< Back March 5, 2020 GA DEMS UNVEIL COLORADO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE OPTION DENVER, CO– Today, Representative Dylan Roberts, Senator Kerry Donovan and Representative Chris Kennedy unveiled innovative, first-in-the-nation legislation to lower the cost of health care and increase consumer choice by creating the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option. “Today, we have introduced a bill that will give Coloradans relief they deserve: lower insurance premiums and real choice on the individual health insurance market,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “After several years of work with our constituents, consumers, hospitals, insurers, and many others, we are excited to introduce this bold step forward for our state. The Colorado Option will provide choice and competition for Colorado families, and the status quo of being forced to pay outrageous premiums because it’s the only option will be over.” “The health care industry isn’t working for Coloradans. Everywhere I go I hear people struggling with not being able to access or afford the care they need,” said Sen. Donovan. “The Colorado Affordable Health Care Option is a unique, balanced solution that works to address the high cost of healthcare by asking big hospitals to be part of the solution to increase choice and lower costs. I came to Denver with the promise to put my constituents first and that is what I am doing with this bill.” “Colorado families are struggling to afford the cost of health care and are working harder and harder to get ahead as hospital corporations make record profits,” said Rep. Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “By creating the Colorado Option, we’re giving consumers a new choice for insurance that will cover the services they need at a lower cost.” From fostering health care cooperatives to ending surprise medical billing, House and Senate Democrats have passed innovative legislation that has saved consumers money. However, despite these gains, Colorado families still pay too much for health insurance, and 22 out of 64 counties have only one health insurance carrier. Furthermore, research shows that one-fifth of Coloradans do not seek care because of affordability concerns. To lower the cost of health care and increase competition, this bill creates the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option. As a public-private partnership, this health insurance plan would be available to Coloradans who purchase their coverage on the individual market. The Colorado Option will offer a similar benefit design and structure to existing plans offered on the exchange. The plan works to reduce premiums by seven to 20 percent, depending on the region, by holding down the state’s near highest-in-the nation profit margins at the largest hospitals. The plan will be widely available across the state– increasing competition, options, and access to affordable health care. Previous Next

< Back February 12, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES HANSEN BILL TO HELP CONSUMERS & ENERGY COMMUNITIES Bill could help lower energy bills and ensure Colorado leads on climate action (Feb. 11) – The House Energy and Environment committee gave approval to Rep. Chris Hansen and Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo’s bill to help lower the cost of energy bills and transition toward renewable energy today. As a result of market forces, Colorado workers and communities are being negatively affected by the closure of aging power plants. “We have a moral imperative to act on climate and ensure our state transitions to renewable energy sources in a responsible manner. This bill will help lower energy costs for consumers, invest in low-cost renewable energy, and provide direct assistance to communities impacted by the retirement of a fading power plant,” said Rep. Hansen, D-Denver. The Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Act would offer job training and financial support to communities impacted by the decommissioning of power plants. “Coloradans are currently on the hook for the outstanding debt on aging power plants. This legislation would allow the state to refinance that debt at a much lower interest rate by authorizing ratepayer-backed bonds. The bill will help hardworking families save money on their energy bills and ensure a soft landing for when an aging power plant inevitably shuts down because of market forces,” Rep. Hansen added. The bill would have no impact on the state budget. As utilities retire facilities, workers and communities where the plants are located can face economic challenges, and this bill creates a means of mitigating those challenges. HB19-1037 creates the opportunity for Colorado to take advantage of low-cost ratepayer-backed bonds. Bonds can be used if an electric-generating facility is being closed. From a portion of bond proceeds, the bill also creates and funds the Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Authority, which acts to mitigate impacts of plant closures on affected Colorado workers and communities. Twenty-one other states have laws in place allowing ratepayer-backed bonds to be used but this would be the first time in U.S. history that savings from the bonds would help workers and communities transition and cost tax-payers zero dollars in the process. HB19-1037 was approved by a vote of 7-4. The bill now goes to the House floor. Previous Next

The House today unanimously passed legislation by a vote of 64-0 to reduce language barriers for special education learning plans. < Back April 14, 2023 Garcia, Young Bill to Improve Student Outcomes Clears House DENVER, CO - The House today unanimously passed legislation by a vote of 64-0 to reduce language barriers for special education learning plans. “Currently, drafts of an individualized learning plan for a special education student are not provided in any language but English, making it difficult for families that do not speak English in their home to understand the details of their child’s learning plan,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Families want to be involved in this drafting process and have important insight to offer in crafting a learning plan that is catered to their child’s development. By passing this bill, schools will have the resources needed to provide this necessary service so families and teachers can create the best learning plan for the student.” “Parents and special education teachers need to collaborate to find the best learning plan that works for their children,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley . “Language barriers can stand in the way of meaningful discussions between families, teachers, and other school support team members, making it difficult to find a plan that best encourages educational improvement. Passing this legislation means that schools will have access to translation resources to reduce language barriers and enable teamwork.” Under current Colorado law, every public school student that qualifies for and receives special education services must have an individualized education program (IEP). The IEP is catered to each individual student and aims to improve their educational results and ability to learn in the classroom. HB23-1263 would require the IEP, the draft IEP, and any other related documents to be translated to the primary language spoken at the students’ home as necessary. Previous Next

< Back May 31, 2019 POLIS SIGNS BILLS TO STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT STUDENTS’ RIGHT TO EDUCATION (May 31) – Today, Governor Polis signed a package of bills that strengthen teachers in schools, create resources to better help students with dyslexia, and create better protections to prevent sexual misconduct at higher education campuses. Rep. Barbara McLachlan’s bipartisan bill will create a pilot program that provides professional development training for school principals to build strong leadership in our education system and provide better support for educators and students. “We must ensure teachers in every district–including our rural districts–have the support they deserve in our classrooms,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Teachers must have access to the leadership support they need. When teachers are at their best, our students receive the best education.” Rep. McLachlan is the chair of the House Education Committee and is a former public school teacher in Durango. HB19-1002 represents the latest effort by Colorado lawmakers to implement the state’s blueprint to reducing Colorado’s teacher shortage. It builds upon a McLachlan-led bill, HB17-1003, which required the Departments of Higher Education (DHE) and Education (DOE) to put forth relevant policy recommendations to address the teacher shortage. The pilot program will provide preliminary analysis on the efficacy of providing professional leadership and development training to Colorado principals, an effort supported by strong academic and statistical research. Because it is a pilot program, lawmakers in both chambers will have the opportunity to review the pilot’s results and make a decision for how to move forward following its conclusion. Polis later signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, that directs the commissioner of education to convene a working group to analyze state and national data and practices concerning identification and support of students with dyslexia and to recommend dyslexia screening tools and processes. “Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities affecting children. However, our public school system does not have a unified way of diagnosing dyslexia,” said Rep. Buckner. “This law will implement an in-depth process to enact the most effective program for dyslexia students here in Colorado.” Finally, Gov. Polis signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Janet Buckner and Rep. Barbara McLachlan that would add more guidelines and protections around sexual misconduct and violence in higher education institutes in Colorado. “Our current policy has a problem when we are seeing studies that one in five women and one in 16 men experience sexual assault during college. And what’s even more troubling is that only about 12 percent of victims actually report their assault,” said Rep. Janet Buckner.. “Sexual misconduct poses a serious threat to the safety of our students and interferes with our students’ ability to learn. This law ensures a fair and consistent response to sexual misconduct in higher education settings and creates equal rights for reporting and responding to parties in an incident.” SB19-007 creates a fair and consistent response to sexual misconduct in higher education settings to ensure that all students know how to report abuse and know that the administrative process will be fair for both parties. It requires institutions of higher learning to adopt policies that clearly outline the process for survivors of sexual misconduct, to provide support services for survivors and to distribute information across campus to inform students of the institution’s policies and procedures. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Higher Education to convene a biennial working group that will study best practices in order to prevent and raise awareness surrounding sexual misconduct. “This law will help get rid of sexual violence and abuse on campus. While we are waiting for the federal government to adopt and clarify the law, we are making sure our state laws are ready to follow and maintain protections for survivors,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan. “This is not a one-size-fits-all law but rather puts minimum requirements for policies regarding reporting and procedures for investigations for all higher education institutions.” In 2017, the Trump administration rescinded guidance for institutions of higher education on how they should address sexual assault under the federal law, Title IX. The lack of federal direction means that states like Colorado have to step up to develop policies that promote and ensure the safety of students on campuses around the state or risk losing important protections. Previous Next

The Colorado House today advanced the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 supplemental budget package on a preliminary vote. < Back February 12, 2025 House Advances FY 24-25 Supplemental Budget Package DENVER, CO – The Colorado House today advanced the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 supplemental budget package on a preliminary vote. The package of bills includes measures to support Colorado families, workers and students, bolster behavioral and health care services, and build safer communities. “From supporting the community services Coloradans rely on to boosting public safety initiatives, our supplemental package delivers on our promise to Coloradans,” said JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “These budget adjustments allow us to pivot mid-year to drive funding to the programs and services that make our communities whole. We’re committed to budgeting responsibly and responding in real-time to the needs of our state. This supplemental package supports all of Colorado including our neighbors, hardworking families and students.” “Through this supplemental package we’re investing in critical community support, including behavioral and health care services,” said JBC Member Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Mid-year adjustments to our state budget allow us to invest responsibility and smartly in the community services Coloradans rely on, including support for those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and health care for middle-and-low-income children. We’re focused on budgeting responsibly while still investing in the critical community services that Coloradans need to not only get by, but thrive.” Each year, the legislature adopts a supplemental budget package to make mid-year adjustments to the current fiscal year’s budget based on changes to caseload, pupil counts, urgent developments, and other considerations.. Supporting Colorado Families, Workers, and Students SB25-112 would assist individuals with disabilities in finding and keeping employment, as well as living independently. SB25-095 would help secure permanent, caring homes for children that meet federal eligibility criteria for income or child medical needs that present a barrier to adoption or legal guardianship. SB25-093 would draw down federal funding to support school districts and ensure Medicaid-eligible Colorado students receive quality care from school nurses, speech therapists and other health care provided in schools. SB25-113 would invest $64.1 million more toward Colorado’s public K-12 schools to support our students. Funding Behavioral and Health Care Services SB25-093 would: Utilize federal funds already received for Medicaid-eligible Coloradans to operate Mental Health Transitional Living Homes, which are a step-down from the state hospitals and a step-up from home and community-based services. Provide $43.5 million for home-and-community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Allocate $7.5 million for physical, dental, and behavioral health services through the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and $13.9 million for benefits that mirror Medicaid and the CHP+ for children who would otherwise qualify, except for their immigration status. SB25-112 would support equitable access to health, behavioral health and social health services for all Coloradans by extending appropriations for ongoing rural connectivity projects. SB25-111 would support necessary renovations to the Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community, an essential safety-net provider specializing in mental and behavioral health care as well as transitional housing in Bent County, Colorado. Building Safer Communities SB25-105 would utilize $1.1 million of funding to better support community-based, multidisciplinary approaches to crime prevention and crisis intervention strategies, specifically in areas where crime is disproportionately high. SB25-115 would continue support for the Colorado State Forest Service nursery to create stronger, healthier forests to fight back against destructive wildfires. The nursery helps provide native tree seedlings that contribute to restoration, forest hardiness and wildfire recovery efforts. Previous Next

< Back November 10, 2020 MCCLUSKIE AND HEROD APPOINTED TO JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE DENVER, CO — House Speaker-designate Alec Garnett today announced the appointment of Representatives Julie McCluskie and Leslie Herod to serve on the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). Herod will be the first Black woman from the House to serve on the JBC since Wilma Webb , who served in the House from 1980-1992 and on the JBC from 1983-1986. Rep. Julie McCluskie will now serve as the ranking member from the House Majority caucus. “We have so much talent in our caucus. Rep. McCluskie’s leadership through one of the most difficult budgets in state history was a service to the body and to the entire State of Colorado. The decision to reappoint her is a no-brainier as we chart a course to rebound from the pandemic and get Colorado’s economy back on track,” said House Speaker-designate Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Rep. Herod has been a leader since the first day she stepped into the Capitol. I’m pleased she will put her policy making skills to work helping the people of Colorado. She’s one of the strongest voices for working families in the state, and I’m glad she will apply those skills to making sure Colorado’s economy works for everyone.” “I’m honored to get back to work on the JBC and to prioritize our students, teachers and critical services as we craft a budget that boosts our economy and helps Coloradans get through this crisis,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillion . “Rep. Herod will bring her wealth of experience fighting for Colorado communities to the JBC where I know she will be a force for justice as we work to build an economy where every Coloradan has a fair shot.” “It is an overwhelming honor to be named to serve on the Joint Budget Committee as our state works to rebound from the economic crisis caused by COVID,” said newly appointed JBC member Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “Being the first Black woman to serve in the role in decades only heightens how proud I am to be selected. I am eager and excited to dig into our state budget and get to work on behalf of the people of Colorado. It’s time to build back a stronger, more just and equitable economy in our state, and to ensure no one is left behind in our state’s recovery.” The JBC will meet tomorrow, November 11 at 9:00 AM, to formalize the JBC leadership for the upcoming session and begin hearings on the FY 2021-2022 budget request. The JBC schedule can be found here . Previous Next

Representative Eliza Hamrick today hosted a bipartisan group of lawmakers and more than 45 business and industry leaders on a tour of House District 61. < Back September 11, 2024 Rep. Hamrick Hosts District Tour for C3 Lawmakers CENTENNIAL, CO – Representative Eliza Hamrick today hosted a bipartisan group of lawmakers and more than 45 business and industry leaders on a tour of House District 61. The tour was part of the Colorado Competitive Council (C3) Business Basecamp. “Welcoming C3 lawmakers to my district was such a treat, I greatly enjoyed showing my colleagues some of our community gems,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial . “From the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office to City Hall, HD-61 is filled with vibrant areas of growth and opportunity, especially for our youth. I’m proud to be a part of the C3 Basecamp because not only does it allow me to showcase my own community, but I can also learn about and experience different districts across the state.” The Centennial portion of C3’s tour included a visit to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office where lawmakers learned about therapy K-9s, the mounted unit, and the special response team. Lawmakers also visited the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, which is a college and career preparedness facility for high school students and met with local lawmakers at Centennial City Hall. During the 2024 legislative session, Rep. Hamrick championed a number of bills designed to uplift education opportunities and local communities. This includes legislation to boost apprenticeship programs and expanding community-based behavioral health care grants . Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2022 GARNETT AND ESGAR THANK PRESIDENT GARCIA FOR HIS SERVICE TO COLORADO DENVER, CO – Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver, and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today released the following statements after Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, announced he will resign on February 23 to accept a position with the Department of Defense. “President Garcia has served Colorado and our nation with distinction, and it has been a privilege to work alongside him to move Colorado forward,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “We have so much to be proud of–from saving people money on health care and prescription drugs to expanding access to substance use treatment, Colorado is a better state because of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m grateful for President Garcia’s service to our state and our nation, and I congratulate him on this important appointment. The Biden Administration is lucky to have him on their team!” “I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together, and I couldn’t be more excited to see my good friend from Pueblo continue his long career of service to our nation at the Pentagon,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Thank you President Garcia for your dedication to Colorado, and for everything you’ve done to support Pueblo and our Southern Colorado communities. I will miss the President’s leadership and ceaseless determination to fight for Pueblo, and I wish him the best as he continues serving our nation at the Pentagon.” Previous Next

Today Governor Jared Polis signed into law a pair of bipartisan bills to support Colorado’s water supply and bolster projects that help restore natural streams. < Back June 7, 2023 SIGNED! Pair of Bipartisan Bills to Support Colorado’s Water Supply, Bolster Stream Restoration BRECKENRIDGE, CO – Today Governor Jared Polis signed into law a pair of bipartisan bills to support Colorado’s water supply and bolster projects that help restore natural streams. SB23-177 , sponsored by Senators Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, and Representatives Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, and Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, funds the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s (CWCB) water projects. This legislation provides the Board, within the Department of Natural Resources, with over $90 million to fund water-supply projects, species conservation and research. The projects aim to take on Colorado’s water crisis, including funding for Water Plan Grants , Water Plan Action Advancement items, water forecasting, and watershed restoration efforts, among other investments. This year’s bill has particular emphasis on conservation of threatened fish in the Platte and Colorado Rivers. “Communities all across the state depend on this crucial funding to protect their water and I am grateful that we are investing more in our water projects through this year’s water funding bill than we ever have before,” said Roberts, sponsor of SB23-177 and SB23-270. “Now more than ever, it’s important that we work collaboratively to develop solutions to conserve our water and improve our water infrastructure. Coloradans know we need solutions, but too often are faced with legal obstacles or a lack of funding for projects. These bipartisan bills will simplify processes to complete stream restoration projects, tap into millions of dollars of state and federal funding, and ultimately help secure our state’s water future.” “Colorado’s watersheds and streams protect us from wildfires, preserve diverse ecosystems and support the livelihood of our local farmers and ranchers,” said McCormick, sponsor of SB23-177 and SB23-270. “The Colorado way of life revolves around water, and with these laws, we’re focused on restoration and preservation of our streams and rivers. This bipartisan legislation makes it easier for communities to leverage federal dollars to complete stream restoration projects and creates a plan for preserving our water resources now and into the future.” The CWCB’s work includes protecting Colorado's streams and lakes, flood mitigation, watershed protection, stream restoration, drought and water supply planning, and water project financing. Many of the Board’s projects focus on the Western Slope, like the Upper Colorado Conservation Project , which is researching the use of water-sharing agreements as ways to enhance water flow and provide temporary municipal water supplies in times of shortage. Stream restoration projects are vital in protecting water supplies, restoring habitats, and recovering from drought, fire, and floods. SB23-270 , sponsored by Senators Roberts and Simpson, and Representatives McCormick and Catlin, creates a more streamlined process for stream restoration projects to move forward. Currently, certain stream restoration projects could be considered an out-of-priority diversion of water, creating an uncertain or impossible path for those projects to proceed. The bill constitutes an important first step by creating a rebuttable presumption that a minor stream restoration project doesn’t impede on downstream water rights – thus allowing smaller projects to move forward without unnecessary enforcement actions while the community continues to explore solutions for larger projects. A rebuttable presumption is an assumption made by a court that is taken to be true unless proven otherwise. The legislation outlines stream restoration projects as those with the purpose of wildfire or flood mitigation; bank stabilization; water quality protection or restoration; habitat, species, or ecosystem restoration; infrastructure protection, and more. Previous Next

< Back May 19, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM SERVICES, PROGRAMS TO PREVENT IDENTITY-BASED VIOLENCE SIGNED INTO LAW LAKEWOOD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will provide $48 million to crime victims services programs and create a grant program to prevent and address identity-based violence. SB22-183 , sponsored by Senators Faith Winter and Bob Gardner and Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Weissman, provides $48 million to fill a revenue gap in federal funding and expand programs for crime victims to continue providing lifesaving resources for child and adult victims of crime. “During the pandemic we saw an alarming rise in cases of domestic violence,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “With this investment of American Rescue Plan funding, we will better support victims of domestic violence and ensure Coloradans in need never see an interruption in the essential care and services they rely on. I’m pleased to see this bill get signed into law, and I know it will go a long way in providing victims of crime and domestic violence with the services they need.” “The pandemic has led to an increase in domestic violence and other crimes, making the services these programs offer more critical than ever,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “As a survivor of domestic violence myself, I’m dedicated to making sure survivors of crime receive the support and resources they need to get back on their feet, and this major $48 million investment will make a huge difference for victims across the state.” “Colorado is stepping up to fund programs that provide critical services to victims of crime so that no one is left behind in the worst moments of their lives,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “The legislation Governor Polis signed today will help some of the most vulnerable people in Colorado move forward, and it will fund critical outreach efforts to help survivors get the assistance they need and prevent domestic violence.” The law invests $41 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds into programs assisting crime victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, including $6 million according to recommendations from the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. SB22-183 additionally invests $7 million in General Fund dollars to two programs providing services to crime victims. These investments will ensure essential services for victims can continue for the next four years. HB22-1234 , sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Senator Robert Rodriguez, creates a grant program in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety to prevent identity-based violence. “Communities of color and religious minorities are far too often the targets of terrorism and violence, and threats are only increasing,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The tragedy in Buffalo shows just how dangerous these racist ideologies are and the pressing need to do more to make our communities safer. This new legislation creates a grant program to help prevent acts of identity-based violence, and will bring people together to protect communities from bias-motivated crimes and build a safer Colorado.” “We’ve seen a growing number of threats and violence targeted at specific communities across our state, and it must come to an end,” said Senator Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “I am proud to have championed this new law that will give communities, nonprofits, and law enforcement the tools they need to prevent these types of crimes, and help ensure that everyone feels safe and secure in their community.” “With antisemitism on the rise and identity-motivated crimes increasing, we must redouble our efforts to ensure the safety of every community in Colorado,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “This new grant program will fund proven strategies and bring people together to prevent and solve the serious crimes that reverberate throughout our communities and disrupt our safety.” The grants will focus on building strong communities and preventing acts of violence that target a specific population of people, and on building awareness of these crimes to prevent them from happening in the first place. The law positions law enforcement to develop the strategies needed to solve serious crimes that have widespread ramifications on a community’s sense of safety. This includes projects that strengthen local collaboration and capabilities to prevent and intervene in identity-based violence. The law is supported by the Department of Public Safety, One Colorado, the Anti-Defamation League of the Mountain States, Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab, the Center on Colfax, Out Boulder County and other organizations. Previous Next

< Back April 12, 2022 BILL TO CONTINUE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Public and Behavioral Health Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Tom Sullivan to continue critical whistleblower protections regarding workers’ health and safety. “Extending protections for essential workers is the right move to keep our workers and the public safe,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “This bill will permanently extend the worker reporting protections we put in place during the pandemic so Coloradans can report safety and health concerns without fear of retaliation. Coloradans should feel safe speaking out about workplace conditions that could harm them or their colleagues and this bill prioritizes their protection.” “Essential workers shouldn’t be worried about losing their job or having their wages slashed for reporting unsafe or unhygienic working conditions,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “During the 2020 statewide public health emergencies, we gave workers the necessary protection to report health and safety concerns without fear of retaliation. This new bill extends those reporting protections for workers so they can feel safe on the job whether we’re experiencing a pandemic or not.” In 2020, the legislature passed legislation establishing protections for whistleblowers during a public health emergency. SB22-097 would make these protections permanent. The bill protects workers in the public and private sectors by ensuring that all workers have the same protections, including the ability to raise concerns about workplace health and safety practices or hazards to their employer, other workers, the public or government agencies. The bill passed the House Public and Behavioral Health Committee by a vote of 8 to 4. The legislation also protects workers from retaliation, discrimination, or adverse action, allows workers to wear personal protective equipment while at work without fear of discrimination, and requires employers to notify employees of their rights. When employees do raise concerns, various remedy options are included under the bill including filing a claim with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) or bringing an action in court. The legislation also gives CDLE the authority to enforce and investigate claims. Previous Next

< Back February 24, 2020 MCLACHLAN’S RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT IMPROVEMENTS ADVANCE DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Rural Affairs and Agriculture today unanimously voted to approve Representative Barbara McLachlan’s bill to strengthen the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Grant program. The REDI program provides grants that strengthen and diversify rural economies and create new jobs. The bill has already passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote. “This bill gives a leg up to rural economies in communities like mine across the state,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango . “There is a clear need for the rural economic development funds this bill will continue to provide: since the program began, requests for grants from the REDI program have regularly exceeded the amount of funding available. I’m proud to be ensuring that these funds make it to the communities that need them most.” SB20-002 would codify and strengthen a successful existing program, REDI, in the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), to be administered in collaboration with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). The bill will ensure that the program continues to work and that certain improvements are made in order to ensure that rural economies are more successfully bolstered. In addition to formalizing the program in statute, SB20-002 would require that DOLA adopt rules for application procedures and timelines, criteria for a matching funds requirement, and performance and reporting requirements related to REDI. The bill would also require that DOLA report on the use of the REDI funds. ### Previous Next