< Back May 29, 2019 MICHAELSON JENET BILL TO MODERNIZE CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT SIGNED BY GOV New law aims to help address teen vaping epidemic (May 29) — Gov. Polis signed a bill that modernizes the 2006 Clean Indoor Air Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, would add hookah smoking, electronic smoking devices or e-cigarettes to the list of prohibited activities in indoor public places and workplaces. Reports show that over a quarter of Colorado’s teens currently use a vaping product. “Our state is number one in teen vaping and that’s not a title we want to hold. As a parent of teenagers, I share the concern of parents across our state who are increasingly disturbed by this growing public health problem and how it is impacting our children and their development,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “This new law will help show our young people that vaping is harmful for them, their peers and their health.” HB19-1076 protects people of all ages against the dangers of secondhand smoking exposure from electronic cigarettes. It also ensures that existing smoke-free laws are being enforced. In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General called teen vaping an epidemic . In January of this year, the American Lung Association released the State of Tobacco Control report and gave Colorado a “B” grade for its smoke-free air citing Colorado’s use of electronic smoking devices indoor. The report also suggested strengthening state and local laws around youth access to tobacco products to raise its “D” grade for Colorado’s funding for state tobacco prevention programs. The report found the state is spending only half the amount the Center for Disease Control recommends on prevention programs. Previous Next

< Back March 11, 2020 COMMITTEE VOTES TO EXTEND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT PROGRAM DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor advanced Representatives Daneya Esgar and Tracy Kraft-Tharp’s bill to support businesses coming to Colorado and incentivize economic growth by extending the successful Transferable Tax Credit program for three years. “I fought hard to create this critical tool for businesses three years ago, and with it we were able to deliver results for Pueblo and keep jobs in our town,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Now we’re ensuring that this successful business development program will continue to keep and create jobs for Colorado for years to come.” “The Transferable Tax Credit program has a track record of success, and I’m proud that we voted to extend it today,” said Business Affairs and Labor Committee Chair Rep. Kraft-Tharp. “We need to do everything we can to bring more jobs to Colorado and keep our state’s economy strong. This program will continue to do exactly that.” HB20-1298 would extend the Office of Economic Development and International Trade’s (OEDIT) performance-based Transferable Tax Credit (TTC) program for three years. The TTC program allows companies that make major capital investments in Colorado of at least $100 million to transfer certain OEDIT tax credits that they would not be able to use otherwise. These are tax credits that are earned in the course of making that investment and they include Colorado’s Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit and the Enterprise Zone (EZ) investment tax, EZ new employee credit, and EZ R&D credit. Since inception, the Transferable Tax Credit program has only been used in two extremely unique economic development opportunities that created and kept well-paying jobs in Colorado and will benefit our economy for decades. The first was the retention of EVRAZ Rocky Mountain Steel in Pueblo, where the company plans to spend more than $400M to build a steel mill that will be the center of a local manufacturing ecosystem. The second was the relocation of VF Corp’s headquarters from North Carolina to Denver, which will create an estimated 800 new jobs in the Denver area. Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BILLS TO ADDRESS OPIOID CRISIS More than one million Coloradans experience mental health or a substance use crisis each year (Apr. 26) – The House approved two bills today that expand services to people recovering from opioid addiction. HB19-1287 passed on second reading. The bill is a product of the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee. “There are real barriers for people who are seeking treatment and want to be in recovery. This bill will give them the tools to overcome these barriers,” said Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “ Many individuals encounter barriers when trying to access treatment to overcome their addiction. This bill puts a system in place that is ready to help people, a system to help them navigate treatment and recovery options and a system that works for everyone involved.” HB19-1287 directs the Department of Human Services to implement a web-based tracking system to track available treatment capacity at behavioral health facilities and at programs for medication-assisted treatment and medical detoxification for substance use disorders. This bill also directs the Department of Human Services to implement a care navigation system to assist individuals to obtain access to treatment for substance use disorders, including medical detoxification and residential and inpatient treatment Lastly, the bill creates a grant program for substance use disorder treatment in underserved communities to provide services in rural and frontier communities, prioritizing areas of the state that are unserved or underserved. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 57-6. The House also passed HB19-1009 sponsored by Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont. “This bill is focused on people who are going through substance use recovery and they are at the end of that spectrum,” said Rep. Kennedy. “Through this, we are trying to reintegrate them back into the community and this gets rids of the barriers they face, such as access to housing.” This bill improves support for individuals recovering from substance use disorders by expanding housing assistance for people transitioning out of treatment, increasing oversight of recovery residences to ensure high quality care, and investing in recovery services for people who have sought care and treatment. “The majority of people with a substance use disorder are currently in recovery today. Supporting recovery is the right thing to do, costing the state far less in the long run,” said Rep. Singer. “This will play a huge role in ending the opioid crisis.” HB19-1009 passed by a voice-vote. A final vote will be given at a later date. Previous Next

On August 7, two new laws will go into effect. HB24-1004 will strengthen our workforce and reduce recidivism by ensuring Coloradans involved with the criminal legal system can re-enter the workforce, acquire professional credentials, support their families, and succeed in their careers. HB24-1291 will make certain civil legal services more accessible and affordable to Coloradans. < Back July 29, 2024 New Laws Go Into Effect to Boost Colorado’s Workforce, Equity in Legal Representation DENVER, CO - On August 7, two new laws will go into effect. HB24-1004 will strengthen our workforce and reduce recidivism by ensuring Coloradans involved with the criminal legal system can re-enter the workforce, acquire professional credentials, support their families, and succeed in their careers. HB24-1291 will make certain civil legal services more accessible and affordable to Coloradans. “This legislation is crucial in bridging the gap between workforce shortages and Coloradans involved with the criminal legal system who are trying to break their way out of cycles of incarceration,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, sponsor of HB24-1004. “Current Colorado law makes it difficult for Coloradans with criminal records to qualify for certain careers, reducing their ability to find a good-paying job. With this legislation, we’re making it easier for Coloradans to successfully re-enter our communities and reduce recidivism.” “We’re committed to addressing workforce shortages in critical industries, which is why we passed this legislation to enhance career opportunities in sectors that are crucial for our economy,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, sponsor of HB24-1004. “With this legislation, previously incarcerated Coloradans will have an easier path to success and industries will have more qualified candidates to choose from to fill job vacancies. We’re committed to keeping Coloradans safe, and this law helps more people enter the workforce while prioritizing public safety.” HB24-1004 establishes a uniform process for considering criminal records in occupational registration, certification, and licensure applications. The law includes a wide range of careers, from the construction and banking industries to IT. It prohibits regulators from automatically refusing to grant or renew a license based on an applicant’s criminal record unless the applicant’s conviction is directly related to a specific element of the occupation and is still relevant at the time of an individual’s application. Representatives Bacon and Bird also passed a 2022 law ensuring that applicants could only be denied based on their criminal history if it affected their ability to perform their job safely and competently. In a second bill going into effect next week, HB24-1291 , a rule change adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court in 2023 allowing legal paraprofessionals to represent clients in some civil matters will be codified in Colorado law. “Legal services like legal separations can be costly, especially when attorney fees get added to the bill,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of HB24-1291. "With our new law going into effect, we’re codifying into Colorado law that licensed legal paraprofessionals can perform certain civil services, making legal access more equitable for low-income Coloradans, seniors, people with disabilities, and other communities that can’t easily afford these services.” “Money should not stand in the way of someone accessing the legal services they need to move forward in life,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB24-1291. "By allowing licensed legal paraprofessionals to practice a limited scope of law, our law ensures that more Coloradans, regardless of their economic status, can access legal representation for important life-changing matters.” Under the law, a licensed legal paraprofessional will be able to represent a client in: A legal separation, declaration of invalidity of marriage, or dissolution of marriage or civil union, A matter involving the establishment or modification of child support or maintenance, Seeking, modifying, or terminating a civil protection order, A name change, and A request to amend a birth certificate to change the sex designation of an adult. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation, sponsored by Representatives Chad Clifford and Yara Zokaie, to protect equal opportunity to housing for Coloradans with disabilities. < Back February 2, 2026 Housing Protections Bill for Coloradans with Disabilities Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation, sponsored by Representatives Chad Clifford and Yara Zokaie, to protect equal opportunity to housing for Coloradans with disabilities. “We’re ensuring that Colorado law provides equal protections for housing for Coloradans with disabilities,” said Rep. Chad Clifford, D-Centennial. “Everyone deserves housing that fits their needs. Service animals provide life-saving care, and it is crucial that people with disabilities aren’t turned away from housing opportunities due to their service animal. Our law would combat Trump’s attacks against housing protections and ensure that Coloradans with disabilities can live safely and comfortably.” “Colorado Democrats are continuing our work to strengthen protections for Coloradans with disabilities and protect Colorado communities from Trump’s continued attacks,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins. “This bill would codify housing protections into state law and will ensure Coloradans with assistance animals have safe and reliable housing." HB26-1045 would establish that it is an unfair or discriminatory housing practice to deny housing to Coloradans due to their live-in service animals. The bill would also create definitions for “assistance animal” and “emotional support animal” to provide clarity to housing providers and Coloradans with disabilities and reduce litigation. Last year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rescinded federal guidelines that outlined the rights that people with disabilities have regarding service animals under the Fair Housing Act. These guidelines also helped landlords, property managers and tenants understand how to distinguish between service animals and Emotional Support Animals. The repeal of these guidelines has created confusion regarding the rights of Coloradans with disabilities and what reasonable accommodations housing providers must provide. In recent years, Colorado Democrats have passed laws to bolster housing protections for Coloradans with disabilities. Colorado Democrats passed laws that save Coloradans money on accessibility modifications to rental housing and prevent unjust evictions for Coloradans who rely on safety net programs, like disability insurance. Last year, Rep. Zokaie passed a law to expand protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to protect vulnerable communities, especially Coloradans with disabilities, by allowing victims of discrimination to receive monetary compensation for unfair housing practices. Previous Next

< Back July 7, 2021 CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BILLS BECOME LAW DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed six bills into law to improve our pre-trial detention systems, implement recommended misdemeanor reforms, improve existing police accountability laws, and ensure Coloradans involved in the criminal justice system have the right to a second chance. “My colleagues and I made improving our criminal justice and law enforcement systems a top priority this session, and the incredible lineup of bills signed today shows it has paid off,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of HB21-1250 and 1280 as well as SB21-271. “The laws we created will help us improve police-community relations and ensure our misdemeanor sentencing and pre-trial detention systems are more efficient and more fair for Coloradans. I’m proud of the work we did to advance the cause of justice.” “Last year, Colorado set a powerful example by passing a bold police accountability reform bill that now serves as a model for the rest of the nation,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, sponsor of HB21-1250, 1314 and 1315. “This year, we set out to make necessary adjustments to the law to ensure it meets our goals of protecting our communities and holding our law enforcement to the highest standards. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done to make our law enforcement and criminal legal systems more just. The two new laws signed today to reduce burdensome court fees and prevent the suspension of driver’s licenses for reasons that are unrelated to dangerous driving are an important part of this effort.” “Colorado’s pre-trial systems, particularly when and how bond is set, have been in dire need of reform for a long time, and today we took a major step toward fixing them,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of HB21-1280. “The law created this afternoon will ensure that Coloradans no longer languish in our jails for long periods of time while awaiting trial on a minor offense. Colorado is on track to create a more efficient and more just system for individuals awaiting trial.” HB21-1250 makes changes to the provisions of law enacted by SB20-217 to provide clarity and strengthen the progress made to date on its implementation. The bipartisan bill clarifies requirements related to the instances when body-worn cameras must be operating to include welfare checks. It directs the Division of Criminal Justice to create a single form to streamline the reporting requirements for peace officers, which will now include whether an ambulance was called to the scene of an incident, whether there was a forcible entry into a residence, and the number of officer-involved civilian deaths. Among other provisions, HB21-1250 explicitly outlines a peace officer’s due process rights and allows an administrative law judge to participate in an internal affairs investigation. The bill defines what it means for a peace officer to be exonerated from a charge of misconduct. It extends the elimination of qualified immunity to the Colorado State Patrol and it prohibits employers from preemptively determining whether a peace officer acted in good faith before such action in question even occurred, closing a loophole in SB20-217 that was taken advantage of by the city of Greenwood Village last year. HB21-1280 requires courts to hold an initial bond hearing with an arrested individual within 48 hours of arrival at a detention facility and changes statute to allow these hearings to be conducted online or over the phone. Some counties throughout the state already hold bond hearings six or seven days a week. For rural and under-resourced jurisdictions, this bill creates and funds a statewide bond hearing officer to better allow hearings to be held on weekends and holidays. The law also makes several changes to the monetary bond process. It requires that a defendant who has posted bond be released no later than six hours later, allows bonds to be paid by cash, money order, or cashier’s check, ensures that a defendant receives receipt of the payment of their bond, and prohibits officers from requirings bonds to be paid in the defendant’s name. Lastly, it requires each jail to establish a way to pay bond online by January 1, 2022. SB21-271 , also sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, implements misdemeanor and petty offense sentencing reforms recommended by the Sentencing Reform Task Force of the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. Under current law, there are three classifications for misdemeanors and two classifications for petty offenses. This law reduces the number of misdemeanor classifications to two classifications, reduces the number of petty offenses to one classification, and creates a new civil infraction classification. “Punishments in the criminal justice system aren’t designed to be permanent, but under our current system the consequences of a small mistake can follow you for a lifetime,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB21-1214. “This new law will allow Coloradans who’ve committed lower level offenses to leave their past behind and access housing, employment and other necessities without fear of being turned away because of their records.” “Nearly half of Black men and almost 40 percent of white males are arrested by the time they are 23 years old,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, sponsor of HB21-1214. “An arrest record, even in instances when a charge was never brought, can hamper a person in devastating ways for the rest of their lives. The new law signed today gives Coloradans a second chance and ensures people aren’t forever defined by their worst mistakes.” Two years ago the legislature passed HB19-1275, a bill that created a process for people convicted of low level offenses to petition the court to have their record sealed, by a vote of 91-6 across both chambers. Under HB21-1214 , certain records for low-level drug offenses will be automatically sealed. The bill does not change the non-drug offenses eligible to be considered by a court for discretionary sealing and will still not apply to violent offenses, child abuse, or driving under the influence, among other exceptions in current law. It requires waiting periods of up to ten years depending on the offenses being considered by a court for sealing. The new law shifts the onus of responsibility onto the court system, while still allowing records to be easily unsealed if there is an intervening factor, for example if the person who committed the offense is running for public office. Furthermore, comprehensive arrest data is collected under SB20-217 regarding the race, ethnicity and gender of every person arrested in Colorado in order to reveal patterns of discriminatory law enforcement practices. “Taking away a driver’s license from someone who can’t afford to pay a fine is counterproductive and plain wrong,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, sponsor of HB21-1314. “I’m proud that we were able to get this new law across the finish line this year, ensuring that our approaches to public safety are fair and just.” HB21-1314 will limit the circumstances when driver’s licenses and learners permits can be revoked to only those where public safety requires it. It prohibits the suspension or revocation of licenses for failure to appear in court or failure to pay, but does nothing to impact revocation for driving under the influence or other offenses that reflect dangerous driving. Over 100,000 Coloradans have their licenses suspended for failure to appear in court or failure to pay. This is a counterproductive punishment that makes it harder for Coloradans to pay back their debts and restricts their mobility, impacting their ability to get to work, appear in court, and care for their families. HB21-1315 , sponsored by Representative Leslie Herod, eliminates certain fees levied on individuals and families in the juvenile justice system. The average fees per case total about $300 in Colorado, and it is estimated that the state spends about 75% of juvenile fee revenue on collection. Previous Next

Colorado Democrats delivered results to support students, homeowners, renters and create safer communities. House Democrats responded to the most pressing needs in Colorado and delivered results . This session focused on gun violence prevention, protecting reproductive rights, record public school funding, improving air quality and reducing the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs. DOWNLOAD ONE PAGERS PARA ESPAÑOL, PRIMA AQUÍ DOWNLOAD REPORT

< Back June 8, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS, CREATE JOBS Bipartisan benchmarking proposal would improve energy efficiency of buildings DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation by a vote of 41-23 to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, which will lower energy costs and create jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits. “By passing benchmarking policies like this, we can save consumers and businesses money on their energy bills and reduce energy consumption,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “This bill asks owners of the largest buildings to report on their energy use and then meet new energy efficiency standards that will save their tenant’s money and reduce energy use. It will help us meet our climate goals while saving Coloradans money at the same time.” “We have to make addressing climate change a top priority, and by reducing how much energy commercial buildings use, we can save consumers money and reduce the emissions that are hurting our environment,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “Benchmarking is an innovative way to encourage more energy efficient buildings and create good jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits and mechanical system upgrades.” HB21-1286 , which is sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Alex Valdez, would require the owners of certain large commercial buildings to collect and report energy use to the Colorado Energy Office, and by 2026, to demonstrate that they have met new energy efficiency performance standards. The proposal, known as benchmarking, asks building owners to measure their energy use in the first year and then continue to monitor and report their performance and meet new energy efficiency standards. The proposal helps tenets and businesses save money on their energy costs while creating jobs for workers skilled in energy efficiency retrofits, mechanical system upgrades, electrical work, engineering, and recommissioning. In the next eight years, the bill is expected to save consumers $447 million on their energy bills, 3,200 gigawatt-hours of electricity, 7,700 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and reduce CO2 emissions by 1 million metric tons. More than one-third of Colorado buildings are already benchmarking, demonstrating that this policy is both widely popular and achievable. Large commercial, multifamily, and public buildings account for roughly 15 percent of all energy used in Colorado, which means that there is considerable opportunity to reduce electricity used by increasing the energy efficiency of these buildings. Previous Next

Today, Governor Polis signed into law landmark legislation to save Coloradans money on their energy bills and improve pricing stability to prevent unpredictable rate spikes. < Back May 11, 2023 Signed! Landmark Legislation to Improve Accountability & Transparency for Utilities, Save People Money on Energy Bills Becomes Law BOULDER, CO – Today, Governor Polis signed into law landmark legislation to save Coloradans money on their energy bills and improve pricing stability to prevent unpredictable rate spikes. SB23-291, sponsored by Democratic members of the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Reps. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, presents a package of reforms to lower utility bills now and in the future. The bill rebalances the kind of expenses paid by utility shareholders versus ratepayers, aligns incentives on fuel purchasing, and levels the playing field at Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proceedings, where costly infrastructure plans are proposed and approved. SB23-291 limits utility expenses that can be paid by ratepayers, such as lobbying and advertising, which are more appropriately paid by company shareholders. It also creates a cost-sharing mechanism to incentivize utilities to save their customers money on fuel costs, and allows the PUC to set a maximum monthly fuel cost to smooth out monthly bills and avoid sudden sharp increases. “Colorado families were hit hard this winter by unexpected and severe price shocks, which is why we convened the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates to investigate the causes and find solutions,” Joint Select Committee Chair Fenberg said. “The legislation signed by Governor Polis today improves transparency and holds utilities more accountable to the ratepayers they serve while better aligning utility companies’ and Coloradans’ interests and expectations about their energy service. I’m excited to see many months of work result in policy that will help save Coloradans money on their energy bills and make much needed improvements to the way utilities are regulated in Colorado.” “Coloradans are counting on us to address rising and erratic utility costs, and we’re proud to move forward with this solution,” said Joint Select Committee Vice Chair deGruy Kennedy. “This important law sets in motion both short and long-term, cost-saving solutions that increase transparency and accountability to protect Coloradans from rate spikes that leave them choosing between heating their home and putting food on the table while utilities rake in record profits. It also rebalances the relationship between ratepayers and utility companies so Coloradans aren’t subsidizing lobbying, advertising and other expenses that utilities pass on to consumers.” “The Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates was hard at work this session searching for answers and working to save people money on their energy bills,” said Cutter. “One thing quickly became clear, Coloradans are bearing the brunt of volatile rate increases while utility companies are empowered to set their own rules. This important legislation will help level the playing field at the PUC and create fairer processes in utility rate setting that will impact Coloradans today and for generations to come.” “With this law, Colorado’s ratepayers are now front and center as we implement new ways to improve utility company transparency and accountability,” said Martinez. “For months, we’ve listened to consumer advocates, policy experts, utility companies and everyday Coloradans as we worked to find solutions to high, unpredictable utility bills that left many families struggling to heat their homes. I am proud to say this important law provides cost-saving solutions and protects Colordans from future drastic price hikes.” Additionally, the bill requires utilities to report more detailed justification for their plans when they request a rate increase, which will help regulators and consumer advocates evaluate whether proposed investments are truly in the public interest. In addition, the bill empowers the PUC to reduce utilities’ ability to charge their consumers for expensive consultants and lawyers that argue on behalf of rate increases. Convened in response to recent spikes in energy prices by Senate President Fenberg and House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates worked to better understand issues such as the impact of volatility in natural gas markets, the frequency and justification for rate increases sought by utilities, and other relevant factors. Previous Next

< Back February 19, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES VALDEZ’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS STATE’S RURAL TEACHER SHORTAGE (Feb. 19) — Rep. Donald Valdez’s bipartisan bill that expands the Teacher Cadet Program by allowing high school students who are interested in Early Childhood Education to participate in the program passed on the House floor today. “Early childhood educators are an important aspect of our education system because they work with our children at a critical time in their overall development,” said Rep. Valdez, D-La Jara. “This program is critical to addressing the state’s teacher shortage, particularly in rural areas, and for serving our children’s educational needs at a younger age. HB19-1137 allows students who are specifically interested in early childhood education to participate in Colorado’s Teacher Cadet Program. This will help address the state’s teacher shortage while helping to ensure that young children have a trained professional serving them at each and every point in their educational progression. The bipartisan bill passed the House unanimously 62-0 and now heads to the Senate. Rep. James Wilson, R-Salida, is a co-prime sponsor on the bill. Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Lisa Feret to reduce workplace violence for health care workers. SB25-166 unanimously passed by a vote of 13-0. < Back April 8, 2025 Feret Bill to Reduce Workplace Violence Against Health Care Workers Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Lisa Feret to reduce workplace violence for health care workers. SB25-166 unanimously passed by a vote of 13-0. “Our health care workers have dedicated their livelihood to keeping our communities healthy, and they deserve to feel safe in their workplace,” said Rep. Lisa Feret, D-Arvada. “Health care workers experience higher workplace violence rates than police officers, which is why I’m proud to sponsor this legislation to incentivize hospitals to create a safer work environment for health care workers. This will help retain Colorado’s health care workforce so Coloradans can continue to receive the life-saving health care they deserve.” SB25-166 would add a workplace violence performance metric to the state’s quality incentive program and empower the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to consult with stakeholders to address workplace violence. In consultation with stakeholders, HCPF would develop workplace violence performance metrics, explore funding opportunities, and provide legislative recommendations. The group would include Medicaid providers, hospital associations, rural hospital representatives, nurse representatives, and relevant state agencies. HCPF would be required to consult with the Department of Public Health and Environment and other stakeholders by September 1, 2025. The bill would also empower HCPF to assess hospitals’ adoption of a formal workplace violence policy. Health care and social service workers experience the highest rates of workplace violence-related injuries and are five times more likely to be injured on the job compared to other industries. Previous Next

< Back June 27, 2019 KENNEDY ISSUES STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT GERRYMANDERING DECISION (June 27) – In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision this morning on partisan gerrymandering, Assistant Majority Leader Chris Kennedy, who serves as the chair of the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee, issued the following statement: “The Supreme Court’s decision today is devastating to our fundamental democratic principle of equal representation under the law, throwing the door wide open for states to advance partisan political gain over the interests of the people,” said Rep. Kennedy. “Over the past few years we have seen the Supreme Court erode the protections provided under the Voting Rights Act, and many states took swift action to restrict voting rights. Now politicians will be able to gerrymander with impunity, diluting the fair representation of underserved communities and drawing legislative maps to benefit their own parties. “Thankfully, here in Colorado we have established guardrails to help prevent partisan influence in redistricting, but in much of the rest of the country, no such protections exist. It now falls to the states to step up and implement safeguards to ensure that voters pick their elected officials, not the other way around, and our core democracy is protected.” The Supreme Court’s ruling today essentially declared that federal courts don’t have a role in protecting against political gerrymandering. In November 2018, Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved legislatively-referred Amendments Y and Z to task independent commissions with drawing electoral maps for state legislative and Congressional districts. Previous Next