Search Results

Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the June economic forecasts. < Back June 20, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Forecast Shows Colorado Economy Remains Strong, Despite Headwinds DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the June economic forecasts. “Today’s forecast shows that Colorado’s economic outlook remains positive, despite the structural difficulties and potential further challenges that we face,” said JBC Chair Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Thanks to smart, responsible budgeting we have been able to bolster support for Colorado’s families by investing in housing, health care, and education, and we are committed to protecting those gains and ensuring that Colorado remains on a sound and sensible economic path, enabling our state to thrive for generations to come.” "Despite persistent inflation, Colorado's economy remains strong with one of the lowest rates of unemployment in the nation,” said JBC Vice-Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Today’s forecast showed Colorado’s continued growth, but underscores the ongoing need to budget and govern responsibly as we find ways to make the most impact for Coloradans with limited resources. I’m proud that we have prioritized investments in the services our communities need, like education, public safety and at the same time, have built a strong reserve. This kind of smart budgeting will help us weather any possible economic headwinds that we may face.” “The numbers we saw today show that while Colorado’s economy remains strong, there are mixed signals that could spell trouble on the horizon if left unchecked,” JBC Member Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, said. “That’s why we worked so hard this session to craft a thoughtful, flexible budget that meets the needs of families and communities across our state. I am proud of the work we’ve done to support Coloradans during this volatile economic period, and I look forward to continuing our work to set Colorado on a path to further economic success.” “This economic forecast showed Colorado is on a steady track forward," said JBC Member Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We've made important progress over the years to support our youngest learners, save Coloradans money on health care and reduce the cost of living. While this economic forecast looks promising, Colorado continues to face some fiscal constraints. This includes inflation in the rental housing market, making it more challenging for Coloradans to keep pace with rising costs. We've budgeted wisely to be able to provide critical services to our communities and must continue to make smart choices with our limited public dollars so that all Coloradans can thrive." Colorado’s economy continues to grow, with an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent, which is lower than before the pandemic and below the national average of 3.7 percent, with total employment growth clocking in at around 1.1 percent. The Legislative Council Staff (LCS) forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $17.70 billion in FY 2022-2023 and $17.76 billion in FY 2023-2024 – a $540 million increase for FY 2022-2023 and a $20 million increase for FY 2023-2024 as compared with the earlier March revenue forecast. The LCS forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $18.57 billion for FY 2024-2025. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) anticipates that General Fund revenue will be $17.80 billion for FY 2022-2023, an $806 million increase over the March forecast. For FY 2023-2024, OSPB revised down its projected General Fund revenue by $178.9 million to $16.52 billion. For FY 2024-2025, OSPB estimates that General Fund revenue will be $18.14 billion, an increase of $146.2 billion as compared with the March forecast. The forecast anticipates continued growth as Colorado stands well positioned to fare better in the case of a downturn. Factors that could improve the forecast include slowing inflation in the services industry, stronger wage growth, and a rebound in real wages, and reduced housing costs. Risks that could negatively impact the forecast include persistent inflation leading to further restrictive monetary policies and continued geopolitical and trade uncertainty. Previous Next

< Back December 9, 2022 Polis-Primavera Administration Announces Behavioral Health Grant Opportunities and Toolkit to Help Communities Apply DENVER - Today, the Polis-Primavera administration and Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) announced that over $130 million in grant opportunities supporting behavioral health care are now available for eligible parties to apply. The grant programs focus on implementing innovative, data-driven behavioral health strategies that meet the needs of individual communities and expanding crime prevention. As part of these grant opportunities, the BHA has partnered with Colorado Health Institute to provide technical assistance to applicants through the community behavioral health services toolkit which will support navigating the application process and creating the most effective projects for each community. “Ensuring people have access to high-quality behavioral healthcare when they need it is one of the most important investments we can make in our state,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. “Governor Polis and I are encouraged by the investments we’ve delivered over the past four years, including the allocation of resources to bolster Colorado’s behavioral health workforce and funding to address targeted areas of community need, but the work does not stop here. I look forward to continuing improving behavioral healthcare resources so that every Coloradan can reach the support they deserve.” “As we emerge from the pandemic, it is the BHA’s plan to operate as a community anchor, supporting local efforts while elevating our collective cause to strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health system,” said Dr. Morgan Medlock, Behavioral Health Administration Commissioner. The new four grant programs are a result of SB22-196 , sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales and Pete Lee as well as Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Adrienne Benavidez, and HB22-1281 , sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Naquetta Ricks and Senators Faith Winter and Bob Rankin. These laws were signed by Governor Polis this summer as a part of the Polis-Primavera administration’s commitment to delivering bold investments in behavioral healthcare for Coloradans. The grant opportunities now accepting applications include: The Criminal Justice Early Intervention Grant Program Community Investment Grant Program Children, Youth, and Families Grant Program Substance Use Workforce Stability Grant Program “Arresting and jailing Coloradans with behavioral health needs has never been an efficient or cost-effective way to combat our state’s behavioral health crisis and help folks get the care they need, so we’re taking steps to change that,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “Through this grant opportunity, local communities will be equipped with the resources they need to divert people away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate community treatment programs.” “The Criminal Justice Early Intervention Grant Program is a community-based solution that will reduce reliance on our jails and prisons for mental health care and make it easier for Coloradans with behavioral health needs to receive the treatment they need," said Assistant Majority Leader-elect Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, sponsor of SB22-196 . "Now, with grant applications open, we're one step closer to improving behavioral health access for Coloradans in communities across the state.” “Coloradans with behavioral health conditions deserve treatment, not punishment, yet the criminalization of these conditions has only made the problem worse,” said Senator Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs. “This grant opportunity will help ensure folks with mental health conditions and substance use disorders can get the treatment they need rather than enter the criminal justice system while making our communities safer, reducing recidivism, and saving taxpayers money.” “Early behavioral health intervention is one tool we have to divert Coloradans away from the criminal justice system toward treatment," said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City, sponsor of SB22-196. "The Criminal Justice Early Intervention Grant Program is a local strategy to get Coloradans the behavioral health they need before they enter the criminal justice system in the first place." The grant programs invest in local strategies and encourage those who understand their community’s individual needs and challenges to apply. Eligible applicants include local governments, community-based and/or nonprofit organizations, nonprofit hospitals, rural health clinics, substance use disorder treatment or recovery providers, federally recognized tribes, and local law enforcement agencies. “Navigating Colorado’s behavioral health system can be unnecessarily difficult, which makes it challenging for folks to access the care they need when they need it,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “These grants will help local governments and nonprofits implement innovative, community-based programs to fill critical gaps within our behavioral health system and improve outcomes for families, children, and youth across our state.” “Coloradans in every corner of our state feel the acute lack of behavioral health services, and each community’s needs are different,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of HB22-1281. “I’m thrilled that this grant program will soon accept applications because it means families, kids, and youth will soon have expanded access to the behavioral health care they so critically need.” “New grant programs, including the Children, Youth, and Families Grant Program, will fill critical gaps in care so that more families can access the behavioral health services they need to thrive,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB22-1281 . “Every community's needs are different and the available grants are designed to help local governments, non-profits and substance use organizations secure the necessary funding to improve behavioral health outcomes for Coloradans." The community behavioral health services assessment toolkit was created by the BHA in partnership with the Colorado Health Institute to support applicants through the application process and understanding their community’s strengths, needs, and gaps; overall strengthening their investments. The toolkit offers assistance with grant writing, needs assessment, and/or program design. Applicants for the Community Investment Grant Program and the Children, Youth, and Families Grant Program are able to utilize the toolkit. “We know navigating grant application processes can have many obstacles, especially for our historically-excluded communities and those who have been unable to access trusted resources, and we truly want to make applying for funding as simple and accessible as possible. The BHA is here to support you and to honor lived experiences,” said Kayla Martin, BHA Contracts & Procurement Manager. Other transformative behavioral healthcare investments signed this year by Governor Polis include: SB22-177 was signed by Gov. Polis in May and sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen (now Congresswoman-elect) and Bob Rankin and Representatives Brianna Titone and Mary Bradfield. SB22-177, Investments in Statewide Care Coordination Infrastructure, will improve coordination across Colorado between behavioral health providers and include new resources for communities statewide. Streamlining information and data will improve how providers coordinate care and services for people seeking behavioral health services and improve patient experiences. SB22-181 , the Behavioral Healthcare Workforce Development, created a new plan to strengthen and build the behavioral healthcare workforce to ensure Colorado can continue to provide high-quality services. This bill was sponsored by Senators Bridges and Simpson and Representatives Cutter and Van Beber. Through collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, institutions of higher education, and community colleges, this plan will provide new training opportunities, internships, scholarships, and more to help recruit, train, and retain a qualified behavioral healthcare workforce. The Polis-Primavera administration has committed to developing the behavioral healthcare system in Colorado and saving people money on healthcare. Through their commitment, the administration has created innovative resources to ensure that more Coloradans can access quality support when needed. Governor Polis created the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force (BHTTF) in 2019 which focuses on streamlining Colorado’s behavioral health system and increasing the efficiency and access to resources. The task force is made up of stakeholders, legislatures and community leaders to deliver well-rounded strategies. The Polis-Primavera administration has worked closely with the BHTTF to create transformative behavioral health bills. Further information regarding available technical assistance for these grant opportunities can be found by creating an account and logging in to VSS to access the request for applications (RFA) and more information regarding each of these grant programs and timelines can be found on the BHA Funding Opportunities webpage. Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2019 CUTTER-SULLIVAN MENTAL HEALTH BILL HEADED TO GOVERNOR More than one million Coloradans experience mental health or a substance use crisis each year (Apr. 29) – A bill sponsored by Rep. Lisa Cutter. and Rep. Tom Sullivan that will modernize behavioral health insurance coverage laws to align with federal law and close loopholes to increase access to mental health services for Coloradans is heading to the Governor’s desk. “More than one million Coloradans live with a mental health issue, and over half of them aren’t receiving the help they need,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Evergreen. “It is essential that we begin to treat mental health and substance abuse issues the same way we treat physical health. Our youth suicide rate isn’t going to improve until we do.” HB19-1269: Strengthens prevention and screening laws to shift the current system away from expensive late-stage treatment to early prevention Enforces and makes transparent existing state and federal parity laws and increases consumer protections Eliminates gaps and loopholes in current law to ensure no more Coloradans fall through the cracks “I have been committed to improving mental health before joining the legislature and am glad to be a part of this important legislation,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “We can’t wait any longer to get this bill to the Governor. The time for action is now.” Currently, state and federal laws require insurance carriers to provide equal coverage for mental health and physical care. However, many families are being denied coverage or are paying out-of-pocket costs for weeks or months for mental health care services because of loopholes in current law. HB19-1269 passed in the House with a bipartisan vote of 45-19. It passed in the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 30-5. Previous Next

< Back June 30, 2020 GOV. SIGNS MARIJUANA BILL TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS Denver, CO — Today, at Simply Pure, a marijuana dispensary, Governor Jared Polis signed into law a bill that increases access to the Social Equity license, which makes owning and operating a retail marijuana store accessible to more Coloradans. The bill is sponsored by Representative James Coleman. “All hardworking Coloradans deserve a fair shot at sharing in the prosperity of the booming marijuana industry,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver . “This bill will help overcome decades of inequity in an industry where black people have been criminalized and others have been able to make profits. We should not be defined by our past alone, and this bill provides Coloradans who want to make an honest living in the marijuana industry with the opportunity to do so. Creating equal economic opportunity for all makes us stronger. ” “Colorado has led the way for the nation’s fast-changing laws and attitudes towards marijuana,” said Rep. Singer, D-Longmont . “By allowing the Governor to pardon individuals with small possession offenses and improving access and equity in the booming marijuana industry, this bill moves our state boldly forward. The bill signed today is good for small businesses, hardworking Coloradans, and our state’s economy as a whole.” In order to drive socioeconomic equity to the retail marijuana trade, HB20-1424 establishes that applicants for a marijuana license cannot be denied access based on a marijuana conviction if they qualify as a social equity applicant. The bill also allows the governor to pardon individuals who were convicted of possession of marijuana for up to two ounces — effectively offering these Coloradans a clean slate. In order to be eligible for the Social Equity license, applicants must be a Colorado resident and one of the following regulations must apply. Applicants must have either: resided in Colorado for 15 years, have been arrested or convicted of a marijuana offense, or have a household income that did not exceed a predetermined amount. Marijuana retailers who have a Social Equity license are eligible for the Accelerator Program, which authorizes stores with a Social Equity license to operate under established state laws as long as they are endorsed by an Accelerator Store. Previous Next

< Back June 7, 2020 EDUCATION COMMITTEE PASSES SCHOOL FINANCE ACT AND BILL TO TEMPORARILY WAIVE STANDARDIZED TESTING REQUIREMENTS DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Education today passed HB20-1418 , the School Finance Act, sponsored by Speaker KC Becker. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 9-4. “This is not the School Finance Act that I wish I could sponsor,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “In one of the most dire budget years in our state’s history, we did what we could to prioritize K-12 amidst major cuts across the rest of the budget, as well as reprioritizing various grant programs towards core education funding and using federal dollars to help schools with costs due to the pandemic. But we are still facing major shortfalls in education funding. We will need to use every tool in the toolbox to protect K-12 this year and next.” HB20-1418 is the annual School Finance Act, which sets funding levels for all of Colorado’s school districts and charter schools. This year’s proposal shields K-12 from the worst of budget cuts, reducing funding for all districts by $378.6 million from the prior year amidst a $3 billion revenue shortfall. However, with $510 million in federal CARES Act funding and $37 million in additional federal funding for at-risk students intended to help address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, total school funding increases by at least $168 million overall. While the federal funds are not an offset for cuts due to the revenue shortfall, they go a long way to help schools minimize impacts during this unprecedented situation. The School Finance Act pulls funds from marijuana taxes, school capital construction, and various grant programs and cash funds in order to put dollars where they are most needed – core education funding. The bill also makes various changes to reflect COVID-19’s impacts to the school system. It delays the timeline for school districts to adopt their budgets, since the Long Bill was delayed. It also codifies the suspension of various accountability-related provisions to reflect the Governor’s executive orders and directs the Department of Education to convene a stakeholder group to assess the impact of the COVID pandemic on the 19-20 school year and whether additional changes to accountability systems are needed for the 20-21 school year. Another major provision in this year’s School Finance Act corrects an issue with how local school funding levels are set, which has contributed to the underfunding of our schools over the last 25 years. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in Mesa v. State that local school funding is set incorrectly in many districts and violates our own statutes, due to districts lowering their mill levies contrary to voter approval. This School Finance Act corrects this violation without impacting anyone’s property taxes by restoring the mill levy in each district to the rate that was adopted by voters or up to a certain limit, and requires credits to offset any increases to property owners. The committee also passed Rep. Cathy Kipp’s bill, HB20-1407 , which would respond to the challenges presented by COVID19 by temporarily giving publicly funded colleges and universities the option to waive standardized testing as a requirement for admission for high school students graduating in 2021. The bill passed the committee unanimously. “COVID19 has presented unique and complex challenges to our students and educational institutions,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Many Colorado students lost the opportunity to take their standardized tests as scheduled during the height of the pandemic. This bill will level the playing field for them by allowing publicly funded institutions of higher education to consider their other academic credentials, like GPA and leadership positions, when making admissions decisions. This is a win-win for students and universities alike.” Previous Next

The House today advanced on a preliminary vote HB24B-1001, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, that will reduce property taxes while protecting critical community institutions like public schools, health care, fire response, libraries, water infrastructure, and municipal parks, playgrounds and recreation centers. < Back August 27, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Responsibly Reduce Property Taxes and Protect Colorado’s Future Advances DENVER, CO – The House today advanced on a preliminary vote HB24B-1001, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, that will reduce property taxes while protecting critical community institutions like public schools, health care, fire response, libraries, water infrastructure, and municipal parks, playgrounds and recreation centers. “Colorado Democrats are dedicated to making our state more affordable, which is why we’re back at the Capitol to responsibly reduce property taxes for Coloradans while protecting the progress we’ve made to invest in our future and boost school funding,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Two initiatives from wealthy special interests on the November ballot would have catastrophic impacts on Coloradans. I’m proud that through additional negotiations with the proponents of these measures, I secured a significant win for our schools and local governments by providing greater flexibility in the revenue cap, which will do more to preserve the local services we all rely on and protect our future.” Democrats have stepped up to avoid steep property tax hikes and are leading a multi-year effort to deliver meaningful relief while protecting critical funding for schools and local services. In May, the General Assembly passed SB24-233 by a vote 92-8 to responsibly reduce statewide local taxes by more than $1 billion, prevent future spikes in property taxes, and protect critical services that Coloradans rely on. HB24B-1001 makes minor adjustments to SB24-233 in order to avoid devastating ballot measures from wealthy special interests. Irresponsible ballot measures would reduce revenue for public schools, fire departments, health care, libraries, water infrastructure, and public outdoor recreation by nearly $3 billion. They would risk the major strides Colorado Democrats have made to boost public education funding and eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor. If these measures were to pass, they would lead to draconian cuts to fire response and public safety. HB24B-1001 reduces property taxes in a responsible way while protecting funding for crucial institutions, especially Colorado’s K-12 public schools. Using SB24-233 as the baseline, the bipartisan proposal would reduce assessment rates and the local government revenue cap. The House today adopted two amendments. Amendment L042 provides additional flexibility to school districts and local governments by allowing them to retain revenue above the growth cap if in the prior assessment cycle they did not reach the cap. This will allow districts to keep additional funding in years that follow low-growth cycles, letting revenue catch back up to the long-term trendline. The House also adopted an amendment to direct the Property Tax Commission to evaluate the property tax changes made in SB24-233 and HB24B-1001 and report back on how Colorado’s tax code does or does not deliver relief to the people who need it the most. Residential Assessment Rates (RARs) Depending on the growth in assessed valuation (AV) between property tax years 2024 and 2025, there are two options for adjustments to RARs: *RARs and value exemptions would apply to and stack with the Senior Homestead Exemption. Nonresidential and Personal Property Assessment Rates Nonresidential assessment rates and exemptions are for both schools and local governments. Oil and gas and producing mines remain excluded from this classification. Colorado Democrats have passed legislation in recent years to reduce the cost of housing, health care, and child care. In the 2024 legislative session, Colorado Democrats passed new laws that will provide two years of free college , reduce evictions , and boost the incomes of hardworking families with new tax credits. Previous Next

The House Finance Committee today passed legislation to create a Chicana/o license plate. HB24-1105 passed by a vote of 9-2. < Back February 29, 2024 Legislation to Create the Chicana/o License Plate Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Finance Committee today passed legislation to create a Chicana/o license plate. HB24-1105 passed by a vote of 9-2. “The Chicano/a community has a rich history in Colorado and we have made significant contributions to the social, political, and cultural landscape in our state,” said Rep. Tim Hernández, D-Denver. “Coloradans who support this license plate will donate to local non-profits that provide essential services and resources to the Chicana/o community, from youth violence prevention programs to higher education support. I’m proud to sponsor legislation that can celebrate and honor our people.” Beginning on January 1, 2025, HB24-1105 would add the Chicana/o special license plate as an option when obtaining a Colorado license plate. Before an applicant can receive this license plate, they would be required to provide a certification that proves that they donated to a non-profit organization that: Provides Chicana/o youth leadership training, Promotes and facilitates access to higher education for Chicana/o students, Provides Chicana/o youth violence prevention programs, Works to increase the social, political, and economic well-being of the Chicana/o community, or Provides ethnic studies educational programs, including those related to Chicana/o history, institutional racism, and immigration. Artists across Colorado have submitted designs to be used for the license plate art. Previous Next

< Back February 24, 2021 BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROTECT IMMIGRANTS FROM EXTORTION ADVANCES UNANIMOUSLY DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today advanced a bipartisan bill to prevent the extortion of undocumented immigrants. The bill was approved by the committee unanimously. “Everyone in our communities, regardless of citizenship status, should be protected from extortion,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “A gap in current law has left immigrants vulnerable to a particular type of extortion that befalls workers and victims of domestic and sexual violence. This bill would change that and allow us to advance the cause of justice in our communities.” “This bill will give prosecutors a critical tool to combat instances of extortion against victims of crime that we know are happening in our communities,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “A victim is a victim, and it is good for public safety in our communities if our laws protect everyone from being further victimized – regardless of their immigration status.” The current definition of criminal extortion already includes the practice of threatening to disclose a person’s immigration status to law enforcement in order to force them to give up something of value. HB21-1057 expands this definition to include coercing another person to either engage in or refrain from engaging in what would otherwise be a legal act. This expanded definition would address instances of wage theft, domestic violence and other instances where a person’s immigration status is used to deny them what is lawfully theirs. Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES SULLIVAN-GALINDO BILL TO HELP GET COLORADANS INTO GOOD PAYING JOBS & EXPAND OPPORTUNITY Roughly three quarters of all CO jobs require post secondary higher education (Apr. 27) – The House approved a bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Sullivan and Rep. Rochelle Galindo that would establish a directory with apprenticeship programs within the Department of Labor and it would include salary ranges, critical labor force data, licensure requirements, and other information potential enrollees should know before embarking onto a career pathway. “I firmly believe every hard working American should get a good-paying job no matter their education. There are currently nearly 200 sponsored apprenticeship programs, and that number is constantly evolving and growing,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “This directory can serve as a beneficial tool to help students and young adults grow in their technical training and enter into career fields that offer salaries without the debt of traditional college.” The bill also requires the department to distribute the directory to coordinate with local workforce centers, businesses, and education institutions to raise awareness of the apprenticeship programs so more Coloradans can access them. “This will help expand opportunity for students and accessibility for apprenticeship programs. When I visited various locations that offered these programs, the directors often said the only way they get the word out about these programs is through word-of–mouth,” said Rep. Galindo, D-Greeley . “We need to get these opportunities out there for more students to join the workforce.” In 2018, it was estimated that building trades had a shortage of 60,000 workers in Colorado. The state’s construction industry alone will need at least 30,000 new workers to meet demand in the years ahead. SB19-171 passed on a voice-vote. A final vote will be taken at a later date. Previous Next

< Back June 8, 2022 POLIS SIGNS ROBERTS’ BILL TO INCENTIVIZE WATER-SAVING TURF REPLACEMENT Law will save property owners money, conserve water, and create jobs DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed Representative Dylan Roberts’ legislation to save property owners money on water-conserving turf replacement. “This new bipartisan law is a win-win: it will save Coloradans money on their water bills and reduce water use in the metro areas, all while promoting the innovative landscaping industry, ” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “Water is the most precious resource we have, supporting industries and local economies in every part of our state. As a rural representative, I know that it is not fair to rely solely on the agriculture industry and rural Colorado for our water conservation goals. This turf replacement program is a proactive approach to water conservation that will give property owners new tools to join our efforts to conserve our state’s precious water.” HB22-1151 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Marc Catlin and Senators Jeff Bridges and Cleave Simpson, requires the Colorado Water Conservation Board to develop a statewide program to financially incentivize property owners, including local governments, special districts and nonprofit associations, to voluntarily replace non-essential irrigated turf with water-wise landscaping. Water-wise landscaping includes replacement turf and drought-tolerant plants that require less water to grow. This law aims to cut down on the amount of water used to maintain non-native grasses on private and commercial lawns, school fields and other ornamental outdoor spaces like road medians. Previous Next

< Back February 5, 2020 REP. TITONE’S MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES BILL ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would make it easier to find critical mental health resources DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Public Health Care and Human Services today advanced Representative Brianna Titone’s bill to make mental health educational resources more accessible by a vote of 11-1. “Many Coloradans don’t know about all the behavioral health care resources that are currently available in our state,” said Rep. Titone (D-Arvada). “This bill will provide links to all these resources in one easy to access online directory and will create a tailored outreach campaign to help make people aware of where they can find these critical resources.” By providing these resources, legislators aim to reduce Colorado’s highest in the nation suicide rate based on research showing that targeted advertising campaigns do produce results. HB20-1113 , which is also sponsored by Representative Lois Landgraf, would require the state to contract with an organization to create an online resource directory with information about mental health crisis resources and resources for individuals seeking behavioral health care services. The online directory and internet links would include information about the Colorado SEE ME campaign and the national suicide prevention hotline . It would also include demographic-specific information about behavioral health care providers that are available to people seeking mental health care services with links to the providers’ websites. The bill allows the state to seek and accept private or public donations to create these online resources and requires the department of human services to contract with an organization to develop and distribute community and demographic-specific targeted messaging about the availability of the new mental health resources online directory. Furthermore, the bill allows health care professionals to complete a course in mental health education as part of their continuing education competency requirements. Previous Next

< Back March 22, 2022 BILLS TO PROTECT WHEELCHAIR USERS AND IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY ADVANCE Representative David Ortiz sponsored four bills to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and Coloradans with a disability DENVER, CO – Bills to protect the rights of wheelchair users and improve adaptive mobility today moved forward. “My wheelchair provides more than just mobility, it’s tied to my health and safety too,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “These bills are designed to affirm the rights of wheelchair users so we can rent a car, get our mobility device repaired in a timely manner and save money. Without a functioning mobility device, some could be faced with a life or death situation and I’m working to help solve some of the accessibility issues faced by the adaptive mobility community. We’re leading Colorado in the right direction towards improving accessibility for wheelchair users and folks who use mobility aids while building more equitable communities in the process.” HB22-1290 , sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz and Brianna Titone, would improve existing Medicaid rules for repairing wheelchairs, adaptive seating systems and other mobility devices. Specifically, this bill would eliminate the need for prior authorization for any repair of complex mobility devices, including powered wheelchairs. If passed, this bill would save Coloradans money on costly wheelchair expenses and repairs and expand access to an urgently needed service. HB22-1290 passed the House Health & Insurance Committee by a vote of 8 to 3 and works in tandem with HB22-1031. “The right to repair wheelchairs in a prompt, less costly way is imperative for equality, health and safety,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “Many wheelchair users can only turn to manufacturers to repair or perform routine maintenance on their mobility devices, which drives up costs and wait times. Our bills cut the red tape surrounding wheelchair repairs and gives more repair options to save Coloradans money and hassle. We’re working to break down barriers that hinder accessibility and leave wheelchair users with limited options for fixing their necessary mobility device.” HB22-1031 , sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz and Brianna Titone, would require powered wheelchair manufacturers to provide parts, software and tools to independent repair providers and wheelchair owners. Typically, wheelchair owners and users can only seek repair, modification and maintenance of their wheelchair from manufacturers. This market monopolization drives up costs for Coloradans and leaves them without their mobility device for longer. Under this bill, independent repair providers and owners would have the tools and manuals to perform regular maintenance, diagnostic or repair service themselves. This will save Coloradans money and allow them to get their mobility devices repaired sooner. HB22-1031 passed the House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee by a vote of 11 to 1. Representative Ortiz also sponsored HB22-1253, which unanimously passed the House Transportation & Local Government Committee. HB22-1253 would require rental car companies to provide leasers with an online option to secure a vehicle with adaptive equipment such as hand controls, pedal extenders, left foot accelerators and spinner knobs upon request. This bill would also protect disabled vehicle leasers by allowing the recovery of damages if rental car companies violate the adaptive equipment requirement in the bill. In addition to the three bills advanced by committees, the House passed a bill to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities by a vote of 56 to 8. HB22-1255 , sponsored by Representative David Ortiz, would create an advisory committee in the Department of Education that will develop a report with recommendations to improve outcomes for students with disabilities attending state institutions. Higher education completion rates for students with a reported disability are significantly lower than students without reported disabilities. This bill aims to level the playing field to make it easier for students to succeed. Previous Next