< Back May 20, 2019 GOV SIGNS BILLS TO HONOR, PROTECT COLORADO’S SERVICEMEMBERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS Since 2018 CSU-Global has graduated over 18,000 students (May 20) – Today, Governor Polis signed a set of bills at Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1 in Denver that honors and protects Colorado’s servicemembers and first responders. SB19-194, a bipartisan bill to allow Colorado State University’s Global Campus to offer students who are National Guard Members tuition benefits, was signed first. Currently, CSU-Global students cannot seek financial aid or receive tuition benefits through the National Guard’s state statute as an institution for which the National Guard members can utilize their tuition benefits. “CSU-Global is a strong fit for National Guard members because it is designed to serve non-traditional students. Many National Guard members travel outside of the country to keep us all safe,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “I have a campus in my district and giving our troops the ability to utilize their tuition benefits at CSU-Global will allow them to serve while also working to complete their higher education.” Nearly 40 percent of CSU-Global students are Colorado residents who reside in 63 out of the 64 counties in the state. Since 2018, CSU-Global has graduated over 18,000 students, with roughly 15 percent of those students having military affiliation. SB19-167, sponsored by Rep. Tony Exum and Rep. Monica Duran, was also signed today to honor Colorado’s firefighters with a license plate. Bill sponsor Rep. Exum is a retired battalion chief in the Colorado Springs Fire Department. “Firefighters keep us safe, are a critical part of our communities and deserve to be recognized for their service,” said Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs. The law creates a Colorado professional firefighters license plate where a portion of the fees collected for this license plate go towards supporting firefighters and their families. “It is crucial that we honor the brave firefighters and service members who have fought for our country and state, or continue to put their lives on the line for us,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. Rep. Duran’s bill to honor the service of women’s veterans was also signed at the ceremony today. Finally, Polis signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. James Coleman, D-Denver, and Rep. Terri Carver, R-Colorado Springs, extending the Peace Officer Mental Health Grant Program. “What this new law will do is clean up the grant program to allow greater access to the available funds for peace officers and their mental wellness,” said Rep. Coleman during the floor debate. “It will also extend that assistance to their community by offering training and prevention programs, peer support groups, and reimbursement for counseling services.” The original legislation, HB17-1215, passed in 2017 and only allowed sheriffs’ offices and municipal police departments to apply for the mental health support funds. They could also only be used for on-scene response services. HB19-1244 expands the allowances of this money to be used for training, education and prevention programs related to mental trauma; peer support programs; assistance to agencies to develop and implement policies to support peace officers; and a reimbursement program for counseling services. It also expands the peace officers who are eligible for this program. It now includes Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Department of Corrections, campus police, town marshal’s offices, divisions of parks and wildlife and more. Previous Next

< Back January 10, 2022 SPEAKER GARNETT MAKES COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS DENVER, CO — House Speaker Alec Garnett today made additional committee appointments for the Second Session of the 73rd General Assembly. The appointments were necessitated in part by the resignation of Representative Dominique Jackson who was appointed Administrator of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Region 8. “I’m excited to make these committee appointments and begin our work moving Colorado forward,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This session, we’re going to redouble our efforts on saving people money and delivering transformational changes that position Colorado for the future and build a stronger, safer and healthier Colorado for all. Many Coloradans are feeling the acute pressures of the pandemic, so we’ll continue our efforts to help Coloradans keep more of their hard-earned money in their wallets.” Majority Committee Assignments for the Second Session of the 73rd General Assembly Agriculture, Livestock and Water Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, Chair Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, Vice Chair Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara Vacant–to be filled by the Representative from HD42 Appropriations Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, Chair Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, Vice Chair Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora Rep. Cathy Kipp, D- Fort Collins Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont Business Affairs and Labor Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, Chair Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, Vice Chair Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Education Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, Chair Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, Vice Chair Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City Energy and Environment Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, Chair Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder, Vice Chair Rep. Tracey Bernett, D-Louisville Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Finance Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, Chair Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, Vice Char Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood Health and Insurance Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver, Chair Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, Vice Chair Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Judiciary Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, Chair Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, Vice Chair Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, Chair Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, Vice Chair Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood, Chair Rep, Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, Vice Chair Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver Rep. Tracey Bernett, D-Louisville Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver Transportation and Local Government Rep. Tony Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs, Chair Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, Vice Chair Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara Vacant–to be filled by the Representative from HD42 Previous Next

< Back March 25, 2021 DEMOCRATS DEFEAT ANTI-WOMAN, ANTI-CHOICE BILLS Health and Insurance Committee Democrats put a swift end to GOP proposals to limit reproductive health care access and stigmatize women who choose to have an abortion. DENVER, CO — The House Health and Insurance Committee today voted down two dangerous GOP proposals to ban abortion, criminalize doctors who perform them, and create a registry of women who have had them. The proposals were both voted down by party line votes of 8-5. “Months after Colorado voters overwhelmingly rejected a dangerous ballot initiative to limit abortion access, Republicans are at it again,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Between proposing that doctors who perform abortions be charged with a class one felony and demanding that women who undergo the procedure face probing and intimate questions about their personal lives, Republicans have shown how out of touch they are with our state.” “We’ve seen some heinous anti-choice proposals introduced in the past, but today’s bill was truly something out of a Handmaid’s Tale fever dream,” said Health and Insurance Chair Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “Proposing the creation of a registry to include the personal information of women who have decided that abortion is the right choice for them is dystopian, cruel, and frankly confounding. The voters in this state have been loud and clear: women in Colorado must have access to a full range of reproductive health care options, including abortions. We won’t allow the will of the voters to be overturned, and we won’t allow these brazen attacks on women to go any further.” HB21-1183 , sponsored by Representative Stephanie Luck, would require healthcare providers that perform abortions to investigate and report personal information about the women obtaining the procedure. This information would then be reported to CDPHE and made public in a report. In addition to compiling the age, race, and marital status, the bill would also require providers to inquire about the number of previous abortions a woman has had, the potential opposition of a partner to obtaining an abortion, the number of children the woman currently has, the reason for the “failure of family planning”, the stage of pregnancy, and the woman’s “reason” for obtaining an abortion, among many other probing questions. The bill was sponsored by 20 out of 24 House Republicans. HB21-1017 , sponsored by Representative Patrick Neville, defines human life at the point of conception and would make it a class one felony for doctors to provide abortions, with no exception for pregnancies that come as a result of rape or incest. In November 2020, Colorado voters defeated proposition 115, a ballot measure to ban abortion after 22 weeks, by an overwhelming 18 point margin. Previous Next

The House today unanimously passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Jennifer Parenti that will improve access to veteran services and benefits. It passed by a final vote of 64-0. < Back April 13, 2023 House Passes Parenti Bill to Improve Access to Veteran Services DENVER, CO - The House today unanimously passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Jennifer Parenti that will improve access to veteran services and benefits. It passed by a final vote of 64-0. “Making critical services easy to access for our veteran community members and their families is crucial and the Western Regional One Source center provides all of the resources they need under one roof,” said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie . “By extending these services, we can help ensure quick, easy, and affordable access to housing assistance, mental health care services, and many more critical resources for veterans across the Western Slope.” SB23-154 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, is a bipartisan bill that continues the Western Region One Source, a one-stop center based in Grand Junction for veteran services. The center opened in 2019 to host various veterans services under one roof, making it easier for veterans in rural areas to be connected to resources like health benefits, employment opportunities, housing, transportation, and more. This bill extends the program to keep the center running until 2030. Previous Next

< Back January 29, 2020 REP. SULLIVAN’S BILL TO PREVENT TOWING AND IMPOUND FEES FOR CRIME VICTIMS ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would help to reimburse victims of crime for certain towing and impound fees. DENVER, CO — Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Tom Sullivan that would offer support to a nonprofit organization that reimburses victims of crime for their towing and impound fees today advanced from the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation passed 9-0. “Undeserved towing and impound fees can be a huge burden on victims of crime during some of the most trying times in their lives,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan (D-Aurora). “In the wake of a crime, paying a towing fee because your car was recovered by law enforcement should be the last thing you have to worry about. This commonsense bill would give important financial and stress relief to victims who need it most. I hope to see it become law this session.” HB20-1107 would create the Victim Towing and Impound Fee Grant Program, which would give out grants to a nonprofit organization that reimburses victims of crime who have been subject to towing or impound fees directly related to their status as a crime victim. The grant program would be housed in the Division of Criminal Justice within the Department of Public Safety. This program will also require tracking of data so the scope of the problem can be more fully assessed and a long-term solution can be identified. Currently, victims of crime in Colorado can be burdened with paying towing and impound fees when their vehicles are recovered by law enforcement or impounded as evidence. Previous Next

< Back May 29, 2019 EFFORT TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING MOVES FORWARD Gov. Polis signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Majority Leader Alec Garnett that would legalize sports betting in Colorado. The measure now heads to the 2019 ballot for voter approval. “Coloradans should have the option of betting on the Nuggets or the Broncos. This new funding will go toward protecting our precious water and we believe this is something everyone can support,” said Majority Leader Garnett, D-Denver. “I also hope this measure will help stamp out black market sports betting and thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support.” HB19-1327 provides a master license to local casinos who can then contract with brick and mortar and/or internet sports betting operators to provide sports betting in Colorado. A 10 percent tax on net sports betting proceeds will be placed in a Sports Betting Fund. That fund will go towards the Water Implementation Cash Fund to support Colorado Water Plan projects that will keep our drinking water safe, our farms and ranches thriving, and keep our rivers healthy. The measure, Proposition DD, will be on the November 2019 ballot. The portion of the bill that Gov. Polis signed authorizes casinos to open in-person sports books and creates the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund. The Colorado Water Conservation Board will govern the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund. Some of the eligible projects for these funds are water storage and supply projects, conversation and land use projects, engagement and innovation activities, agricultural projects and environmental and recreation projects. Organizations in support of this measure are the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Colorado Municipal League, the Colorado River District, the Environmental Defense Action Fund, Western Resource Advocates, and Denver Water. The bill was sponsored by Minority Leader Patrick Neville. The Senate sponsors are Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, and Sen. John Cooke, R-Greeley. Previous Next

< Back May 4, 2021 KENNEDY’S BROADBAND EXPANSION BILL ADVANCES The House Transportation and Local Government Committee today advanced a bill to help close the digital divide and fund broadband development throughout the state. This bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bill passed by a vote of 9-1. “Access to quality internet was already a basic necessity well before COVID made us transition to online work, school, telehealth, and more,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Today we seized a unique opportunity to leverage state dollars to help bridge the digital divide and increase access to reliable internet across the state. This bill is good for businesses, good for students, good for rural Colorado and good for a sustainable economic recovery.” HB21-1289 creates the Colorado Broadband Office and grant programs in various departments to support broadband infrastructure development. It provides $75M to increase internet access across Colorado through the deployment of devices, and the development of middle and last mile infrastructure to support services that have become a necessity during the pandemic, like telehealth. The bill specifically includes $20M for broadband deployment by the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes. Previous Next

< Back March 8, 2019 REP. ROBERTS’ BILL ON WINTER DRIVING CLEARS PASS(AGE) (Mar. 8) – The House floor gave preliminary approval today to a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts to increase safety and efficiency on our roads by updating and revising language in statutes for motor vehicles driving the I-70 mountain corridor. “Given the recent record snowfall, this is a very appropriate day and week for this bill. Many drivers are not prepared for the winter driving conditions on I-70 and that leads to crashes, spin-outs, and closures along the I-70 mountain corridor – especially during winter months,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “Closures due to unprepared drivers on I-70 cause traffic and can hurt our economy on the Western Slope and across Colorado.” This bill gives state patrol more leeway to control the traffic during winter months. “We want to make sure drivers are prepared to drive on I-70 during winter conditions for the safety of themselves and the safety of others, ” said Rep. Roberts added. HB19-1207 updates current statutes to reflect modern traction technology and traction options. It sets minimum standards for tires being used in the winter in the mountain corridor. It also defines the I-70 mountain corridor by mileposts and sets out clear standards for the timeframe for traction equipments requirements. The heightened traction standards would be in effect from September 1 through May 31 of each year and apply to travel between milepost 133 (Dotsero) and milepost 259 (Morrison). HB19-1207 received preliminary passage on the House floor by a voice vote. It still requires a final vote before clearing the final pass in the House and moving to the Senate. Previous Next

The Transportation Legislation Review Committee today advanced bills to improve air quality, make Colorado’s transit systems more accessible for people with disabilities, and help communities create long-term transit goals. < Back September 25, 2024 JOINT RELEASE: Transportation Interim Committee Advances Bills to Increase Transit Options, Improve Accessibility DENVER, CO – The Transportation Legislation Review Committee today advanced bills to improve air quality, make Colorado’s transit systems more accessible for people with disabilities, and help communities create long-term transit goals. “We’ve spent the summer hearing from statewide transit professionals, environmental groups, community members, and disability advocacy organizations to give us a well-rounded picture of the transportation issues our communities are facing, and I am excited with the policy solutions we advanced today on these issues,” said Vice Chair Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of Bills 2 and 6. “From improving transit accessibility to expanding transportation options in our neighborhoods, our committee is focusing on solutions that will have a positive impact on all Coloradans so people can safely get where they need to go in a way that works for them.” “For years, lawmakers, local governments, and transportation advocates have been working to expand transportation options that decrease our reliance on cars,” said Sen. Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, sponsor of Bills 2, 4, 5, and 6. “This year’s slate of bills developed by the Transportation Legislation Review Committee will help support transformative transit projects that will make travel throughout Colorado faster, safer, and more efficient. From increasing transportation options and enhancing safety measures for vulnerable road users and rail systems to improving paratransit services, we’re on the road to a transit future that serves the needs of all Coloradans.” Bill 2 would require the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), metropolitan planning organizations, and certain transit providers and local governments to create and implement plans that would expand transportation services for Coloradans. In developing those plans, it would require CDOT to present a statewide mode choice assessment to the Transportation Legislation Review Committee, the Transportation Commission, and the Colorado Energy Office with recommendations for some of these targets for future years. “Coloradans want transportation options, and our bills could help us find ways to cater transit expansion to meet the unique needs of our communities and improve road safety infrastructure to protect all road users, not just drivers,” said Rep. Steph Vigil, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of Bill 2 and 4. “Strategies to decrease road accidents, like protected bike lanes, have proven to work and make our roads safer for vulnerable road users. I’m excited that we’re one step closer to increasing mass transit options, improving bike lanes, and making other transportation improvements to help us reduce air pollution and traffic congestion.” “Multimodal transportation options like pedestrian infrastructure and bike lanes can save lives by getting vulnerable road users off of dangerous roads,” said Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, sponsor of Bills 2 and 5. “With new funding, local governments will be able to implement safety infrastructure projects that will decrease vehicle accidents and make our streets safer for every Coloradan. Additionally, I’m proud to sponsor new legislation to increase rail safety by making investigative reports of railroads available to the public. Greater transparency around railroad’s safety information will help ensure any problems are brought to light and, ultimately, resolved.” Bill 4 would allow local governments to impose registration fees on light trucks and passenger cars to fund transportation safety improvements for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. “From biking to work to running for exercise, Coloradans deserve safe streets to walk and ride,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of Bill 4. “By advancing this bill today, we’re closer to allowing local governments to secure more funding for their communities to better protect cyclists, pedestrians, and other people on the road.” “Whether in a car, on foot or on a bike, every Coloradan deserves to move around our state safely and efficiently,” said Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, sponsor of Bill 4. “Local governments have led the way in creating safe infrastructure for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, but they need our support to further expand these safety initiatives. I’m excited to continue to work alongside local leaders and transportation advocates to ensure we’re building infrastructure that keeps every Coloradan safe, regardless of their preferred transportation mode.” To improve transparency in railroad safety, Bill 5 would repeal a requirement to keep investigative reports of railroads confidential allowing public inspection of critical safety information. The Public Utilities Commission would still be able to make certain ongoing investigations and security information confidential. “We’re making substantial progress in railroad transportation and safety in Colorado, and we all benefit from transparency of our rail systems,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of Bill 5. “Under our new bill, more details in investigative reports would be available to the public to help us better identify areas of improvement so we can create a safer transit system for Coloradans.” Aiming to create more accessible transit options, Bill 6 would create the Paratransit Task Force to make recommendations on standards and best practices for paratransit services. The bill would also require certain transit providers to coordinate with disability advocates on how to improve paratransit services, including providing accessible fare payment technology and consulting with impacted community members before reducing services. “Certain disabilities make it difficult to drive a car, bike, or walk, and public transit is often the best option to get around,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, sponsor of Bills 5 and 6. “Our transit providers have made changes to make it easier for Coloradans with disabilities to access our buses and trains, but there is always room for improvement. Our bills will help ensure Colorado’s disabled community has a voice in transit decisions and improve transparency in railroad investigations to create more inclusive and safe transit options for all.” The committee also approved one additional bill. The bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2025 session, interim bills will follow the legislative process in the same manner as all other bills. Previous Next

After Republicans in Congress slashed corporate taxes when they passed the GOP budget bill, Democrats are back at the Capitol to responsibly address this crisis with a balanced approach that closes corporate tax loopholes, cuts spending where possible, and uses some of the state’s budget to protect the core services people rely on. < Back August 21, 2025 Bills Introduced to Close Corporate Tax Loopholes and Protect Access to Services to Responsibly Close Budget Deficit Caused by GOP’s Corporate Tax Cuts DENVER, CO – After Republicans in Congress slashed corporate taxes when they passed the GOP budget bill, Democrats are back at the Capitol to responsibly address this crisis with a balanced approach that closes corporate tax loopholes, cuts spending where possible, and uses some of the state’s budget to protect the core services people rely on. “We’re back because Trump and Washington Republicans’ big ugly budget, which any one of the GOP members of our Congressional delegation could have stopped, gave corporations massive tax cuts that blew a billion dollar hole in our budget,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “We will take a balanced approach that closes corporate tax loopholes, responsibly cuts some spending, and uses some of the rainy-day savings Democrats have built up over the last few years to address this crisis and protect funding for health care, roads and education.” “The GOP’s federal budget handed out a billion dollars of corporate tax breaks while making life more expensive for everyone else through higher health costs, energy costs, and grocery costs,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “Coloradans cannot afford the impacts of the GOP budget, which is why we’re back at the Capitol standing up for Colorado families, listening to those on the frontlines of providing services, and working to maximize every dollar. We’re working on a balanced, responsible response to the budget shortfall that will close corporate tax loopholes and protect services that Coloradans rely on rather than the interests of corporations.” “With nearly 80 percent of the tax breaks in Trump’s bill benefiting corporations, it only makes sense to close corporate tax loopholes and help preserve education, health care and public safety,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Coloradans shouldn't lose funding for the core services people rely on to protect corporations who just got $1 billion in tax cuts from Trump and the GOP Congress. The GOP budget hurts vulnerable people the most, including veterans, people with disabilities, and people of color, which is why we are cracking down on offshore tax havens and special interest tax breaks to protect the core services Coloradans rely on to get ahead and thrive.” “Trump and the Congressional Republicans’ big tax bill lets corporations dodge nearly $1 billion in taxes that they owe Colorado to help pay for essentials like health care, schools, and roads,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “While they put corporations and the wealthiest Americans first, we’re choosing the hardworking people of Colorado by closing corporate tax loopholes, protecting essential services, and prioritizing consumer protections during this special session.” Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes HB25B-1003 repeals special corporate tax breaks for insurance companies with a “Regional Home Office”: Under current law, insurance companies with a headquarters/regional home office (RHO) in Colorado can take a special tax break that allows them to pay a lower tax rate. To qualify, 2.5 percent of an insurer’s domestic workforce must be located in Colorado. While intended to incentivize job creation in the insurance industry in Colorado, the State Auditor found in March 2025 that the tax credit is not achieving this goal, and most insurance companies have actually eliminated jobs while claiming this special interest tax break that only exists for them. The bill would repeal this corporate tax break. HB25B-1002 cracks down on foreign tax havens, offshore bank accounts, and tax loopholes for US companies that dodge Colorado taxes with foreign assets: Expand the list of foreign tax havens: Colorado applies extra scrutiny to companies incorporated in common tax havens like the Cayman Islands and Panama, requiring these companies to still pay Colorado taxes unless they can prove they are legitimately operating in the foreign country (see HB21-1311 ). Updated information about international tax avoidance has indicated additional countries used for this purpose, and the bill applies the extra scrutiny to these countries. No Colorado tax breaks for companies investing in other states: Trump’s 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy created a special tax break for multinational businesses that keep their intangible assets in the US, including patents, software, and trademarks. As a federal credit, the majority of claims are from corporations whose assets aren’t even located in Colorado. If the state allows the changes to apply to Colorado taxes as well, it would give a larger Colorado tax break to corporations for investments in other states. The bill would decouple the state from this federal credit entirely. HB25B-1004 allows companies to pre-pay taxes / sells tax credits: This bill would allow an auction of a limited amount of future tax credits. Companies that buy the tax credits would effectively pre-pay a portion of their future taxes now, at a small discount, creating savings and flexibility for them while helping to fill the revenue hole created by H.R. 1 for the state. This was done in HB20-1413 to raise money for CLIMBER small business loans. Several of the tax giveaways in H.R. 1, such as the changes to business depreciation rules, are retroactive or front-loaded to have a much bigger impact in the current fiscal year (2025-26) than future years; allowing companies to pre-pay future taxes now partially offsets this effect. HB25B-1001 limits tax breaks for higher earning businesses: Trump’s 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy allowed certain business owners to deduct (not pay taxes on) 20 percent of “qualified business income” (QBI) through 2025. The QBI deduction applies to pass-through businesses, such as partnerships, S corporations, and real estate investment trusts. H.R. 1 made this deduction permanent and made some modifications. In 2020, Colorado decoupled from this federal tax change for business owners with incomes over $500,000 per year (or $1 million per year for joint filers), maintaining that they still needed to pay taxes on all of their business income ( HB20-1420 and HB21-1311 ). The bill for the special session makes Colorado’s decoupling permanent; without taking action, the decoupling is currently scheduled to expire after 2025. HB25-1005 ends subsidies for collecting sales taxes by modernizing sales tax collection: Retailers and other companies that collect sales tax are currently allowed to retain a portion of that state sales tax, which was originally intended to cover the costs of collecting and remitting the tax. Currently, vendors can retain 4 percent of the sales tax they collect. Nowadays, electronic point-of-sale technology is ubiquitous even for small vendors, and it cheaply and easily automates the collection and payment of state sales tax. Since this burden has gone away, the bill would repeal this subsidy – about one cent on every $10 of sales. Preserving Access to Services SB25B-002 restores access to health care for Medicaid recipients at Planned Parenthood : H.R. 1 immediately removed Planned Parenthood from the federal Medicaid program, forcing PPRM providers to cancel thousands of appointments. Weeks later, a Temporary Restraining Order reversed this federal prohibition, though the issue is still working its way through the courts. This bill authorizes state-funded reimbursement to Planned Parenthood for certain services, including cancer screenings, birth control consultations, and STI checks. SB25B-003 preserves SNAP funding by adjusting Healthy School Meals for All ballot question: The GOP budget cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and hundreds of thousands of recipients may now lose access to food. This bill would amend the language of a ballot measure ( HB25-1274 ) that will be put before the voters this November. If it passes, it will allow funds raised for the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program to be used to support SNAP, so long as the HSMA program is fully funded first. Making Responsible Decisions for Colorado’s Fiscal Future SB25B-001 updates spending reduction processes during revenue shortfalls: Under current law, the Governor has broad unilateral authority to suspend programs and services during a revenue shortfall via executive order. The bill would require the Governor to notify the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) of executive orders to reduce spending and requires the JBC to promptly meet to discuss the plan. The bill balances the authority between the Governor and the General Assembly by ensuring the JBC is involved in decision-making processes early on and by adding guardrails to the executive branch’s existing authority to help ensure that they continue to meet and implement legislative directives. The bill would also update the required spending reduction triggers to more accurately reflect economic pressures and the current status of the reserve, which Democrats have worked to build up to 15 percent since the COVID pandemic when it fell below 4 percent. In addition to the triggers in existing law, the bill adds that if a regular quarterly revenue estimate indicates that the state needs to use an amount of the reserve equal to 2 percent of the general fund appropriations for that fiscal year (e.g. around $330 million for FY26), the Governor must take action to reduce spending. Previous Next

< Back February 6, 2020 HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO END PRISON GERRYMANDERING Bill would ensure the Census Bureau counts people in prison as residents of their home communities DENVER, CO — The Colorado Accurate Residence for Redistricting Act, sponsored by Representatives James Coleman and Kerry Tipper, today passed the House by a vote of 38-23. The bill would count people in prison as residents of their home communities for the purpose of state redistricting, ending the practice of counting those individuals as residents of the localities where the corrections facilities are. “Today, the House voted in favor of democratic representation and a more just count,” said Rep. Tipper (D-Lakewood). “I’m thankful for my colleagues who joined Rep. Coleman and I in supporting this legislation. Accurate redistricting is essential for the health of our democracy, and this bill will help ensure that districts are drawn in a way that reflects the Colorado value of fair representation.” “An accurate census count and fair district maps are good for our democracy and good for Colorado,” said Rep. Coleman (D-Denver) . “Coloradans want a more just political system, and that’s what we’ve set out to do. I’m pleased that the House has approved this commonsense bill.” HB20-1010 would, for purposes of census redistricting counts, reassign prisoners in correctional facilities to their last known residence in Colorado prior to incarceration. Only in the instance that a prisoner does not have a Colorado address, do they get counted in the locality where the prison is located. Prisoners are currently assigned to voting districts based on where they are incarcerated instead of in the communities where their lives are rooted, even though they cannot vote while in prison. This bill would not have an effect on how the census guides the distribution of federal funds in Colorado. Per the Colorado Constitution—which declares that a prison cell is not a residence—people in prison are legal constituents of their home address representatives and not the correctional facility where they have been placed. Additionally, the average length of stay in Colorado prisons is three years , while redistricting guidelines last an entire decade. Other states including Maryland, New York, Washington, Delaware and California have passed legislation to address prison gerrymandering. HB20-1010 was approved by the State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee on January 30 and passed the House on second reading yesterday. It now heads to the Senate for introduction in that chamber. ### Previous Next

< Back March 12, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES SCHOOL FUNDING FIX Bill would help ensure fair and sufficient public school funding in every Colorado community DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB21-1164 on second reading. The bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar and Speaker Garnett, would correct an error in Colorado’s property tax system to help ensure fair, equitable and sufficient public school funding across the state. “Today, we took an important step forward to fix our broken education funding system and ensure that every student in Colorado has access to the public education they need to thrive,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “This bill corrects an error in our school funding system that has led to widespread inequities in how we finance public education, with some wealthy districts getting substantially more state funding than schools in less affluent parts of our state. By returning school revenues to voter-approved levels, we can start the long overdue process of providing every district in Colorado fair and sufficient funding for their students.” “It’s no secret that our K-12 funding system has deep inequities between our wealthiest school districts and those districts that need the most support,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Building back stronger means solving deep-seated inequities that have plagued our state since long before the pandemic began. This bill begins to bring fairness and equity to our school finance system and respects the will of voters who have clearly signaled their desire to invest in public education. This is the right thing to do for Colorado students, parents, and our state as a whole.” HB21-1164 forms the basis of a constitutional question to be sent to the Colorado Supreme Court as an interrogatory. The purpose is to align Colorado’s property tax system with original voter intent in local school districts’ “de-Brucing” elections. Between 1994-2002, taxpayers across the state voted to get out from under TABOR imposed caps on school district revenue. Despite the will of the voters to support their local schools, the Colorado Department of Education incorrectly interpreted TABOR and artificially required school districts to collect less revenue. In fact, in 2009, the Colorado Supreme Court held that these mandated reductions were erroneous in its ruling in Mesa Board of County Commissioners v. State . The result has been escalating inequities in school funding across the state, and precious state dollars used to backfill wealthy districts while the system overall is severely underfunded. The 2020 School Finance Act (SFA) took the first step to correct this error. The 2020 SFA aligned statute with the Mesa ruling, treating past tax rate reductions as a mistake if they were enacted to comply with the TABOR limit after local voters had waived that limit. This action reset all district total program mill levies to the rate in place at the time of the successful de-Brucing election, while enacting mill levy “credits” at 100 percent of the difference between the old levy and the corrected levy in order to negate potential impacts to taxpayers during the COVID pandemic. HB21-1164 directs CDE to implement a correction plan for the erroneous reductions in total program mill levies by beginning to incrementally phase out mill levy credits starting in FY 2021-22. This timeline was chosen intentionally to ensure no district has to phase out credits faster than 1 mill per year. DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB21-1164 on second reading. The bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar and Speaker Garnett, would correct an error in Colorado’s property tax system to help ensure fair, equitable and sufficient public school funding across the state. “Today, we took an important step forward to fix our broken education funding system and ensure that every student in Colorado has access to the public education they need to thrive,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “This bill corrects an error in our school funding system that has led to widespread inequities in how we finance public education, with some wealthy districts getting substantially more state funding than schools in less affluent parts of our state. By returning school revenues to voter-approved levels, we can start the long overdue process of providing every district in Colorado fair and sufficient funding for their students.” “It’s no secret that our K-12 funding system has deep inequities between our wealthiest school districts and those districts that need the most support,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Building back stronger means solving deep-seated inequities that have plagued our state since long before the pandemic began. This bill begins to bring fairness and equity to our school finance system and respects the will of voters who have clearly signaled their desire to invest in public education. This is the right thing to do for Colorado students, parents, and our state as a whole.” HB21-1164 forms the basis of a constitutional question to be sent to the Colorado Supreme Court as an interrogatory. The purpose is to align Colorado’s property tax system with original voter intent in local school districts’ “de-Brucing” elections. Between 1994-2002, taxpayers across the state voted to get out from under TABOR imposed caps on school district revenue. Despite the will of the voters to support their local schools, the Colorado Department of Education incorrectly interpreted TABOR and artificially required school districts to collect less revenue. In fact, in 2009, the Colorado Supreme Court held that these mandated reductions were erroneous in its ruling in Mesa Board of County Commissioners v. State . The result has been escalating inequities in school funding across the state, and precious state dollars used to backfill wealthy districts while the system overall is severely underfunded. The 2020 School Finance Act (SFA) took the first step to correct this error. The 2020 SFA aligned statute with the Mesa ruling, treating past tax rate reductions as a mistake if they were enacted to comply with the TABOR limit after local voters had waived that limit. This action reset all district total program mill levies to the rate in place at the time of the successful de-Brucing election, while enacting mill levy “credits” at 100 percent of the difference between the old levy and the corrected levy in order to negate potential impacts to taxpayers during the COVID pandemic. HB21-1164 directs CDE to implement a correction plan for the erroneous reductions in total program mill levies by beginning to incrementally phase out mill levy credits starting in FY 2021-22. This timeline was chosen intentionally to ensure no district has to phase out credits faster than 1 mill per year. Previous Next