Search Results

The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker and Representative Javier Mabrey that would streamline the process for religious and educational institutions to build housing on their land to create more housing opportunities that work for every budget. HB25-1169 passed by a vote of 8-4. < Back February 20, 2025 ‘YIGBY’ Bill to Increase Housing Coloradans Can Afford Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker and Representative Javier Mabrey that would streamline the process for religious and educational institutions to build housing on their land to create more housing opportunities that work for every budget . HB25-1169 passed by a vote of 8-4. “Creating more housing that hardworking Coloradans can afford is one of our biggest priorities at the Capitol, and cutting red tape for places of worship and schools to build affordable housing and community services like child care centers will save Coloradans money on housing,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “My previous experience as a pastor gives me a unique perspective on this issue, and working closely with religious groups and schools has confirmed the need for legislation that allows them to more easily develop on their land and partner with mission-minded organizations to help reduce the cost of housing across Colorado. This bill is a win-win for our communities by increasing affordable housing options and saving Coloradans money on housing, child care, and other necessary services.” “The housing crisis is making it increasingly difficult for hardworking Coloradans to put a roof over their heads, which is why we’re bringing this bill to expand housing opportunities on underutilized land already owned by religious and educational institutions,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “This legislation would streamline the review process to build new housing on this land, allowing places of worship and schools to help support their communities by building more affordable housing that will help bring down the cost of living. The housing affordability crisis requires multiple solutions, and this bill is one piece that can create a more affordable Colorado for all.” Beginning December 31, 2026, HB25-1169 would streamline the process for faith-based organizations, school districts, and state colleges or universities to build housing and other community services on their land, regardless of current zoning laws. Under the bill, local governments could not reject the construction of a residential development due to height, as long as the development is no taller than three stories or 45 feet or adheres to the height standards of the zoning district. Additionally, local governments could not restrict the construction based on the number of units, with some exceptions. If zoning allows, these residential developments could also include childcare centers and facilities that provide recreational, social, or educational services to residents. HB25-1169 would greenlight over 5,000 acres of land to be developed into housing in Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties alone. California passed a law in 2023 that makes it easier for higher education and religious institutions to build housing on their land, opening up over 170,000 acres of land to be developed into affordable housing or other uses. A church in Washington DC built 99 units for low-income families in addition to amenities like office space, a gym, and a culinary arts training program. An Atlanta church plans to build 300 affordable housing units , two schools, and 10,000 square feet of new retail space on their property. A recent Denver Post article reported that average Denver rents fell 1.5 percent from the end of 2023 to the end of 2024 due to new housing units doubling the typical pace in recent years. Previous Next

Statement from House Leadership follows joint statement from Jewish lawmakers < Back June 2, 2025 McCluskie and Duran Issue Statement Following Hate Crime Charges in Boulder Attack Statement from House Leadership follows joint statement from Jewish lawmakers DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie and House Majority Leader Monica Duran issued the following statement after federal hate crime charges were filed in the Boulder terror attack on Jewish Coloradans: “Yesterday’s terror attack on Colorado’s Jewish community continues a terrifying rise in antisemitism and threats against Jews, both here and abroad. We stand in solidarity with Jewish Coloradans and Jews around the world who are increasingly living in fear that they will be attacked simply for being Jewish. We agree with our Jewish colleagues that this cannot become normalized. We must commit ourselves to doing more to combat antisemitism and violence against Jews. Now is the time for Coloradans to speak up and say with one clear voice that antisemitism is unacceptable and has no place in our communities." Earlier today, Jewish lawmakers issued a joint statement on the attack. In the statement, the lawmakers wrote, “As we mourn the victims of yesterday’s attack in Boulder, we ask our allies to speak out. Whether publicly or privately—and regardless of views on the conflict in the Middle East—we must confront hate forcefully, before it becomes normalized. The rising tide of antisemitic attacks doesn’t just threaten Jews. It threatens the very fabric of what makes America worth believing in. We should all be outraged to live in a country where this is happening—and determined to change it.” Below is the full statement from Senators Michaelsen Jenet, Weissman, and Ball, and Representatives Sirota, Woodrow, and Weinberg: We are outraged and heartbroken by the vicious attack at the Run for Their Lives walk in Boulder. Innocent people were severely injured for doing nothing more than raising awareness about the 58 remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the entire Boulder community. This attack should not be viewed in isolation. In April, a man broke into Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence and set it on fire while his family slept inside. In May, a Coloradan was arrested for trying to burn down the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, and two people were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. It didn’t matter that one of the murder victims had devoted her life to peace through interfaith dialogue, just like it didn’t matter that the victims in Boulder were marching peacefully, calling for the release of hostages and an end to war. What they all had in common was that they were Jewish. We have a name for this: antisemitism. Colorado’s Jewish community is strong and deeply rooted in our state’s history. As members of that community, we know that the attack in Boulder could have happened to any of us—some of us have even participated in Run for Their Lives events in the past. We will continue to live proudly and openly because Colorado must be a place where every Jew feels safe, supported, and free. But we cannot fight antisemitism alone—to stand up to hate, we need Coloradans to stand with us. As we mourn the victims of yesterday’s attack in Boulder, we ask our allies to speak out. Whether publicly or privately—and regardless of views on the conflict in the Middle East—we must confront hate forcefully, before it becomes normalized. The rising tide of antisemitic attacks doesn’t just threaten Jews. It threatens the very fabric of what makes America worth believing in. We should all be outraged to live in a country where this is happening—and determined to change it. Previous Next

Colorado General Assembly Democratic Leadership today released statements following the assassination and targeted attack on Minnesota elected officials and their families. < Back June 14, 2025 Democratic Leadership Release Statements on Assassination and Targeted Attack on Minnesota Elected Officials DENVER, CO – Colorado General Assembly Democratic Leadership today released statements following the assassination and targeted attack on Minnesota elected officials and their families. “Melissa was a cherished colleague and words cannot express how deeply saddened I am,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “ She was a brilliant public servant, a champion for her state, and simply a wonderful person. My heart is with her family, her caucus and the state of Minnesota who I know are grieving alongside an entire nation that is in shock, and I am praying for the recovery of Senator Hoffman and his wife. Our democracy is based on the idea that we resolve our differences through peaceful debate and in courts, elected bodies, state legislatures and the halls of Congress. There is no place in our country, ever, for the targeting of elected officials and political violence, and those responsible must be brought to justice.” “Under no circumstances is political violence acceptable in America. There is room for healthy disagreement and debate, but we must never turn to violence against our political opponents,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “The targeted attacks in Minnesota are a dark example of how violent rhetoric can devolve into violent actions. I share in the grief of losing Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and I am praying for a full and speedy recovery for Senator John Hoffman and his wife.” “These acts of targeted violence in Minnesota have shaken us all to the core and are a direct attack on the democratic values we hold dear,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “I never thought I'd see the day when a state legislator would be assassinated in their home. No one who runs for office signs up to lose their life in their service to their community and standing up for what they believe in. We must all speak up and say unambiguously that violence is not the answer and work toward a future where something like this is never possible. The entire Colorado legislature is praying for the speedy recovery of Senator Hoffman and his wife, and our hearts are with the families of Speaker Emeritus Hortman and her husband.” “Retaliation and violence against public servants must never be tolerated,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “Americans across the country sacrifice their time and energy to run for office and serve their communities – they should never fear that in doing so they sacrifice their safety as well. We all must unequivocally condemn this horrific act of violence and commit to respectful and peaceful means of settling our political differences. My thoughts are with the families of Speaker Emerita Hartman and her husband, and I am hopeful for complete recovery for Senator Hoffman and his wife.” Previous Next

< Back February 1, 2023 Bills to Address Teacher Shortage, Boost Workforce Advance DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed legislation to boost the educator workforce by making it easier for teachers professionally licensed in other states to teach in Colorado. “We’re working to remove barriers educators face when entering the workforce in Colorado,” said Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “Our bill would streamline the process for teachers who are licensed in another state to obtain a teaching license in Colorado. As a former teacher, I know how important it is to have qualified, dedicated educators in the classroom, and this bill will help Colorado attract more licensed teachers to support our students.” “Addressing Colorado’s teacher shortage is a top priority this session,” said Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley. “Through this bill, already licensed teachers from other states would have an easier time obtaining a Colorado teaching license. Boosting the teacher workforce begins with reducing barriers to entering the profession, and our bill creates an important pathway for teachers licensed in other states to begin teaching in Colorado.” HB23-1064 passed committee by a vote of 9-2 and would create new pathways for out-of-state teachers to gain professional licensure in Colorado. The bill establishes the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which would create an agreement between Colorado and ten other states where licensed teachers in member states can obtain a teacher’s license from another member state. This bill is designed to increase the teacher workforce by easing the state-to-state licensure process so professionally licensed teachers can begin teaching in Colorado classrooms faster. HB23-1064 would be particularly helpful for active military and military spouses who often relocated from state-to-state. HB23-1001 also passed the House on a preliminary vote this morning. This bill, sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango and Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, builds upon last year’s work to boost the educator workforce by expanding eligibility for financial assistance and offering loan forgiveness to a larger pool of educators who qualify for these state programs. HB23-1001 is scheduled for a final vote in the House later this week. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation limiting medical debt from impacting patients’ credit reports or credit scores. It passed by a vote of 46-18. < Back February 28, 2023 House Passes Consumer Protections Against Medical Debt DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation limiting medical debt from impacting patients’ credit reports or credit scores. It passed by a vote of 46-18. “Over 700,000 Coloradans have medical debt that negatively impacts their credit scores, making it harder to access housing, employment and affordable interest rates,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora . “This bill protects consumers with medical debt so that it doesn’t prevent them from renting an apartment or applying for a job, small business loan, credit card, or a basic cell phone plan. This bill will protect Coloradans from having their entire life impacted by outstanding and often unexpected medical debt.” Often medical expenses come as a surprise to many patients, leaving people unable to plan for expensive bills. Currently, when someone can’t afford a medical expense, the bill is sent to collections, and that information is shared with consumer reporting agencies that generate consumer reports and credit scores that are often used by banks, landlords, employers, and insurance and utility companies. Medical debt lowers the consumer’s credit score, creating a barrier to accessing necessities like housing, utilities, and loans. Lower credit scores also increase interest rates on loans, taking more money out of Coloradans’ pockets. Medical debt affects people of all ages and incomes, but it disproportionately impacts those with a chronic illness or medical condition who relies on continual medical assistance to maintain their quality of life. HB23-1126 adds medical debt to the list of information that consumer reporting agencies are not allowed to include in a credit report, updates exemptions to expand consumer privacy protections, and requires collectors and collecting agencies to notify Coloradans that medical debt will no longer be included in credit reports. Previous Next

The Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee today advanced bipartisan legislation to save small farmers and ranchers money and prevent out-of-state producers from falsely advertising products with Colorado branding. < Back October 29, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Water & Ag Interim Committee Advances Bipartisan Bills to Boost Colorado Farmers and Ranchers DENVER, CO – The Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee today advanced bipartisan legislation to save small farmers and ranchers money and prevent out-of-state producers from falsely advertising products with Colorado branding. Bill 1 , sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, and Representative Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, would save Colorado farmers and ranchers money on their property taxes. It would broaden the definition of "ranch" and “farm” in statute so that small and family-owned ranches and farms can benefit from existing property tax exemptions. “After over a year of work to get the language just right, I'm excited we're moving this bill forward to make sure our laws work for farmers and ranchers of all sizes,” said Roberts. “Small and family-owned operations are the heart of Colorado’s agricultural communities and too many of them struggle with high property tax costs. With this legislation, we are finding every opportunity to put money back in their pockets and keep their farming and ranching operations going.” “For generations, family farms and smaller ranches in my district have shaped Colorado’s ag economy, supported rural communities and fed Coloradans,” said McCluskie. “This bill cuts property taxes for local farmers and ranchers by including smaller operations that use their land for grazing in existing property tax exemptions. As the Trump Administration threatens to flood our markets with Argentinian beef and undercut Colorado ranchers, this bill steps in to save our farmers and ranchers money.” “Family farms and ranches are the backbone of Colorado’s rural economy,” said McCormick. “While the Trump Administration continues to choose trade wars over Colorado farmers and undercut our ranchers, we’re stepping up to put more money back in their pockets. This bill prioritizes local farmers and ranchers by cutting property taxes for smaller operations that use their land for grazing.” This bill would modify the definitions used to classify land as agricultural for property tax purposes. It would specify that a farm is primarily used to produce agricultural products, while a ranch is primarily used for grazing livestock through pasture-based operations. Agricultural land is generally valued lower than other property classifications. Bill 4 , sponsored by Representatives Matt Martinez, D-Monte Vista and Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Senators Roberts and Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, would protect the integrity of the “Colorado Proud” label and support local producers by cracking down on false advertising of products originating outside of Colorado. “When shoppers purchase Palisade peaches or San Luis Valley potatoes, they expect to receive products actually grown and produced in those regions of our state,” said Martinez. “To protect the integrity of Colorado-grown products and foods, this cracks down on mislabeling and false advertising of Colorado products. Colorado’s farmers, ranchers and small businesses work hard to produce the famous, high-quality products and foods that we’re known for around the world. This bill upholds the integrity of the iconic Colorado foods we all love.” “Colorado is known for its delicious produce, high-quality meat, and creative products made by our small businesses and artists,” said Roberts. “Consumers want to purchase made-in-Colorado products and should be able to trust the Colorado Proud label. This bill is about supporting Colorado farmers, ranchers, and businesses who make the real deal, right here at home.” Bill 4 would prohibit identifying an agricultural product as being produced in Colorado when selling, marketing, advertising, or distributing the product unless the product is grown in the state. It would also prohibit using the Colorado Proud designation or logo unless authorized by the Department of Agriculture. A violation of these prohibitions would constitute a deceptive trade practice. The committee also advanced House Joint Resolution 2 , sponsored by Representative Martinez and Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, to recognize the importance of farmers’ markets to Colorado communities, small businesses, and agriculture and encourage the Colorado Department of Agriculture to continue to support and promote farmers’ markets. “Farmers’ markets are hubs of activity that create community and provide opportunities for Coloradans to support farmers, ranchers, and small businesses,” said Marchman. “I’m proud to sponsor this resolution to recognize the importance of farmers’ markets to our communities’ health, wellbeing, and economic prosperity and encourage the Colorado Department of Agriculture to continue to support them.” All three bills will now be considered by the Legislative Council. If approved, they will be introduced during the 2026 legislative session and advance through the regular legislative process. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan into law. < Back May 23, 2024 McLachlan Bills to Extend Federal Indian Boarding School Research Program, Boost K-12 Science Performance Become Law DENVER / ENGLEWOOD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan into law. HB24-1444 will implement History Colorado recommendations to support healing generational trauma in tribal communities, capture oral histories and dive deeper into long standing inequities faced by tribal communities. “History Colorado’s research about the federal Indian boarding schools revealed the atrocities of the past; it left us with a choice on how to right these wrongs and better support our tribal communities today,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This law extends this important research for another three years, acknowledging the abuse and forced assimilation and addressing some of the longstanding social, economic, and educational inequities still faced by our tribal communities.” “We cannot erase the horrors of the past, but we must face them,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “This new law directs the state of Colorado to continue to expose the truth about the American Indian boarding schools.” HB24-1444 in consultation with tribes, extends the federal Indian boarding school research program within History Colorado until 2027. Enacted in 2022 through HB22-1327 , this research program was tasked with researching the victimization that occurred at American Indian boarding schools in Colorado. History Colorado released the findings from their report and recommendations in October of 2023, which revealed that nine institutions in the state attempted to assimilate American Indian students. HB24-1444 invests $1 million to continue the program and ensure consultation with different tribes, the steering committee, and the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs in putting forward recommendations to work toward social, educational and economic equity for tribal communities by November 8, 2025. HB24-1446 is a bipartisan law that will make no-cost professional development programs available to science educators, with an emphasis on in-person and virtual programming that supports students who are below grade level, students living with disabilities, gifted students, and students who are English Language Learners. “I’m also proud that my bipartisan bill to make professional development programs available to science educators at no cost became law today,” continued McLachlan. “The key to success in the classroom is a great educator, and this law makes it easier for our science teachers to continue honing their skills and meet the diverse needs of our students.” HB24-1446 aims to improve K-12 science performance for Colorado students by giving teachers the tools and resources they need to foster success among the students who need the most support. With this law, teachers who participate in this professional development may earn credit towards license renewal. Rural school districts must be prioritized if demand for the training exceeds capacity. The program will be made available beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Previous Next

< Back April 16, 2020 REP. MCCLUSKIE NAMED APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR DENVER, CO — Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, today announced that she has appointed Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, as Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations. Traditionally the second-ranking member of the Joint Budget Committee in each chamber serves as Appropriations Chair. “I am honored to have the confidence of Speaker Becker and JBC Chair Esgar, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Joint Budget Committee and the House Appropriations Committee as we craft this year’s budget and look closely at how we can help our state, businesses and Coloradans recover from this pandemic,” said Rep. McCluskie, D-Dillon. “When we come back into session, we’re going to have to make a lot of difficult decisions about how we spend our state’s precious resources,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Rep. McCluskie has earned the trust of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle with her deep understanding of state’s budget and fiscal issues, and I know she will do an excellent job leading the House Appropriations Committee as it works on legislation that impacts the state’s budget.” The House Committee on Appropriations considers bills that impact state spending and revenues and authorizes appropriations (state spending) on legislation. Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo, will take on the role of Vice-Chair, as is customary for the ranking member of the Joint Budget Committee. Previous Next

< Back June 1, 2021 HOUSE MOVES TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY-DRIVEN GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION SOLUTIONS Reps. Hooton and Daugherty’s bill would adjust the state preemption on gun violence prevention laws, empowering local governments to implement their own solutions DENVER, CO — The House today advanced a bill to declare that the regulation of the sale and transfer of firearms is a matter of both state and local concern, repealing the state-level preemption that currently prevents localities from enacting stricter gun violence laws than those of the state. The bill passed on Second Reading. “We’ve been working to end mass shootings and stem the tide of gun violence in Colorado for years now, and the tragic shooting that reeled my Boulder community this year only made the need to act that much more pressing,” said Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder. “The critical bill we advanced today will give local governments the ability to raise gun safety standards in their communities to meet the needs of their residents.” “Colorado’s vast regional diversity means that the gun violence prevention solutions that come up in Custer County are probably going to look a lot different to those in Denver,” said Rep. Lindsey Daughtery, D-Arvada. “This bill respects the rights of gun owners and follows in our longstanding tradition of local control to allow localities to implement the solutions that make sense for their individual communities.” Current law prohibits a local government from enacting laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit the purchase, transfer, or possession of a firearm. SB21-256 adjusts this prohibition by declaring the regulation of firearms a matter of state and local concern, allowing local governments to set higher standards. Under this bill, local governments would have the authority to enact regulations governing the transfer or possession of firearms, ammunition, or firearm components and accessories, so long as the regulations are more restrictive than state laws on the subject. The bill stipulates that criminal penalties for a violation of local regulations cannot be brought for a person who did not know or could not be reasonably expected to know that they were in violation of the local regulations. And that only civil penalties can be brought for a person violating a local concealed carry regulations with a maximum first offense penalty of $50. Recently, in the weeks leading up to the tragic shooting in Boulder, a court struck down Boulder’s local assault weapons ban. If it had been law at the time, SB21-256 would have allowed Boulder to keep this ban in place. The bill does not change existing law that allows Coloradans to travel freely throughout the state with a firearm in their vehicle. Previous Next

< Back June 3, 2020 PASSED! DEMOCRATS STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR ENERGY CONSUMERS DENVER, CO — The House today passed Representative Daneya Esgar’s bill to increase and improve protections for energy consumers by a vote of 55-12. The bill includes specific protections for low-income Coloradans and those who have an increased electricity use due to a medical condition. “Far too many Coloradans are feeling the economic strain of this pandemic and even struggling to keep the lights on,” said Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “This bill will go a long way towards guaranteeing protections for low-income Coloradans who may face having their power disconnected. It will also provide more support to those who use a considerable amount of power due to a health condition. This bill is the result of years of work and advocacy in Southern Colorado, and I’m proud to see it swiftly pass the House.” SB20-030 imposes various requirements on public utilities and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) related to information reporting, billing, and customer interactions. Specifically, the bill would require utilities under the PUC’s authority to report data related to customers who receive the medical exemption from tiered electricity rates, including information related to efforts the utilities have undertaken to enroll qualified individuals into the medical exemption program. SB20-030 also nearly doubles the level of income that the PUC may use to means test the medical exemption, allowing more Coloradans with medical needs to take advantage of the program. Among several other protections, SB20-030 includes a provision that directs the PUC to standardize practices for electric and gas utilities to use when disconnecting service due to nonpayment. This process must include providing the consumer with information regarding energy-assistance programs, prohibiting disconnection during extreme weather periods, allowing customers the opportunity to have their service reconnected on the same day, among other protections. Finally, SB20-030 puts in place guardrails to ensure that the PUC does not approve rate change mechanisms that disproportionately impact low-income residential communities, deeming these changes to be contrary to the public interest. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS RETAIL CRIME AND THEFT ADVANCES DENVER, CO – A bill to address the rise in retail crime and protect Coloradans from fraudulent online marketplace sellers advanced today in the House on Second Reading. HB22-1099, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, would require online marketplaces to verify personal seller information and allow buyers to report suspicious activity. “This is a smart-on-crime bill that will make it harder for thieves to resell stolen goods online and it will reduce theft from Colorado businesses,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts D-Avon . “This bill attacks the root cause of large-scale retail theft requiring online marketplaces to verify personal seller information which would knock down suspicious online sellers. This common-sense bill works to build a safer Colorado for everyone by protecting businesses from theft and consumers from purchasing stolen or counterfeit goods.” If passed HB22-1099 would require online marketplaces to verify the bank account information, tax identification number, and contact information from high-volume third-party sellers. This bill would also require sellers to disclose personal contact information to buyers, such as their name and address to assist in the authentication process for purchasing goods online. Previous Next

On August 7, two laws sponsored by Representative Karen McCormick will go into effect to increase access to veterinary care, especially in rural and underserved Colorado communities. < Back August 2, 2024 McCormick’s Laws to Increase Access to Veterinary Care Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – On August 7, two laws sponsored by Representative Karen McCormick will go into effect to increase access to veterinary care, especially in rural and underserved Colorado communities. “We must take a responsible approach to address Colorado’s shortage in veterinary medicine that ensures the best care for our beloved pets and animals and our public health,” said Veterinarian and Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of HB24-1047 and HB24-1048. “The two laws going into effect soon will expand access to veterinary care in a responsible, safe way by outlining best practices for telehealth for animals and for allowing the expansion of scope of practice for both Registered Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Technician Specialists. Under our new law it’s clear – these highly trained, credentialed mid-level professionals are legally allowed to care for animals on Colorado veterinary teams.” HB24-1047 helps address Colorado’s veterinary storage by allowing veterinarians who have established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship to delegate certain tasks to veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists. This law allows a new designation of a veterinary technician specialist, and aims to elevate the veterinary technician profession as mid-level providers. One piece of the puzzle toward addressing the workforce shortage of veterinarians is to fully utilize the education, skill-set, and expertise of veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists in providing care to animals in our state. Additionally, to ensure Colorado’s animals are receiving high-quality care, HB24-1047 establishes a framework for supervision and delegation by veterinarians and requires continuing education for veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists. “From dogs and cats to the livestock on our farms and ranches, the increasing shortage of veterinarians threatens the health and safety of our animals and the livelihood of many in our communities,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, sponsor of HB24-1048. “With this new law going into effect, we’re increasing telehealth veterinary services to ensure rural Coloradans can receive quality and timely help for their livestock and household pets.” HB24-1048 establishes a framework to increase telehealth services while also ensuring that high standards of care and ethical practice are provided to both pets and agricultural animals in Colorado. The law allows a licensed veterinarian to provide veterinary services via telehealth after they have established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, may refer a patient to a veterinary specialist who can provide services via telehealth. Previous Next