The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed a bill sponsored by Representative Naquetta Ricks that would require companies to post the full price of a product, good, or service, including any mandatory fees, to improve price transparency for Colorado consumers. HB24-1151 passed by a vote of 7-3. < Back February 28, 2024 Ricks Bill to Increase Price Transparency Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed a bill sponsored by Representative Naquetta Ricks that would require companies to post the full price of a product, good, or service, including any mandatory fees, to improve price transparency for Colorado consumers. HB24-1151 passed by a vote of 7-3. “From ‘service fees’ to ‘processing fees’, last-minute fees for goods and services cost families over $3,000 per year, taking hard-earned money from Colorado families to boost corporate profits,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “These fees mislead consumers about the true price of a good or service, driving customers away from Colorado businesses that are honest about their prices. Our legislation would require businesses to include any mandatory fees when posting the price of their goods and services so Coloradans can compare prices and trust that the price they see is what they can expect to pay.” HB24-1151 would prohibit a company from advertising the price of certain products, goods, or services unless they disclose all of the mandatory or non-discretionary fees upfront. Violation of this law would be an unfair or deceptive trade practice subject to a fine for each violation. Greystar, the largest apartment management company in the U.S., was recently sued by a Colorado resident for charging hidden fees that were not included in the advertised monthly rental rate. The average American family reportedly spends over $3,200 per year on junk fees. Previous Next

< Back February 5, 2020 BILL TO ABOLISH COLUMBUS DAY MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO — Rep. Adrienne Benavidez’s bill to replace Columbus Day with another holiday was approved by the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today. As currently amended, the bill would abolish Columbus Day and replace it with a holiday celebrating Frances Xavier Cabrini on the first Monday in October in recognition of her service and dedication to the wellbeing of children and the Italian American community in Colorado and across the country. The bill passed 6-2. “The memory and legacy of Christopher Columbus are a painful reminder of injustice in the minds of indigenous people across our state,” said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez (D-Adams County). “Having a day set aside every year to celebrate the life of a rapist and known perpetrator of genocide is cruel and unacceptable. Coloradans deserve a holiday that celebrates someone who shares their values, and Frances Xavier Cabrini fits the bill perfectly.” “We cannot continue to present a revisionist and inaccurate version of history by celebrating Columbus and his ‘discovery’ of America,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy (D-Lakewood), who chairs the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. “Holidays in our state should celebrate individuals who contributed to the progress and wellbeing of our nation and its people — not genocidal colonialists. It is time to end the pain and suffering that this holiday causes and replace it with a holiday celebrating someone worthy of the honor.” As currently amended, HB20-1031 would establish Cabrini Day as a state holiday in place of Columbus Day in recognition of her humanitarian values and lifelong dedication to service, especially to the Italian American immigrant community, who faced untold discrimination and difficulty as they migrated to America. She worked tirelessly to support the Italian-American community in the United States, including through several projects in Colorado. In 1904, Cabrini established Denver’s Queen of Heaven Orphanage for girls. In 1910, she founded a summer camp for the orphanage’s residents in Golden, Colorado. Currently, a shrine stands in her honor in the original location of the summer camp in Golden. The shrine includes the “Stone House”, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Previous Next

< Back July 6, 2020 GOV. SIGNS BILLS TO IMPROVE BROADBAND ACCESS, DMV SERVICES AND PLAT RECORDS New laws will improve broadband access in rural Colorado, permanently implement the DMV kiosk program and provide a new option to record plats digitally. Grand Junction, CO– Today, Governor Jared Polis signed three bills at the Mesa County Service Center into law. The new laws improve broadband access in rural areas, continue the successful DMV kiosk program and allow county clerks to record plats digitally. HB20-1137 , sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Matt Soper, helps small rural communities get the resources they need to develop and establish broadband technology. Under the law, broadband grant applicants may submit a proposal to the broadband deployment board for consideration certifying that the applicant operates in an underserved area. The board will be required to give preference to areas that are significantly underserved. “Now more than ever, rural Colorado communities need access to broadband internet services,” said Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “Students and families are working from home, and too many Coloradans in rural areas do not have access to broadband. This law will give small, underserved communities a greater voice in securing broadband grant funds from the state.” Representatives Matt Gray and Terri Carver sponsored SB20-035 , which expands and makes permanent the pilot DMV kiosk program. Currently, kiosks can issue driver’s licenses, register motor vehicles or issue certificates of title. The bill expands the functions of the kiosks to include telephone or internet services and also eliminates the $3.00 service fee and adds data security and accessibility requirements. “The kiosk program has proven to be a convenient tool for Coloradans to get their business done at the DMV,” said Representative Matt Gray, D-Broomfield . “During these times, it’s more important than ever to ensure that Coloradans can social distance and access the services they need.” Sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird and Perry Will, HB20-1318 gives county clerks and recorders the authority to receive and preserve original plats in electronic format. County clerks and recorders may save original copies of plats in either the original or digital format. If they chose to save it in digital format, the plats must be digitized or scanned. By storing plats electronically, counties can reduce the time expenditure that it takes to process plats. Both SB20-035 and HB20-1318 provide essential government services without requiring in-person, physical interaction, helping to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Colorado. “It’s time for Colorado to embrace the technology that is readily available to us,” said Representative Shannon Bird, D-Westminster . “This law will increase the efficiency of storing plat files while also providing a secure, readily available method for accessing these important documents. It will save thousands of dollars per new housing development, translating into lower costs for new housing.” Previous Next

< Back April 8, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES HEROD-BECKER BILL TO PUT COLORADO KIDS ON PATH TO SUCCESS Children with college savings accounts are three times more likely to enroll in college (Apr. 8) — The House Finance committee passed a bill sponsored by Speaker KC Becker and Rep. Leslie Herod that would create a new strategy to incentivize and streamline the college savings process for every child born in Colorado. “Creating college savings accounts for our kids has been highlighted as an important wealth-building tool that can tremendously help address the economic and racial barriers to building wealth in this country,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver . “If we know there is a tool that is going to help pull many of our students and families out of poverty and into higher education, why wouldn’t we try it?” Children with college savings accounts are twice as likely to expect to go to college. With HB19-1280, a program will be created to help and encourage Colorado parents to open a College Savings Account (CSA) for their children. Beginning in 2020, $100 of seed money will be contributed to the CSA if an account is opened within the first five years of the child’s life. “The College Kickstarter program will create funding for a college savings accounts for every child born in Colorado,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “This will help give Colorado’s kids a head start and help us invest in our future. Helping families and individuals save for higher-ed is a win-win for our students and our state.” Research has shown that even having $50 in a college savings account has many long-term benefits related to educational and financial success. A 2018 report found that 35 percent of US parents aren’t saving for college for their children. Kids with CSAs are three times more likely to enroll in college and four times more likely to graduate. CSAs also help reduce student loans. One study found that college graduates whose parents had a college savings account borrowed on average $3,209 less in student loans. State Treasurer Dave Young testified in support of the bill. “I’m singularly focused on the financial health of Colorado and therefore in strong support of College Savings Accounts, ” Treasurer Young said. The bill was unanimously approved by the committee and now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representative Yara Zokaie and Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker on a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws. < Back March 27, 2025 Legislation to Strengthen Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representative Yara Zokaie and Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker on a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws. “Under threat of the Trump Administration, it’s more important now than ever that we strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins. “When someone is wronged, we have a duty to create a pathway to justice. I’m sponsoring this legislation to uphold our shared values of fairness, dignity, and equality under Colorado law and better protect Coloradans who experience discrimination.” “This bill addresses unreasonable deadlines, barriers to financial compensation and other gaps in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to strengthen protections for Coloradans who experience discrimination,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “From housing discrimination to inaccessible building entrances, Coloradans with disabilities have faced barriers to access for far too long. This legislation provides crucial recourse to people with disabilities and other victims of discrimination to ensure they can receive the justice they deserve.” HB25-1239 expands protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) to protect vulnerable communities, especially Coloradans with disabilities. This bill would allow victims of discrimination to receive monetary compensation for unfair housing practices, discrimination in places of public accommodation, or a violation of their civil rights under the CADA for all protected classes. Under the bill, victims would be able to pursue attorney’s fees and costs, and either recovery of actual monetary damages, non-economic damages of up to $50,000, or a statutory fine of $5,000 per violation per aggrieved party. Awards for damages for non-economic loss or injury are limited to $50,000, and a defendant is entitled to a 50 percent reduction of the amount of the non-economic loss or injury if the defendant corrects the violation within 30 days after the complaint is filed and did not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly made or caused the violation. Previous Next

< Back May 5, 2022 MULLICA BILL IMPROVES HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS Legislation applies lessons learned from COVID-19 Pandemic to ensure health facilities can meet increased demand for care DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullica, an ER Nurse, to improve hospitals’ and health facilities’ preparedness to meet increased demands for care. “Colorado’s nurses and health care providers stepped up during the pandemic in truly unimaginable ways to save lives and keep our hospitals staffed,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, an ER Nurse. “I’ve never seen so many colleagues tired and worn out from their shifts at the hospital, and it happened time and time again with every new surge in cases. This legislation will require hospitals to have plans in place to meet increased demand for bed capacity to alleviate pressure on nurses and ensure that gravely ill patients don’t have to wait in hospital lobbies because there aren’t any beds.” HB22-1401 , which passed the House 37-27, requires every Colorado hospital to have a plan to meet nurse staffing needs. This aims to mitigate the concerns of health care staff regarding hospitals’ ability to meet patient needs when demand surges. It applies lessons learned from the pandemic to enable hospitals to quickly surge their capacity. Hospitals will have to report their nurse staffing plans to the Department of Public Health and Environment and publicize them on their website. They will also have to evaluate their plans quarterly to address feedback and or complaints from health care providers. The bill also requires hospitals to report the number of beds they are able to staff, their current bed capacity, and instances where staffed-bed capacity exceeds 80 percent. If hospitals do not take corrective action to address failures to meet required staffed-bed capacity or vaccine and testing capacities, they could face fines from CDPHE. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed two bills that would strengthen protections against firearm intimidation around elections and help drive up grant funding to boost mass shooting victim support services. < Back March 17, 2025 Election Intimidation Protections, Funding Boost for Mass Shooting Response Pass Committee DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed two bills that would strengthen protections against firearm intimidation around elections and help drive up grant funding to boost mass shooting victim support services. “Democracy is the backbone of our country, and it is crucial that Colorado voters feel safe to engage in their constitutional right to vote,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of HB25-1225 and SB25-059. “Election denialism, sparked by the dangerous ‘Big Lie’ narrative, has put a target on the backs of election workers, canvassers and voters. No one should feel threatened for their involvement in the election process, and this bill helps prevent firearm intimidation from impacting Coloradans’ right to vote.” “Colorado Democrats are committed to protecting Colorado’s gold standard elections system,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, sponsor of HB25-1225. “Voters of color have disproportionately been impacted by voter suppression, and it is crucial that we crack down on intimidation tactics so all Coloradans can participate in the election process. This bill strengthens protections to ensure Coloradans can feel safe to vote, serve as an election judge and engage in the election cycle so they can make their voices heard.” HB25-1225 , also known as the Freedom From Intimidation In Elections Act, would expand protections against intimidation, threats or coercion while voting, attempting to vote, assisting others in voting, or helping administer an election. With the exemption of law enforcement officials and hired on-site security working within their scope of work, carrying a visible firearm, imitation firearm or toy firearm while engaging in certain election-related activities would be considered intimidation. The bill would also allow an individual who alleges intimidation, threats, or coercion to pursue civil recourse. HB25-1225 passed by a vote of 8-3. In 2022, Colorado Democrats passed a law to prevent armed voter intimidation by prohibiting the open carry of firearms at or near polling centers. “Mass shootings have a ripple effect on Colorado communities, and trauma-informed services for survivors and victims require funding,” continued Rep. Woodrow. “This legislation would help bring in grant funds to boost victim support across our state, helping Colorado communities who have been devastated by gun violence.” SB25-059 passed by a vote of 8-3. The bill would direct the Division of Criminal Justice to apply for, accept, and utilize federal grant money or other grant funds to improve Colorado’s mass shooting response. The bill would also define “mass shooting” as a shooting where at least four people, other than the perpetrator, are injured or killed with a firearm. Previous Next

< Back March 27, 2019 JANET BUCKNER’S BIPARTISAN ORGAN DONOR BILL PASSES COMMITTEE (Mar. 27) – Speaker Pro-Tem Janet Buckner’s bipartisan bill passed out of the House Health and Insurance committee today. The bill prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums for living donors based on their status as a living donor. “We shouldn’t be punishing people who are trying to save lives,” said Rep. Buckner, D-Aurora. “This bill will address this problem and ensure that people who are trying to help others aren’t charged more or worse, denied insurance all together.” HB19-1253 prohibits a person who offers life insurance, disability income insurance, or long-term care insurance from discriminating against a person based solely on the person’s status as a living organ donor. In addition, in 2020, the state department shall develop materials to educate the public on the benefits of being a living organ donor and their access to insurance. In 2018, 263 Coloradans died or became too sick to remain on the transplant waitlist while there were 168 living organ donors in Colorado. Currently, 1872 Coloradans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. HB19-1253 passed the committee with unanimous, bipartisan support and now goes to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back September 16, 2021 JOINT RELEASE: AURORA DELEGATION REACTS TO AG REPORT ON AURORA POLICE PRACTICES The Attorney General’s Office released the findings of a patterns and practices investigation into the Aurora Police Department launched following protests surrounding Elijah McClain’s death in 2019 DENVER, CO – Today, members of the Aurora delegation in the Colorado state legislature, including Senators Rhonda Fields and Janet Buckner as well as Representatives Dominique Jackson, Naquetta Ricks, Iman Jodeh, Mike Weissman and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, released the subsequent joint statement in response to Attorney General Phil Weiser’s patterns and practices investigative report released today, which found that the Aurora Police Department consistently breaks the law through racially-biased policing and excessive force: “Today’s report is a glaring picture of how the Aurora Police Department operates, and gives us a full understanding of the gaps that must be filled in order to protect vulnerable families from racist, violent and inhumane police practices within the Department. Thanks to our efforts in 2020 to pass a landmark police reform bill here in Colorado, instances of police violence, prejudice and bad behavior can no longer be swept under the rug. We will no longer tolerate bad actors going unchecked and this report, though disturbing, serves as a path toward dismantling systemic racism and bias within an institution that has lost the trust of our communities. We are incredibly grateful for Attorney General Weiser’s commitment to addressing this ongoing issue in our state and commend him for the work he and his team have put in to come to this conclusion. We remain committed to our collective goal of reforming the way we police in Colorado, advancing racial justice within our communities and working toward a system that is fair and just, one that truly values Black and Brown lives – and having the attorney general and Aurora enter a consent decree agreement is another step toward that goal.” Previous Next

Join our team, now accepting applications for Policy Analyst. Apply online by Jan 13, 2025. Policy Analyst Policy Analyst House Majority Office Colorado House of Representatives Description: The House Majority seeks an analytical thinker and skilled relationship builder with a commitment to democratic values to join our team as a Policy Analyst for the legislative session. We’re looking for someone with legislative or electoral experience who can advise and support the development and execution of the House Democrats’ legislative agenda. The position serves the Speaker of the House and Majority Leader, and reports directly to the Chief of Staff. This is a dynamic and exciting position at the center of the action in the Capitol, interacting with legislators, leadership, and advocates every day. The Policy Analyst is responsible for staffing several Committees of Reference and supporting and serving as a resource to the Chairs and Vice Chairs of those committees on the impacts of various bills in their particular policy areas. As capacity allows, the Policy Analyst supports the broader work of year round committees, works one-on-one with legislators to develop concepts for legislation, and conducts in-depth policy research and analysis on topics of interest to the caucus and its individual members. This is a unique opportunity for an individual who wants to have an impact on the most pressing issues facing Coloradans today, and who thrives in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. About the House Democratic Caucus and Staff The 43-member House Democratic caucus is the second largest and most diverse caucus in state history, with members bringing a wide range of backgrounds and experiences from all over our state. In the six years since voters put Democrats in control of the state legislature, the House Dems have passed transformative, impactful legislation that we intend to continue building upon. The House majority staff is composed of 12 staff members - the Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff, five Policy Analysts, two Communications professionals, two Advisors to the Speaker and Majority Leader, and one Legislative Aide Program Manager - all working to support the caucus. Responsibilities Track bills as they are amended throughout the legislative process, staying attuned to policy and political issues and anticipating problems before they arise, and being prepared at any time to summarize key issues to staff and House leadership; Take point on consequential bills and support the sponsor in all stages of the bill’s development from stakeholding and committee hearing(s) to floor debate; Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders and advocates, organizing outreach and facilitating difficult conversations when necessary; Analyze briefing materials from executive branch departments and interface with the relevant legislative liaisons, as well as with policy staff for the Senate and Governor; Contribute to a variety of communication materials, including daily press releases. What We’re Looking For Ability to distill complex policy concepts, long committee hearings, and opposing perspectives into concise and digestible summaries, quickly and accurately; Highly organized with a keen attention to detail to ensure accurate analysis; Political acumen, solid judgment, honesty, humility, and a strong sense of discretion; Good relationship builder and excellent communicator, both in writing and speaking; Motivated self-starter who can “manage up” effectively, anticipate needs and challenges, identify opportunities, and organize others into action to keep projects moving forward and drive them towards resolution, producing high-quality results on tight deadlines. An ideal candidate will have: Prior experience in a state legislature, Congress, or electoral campaign Prior experience working in Colorado politics Comfort working with Google suite (docs, sheets, slides, forms) and Slack Compensation Salary for this position will be $67,000-$72,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. This is a session-only position that starts in December 2025 and concludes in June 2026. We provide a competitive benefits package, including health and dental insurance covered mostly by the employer, choice of a PERA retirement plan, 5 days of personal leave (not including state and federal holidays) for the duration of the position, and a free parking space near the Capitol. How to Apply To apply for this position, please send an email to COHouseDemJobs@gmail.com with “Policy Analyst” in the subject line and your resume attached. In the body of the email, please describe in a few paragraphs why you are a good candidate for the job. The application deadline is Monday, September 15 by 5pm MT. Colorado House Majority Office is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, or disability. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive organization and strongly encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and identities to apply.

< Back October 1, 2020 REPRESENTATIVES PRAISE PARDONS FOR MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS DENVER, CO – Representatives James Coleman, D-Denver, Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, today released the following statements after Governor Jared Polis announced pardons for 2,732 Coloradans with state-level marijuana convictions, utilizing expanded authority granted through HB20-1424 . “Today, our state has taken a major step forward in securing justice for the thousands of Coloradans who have been living with a conviction on their record for a crime that no longer exists in our state,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver, the House sponsor of the legislation. “For too long, these convictions continued the injustices perpetrated under the discriminatory policy of marijuana prohibition, making it harder for Coloradans with convictions to find housing, employment or access critical services. Governor Polis’ decision to grant these pardons will finally bring justice to Coloradans who have been denied opportunity and have continued to be punished for possession of small amounts of marijuana long after the state rolled back its prohibition.” “This pardon is long overdue and will make a real difference in the lives of countless Coloradans,” said Colorado Legislative Black Caucus Chair Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, who also championed the change. “Far too many people in our state have continued to suffer the consequences of a small mistake made decades ago while others profit off of the booming and legitimized cannabis industry. I’m proud to have played a part in the justice being served today.” “These convictions for marijuana possession, which disproportionately fell on people of color, have persisted on Coloradans’ records despite being in opposition to our fundamental values of fairness, justice and opportunity for all,” said Rep. Singer, D-Longmont, who advocated for creating the pardon authority under HB20-1424. “I’m proud our state is moving forward and righting this wrong.” Under HB20-1424, the governor has expanded authority to pardon a class of persons convicted of possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana. The conviction must be for a state-level offense. Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2021 CÁMARA DE REPRESENTANTES APRUEBA PROPUESTA PARA EXPANDIR EL ACCESO AL VOTo La propuesta legislativa crearía una línea de ayuda para traducir las boletas electorales y requeriría que ciertos condados impriman boletas en idiomas aparte del inglés fue aprobada por la Cámara de Representantes DENVER, CO– La Cámara de Representantes hoy aprobó una propuesta legislativa de la Representante Yadira Caraveo para expandir el acceso al voto y mejorar la participación electoral al expandir el acceso a las boletas electorales multilingües. La propuesta fue aprobada con un voto de 40-23. “Asegurarnos de que más votantes elegibles entiendan bien sus boletas y puedan emitir su voto libremente es bueno para nuestra democracia y bueno para Colorado”, dijo la representante Yadira Caraveo (D-Thornton). “El sistema electoral de Colorado es de los mejores del país y del mundo porque facilita la participación de los votantes en el proceso democrático y a la vez garantiza la integridad de nuestras elecciones. Hoy mejoramos nuestro gran sistema al asegurarnos que los votantes elegibles en Colorado que no hablan muy bien inglés pero quieren hacer oír su voz tengan la oportunidad de hacerlo.” HB21-1011 le daría a todos los votantes acceso a una línea de ayuda que proporcionaría traducción de boletas electorales en los idiomas principales del Censo. Además, requeriría que los condados en donde un idioma minoritario sea hablado por al menos 2,000 votantes elegibles o el 2.5% de los votantes elegibles impriman boletas electorales en ese idioma, ya sea en copias físicas o electrónicamente. Previous Next