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< Back May 6, 2021 BILL TO EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS, SAVE LIVES ADVANCES Judiciary Committee Advances gun violence prevention measure DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today advanced Reps. Judy Amabile and Steven Woodrow’s bill to strengthen Colorado’s gun transfer background check system by preventing individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors from obtaining a firearm for a period of time and closing the ‘Charleston Loophole’. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “When my community was devastated by the senseless actions of a troubled individual with a history of violence, I was left reeling and grasping for answers on how to prevent this from happening again,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “As the investigation continues, it has become clear to me that the shooter’s conviction of a violent misdemeanor should have been the red flag that prevented him from buying a deadly weapon. I’m proud to honor my community with action today.” “Child abuse, hate crimes, possession of an illegal weapon — these are the types of recent convictions that would stop you from obtaining a firearm under this bill,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “While I’m certain we’ll continue to encounter opposition on this legislation moving forward, an overwhelming majority of Coloradans agree it really shouldn’t be controversial. This bill is about saving lives, and ensuring that individuals with a history of violence have a more difficult time getting their hands on the type of weapon that can take a dozen lives in mere seconds.” HB21-1298 prohibits a person who has been convicted of certain violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for 5 years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault, and third degree assault. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. This bill avoids that by creating a state requirement for a firearms dealer to receive approval from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation prior to transferring a firearm. Previous Next

< Back February 7, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES ESGAR BILL ALLOWING EASE FOR TRANSGENDER COLORADANS TO CHANGE BIRTH CERTIFICATE (Feb. 6) — A bill sponsored by Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo that will allow transgender Coloradans to change the gender on their birth certificate and other official identification documents without undergoing surgery or appearing in front of a judge passed the House Health and Insurance Committee today. “This bill is about personal freedom,” said Rep. Esgar, co-chair of the LGBTQ caucus. “It is my hope that this is the last time these brave Coloradans need to come testify, to share their stories and bare their souls to you. Let’s put this down in law and make life a little bit easier for our fellow Coloradans.” Current law requires transgender Coloradans to undergo surgery and then appear in front of a judge to prove the surgical procedure before they can update the gender on their birth certificate. They are then given an amended version of their birth certificate which can sometimes force a transgender person to out themselves when asked why their birth certificate is amended. This bill will grant them an entirely new birth certificate, without going through cumbersome and expensive hurdles like surgery or appearing in front of a judge, to have their documents match their gender identity. HB19-1039 also removes this publication requirement, making the process safer and more private. Rep. Titone in her closing statement during the committee hearing: “A year ago, I sat next to Rep. Esgar on this bill to testify. This bill was never for me, it’s for young people – they go through a lot of abuse. They have to look over their shoulder and always wonder who’s going to be on their side and who’s not. I thank you for bringing this bill again and I am so happy to be on this committee today to vote yes on this bill. I do not want to see this bill in committee again. I want to see it put into law.” HB19-1039 will allow transgender Coloradans to change the gender designation their birth certificate to male, female or X, to correspond with their gender identity. The X gender marker does not stand for intersex, it means that the individual does not identify as male nor female. Current law also requires a person to file legal notice in a newspaper three times and include their current name and proposed new name before they can change it; this bill removes that requirement. The bill passed the committee on a vote of 7-4 and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

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

The House today advanced legislation in a preliminary vote to secure eviction protections for Coloradans who rely on public assistance programs. < Back April 12, 2023 Eviction Protections Advances in House DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation in a preliminary vote to secure eviction protections for Coloradans who rely on public assistance programs. “Rapidly rising rents and increasing demand for housing are some of the biggest issues Coloradans are facing today,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “This bill will help protect renters from being pushed out of housing options over issues that could be worked through with better communication. Landlord-tenant mediation for eligible lower-income communities and Coloradans with disabilities would create a process that works for all parties involved and curtail the need for an eviction.” “People with disabilities are twice as likely as their able-bodied counterparts to be impoverished,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “Communities that are reliant on critical safety net programs are the most susceptible to the threat of eviction and the most at-risk for homelessness. It’s essential that we protect our most vulnerable communities that might not have the financial or legal resources to fight against the eviction process, especially in the middle of our housing crisis.” HB23-1120 would require a residential rental agreement to include mandatory landlord-tenant mediation if the renter receives supplemental security income, federal social security disability insurance, or cash assistance through the Colorado Works program and discloses that information to the landlord in writing. Nonprofits and landlords with less than five single family homes and less than five total units are exempt. Under the bill, residential rental agreements are prohibited from including a waiver of mandatory mediation and must include language stating that a residential tenant who receives cash assistance has a right to mediation conducted by a third party at no cost, before their landlord files an eviction complaint with the court. Renters who receive cash assistance and have provided written notice to their landlord would be protected from being removed from the property by law enforcement officers for at least 30 days after the entry of judgment, except in cases of substantial violation or if the landlord has less than five single family rental homes and less than five total rental units. Previous Next

< Back June 25, 2021 $130M FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NEW TENANT PROTECTIONS SIGNED INTO LAW DENVER, CO — Governor Polis today signed three bills into law that will provide nearly $30 million in federal funds to support local government efforts to address homelessness; immediately invest $98.5 million in federal funds to construct nearly 7,000 affordable housing units; deploy $1.5 million in eviction legal defense funding; set aside $415 million in federal funds toward future affordable housing efforts; and provide tenants new protections and rights. “We will not wait any longer to address Colorado’s housing crisis,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “This legislature has made historic investments to make housing more affordable and provide shelter for individuals experiencing homlessness. We are immediately investing nearly $100 million to build nearly 7,000 affordable housing units, and we’re providing $30 million to local governments to help them purchase and convert underutilized properties to provide shelter or affordable housing.” “Housing should be a human right in Colorado, but it’s way too hard for low and middle-income families to find an affordable place to live,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “From the cost of rent to the price of buying a house or condo, it’s becoming more expensive to live in Colorado, and wages and salaries aren’t keeping up. Today, we’re giving local governments and legal aid organizations the tools they need to reduce homelessness and to provide due process in eviction court proceedings. We’re also setting up a responsible process for lawmakers to work alongside experts and community leaders to craft policies for the next legislative session that will invest $415 million to increase access to affordable housing across Colorado.” SB21-242 , sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Steven Woodrow, provides $30 million in federal funding for grants and loans for local governments and nonprofits to purchase underutilized hotels, underutilized motels and other underutilized properties for the purpose of providing noncongregate shelter or affordable housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. Grant recipients are encouraged to invest in hotels and motels that are women and minority-owned, as well as those that are ADA compliant. HB21-1329 , sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Steven Woodrow, channels $550 million in federal stimulus funds toward affordable housing efforts. It immediately invests $98.5 million of that funding to build nearly 7,000 housing units that will help Coloradans who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic obtain affordable housing. It also invests $1.5 million into the state’s Eviction Legal Defense grant program, doubling the state’s support to this program in order to protect tenants who might be facing eviction as the federal eviction moratorium comes to a close. The bill requires a broad and diverse stakeholder process during the interim that will develop and make recommendations to the General Assembly for how to allocate the remaining $415 million. The funds will be used on programs or services that address housing insecurity, a lack of affordable housing or homelessness, including construction of new affordable housing units, housing and rental assistance programs and supportive housing programs. “Today, Colorado’s housing laws are more fair for renters and offer new protections that will help tenants avoid eviction,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora. “The bill Governor Polis signed today will reduce frequent and astronomical rent increases that force people from their homes and provide renters with more time to avoid an eviction or put their effects in order before being removed from their homes.” “No one should be left with just a few hours to pack all their belongings and move out of their home before law enforcement carries out an eviction,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “This new law offers tenants basic protections to help them avoid eviction or land back on their feet rather than putting them on a potential path to homelessness. The protections are critical for helping our state build back stronger and will help vulnerable people avoid losing the place where they live or be quickly priced out of their residences.” HB21-1121 , sponsored by Representatives Dominique Jackson and Iman Jodeh helps keep Coloradans housed and creates more fairness between landlords and tenants by providing renters with additional time before law enforcement can assist in an eviction. It also prohibits residential landlords from increasing rent more than once in a 12-month period and increases the notification timeline for rent increases when there is not a written lease. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2022 COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO PREVENT FENTANYL DEATHS PASSES COMMITTEE Legislation significantly increases penalties on dealers and invests in proven public health solutions DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed comprehensive legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Rep. Mike Lynch to combat the fentanyl crisis and save lives. “Today, we took bold action to save lives,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This comprehensive bill will crack down on the dealers peddling death in our communities. The amendments we passed recognize the unique nature of fentanyl; setting the possession level at one gram does not make low-level personal use of fentanyl a felony, but it acknowledges the deadliness of this drug and gets fentanyl off our streets. This bill also invests in proven public health approaches that will expand access to treatment, make Narcan and test strips widely available, and create a robust education and awareness campaign to save lives.” “We are seeing unprecedented numbers of overdose deaths in Colorado. The fentanyl crisis demands an aggressive response that will hold dealers accountable and remove this deadly drug from our streets, and that’s what this comprehensive fentanyl legislation will do,” said Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein. “This solution will save lives by giving prosecutors the tools we need to put dealers in prison and protect our communities. This legislation will allow us to respond aggressively to dealers who take Coloradans’ lives when distributing this drug, and I encourage lawmakers to pass this bill.” “This legislation will give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on fentanyl dealers to get this dangerous drug off our streets,” said Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington. “Fentanyl doesn’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat; people are dying in every community in our state. This bill is a comprehensive solution that will save lives and prevent fentanyl deaths.” HB22-1326 is a comprehensive approach that includes both proven public health solutions and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers to save lives and get fentanyl off Colorado streets. The bill will strengthen criminal penalties on any individual distributing fentanyl. In line with other models for substance use convictions, the bill will also integrate mandatory SUD assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing to ensure people get the treatment they need. The bill focuses on compound fentanyl, which is fentanyl mixed with other drugs or substances, and will provide law enforcement with additional tools to go after dealers while providing treatment options to individuals with an SUD. Individuals who are dealing fentanyl will face increased felony charges, and if the defendant has distributed any amount of fentanyl and it leads to someone’s death, they can be charged with a level one drug felony and face the drug code’s strongest penalties. The bill gives law enforcement tools to require treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. Defendants in possession of any amount of fentanyl compound will be assessed for a substance use disorder and required to complete an education program developed by the Office of Behavioral Health in CDPHE. Individuals assessed as having a substance use disorder will have to complete mandatory treatment. The committee passed an amendment that would make it a felony to knowingly possess more than one gram of fentanyl compound/mixture. Another amendment passed by committee addresses the danger of pure fentanyl. Once Colorado’s labs have the ability to test for the percentage of fentanyl within a compound, this amendment creates a zero tolerance policy for the possession of pure fentanyl. The purpose of the amendment is to turn on a no tolerance policy for possession of pure fentanyl when the testing is available. This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will address root causes and keep people alive. Colorado will save lives by investing in effective public health and substance use prevention and treatment strategies and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves from this more deadly drug. The legislation directs $29 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to implement recommendations from the Behavioral Health Task Force on effective harm reduction strategies and increased access to substance use disorder treatment in the criminal justice system. While public awareness of fentanyl has risen, education campaigns that promote effective overdose prevention tools will save lives. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will develop, implement and maintain an ongoing statewide prevention and education campaign to address fentanyl education needs in the state, including the message that no amount of fentanyl is safe. The bill will also provide grants to develop and implement community-focused education campaigns on the dangers of fentanyl. The proposal also makes opiate antagonists more widespread, which will help save lives by preventing overdoses. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to expand wildfire prevention efforts through community education. HB24-1024, sponsored by Representatives Tammy Story and Elizabeth Velasco, passed by a vote of 49-13. < Back April 25, 2024 House Passes Bill to Continue Wildfire Prevention Awareness DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to expand wildfire prevention efforts through community education. HB24-1024, sponsored by Representatives Tammy Story and Elizabeth Velasco, passed by a vote of 49-13. “Many Colorado communities are in wildfire-prone areas, but the Marshall Fire tragedy taught us that we must be prepared for the worst because wildfires can quickly spread into our neighborhoods,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer. “With this legislation, we’re extending the great work that the Colorado State Forest Service has done to educate Coloradans on wildfire risk and mitigation strategies so we can continue to protect our communities from wildfires.” “Colorado has experienced devastating wildfires in the last few years that have burned down homes, businesses, and our beautiful outdoors,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Western Slope communities, like mine, are especially vulnerable to wildfires. The Colorado State Forest Service has done a great job providing outreach and educational materials, including bilingual materials for our non-English speaking Coloradans, to promote wildfire prevention and mitigation information. This bill would extend CSFS’s wildfire outreach campaign so we can continue efforts that will make our communities more wildfire-resilient.” HB24-1024 would require the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) to continue its enhanced wildfire outreach campaign through 2027, as well as other outreach efforts that increase awareness of wildfire risk mitigation in the wildland-urban interface. This bill builds on a 2022 law , also sponsored by Representative Story, that directed CSFS to create a working group and implement an enhanced wildfire awareness month outreach campaign for 2023 and 2024. Previous Next

< Back April 28, 2022 BILLS TO SAVE RESTAURANTS MONEY AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES ADVANCE DENVER, CO – House committees today advanced two bills that will allow restaurants to save money by keeping some of the sales tax they collect and invest in community revitalization projects that create jobs and support local economies. “Despite the end of public health orders, restaurants are still struggling with workforce challenges and increased costs, so we are redoubling our efforts to save them money each month,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This legislation will save almost 9,000 restaurants and retailers close to $40 million this summer, which they can use to cover expenses, expand their business, pay their workers more and reduce costs for consumers.” “Today, House committees passed two of my bills, which will save restaurants and retailers money and revitalize communities in every part of our state,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “HB22-1406 will allow restaurants to keep some of the sales tax they collect to provide them relief from rising costs and workforce challenges. The Community Revitalization Grant Program has funded amazing projects from Ridgway to Denver that have created and sustained jobs and boosted local economies. Because of the success of these grants, we’re dedicating an additional $20 million which will go directly to building vibrant spaces that drive economic opportunity.” “All you have to do is look at the incredible projects that are coming online across the state to see the amazing success of the Community Revitalization Program that we created last year through bipartisan legislation,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “This program has proven so successful that we are dedicating an additional $20 million this year to help jumpstart new projects that will revitalize communities and mainstreets in every part of Colorado.” HB22-1406 , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Dylan Roberts, passed the House Finance Committee by a vote of 9-2. The bill will save nearly 9,000 restaurants and retailers nearly $40 million by allowing them to keep some of the sales tax they collect. HB22-1409 , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Brianna Titone, passed the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee by a vote of 11-1. The bill directs an additional $20 million to the Community Revitalization Grant Program, which the legislature created last year as part of Democrats’ Colorado Comeback State Stimulus plan. The program provides gap funding for projects in creative districts, historic districts, mainstreets or neighborhood commercial centers to create workforce housing, commercial spaces, and child care centers to support the state’s economic recovery. Projects that have already received funding can be found here . Previous Next

First-in-the-nation legislation to save farmers and ranchers money and time on costly agricultural equipment repairs goes into effect on January 1, 2024. < Back December 20, 2023 New Right To Repair Agriculture Equipment Law Goes Into Effect DENVER, CO – First-in-the-nation legislation to save farmers and ranchers money and time on costly agricultural equipment repairs goes into effect on January 1, 2024. HB23-1011 , sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, and Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Janice Marchman requires agricultural equipment manufacturers to comply with existing consumer right to repair laws. “Starting next month, farmers and ranchers across Colorado can save both time and money on fixing their own equipment,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “I’m incredibly proud of this first-in-the-nation right to repair law because without it, farmers are forced to wait weeks for repair technicians' availability and spend outrageous amounts on necessary repairs. Right to repair empowers Coloradans to fix their own equipment, and this new law helps get farmers and ranchers back to work faster when their equipment breaks.” “Colorado’s farmers play a critical role in our economy, but for too long when their equipment broke down, they were forced to use an authorized mechanic to get it fixed, costing them both extra time and money,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “That’s why I fought to give Colorado farmers the freedom to repair their equipment themselves or have an independent mechanic do the work. This new law will give Colorado farmers a leg up and save them time and money so they can focus on their important job of feeding the world.” “Family farmers and ranchers like the ones I represent need all the help they can get, and this new law is a great first step,” Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, said. “A broken tractor or combine during harvest season can be devastating, and makes an already difficult job that much harder. Farmers should be able to apply know-how and elbow grease to fix their own equipment instead of being forced to use an authorized dealer. I am thrilled that our bill to keep operations running smoothly and save Colorado ag producers critical time and money is going into effect.” As outlined in HB23-1011 , agricultural equipment manufacturers now need to provide necessary parts, software, firmware, tools or documentation to independent repair providers and owners at a fair and reasonable price. Colorado is the first and only state in the nation to secure a law for the right to repair agricultural equipment. Under this law, agricultural equipment manufacturers or dealers selling on behalf of the manufacturer must provide repair items at fair and reasonable costs. This law aims to save farmers and ranchers money on necessary equipment repairs while speeding up the repair process. Agriculture is one of the largest and leading industries in the state of Colorado. HB23-1011 is supported by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the Corn Growers, Wheat Growers, Wool Producers, Fruit and Vegetable Producers, the Cattleman, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Previous Next

< Back April 20, 2022 BILL TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS IN HOAS ADVANCES DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation on a preliminary vote that will protect homeowners in HOAs from foreclosure when they fall behind on their dues. “We’ve heard heartbreaking stories of families who did everything they could to keep up with their mortgage and HOA fines and fees being forced from their homes,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “No one ever expects their HOA to foreclose on their home for unpaid dues, but thousands of families are facing this unimaginable reality. This bill will protect homeowners in HOAs and make it harder to foreclose on families for unpaid fines and fees.” HB22-1137 , sponsored by Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Mary Bradfield, would create new protections to prevent HOAs from easily foreclosing on homeowners because of late or unpaid HOA fines and fees. The bill requires HOAs to alert unit owners if they are behind on their payments and prohibits an HOA or property management company from referring the delinquent amount to collection unless a majority of the HOAs board members vote to do so in a public hearing. It limits late fees, fines and interest to a maximum of $500 total per violation. Additionally, before an HOA initiates a foreclosure action, they must offer the unit owner a repayment plan, a critical safeguard for homeowners to protect their largest asset. HB22-1137 has proven to be a critical piece of legislation in light of the wave of foreclosures pending in the Green Valley Ranch Neighborhood in Denver where many homeowners have seen fines and fees from their HOA balloon into an unsustainable source of debt and threatening their homes. Previous Next

< Back October 24, 2019 WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE ADVANCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE WATER MANAGEMENT Committee approves bills to spur innovation in water management, broaden stakeholder engagement and crack down on water speculation DENVER, CO– The Water Resources Review Committee today advanced four bills to improve water management. If approved by the legislature next session, the bills would encourage innovation in water management, include additional stakeholder feedback in the Upper Basin States’ Drought Contingency Plan and study how the state can better enforce anti-water speculation statutes. “From outdoor recreation to agriculture, our state’s water resources are critical for almost every aspect of our economy and daily life,” said Water Resources Review Committee Vice Chair Rep. Dylan Roberts (D-Avon). “We have an incredible opportunity to pilot and deploy new technologies that could revolutionize and improve how we manage and conserve Colorado’s most essential natural resource, our water. The bills we passed today will guarantee communities across the state have a voice in discussions about water management and will ensure that we are using all the tools we have available to protect our water from out-of-state special interests and manage our water appropriately.” 1) The committee approved legislation to spur the deployment of new technologies that could improve water management. Innovative technologies, such as blockchain, telemetry, improved sensors and advanced aerial observation platforms can enhance monitoring, management, conservation and trading of water resources. The bill asks the University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado Water Institute at Colorado State University to conduct feasibility studies to pilot deployments of the new technologies. While not limited to specific technologies, the study will investigate: Sensors to monitor surface and groundwater use Direct or remote sensors to monitor water quality Cellular and satellite telemetry systems allowing remote access to sensor data Aerial observation platforms, including high-altitude balloons and unmanned aerial vehicles Satellite-based remote sensing and water resource forecasting technologies Blockchain-based documentation, communication and authentication of data regarding water use, trading and conservation Colorado has become a national leader in developing innovative uses for blockchain and has become a hub for startup technology firms. Last session, the General Assembly passed a law to study how blockchain can be used in agriculture and also clarified the regulatory environment for digital tokens and cryptocurrencies, which are based on blockchain. 2) The committee also advanced legislation that would require the Colorado Water Conservation Board to broaden stakeholder engagement by using established procedures for public comment when adopting a final or significantly amended water resources demand management program. This year, the states of the upper Colorado River Basin, including Colorado, adopted the Colorado Upper Basin States’ Drought Contingency Plan, which necessitated the development of water demand management programs. Last session, the General Assembly passed SB19-212 , which appropriated $1.7 million from the General Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for the Colorado Water Conservation Board to develop a water demand management program. 3) Legislation to study ways to improve the state’s anti-water speculation statutes also moved forward. Current Colorado law prohibits speculation in water rights, but lawmakers have heard concerns from Western Slope communities and from residents in other parts of the state that financial interests are purchasing water rights with the intention of holding them for a period of time and then selling the water for profit when the price increases. The bill requires the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources to convene a working group during the 2020 interim to explore ways to strengthen water anti-speculation laws. 4) The committee also approved a bill to increase the number of state water well inspectors. The bill also requires the state board of examiners of water well construction and pump installation contractors to create new rules to identify and prioritize the inspection of high-risk water wells. Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO HELP COLORADANS RECOVER FROM PANDEMIC DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to help Colorado families get back on their feet and recover from the pandemic. “For many low-income Coloradans, the pandemic ripped away any savings they may have had and exacerbated long standing barriers that disproportionately prevent Black and Brown Coloradans from accessing banking services and credit,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Sadly, when there’s nowhere else for people to turn, predatory lenders and payday loan companies can take advantage of them and drive them further into debt and poverty. This bill creates the Colorado Household Financial Recovery Program to increase access to credit and low-interest loans for low-income Coloradans to help them pay for necessities without destroying their financial futures.” “Access to capital or loans can be out of reach for many of the Coloradans who were also disproportionately impacted by the pandemic,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “With the legislation we passed today, we will provide more Coloradans with access to the financial resources they need to overcome economic hardships and provide for their families.” HB22-1359, sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Marc Snyder, passed by a vote of 40-24. It creates the Colorado Household Financial Recovery Program to boost low-income individuals and households impacted by the pandemic or the economic conditions that have followed as a result. The program aims to make low-interest loans and credit more available to low-income families. Funded initially with $5.2 million in one-time funds, the program will partner with financial institutions to facilitate small low-interest loans to individuals and families impacted by the pandemic. Many individuals do not have access to credit as a result of the financial pressures of the pandemic, while at the same time, many have drained their savings and are struggling to pay for necessities as pandemic induced inflation has led to rising costs for families. The legislation will assist Coloradans who face financial insecurity or a lack of access to financial and banking services obtain affordable loans. Previous Next