< Back April 20, 2021 HOUSE LEADERS REACT TO CHAUVIN VERDICT DENVER, CO– Speaker Alec Garnett, Black Democratic Legislative Caucus Chair Leslie Herod and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar today released the following statements after a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts. “Today George Floyd’s family, the Black community, and the nation as a whole were offered an important measure of closure as a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts of murdering George Floyd,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This is the right verdict – the only viable outcome of such a tragic and heartless injustice. Colorado has led the way on police accountability and integrity, and we still have work to do to ensure justice for every community in our state.” “This verdict represents accountability. It is not justice. True justice would mean George Floyd was still with us today,” said Black Caucus Chair Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “That he could hold his loved ones and that the world never had to learn his name. True justice will come when we don’t have to hesitate every time we turn on the news in case another video of state sanctioned murder should flash upon our screen. I am Today, we stand together and say ‘no more’. We will bring change. We will advance justice. And we will not rest until we end the police brutality that is taking innocent Black and Brown lives in our communities and across our country.” “Last year, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Colorado led the nation in passing a bold, sweeping police accountability bill that moved us closer to justice in our communities,” said Representative Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Today, as we breathe a collective sigh of relief after the guilty verdict, we recommit ourselves to continuing to advance the cause of justice. We know that we have a great deal of work left to do, and I’m committed to ensuring that Colorado continues to lead the way.” Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation to allow school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools to help determine the mental well-being of students and continue the successful I Matter program. < Back March 17, 2023 House Advances Bill to Offer Youth Mental Health Screenings DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation to allow school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools to help determine the mental well-being of students and continue the successful I Matter program. “A recent study found that there has been a 103% increase in Colorado youth visiting Children’s Hospital Colorado due to behavioral health issues,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City . “We’ve connected over 5,000 Colorado kids with free therapy sessions since the implementation of our I Matter program in the fall of 2022. This year’s bill aims to identify more adolescents who need this resource to prevent youth mental health issues from escalating to the point of seeking medical help.” 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 mental health screener. Parents would have the option to opt their child out of participating, although students over 12 years old could still decide themselves to participate, due to existing Colorado law . The screening would be conducted via a questionnaire and evaluated by a licensed screener. If a student is at-risk for attempting suicide, physical self-harm, harming others, or is in crisis, the licensed screener would immediately notify the parents as well as the school and the school would react according to school crisis response policy. If the licensed 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

The House Health and Insurance Committee today passed two bills that would save patients and business owners money on prescription drugs and increase transparency of health care services. < Back March 17, 2023 Bills to Save Patients Money on Health Care Pass Committee DENVER, CO - The House Health and Insurance Committee today passed two bills that would save patients and business owners money on prescription drugs and increase transparency of health care services. “For every $100 spent at a pharmacy, $82 is evenly split between manufacturer profits and middlemen like Pharmacy Benefit Managers,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada . “Pharmacy benefit managers are charging employers one price for prescription drugs while reimbursing pharmacies much less and pocketing the difference. I’m proud to bring this bill to save business owners money on the prescription drug coverage they provide to their employees by prohibiting the pharmacy benefits industry from price gouging.” HB23-1201 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, passed by a vote of 10-1 . Currently PBMs can charge employers one price, but reimburse pharmacies less and keep the difference, a practice known as spread pricing. This bill makes it an unfair business practice for PBMs to charge employers more for a drug than what they pay pharmacies for the same drug and increase transparency for employers into PBM and carrier behavior that impacts their costs. “Coloradans deserve for their health care providers to be transparent about the care they can offer them,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville . "A lot of planning goes into seeking health care. Many people have to take off work, budget for the co-pay, pay for child care, and find transportation to the health care facility. This bill protects everyday Coloradans by ensuring they know exactly what services a facility will provide.” “Unfortunately, many Coloradans, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, have gone to a provider looking to receive care only to be turned away,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada . "People in our state have reached out to providers expecting routine medical services only to find out that the provider won’t offer them. Our legislation makes it easier for patients to compare services across providers so they can access essential health care like contraceptive services, abortion, and gender-affirming care.” HB23-1218 requires certain health care facilities to share details with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) of the health care services they provide. The CDPHE will create forms to compile a list of services that a health care facility may deny for non-medical reasons, like abortion and gender-affirming care. The forms will be shared with the public biannually so they have a better understanding of facilities that meet their specific health care needs. Providers must also make their forms available to their patients to disclose the care they offer due to the informed consent process. By February 1, 2024, the CDPHE must publish the forms on their website so consumers can easily compare services across health care facilities. The bill passed by a vote of 8-2 . Previous Next

< Back January 31, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL EDUCATION BILL (Jan. 30) – The House Health and Insurance committee approved Representative Susan Lontine and Representative Yadira Caraveo’s bill to expand the content in the comprehensive sexual education that many students in Colorado already receive. This bill does not require schools to teach sex education, however, it does add consent, defining a healthy relationship, and sexual orientation to the current curriculum. “Colorado’s students deserve access to age-appropriate, accurate and comprehensive information regarding sex education to keep themselves and their classmates healthy and safe,” said Rep. Lontine, D-Denver. Colorado cannot have a mandatory sex education requirement. However, there is an existing law that provides a curriculum if school decide to teach about sex education. This bill would increase the ranges of topics to include birth control and pregnancy, abstinence, STD prevention, consent, healthy relationships and sexual orientation. “This bill would not force schools to provide sexual education, but it would ensure the information provided to students is accurate and comprehensive of the experiences of all Colorado students,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, a pediatrician and co-sponsor of the bill. “ In our fast-paced world where my patients grow up quickly and learn sexual education from their peers and other places, this bill would ensure that if their parents can’t provide that information for their students, then students would be able to get that information from their schools.” Throughout the hearing, a significant amount of misinformation was peddled both by witnesses and members on the other side of the aisle. “We should do the best we can for Colorado’s students and ensure they have access to important information they need,” said Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, who chaired the hearing. Some of the common misconceptions were around the opt-out options already in place, the content around the inclusion of LGBTQ inclusion, and the definition of a healthy relationship. “There was a lot of misinformation today about LGBTQ relationships and the conversations that would take place in a classroom regarding that. As a member of the LGBTQ community who has been in a 14 year relationship, I am pleased to support a bill that addresses safe, healthy relationships,” said Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont. “The bill only expands the curriculum for schools that already offer or wish to offer comprehensive sex ed to include information about more than simply heterosexual relationships.” “There is no LGBTQ agenda, as some attempted to argue today,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “This bill simply creates a discussion about what is safe, comprehensive sexual education.” Democrats defeated a number of Republican led amendments, many of which are not germaine. This bill also allocates $1 million in funds to an existing grant program administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for teaching comprehensive sex education. Rural schools and public schools that do not have the resources to offer sex education will be prioritized for receiving this grant money. The bill passed through the committee with a 7-4 vote and now heads to the House Appropriations Committee. Previous Next

< Back May 11, 2021 JODEH CONTINUES EFFORTS TO ADVANCE HEALTH CARE EQUITY House gives preliminary approval to Reps. Jodeh’s bill to protect the lowest income Coloradans from predatory medical debt collection and help them obtain necessary emergency medical care DENVER, CO– The House today advanced Rep. Iman Jodeh’s bill to take several steps to help low income and uninsured Coloradans access the emergency health care they need. The bill passed on second reading. “No Coloradan should go bankrupt because of the cost of medical care,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora . “15 percent of all Coloradans and 1 in 4 Coloradans from communities of color are struggling with medical debt in collections, which can have devastating long-term impacts on the financial well-being of a family. We can’t accept the status quo of Black, Brown and low-income families being held back for generations because of crippling medical debt. We need affordable care and greater patient protections in the billing process now .” HB21-1198 makes several improvements to Colorado’s Hospital Financial Assistance Law to ensure hospitals screen patients for potential financial assistance through a variety of programs, make it more difficult for a patient to be sent to collection actions, and sets an enforceable standard for discounted care. The bill will crack down on predatory billing practices, help low-income Coloradans avoid crippling medical debt, and ensure all patients have access to information about their rights when accessing emergency care. Previous Next

< Back May 1, 2019 HOUSE GIVES INITIAL APPROVAL TO LOWER THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Democrats working to lower the cost of health care (May 1) – Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis’ bill to reduce the price consumers pay for prescription medications passed in the House on second reading. The bill will allow the wholesale importation of prescription pharmaceutical products from Canada for resale to Colorado pharmacies. “As a pharmacist, I know there are many Coloradans who are having to choose between feeding their families or the life-saving drugs they depend on,” said Rep. Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County. “We’ve seen drug price increases of nearly 500 percent that are drowning patients. The ability to import prescription drugs from Canada will help lower the cost of health care for hardworking families.” Rep. Jaquez Lewis is a licensed pharmacist. As amended in the House Health and Insurance committee, SB19-005 creates the “Colorado Wholesale Importation of Prescription Drugs Act” where the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will apply for a waiver under federal law to contract with a vendor. The vendor will design and implement a program to import prescription pharmaceutical products from Canada for sale to Colorado pharmacies. The program design must ensure both drug safety and cost savings for Colorado consumers. “Republicans in Congress are failing to help lower the cost of health care, and this is a commonsense approach that can help Colorado cut the cost of medication,” Rep. Jaquez Lewis added. SB19-005 passed on a a voice-vote. A final vote will take place at a later date. If approved, the bill goes back to the Senate for approval of amendments. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation, sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Lorena García, to rename César Chávez Day to Farm Workers Day. HB26-1339 unanimously passed by a vote of 11-0. < Back March 23, 2026 Legislation to Honor Farm Workers, Labor Advocates Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation, sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Lorena García, to rename César Chávez Day to Farm Workers Day. HB26-1339 unanimously passed by a vote of 11-0. “As a Latina, labor advocate and survivor, I strongly believe that our legislation is the responsible way to stand with survivors while continuing to uplift the people who created the labor protections that we all benefit from today,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “I am the daughter and granddaughter of women who were farm workers and who marched and organized for safer workplace protections, and as a survivor, I know how crucial it is that we listen to those who found the courage to speak up. The time to act is now. I am carrying on my ancestors' legacy by honoring the hardworking people who put food on our tables and standing alongside survivors.” “The accomplishments from the farm workers' labor movement are due to the sacrifices of farm workers, especially the women in the movement, and they deserve to be acknowledged for everything they did for future generations,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “We stand with Dolores Huerta and the other brave women whose lives were forever impacted by the harm they endured while they paved the way for the Latino community and workers. With this bill, March 31 will now be dedicated to the hardworking people behind the Farm Workers Movement.” HB26-1339 would rename César Chávez Day to Farm Workers Day to honor the contributions and history of farm workers. Beginning in the 1960s, farm workers and advocates organized to fight back against discrimination and unfair labor practices and marched hundreds of miles to demand fair pay and respect. They successfully negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement between farm workers and growers in the continental U.S., and the first union contracts that required rest periods, clean drinking water and safety and sanitation regulations. They also banned discrimination in the workplace and sexual harassment of women workers and extended state coverage of unemployment, disability and workers’ compensation to farm workers. In 2001, the Colorado legislature designated March 31 as César Chávez Day, an optional state holiday. Last week, Dolores Huerta and other women, many of whom were minors at the time of the assault, made public claims that they were sexually abused by the late César Chávez. In light of these recent allegations, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, in partnership with City Council President Amanda Sandoval, temporarily renamed the upcoming holiday in the City and County of Denver to “Sí Se Puede” Day. Previous Next

The POWR Act protects workers from workplace harassment and discrimination < Back April 26, 2023 Bill to Combat Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Moves Forward The POWR Act protects workers from workplace harassment and discrimination DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to improve safety and equity in the workplace by implementing critical anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. The Protecting Opportunity & Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act, sponsored by Representative Mike Weissman and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, combats workplace harassment and discrimination while prioritizing employees. “No one should face workplace harassment or discrimination at work, which is why we are revising Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws to protect our workers,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora . "In 2023, it's time that we say that people should not have to suffer workplace harassment that can go without a remedy as long as it's not "severe" or "pervasive" under a nearly 40-year old legal standard. The POWR Act holds wrongdoers accountable for workplace harassment and creates safer, more productive workplaces in the process. Every Coloradan deserves to earn a living in a workspace free of harassment or discrimination, and this legislation puts policies in place to do that.” “To protect Coloradans who have faced workplace harassment and discrimination, our laws need to be on their side,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The POWR Act provides some long overdue modifications to Colorado’s law that will improve accountability measures and create safer workspaces. We need to do everything we can to make it easier for Coloradans to earn a living and excel in their career. Our legislation gives power and protection to the worker, paving the way for Coloradans to thrive in their workplace.” POWR Act: SB23-172 would update the definition of harassment and specify that harassment does not need to be “severe or pervasive” to constitute a discriminatory or unfair practice. The bill also deters future harassment by modernizing language around non-disclosure agreements, expanding protections for people with disabilities, and adding marital status as a protected class. Eliminating the excessive “severe or pervasive'' hostile work environment requirements and replacing them with clear standards for “harass” and “harassment” considers the totality of the circumstances, and will allow survivors of discrimination and harassment to better pursue justice. The POWR Act also removes the language in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) that permits employers to discriminate against people with disabilities or refuse to accommodate them if “the disability has a significant impact on the job.” The bill also adds marital status as a protected class under these conditions. Additionally, the bill establishes an affirmative defense for an employer if the employer meets certain requirements, including establishing a harassment prevention program, taking prompt action in response to a complaint, and keeping records of any complaints. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to expand wildfire prevention efforts through community education. HB24-1024, sponsored by Representatives Tammy Story and Elizabeth Velasco, passed by a vote of 49-13. < Back April 25, 2024 House Passes Bill to Continue Wildfire Prevention Awareness DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to expand wildfire prevention efforts through community education. HB24-1024, sponsored by Representatives Tammy Story and Elizabeth Velasco, passed by a vote of 49-13. “Many Colorado communities are in wildfire-prone areas, but the Marshall Fire tragedy taught us that we must be prepared for the worst because wildfires can quickly spread into our neighborhoods,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer. “With this legislation, we’re extending the great work that the Colorado State Forest Service has done to educate Coloradans on wildfire risk and mitigation strategies so we can continue to protect our communities from wildfires.” “Colorado has experienced devastating wildfires in the last few years that have burned down homes, businesses, and our beautiful outdoors,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Western Slope communities, like mine, are especially vulnerable to wildfires. The Colorado State Forest Service has done a great job providing outreach and educational materials, including bilingual materials for our non-English speaking Coloradans, to promote wildfire prevention and mitigation information. This bill would extend CSFS’s wildfire outreach campaign so we can continue efforts that will make our communities more wildfire-resilient.” HB24-1024 would require the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) to continue its enhanced wildfire outreach campaign through 2027, as well as other outreach efforts that increase awareness of wildfire risk mitigation in the wildland-urban interface. This bill builds on a 2022 law , also sponsored by Representative Story, that directed CSFS to create a working group and implement an enhanced wildfire awareness month outreach campaign for 2023 and 2024. Previous Next

< Back May 25, 2021 FAMILIES FIRST! COMMITTEE VOTES TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME COLORADANS WITH DIAPERS AND EXPAND FAMILY PLANNING COVERAGE DENVER, CO– The House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee today advanced two bills to help parents with newborns afford diapers and ensure more Coloradans have the support they need to plan for their families’ future. “As a new mom, I’ve become more acutely aware of the difficulties that families struggle with while trying to provide a great life for their babies,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, sponsor of both SB21-025 and SB21-027. “That’s why I’m so proud that today we moved to help families afford diapers – one of the most basic necessities that a young family has. I’m also excited that more Coloradans will soon be eligible for family planning services that will ensure they are empowered to make their own decisions about when and how to start a family.” “Even before the pandemic began, far too many families in Colorado were struggling to afford diapers for their kids,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, sponsor of SB21-027. “The pandemic’s devastating impact on jobs and hardworking families only made matters worse and put moms and kids in further danger. As moms and lawmakers, my co-prime sponsors and I decided we wouldn’t accept this heartbreaking reality in our state. Today, we’re one step closer to giving young families the support they deserve.” SB21-027 would help new and recent parents care for their children by ensuring that diaper essentials are available to all low-income families in Colorado. The bill provides $4 million for this purpose and asks the Colorado Department of Human Services to contract with nonprofit organizations to administer diaper distribution centers. Despite the high cost of diapers and estimates that show about 1 in 3 U.S. families report needing more diapers, diapers cannot be purchased through public assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Woman, Infants, and Children program (WIC). The bill passed by a vote of 7-5. SB21-025 , also sponsored by Rep. Perry Will, R-New Castle, would expand Medicaid coverage for family planning services to more individuals who are currently prevented from accessing care because they are just above the eligibility limit. The coverage would give more Coloradans the resources and information necessary to make decisions about how and when to start a family by providing counseling services, access to contraceptives, and information regarding available health care coverage. A majority of states across the country have already taken up the option to raise the Medicaid eligibility. The bill passed by a vote of 7-5. Previous Next

< Back March 21, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO ALLOW SEX WORKERS TO REPORT CRIMES WITHOUT FACING PROSECUTION DENVER, CO – The House unanimously passed bipartisan legislation today that would provide sex workers immunity from prostitution charges when reporting serious, violent crimes to law enforcement. HB22-1288 would allow safe reporting for sex workers if they witnessed or were a victim of a violent crime. “We’re committed to building a safer Colorado, and allowing sex workers to report serious crimes will protect our communities and help bring violent criminals to justice,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “Sex workers who are survivors of serious crimes or a witness to a serious crime need to be able to safely report these crimes without facing prosecution. This bill grants sex workers immunity for prostitution charges when they bravely report violent and serious crimes to law enforcement or seek emergency services.” HB22-1288 , sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Matt Soper, would grant a victim immunity from certain prostitution-related charges if the evidence for the charges was obtained as a result of the victim seeking assistance from a law enforcement officer or emergency services. Under the bill, victims would receive immunity from prosecution when reporting to law enforcement the crimes of human trafficking, stalking, kidnapping, assault, and murder. The bill received unanimous bipartisan support. Previous Next

Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Sheila Lieder today will receive awards at Colorado AFL-CIO’s Second Annual Labor Day Labor Champion Award Dinner to celebrate their work in passing laws to better support workplace conditions and boost wages for working Coloradans. Majority Leader Monica Duran will receive the State House Labor Champion Award and Representative Sheila Lieder will receive the Rising Star Award. < Back August 31, 2023 Majority Leader Duran, Rep. Lieder to Receive Awards for Championing Labor Laws Denver, CO - Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Sheila Lieder today will receive awards at Colorado AFL-CIO’s Second Annual Labor Day Labor Champion Award Dinner to celebrate their work in passing laws to better support workplace conditions and boost wages for working Coloradans. Majority Leader Monica Duran will receive the State House Labor Champion Award and Representative Sheila Lieder will receive the Rising Star Award. “Elevating the voices of hardworking Coloradans and advocating for better workplace conditions at the Capitol has been one of my biggest priorities as a legislator,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “I grew up watching my mother and her siblings stand alongside labor activists like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, fighting for safer working conditions, fair wages, and the right to unionize. Receiving this award is a marker of the progress we’ve made in recent years to protect Coloradans and foster workplaces that we all deserve.” “I’ve dedicated my career to improving workers rights’ and advocating for working class people to fight for a fair workplace on their own,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton . “I proudly passed laws this session to crack down on child labor violations and improve workplace safety so children and their families can pursue justice. I’m honored to receive this award, and I look forward to continuing to make Colorado a leader in workers’ rights.” Majority Leader Duran has passed laws to strengthen worker protections since being elected to the Colorado State House in 2018. Many of her laws protect and improve workers’ rights to receive pay for their work, including establishing a statewide prevailing wage for public projects ( SB19-196 ), prohibiting a property owner from withholding more than 5% of the contracted pay from a contractor ( HB21-1167 ), increasing wages for Home Care Workers ( SB19-238 ), and modernizing the wage theft process to make it easier for workers to receive their earned wages ( SB22-161 ). Additional laws that Majority Leader Duran has sponsored include ensuring compliance with plumbing laws to better protect Colorado plumbers ( HB19-1086 ), requiring a standardization of apprentice to supervisor ratio for electricians and plumbers to improve the quality of apprenticeship programs and ensure workers’ safety ( HB22-1346 ), creating clear and fair working standards for the energy industry to support workers transition into the clean energy sector ( SB23-292 ), and establishing the Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board to ensure workers are being paid appropriately and working fair hours ( SB23-261 ). Representative Sheila Lieder has spent decades fighting for workers’ rights, serving as the President for the Denver Area Labor Federation, Vice President of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, and a policy director for Communications Workers of America. In her first year at the legislature, Rep. Lieder passed HB23-1196 , a law to strengthen Colorado’s child labor protections by allowing children, or their parents, to pursue justice and accountability for workplace violations. She also carried laws that raise awareness of apprenticeship opportunities to graduating students ( HB23-1212 ) and requires improved data collection on apprenticeship programs to better connect Coloradans to good-paying, stable jobs ( SB23-146 ). Previous Next