New law protects visitation rights for incarcerated Coloradans < Back June 4, 2025 Right to Visitation, Family Connection Becomes Law New law protects visitation rights for incarcerated Coloradans DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to ensure that Coloradans who are incarcerated have visitation rights with their family and loved ones . “This law is about treating incarcerated Coloradans as humans and making their re-entry into their communities more successful to reduce recidivism and improve safety across our state,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “From alleviating stress to fostering hope, human connection has proven to provide many benefits for incarcerated Coloradans and our communities. This law ensures that incarceration does not prevent Coloradans from accessing their support systems during some of the most traumatic times in their life.” “Families are where we find strength, healing, and support,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “But for too many families, the criminal justice system creates barriers that fracture these bonds. Regular visits, phone calls, and moments of connection empower families to support their loved ones’ journey toward rehabilitation. This new law helps to make our justice system a tool for repair and recovery, not a weapon of division.” “Visitation is rehabilitation, and revoking visitation privileges should never be a tool to force justice-involved Coloradans to work or as a form of punishment,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “America abolished slavery in the 1800s, yet incarcerated Coloradans are being forced into labor just to be able to have a conversation with their friends and family. This law ensures that Coloradans, regardless of whether or not they are incarcerated, have the right to access their loved ones.” “Ensuring that people who are incarcerated have the right to connect with their loved ones makes all Coloradans safer,” said Senator Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs. “It reduces recidivism, supports rehabilitation, and eases the transition back into our communities after incarceration. Currently, people can lose family visitation rights – including contact with their children – as a form of punishment. Protecting the right to family connection leads to better outcomes for individuals, families, and communities across Colorado.” HB25-1013 protects visitation rights for incarcerated Coloradans to ensure they can stay connected with their family, friends, and loved ones and be set up for success after they serve time and re-enter the community. Visitation includes in-person visits, family time visits, phone calls, and video calls. A study found that visitation in prison results in a 26 percent decrease in post-release criminal activity as well as a 28 percent reduction in new convictions overall. Previous Next

Majority of House Republicans co-sponsor extreme “personhood” bill that would consider a fertilized egg to be a person, criminalize abortion and jeopardize IVF < Back March 4, 2024 Personhood Bill to Ban Abortion and IVF Defeated DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee defeated a bill cosponsored by a majority of House Republicans, including the Minority Leadership, that would criminalize abortion without exceptions and effectively prohibit in vitro fertilization (IFV) treatments. “Abortion and IVF treatments are safe, legal, and protected in Colorado – we will not let Republicans legislate away our fundamental rights,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Make no mistake: if Republicans were in power, abortion and IVF treatments would be criminalized, and pregnant people who miscarry or seek essential abortion care could be charged with homicide. In Colorado, your rights are protected, and we will always fight back against attacks on your reproductive freedoms.” “Sweeping abortion bans, like the one defeated by Democrats today, disproportionately impact communities of color and are dangerous to women’s health,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “Nearly 70 percent of House Republicans signed on to co-sponsor this abortion ban; their goal is to eliminate safe, legal abortion, criminalize IVF treatment and send mothers to jail for seeking life-saving health care. This bill endangers the health of pregnant people and bans family planning methods that many Coloradans rely upon as their only option to have children.” HB24-1224 , sponsored by Representative Scott Bottoms, R-Colorado Springs and co-sponsored by 13 other House Republicans, would have redefined a "person" to include an unborn fetus at any stage of development from the moment of fertilization, which would criminalize all abortions without exceptions. Under this bill, those who receive abortion care or miscarry in certain circumstances would be punished and subjected to existing state law relating to prenatal neglect, homicide or assault. This sweeping definition of personhood would have included frozen fertilized eggs, also known as embryos, used in IVF treatment. Under this bill, there would be no exception even if the embryos are damaged or nonviable. In February, the Alabama Supreme court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered ‘children’ under state law, further jeopardizing the legality of IVF and the treatment conducted by providers. Coloradans overwhelmingly support the right to an abortion and have repeatedly defeated ballot measures that sought to ban access to abortion. In 2022, Colorado Democrats passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA). This landmark legislation updated Colorado’s laws to protect reproductive rights and established a fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy to term, or to have an abortion. In 2023, Democrats passed the Safe Access to Protected Health Care Package which protects the rights of patients, providers, future health care professionals, and those assisting patients in accessing and receiving care. Previous Next

< Back February 7, 2023 Bill to Offer Youth Mental Health Screenings Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today passed a bill to conduct mental health screenings in schools to help determine the mental well-being of students and continue the successful I Matter program. “In 2021, almost 70% of Colorado students reported that they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet. “We created the I Matter Program to provide six free therapy sessions to Colorado youth, a successful tool in addressing mental health issues for over 5,000 kids so far. This bill would use a mental health screening within our schools to more easily identify students that could benefit from resources like the I Matter Program.” HB23-1003 would permit public schools to participate in a voluntary mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth graders. The school would be required to notify parents of the date and time that the mental health screening is scheduled, the purpose, and information about the licensed mental health screener. Parents would have the option to opt their child out of participating, although students over 12 years old could still be screened due to Colorado law . The screening would be conducted via a questionnaire and evaluated by a licensed mental health screener. If a student is at-risk for attempting suicide, physical self-harm, or harming others, the screener would immediately notify the parents as well as the school and the school would react according to school crisis response policy. If the screener finds the student in need of further help, they will contact the parent about additional treatment options, including information or a referral to the I Matter program. The I Matter Program was created with the passage of HB21-1258 , sponsored by Rep. Michaelson Jenet, and expanded by HB22-1243 . The program received $15 million dollars in funding from the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions to provide a mental health screening followed by six free therapy sessions to youth across the state and is available virtually and in person. Students use a screening tool through the program’s website to match them with licensed mental health professionals that best fit their needs, including bilingual services. If the student needs additional services or shows signs of needing immediate help, their assigned care navigator connects them to long-term mental health care providers or crisis support, including Colorado Crisis Services. Since the program started in October 2021, over 5,500 Colorado kids have utilized the free therapy services, with almost 44% attending at least four sessions. The participating 5,655 students come from 59 of the 64 counties across Colorado. Previous Next

< Back May 26, 2021 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE INVESTS IN HOUSING, COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION Two Colorado Comeback bills to help local governments revitalize their communities and use underutilized hotels and motels to provide housing for the homeless DENVER, CO– The House Transportation and Local Government Committee today approved two bills to revitalize our communities and provide transitional housing to individuals experiencing homelessness. These bills are a part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. “COVID 19 has made it clear how desperately Colorado needs to deal with our housing and homelessness crises directly,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-242. “Allowing local governments to convert underutilized hotels, motels, and perhaps holiday inns into sustainable dwellings for people experiencing homelessness is a creative and thoughtful way to start chipping away at these enormous issues.” “We have a serious housing and homelessness issue in Colorado, and this is a common sense way to get people a roof over their heads,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-242. “COVID-19 has shown us that for so many Coloradans, the situation is dire. Building back stronger means facing our affordable housing issue head on.” SB21-242 would expand the Housing Development Grant Fund to allow the funds to be used for tenancy support services, including those that target individuals experiencing homelessness. Specifically, this expansion will allow grants and loans to go to local governments and nonprofits to help them rent, acquire, or restore underutilized hotels or motels to provide immediate housing for people experiencing homelessness. Grant recipients are encouraged to invest in hotels and motels that are women and minority-owned, as well as those that are ADA compliant. The bill provides $15 million in funding for the Grant Fund. The bill passed by a vote of 6-4. “The Community Revitalization Grant Program will allow us to create opportunity from the economic tragedy that was COVID-19,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-252. “This grant program will allow communities across the state to invest in shovel-ready revitalization projects that will create jobs, stimulate local economies and turn empty storefronts on mainstreet into corridors of opportunity. ” “Even before COVID forced some small businesses to shut down, there were small towns and main streets across Colorado that were clearly in need of some love,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, sponsor of SB21-252. “This grant program will provide one-time funding to kick start projects that will restore our towns to their former glory, making a meaningful impact on economic development in the arts and other industries, creating good jobs, and promoting tourism for our state. It’s time to bring back the luster to our once vibrant community gems.” SB21-252 would create the Community Revitalization Grant Program within the Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) and provide it with $65 million in Colorado Comeback State Stimulus Funding, in addition to allowing gifts, grants, and donations to be contributed into the fund. The Program’s grants would help revitalize our main streets and downtowns by providing funding for creative construction and revitalization projects that combine commercial spaces with community spaces. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would save people money on housing by updating building codes to only require one stairwell for certain multi-family buildings. < Back April 2, 2025 Bill to Make Housing More Affordable Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would save people money on housing by updating building codes to only require one stairwell for certain multi-family buildings. “This smart stair policy is safe and will help us create more affordable housing in Colorado,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Firefighting technology and fire protection techniques have significantly improved in the last few decades, and it’s time that we modernize our building codes to account for these safety improvements and reduce the cost of building multi-family housing. The bill provides an innovative option making it easier to build family-sized apartments and condos that will help us meet Colorado’s housing needs and save people money on housing.” “Colorado Democrats are committed to passing legislation that will make housing more affordable,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “This bill would eliminate second stairwell requirements for certain buildings to drive down building costs and create more livable space without jeopardizing the health and safety of renters. Coloradans sent us here to pass policy that will make our communities more affordable, and this bill would help open up more housing opportunities that work for every budget.” Beginning December 1, 2027, HB25-1273 would require a municipality of 100,000 or more residents that is served by an accredited fire protection district, fire department, or fire authority to ensure that their building code allows certain multi-family residential buildings up to five stories to be served by a single exit. Additional requirements to qualify for a single-stairway exit include: Buildings no more than five stories tall with up to four dwelling units per floor, Safety features throughout the building that satisfy building codes and other relevant codes, including an automatic sprinkler system and fire resistance and smoke control systems, Stairways no more than twenty feet away from a door to each dwelling unit and 125 feet from the stairway to any point in a dwelling unit, and Buildings constructed of non-combustible or fire-resistive construction materials. The bill would also require a jurisdiction to notify their local International Association of Fire Fighters affiliate and the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Association when they begin the code adoption process. These buildings would also be required to include signage to identify that they are single-stair buildings and have a fire-resistant box that contains keys to the buildings for firefighters to access the building and its units. According to a 2025 Pew Study , there has been no evidence of increased safety risks in New York City, Seattle, the Netherlands, and other jurisdictions that allow single stair apartments to be built. Adding a second stairway to an apartment building can increase building costs by 6- to 13-percent, and single stair apartments can reduce cooling costs by up to 80-percent due to improved window placement, which allows cross-ventilation. Previous Next

< Back October 23, 2019 ZERO WASTE COMMITTEE ADVANCES BILLS TO IMPROVE STATE’S RECYCLING RATE Bills will incentivize development of new end-market users of recycled materials, create a public awareness campaign to increase recycling and establish a statewide organics management plan DENVER, CO — The Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee today advanced two bipartisan proposals to improve the state’s recycling rate. One bill incentivizes the development of new end-market businesses for recycled materials and creates a public education campaign on recycling. The second bill requires the state to develop a comprehensive organics management plan. “The two bipartisan bills we advanced today will put our state on the road to recycling more, trashing less and being better stewards of our environment and natural resources,” said Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee Chair Rep. Lisa Cutter (D-Evergreen). “Improving Colorado’s recycling rate, which is well below the national average, will continue our state’s progress addressing climate change and divert more waste from landfills. Without action, we will continue filling the ground with thousands of acres of waste, jeopardizing our air and water and risking our state’s reputation as an environmentally friendly place to live and visit.” “Our state’s low recycling rate means we rely heavily on landfills, which can harm our environment and will leave a lasting impact on the natural beauty that in many ways defines our state,” said Rep. Meg Froelich (D-Englewood). “Today, we passed two bipartisan bills and took a big step forward to address this critical issue. Our legislation will reduce waste by helping create new markets for recycled materials, establishing a public education campaign on recycling and increasing compost use in agriculture and other sectors.” “I’m proud that Fort Collins has the best overall recycling rate in Colorado, but we still have work to do to improve our statewide recycling rate, move towards ‘Zero Waste’, and act on climate,” said Rep. Jeni James Arndt (D-Fort Collins). “Our committee made significant progress today, advancing two bipartisan bills to incentivize recycling and ensure Colorado continues taking action to protect our environment.” Last April, Legislative Council approved Rep. Cutter’s request to create the Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee. Colorado only recycles about 17.2 percent of the state’s waste, a rate that hasn’t increased in recent years and is much lower than the national average of 35 percent. In 2016, the state set a goal of recycling 28 percent of its waste by 2021, which would divert an additional 1.5 million tons of waste from landfills. With the state’s population increasing and Coloradans producing more waste than before, the committee has been hearing testimony, conducting research and traveling to innovative recycling facilities in order to develop a path forward to improve Colorado’s recycling rate. The first bill the committee advanced creates a stakeholder group to study how to establish a recycling market development center. The center would support the development of businesses that process recyclable materials or reuse them in their products sold to consumers. Under the bill, the Pollution Prevention Advisory Board is authorized to create a formula to provide a partial reimbursement of local personal property taxes to businesses that reclaim or recycle materials. The bill also requires CDPHE to administer a statewide recycling education campaign to increase residential recycling across the state. The campaign aims to inform Coloradans about specific recyclable materials and recycling habits that can increase recycling rates and make the state’s recycling efforts more efficient. The second bill would establish a statewide organics management plan. This can help agriculture producers improve soil health, leading to enhanced crop value and production. The CDPHE will consult with stakeholders and submit the management plan by February 1, 2023 to the House Energy and Environment Committee, House Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. Previous Next

Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks at the Elevating Rural Colorado Partnership celebration in Keystone, CO, and discussed recent efforts to boost career pathways in rural Colorado and support rural public schools. < Back July 22, 2024 McCluskie Addresses Elevating Rural Colorado Partnership Education Celebration KEYSTONE, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks at the Elevating Rural Colorado Partnership celebration in Keystone, CO, and discussed recent efforts to boost career pathways in rural Colorado and support rural public schools. The event, organized by Colorado Succeeds, the Colorado Education Initiative, Empower Schools, and Lyra Colorado, celebrated five years of progress and partnership to boost rural education opportunities. “From new, low-cost pathways to higher education and good paying jobs to significant new funding for rural public schools, there are so many incredible success stories to celebrate for the high country,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Students in our communities will soon see more resources in their classrooms, and many are already taking advantage of new opportunities we’ve created to complete skills training and degree programs that will set them up for success.” Speaker McCluskie has been a champion of legislation to create new, affordable pathways to complete higher education degrees and programs in rural Colorado that set up students to thrive. She sponsored legislation to create the Opportunity Now Grant program, which funds collaborative efforts with higher education, businesses, trade associations and unions to create new training and degree programs in growing industries with workforce shortages. The Speaker has also led efforts to fully fund public schools and significantly increase funding for rural schools and districts that serve more at-risk, English language learners, and special education students. This year, she passed a new School Finance Formula, which changed how schools are funded for the first time in nearly 30 years. This will result in a 12 percent ($5.2 million) increase in funding for Summit County Schools when the new formula is fully implemented, according to the school finance simulator tool developed by nonpartisan staff at the legislature. Previous Next

< Back September 15, 2021 MAJORITY LEADER ESGAR STATEMENT ON SCOTUS ORAL ARGUMENTS ON MISSISSIPPI ABORTION LAW DENVER, CO — Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today released the following statement on the US Supreme Court hearing on the Mississippi law seeking to overturn Roe v Wade: “The Mississippi law under review is a direct attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate a patient’s right to an abortion. The Court must uphold decades of precedent that has protected safe and legal abortion in our country. We refuse to go back in time to when people could not control their reproductive health care and did not have autonomy over their bodies, which led to many losing their lives seeking an unsafe, illegal abortion. Patients in consultation with their doctors should have the right to decide when they want to start a family–and this decision should not be left to or threatened by any branch of government. I am committed to protecting access to abortion in Colorado, and we will proudly continue to defeat dangerous efforts by Republican state lawmakers to ban or create barriers to abortion access in our state.” Previous Next

< Back June 19, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: BUDGET OUTLOOK STILL BLEAK, ECONOMY SLOWLY STARTING TO REBOUND AS CO SAFELY REOPENS DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee today released the following statements after the Legislative Council and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the June quarterly economic forecasts, both of which project slightly higher General Fund revenue compared to earlier estimates in May. “We’re seeing that as we work to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, our economy is slowly beginning to rebound,” said JBC Chair Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We had to pass a balanced budget with an over $3 billion shortfall, and we worked as hard as we could to mitigate the harm to our most vulnerable. We prioritized our students and teachers and the services hardworking Coloradans need the most right now. The truth is, there’s still a lot of uncertainty with how the virus will progress in the coming months and how that will impact our economy and our budget.” “As Colorado begins to open up and recover, we’re seeing our revenue forecast gradually improve as well,” said JBC Vice-Chair Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “But we are not out of the woods yet. COVID-19 remains a real threat to our communities and the economic impacts of the shutdown will have dire consequences for years to come. We need the federal government to step up and provide states with flexible funding while we continue to weather the storm, or there will be irreversible damage Colorado’s infrastructure.” “In the budget the General Assembly just passed, we prioritized education and our most vulnerable as we responsibly balanced the budget with hard choices and cuts that no one wanted to make,” said JBC Member Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “We closed special interest tax loopholes and put that money toward education and toward boosting incomes for hardworking Coloradans. That’s had a positive impact on our budget, and while revenues may increase a little next year, we’ll have fewer resources and face an even worse budget crisis if Congress doesn’t provide states with additional and flexible funding to protect our schools and core services.” “Facing an unprecedented blow to our state’s budget, I am incredibly proud of the way we were able to protect the priorities that matter most to Coloradans, including K-12 education and critical human services,” said JBC Member Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Unfortunately, despite modest improvements in our economy, our state revenue is set to see even bigger losses next year. We need to continue coming together to find creative solutions that help us navigate these difficult times, which is exactly what we are committed to doing.” The updated June forecast from Legislative Council staff (LCS) estimates that revenues will fall by 12.3 percent in FY 2020-2021 from the projected revenues for the current fiscal year. General Fund revenues are now expected to be $320.9 million more in FY 2019-2020 and $526.1 million more in FY 2020-2021 than anticipated in the May revenue forecast, due in part to tax policy changes enacted by the General Assembly in the 2020 legislative session and higher economic expectations. LCS anticipates lawmakers will have $10.8 billion available for the General Fund in FY 2020-2021, a 10 percent drop from anticipated revenue for FY 2019-2020. The June forecast from the governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting anticipates General Fund revenues will fall by 12.7 percent in FY 2020-2021 from projected revenues for the current fiscal year. General Fund revenue forecasts relative to the May estimate are up by $311.2 million for FY 2019-2020, and down by $82.3 million in FY 2020-2021. The OSPB estimates that $11.8 billion will be available for the General Fund next year, $1.6 billion less than what is projected for FY 2019-2020. The LCS estimate indicates there is downside risk to the forecast from a prolonged economic recovery or a double-dip recession due to the resurgence of COVID-19 this fall or “vicious cycle.” There is upside risk to the estimate from a faster economic recovery. Previous Next

Today, Representatives Matt Soper (R-Delta) and Yara Zokaie (D-Fort Collins), along with Senators Lisa Frizell (R-Castle Rock) and Mike Weissman (D-Aurora), highlighted a bipartisan bill to establish clear procedures for reporting misconduct in Colorado crime laboratories. < Back February 20, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Bipartisan Lawmakers Highlight New Bill to Address CBI Employee Misconduct DENVER, CO – Today, Representatives Matt Soper (R-Delta) and Yara Zokaie (D-Fort Collins), along with Senators Lisa Frizell (R-Castle Rock) and Mike Weissman (D-Aurora), highlighted a bipartisan bill to establish clear procedures for reporting misconduct in Colorado crime laboratories. “Transparency is essential to public trust, and the people expect their government to be fully transparent—especially in times of malfeasance," said Rep. Matt Soper . “With the recent reports of tampering by a Colorado crime laboratory scientist, the onus is on us to present smart, remedial legislation. HB25-1275 will ensure prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims, and defendants are notified. If an individual was convicted based on evidence tainted by a state actor, their defense attorney must be informed so they can determine whether it impacted the case. This bill ensures accountability and safeguards to protect the integrity of our justice system," added Soper. "Extreme misconduct by a former CBI employee is causing significant delays in our criminal justice system, preventing family members and survivors from receiving appropriate closure,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie. “I’m sponsoring this bipartisan legislation to establish a clear process for addressing intentional misconduct by CBI crime laboratory workers. By establishing reporting requirements and victim notification procedures, Colorado will have clear guidelines for dealing with CBI employee misconduct while ensuring survivors can receive the justice they rightfully deserve.” “To restore public trust, it is imperative that we establish a transparent and accountable process when reporting on misconduct in our state’s laboratories,” said Senator Frizell. “This legislation establishes a clear, transparent process to address breaches of forensic integrity, ensuring that all affected parties- prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims, and defendants- are properly informed. Justice can only be upheld when we hold bad actors accountable and implement safeguards to prevent future misconduct, and this bill is a crucial step in that effort.” “Crime survivors want investigatory processes related to their seeking justice to complete quickly and accurately,” said Sen. Weissman. “But recent misconduct in crime laboratory settings delays justice, prolongs uncertainty, and further traumatizes survivors who have already suffered unspeakable victimization. Colorado needs to have better procedures in place to effectively address cases of intentional misconduct if and when they arise, repair trust in CBI, and support survivors in their pursuit of justice – this bipartisan bill does all three.” Earlier this year, a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic scientist was charged with manipulating and mishandling data in the DNA testing process of more than 800 criminal cases dating back as far back as 2014. HB25-1275 is a direct response to misconduct by CBI crime laboratory workers and will help uphold the integrity of Colorado’s forensic system. This legislation would establish a clear process within the CBI and the court system to address intentional and wrongful misconduct by crime laboratory workers. Specifically, the bill requires crime laboratory employees who witness or discover misconduct or a wrongful action to notify their supervisor or the crime laboratory director within 14 days. This bill would require both defendants and victims to be notified if there was lab misconduct in their case. Additionally, this bill would give the defendant the right to return to court to challenge their conviction if the CBI misconduct interfered with substantial evidence in obtaining their conviction. Lastly, this bill mandates all crime laboratory directors to review all records to identify wrongful actions committed by current or former employees before July 1, 2025. By instituting clear reporting responsibilities and safeguards, HB25-1275 will help ensure fairness in the justice system and establish policies and procedures for addressing future CBI employee misconduct. Previous Next

< Back May 12, 2021 LIFESAVING OPIOID EPIDEMIC BILL CLEARS COMMITTEE Bipartisan proposal to ensure Coloradans suffering from opioid addictions have access to lifesaving drugs passes committee DENVER, CO– The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services committee today passed Rep. Kyle Mullica’s bipartisan bill to make lifesaving overdose reversal drugs more widely available. The bill passed by a vote of 11-2. “The opioid epidemic has taken countless precious lives away from families across Colorado, despite the fact that we have an effective drug that can reverse overdoses and save lives,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn . “As a nurse, I know how important it is that we educate the public, especially individuals taking high doses of opioids, about the lifesaving potential of naloxone. I’m proud that this bill moved forward today and look forward to it becoming law. We have no time to waste.” SB21-011 would require pharmacists to offer an opioid antagonist, such as Naloxone or Naltrexone, when filling a high-dose opioid prescription or an opioid prescription alongside another medication that could place the patient at risk of an overdose. This will ensure that people have life-saving medicine on hand in case of an overdose or when experiencing symptoms of an opioid addiction. The bill would also ensure that patients have the information they need to protect themselves and stay safe. Previous Next

HB26-1084 will share important fiscal information with voters on citizen-initiated ballot measures < Back June 4, 2026 ICYMI: Signed! Bill to Provide Additional Information on Ballot DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed a bill into law administratively to share additional information with voters on citizen-initiated ballot measures. “We’re taking steps to provide voters with additional information on ballot measures to better describe the costs and fiscal impacts of a proposed ballot measure,” said Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver. “Colorado values the initiative process, and this law provides more information about initiatives that require state expenditures. The law empowers voters by sharing essential information to help them make informed decisions.” “Coloradans deserve to know how a proposed ballot measure could impact K-12 education and health care, and this law shares necessary information with Colorado voters,” said Rep. Sean Camacho, D-Denver. “We’re strengthening transparency in elections by making sure voters have the resources available to them about the budgetary trade-offs of citizen-initiated ballot measures. Colorado’s elections are the gold standard, and this new law will help voters make well-informed decisions when they cast their ballot.” HB26-1084 will help share information with voters about how much proposed ballot initiatives could cost the state and taxpayers, as well as the impacts on essential state services. Specifically, this law provides more information to voters about citizen-initiated ballot measures that would likely increase state expenditures. This only applies to referred ballot measures that do not describe a measure’s likely effect on sufficient revenue sources or specific state-run programs and services to be reduced to pay for the cost of the measure. Under HB26-1084, a ballot measure that increases state expenditures must include language describing a measure’s likely effect on the three largest state programs and services by name that could be reduced if the ballot measure passes. This could include K-12 education, health care and the Department of Corrections. This language will be added to the title of the measure and to the Ballot Information Booklet, also known as the Blue Book. Colorado has one of the highest voter turnout rates in the country. Over the years, Colorado Democrats have worked to safeguard and strengthen Colorado’s election system. In 2021, Colorado Democrats championed a law to inform voters of the core programs and services that would be impacted by citizen-initiated ballot measures that reduce taxes. Last year, Colorado Democrats passed the Colorado Voting Rights Act to codify stronger voter protections and expand access to voting information for historically excluded communities. Under this law, even if federal voting protections are rolled back, Colorado will still prohibit discriminatory election practices. Previous Next