Representative Eliza Hamrick today toured the South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) to learn more about the nearly 300 square miles of coverage under their emergency protection. < Back September 26, 2024 RELEASE: Rep. Hamrick Tours South Metro Fire Rescue CENTENNIAL, CO – Representative Eliza Hamrick today toured the South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) to learn more about the nearly 300 square miles of coverage under their emergency protection. ‘Thank you to the South Metro Fire Rescue for hosting me today – your unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe means so much to us all,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial . “At the legislature, we’ve worked to pass legislation that encourages wildfire mitigation efforts and improves the safety of our communities. SMFR serves and protects nearly 600,00 community members, and as wildfires become more destructive, I’m glad to have them in our corner.” Rep. Hamrick learned more about SMFR which serves 564,000 residents, and nearly 35,000 people who enter the district for work. Rep. Hamrick also learned more about SMFR’s 2021-2035 strategic planning process , which works to protect property, businesses and people living in parts of Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson Counties. SMFR’s coverage area includes Bow Mar, Castle Pines, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Columbine Valley, Foxfield, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Lone Tree, Parker, Castle Pines, Village Highlands Ranch and Louviers in addition to the Centennial Airport, the Denver Tech Center, Inverness and Meridian Office Park. In 2024, Rep. Hamrick supported legislation to expand local outreach efforts and educate those living in the wildland-urban interface about how they can stop the spread of wildfires. In 2023, she also supported a bipartisan law to supply the state with a second Firehawk helicopter for wildfire suppression efforts. Previous Next

Representative Javier Mabrey was recognized by the Council of State Governments as part of their annual 20 Under 40 Leadership Award recipient class. < Back December 6, 2024 Mabrey Receives the 2024 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award DENVER, CO – Representative Javier Mabrey was recognized by the Council of State Governments as part of their annual 20 Under 40 Leadership Award recipient class. “I am honored and humbled to receive the 20 Under 40 Leadership Award,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “We have been able been able to have a true impact for working class Coloradans by improving renter protections, fighting against corporate price-gouging for life-saving medicine, and standing with working people to improve working conditions. These policy victories show us that we can stand by our values and stand up for working people and win. We can be decent to one another and still fight for and win meaningful and progressive change. It is a privilege to serve the people of Colorado and I am committed to continuing in the fight for working families.” The CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award was created in 2020 to recognize young leaders in state policy for their commitment to bipartisan and innovative solutions. Since its creation, 100 emerging elected and appointed state officials have been recognized for their work. Representative Mabrey was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2022. In his first term, he tackled the affordability crisis by capping the cost of Epi-Pen 2-packs to $60 , expanding housing options that work for every budget, strengthening eviction protections for renters, and creating new protections to improve transparency and fairness for delivery drivers. He has also championed gun violence prevention legislation that will make it easier for law enforcement to identify dangerous firearm purchasing patterns and create new avenues for victims of gun violence to pursue justice . Nominated for the award by Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie, Representative Mabrey joins past recipients from the Colorado legislature: President-Designate James Coleman, D-Denver, Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Manny Rutinel that would improve Colorado’s ability to invest in affordable for-sale housing. SB25-006 passed by a vote of 42-20. < Back April 11, 2025 House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Increase Affordable For-Sale Housing DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Manny Rutinel that would improve Colorado’s ability to invest in affordable for-sale housing. SB25-006 passed by a vote of 42-20. “Every Coloradan deserves the chance to realize their dream of becoming a homeowner,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City. “I’m proudly sponsoring this bipartisan effort to help build more ‘starter housing’ for hardworking Coloradans. This bill would make it easier for Coloradans to access stable housing and build equity and generational wealth.” SB25-006 , also sponsored by Rep. Mary Bradfield, R-El Paso County, would allow the state treasurer to invest up to $50 million in Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) bonds to buy down the construction and mortgage costs of affordable for-sale housing that would otherwise not be built. These funds would give low interest rates to builders in exchange for long-term affordability restrictions and low mortgage rates to first-time buyers to ease their way into the housing market. The $50 million would finance homeownership for 175-200 new low- and middle-income residents. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES MULLICA’S BIPARTISAN FREESTANDING ER LICENSING BILL Bill will help improve safety (Feb. 15) – The House gave final approval on a bill today sponsored by Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn, that will improve safety at freestanding emergency room departments. “This bipartisan bill will ensure patients receive care in a safe manner and that emergency departments in rural, urban and suburban communities offer the best services available,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. HB 19-1010 will bring freestanding emergency departments under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional hospital emergency rooms to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. This will ultimately improve the quality of care for patients and increase health care affordability. This bill will create a new license for Freestanding Emergency Departments (FSEDs) through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). It also requires FSEDs to medically screen every patient seeking care as well as prohibit them from delaying a medical examination in order to inquire about the patient’s ability to pay for the care or their insurance status. Rep. Mullica is an emergency room nurse by trade. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain. HB19-1010 passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 54-9. The bill now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back July 31, 2019 LAWMAKERS & GOVERNOR ANNOUNCE MAJOR COST-SAVING HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE WILL MOVE FORWARD Federal government approved waiver for reinsurance effort projected to have major cost savings for health consumers (July 31) – Legislative sponsors and Governor Polis announced today that the bipartisan reinsurance program has been approved for a federal 1332 waiver, which means the program can proceed and achieve real savings in health care costs for consumers across the state, particularly in rural areas. Projections announced earlier this month estimated an 18.2 percent decrease in premiums for individual plans on average across the state, and even greater savings of up to a whopping 33.5 percent for high-cost areas such as the Western Slope. “I am thrilled that the reinsurance program will move forward and that my Western Slope constituents and Coloradans across the state will see real, substantial reductions in their health care costs,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I hear almost every day in my community that the cost of health care is the single greatest challenge to staying in the high country. Every Coloradan deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care services in the communities where they live – and this program is a key part of our plan to achieve that goal.” Coloradans on the individual market are struggling to keep up with the out-of-control costs of health care, particularly in rural and mountain areas of the state. By establishing a reinsurance program Colorado can stabilize the individual marketplace, increase health insurance participation and share the risks more broadly. Rising health care costs are driven in part by the underlying cost of care but are exacerbated by an insurance market that assigns the highest risks and highest costs to the individual market. This is particularly the case on the Western Slope and in rural Colorado, causing families and individuals to forgo health insurance coverage, putting them at major risk of medical debt if emergencies arise. Rep. McCluskie introduced the bipartisan bill in the House with Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction. Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, and Sen. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, are the Senate sponsors. This bipartisan law aims to reduce insurance premiums for individuals and families by January 2020 to provide much-needed relief to Coloradans, many of whom are paying up to a third of their income on monthly premiums. Our state, especially the Western Slope, has some of the highest health insurance costs in the country. The law establishes three tiers, from the highest cost areas of the state to the lowest cost areas, in order to pass savings on to Coloradans. The first tier, consisting of regions in the state with the highest costs, will experience the greatest reduction in premiums, by 30 to 35 percent. The second tier will experience reductions in premiums by 20 to 25 percent. Finally, the third tier, regions with the lowest costs, will experience reductions in premiums by 15 to 20 percent. HB19-1168 passed both the House and the Senate with broad bipartisan support and was signed into law by the Governor in May of this year. Previous Next

< Back May 30, 2019 HOUSE DEMS TAKE CLIMATE ACTION, CUT CARBON POLLUTION & DEPLOY MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY Due to a lack of leadership in Washington, states must lead on climate action (May 30) – Gov. Polis signed a package of bills to address climate change, reduce carbon pollution emissions and deploy more renewable energy. First up was a bill sponsored by Speaker of the House KC Becker, D-Boulder, and Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, to the Governor. “Acting on climate will help protect clean air and water, and spur clean energy jobs, innovation, business development, and economic growth,” said Speaker Becker. “Coloradans take pride in the fact that we are doing our part to address the impacts of climate change. This new law sets goals to reduce carbon pollution and certain utilities have already set carbon-free goals.” “Hazy, bad air quality impacts the air we all breathe. Pollution changes how Coloradans live their lives and threatens everything we love about our state,” said Rep. Jackson, chair of the House Energy and Environment committee. “We’ve all heard the stories about elderly individuals who have been physically harmed because they couldn’t cool their home. Our seniors, low income people and especially communities of color are more likely to bear the impacts of climate change. This new law will help us preserve our Colorado way of life.” Coloradans are experiencing poor air quality affecting our health; mountain residents are seeing more frequent and destructive wildfires; increased drought is harming our farms; smaller snow packs are resulting in shorter ski seasons; and shallower rivers for fishing and rafting are threatening our thriving outdoor economy and the Colorado way of life. The overwhelming majority of Coloradans support climate action. This reasonable, science-based legislation directs the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to develop rules limiting carbon pollution, ensuring Colorado leads on climate action. HB19-1261 puts pollution reduction goals into statute to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas pollution by 26 percent by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050 of 2005 levels. The AQCC will hold an extensive stakeholder process throughout the rulemaking period. The Gov also signed Rep. Chris Hansen’s bill to collect long-term climate change data. “Colorado’s way of life is threatened by climate change and carbon pollution emissions, and we need a data-driven approach to protect it. But we are falling short on reducing carbon emissions because we are not collecting adequate information. This law will lay a strong foundation of data that we can build upon to evaluate emissions,” said Rep. Hansen, D-Denver. Under SB19-096, the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) would be required to collect carbon emissions data across Colorado. This commission would then produce a report and forecast future emissions, as well as propose the most cost-effective way for Colorado to meet our carbon emissions reduction goals. The AQCC, which is part of the Department of Public Health and Environment, must complete all legislative requirements by July 1, 2020. The Gov also signed a Community Solar Gardens bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. This law modifies Colorado’s community solar garden program by increasing the maximum size of these facilities as well as eliminating burdensome regulations restricting their location. HB19-1003 will take Colorado’s community solar garden program to the next stage of development by increasing the maximum size of a community solar garden from 2 megawatts to 5 megawatts. Gov. Polis also signed Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins’ bill with Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood HB19-1231 to set in place energy and water efficiency standards for 15 commercial and residential products for which there are no existing federal standards, saving Coloradan families their hard-earned income while ensuring the overall quality of the products they purchase. The bills were signed into law at Sunshare’s JeffCo Community Solar Garden this morning. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives William Lindstedt and Alex Valdez that would strengthen consumer protections for ticket sales for activities like concerts and sporting events. HB24-1378 passed by a vote of 8-1. < Back April 10, 2024 Consumer Protections for Event Tickets Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives William Lindstedt and Alex Valdez that would strengthen consumer protections for ticket sales for activities like concerts and sporting events. HB24-1378 passed by a vote of 8-1. “Bad actors are taking advantage of our lax laws to profit off Coloradans who are just trying to see their favorite musician or sports team,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield. “Colorado’s ticket purchasing laws should aim to protect consumers from unfair business practices. Our legislation seeks to increase transparency and consumer protections around ticket purchasing so we can save Coloradans money and make the ticket-buying experience more predictable.” “Undisclosed fees and unreputable resellers make the ticket-buying experience frustrating and costly,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “This bill will allow Coloradans to have more trust in the system by prohibiting sellers from impersonating a venue or seller and banning an increase in prices after the buyer has already selected their ticket.” HB24-1378 would require ticket sellers and resellers to guarantee refunds to ticket buyers and prohibit an operator from denying a ticket-buyer access to an event because they purchased the ticket through a reseller. The bill would also make it a deceptive trade practice to: Display trademarked, copyrighted, or substantially similar web designs, URLs, or other images and symbols with the intent to mislead a purchaser, Sell a ticket to an event without disclosing the total cost of the ticket, or Increase the price of a ticket after the ticket has been selected for purchase, except for adding delivery fees. The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that additional fees on event tickets average 27 to 31 percent of the ticket’s price. Previous Next

New bill would provide up to $40,000 in tax credits to those who donate a life-saving organ to a stranger < Back Rutinel: There is an urgent need to address Colorado's organ donation barriers Feb 19, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Colorado Sun here . New bill would provide up to $40,000 in tax credits to those who donate a life-saving organ to a stranger Imagine being stuck to a dialysis machine for over 12 hours a week. Imagine praying each day that an organ becomes available so you can live to see your son’s high school graduation or your daughter’s wedding. Imagine your child is waiting for an organ, uncertain if they will ever make their high school graduation or wedding. Tragically, far too many Coloradans die waiting for an organ each year — over 200 in 2021 . Those who died were healthy enough to receive a transplant when they were initially wait-listed. They died because of a policy failure. Colorado’s organ donation waitlist is not just a compilation of names; it is a ledger of lives suspended in limbo, families living in fear and individuals grappling with the daily struggles of disease while hoping for a second chance at life. Today, nearly 2,000 Coloradans are on this waitlist, each representing a person facing the excruciating anxiety of awaiting a life-saving call . For far too many of our neighbors, the call never comes. The toll on those on the waitlist is immeasurable. The wait for a kidney transplant, for instance, can span several agonizing years, during which patients may endure the grueling ordeal of dialysis treatments three times a week for four hours each time. For too many, the wait is an ongoing battle with life-threatening conditions, resulting in a diminished quality of life, a constant stream of hospital visits, and the fear of not surviving until that life-saving organ becomes available. Beyond the emotional and physical suffering, there is also a tremendous economic strain on individuals, families and communities. The exorbitant cost of medical care for those awaiting transplants places an immense burden on them, potentially leading to financial hardship or even bankruptcy. Moreover, the ripple effects of organ shortages are felt throughout our health care system, resulting in longer wait times, poorer health outcomes and rising medical costs for the entire community. Fortunately, the solution is straightforward: The Colorado legislature can remove the barriers to becoming a living organ donor. A large portion of Coloradans are healthy enough to donate an organ. And while hundreds of Coloradans donate an organ to a loved one or a stranger each year, many barriers remain, including significant financial burdens associated with lost wages, child and elder care, travel, and other costs. A recent study found that the financial cost of becoming a living kidney organ donor is approximately $40,000 . But the benefits to society are exponentially higher. These are problems that we can and must address. We are honored to bring bipartisan legislation to address this urgent issue: the Comprehensive Assistance, Recognition, and Empowerment (CARE) for Living Organ Donors Act ( House Bill 1132 ). If passed, the CARE Act would remove the financial barriers to living organ donation by providing up to a $40,000 tax credit to individuals who donate a life-saving organ to a stranger. Because not everyone is a perfect organ match with their loved one, organ donors who donate to a stranger can create a chain reaction of agreed-upon organ donations, with some organ chains extending beyond 60 organ exchanges . Picture this scenario: A daughter discovers she is not a match to donate her kidney to her father, but she is the perfect candidate for another person in need. She agrees to give her kidney to this other person if her father receives a kidney from someone else. Thus, when a stranger donates to the father, this donation sets off an organ donation chain reaction that can save dozens of lives. Beyond removing financial barriers to living organ donation, the CARE for Living Organ Donors Act will also provide workforce discrimination protections and a special license plate available to living donors. Further, donors will be able to safeguard their loved ones by adding their names to a voucher list. In the event a named individual ever needs a kidney, they would be prioritized to receive one. Organ failure is a crisis that affects thousands of Coloradans with real faces, real families and real suffering. We must address this issue head-on, and the CARE for Living Organ Donors Act is our answer to the growing need for action. So call and email your state legislator to tell them to support this legislation. The lives of thousands of Coloradans depend on it. Previous Next

< Back February 6, 2023 Titone’s Right to Repair Agriculture Equipment Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation to save farmers and ranchers money and time on costly agricultural equipment repairs. “The livelihood of our farmers and ranchers are threatened by being forced to wait months and pay outrageous sums for equipment repairs because of our outdated repair laws,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “Right to repair gives farmers and ranchers the freedom to fix their own equipment in a timely manner, saving them money and getting them back to work faster. Agricultural equipment manufacturers shouldn’t be allowed to gatekeep parts, tools and information needed to repair farm equipment. This bill puts an end to this predatory practice.” HB23-1011 passed committee by a 9-4 vote and would require agricultural equipment manufacturers to comply with existing consumer right to repair laws. Specifically, agricultural equipment manufacturers would need to provide necessary parts, software, firmware, tools or documentation to independent repair providers and owners at a fair and reasonable price. Under this bill, agricultural equipment manufacturers or dealers selling on behalf of the manufacturer cannot upcharge for any repair items. This bill aims to save farmers and ranchers money on necessary equipment repairs while speeding up the repair process. Agriculture is one of the largest and leading industries in the state of Colorado. HB23-1011 is supported by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the Corn Growers, Wheat Growers, Wool Producers, Fruit and Vegetable Producers, the Cattleman, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Last year, Representatives Titone and Ortiz passed two trailblazing right to repair laws specifically for wheelchair users. These laws require wheelchair manufacturers to provide parts and software to consumers and eliminate the need for prior authorization to repair powered wheelchairs and other complex mobility devices for Medicaid recipients. These laws provided the framework for HB23-1011. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Tracey Bernett: Building a sustainable, resilient future through better building codes Jul 7, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in The Daily Camera. This past session, as the clock wound down on our time to pass impactful and progressive legislation for the state of Colorado, one of my last bills still on the table was HB22-1362. Despite significant initial opposition, I worked with my fellow lawmakers in the House and Senate and a broad array of community and industry leaders to ensure it made it to the Governor’s desk. I did this because I know that all Coloradans deserve homes and buildings that are efficient, resilient, healthy and ready for the future. While there has been a lot of press about the end of session and the vote on this bill, I wanted to share what the bill does for our communities. HB22-1362 saves residents and businesses money by building right the first time. A home or commercial building is a huge, long-term investment, and building more energy efficient buildings means residents and businesses save money on utility bills and other associated costs over the lifetime of the building or home. By building right the first time, we avoid expensive retrofits for electric vehicle charging, clean heat and solar energy. Especially now when so many car manufacturers, including Ford, will be phasing out production of gas-powered vehicles over the next decade. The cost savings, especially during a time when the cost of fuel is continuing to rise, can be a huge benefit to homeowners and businesses. In addition to saving consumers time and money, this legislation also protects our environment. Buildings are a significant source of pollution, and increasingly we are learning that indoor air pollution can be significant to residents, especially for lower income communities. Brief exposures to these indoor pollutants can trigger asthma attacks and long-term exposure can contribute to development of sustained asthma. Burning fossil fuels indoors will be the “lead paint in buildings” catastrophe in the years to come. By law, it’s the responsibility of local governments to adopt and enforce building energy codes, but the Colorado legislature has the responsibility to set minimum energy efficiency requirements for the local energy codes that apply statewide. Every few years the legislature examines these statewide codes to ensure they meet the modern standard for building quality homes and businesses. In addition to updating the code, HB22-1362 also provides money and resources for local governments to implement the codes. Finally, owners and occupants of existing homes and buildings are not affected until the home or building undergoes a major renovation or addition. I am so proud that several days ago the Governor signed this bill into law. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions about this law, other legislation, or issues you are having in your community. Rep. Tracey Bernett is a Democrat representing District 12, Boulder County Previous Next

< Back November 21, 2019 REP. ALEX VALDEZ ELECTED CHAIR OF LGBTQ CAUCUS Denver, CO— Representative Alex Valdez (D-Denver) today released the following statement after being elected this week to lead the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus: “I am honored to lead the LGBTQ caucus. We made tremendous progress in the last year. We protected our LGBTQ youth by banning the dangerous practice of conversion therapy. We ensured that government identification reflects Coloradans’ true selves. We passed legislation to bring our students a history curriculum that shares the incredible contributions of LGBTQ Americans. We will continue to work hard to make progress on LGBTQ rights and ensure an inclusive Colorado.” The Colorado Legislative LGBTQ Caucus includes members of both chambers and works to expand and protect LGBTQ rights. The caucus includes former Co-Chairs Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City) and Rep. Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo), Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver), Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D-Boulder County), Rep. Brianna Titone (D-Arvada) and Sen. Joann Ginal (D-Fort Collins). Last session, the legislature passed and the governor signed a bill sponsored by Reps. Michaelson Jenet and Esgar to ban conversion therapy (HB19-1129). Colorado also passed Jude’s Law (HB19-1039), sponsored by Rep. Esgar and Sen. Moreno, which now allows residents to obtain identification documents that reflect their identities. To further a more inclusive history curriculum, the legislation passed HB19-1192, sponsored by Reps. Serena Gonzales Gutierrez (D-Denver) and Bri Buentello (D-Pueblo), which will ensure more students learn about the contributions of American Indians, Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. Previous Next

The House today passed HB26-1006 to support college students from diverse, low-income and rural backgrounds. < Back March 25, 2026 House Passes Bill to Uplift Students from Diverse Backgrounds DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB26-1006 to support college students from diverse, low-income and rural backgrounds. “No matter their zip code or background, Colorado students should have access to a world-class education at an institution that strives to meet their needs,” said Rep. Matt Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “With the passage of this bill, we are one step closer to improving outcomes for students from diverse, low-income and rural backgrounds. This bill supports rural communities with higher education institutions that serve Coloradans from all backgrounds.” “When resources are tailored to the individual needs of our students, they’re better equipped for life after graduation,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “As the federal government actively works to punish minority serving institutions and the communities they serve, we’re boosting Colorado’s higher education landscape and supporting students of different backgrounds and income levels. In Colorado, we celebrate all students, and this bill helps our students from diverse, low-income and rural backgrounds achieve their dreams.” HB26-1006 passed the House by a vote of 43-22. This bill would establish a thriving designation for post-secondary higher education institutions. This legislation would also boost Colorado’s higher education landscape and support students from diverse, low-income and rural backgrounds. To receive the thriving designation, higher education institutions would need to meet certain criteria, such as aligning with Colorado’s workforce development priorities. A diverse advisory committee would help the Colorado Department of Higher Education determine designations. In September, the Trump Administration cut $350 million in discretionary funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI). This cut impacted higher-education institutions across the state, including Morgan Community College, Lamar Community College, Pueblo Community College, and Arapahoe Community College. The goal of HB26-1006 is to create an outcome-based designation at the state level to recognize outstanding institutions that serve diverse student populations and make it easier for them to apply for future funding sources or grants. Previous Next