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SB25-041 would refine competency restoration and services to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and more quickly bring cases to trial < Back April 22, 2025 Bipartisan Bill to Improve Competency Restoration Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to restore competency to more individuals with behavioral health disorders in the criminal justice system. SB25-041 passed committee by a vote of 9-2. “To create safer communities, we need to make sure Coloradans in the criminal justice system with behavioral health disorders receive the care they need to effectively stand trial,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “Without consistent behavioral health care for these individuals, criminal trials are likely to be delayed, which hinders our justice system. This bill streamlines access to inpatient services for those in the criminal justice system to help reduce recidivism and prioritize justice for survivors.” SB25-041 is also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, R-El Paso County. This bill would allow the state to provide inpatient services for an additional 90 days after an individual’s case is dismissed because the person is deemed “incompetent to proceed.” The bill also allows the state to work with community organizations to provide permanent supportive housing for these individuals or those who complete the Bridges of Colorado program. Without streamlined access to inpatient services, such as psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation, or addiction treatment, the overall health of those with behavioral health disorders could regress, resulting in a delayed competency restoration and ultimately extending the time before individuals can even stand trial. This bill aims to provide consistent inpatient services to those with behavioral health disorders, provide clarification for courts, and pause the statute of limitations for those seeking competency diversion programs in Colorado’s criminal justice system. The bill was recommended last interim by the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Interim Committee , which is responsible for overseeing its associated task force and implementing recommendations regarding the treatment of people with behavioral health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems until 2027. Previous Next

Legislation passed today includes strengthening consumer protections during the ticket buying process and legalizing water-wise landscaping options for Coloradans living in HOAs < Back April 26, 2023 House Passes Bills to Combat Deceptive Ticket Sale Practices and Drought Legislation passed today includes strengthening consumer protections during the ticket buying process and legalizing water-wise landscaping options for Coloradans living in HOAs DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to protect Coloradans from deceptive ticket sale prices and combat drought through removing barriers to water-wise landscaping in Homeowner Associations (HOAs). “Between hidden fees and deceptive sales practices, it’s no secret that ticket purchasing can be a frustrating process to navigate ,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, sponsor of SB23-060. “People travel from all over the country to visit our famous venues, and sometimes they’re turned away because they unknowingly purchased a counterfeit ticket on a third-party website. Our bill improves fans’ protections in the ticket purchasing process and prevents fraudulent tickets from ending up in the marketplace.” "We need to keep tickets in the hands of fans and this bill works to address the deceptive practices that lead to sky-high ticket prices which keeps Coloradans from seeing their favorite artists or teams," said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB23-060 and SB23-178. “I’m proud we also passed SB23-178, which will allow water-wise landscaping for homeowners in HOAs, saving them money and conserving water right in their backyard. Property owners should be able to swap their water-intensive lawn for beautiful native landscaping without HOAs standing in the way.” SB23-060 passed by a vot e of 49 to 16 and would implement new protections for consumers purchasing tickets online, including against “speculative ticketing”, a process where brokers sell tickets they do not yet possess. The bill would require a ticket reseller to have actual possession of a ticket before making it available for resale. It also requires online companies to clearly and transparently display “all-in prices”, which are inclusive of all service charges and other fees required to purchase the ticket. “As Colorado combats historic drought conditions, water-wise landscaping is a great place to cut back our freshwater usage,” said Rep. McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of SB23-178 . “Our legislation allows Coloradans living in HOAs the opportunity to have drought-tolerant landscaping options for their lawns, which supports biodiversity and saves Coloradans money. Beautiful yards don’t have to be water-intensive lawns, and this bill reduces barriers to having landscaping that’s eco-conscious and sustainable.” SB23-178 , passed by a vote of 48 to 17 and would reduce barriers facing Colorado homeowners in homeowners associations (HOAs) who wish to replace their lawns with water-wise landscaping. SB23-178 would promote water-wise landscaping, emphasizing native plants that better sustain Colorado’s local ecosystem while requiring little or no irrigation. The bill would require HOAs to select and pre-approve three water-wise landscape designs for homeowners to choose from. The bill would also prevent an HOA from requiring hardscape on more than 20 percent of a landscape area and prohibiting vegetable gardening in a homeowner’s front yard. About half of the water used in single-family homes in Denver goes toward “outdoor use,” according to Denver Water . Last year, the legislature passed legislation to create the Turf Replacement Program , which provides financial incentives for voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water-wise landscaping. SB23-178 complements that initiative by helping homeowners who may not need financial incentives but are hindered by HOA regulations. Previous Next

< Back December 10, 2020 SPEAKER-DESIGNATE GARNETT ANNOUNCES COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS DENVER, CO– Speaker-designate Alec Garnett today announced the chairs, vice chairs and committee appointments for the 11 House committees of reference, appointing seven new committee chairs. Of the 22 members in committee leadership, 13 are women. Rep. Jeni James Arndt, D-Fort Collins, will chair the Agriculture, Livestock and Water committee , formerly known as the Rural Affairs and Agriculture committee, and veterinarian Rep.-elect Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, will be the vice chair. “Agriculture, livestock and water have always been the lifeblood of our state, supporting jobs in every county in Colorado,” said Rep. Jeni James Arndt, D-Fort Collins. “We must ensure that our farmers and ranchers have the tools and resources they need to get through the pandemic and reemerge stronger. Our precious water resources require careful stewardship as we move into a water-short future.” Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, will chair the Business Affairs and Labor committee , and Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, will be the vice chair. “Colorado’s businesses and workers are the backbone of our economy, and we know they are struggling right now as COVID-19 spreads at dangerous rates and Congress refuses to help,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “In Colorado, we are going to support our businesses and prioritize the safety and health of our workers to help our state get through this crisis and build back stronger.” Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, will chair the Energy and Environment committee , and Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder, will be the vice chair. “We have a responsibility to protect our air and water, as climate change and worsening wildfires threaten our Colorado way of life,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “In Colorado, we’ve made tremendous progress. We’re going to continue fighting for the environmental justice our communities deserve and to secure our planet for future generations.” Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, will chair the Finance committee , and Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, will be the vice chair. “We have a long road ahead to recover from this pandemic,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “A necessary part of our recovery is ensuring that small businesses and hardworking families get through these challenging months and bounce back stronger. We will do this by ensuring that our policies are smart, common sense and fiscally responsible.” Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, will chair the Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services committee , formerly called the Public Health and Human Services Committee, and Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, will be the vice chair. “As a longtime champion of access to behavioral health, it breaks my heart to see how hard this pandemic has been on adults as well as children across our state,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “To build back stronger, we must ensure that every Coloradan has access to the mental and physical health care and support services they need to recover.” Rep. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, will chair the Transportation & Local Government committee , and Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, will be the vice chair. “Our local governments are on the frontlines responding to this pandemic, providing testing, health care, and so many other critical services,” said Rep. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs. “To boost our economy, we have to work together in a bipartisan way to improve our transportation infrastructure and invest in our state’s future. It is an honor to chair this committee, and I look forward to working with Colorado’s cities, counties and towns to help our state get through this crisis. ” Following the precedent in which the members of the Joint Budget Committee are appointed to lead the Appropriations committee , Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, will be the Appropriations committee chair and Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, will be the vice chair. Rep. McCluskie will continue to serve as vice chair of the Joint Budget Committee and will chair that committee in the second year of the 73rd General Assembly. All seven majority lawmakers on the Appropriations committee are women. “With so many hardworking families and small businesses just barely hanging on, I know we have a lot of work ahead to help our state recover from this pandemic and build back stronger,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “We’re going to have to make a lot of tough decisions due to our state’s limited budget, but I’m excited to see the legislation lawmakers are going to bring forward to help all Coloradans, especially those disproportionately impacted by this pandemic, make ends meet and have a fair shot to succeed as our economy recovers.” Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, will continue to chair the Education committee , and Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, will be the vice chair. Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver, will continue to chair the Health and Insurance committee, and Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, will continue to serve as vice chair. Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, will continue to chair the Judiciary committee , and Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, will be the vice chair. Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood, will continue to chair the newly named State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs committee , and Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, will be the vice chair. Committee structure, leadership and majority caucus appointments are made by the Speaker. “House Democrats are humbled by the trust Coloradans have placed in us as we continue to govern responsibly through the worst public health and economic crisis our nation has seen in recent memory,” said Speaker-designate Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Our committee leadership reflects the diverse voices of all our communities. Together, we’re going to help Colorado build back stronger by forging an economic recovery where everyone has a fair shot to succeed and no one is left behind.” The complete list of Majority committee assignments is below: Agriculture, Livestock, and Water Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins Vice Chair, Rep.-elect Karen McCormick, D-Longmont Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara Appropriations Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver Vice Chair, Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon Rep.-elect Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge Rep.-elect Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood Business Affairs and Labor Committee (8-5) Chair, Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon Vice Chair, Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial Rep.-elect Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn Rep.-elect Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Education Committee (6-3) Chair, Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango Vice Chair, Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton Rep. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City Energy and Environment Committee (8-5) Chair, Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver Vice Chair, Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder Rep.-elect Tracey Bernett, D-Longmont Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Finance Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Vice Chair, Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Adams County Rep.-elect Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Health and Insurance Committee (8-5) Chair, Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver Vice Chair, Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Rep.-elect Karen McCormick, D-Longmont Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn Rep.-elect David Ortiz, D-Littleton Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Judiciary Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Vice Chair, Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood Rep.-elect Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Adams County Rep.-elect Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee (8-5) Chair, Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City Vice Chair, Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver Rep.-elect Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora Rep.-elect David Ortiz, D-Littleton Rep.-elect Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Vice Chair, Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver Rep.-elect Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Rep.-elect Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver Rep.-elect Tracey Bernett, D-Longmont Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver Transportation and Local Government Committee (7-4) Chair, Rep. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs Vice Chair, Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield Rep. Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BECKER-CARAVEO BILL TO PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF COLORADANS & GIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES A VOICE (Mar. 29) – The House gave final approval to a bill that will update Colorado’s antiquated oil and gas laws to protect families and individuals from residential drilling by putting health and safety first, empowering local communities, and protecting our clean air and clean water. “For years, bill after bill to put reasonable oil and gas reforms on the books were blocked at the legislature and the voices of our communities were ignored. Today, we are listening to our communities and refusing to ignore the growing health and environmental impacts of oil and gas drilling near homes and schools,” Speaker KC Becker said. “Today, our state took a big step forward toward reforming our antiquated oil and gas laws. This bill offers simple changes around forced pooling, orphan wells, flow lines, local control and air quality.” “I thank Erin Martinez for lending her powerful voice to this fight. My colleagues and I share her belief that the industry can put health and safety first and continue to thrive at the same time. We, like many Coloradans, admire Erin Martinez’s strength, commitment, and courage,” Speaker Becker added. The landmark bill directs the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to regulate oil and gas development to protect public welfare, and clarifies that local governments have the same authority to regulate the oil and gas industry as they have with every other industry in Colorado – including the mining industry. The bill also removes the prohibition against local governments requiring oil and gas companies to cover the direct costs of regulating, monitoring and permitting the sites in their communities. “This bill will reform COGCC and ensure health and safety comes first,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, the legislature’s only doctor and the co-prime sponsor of the bill. “I look forward to the day in clinic when I know an asthma exacerbation is simply the result of allergies. Local governments deserve a voice when it comes to residential drilling. It is time for our government to listen to science, not rhetoric from special interests looking to profit at the expense of our safety and health.” “I hope that we are able to protect the health, safety and welfare of communities through this bill. I thank my colleagues, my community and Speaker Becker for all of her efforts to put this commonsense bill on the books,” Rep. Caraveo added. The bill addresses emissions and air quality by requiring increased monitoring and implementing a rule-making process to reduce emissions to better meet federal regulations. A “brown cloud” returned to Denver earlier this month and reports showed that the air quality was worse than that of Beijing. SB19-181 would also ensure that taxpayers are not footing the bill for cleaning up orphan oil and gas wells that have been abandoned but not adequately plugged. Current bonding requirements are inadequate to cover the cost of clean-up when a company abandons a well. Clean-up costs for just one abandoned well costs an average of $82,000. Currently, there are nearly 400 known orphan wells in Colorado and a long list of wells that should be investigated. Finally, SB19-181 also provides increased protections for property owners with regard to forced pooling. Under current law, just one mineral rights owner can start the process of “forced pooling” other mineral interest owners and require development of those resources – against the will of the majority of the owners. This bill would raise the threshold and put more transparency and guardrails on the process. The arguments peddled by the oil and gas industry are misleading. The sponsors and proponents of the bill made clear during the hearing and floor debate that this bill is not a reiteration of Proposition 112, nor is it a moratorium or a ban on drilling. SB19-181 was approved on a vote of 36-28 and it now goes back to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back April 5, 2022 BILLS TO ADDRESS COLORADO’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS WIN COMMITTEE APPROVAL Legislation includes more than $140 million to expand access to behavioral health care for Colorado youth and adults DENVER, CO – The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today unanimously passed two bills to expand access to behavioral health services for adults and youth. These bills were developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force and will invest $140 million to build a healthier Colorado. “We’ve made it a top priority to expand access to behavioral health care, and that’s what this transformational bill will do,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales Gutierrez, D-Denver. “With these federal funds, we have a once-in a generation opportunity to significantly expand behavioral heath care and address the cries our state is facing. This legislation provides $90 million directly to local governments, nonprofits and community-based programs to expand access to behavioral health care and fill critical gaps across the state so that more Coloradans can seek the care they need to thrive.” “This transformational $90 million investment will lay the foundation for a more accessible, affordable, and inclusive system of behavioral health care in our state,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “Our behavioral health care crisis will not be solved overnight, but with these funds, we have a unique opportunity to address some of the most pressing concerns in our state. Every community is different and has different circumstances and different needs. This bill encourages collaboration, uplifts local solutions, and ensures that funding reaches every corner of Colorado and that no community is left behind.” Community Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Gap Grants: HB22-1281 sponsored by Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Naquetta Ricks, will ensure Coloradans across the state — including children, youth and families — have access to the behavioral health care they need. This bill will invest $90 million in grant funds for local governments and nonprofit organizations to implement innovative, community-based programs with the goal of filling regional gaps across the continuum of care and transforming behavioral health outcomes for families, children and youth living in Colorado. The bill passed unanimously. Previous Next

New laws will create property tax credits and rebates aimed at incentivizing more affordable rentals, identify sources of rising property insurance costs < Back July 31, 2024 New Laws to Spur Affordable Workforce Housing, Address Rising Property Insurance Rates in Rural, Mountain Communities Go Into Effect New laws will create property tax credits and rebates aimed at incentivizing more affordable rentals, identify sources of rising property insurance costs DENVER, CO – On August 7, legislation to grant local governments the authority to create property tax rebate programs to address areas of specific local concern including affordable housing development and legislation to help uncover root causes of rising property insurance for HOAs, timeshares and condo owners in rural and mountain towns go into effect. SB24-002 allows local governments to establish property tax incentive programs to address critical issues related to housing, childcare, behavioral health, economic development and other areas of local concern. For example, a municipality will be able to authorize tax credits or rebates that incentivize property owners to convert rental properties from short-term to long-term, boosting the availability of workforce and more permanent housing. “There has been a significant rise in the cost of housing, especially on the Western Slope, forcing Coloradans to spend more of their money on housing and less on other necessary costs, like health care and groceries,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of SB24-002 and HB24-1108. "With our bipartisan legislation going into effect, local governments will have new tools to address the unique challenges their communities face, like shortages in workforce housing, childcare, mental health care services, and much more. Additionally, my legislation soon goes into effect to create a market study so we can learn more about what leads to rising HOA fees and lodging facilities insurance rates, which are often passed on to consumers and property owners. This will help us develop legislation that will create more affordable and reliable property insurance options for communities like mine in rural and mountain areas of Colorado.” SB24-002, also sponsored by Representative Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, allows a local government to renew a tax rebate or incentive program for up to one year if they find that it has been effective in addressing the area of specific local concern. HB24-1108 creates a market study of property and casualty insurance for homeowners’ associations and owners of lodging facilities. This law aims to explore current market conditions and will be used as a baseline for future legislation or state-operated programs. “Due to the rising threat of extreme weather and wildfires, HOAs and lodging facilities have a difficult time securing affordable property insurance, which means fees increase for residents,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB24-1108. “This law will help uncover some of the causes that lead to rising insurance rates and lack of coverage in our HOAs and lodging properties in the urban-wildland interface and beyond. Tourism is a massive economic driver in the high country, and ensuring our HOAs and lodging facilities can acquire property insurance uplifts our economy and supports our local communities.” This law requires the Division of Insurance in the Department of Regulatory Agencies to conduct a study of property and casualty insurance policies for HOAs and lodging facilities. The report must include key metrics including: Current market conditions, Availability of insurance coverage, Affordability of insurance coverage, Areas of the state with insurance availability concerns, and Recommendations for long-term sustainability and availability of property and casualty insurance policies. The report must be submitted to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026. Previous Next

< Back February 9, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO PROTECT VETERANS FROM HOUSING DISCRIMINATION DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB22-1102 , sponsored by Representatives Sullivan and Ortiz, which would establish new housing protections for veterans. The vote was 50-12. “Right now in Colorado, veterans and active service members are facing housing discrimination when they go to rent or buy a home,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton . “This bill will make it illegal for landlords and lenders to withhold housing and discriminate against veterans and active service members. It’s already difficult enough to find affordable housing; with this bill, we’re breaking down barriers to ensure sure discrimination based on military status isn’t one of the hurdles they face.” “Housing discrimination based on veteran or military status is flat out wrong,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial . “This bill makes sure the men and women who served our county aren’t denied a place to live when they return home to Colorado.” Over 400,000 veterans call Colorado home. HB22-1102 prohibits anyone selling or leasing a dwelling from discriminating against an individual based on their veteran or military status. The bill also prohibits someone from refusing to negotiate for housing with a veteran or otherwise denying or withholding housing based on someone’s veteran or military status. The bill would add veteran or military status to Colorado law that currently prohibits housing discrimination because of a person’s disability, race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry or familial status. The bill does not extend these protections to those who have been dishonorably discharged. Previous Next

< Back May 24, 2019 REP. HOOTON’S BILLS TO STRENGTHEN RIGHTS OF MOBILE HOME OWNERS & EXPAND MEDICAL MARIJUANA CONDITIONS SIGNED BY GOV Colorado currently has over 900 mobile home parks (May 23) — Gov. Polis just signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder, and Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, to protect the rights of mobile home owners in mobile parks. HB19-1309 creates a low cost and effective Mobile Home Park Act Dispute Resolution and Enforcement Program within the Department of Local Affairs Housing Division. It also provides counties the same permissive authority that home-rule municipalities have to enact and enforce regulations. “Over the last several years, serious concerns have been raised by Colorado’s mobile home owners over mistreatment from park owners,” said Rep. Hooton, D-Boulder. “This bill will give more tools to help protect Coloradans who are being exploited by relatively loose regulatory structures.” In addition, HB19-1309 extends the time a homeowner has to sell or move from their home after an eviction from 48 hours to 30 days, and extends the time to cure a late payment from five days to ten days. “In rural communities, affordable housing is at a premium and mobile home parks are an essential part of the solution to our housing crisis,” said Rep. McCluskie, D-Dillon when the bill passed the House this session. “However, there are many concerns about how residents are being treated in parks. This bill will create a process for effectively resolving conflicts so mobile home parks can remain a strong housing option for Coloradans.” Approximately 100,000 Coloradans live in mobile homes, many of them within the state’s over 900 mobile home parks. Currently, the only recourse a homeowner of a mobile home has if they believe a park owner has violated the Colorado Mobile Home Park Act (MHPA) is to initiate a private action in civil court, which is often times too expensive for more homeowners. The Colorado Mobile Home Park Act was passed in 1985 and it lists the rights of mobile home owners and park owners, but no enforcement was ever created. The Governor also signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Hooton that would add a condition for which a physician would prescribe an opioid, primarily for acute pain, to the list of disabling medical conditions that authorize a person to use medical marijuana for his or her condition. “The opioid epidemic doesn’t discriminate, it affects all ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic status. Medical marijuana is an option to help people with their disabling pain without the repercussions of addictions that we are seeing in this epidemic,” said Rep. Hooton when the bill passed the House in April. 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 regulate Colorado’s funeral homes and crematories. < Back April 17, 2024 Bill to Regulate Colorado’s Funeral Homes and Crematories Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to regulate Colorado’s funeral homes and crematories. HB24-1335 would extend and expand regulations of the Mortuary Science Code to ensure Colorado’s funeral homes and crematories are regularly inspected by a state agency. HB24-1335 passed by a vote of 57 to 3. “We need to ensure our state’s funeral homes and crematories are safe, well-maintained and following the law,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada . “This bipartisan legislation would expand and extend the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ ability to inspect funeral homes and crematories. Colorado has been at the center of many egregious instances of fabricated cremation records and the mishandling of bodies. We need to ensure our funeral homes and crematories are operating within the law – our public health and safety depends upon it and our loved ones deserve it.” HB24-1335 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, would require regular, state-operated inspection of funeral homes and crematories. This bill expands and continues certain portions of the Mortuary Science Code in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), which is scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2024. The bill also makes the following changes to the program: Requires inspection of funeral homes and crematories on a routine basis, including after businesses have ceased operations Allows inspections to occur outside business hours Expands rulemaking authority for DORA Adds failure to respond to complaints as a grounds for discipline Authorizes DORA to suspend the registration for persons who do not comply with orders following a complaint or investigation This legislation would extend the regulation of portions of the Mortuary Science Code for five years, until September 1, 2029. In addition to HB24-1335, another bill moving through the legislature ( SB24-173 ) would require a license to work as a funeral director, a mortuary science practitioner, an embalmer, a cremationist, or a natural reductionist. In recent years, several funeral homes and operators in Colorado have been at the root of disturbing instances of mishandling human remains and bodies. These bills aim to add consistent regulation of Colorado’s funeral home industry to ensure public health and safety. Previous Next

< Back May 6, 2022 HOUSE PASSES PROPERTY TAX RELIEF Proposal will save the average homeowner $274 on property taxes DENVER, CO – The House today unanimously passed legislation to lower property taxes, save the average homeowner $274 and prevent many small business owners from seeing their property taxes go up at all. “From sending every taxpayer an early $400 or $800 refund check to lowering the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs, we’ve been hard at work saving Coloradans money everywhere we can,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “The legislation we passed today will prevent tax increases on many small businesses. It builds on our earlier work to lower property taxes for homeowners and businesses and will save the average homeowner $274 on their property taxes.” “I’m excited to sponsor a bill for a $700 million property tax decrease and a net overall tax decrease of $500 million,” said Rep. Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock. “Rising property values bring a price tag of higher property taxes. I dislike taxes in general, but property taxes are the worst kind of tax. Lowering property taxes will help with the inflationary pressures families are experiencing and is much needed in Colorado.” SB22-238 , sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Patrick Neville, will provide $700 million in property tax relief over two years for homeowners and businesses, helping save families money on housing and cutting costs for businesses statewide. The bill allocates $500 million in 2023 to reduce the residential property from 6.95 percent to 6.76 percent and the nonresidential property tax rate from 29 percent to 27.9 percent. The bill also reduces the taxable value for residential properties by $15,000 and commercial properties by $30,000. The bill provides these savings while mitigating the impact to schools and local governments from the reduction in revenue. Further, SB22-238 provides an additional $200 million in 2024 to extend the property tax relief enacted last year by SB21-293. These savings will reduce property taxes for homeowners by an average of $274 in 2023 on a $500,000 home, and will provide significant savings for every business in the state. The House also unanimously passed HB22-1416 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Neville. The bill reforms the property tax assessment process. The bill would provide taxpayers with more information about their valuations and a longer period of time to appeal their values. “By reforming the property tax assessment process, we’ll protect homeowners and business owners and make it easier for people to appeal valuation decisions that impact how much they have to pay,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D–Pueblo. “This bipartisan legislation will make the property tax assessment process more fair and transparent to ensure property owners can address errors that can cost them money.” Under the bill, the timeline to appeal property values would be extended by one week. It requires county assessors to provide property owners an estimate of their tax liability as well as information about how they can protest their assessed property values. Property owners would have the opportunity to fast track their appeal if the assessor is provided all the necessary information. Additionally, the bill would require property tax administrators to publish the assessors’ handbook, which includes appraisals procedures, and allow for public comment and review on the handbook and proposed changes. For commercial properties, the bill improves transparency in how they are valued by requiring the notice of valuation to notify property owners that they can obtain details from their assessor about how their property was valued. Previous Next

< Back July 31, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: LAWMAKERS CALL FOR STATE AID, EXTENSION OF UI BENEFITS In letter to Colorado Congressional delegation, members request funding for schools and housing, utility, nutrition and small business assistance Denver, CO – Democratic lawmakers in the General Assembly today sent a letter to the Colorado Congressional delegation urging swift passage of a coronavirus relief package that includes significant aid to states and local governments, education funding, and housing, utility, nutrition, and small business assistance. “We write to you to urge swift passage of a coronavirus relief package that first and foremost includes significant and flexible aid to state and local governments, to help preserve core functions and services for Coloradans amidst the budget crisis,” the members wrote. “We also hope to see an extension of critical unemployment insurance benefits, nutrition benefits, housing assistance, small business support, resources for schools and funding to expand COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. We firmly believe that the proposal released this week by the Senate falls short of meeting the needs of our state in this pivotal moment, and we appeal to you to keep working to incorporate these critical components.” “Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans are agonizing over their financial future, and many are within days or weeks of being unable to pay their bills or losing their homes. We urge you once again to take swift action on behalf of our state to deliver a coronavirus relief package that meets the needs of our communities,” the lawmakers concluded. Nonpartisan organizations across the country, including the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Governors Association, have also called for additional and flexible aid to state and local governments. The full text of the letter is below and can be read here : July 31, 2020 The Honorable Michael Bennet United State SenatorThe Honorable Cory Gardner United States SenatorThe Honorable Diana DeGette Member of CongressThe Honorable Joe Neguse Member of CongressThe Honorable Scott Tipton Member of CongressThe Honorable Ken Buck Member of CongressThe Honorable Doug Lamborn Member of CongressThe Honorable Jason Crow Member of CongressThe Honorable Ed Perlmutter Member of Congress Dear Members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation: We deeply appreciate your dedication to our state and determined advocacy on behalf of our communities as Congress crafts its latest, and potentially final, coronavirus relief package. The federal resources you have secured to date have served as an essential lifeline for our communities, mitigating the impact of crippling budget cuts to our schools, universities, public health departments and local governments. Yet without further Congressional action, our state will have to reduce services for those who need them the most while thousands of Coloradans lose the economic assistance that has sustained them through this crisis so far. We write to you to urge swift passage of a coronavirus relief package that first and foremost includes significant and flexible aid to state and local governments, to help preserve core functions and services for Coloradans amidst the budget crisis. We also hope to see an extension of critical unemployment insurance benefits, nutrition benefits, housing assistance, small business support, resources for schools and funding to expand COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. We firmly believe that the proposal released this week by the Senate falls short of meeting the needs of our state in this pivotal moment, and we appeal to you to keep working to incorporate these critical components. This year, we had to make significant cuts to the state’s budget to close a $3.3 billion deficit. These cuts have been painful, and the next few years will be even harder, as many of the reductions were one-time cuts that will not be available to lawmakers in the future. Furthermore, some of the most significant reductions were absorbed by institutions that received federal aid, which helped cushion some of the impact of the cuts. Failing to provide additional support would undoubtedly exacerbate our state’s devastating budget crisis and pull the rug out from under our school districts, local governments, and universities who would feel the full brunt of potentially even deeper cuts next year. To meet the needs of our state, the next coronavirus relief package must include at least $500 billion in flexible aid to states and additional funding for local governments, K-12 education and higher education. As lawmakers, we have all seen first hand the devastation this pandemic has had on our communities. If Congress does not boost the federal pandemic response and renew key programs, such as expanded unemployment insurance, we fear that the consequences borne by hardworking Coloradans will only be exacerbated. The legislature has taken swift action to direct federal resources to help Coloradans pay their rent, mortgage and utility bills and to support our small businesses, but this funding will not be enough. The next coronavirus relief package must also include additional housing, utility and small business assistance to bolster our state’s successful relief programs and stimulate our economy. Congress should increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by 15 percent, as more and more Colorado families rely on food pantries and nonprofit assistance. With many Coloradans struggling financially, the demand for these key programs has never been higher. We know Colorado can channel additional assistance directly to businesses and hardworking families to help them make ends meet, but we need Congress to act. Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans are agonizing over their financial future, and many are within days or weeks of being unable to pay their bills or losing their homes. We urge you once again to take swift action on behalf of our state to deliver a coronavirus relief package that meets the needs of our communities. Previous Next