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< Back May 15, 2021 DEMS ADVANCE TAX FAIRNESS PACKAGE Bills would limit subsidies for the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations to provide tax assistance to hardworking Coloradans and small businesses DENVER, CO– The House Finance Committee today advanced legislation that would provide economic assistance to hardworking families and small businesses. The two bills boost the state Earned Income Tax Credit, fund the state Child Tax Credit, and raise the exemption for business personal property taxes by limiting loopholes for the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations. “We have a choice to make–we can create a fair tax system that supports the families, workers and small businesses who are being left behind in our recovery, or we can continue outdated and ineffective tax windfalls for the wealthiest individuals and most profitable corporations,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Low wage workers and small businesses are falling behind as special interests protect their ineffective and outdated tax subsidies. As we emerge from this pandemic, we have to do everything possible to help all Coloradans recover as quickly as possible and build back stronger.” “This pandemic and recovery have not treated all Coloradans the same; the wealthy and largest businesses have fully recovered as middle and lower-income workers are falling behind,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Colorado’s billionaires grew their wealth by $10 billion since the pandemic began. We can either create a fairer tax code that lowers taxes on small businesses and increases assistance to hardworking families, or we can continue outdated loopholes that only benefit a few of the most prosperous corporations and wealthiest individuals. The choice is clear to me.” HB21-1311 would boost the incomes of over 300,000 hardworking Coloradans by increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 20 percent of the federal credit and by funding the state’s Child Tax Credit, which was created in 2013, but has never been funded. In order to provide this relief, the bill closes loopholes primarily used for tax avoidance or which only benefit three-tenths of a percent of the wealthiest tax filers, such as eliminating at the state level business meals deduction expanded by the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and requiring filers to report financial accounts held in foreign tax shelters. HB21-1312 would eliminate business personal property taxes (BPPT) for over two-thirds of the businesses that remit BPPT. Currently, businesses with under $7,900 in business personal property do not have to pay BPPT. The bill increases this exemption to $50,000. In addition to providing an important tax cut to tens of thousands of small businesses, raising the exemption means businesses will no longer have to complete and submit burdensome paperwork needed to claim the BPPT exemption. In order to provide this relief, the bill modifies ineffective tax subsidies for the largest businesses, such as strengthening the criteria insurance companies must meet in order receive a 50 percent discount on their insurance premium tax rate. Many of the tax expenditures that these bills seek to close or limit have been identified by the State Auditor as ineffective and only benefit a small number of businesses and Colorado’s wealthiest residents. The bills seek to narrow expenditures that benefit only a few individuals and large businesses in order to provide broad tax relief to large numbers of hardworking Coloradans and small businesses. For fact sheets or to learn more about the bills visit taxjustice.co Previous Next

HB23-1194 invests $15 million to help local communities with closed landfill safety mitigation < Back May 5, 2023 House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Mitigate Environmental Damage from Landfills DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to help local communities mitigate environmental damages caused by landfills. HB23-1194, passed by a vote of 61 to 2 and would invest $15 million toward a statewide grant program to support communities to reduce environmental risks surrounding closed landfills. “Closed landfills can be dangerous to our health and contaminate our groundwater if they’re not properly maintained,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango . “Our important bipartisan legislation helps local communities across our state, including southwestern Colorado, mitigate the environmental damage caused by closed landfills. This bill spearheads an important collaboration between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and counties to ensure our landfills are in compliance with federal law, so we can keep harmful contaminants out of our water supply, soil and delicate ecosystems.” HB23-1194 sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Rose Pugliese, would help local governments by supporting their environmental remediation and management of closed landfills. Specifically, this bill allocates $15 million to create the Closed Landfill Remediation Grant Program Fund to help communities mitigate hazardous environments caused by older, unkempt landfills. This bipartisan legislation aims to keep Colorado communities safe and healthy by mitigating the harmful environmental effects of closed landfills. Some environmental risk factors that can be caused by closed landfills include groundwater, soil and farmland contamination, hazardous gas accumulation and exposure to dangerous chemicals. Previous Next

< Back March 30, 2021 BIPARTISAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILL BOUNDS FORWARD Committee advances Rep. Mary Young’s proposal to create a comprehensive behavioral health crisis response training DENVER, CO– The House Public Health and Insurance Committee today advanced Representative Mary Young’s bipartisan proposal to develop a comprehensive care coordination and treatment training model for people who work with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. The bill passed unanimously “Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities face enormous obstacles accessing the unique behavioral health care they need,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “Far too often, people with disabilities and co-occurring behavioral health needs end up in mental health institutions, emergency rooms, and even prisons because of the lack of adequate care. Our bill will ensure that providers across the state are aptly trained in crisis response and comprehensive behavioral health care treatment for this population. Conducting the training remotely and prioritizing underserved areas will ensure that we provide training where it’s needed most.” HB21-1166 , also sponsored by Rep. Perry Will (R-Garfield County), would require the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to locate and contract a vendor to provide virtual training on a comprehensive care coordination and treatment model for professionals who work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring behavioral health needs. Once the vendor is secured and the training is set up, the bill would require behavioral health service providers including case management agencies, mental health centers, and other approved service agencies to nominate one provider to be trained in the model. Up to 20 providers may be selected for training on a regional basis, and an additional 10 providers from underserved areas will be selected by HCPF with coordination from case management agencies. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed two bipartisan bills into law to boost support for rural health care. < Back June 6, 2024 Gov. Signs Bipartisan Bills to Support Rural Health Care HUGO / DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed two bipartisan bills into law to boost support for rural health care. SB24-121 will create a new licensing process for critical access hospitals and SB24-055 will boost behavioral and mental health care services for farmers and ranchers. “Throughout my district Coloradans living in rural areas rely on critical access hospitals for life-saving care,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, sponsor of SB24-121. “This important, bipartisan law saves critical access hospitals money and gives them more opportunities to obtain essential federal and state grant funding, ensuring rural communities continue to have access to the high-quality health care services they deserve.” “Critical access hospitals are a health care lifeline for our rural and frontier communities,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of SB24-121. “This law updates the licensing process for critical access hospitals by eliminating expensive, duplicative fees so they can continue to serve their communities and make our lives safer, healthier and happier.” SB24-121 , also sponsored by Senator Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Representative Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, will create a new licensure process for critical access hospitals, primarily rural and remote hospitals. This new law will save critical access hospitals money, allow them to apply for federal and state grants more easily and will ensure critical access hospitals are not registered as general hospitals. “Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and their families are struggling to get the behavioral health care they urgently need, and the results have been disastrous,” said Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, sponsor of SB24-055. “Everyone deserves to have behavioral health care created by and for their own communities. This new law will bolster our ongoing efforts to close the rural mental health gap, and ultimately help save lives across our state.” “Coloradans living in rural and mountain communities, like mine, deserve access to high-quality health care – including mental and behavioral health care,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, sponsor of SB24-055. “We’re taking steps to expand mental health care support for our farmers and ranchers in their communities. Mental health matters in every corner of our state, and this new law will improve access, outreach and connection for our farmers and ranchers to receive the behavioral health care they need.” SB24-055 , also sponsored by Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle and Representative Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, will improve access to behavioral health care in rural Colorado by creating a new Agricultural and Rural Community Behavioral Health program that would work to better connect farmers, ranchers, and their families to behavioral health care. The program will partner with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, health care providers, and directly with agriculture communities throughout Colorado to provide care and support. The new law also establishes a working group and centralizes existing grant programs within the Colorado Department of Agriculture to better address the root causes of behavioral health issues in rural and agricultural communities. Farmers, ranchers and those in the agriculture industry currently rank fourth in the state for the highest suicide rate. This bill aims to connect farmers and ranchers with tailored behavioral health care resources. Previous Next

< Back February 20, 2020 GET COVERED! HEALTH CARE EASY ENROLLMENT ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would facilitate enrolment in health plans DENVER, CO– Representative Susan Lontine’s bipartisan bill to establish a program that would make it easier for health care consumers to find affordable health care coverage today was approved by the House Finance Committee by a vote of 8-2. This measure would help connect uninsured Coloradans to coverage options that they may have been unaware of or for which they may not have known they were eligible. “Over 400,000 Coloradans are currently uninsured, and we believe many of them are already eligible for some type of financial assistance whether they know it or not,” said Rep. Lontine, D-Denver . “Determining eligibility through the tax filing process is a great way to connect uninsured Coloradans with the health care coverage that best fits their needs. I will continue to work to make this proposal a reality.” HB20-1236 establishes a program that allows Colorado taxpayers to opt into allowing information about their uninsured household members to be evaluated for eligibility for certain affordable health insurance plans. Specifically, the program would allow individuals to indicate on the state income tax filings that they’d like the Colorado health benefit exchange (Connect for Health Colorado) to assess whether uninsured members of their household are eligible for free or subsidized health care coverage, such as the Advanced Premium Tax Credit or the state’s Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). The bill would also create the affordable health care coverage easy enrollment advisory committee to guide implementation of the program and study the feasibility of automatic enrollment. According to the Colorado Health Institute, more than half of Coloradans who don’t have health insurance qualify for public health insurance programs or subsidies such as premium tax credits or cost sharing reductions. One of the key reasons people may not enroll in coverage is that they don’t know how. This bill would allow Connect for Health Colorado to reach out to these individuals, if they checked the box on their tax return, and help them obtain free or subsidized coverage. The number of Coloradans eligible for subsidies but that haven’t enrolled in coverage has not fallen in recent years. ### Previous Next

< Back March 11, 2020 THE COLORADO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE OPTION ADVANCES DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Health and Insurance advanced legislation today to create the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option. HB20-1349 passed the committee by a vote of 7-4. “The number one issue I hear about across my district and in the Capitol is the high cost of health care and the lack of choices on the individual market,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “The Colorado Option is a common sense and financially responsible way to create a new choice for consumers. It’s expected to reduce premiums on the individual market by up to 20 percent and ensure that more Coloradans across the state have access to affordable, high quality health care. The status quo in health care is hurting too many Coloradans and it is well past time we pass this bill.” “Hospital and health insurance lobbyists and CEOs are attacking the Colorado Option and the prospect of lower health care premiums because the status quo protects their profits – at the expense of consumers,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Hospitals in Colorado have the second highest profit margins in the country and it’s time to end the status quo and bring relief to Colorado consumers.” The Colorado Affordable Health Care Option aims to lower the cost of health care and increase competition. The Colorado Option will offer a similar benefit design and structure to existing plans offered on the exchange while reducing premiums by nine to 20 percent, depending on the region, by holding the skyrocketing profit margins at the state’s largest hospitals in check. It also asks insurance companies to spend less on overhead and more on patient care and ensures prescription drug rebates are passed along to consumers to lower the cost of insurance. Coloradans face some of the highest health care costs in the nation. In 22 of 64 counties, consumers only have one carrier to choose from, and cost barriers have led to one in five Coloradans forgoing needed care. High consumer spending on health care means Coloradans have less money to spend elsewhere in the economy. The Colorado Option will also allow more Coloradans to start their own business without the fear of losing affordable health insurance. The high cost of health care is largely driven by unprecedented growth in hospital profits. Between 2009 and 2018, hospital profits in Colorado increased 280 percent, and hospital prices increased 71 percent while patient growth increased just 16.6 percent. Hospitals account for over one-third of health care spending in the state, which is approaching $50 billion a year. Because hospital corporations account for some of the highest profits in the health care industry in Colorado, the Colorado Option asks some of the largest, most profitable hospitals in the state to take a small cut in their profits to reduce the cost of care and pass along the savings to consumers. The hospital reimbursement rates set by the Division of Insurance will be public and transparent and will start at a base rate that guarantees hospitals a profit and then increases if hospitals meet certain criteria. The bill also supports rural and critical access hospitals by ensuring that they still have a profitable reimbursement rate under this plan. Notably, some critical access and independent hospitals are actually poised to see an increase in their overall reimbursement rates under the Colorado Option. Instead of cutting back on their exorbitant profits to keep care affordable, the largest hospitals have threatened to further raise costs on consumers. Hospitals have deployed this policy, known as cost-shifting, in the past to recoup spending on care provided to uninsured patients. HB20-1349 anticipates that hospitals will try to protect their profits, and the bill includes robust protections to help prevent cost-shifting. Hospitals have engaged in an expensive lobbying and public relations campaign to protect their bottom line. They are once again expending resources to pad their own profits, pay high-priced lobbyists and buy countless television and online ads that instead could be spent on reducing the cost of care for Coloradans who are suffering under unaffordable health care prices. The Colorado Option bill now moves to the House Appropriations Committee for further action. Previous Next

< Back February 16, 2022 MORE COLORADANS TO SAVE MONEY ON HOUSING WITH HB22-1051 DENVER, CO – The House Transportation and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to make housing more affordable and save Coloradans money on housing. “We’re working hard this session to save Coloradans money everywhere we can, and that’s what this bill will do by increasing access to affordable housing,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Every Coloradan should be able to afford a place to live. This bill will help bring down the cost of housing so that more Colorado families can have a secure future.” HB22-1051 , which passed by a vote of 10-2, is sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird and Hugh McKean. It would extend the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s Colorado Affordable Tax Credit program until 2034 and increase annual funding for the program from $10 million to $15 million. The tax credit program helps leverage private funds to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing. According to CHFA , the tax credit program has directly supported the development of 8,294 affordable rental units and allowed CHFA to support 28,267 total units using state and federal funds. The development of these units is estimated to generate over $3.6 billion in economic activity for the state and support almost 24,000 jobs. The program is an important source of workforce housing and supports affordable housing in communities in all regions of the state. The tax credits generate over $1 billion in private sector equity investment in Colorado that otherwise would not have occurred. Previous Next

House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senator Dylan Roberts, Representatives Elizabeth Velasco, Katie Stewart and Meghan Lukens today share their legislative priorities on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly. < Back January 14, 2026 Western Slope Democrats Kick Off Legislative Session DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senator Dylan Roberts, Representatives Elizabeth Velasco, Katie Stewart and Meghan Lukens today share their legislative priorities on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly. “We’re excited to begin another session with Democrats and Republicans from the Western Slope working together on the issues that matter most for our rural and mountain communities,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Affordable housing is top of mind for many, and this year, we’re building upon our efforts to spur the creation of more housing that Coloradans can afford. We’re focused on bringing down costs, equipping workers with the skills and tools they need for good-paying jobs and protecting our public lands.” “I’m looking forward to another session of working for our rural and mountain communities. That will mean moving legislation forward that lowers the cost of living, protects our water, and supports our Western Slope economies and working families,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “I’m excited to be the sponsor of Senate Bill One, a bipartisan effort to cut red-tape to allow communities to access more housing construction funding, and another bill that will lower costs for small agriculture producers.” “While we’ve made important progress to save you money on everyday necessities such as rent and groceries, hardworking families are still feeling the squeeze,” said Representative Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “This session, we will double down on our affordability efforts to save you money where it matters the most, including health care and child care.” “Coloradans expect us to get the job done, and we’ll work across the aisle to find solutions and be a strong voice for rural Colorado,” said Representative Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “I’m looking forward to representing our communities this year and growing our rural economies so that everyone has a fair shot and an opportunity to thrive. I’ll work to bring down costs, create jobs and protect our public lands.” “We’ve invested more than ever before in Colorado’s public K-12 schools, and the new school finance formula drives more dollars directly to our rural school districts,” said Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This session, we will protect the critical investments we’ve made in K-12 education and higher education, prioritize outdoor recreation and make our state more affordable for all.” Previous Next

< Back May 2, 2022 HOUSE COMMITTEES CLEAR THREE BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HOUSING, FAMILY TAX FILINGS Bipartisan legislation would invest $189 million in federal pandemic relief funds to create more affordable housing and assist families in tax filings DENVER, CO – Three bills to save Coloradans money won committee approval today. SB22-159 and SB22-160 are part of a package of bills recommended by the Transformational Affordable Housing Task Force to save Coloradans money on housing. SB22-182 uses federal economic relief funds to provide family tax filing assistance and education. “Mobile home park ownership can change hands fairly quickly – leading to skyrocketing lot-rent prices and sometimes displacement of park residents,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of SB22-160. “This legislation invests critical resources to keep mobile homes affordable by empowering mobile homeowners to purchase the land their homes sit on. Resident-owned communities are important for keeping Coloradans housed.” “Mobile homeowners are feeling the pressure of rising housing costs, but often face an uphill battle when it comes to fighting high rent prices,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB22-160. “Our bill invests $35 million toward creating critical protections for mobile park residents so they can invest in their own communities and create the stability they need to keep their homes affordable.” Loan Program Resident Owned Communities: SB22-160 , sponsored by Representatives Andrew Boesenecker and Mandy Lindsay, passed the House Transportation and Local Government Committee by a vote of 8 to 5. This bill will invest $35 million into the newly created Mobile Home Park Resident Empowerment Loan and Grant Program Fund. The Fund will provide financing to eligible mobile home homeowners so they can purchase the land under their homes and convert into a resident-owned community. Additionally, the bill establishes a mechanism for nonprofits to receive grant funding to provide technical assistance to homeowners and help them build the capacity, resources, and know-how to organize and purchase their mobile home park. This bill will provide a critical financial tool for mobile homeowners across the state at risk of displacement or exorbitant lot rent increases that often occur when a park is sold from one for-profit owner to another. “Any way you slice it, Colorado needs more affordable homes and our bipartisan bill invests $150 million to create, modify and improve Colorado’s affordable housing stock,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, sponsor of SB22-159. “This record investment in affordable housing leverages local and private investments to increase the supply of affordable housing in every corner of the state in a sustainable and adaptable manner.” Revolving Loan Fund Invest Affordable Housing: SB22-159 , sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz and Perry Will passed the House Finance Committee by a vote of 7 to 2. This bill will invest $150 million to create the Transformational Affordable Housing Revolving Loan Program to develop and integrate housing-related infrastructure, provide gap financing for affordable housing development projects, and preserve and rehabilitate existing affordable housing. “Colorado families have not been immune to the rising costs and pandemic pressures,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, sponsor of SB22-182. “Our bill provides families with tax filing assistance and information so families can claim the tax credits they’re owed. Working together with local partners, we’ll ensure that Colorado families will receive the tax credits they are eligible for and be able to pay for groceries, rent and other necessities.” “Some Colorado families might not know they’re eligible for certain tax credits,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of SB22-182. “Our bill provides tax filing assistance and outreach to Coloradans so they can keep more of their paycheck and receive the tax credits they are owed. Economic education is an important tool for saving Colorado families money.” Economic Mobility Program: SB22-182 , sponsored by Representatives Lindsey Daugherty and Mary Young passed the House Finance Committee by a vote of 6-5. This bill would save Coloradans money by providing $4 million to extend the successful Economic Mobility Program, which provides tax filing assistance for eligible Coloradans. Among other things, this program helps people claim tax credits, including the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, which Colorado families may not know they are eligible for. SB22-182 aims to help low-income families and those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic by facilitating communication, training, and technical assistance in tax filing with state agency partners, public health agencies and community based organizations focused on economic mobility. This investment will increase awareness and enrollment in economic assistance programs available to low-income individuals and families. It will also provide grants to nonprofits, local public health agencies, and other community based organizations that help people access economic support. Previous Next

House Majority Leader Monica Duran today released the following statement ahead of the rally in support of workers being held tomorrow at the State Capitol: < Back May 22, 2024 Duran: When Workers Thrive, Colorado Thrives DENVER, CO – House Majority Leader Monica Duran today released the following statement ahead of the rally in support of workers being held tomorrow at the State Capitol: “Colorado’s workers are the backbone of our economy, and when they thrive, our state thrives as well. As the granddaughter of immigrant farmworkers, I stand with the Coloradans who are rallying at the Capitol tomorrow to advocate for economic justice, better wages, fair workplace practices, and an economy that works for all. “The bills I sponsored this session would have protected some of our most vulnerable people from having their hard earned money stolen by unscrupulous contractors, and would have prohibited retaliation against workers who don’t want to participate in required anti-union, political or religious meetings. “These bills were top priorities for labor advocates and would have made a real difference for many workers in Colorado, predominantly people of color. But the fight does not end here. I will continue advocating for working families, and will be back at the table next session to achieve these goals.” Previous Next

Speaker Julie McCluskie and House Majority Leader Monica Duran today released the following statements on President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection: < Back July 21, 2024 McCluskie, Duran Statements on President Biden DILLON/WHEAT RIDGE, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie and House Majority Leader Monica Duran today released the following statements on President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection: Statement from Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon: “I am grateful for President Biden’s many years of service and deep commitment to the American people, and I believe this decision is what’s best for our country. In the last four years, the president has provided stable global leadership while passing bipartisan legislation to invest in our infrastructure, create jobs, and support schools and local governments through the pandemic. Colorado House Democrats are focused on our vision for Colorado and will continue delivering results that build a more affordable state where everyone can thrive.” Statement from House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge: “Under President Biden’s leadership, job creation is reaching record highs, and unions and workers have made historic gains. I’m proud of the progress this administration has made to advance gun violence prevention policies and increase services for victims of domestic violence. For Latinos and people of color, this administration has continually tackled the critical issues facing our communities. However, it is time to focus on our future and what’s at stake.” Previous Next

< Back Rep. Meghan Lukens: Delivering results for the Western Slope May 8, 2025 See more This story was originally published in the Vail Daily here . As the 2025 legislative session comes to a close, I am proud to report that we have made significant strides in addressing the needs of our Western Slope communities. From enhancing education to improving health care access, increasing affordability, and protecting our natural resources, your input has guided our work at the Capitol and focused on practical solutions that make a difference in Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties. Investments in education As chair of the House Education Committee, improving our education system remained my top priority. I sponsored HB25-1320 , the School Finance Act, which significantly increases funding for Colorado’s public schools. This investment will benefit our rural schools and ensure districts across the state can provide students with the necessary resources to succeed. The bill prioritizes sustainable funding for years to come, with a focus on supporting our most vulnerable students. I also sponsored HB25-1135 , which empowers school districts to establish policies on cell phone use during school hours. This law addresses a concern I’ve heard repeatedly from educators and parents across our district. By allowing local solutions to this challenge, we’re helping students focus on learning while supporting their mental health. Another education priority I championed was SB25-167 , which addresses housing costs for educators by offering accessible mortgages and down payments to help teachers live in the communities where they teach. This initiative aims to support approximately 2,500 educators, strengthening our local districts and improving student outcomes. Making Colorado more affordable As I travel throughout the Western Slope, affordability remains one of the most pressing concerns I hear from constituents. That’s why I am proud of the work we have done this session to ease financial burdens on Colorado families. We took action to eliminate hidden costs that impact your budget by passing HB25-1090 , which requires businesses to be transparent about pricing and eliminates deceptive “junk fees” that often surprise consumers at checkout. We also tackled price gouging during emergencies through HB25-1010 , which prevents businesses from exploiting disasters to inflate prices on essential items like groceries and diapers. For renters, we passed HB25-1004 to regulate how algorithms are used in setting rental prices, preventing coordinated increases among landlords. For everyone dealing with the frustration of unwanted subscriptions, SB25-145 now makes it simpler to cancel recurring charges. We also protected vital health care access in our state budget this year by preserving Medicaid coverage, dental services, and health programs for children. For families with young children, we maintained support for child care assistance and school meals , ensuring that no child goes hungry during the school day. Health and safety This session, we built upon our progress to protect your fundamental right to reproductive health care. Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 79, which enshrined the right to abortion care in the Colorado Constitution. We passed legislation to implement the ballot measure and remove the state’s prohibition on using public funds to cover abortion care. We also passed legislation to strengthen our shield law and protect providers and out-of-state patients from hostile out-of-state investigations related to legally protected health care. Additionally, we passed legislation to ensure emergency access to abortion and miscarriage care by creating a state-level version of the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. Health care access remains crucial for our rural communities. During this session, I sponsored HB25-1222 , ensuring that rural independent pharmacies can use private couriers for prescriptions and receive fair reimbursement. The bill also defines “flex pharmacies” that can operate both in-person and remotely, bringing essential services closer to home for many rural residents. I also sponsored HB25-1223 , which initiates a comprehensive study of capital needs for rural and frontier hospitals throughout the state. This bipartisan effort will help us understand what our healthcare facilities need to meet current standards. I know how scary and challenging it is to drive on our mountain roads during the winter months. I sponsored SB25-069 , which authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation to issue permits to qualified vendors who can help install or remove tire chains or other traction devices for both commercial drivers and passenger vehicles. These vendors will operate at designated highway locations, making winter travel safer and more efficient for everyone who travels our mountain roads. Moving forward together As we look ahead, I remain committed to bipartisan solutions that make Colorado more affordable, protect our natural resources, support quality education, and ensure health care access for all residents. It’s truly an honor to represent the people of Eagle, Routt, Moffat, and Rio Blanco counties. I welcome your thoughts on our accomplishments and your priorities for the future. Don’t hesitate to contact me at meghan.lukens.house@coleg.gov with ideas, comments, or concerns. I invite you to join one of our upcoming town halls this summer to discuss these legislative achievements in person and share your thoughts on issues important to our communities. You can also join my newsletter for more regular updates by emailing me. Let’s keep in touch and continue making a difference in House District 26. Onward! Meghan Lukens of Steamboat Springs is the representative for Colorado’s House District 26, which encompasses Moffat, Rio Blanco, Eagle, and Routt counties. Previous Next