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< Back Rep. Meghan Lukens: Supporting students and schools in our communities Feb 25, 2025 See more This story was originally published in the Vail Daily here . As chair of the House Education Committee and your representative for House District 26, I am excited to share updates on legislation that will directly impact our students, teachers, and schools. This year, I am championing several education bills that address key priorities: improving classroom learning environments, enhancing school safety, maximizing school resources, and preparing students for future careers. Each of these initiatives responds to specific needs I have heard from educators, parents, and students across Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties. Addressing the cell phone challenge In my years as a teacher, I experienced firsthand how technology, particularly cell phones, can impact student learning. After hearing from countless educators and parents across Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties, they consistently identified cell phones as one of their most significant challenges in the classroom. Studies increasingly show these devices can significantly impact both academic performance and mental health. In response, I have introduced HB25-1135, which empowers school districts to develop policies regarding cell phones during school hours. Unlike approaches that dictate specific rules from the state level, this legislation recognizes that each school district may have different needs. This bipartisan bill, strongly supported by Colorado Attorney General Phil Wieser, acknowledges local expertise while providing a framework to help students focus on learning and meaningful connections. Innovative solutions for school resources I am very excited about HB25-1006 , which has already passed the House with bipartisan support and moved on to the Senate. This bill removes the current 10-year restriction on school districts leasing unused land for affordable housing, solar fields, and energy storage systems. The idea came directly from Eagle County School District, which had a specific parcel of land that was largely unusable and draining resources. Now, they will be able to lease that land for solar energy production — generating revenue while contributing to our clean energy goals. This is precisely the kind of creative, practical solution our Western Slope communities need. Improving education accountability By refining how we measure student success and providing the right support, we can create an education system that works better for students, educators, and schools. This is why I am proud to co-sponsor HB25-1278 , which implements recommendations from the Accountability, Accreditation, Student Performance, and Resource Inequity Task Force. This bipartisan bill modernizes Colorado’s education accountability system to better meet the needs of students and schools. The legislation makes assessments more accessible by dividing them into shorter sections with age-appropriate time frames and developing versions in additional languages. It improves how we identify schools needing support by implementing early warning systems and providing targeted assistance before problems escalate. The legislation also creates a more transparent accountability dashboard for families and communities. Supporting students at every level Nothing is more important than keeping our students safe. HB25-1173 is a bipartisan bill that expands the role of the school safety advisory board in recommending policy to the School Safety Resource Center and Office of School Safety. I am committed to supporting measures that protect our children and create secure learning environments. At the same time, every student deserves equal access to educational technology. That is why I am sponsoring HB25-1152 , which requires school technology contractors to meet accessibility standards for students with disabilities and accept liability for non-compliance. I am proud to share that this bipartisan bill passed its third reading in the House and will soon be heard in the Senate Education Committee. By ensuring all students can access digital learning tools, we are removing barriers to education for our most vulnerable learners. Looking toward the future, education must extend beyond traditional classrooms. HB25-1186 would create a pilot program giving higher education students hands-on work experience that complements their academic learning. This program will help students develop practical skills for their future careers while completing their studies — bridging the gap between education and employment that many young people face after graduation. Building education progress together These education initiatives address specific challenges our schools and communities face while paying careful attention to our state’s fiscal realities. Each bill responds directly to feedback from educators, parents, and students across House District 26, focusing on practical solutions from technology accessibility to work-based learning opportunities. I believe we make the best policy when we listen to those closest to the issues. If you have insights about education in our communities or thoughts on any of these bills, please share them with me. You can reach me at meghan.lukens.house@coleg.gov or attend one of my upcoming town halls. For more frequent updates throughout the legislative session, I invite you to join my newsletter by sending me an email. Let’s keep in touch and keep 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

< Back March 9, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO BOLSTER RIGHTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AND STREAMLINE RAPE KIT TRACKING DENVER, CO — Representative Meg Froelich’s bill to improve how Colorado catalogues and maintains forensic medical evidence of sexual assault, known as rape kits, was passed by the House this morning. The bill would begin the process of creating a rape kit tracking system, add victims’ rights provisions and give them more access to information about the status of their medical evidence. The bill passed the House by a vote of 64-0. “The House stood up to protect the rights of survivors of sexual assault today,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Improving our rape kit processing and tracking system and making sure that survivors can track the status of their investigation confidentially and efficiently is a crucial step forward.” HB20-1228 would require the Department of Public Safety to research the creation of a system to track forensic medical evidence related to sexual assault cases, known as rape kits. The bill directs the department to develop rules to implement a system that allows victims to access information related to the status of this medical evidence, which must be retained until the assailant may no longer be prosecuted for the crime. If a conviction or plea has not been entered in a case, the bill requires the entity holding the medical evidence to notify the victim prior to the medical evidence being destroyed and to maintain the medical evidence for an additional 10 years if the victim objects to its destruction. It also includes provisions related to the confidentiality of the information in this system and requires medical professionals collecting evidence related to a sexual assault to notify the victim of the contact information for the nearest sexual assault victim’s advocate. The Judiciary Committee had previously approved the bill unanimously. Previous Next

< Back April 1, 2021 CLEAN ENERGY CAREER PATHWAYS ‘SPARC’ COMMITTEE’S INTEREST Colorado Comeback proposal would invest millions in training for the renewable energy jobs of the future DENVER, CO– The House Energy and Environment Committee today advanced Representative Dominique Jackson and Brianna Titone’s bill to invest $5 million into job training and workforce development for the energy sector. The bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $700 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The committee vote was 8-5. “We’ve set bold renewable energy targets in Colorado, and this bill puts the state’s money where our goals are,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora. “Market forces, consumer choices, and the pressing reality of the climate crisis are moving Colorado’s energy economy towards a cleaner, greener future. This bill will help us build back stronger by making sure that Coloradans, especially communities of color and those who lost jobs due to COVID-19, are prepared to take on the clean energy jobs of the future.” “As the renewable energy sector continues to grow, exciting and profitable new jobs will continue to be created in our energy-rich state,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “As we come out of this devastating pandemic and work to build the Colorado Comeback, this bill will ensure that our workforce is able to capitalize on these new jobs and get started on the path toward a fulfilling and sustainable career. I’m confident that the SPARC program will give our economy just the jolt it needs to build back a stronger workforce.” HB21-1149 calls on the Colorado Workforce Development Council to work with local workforce boards, school districts across the state, the Colorado Department of Education, community colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning to create and implement a career pathway for students in the renewable energy sector. The bill invests $5 million into the career pathway so institutions of higher learning and workforce development authorities can implement what is known as the Strengthening Photovoltaic and Renewable Careers, or SPARC, program. Previous Next

< Back June 30, 2020 HEMP POLICY STREAMLINING BILL BECOMES LAW BROOMFIELD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law Representative Barbara McLachlan’s bill supporting Colorado’s agricultural producers by streamlining state hemp policy and aligning it with federal policy, and securing Colorado’s position as a leader in the development of hemp markets . “Colorado’s farmers are growing hemp on tens of thousands of acres across our state,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango. “Now that the federal government has finally recognized the agricultural importance of hemp, we’re bringing our state laws into alignment and streamlining regulations for our industrial producers. Colorado has never been afraid to lead the way and set an example for the rest of the country, and our hemp production industry is no different.” Between February 28, 2019, and February 27, 2020, Colorado registered 2,748 properties and 2,037 growers to grow industrial hemp outdoors on 86,880 acres and indoors on 16.3 million square feet. Since 2013, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) has regulated industrial hemp under state law. However, in 2018, the federal Farm Bill normalized hemp production by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act and adding regulatory requirements for states, including a provision that requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve state regulatory plans. The CDA will submit its hemp management plan to the USDA for approval later this year. SB20-197 changes Colorado’s statutes and brings them into alignment with the new federal laws surrounding hemp. Among other changes, this new law will improve oversight by redefining the makeup and authority of the Hemp Advisory Committee, improving and modernizing testing requirements for hemp samples and hemp plots, and specifying unlawful acts and establishing penalties for the industry. Previous Next

< Back May 4, 2022 MULLICA’S BILL TO BOOST HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE WINS COMMITTEE APPROVAL Legislation invests $61 million toward education training, recruitment and retention of nurses and health care workers DENVER, CO – The House Health and Insurance Committee today passed Representative Kyle Mullica’s bill to bolster Colorado’s health care workforce. SB22-226 allocates $61 million in federal economic relief funds toward education, training, recruitment and retention of nurses and other health care workers. “I cannot stress this enough, Colorado needs more nurses and health care workers,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton . “Pandemic pressures and staffing shortages have taken their toll on our health care workers, and my bill invests more than $60 million to train and recruit more nurses. To build a healthier Colorado, we are directing funds toward getting more dedicated nurses and health care professionals into hospitals and clinics. I am proud to champion this legislation, not only for my nursing colleagues in the ER but for the millions of Coloradans who depend on our health care workers each and every day.” Boosting Health Care Workforce : SB22-226 sponsored by Representative Kyle Mulica passed the House Health & Insurance Committee by a vote of XX to XX. This bill would address the shortage of health care workers by assisting with tuition and fees to help people get into high-demand health care fields. These programs require clinical hours at health facilities, currently, a major limiting factor in how many students schools can accept. To address this, the bill would also provide funding for health care facilities to increase training slots to build long-term capacity to train new and existing employees. Additionally, the bill would create the Health Care Workforce Resilience and Retention Program in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to develop employee well-being programs and support the retention of health care workers. The bill also extends funding for the School Nurse Grant Program and invests in measures to recruit and re-re-engage health care workers who may have left the profession during the pandemic. Previous Next

< Back May 28, 2019 HOUSE DEMOCRATS DELIVER ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM Herod, Exum, Tipper bills signed into law (May 28) – Gov. Polis signed several bills led by House Democrats into law today to help reform Colorado’s criminal justice system. Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, has been a champion for criminal justice reform. Rep. Herod headed up a number of criminal justice reform bills this session, many of which are now law. Today, Gov. Polis signed a handful more. “I’m proud of the bipartisan work that went into getting these bills to reform our criminal justice system signed into law,” said Rep. Herod. First up were two bipartisan pieces of legislation which reflect changing attitudes about giving members of our society that have made mistakes in the pasta second chance. These new laws will help felons find stable employment and gain a higher education, by banning the ‘box’ that asks about previous criminal history on initial employment applications and college applications. 1.8 million Coloradans are currently listed in the state’s criminal record database and employment practices that filter out these applicants can make it hard for these individuals to bounce back from their past and find a job or get accepted to college. “Banning the box will give Coloradans a chance to tell their own story during an interview, rather than letting the ‘box’ do the talking. Employment is the most significant factor in reducing recidivism,” said Rep. Herod. “We are more than our worst mistakes.” HB19-1025 is sponsored by Rep. Herod and Rep. Jovan Melton, D-Aurora. Colorado now joins 11 other states which ban the box for private employers, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Oregon, Washington, California and Vermont. SB19-270 is sponsored by Rep. Herod and Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta. The law will prohibit questions regarding criminal history on an initial college application. The law would not prohibit questions regarding criminal history on college housing applications. Educational programming reduces recidivism by 40 percent and provides opportunities for employment and positive support that decrease the likelihood of committing future crimes. Gov. Polis then signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, and Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, that creates the Colorado Second Chance Scholarship program to award scholarships to people who have previously been in the custody of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) and are pursuing their higher education. “If we can get our young people the help they need to get a higher education after they’ve gone through the rehabilitation process, then we can lower the recidivism rate and in return, they will be productive members of society,” said Rep. Tony Exum. “It will cost taxpayers more in the long term than it will to improve the lives of our young people with education and give them a more fulfilling life.” Rep. Exum has a Division of Youth Services facility in his district. SB19-231 will award scholarships of up to $10,000 each to youth offenders exiting the DYS system to pursue higher education. It will create a five-person advisory board consisting of four people appointed from various state agencies and one person who previously served in a DYS facility to award the scholarships based upon need. “This is an important investment in our vulnerable youth who are just now getting their lives back on track. This program could be the only opportunity many of these kids will have to get a fresh start,” said Rep. Tipper, D-Lakewood. Next, Gov. Polis signed a bipartisan bill eliminating felony charges for drug possession. HB19-1263, sponsored Rep. Herod and Rep. Shane Sandridge, R-Colorado Springs, would save the state up to $13.7 million over five years. The new bipartisan law lowers the penalty for drug possession from a level 4 drug felony to a level 1 misdemeanor. Level 4 drug felonies are punishable by 6 to 12 months in prison and level 1 misdemeanors, as defined in this bill, would be punishable by up to 180 days in jail and up to 2 years of probation. “The war on drugs has devastated communities across Colorado,” said Rep. Herod. “It has been especially destructive for communities of color, which are disproportionately impacted by harsh drug laws. Reducing the current felony penalty for possession is a critical step toward fair and sensible drug policy in Colorado. It reflects the position held by most Coloradans that the state should focus more on treatment and less on incarceration.” The law would not change the punishments for those charged with possession of drugs with intent to distribute. The Gov. also signed a bipartisan bill that would reinstate the voting rights of individuals on parole. HB19-1266, sponsored by Rep. Herod, clarifies that people who are on parole have completed their “full term of imprisonment” upon release from prison, thereby restoring their right to vote. The bill would restore voting rights to approximately 10,000 Coloradans who are now disenfranchised. Parolees are denied the ability to vote because current law defines the “full term of imprisonment” to include the period of parole. The Colorado Supreme Court has stated that the state legislature has the authority to redefine the “full term of imprisonment.” Gov. Polis also signed another bill sponsored by Rep. Herod. SB19-143 allows the Department of Corrections to better manage their population when the vacancy rate falls below 3 percent. It will better align parole board decision-making with the parole release guidelines for people who have been assessed to be less than high risk. Under the bill, technical parole violations would not be used to send a parolee convicted of certain low level crimes back to prison. The Gov. then sign a Herod-led bipartisan bill to charge a peace officer with unlawful sexual conduct when they knowingly engage in sexual contact, sexual intrusion or sexual penetration anytime the victim is in custody, regardless of consent. The bill passed the House on a bipartisan vote of 59-5. Unlawful sexual conduct by a peace officer is a class 4 felony when the offense is committed by sexual contact and is a class 3 felony (a more serious offense) when the offense is committed by sexual intrusion or sexual penetration. A class 4 felony carries a possible sentence of two to six years in the Department of Corrections, and a class 3 felony carries a possible sentence of four to 12 years. An offender convicted of unlawful sexual conduct by a peace officer is required to register as a sex offender. An offender convicted of a class 3 felony due to unlawful sexual conduct by a peace officer is subject to lifetime supervision. The bills were signed at the Second Chance Center in Aurora. Previous Next

< Back April 3, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES REP. HEROD’S BILL TO REINSTATE VOTING RIGHTS FOR PAROLEES Colorado would join 14 other states in allowing those on parole to vote (Apr. 2) — The House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, that would reinstate the voting rights of individuals on parole. “Colorado is leading the nation when it comes to voter turnout and voter enfranchisement. We should be very proud of that fact,” said Rep. Herod. “We have the ability today as a legislative body to re-enfranchise more voters. Parolees are hardworking individuals who pay taxes, raise their families, contribute to their communities, and it’s about time we allow them to fully participate in our democracy.” HB19-1266 clarifies that people who are on parole have completed their “full term of imprisonment” upon release from prison, thereby restoring their right to vote. The bill would restore voting rights to approximately 10,000 Coloradans who are now disenfranchised. Parolees are currently denied the ability to vote because current law defines the “full term of imprisonment” to include the period of parole. The Colorado Supreme Court has stated that the state legislature has the authority to redefine the “full term of imprisonment.” The bill passed the committee with a bipartisan vote of 7-2 and now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

House Democrats today unveiled legislation to prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed, outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. < Back January 24, 2024 House Democrats Unveil Bill to Prevent Evictions, Homelessness DENVER, CO - House Democrats today unveiled legislation to prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed, outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. “Being evicted as a single mother and a survivor of domestic violence was devastating for me and my young son, and thousands of Colorado families continue to face this reality every year,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “The majority of evictions are preventable. Our ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation would ensure that more Colorado families have a safe and secure place to sleep, preventing unfair evictions and reducing displacement and first-time homelessness.” "Colorado landlords can evict tenants, even if they have done nothing wrong and are up to date on their rent—opening the door to discrimination and retaliation,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “Our ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation establishes clear guidelines for when a landlord can legally evict a tenant and requires them to have a good reason or ‘cause to evict’. This legislation will increase tenants' sense of stability and security, prevent homelessness, and benefit the community's overall health and well-being while only applying to landlords who evict their tenants for no reason." Currently, Colorado law exposes renters to possible arbitrary, retaliatory or discriminatory evictions. The ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation would prevent a landlord from evicting a tenant unless there is cause for eviction. Under the bill, the reasons a landlord could lawfully evict a tenant include failure to pay rent in a timely manner, destruction of property, or a substantial violation of the rental agreement that the tenant fails to address. The bill also includes allowable reasons for a no-fault lease non-renewal, including substantial repairs or conversion of a residential premises and selling the property. Some exceptions to the ‘For Cause Eviction’ bill include rentals within the landlord’s primary residence, short-term rentals, mobile homes and time-limited housing like hotels and motels. Evictions threaten the health and safety of Coloradans, with research showing that individuals who experience an eviction are more likely to report poorer physical or mental health outcomes . In 2023, Denver set a new record of annual evictions, reaching nearly 13,000 filings. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to expand eligibility for the successful CLIMBER (Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery) program to better equip small businesses for success, create more good-paying jobs and support local economies. HB26-1003, sponsored by Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Sean Camacho, passed by a vote of 50-15. < Back February 10, 2026 House Passes Ricks, Camacho Bill to Create Jobs and New Small Businesses DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to expand eligibility for the successful CLIMBER (Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery) program to better equip small businesses for success, create more good-paying jobs and support local economies. HB26-1003, sponsored by Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Sean Camacho, passed by a vote of 50-15. “The CLIMBER Program generates much-needed funding for start-ups and small businesses that create jobs in our local communities, which is why I’m sponsoring this bill to make capital more accessible for small businesses,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “This program was a lifeline for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping businesses keep workers on payroll and grow. By passing this bill to open up more funding and add flexibility to the qualification requirements, Colorado Democrats are demonstrating our commitment to ensuring Colorado’s economy rewards hardworking people and job creators.” “Our legislation could save small businesses hundreds to thousands of dollars a month, which can be used to grow their company, increase employee wages and realize their dream of being a business owner,” said Rep. Sean Camacho, D-Denver. “Data shows that the CLIMBER program is making a measurable impact on communities by creating and supporting over 2,000 jobs across our state. By strengthening access to these loans and restructuring the program to meet the current needs of small businesses, our bill will continue to deliver results for Colorado’s small businesses, workers and local economies.” HB26-1003 would remove the COVID-19 recovery provisions of the Small Business Recovery and Resiliency Loan Program and expand eligibility for loans. The bill also aims to increase the accessibility of the Small Business Recovery and Resiliency Fund by lowering the matching ratio requirement. In order to support Colorado's small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado Democrats established the CLIMBER program in 2020 to offer small business loans with below-market interest rates. Under the program, small businesses with up to 99 employees may apply for working capital loans between $10,000 and $500,000. These loans can be used to hire more employees, start or expand brick-and-mortar storefronts, get new businesses off the ground and more. In fiscal year 2023-2024, the CLIMBER program loaned over $17 million and helped create or support nearly 1,900 jobs across the state. Rep. Ricks passed a law in 2024 to make the CLIMBER Program permanent and target resources and expertise to underserved businesses in order to secure favorable loans. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to streamline the licensing and permitting process for food truck operators. < Back May 20, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Gov. Polis Signs Bill to Support Small Business DENVER, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to streamline the licensing and permitting process for food truck operators. “Food trucks are a great option for entrepreneurs who want to jump into the restaurant scene without high overhead costs,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City. “Colorado was recently added to the Michelin Guide, driving up interest in local talent who want to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. This law streamlines small business permitting so they can focus on making delicious food, not filling out paperwork.” “Small business owners and consumers across our state should have access to all of the innovative restaurant options Colorado’s hospitality industry has to offer,” said Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “With this new law, arbitrary regulations and red tape won’t hinder the trailblazing restaurateurs across Colorado from supporting themselves and other small businesses.” “This new law modernizes food truck permitting to help Colorado small businesses thrive,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. “The food truck scene is popular throughout Colorado, but barriers like duplicative licenses and stringent restrictions make it difficult to run a successful business. With this legislation, we’re making it easier for Coloradans to operate their food truck businesses to boost local economies and small business owners while ensuring health standards are met for consumers.” HB25-1295 , also sponsored by Senator John Carson, R-Douglas County, will establish reciprocity amongst the state and individual local governments for food truck licensing and permitting to cut red tape. Businesses are required to hold a valid fire safety permit and food safety license, and local governments will retain their authority to enforce their laws, regulations, and codes. Under the new law, if a food truck operator holds a valid fire safety permit from one local government, they can use that same permit to operate in other cities and counties across Colorado rather than having to obtain a separate one for each jurisdiction. The law requires local governments to honor these permits so long as basic health and safety standards are met, and the food truck provides a copy of the proper credentials to the local government whose jurisdiction they will be operating in at least 14 days before they start doing business there. Additionally, the new reciprocity provisions would also apply to Denver retail food licenses and state health department licenses, which will cut back the number of separate licenses food trucks are required to have to operate in multiple jurisdictions across the state. Under the law, a food truck with a valid state health department license is allowed to operate in Denver so long as it submits the necessary documentation to the city, displays the license while operating and complies with applicable local regulations. Possession of a Denver retail food license now also allows a food truck to operate in other jurisdictions, provided the truck complies with the local laws. Many food trucks have been able to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant, including Mama Jo’s Biscuits and BBQ, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, Kiké’s Red Tacos and three-time James Beard Award nominee, Yuan Wonton. Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2022 JUST TRANSITION FUNDING MOVES FORWARD Legislation from Roberts and Esgar directs $15 million to create jobs and help communities transitioning from coal-based economies DENVER, CO – The House Transportation and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to create jobs, support workers, and boost communities transitioning from coal-based economies. The bill passed 12-1. “The Office of Just Transition has widespread bipartisan support because of the critical work it is doing to boost workers and communities that are transitioning away from coal-based economies,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “This year, we are going to direct significant state funding to these critical efforts to ensure that no one is left behind. This funding will go directly to workers and will help build vibrant and resilient economies in parts of our state that are struggling as our nation moves away from coal.” “Communities in my district and across the state are doing their best to transition their workforce and economies, but they cannot do it alone and they deserve resources from the state to make their transition plans a reality,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts D-Avon. “I am so proud to represent towns in Northwest Colorado like Hayden and Oak Creek who will be able to use the funding to provide workers job retraining and placement services and invest in projects that will create jobs and diversify their economy. This is the large investment in rural Colorado that our transitioning communities deserve, and I am thrilled this bill is moving forward with strong bipartisan support.” HB22-1394, sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Dylan Roberts, would fund the Office of Just Transition, which is working to boost communities and workers transitioning from coal-based economies. The bill supports coal workers to help them provide for themselves and their families, and access innovative education and training opportunities. It also distributes grants to communities to help them create vibrant, resilient and sustainable local economies. $5 million will go to support economic development and assistance to local businesses, and $10 million will go directly to workers and their families. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to strengthen Colorado’s child labor protections. It passed by a vote of 8-3. < Back March 9, 2023 Lieder’s Bill to Help Address Child Labor Violations Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to strengthen Colorado’s child labor protections. It passed by a vote of 8-3. “The drastic increase in child labor across the nation has called for improvements to Colorado’s child labor protections to ensure the safety of our kids,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood. “There are bad actors that are mistreating underage workers, and current law doesn’t allow them many legal protections in court. We’re expanding Colorado law to provide more legal avenues for kids, or their parents, to pursue justice and accountability for workplace violations.“ Current Colorado law only allows a child worker to pursue legal action against a company for workers’ compensation. HB23-1196 amends language in the Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act of 1971 to expand the legal action that a child, or a parent of a child, can take to hold a company accountable for breaking child labor laws. The bill is in response to many recent child labor law violations, including a food sanitation corporation with Colorado facilities that was fined $1.5 million in penalties. Teens have twice the risk of nonfatal on-the-job injuries than older workers, necessitating the expansion of legal action that an underaged worker can pursue. Previous Next