< Back January 17, 2019 EDUCATION COMMITTEE CLEARS MCLACHLAN BILL TO ADDRESS TEACHER SHORTAGE Judiciary Also Approves McLachlan Sponsored Human Trafficking-related training bill (Jan. 17) – The House Education Committee approved Rep. Barbara McLachlan’s bipartisan bill to create a pilot program that provides professional development training for school principals to build strong leadership in our education system and provide better support for teachers and students. “Ensuring our educators have the leadership support they need to be at their best will ultimately help our students get the best education,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “We need to make sure teachers in our state, especially in our rural districts, stay in the classroom.” Rep. McLachlan is the chair of the House Education Committee and is a former public school teacher in Durango. HB19-1002 represents the latest effort by Colorado lawmakers to implement the state’s blueprint to reducing Colorado’s teacher shortage. It builds upon a McLachlan led bill, HB17-1003, which required the Departments of Higher Education (DHE) and Education (DOE) to put forth relevant policy recommendations to address the teacher shortage. The pilot program will provide preliminary analysis on the efficacy of providing professional leadership and development training to Colorado principals, an effort supported by strong academic and statistical research. Because it is a pilot program, lawmakers in both chambers will have the opportunity to review the pilot’s results and make a decision for how to move forward following its conclusion. “As a teacher, I think one of the best figures was my very first principal who fostered my development as a teacher, who ensured I could be the absolute best I can be,” said Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo, who is Vice-chair of the House Education Committee. “This bill is going to do a lot to make sure there are more of those types of principals.” The bill passed 11-1. It now heads to the Appropriations Committee. In other committee action today, the bipartisan HB19-1051 which is sponsored by Rep. McLachlan was approved by the Judiciary committee 11-0. The bill would require the Division of Criminal Justice to provide human trafficking training to law enforcement agencies. It now goes to the Appropriations Committee. Previous Next

The House today passed gun violence prevention legislation that would raise the minimum age to purchase ammunition for rifle and shotgun ammunition to 21 years old and require ammunition to be stored behind the counter like nicotine, cold medicine, and other commonly misused or harmful products. HB25-1133, sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, passed by a vote of 38-27. < Back February 25, 2025 House Passes Bill to Create Safeguards on Ammunition Purchases DENVER, CO - The House today passed gun violence prevention legislation that would raise the minimum age to purchase ammunition for rifle and shotgun ammunition to 21 years old and require ammunition to be stored behind the counter like nicotine, cold medicine, and other commonly misused or harmful products. HB25-1133, sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, passed by a vote of 38-27. “As a survivor of domestic violence and gun intimidation, I am proud that our bill to reduce gun violence and save lives has passed the House,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill increases the age to purchase long gun ammunition and strengthens display requirements, helping reduce theft and keeping ammunition out of the wrong hands. Our legislation is one of many steps that Colorado Democrats are taking to protect our communities from senseless gun violence and improve public safety.” “It takes a single bullet to take a life, which is why we’re passing this bill to bring down ammunition theft and raise the age of purchase so we can prevent senseless firearm deaths,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “From suicide to accidental firings, too many lives have been tragically taken from their loved ones. As a mother to young kids, I know that our communities will be safer by making it just a little harder for 18-21-year-old youth to acquire ammo that could be used in a violent crime.” Under current law, individuals must be 21 years old to purchase any firearm but only 18 years old to purchase ammunition. HB25-1133 would raise the minimum age to purchase rifle or shotgun ammunition to 21 years old with limited exceptions. Sellers would be required to verify that the buyer is at least 21 years old using a valid government-issued photo identification. The bill also requires sellers to display ammunition in a position where an employee must assist the buyer, like in an enclosed display case or behind a counter, to help prevent theft. Any person delivering ammunition would be required to verify that the person receiving the delivery is at least 21 years old and obtain written proof of receipt of the delivery from the recipient. The bill exempts an active member or veteran of the US military or Colorado National Guard as well as Coloradans with a valid hunter education certificate or an expired or unexpired hunting license. Coloradans between 18 and 21 years old would be allowed to purchase ammunition at a shooting range if they use it on-site. It would also exempt Coloradans under 21 years old if they were born on or before January 28, 2007. Unlawful sale of ammunition would be a civil infraction, while subsequent violations would classify as a class 1 misdemeanor. The bill would take effect July 1, 2026. According to Everytown for Gun Safety , firearms are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased by a staggering 41 percent in the last decade. Majority Leader Duran passed a law in 2023 to raise the minimum age to purchase a long gun firearm to 21, which was already the minimum age to purchase a handgun. She also passed a safe storage law that promotes responsible gun ownership by requiring gun owners to properly store their firearms when they are not in use, especially when children are present. Previous Next

< Back January 21, 2020 REP. MCCLUSKIE APPOINTED TO JBC DENVER, CO — Speaker KC Becker announced today that she has appointed Representative Julie McCluskie to the Joint Budget Committee, filling the vacancy left by Rep. Chris Hansen (D-Denver) due to his election to the state Senate. The JBC is responsible for authoring the Long Bill, which sets the state’s annual budget and spending priorities. “Rep. McCluskie has earned the trust of her colleagues with her strong work ethic, dedication to detail, and bipartisan approach to legislating,” said Speaker Becker (D-Boulder). “Budget writers will face new challenges for the upcoming year, and I am confident that Rep. McCluskie is ready to join her colleagues in handling these challenges and crafting a budget that reflects the priorities of all of Colorado.” “I am honored to accept this new assignment, and I’m excited to get to work as the JBC crafts a balanced budget that works for all Coloradans and invests in our state’s future,” said Rep. McCluskie (D-Dillon). “I am committed to working across the aisle to develop a budget that prioritizes our schools and teachers, expands access to affordable housing, and helps lower the cost of health care for Coloradans.” The JBC is currently hearing from state departments and nonpartisan General Assembly staff experts and state departments on supplemental requests related to the current year’s budget. The committee will begin decisionmaking for the next year’s budget during the first week of February. Rep. McCluskie lives with her family in Dillon. She represents HD 61, which includes parts of Delta, Gunnison, Lake, Pitkin, and Summit counties. During her first session at the legislature, she sponsored legislation, now law, to reduce the cost of health care, increase protections for mobile park residents, and expand access to early childhood development services. Passionate about public education, Rep. McCluskie spent the better part of a decade working for Summit School District, providing strategic communications and community engagement services. Her full biography can be found here. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to ease the car buying and selling processes by allowing for the use of digital titles. < Back February 3, 2026 Boesenecker, Paschal Bill to Modernize Vehicle Titles Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to ease the car buying and selling processes by allowing for the use of digital titles. “This bill will modernize the car buying and selling process for Coloradans, making it more efficient for everyone involved,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “We’re already using digital titles in most instances, and there is no reason that it shouldn’t be allowed for out-of-state or all-cash purchases. This legislation would update Colorado law and streamline the use of digital titles.” “Transferring ownership of a car can be stressful, which is why I’m sponsoring this bill to update current Colorado law that requires physical titles for certain transactions,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs. “We already have the technology to use digital titles, but it’s not allowed in all circumstances. While paper titles will remain the standard, this legislation would add the option of e-titles for out-of-state and all-cash purchases to make the car buying and selling processes easier for Coloradans.” Currently, Colorado law allows electronic certificates of title to be used in nearly all vehicle transactions, only excluding those in which a party is located outside of Colorado or the purchaser buys a vehicle entirely with cash. HB26-1041 , sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker and Rep. Amy Paschal, would allow electronic certificates of title to be used in all vehicle transactions. HB26-1041 passed by a vote of 12-0. Previous Next

< Back August 9, 2024 McCluskie Attends Ribbon Cutting for New Workforce Housing in Buena Vista BUENA VISTA, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie today joined Governor Jared Polis and local leaders at a ribbon cutting ceremony for new workforce housing units in Buena Vista that will support Department of Corrections Employees. “I’m excited to see these new housing options come online for Department of Corrections employees in Buena Vista,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie. “Too many corrections officers and DOC employees have struggled to find a place to live where they can afford, and many have been commuting long distances. This will go a long way toward recruiting and retaining our crucial DOC workforce in Buena Vista and ensuring a higher quality of life for those that live and work here. I want to especially thank Colorado WINS for their work advocating for state employees.” Previous Next

< Back May 25, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILLS TO BETTER CONNECT COLORADANS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE BECOME LAW Transformative legislation will help more people access the mental health & substance use disorder services they need DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bipartisan bills into law that aim to build a healthier Colorado by better connecting Coloradans with mental health conditions and substance use disorders with the appropriate care they need to maintain their health and well-being. HB22-1278 , sponsored by Representatives Mary Young, D-Greeley, and Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Senators Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, will help increase and streamline access to behavioral health services through the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) for individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. “The new Behavioral Health Administration will make accessing behavioral health care more attainable for Coloradans across the state,” said Young. “The pandemic has only exacerbated the long standing challenges Coloradans have faced when trying to access the behavioral health care they need to thrive. This law breaks down barriers to accessing behavioral health care so Coloradans can get the care they need, when they need it.” “Coloradans deserve easy access to the behavioral health care they need to maintain their health and well-being, but far too many folks are left with limited or no options for help,” Lee said. “Accessing our behavioral health system can be complex and difficult. The new Behavioral Health Administration will help streamline services for people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. With this bill, we will be able to ensure accessible, equitable and high quality care for all.” The legislation will establish a comprehensive, accountable behavioral health safety net system available in every region of Colorado. This includes over 15 different critical behavioral health services including substance use treatment, crisis services, criminal justice diversion, trauma informed care, youth services, and more. The Governor also signed SB22-177 , sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, and Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, as well as Representatives Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, and Mary Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs, which invests $12.2 million to improve Colorado’s statewide care coordination infrastructure to better serve Coloradans seeking behavioral health care. “While there will always be more work to do to expand and improve our behavioral health care system, we need to make sure Coloradans can fully utilize already existing behavioral health services,” said Pettersen. “With this new infusion of funds, we can more quickly and efficiently connect Coloradans with the care they need. Behavioral health care navigators will be well equipped to help Coloradans navigate these complex systems to deliver quality, accessible services to those that need the most support.” “Our law improves statewide care coordination so Coloradans can access behavioral health care faster–saving everyone time and money,” said Titone. “Navigating the system that delivers care should not be a barrier to accessing that care. This law helps patients receive care and streamlines the process for providers.” The legislation requires the BHA to better train new and existing behavioral health care navigators on available behavioral health safety net system services and delivery, and on ways to better connect individuals seeking care with the support they need. The bill also seeks to cut red tape associated with provider enrollment and credentialing for navigators and care coordination providers, so they can spend less time on paperwork and more time helping Coloradans in need. SB22-177 was developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force . Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: WINTER, DURAN AND WEISSMAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO BOLSTER SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME SB22-183 would invest $41 million to fund essential services for child and adult victims of crime DENVER, CO – The Senate yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Faith Winter (D-Westminster) and Reps. Monica Duran (D-Wheat Ridge) and Mike Weissman (D-Aurora) to ensure Colorado victims of human trafficking, stalking, domestic violence, child abuse, and rape can continue to receive essential services. Co-sponsored by Senator Bob Gardner (R-Colorado Springs), SB22-183 would fill a revenue gap in the Federal Crime Victims Fund to continue providing lifesaving services for child and adult victims of crime through a one-time investment of pandemic relief funding. “During the pandemic we saw an alarming rise in cases of domestic violence,” said Winter. “With this investment of American Rescue Plan funding, we can better support victims of domestic violence and ensure Coloradans in need never see an interruption in the essential care and services they rely on. I’m proud to support this effort and I know it will go a long way in providing victims of crime and domestic violence with the services they need.” “As a survivor of domestic violence, I can’t stress enough the importance of essential services for victims of crime,” Duran said. “States across the country have seen a rise in domestic violence as a result of the pandemic. I’m proud Colorado is going to use federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to prevent domestic violence, bolster our support for victims of crime, and ensure survivors have the services they need.” “Colorado has passed bipartisan legislation to enhance state assistance to victims of crime, and with this bill, we’re putting additional resources into these critical efforts,” Weissman said. “With crime rising nationally and here in Colorado as a result of the pandemic, it’s important that we increase our support for community based programs that focus on the needs of crime victims.” SB22-183 is one in a series of bills to invest millions into our state’s economic recovery and deliver urgently-needed relief to Coloradans. The bill invests $35 million in pandemic relief funding to the Colorado crime victim services fund to ensure essential victim services can continue for the next four years. SB22-183 also invests an additional $6 million to services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as recommended by the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force . SB22-183 will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Follow the bill’s progress HERE . Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to protect LGBTQIA+ youth in Colorado schools. < Back March 1, 2024 Bill to Protect LGBTQIA+ Youth Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to protect LGBTQIA+ youth in Colorado schools. HB24-1039 , sponsored by Representatives Stephanie Vigil and Brianna Titone, clarifies the responsibility of school districts to adhere to non-discrimination laws, including addressing students by their self-identified preferred names which is independent of a court-ordered legal name change. “Prioritizing the health and well-being of all Colorado youth makes our families and communities more resilient. All kids should feel safe and accepted in order to grow, learn, and thrive,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs, Chair of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee. “This legislation is about protecting our youth in schools from deadnaming, bullying, and unsanctioned outings to classmates. I support all families, with unique concern for transgender youth and their parents who are being targeted with harassment and violence. This bill will make our schools safer and more welcoming for all of Colorado's youth." “A name is an important aspect of a person's individuality,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, Co-Chair of the Colorado Democratic LGBTQ Caucus . “This legislation, brought to us by Colorado students, is about creating a better learning environment for their fellow students. Giving a student the ability to have their chosen name honored is a gesture of dignity, respect and an impactful way to help marginalized students thrive.” HB24-1039 aims to clarify the application of non-discrimination statutes to school districts, particularly the imperative to address students by their self-identified names. The goal of HB24-1039 is to protect and empower youth in Colorado schools. This bill passed the House by a vote of 42 to 19. This legislation stipulates that students have the right to be addressed by their preferred names. Public schools and institute charter schools will need to use a student's preferred name when requested. The legislation defines a chosen name as any nomenclature an individual formally requests, reflective of their gender identity and differentiated from their legal name. The bill is one of three pieces of legislation put forth by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Interim Committee . Previous Next

< Back April 9, 2020 JBC ANNOUNCES PLAN OF ACTION ON BUDGET DENVER, CO — Joint Budget Committee leadership today announced a plan of action and preliminary timeline agreed to by all JBC members for completing the budget. The JBC aims to finalize the Long Bill, School Finance Act, and any budget-related bills by the end of May to allow state departments, local governments, school districts, and others the time necessary to finalize their budgets by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2020. “The JBC is committed to a transparent, accountable and responsible budget process that allows us time to gather information on how this crisis is impacting state revenues and work through how we can minimize the impact of severe budget cuts on Coloradans,” said JBC Chair Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We are prioritizing public health and safety as we work to protect core priorities, such as K-12 education, and craft a balanced budget that supports Colorado families and gets our economy moving again.” “The JBC is working incredibly hard to re-map Colorado’s budget in the wake of COVID-19,” said JBC Vice-Chair, Sen. Dominick Moreno D- Commerce City. “Many of our priorities are being adjusted as we determine how to best support citizens during the next chapter of relief and recovery. We have some extremely difficult decisions ahead, but we will continue to be guided by our values and fight for Colorado’s most critical programs and institutions.” “As the General Assembly extends its recess and the statewide stay at home order remains in effect, the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) and its staff continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on Colorado’s economy to identify an appropriate time to review the state budget and make necessary balancing decisions,” wrote JBC members in the letter announcing the plan of action. The JBC will use the next few weeks to gather information with the goal of releasing new, publicly available figure setting documents by late April. “JBC and its staff are also utilizing this time to monitor increased demand for social services and unemployment benefits as well as declining state revenues. The JBC continues to work with departments to calculate these impacts on department budgets while also collaborating to identify feasible budget reductions,” the members continued. The JBC plans to begin meeting again in early May under the preliminary timeline below: This preliminary timeline is subject to adjustment if necessary based on how the public health and budgetary situation continues to evolve. Previous Next

SB25-008 would make it easier for Colorado residents who are survivors of crime or natural disasters, low-income or older to obtain government IDs < Back April 22, 2025 Bill to Streamline Colorado’s Necessary Document Program Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to streamline access to necessary identification documents for vulnerable and low-income Coloradans. SB25-008 passed committee by a vote of 9-4. “Without identification documents like driver’s licenses and birth certificates, it’s nearly impossible for Coloradans to open a bank account, secure housing or access health care,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “This bill removes barriers to obtaining IDs to help our most vulnerable community members, including low-income earners, unhoused Coloradans, and survivors of domestic violence or natural disasters. This program provides equitable access to legal documents, and this bill streamlines the program to help Coloradans get back on their feet.” Colorado’s existing Necessary Document Program requires Colorado residents who are victims of domestic violence, impacted by a natural disaster, low-income, disabled, experiencing homelessness, or elderly to pay the fees to acquire necessary documents like birth certificates and driver’s licenses. SB25-008 would update the program to allow eligible individuals to acquire these documents for free directly at the point of service. Eligible individuals still have to prove their full legal name, date of birth, identity, and lawful presence in the United States. SB25-008 would streamline administrative barriers to the Necessary Document Program without changing documentation requirements. Administrative challenges tend to delay vouchers. Additionally, vouchers are time-limited to 30 days after they are distributed to the client, which means they are often not able to be utilized before they expire. This bill would break down some of the complicated program structure that makes it more difficult for Coloradans to receive vouchers and expand the number of locations where individuals can obtain necessary documents. Previous Next

< Back May 14, 2019 REP. EXUM & REP. SNYDER’S BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW (May 14) – Gov. Polis signed bills sponsored by Colorado Springs Democratic Reps. Tony Exum and Marc Snyder into law today. This morning, Rep. Tony Exum, Sr. traveled to Pueblo to join Gov. Jared Polis as he signed into law SB19-065, a bill he sponsored with Senate President Leroy Garcia to create a peer-to-peer assistance program to help EMS paramedics who are struggling with the stresses of their job. “Being an EMS paramedic is one of the most stressful jobs out there,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “This new law will open doors for emergency medical providers to peer assistance when they are going through challenges in their life and are not able to perform their duties. This law puts a focus on mental health and can help ensure Colorado’s EMS workers are in the best shape physically and mentally to help save lives and respond to a crisis.” Rep. Exum is a retired battalion chief in the Colorado Springs Fire Department. SB19-065 is a bipartisan law that creates a fund that will pay for a peer health assistance program which will evaluate, assist, and counsel EMS paramedics who are dealing with the stresses of their job. Whenever an EMS worker becomes certified or renews their certification, a small fee of $2.55 will be applied to create the program within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Sometimes the toll and exposure to traumatic events in these positions can lead to depression, aggressive behaviors, substance abuse, and even suicide. This afternoon, another bipartisan Exum bill was signed into law at Centennial Elementary in Colorado Springs today. HB19-1013, will extend the low-income child care tax credit to help ease the childcare burden on roughly 32,000 hardworking families in Colorado for another eight years. “The high cost of child care places a burden on hardworking families in Colorado Springs and our state,” Rep. Exum said when the bill passed the House. “I was proud to sponsor this bill when I first got to the state capitol and hope we can continue helping thousands of Coloradan families afford child care every year.” Gov. Polis then signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “The goal of this program is to help those with traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries. This update will help expand services to Coloradans with brain injuries who deserve proper assistance,” said Rep. Snyder. HB19-1147 makes revisions to the traumatic brain injury program, including requiring the traumatic brain injury trust fund board to include members who have experienced a brain injury, family members of persons who have experienced brain injury, and those with specific personal or professional experience with traumatic brain injury. The Senate sponsor is Sen. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs. ### Previous Next

< Back April 17, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES PAIR OF BILLS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH More than one million Coloradans experience mental health or a substance use crisis each year (Apr. 17) – The House approved two pieces of legislation that would increase access to mental health services for high-risk families and Coloradans. Rep. Lisa Cutter and Rep. Tom Sullivan’s bill will modernize behavioral health insurance coverage laws to align with federal law and close loopholes to increase access to mental health services for Coloradans. “Kids as young as nine and ten are attempting suicide in Colorado. This issue isn’t going away until we address it,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Evergreen. “Over one million Coloradans deal with a mental health issue, and over half of them aren’t getting the help they need. If we include regular mental health services into normal insurance coverage, then maybe we can work on tackling the high suicide rate in this state.” HB19-1269 strengthens prevention and screening laws to shift the current system away from expensive, late-stage treatment to early prevention; enforces and makes transparent existing state and federal parity laws; increases consumer protections; and eliminates gaps and loopholes in current law to ensure no more Coloradans fall victim to them. “Access to mental health isn’t an issue we can keep putting off and waiting on. We are frequently hearing stories of children and families dying by suicide which leaves many all over the state mourning over the loss of their loved ones,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “It’s time we take action and make it easier for people to access the mental health services they need.” Currently, state and federal laws require insurance carriers to provide equal coverage for mental health and physical care. However, many families are being denied coverage or are paying out-of-pocket costs for weeks or months for mental health care services because of loopholes in current law. HB19-1269 was approved with a bipartisan vote of 48-15. It was unanimously approved by the House Public Health Care and Human Services committee. It now heads to the Senate. The House also unanimously passed a bipartisan bill, HB19-1193, sponsored by Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, that would provide behavioral health support for high-risk families. “We need to stop criminalizing people who are just trying to get help,” said Rep. Herod. “This bill will give families the support they need to break their addictions, get healthy and get back on the right track.” HB19-1193 expands existing programs that provide access to substance use disorder treatment to pregnant and parenting women. This bill creates a child care pilot program for parenting women engaged in substance use disorder treatment. Previous Next