< Back February 8, 2023 Bill to Save Renters Money on Housing Applications Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed a bill that saves Coloradans money on rental applications. It passed by a vote of 7-3. “Rental application fees average from $40 per adult, which has doubled in the last few decades and will only continue to rise,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “With rapidly increasing rental costs and limited housing availability, Coloradans shouldn’t have to spend multiple rental application fees in the course of a single home search.” “Coloradans shouldn’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars on rental applications,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Tenants sometimes apply for dozens of housing options to secure just one unit and must pay for every application that is required throughout the rental process. By allowing them to reuse documents including rental and credit history and criminal records for a limited amount of time, renters will save more money to cover the cost of rent, rental deposits, movers, groceries, health care, or other necessary expenses.” HB23-1099 builds off the Rental Application Fairness Act that was passed by Colorado Democrats in 2019 by allowing prospective renters to reuse a rental application for up to 30 days without paying additional fees. It also minimizes the number of times a credit score is pulled, protecting a potential renter’s credit score from being continuously damaged from credit score inquiries. Under this bill, a landlord must return an application to a potential tenant to reuse if the application is denied and provide a notice of the applicant’s right to dispute the accuracy of the report. Rental and credit history reports and criminal record documents must come from consumer reporting agencies to be eligible for reuse. The bill authorizes the Attorney General’s office to enforce the Rental Application Fairness Act if landlords refuse to accept these reusable applications at no additional cost within the 30-day window. Previous Next

< Back February 1, 2023 House Welcomes Rep Kyle Brown to 74th General Assembly DENVER, CO - Speaker Julie McCluskie swore in Representative Kyle Brown today to fill the vacancy in House District 12. “I’m so excited to fight for legislation that will make a real difference for the community I grew up in,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “From taking climate action and creating affordable housing to helping our community recover from the Marshall Fire, I’m ready to get to work to help address the most pressing needs in our communities. I look forward to using my experience on the Louisville City Council and in health care policy to deliver results that move Colorado forward.“ Representative Kyle Brown represents House District 12, which includes Lafayette, Louisville, Niwot, and Superior. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Georgetown and his Ph.D. in Genetics from Harvard before returning to Louisville with his wife and kids. His background in public service includes serving on the Louisville City Council and as Deputy Commissioner for Affordability Programs at the Colorado Division of Insurance. He worked closely on designing and implementing the Colorado Option and advised US Senators and Colorado governors on issues involving health care, education, human services, and economic security issues. Rep Brown has been appointed to the House Health and Insurance Committee and the House State Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee. Previous Next

< Back February 5, 2019 HOUSE PASSES BUENTELLO-KIPP BILL TO INCLUDE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN GRADUATION RATES Bill headed to Senate following 62-0 vote (Feb. 5) – The House overwhelmingly approved Rep. Bri Buentello and Rep. Cathy Kipp’s bill to require Colorado schools to count students who are enrolled in special education and who complete the minimum graduation requirements in state-and-local high school graduation rates. “Every student across Colorado deserves to be counted when they complete high school,” said Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo. “We shouldn’t punish school districts and this bill would allow for students like my son, who is on the autism spectrum, to be counted toward the graduation rate.” Currently, special education students who have met the minimum graduation requirements, but who will continue receiving transition services in a district, do not count towards the school and district’s graduation rates until they leave the system. “This straightforward bill will help school districts and students alike,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “We will continue working to ensure our students and schools are given every opportunity to succeed.” Rep. Kipp is a former member of the Poudre School District Board of Education. HB19-1066 was approved on a vote of 62-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back April 3, 2019 DRIVER’S LICENSE EXPANSION PROGRAM RECEIVES BIPARTISAN HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVAL Many members of agricultural workforce are forced to drive 600 miles for one of few appointments available (Apr. 3) – The House Transportation and Local Government committee approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Rochelle Galindo, D-Greeley, and Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, which would expand on SB13-251, a program that provides driver’s licenses to all Colorado residents, regardless of immigration status. There are currently only four appointment offices that grant these driver’s licenses in the state. “In 2013, the legislature took the right steps towards better making our roads safer and protecting the public,” said Rep. Galindo. “Agriculture is an economic driver and employs many of our friends and families. This program is necessary to the health and wealth of our community and ensures we have more resources available to empower our workers while keeping our roads safe.” Without transportation, people have more difficulty finding jobs and keeping them, especially in the agricultural sector, where mass transit options are often limited. This is a problem not only for the farm workers but also for their employers. SB19-139 carries out the full intent of the 2013 law by establishing appointment offices in rural areas to ensure that Colorado farmers have the workforce they need. It will require the Department of Revenue to issue these types of driver’s licenses at 10 or more offices across the state. “Among other things, this bill will also improve the safety of our roads,” said Rep. Singer. “By providing the proper testing, training and insurance, it will improve the safety of our public and our roads.” Rep. Singer is a co-prime sponsor of SB18-108 which removed obstacles that have restricted access to a program launched in 2013 to provide driver’s licenses to all Colorado residents, regardless of immigration status. The self-funded program gives all drivers the opportunity to prove that they are qualified to get behind the wheel and allows them to obtain insurance. SB19-139 will ensure rural communities and agricultural workers can access driver’s licenses in all four corners of the state. It will also help to increase the size of the workforce of local businesses, specifically in the agricultural industry. The bill passed the House Transportation and Local Government committee with a bipartisan vote of 8-3. It now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

The House today passed a bipartisan bill by a vote of 62 to 3 to expand access to community health services through Medicaid reimbursement. < Back April 26, 2023 McCluskie Bill to Increase Affordable Health Care Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bipartisan bill by a vote of 62 to 3 to expand access to community health services through Medicaid reimbursement. “Community Health Workers play an essential role providing Coloradans with affordable health care services, but their funding has usually come from time-limited grants or through non-profits,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This bipartisan legislation would seek Medicaid reimbursement for community health services, boosting our health care workforce so Coloradans will have better access to the affordable health care services they need.” SB23-002 , also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, would save money on health care by providing a lower cost option for preventative health care and seeks Medicaid reimbursement for community health workers that would incentivize growth in the workforce. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) would be authorized to seek federal authorization from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide Medicaid reimbursement for community health worker services, which would secure long-term funding to make urgently-needed care both easier to access and more affordable for the Coloradans who depend on it. Services provided by community health workers include preventative services, screening, assessments, behavioral or dental health-related services, health coaching, and advocacy. The bill requires HCPF to seek federal approval by July 1, 2024, and to begin implementing coverage once approval is received. Previous Next

< Back February 22, 2019 DURAN & LONTINE’S BILL TO ENSURE PREGNANT MOMS HAVE ACCESS TO DENTAL SERVICES THROUGH CHP+ GETS GREEN LIGHT Bill will lead to healthy mothers and healthy babies (Feb. 22) – The House floor approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Monica Duran and Rep. Susan Lontine that will extend eligibility for dental coverage to pregnant women insured through Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) on second reading. Through this bill, all enrollees in this program can benefit from dental coverage. The bill will help nearly 900 pregnant women who are insured through CHP+. “As a dental assistant, I’ve seen many pregnant women come in with dental issues that can affect their baby,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, a certified dental assistant.. “Due to hormonal and diet changes during pregnancy, women are particularly susceptible to gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth decay, that can spread to their babies and cause low birth weight among other issues. This is really important to all of us.” Currently, the medical services board only offers dental services for eligible children enrolled in a CHP+. About 25 percent of all pregnant women in Colorado lack dental insurance coverage. CHP+ is health insurance for children and for pregnant women over the age of 19 who do not qualify for Medicaid. “This bill improves the health of women, their pregnancy outcomes, and the health of new babies,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “Having healthy moms leads to healthy babies, and this is something we all want to see.” HB 19-1038 passed on second reading with bipartisan support through a voice vote. It must go through final reading on the House floor before it gets sent to the Senate. ATTACHED: Headshot of Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge and Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver Previous Next

< Back December 16, 2020 ER NURSE REP KYLE MULLICA RECEIVES COVID VACCINE DENVER, CO — This morning, House Democratic Caucus Co-Whip Rep. Kyle Mullica received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver. As an emergency room nurse, Rep. Mullica is a frontline health care provider with direct contact with COVID-19 patients and is among the first people in Colorado to receive the vaccine. “Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine today means I’ll be able to continue and expand my work in the ER,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “It also means that the end of this pandemic is finally within reach. The vaccine is not only safe and effective, it is the cornerstone of our plan to beat this pandemic once and for all. I’m grateful to all of my fellow frontline health care workers who have been on the front lines in hospitals across the country. It’s been a long year battling this virus, but the end is in sight.” Last session, Rep. Mullica was the sponsor of SB20-163, a bill signed into law earlier this year that aims to boost Colorado’s low immunization rates by streamlining our vaccine exemption process. In his role as an ER nurse, Rep. Mullica worked in the Cook County Jail in Illinois, where he cared for patients during a critical COVID-19 outbreak in April and May. Previous Next

More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable < Back June 5, 2024 SIGNED! New Law Will Improve Black Maternal Health Care Coverage More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable DENVER, CO – Today, Governor Jared Polis signed legislation that aims to improve perinatal health outcomes, especially in Black and historically marginalized communities. SB24-175 , sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Representatives Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, requires large employer health benefit plans to cover doula services in alignment with Medicaid. The law also instructs hospitals that provide labor and delivery or neonatal care services to participate in at least one maternal or infant health quality improvement initiative. Additionally, the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will contract with a Colorado perinatal care quality collaborative to provide maternal and infant health equity improvement initiatives to hospitals; track disparity and health outcome data; and address disparate outcomes particularly among American Indian, Native Alaskan, and Black birthing populations. “The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any rich country and significant disparities in outcomes – and the crisis will continue to worsen unless we act,” said Fields. “This law is incredibly important as it addresses gaps in coverage and holds hospitals accountable for ensuring equitable care for all people, and I’m proud to see it signed today.” “Addressing the access gap in health care coverage is the first step we can take to reduce our country’s maternal mortality rate, which is far too high and disproportionately high for Black, American Indian and rural mothers,” said McLachlan. “To improve health outcomes for expecting mothers, including those in rural and remote areas, we need to ensure they have access to a range of perinatal care and that it’s covered by their insurance. I’m proud to have sponsored this law to keep expecting mothers and their newborns safe.” “No Black woman should lose their life, or come close to losing their life, in an attempt to birth their child,” Buckner said. “While maternal mortality rates around the world fell 44 percent, maternal mortality rates in the United States increased by 16.7 percent during that same period of time. It's unacceptable. Working to solve our maternal health crisis – especially for Black and historically marginalized communities – will lead to better economic, health, and social outcomes while saving lives.” “As a new mother myself, I want the best possible outcomes for all expecting mothers. Yet, our country’s maternal mortality rate reflects a different reality, especially for Black mothers,” said Jodeh. “This law works to combat the maternal mortality rate by encouraging hospitals to focus on improving their maternal or infant health outcomes, expanding insurance coverage for doula services and improving health equity training for birthing health care providers.” Under this law, CDPHE will create a program that provides financial support to hospitals in rural areas, hospitals serving a higher percentage of Medicaid and uninsured patients, or hospitals with lower-acuity maternal and neonatal care. Lastly, it requires coverage of over-the-counter and prescribed choline supplements for pregnant people. Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. According to the CDC, multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality health care, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. SB24-175 intends to address systemic racism in health care and develop better and more culturally informed care for historically marginalized communities. Previous Next

SB26-040 updates the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet families’ needs < Back June 23, 2026 Legislation to Create More Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities Goes Into Effect DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to update the Affordable Homeownership Program created by voter-approved Proposition 123 will go into effect on July 1. SB26-040 , sponsored by Senator Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Representatives Katie Stewart, D-Durango, and Lesley Smith, D-Boulder, expands eligibility for qualified buyers and makes practical updates to serve every Colorado community and meet the reality of the 2026 housing market. “The Affordable Homeownership Program was designed in 2022, for a 2022 market with low interest rates and lower construction costs than what we see today,” said Amabile. “This new law updates the program to reflect today’s reality and provide the flexibility that Coloradans need. We’re taking a practical approach to make sure this program works as intended so more Colorado families can put down roots and achieve their dream of homeownership.” “This bipartisan law makes the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program more responsive to the needs of our communities, especially in Colorado mountain towns like mine, where working people struggle to find affordable housing,” said Stewart. “When Colorado voters approved Prop 123, it created the Affordable Home Ownership Program to help first-time homebuyers with down payments and other financial assistance. This law, going into effect soon, makes crucial updates to the program to help more low- and middle-income Coloradans in rural areas qualify for homebuying assistance. “We’re expanding eligibility and flexibility for this Prop 123 program to deliver more housing assistance for hardworking Coloradans,” said Smith. “The Affordable Homeownership Program was created to help first-time homebuyers, especially to secure down payments. Unfortunately, interest rates and construction costs are higher than they were when the program was created. Our law makes necessary adjustments to the program so it can support Coloradans as intended and make homeownership a reality for more hardworking people.” The new law, also sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, increases the allowable income threshold to qualify for the program to less than or equal to 120 percent of either the statewide Area Median Income (AMI) or the local AMI. This allows more people to qualify for the program, particularly in rural communities. Rising interest rates and insurance costs have also made it harder for Coloradans to meet the requirement that combined housing costs cannot exceed 35 percent of their income. The law raises that threshold to 38 percent for homebuyers receiving direct down payment assistance, and also creates a process to allow eligible organizations to seek a waiver of the housing cost limit entirely when a qualified buyer is not found after six months of advertising. Additionally, the law allows eligible organizations to temporarily rent units if they cannot be sold in a timely manner and creates more flexibility in the program rules. Beginning July 1, these updates will help ensure that the program is working as intended and serving as many Coloradans as possible. Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2019 TIPPER-CARAVEO BILL TO CREATE 2020 CENSUS GRANT PROGRAM GOES TO GOVERNOR 2020 Census is at risk of being inaccurate (Apr. 29) – The House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Kerry Tipper and Rep. Yadira Caraveo that would create a committee to disperse funds around the state to ensure a complete count of all Coloradans across the state. The 2020 Census is underfunded and behind schedule. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk. “I’m proud of the work that went into this bill because it’s critical that we count every person in Colorado, especially as our economy and population grows,” said Rep. Tipper, D-Lakewood. “Even a one percent undercount could result in the state losing out on over $630 million in transportation, healthcare and education funding.” Valid census data is tied to billions of dollars of federal funding allocations for Colorado. The state is estimated to receive over $1,480 per person annually from the federal government based on population numbers from the Census. Census dollars help fund transportation (public transit, road rehabilitation and construction); Head Start programs; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Food Nutrition Service, Health and human services programs, and more. “The census determines so much for Colorado, it impacts every level of government and our future and this bill will help us compete for valuable federal dollars,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thornton. “There’s billions of dollars at risk if we don’t get the count done right.” HB19-1239 creates an appointed bipartisan and diverse committee, administered by the Dept. of Local Affairs, to award grants to nonprofits and local governments to ensure a complete count across all of Colorado for the 2020 Census. HB19-1239 passed in the Senate by a vote of 20-14. It passed in the House by a vote of 40-24. Previous Next

< Back May 4, 2022 BIPARTISAN COMMUNITY SAFETY INVESTMENT ACT PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed two bipartisan bills that will improve public safety and prevent crime. “This legislation will address the rising crime we’re seeing in our communities and across the nation that has come as a result of the pandemic and the strain of the economic disruptions that followed,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “This bill focuses on proven strategies such as co-responder models and violence interruption programs to prevent crime before it happens and reduce recidivism. It also provides significant resources to law enforcement to recruit, train and retain a high quality, diverse workforce that reflects the communities they serve.” SB22-145 , the Community Safety Investment Act, is sponsored by Representatives Alex Valdez and Perry Will. The bill will establish critical crime prevention programs and address workforce shortages in law enforcement. Research shows that crime prevention strategies that include collaboration between communities and local law enforcement are most effective. The bill will create three grant programs within the Department of Public Safety: The first grant program will provide $7.5 million over two years to community-based organizations and local law enforcement agencies to implement collaborative, data-driven intervention strategies such as co-responder programs, violence interrupter programs, early intervention teams, and restorative justice services in identified high-crime areas. The second grant program will provide law enforcement agencies with $3.75 million over two years to help recruit and retain staff, as well as improve training curriculums, including mental health training. The third grant program – the State’s Mission for Assistance in Recruitment and Training (SMART) policing grant – will provide $3.75 million over two years to help local law enforcement agencies recruit and train officers that better represent the communities they serve. The bill also establishes a front-end stakeholder crime prevention forum, and provides funding for oversight and administration within the Colorado Department of Public Safety which will administer the grant programs. It passed 8-3. “SB22-005 will help law enforcement departments recruit and retain qualified peace officers and will provide additional resources to help officers when they experience traumatic events,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “We’ve heard the tragic stories from officers who have witnessed horrific situations while serving their communities. It’s time we support them with the counseling services and peer support they need.” SB22-005 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Dan Woog, would direct $5 million to a program that helps law enforcement agencies retain and recruit qualified and trained POST-certified officers. The funding would expand access to behavioral health and counseling support for law enforcement officers to support peace officers and prevent peace officer suicide deaths. The bill passed 9-1. Previous Next

< Back February 12, 2020 BILL TO ABOLISH COLUMBUS DAY MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO — The Colorado House today gave initial approval to a bill to eliminate state recognition of Columbus Day, a holiday named after the perpetrator of numerous crimes against humanity, and instead create a holiday that recognizes humanitarian Frances Xavier Cabrini. The new holiday would be the first state holiday named after a woman and would honor Cabrini’s tireless work on behalf of Colorado’s children. “Every year, for far too long, Columbus Day has brought pain to indigenous people in our state and around the country,” said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez (D-Adams County). “Today we took a step towards not only ending the pain caused by this holiday but also honoring Italian American icon Frances Xavier Cabrini. Cabrini Day would be the first state holiday in Colorado to honor a woman, and I’m proud that we are another step closer to making this a reality.” “We cannot continue to celebrate a man whose legacy causes so much pain and suffering to so many in our state,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica (D-Northglenn). “Holidays are a time to reflect on and celebrate the lives of great historical figures whose lives and values we would like to emulate. Columbus does not fit the bill and Francis Xavier Cabrini does; it’s as simple as that.” HB20-1031 would establish Cabrini Day on the first Monday in October as a state holiday. It would be a paid holiday for state employees, and the bill would remove state sanction of Columbus day, which occurs one week later. The holiday would recognize Cabrini’s humanitarian values and lifelong dedication to service, especially to the Italian American immigrant community, who faced discrimination and difficulty as they immigrated to America. She worked tirelessly to support the Italian-American community in the United States, including through several projects in Colorado. In 1904, Cabrini established Denver’s Queen of Heaven Orphanage for girls. In 1910, she founded a summer camp for the orphanage’s residents in Golden, Colorado. Currently, a shrine stands in her honor in the original location of the summer camp in Golden. The shrine includes the “Stone House”, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Columbus Day is one of the few holidays named after a person, and its continued existence perpetuates the pain and suffering he inflicted. He was responsible for the kidnapping, rape and murder of thousands. Over 50,000 indigenous people committed suicide rather than comply with his rule, and within two years of his landing in the Bahamas, over 125,000 people died, half the population. The bill aims to end the state sanctioned pain this holiday The bill passed on Second Reading this morning; the bill will still have to have a formal Third Reading vote before moving to the Senate. ### Previous Next