance directive is honored the same way as one coming from a non-pregnant person, addressing what’s known as the pregnancy exclusion clause that was recently found unconstitutional by a federal judge. The bill also requires the Colorado Civil Rights Commission to receive reports regarding culturally incongruent maternal care provided to pregnant women or those in postpartum care, and it adds protections for pregnant people in jails and state correctional facilities. SB21-181 , considered by the Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today, expands and improves the existing Health Disparities Grant Program and requires the Department of Public Health and Environment to prepare a biennial report on health disparities and how best to address social determinants of health for underrepresented populations. Previous Next

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