Majority Leader Monica Duran today delivered the keynote presentation at the 36th Annual Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) Conference. < Back October 16, 2024 Majority Leader Duran Delivers Keynote Presentation for Annual Domestic Violence Conference KEYSTONE, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran today delivered the keynote presentation at the 36th Annual Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) Conference. Majority Leader Duran’s presentation, “My Journey to Hell and Back”, highlighted parts of her personal, professional and political life. “I’d like to thank COVA for inviting me to deliver the keynote presentation at their annual conference – it’s truly an honor,” said Majority Leader Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “Domestic abuse is difficult to talk about, let alone escape with a young son, and I wouldn’t be here today without the fearless advocates and resources that helped me get back on my feet. I’m beyond proud of our recent legislative efforts to support survivors and curb gun violence in Colorado. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which serves as both a reminder for how far we’ve come and how much further we must go to create a safer state for us all.” Majority Leader Duran has been a longtime advocate for survivors of domestic violence and violent crime. During the 2024 legislative session, Majority Leader Duran sponsored a law to strengthen protection orders for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual violence. She also sponsored important gun safety legislation, including laws to improve conceal carry permitting and expand extreme risk protection orders . In recent years, she passed laws that improved standards for domestic violence cases tried in municipalities , invested $48 million with a funding boost of $3 million toward survivor programs and strengthened requirements for certain domestic violence abusers to relinquish their firearms. In addition to passing vital survivor-forward laws, Majority Leader Duran has also been awarded the 2023 Domestic Abuse Survivor Heroes (DASH) Award from non-profit Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abuse, 2023 Violence Free Aquamarine Award and the 2024/2023 Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) Legislator of the Year Award. Previous Next

HB24-1330 would tighten permitting for oil and gas operations and work to reduce air pollution in the Denver Metro and northern Front Range < Back March 8, 2024 Bill to Improve Colorado’s Air Quality Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Energy & Environment Committee yesterday passed legislation to tackle Colorado’s ozone pollution problem. HB24-1330, sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon and Representative Jenny Willford, is part of a package of bills that builds on the work of the 2023 Legislative Interim Committee on Ozone Air Quality. “Breathing the air in your neighborhood shouldn’t trigger an asthma attack or nosebleeds, yet this is a reality for many of our community members,” said Assistant Majority Leader Bacon, D-Denver. “We need to act now to clean up Colorado’s air quality that for more than a decade has disproportionately plagued low-income communities and led to dangerously high ozone levels. This important legislation tightens up permitting regulations for oil and gas operators and makes sure minor pollution sources are being properly accounted for. For years, we’ve battled poor air quality in our communities, and this bill brings us closer to safe, cleaner air for us all.” “At times, our air quality has been deemed the worst in the world – we need to take steps now to reduce air pollution and keep our neighbors safe,” said Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Thanks to our legislative efforts during the interim, this bill overhauls Colorado’s emissions permitting process and requires oil and gas operators in the nonattainment area to more thoroughly account for their emissions. Our bill also creates requirements for new oil and gas operations in the nonattainment area, which includes the Denver Metro and northern Front Range. Taking these steps is necessary not only to reduce haze and smog, but to protect the health of our kids and the air we breathe.” HB24-1330 , which passed committee by a vote of 9-4, would work to clean up Colorado’s air by updating the state’s emissions permitting process for oil and gas operations. This bill requires all the individual sources of pollution at a proposed oil and gas location to be treated as one source in the construction permit application process. Currently, a permit is required for each individual source and the pre-production emissions from proposed oil and gas drilling sites are not considered in the air permitting application, despite contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone. This bill would “aggregate” emissions across an oil and gas site, including pre-production emissions, ensuring a more accurate accounting of the air quality impact of each operation. This legislation would also create new requirements for new or modified minor pollution sources within the Denver Metro/North Front Range nonattainment area. As outlined, for a construction permit of a new minor source to be approved in the nonattainment area: The source must meet all applicable regulations, including demonstrating that it will not cause or contribute to an exceedance of any applicable ambient air quality standard; The operator must take at least as many emissions offline as it plans to bring online; and The operator must avoid construction in a disproportionately impacted community. Additionally, the bill would require oil and gas operators to obtain a construction permit from the Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) before the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) makes a final determination to issue a permit to drill or frack. The goal of H24-1330 is to make Colorado’s emissions permitting process more robust to ensure clean air, protect public health and comply with federal law. For more than a decade, Colorado has failed to meet federal air quality standards for ozone air pollution, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to protect public health. In 2022, the Denver Metro and northern Front Range was reclassified as a ‘ severe nonattainment zone,’ meaning the area is in severe violation of the health-based air quality standards known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Previous Next

< Back March 7, 2022 BILL TO FOSTER CIVIC-MINDED BUSINESSES PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – A bill to foster civic-minded businesses and innovators passed the House on Third and Final Reading today by a vote of 41 to 20. Modifications To Colorado Public Benefit Corporation Act, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird and Senator Pete Lee would make it easier to start businesses that positively impact communities and a healthy environment across Colorado. This bill now heads to the Governor's office. “The passage of this bill means we’re one step closer to making Colorado the best place for civic-minded business leaders to set up shop,” said Rep. Shannon Bird D-Westminster. “Coloradans feel connected to their neighborhoods and businesses play a special role in fostering that sense of community. Our legislation will make it easier for arts, culture, environmental and other community-focused businesses to open in communities across the state. We’re pleased to move Colorado forward with legislation that attracts businesses to communities where they can have a positive impact.” SB22-045 would break down barriers for corporations to register as public benefit corporations. Specifically, this bill would modify the “Public Benefit Corporation Act of Colorado” to simplify the conversion procedures for forming a public benefit corporation (PBC). PBCs are businesses that have a positive effect on a community’s art, charity, culture, economy, education, environment, literature, medicine, religion, science or technology scene. PBCs are becoming more popular with both consumers and employees that believe corporations should contribute more to the community they reside in and make conscious efforts to reduce their negative environmental impact. The changes in this bill are necessary for Colorado to remain a competitive place for business leaders to form PBCs as other states, including Delaware, reform their laws in a similar way. Previous Next

The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation to strengthen local fence construction laws in the San Luis Valley. < Back February 3, 2025 Bill to Strengthen Local Fence Construction Laws Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation to strengthen local fence construction laws in the San Luis Valley. HB25-1023 passed committee by a vote of 11-2. “To protect our environment and the Colorado Way of life in the San Luis Valley, we need to boost local control surrounding fence construction,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista . “When I visited the newly constructed fence in my community, I was appalled by the negative impact on our environment. Many San Luis Valley residents have land rights beyond the fence dating back to before Colorado’s statehood. This bill will require individuals to submit an application before construction to prioritize local voices and environmental protections.” “Communities in the San Luis Valley have long had the legal right to access lands they held before Colorado became a state, but a massive, private fence now encircles this property, preventing access and harming the environment,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This bill would prevent further ecological damage and ensure access for animal grazing while making sure that Coloradans and their livestock can still traverse the land their families have called home for generations.” HB25-1023 would require individuals to submit an application to local government officials before constructing or installing a contiguous fence of a certain size in the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant lands. The bill would make local governments responsible for determining if the benefits of a fencing project outweigh the harms. Additionally, local governments may pass an ordinance or resolution opting out of these requirements altogether. Recent fence construction on one of the Sangre de Cristo land grant properties has caused environmental damage, including land erosion and limiting wildlife movement, and kept out local residents with legal access to the land grant. This bill takes aim at future, unauthorized fencing construction projects to protect the natural habitats in the San Luis Valley. Previous Next

Bills would reinstate and expand critical wetlands protections jeopardized by the U.S. Supreme Court Sackett v. EPA decision and encourage water conservation through increased graywater use < Back May 29, 2024 Signed! Legislation to Protect Streams, Rivers and Wetlands SILVERTHORNE / STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to restore critical protections for Colorado’s streams, rivers and wetlands. He also signed bipartisan water conservation bills to encourage the adoption of graywater use, fund water conservation projects and implement recommendations from the Colorado River Drought Task Force. “After the Supreme Court removed important protections and left our waterways in jeopardy, we knew we must take action now to secure Colorado’s water future,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB24-1379. “As this bill is signed into law, we are now one step closer to a Colorado-specific approach to protecting our streams, rivers and wetlands. From brewing beer to sustaining our livestock and crops – fresh, clean water is at the core of nearly every industry in Colorado. This law protects our state’s water supply now and into the future so generations to come can experience the Colorado way of life we all hold dear.” “There is no more important resource to our state and no more pressing challenge that we will face as a state in the decades to come than protecting our water,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, sponsor of HB24-1379. “Last year’s Supreme Court decision jeopardized protections for over half of Colorado’s wetlands, which threatens water supply, wildlife habitats, and our state’s environment and economy. This new law will protect streams, rivers, and wetlands that are vital to Colorado by creating a new Colorado-based permitting program to implement proven best practices for dredge and fill activities with key protections for agriculture and other crucial industry activity.” “Protecting our freshwater resources now means future generations can thrive in Colorado knowing they have clean and accessible water,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of HB24-1379. “A 2023 Supreme Court decision rolled back crucial water protections and we need legislation that helps effectively manage and protect our wetlands, rivers, and streams. Our law would outline regulatory certainty for our businesses, landowners, and agriculture industry when it comes to Colorado’s water. Colorado’s water is a steady and vital resource that must be conserved and protected for generations to come, and this law protects what we all find essential.” The Clean Water Act authorizes the EPA to define “Waters of the United States” and the Army Corps of Engineers to regulate discharges from dredge and fill activities into waters that meet the definition. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA in 2023 redefined what constitutes waters subject to federal regulation and placed an estimated 60 percent of Colorado wetlands at risk of losing protections. The impacted wetlands and seasonal streams are in need of protection work to ensure there is adequate water supply, to aid groundwater recharge, and to provide for wildlife habitat in Colorado. HB24-1379 , works to protect Colorado waters that are no longer federally protected. The law will create a permitting program within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for dredge and fill activities impacting state waters. The permitting framework is based on well-established approaches already used by the Army Corps of Engineers and will provide clarity and certainty on when a permit is needed for dredge and fill activities. Normal farming, ranching, and agricultural activities, such as plowing, farm road construction, ditch maintenance, and erosion control practices would not require a permit. Until the recent decision in Sackett v. EPA , the Army Corps’ permitting program safeguarded the vast majority of Colorado’s state waters from pollution caused by dredge and fill activities. Dredge and fill activities involve digging up or placing dirt and other fill material into wetlands or surface waters as part of construction projects. These operations are necessary in many infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, housing developments, flood mitigation, and utility pipelines. This law provides a way for these projects to move forward while protecting Colorado’s water resources. HB24-1362 , also sponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa and Representative Marc Catlin, R-Montrose encourages the use of graywater in Colorado to conserve our state’s scarce water supply by authorizing the installation of graywater systems in new construction projects statewide. It offers flexibility for local governments to adopt more tailored uses of graywater systems, including permitting their installation in existing structures, or prohibiting them altogether. “With this bill becoming law, we’re conserving our water resources, protecting our environment and upholding the Colorado way of life,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, sponsor of HB24-1362. “This bipartisan law encourages local governments to use graywater in irrigation and for non-drinking household purposes, which is a great option for getting the most out of our water. Living on the Western Slope, I’m committed to protecting and conserving our precious water resources — and this law makes it easier for our communities to recycle water.” Governor Polis also signed HB24-1435 , sponsored by Representatives McCormick and Marc Caitlin and Senators Roberts and Cleave Simpson to designate important water supply and conservation projects around the state for funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board. In addition to HB24-1435, Governor Polis also signed SB24-197 , sponsored by Speaker McCluskie, Representative Caitlin and Senators Roberts and Perry Will, R-New Castle, which would implement several recommendations made by the Colorado River Drought Task Force, including tactics to address the worsening drought conditions on the Colorado River. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed legislation to fight back against federal mandates that force aging coal plants to stay operational, which will drive up costs to ratepayers and hinder Colorado’s clean energy future. < Back June 5, 2026 JOINT RELEASE: ICYMI: SIGNED! Bill to Fight Back Against Federal Coal Mandates DENVER, CO — Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed legislation to fight back against federal mandates that force aging coal plants to stay operational, which will drive up costs to ratepayers and hinder Colorado’s clean energy future. “With this law, we’re pushing back against federal overreach that increases costs for ratepayers and continues to burden communities with pollution,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “There is consensus among environmental organizations and the operators of the Craig Unit 1 power plant that forcing coal plants to stay online will increase utility costs for Coloradans. Colorado needs to plan for our own energy future, and this law helps protect ratepayers and bring us closer to our climate goals.” “Colorado is a leader in climate policy, and we should be able to continue planning our own energy future,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “While the Trump Administration is busy propping up outdated, highly polluting, ready-to-retire coal plants, we’ve made considerable progress in bringing Colorado into a sustainable future with clean air, good jobs, and affordable energy. This law will mitigate harm caused by misguided federal mandates while protecting ratepayers and maintaining clean air standards.” “Trump's capricious, ill-advised use of an emergency order to keep an aging coal plant online will increase utility costs and set back Colorado’s climate and clean air goals,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Coloradans should be in charge of our state’s energy future, not the federal government. And ratepayers deserve to know how much propping up an aging, broken-down coal-fired power plant will cost them on their utility bills. Our law protects consumers from Trump’s war on clean energy and destructive energy cost increases while keeping us on track to meet our climate goals.” “The Trump Administration is trying to force expensive, polluting coal plants to stay open against the will of our communities, ignoring years of thoughtful planning,” said Sen. Weissman, D-Aurora. “This bill pushes back by requiring transparency and pollution safeguards if some coal plants are required to stay open, ensuring Colorado can continue to chart our own path forward.” HB26-1226 will help to mitigate the impacts of federal interference in Colorado’s energy future, ensure energy reliability, and implement modern standards for coal plant pollution. If coal-fired plants are permitted to operate past 2034, this law will: Mandate that consumers and regulators are given information on the costs of keeping those coal plants open, and give the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) financing tools to manage operating costs, minimizing the impact on ratepayers. Ensure the PUC approves new resources for Colorado’s largest electric utilities to help Colorado reach our carbon reduction targets and retire coal plants on schedule. Require that coal plants still in operation use modern pollution controls to reduce emissions and help Colorado reach clean energy targets. In addition to informing consumers about the cost impacts of keeping coal plants open past their retirement date, this law will also allow utility companies to use securitization as a financing tool if it lowers costs for ratepayers. This would include refinanced debt or long-term, low-interest bonds on large-scale projects to help lower costs for ratepayers now. To reduce pollution, this law will require the Air Quality Control Commission to issue a rule to set limits on the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from coal-fired power plants, unless those plants have retired or converted to burn a fuel other than coal. HB26-1226 also requires operators to submit quarterly emissions reports showing compliance and the associated costs beginning in 2034, which the commission must make available to the public. Last December, the Trump administration issued a 202(c) emergency order to keep an aging coal-fired power plant in Craig operating, despite the plant's scheduled retirement in late 2025. The Colorado Attorney General and environmental groups challenged this unprecedented order. Additionally, the owners of the coal power plant, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and the Platte River Power Authority filed a formal petition asking the U.S. Department of Energy to reconsider to “find a more effective and affordable path forward, one that will not delay retirement of Craig Unit 1.” In March, the Trump administration issued a second order , further extending coal burning at Craig until at least June, which is estimated to cost almost $80 million annually. Previous Next

< Back May 26, 2020 HOUSE GIVES INITIAL APPROVAL TO REMOVING STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR CIVIL SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CLAIMS Bill would give survivors of sexual assault time to heal without losing their right to hold perpetrators accountable DENVER, CO — The House today gave preliminary approval to Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet’s bipartisan bill to remove the statute of limitations for civil claims of sexual misconduct. “The effects of trauma have no expiration date, and neither should the timeline for holding a perpetrator of sexual violence accountable,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “This legislation will allow survivors to take time to heal without losing the opportunity to seek justice through the courts. I want to ensure that our justice system protects the rights of survivors, and this bill will move us closer to that goal.” HB20-1296 removes the statute of limitations on bringing a civil claim based on sexual misconduct, which is defined in the bill to include all current criminal sexual offenses including offenses against a child, and other criminal behavior of a sexual nature including requests for sexual favors accompanied by coercion, threat, or violence. The bill also allows claims arising from circumstances related to sexual misconduct to be brought against a person or entity that is not the perpetrator of the sexual misconduct. This bill would become effective for claims arising on or after January 1, 2021 but allows for those victims for whom the current statute of limitations has not yet run to bring a claim based on the provisions of this law. The Colorado constitution has been interpreted to guarantee vested rights in relation to statutes of limitations but not to allow the legislature to make retroactive changes to these limitations. Previous Next

SB26-002 would make energy assistance programs more accessible < Back May 1, 2026 ICYMI: Legislation to Save Coloradans Money on Utility Bills Passes Committee DENVER, CO — The House Energy and Environment Committee yesterday passed legislation to standardize and improve energy assistance programs to ensure Coloradans have access to affordable, reliable energy. “Affordability is top of mind for everyone, and this bill ensures that families who qualify for energy assistance programs actually receive it,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Our bill standardizes utility assistance programs, increases their visibility and simplifies the application process so ratepayers can lower their utility bills. No one should have to choose between keeping the lights on and feeding their family, and this bill works to provide utility assistance to Coloradans who need it.” “Energy assistance programs can be life-saving for Colorado families,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “If you qualify for energy assistance, you should be able to take advantage of those programs. This bill simplifies the application process, including making it available online, so ratepayers can begin saving money on their utility bills sooner.” SB26-002 passed committee by a vote of 9-4 and would require all investor-owned gas and electric utilities in Colorado to have a standardized framework for energy assistance programs known as Percentage of Income Payment Plans (PIPP). Specifically, this bill would require utilities to clearly post information about eligibility criteria and enrollment processes for the PIPP program on their websites and would standardize the name of PIPP programs across all investor-owned utilities to reduce confusion for customers. Under this bill, customers would also be allowed to apply directly with their utility for the program, rather than having to first enroll in another assistance program. Referrals from other programs like Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) would still be allowed, ensuring multiple pathways to enrollment. Utilities would determine an annual bill credit for the customer delivered either as an up-front annual credit or a monthly credit on their utility bill. To improve and expedite the application experience, utilities must inform applicants within 30 days whether they have been approved or denied for PIPP and the reason why. For those who are approved, utilities must provide a clear explanation of benefits and how their monthly bill will be impacted. Previous Next

The House today passed a bipartisan bill to support higher education and address Colorado’s veterinary shortage. < Back February 13, 2025 House Passes Bill to Support Higher Education, Increase Access to Veterinary Care DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bipartisan bill to support higher education and address Colorado’s veterinary shortage. HB25-1131 , sponsored by Representative Andrew Boesenecker, passed the House by a vote of 65-0. “We’re working to address Colorado’s veterinary shortage by expanding access to CSU’s top-tier College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “This bill eliminates the student enrollment cap at CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, allowing more students to jumpstart their future careers in veterinary medicine. Rural and underserved communities are feeling the shortage of local veterinary care first hand, this bipartisan bill helps to expand access in our state.” HB25-1131 , also sponsored by Representative Dusty Johnson, R-Fort Morgan, would increase access to veterinary care, especially in rural and underserved communities. Specifically, this bill would eliminate the cap on the number of veterinary students admitted at Colorado State University (CSU). CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is ranked as the #2 veterinary school in the nation and works in partnership with CSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This bill would make it easier for students to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and help tackle Colorado’s rising veterinary care shortage. Previous Next

< Back July 1, 2025 Bird, Sirota, McCluskie and Duran Urge Congressional Republicans to “Vote No” DENVER, CO – JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, Rep. Emily Sirota, Speaker Julie McCluskie and House Majority Leader Monica Duran today sent a letter to Republican members of Colorado’s Congressional Delegation to raise concern about the state budget impacts of the GOP’s megabill and to urge them to vote no. In the letter, the members wrote, “ Colorado simply cannot absorb the financial blow your bill will strike to our budget. We are deeply concerned that as a result of your votes, Colorado will be forced to consider: Limiting the senior and veteran homestead exemption, thereby increasing property taxes on seniors and veterans Increasing tuition for higher education Further reducing the Earned Income Tax Credit and Family Affordability Tax Credit, which will increase taxes on working families. Reducing funding for corrections, impacting public safety Cutting funding for services that support children and people with disabilities Scaling back the reinsurance program, which would increase health care premiums for people who buy their own insurance. While there has been a lot of focus on the Medicaid, SNAP and energy provisions of your bill, we want to make sure that you are aware of the other consequences of your bill should it pass. None of these choices are good for Colorado, and every single one will be the result of Congress passing this bill.” The full text of the letter is below: Representatives Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Hurd and Jeff Crank: We write to you once again to urge you to vote against the GOP budget reconciliation bill. Time and time again, Coloradans across the state from health care providers in rural areas to business and utility owners and utilities have shared the devastating impacts this bill will have: Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans could lose their health insurance Rural health clinics and facilities will struggle to stay open Energy costs will increase Children and veterans will lose food assistance As the lawmakers responsible for writing our state budget, we want to bring to your attention additional consequences this bill will force on our state. If you pass this bill, the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budgeting expects state General Fund revenues to decline by almost $600 million per year, and costs to the General Fund will increase by as much as $650 million per year, creating a billion dollar hole in our budget. In order to maintain SNAP benefits for children, seniors and veterans who depend on them, we would have to replace $180 million each year in lost funding that we simply do not have. This is just not possible—your votes will force deep cuts to nutrition assistance that keeps children and veterans from going hungry. The changes you propose to Medicaid could result in Colorado losing as much as $1 billion in health care funding that we will not be able to backfill, putting health coverage at risk for nearly 150,000 Coloradans. The impact on rural areas, people of color, veterans and people with disabilities will be staggering. The $25 billion fund to support rural clinics is simply a drop in the bucket when compared to the over $1 trillion in cuts you are making to Medicaid. Colorado simply cannot absorb the financial blow your bill will strike to our budget. We are deeply concerned that as a result of your votes, Colorado will be forced to consider: Limiting the senior and veteran homestead exemption, thereby increasing property taxes on seniors and veterans Increasing tuition for higher education Further reducing the Earned Income Tax Credit and Family Affordability Tax Credit, which will increase taxes on working families. Reducing funding for corrections, impacting public safety Cutting funding for services that support children and people with disabilities Scaling back the reinsurance program, which would increase health care premiums for people who buy their own insurance. While there has been a lot of focus on the Medicaid, SNAP and energy provisions of your bill, we want to make sure that you are aware of the other consequences of your bill should it pass. None of these choices are good for Colorado, and every single one will be the result of Congress passing this bill. While we understand that you do not need to balance the federal budget—as demonstrated by your votes for this bill that will increase the deficit by trillions of dollars—we do balance our budgets in Colorado. We have had to make hard choices in the last year to protect core services for hardworking families, and we will have to make many more in the year ahead. However, the choices this bill will force us to make are far worse and will be devastating for our state. Vote no. Sincerely, Representative Shannon Bird, Vice Chair of the Joint Budget Committee Representative Emily Sirota, Joint Budget Committee Member Speaker Julie McCluskie House Majority Leader Monica Duran Previous Next

< Back February 4, 2022 BILL FROM REP. YOUNG TO SUPPORT OLDER COLORADANS ADVANCES DENVER, CO – The Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services committee today passed HB22-1035, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Mary Bradfield to bolster supports for older Coloradans. The legislation passed 10-1. “As the number of older Coloradans rises, we have to rethink how we provide the support and services they need to be productive and live the way they want,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “Our legislation updates Colorado law to set clear goals that will guide our state to bolster services for older Coloradans. Our goal is to provide the social services, jobs and skills training programs, health care services and so much more that prepares all Coloradans to live productive lives as they grow older.” HB22-1035 updates the Older Coloradans Act to bolster supports and services to older Coloradans, such as social services, health services, workforce development, digital literacy and the state’s infrastructure for the growing older population in the state. The legislation operationalizes many of the recommendations set forth by the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging and sets clear goals to guide the state as it works to ensure “that Colorado is the best state in which to grow old.” The bill makes it the policy of the state of Colorado to prevent abuse, exploitation and neglect of older Coloradans and recognize “that preparing all Coloradans for the different facets of a longer life is part of the state’s responsibility.” To accomplish these goals, the legislation creates a commission to coordinate and guide state aging programs. Previous Next

< Back January 4, 2019 HOUSE DEMS INTRO FIRST TEN BILLS Focus on Health Care, Renewable Energy, Education, Problem Solving (Jan. 4) – Colorado House Democrats introduced their first ten bills of the first session of the 72nd General Assembly today. “We’re excited to get to work this session. These bills are a reflection of the issues Coloradans sent us here to make bipartisan progress on,” said Speaker KC Becker. “We are focused on expanding opportunity, lowering the cost of and improving access to healthcare, incentivizing more renewable energy, investing in education programs to support educators and students and helping to provide solutions to the challenges facing our communities.” HB 19-1001 – Hospital Transparency Measures to Analyze Efficiency – Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood This bill will increase transparency in hospital billing and spending practices across our state. At a time when health care costs are out of control, it is important that we are able to identify inefficiencies and wasteful spending in our health care system and address them accordingly. HB 19-1002 – Leadership Professional Development for School Principals – Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango and Rep. Jim Wilson, R-Salida This bill creates a pilot program to provide professional development training for school principals, to build strong leadership in our education system and provide support for teachers and students. HB 19-1003 – Community Solar Gardens Modernization Act – Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver This bill will expand access to renewable energy for communities and individuals across Colorado. It will update Colorado’s community solar statute to allow customers to benefit from clean, low-cost energy even if they don’t have a rooftop solar option. HB 19-1004 – Proposal for Affordable Health Coverage Option – Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon and Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose This bill will propose a public health insurance option to provide people in Colorado with a competitive and affordable choice when they’re purchasing health insurance. HB 19-1005 – Income Tax Credit for Early Childhood Educators – Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora This bill will help address a shortage in early childhood child care providers by creating a refundable income tax credit for educators with professional credentials who work at family child care homes or other high quality child care programs. HB 19-1006 – Wildfire Mitigation Wildland Urban Interface Areas – Rep. Mclachlan, D-Durango and Rep. Terri Carver, R-Colorado Springs This bill creates a grant program to help with wildfire mitigation efforts in high-risk areas across the state where residential areas are approaching forest land, known as wildland-urban interface areas (WUIs). HB 19-1007 – Contribution Limits for County Offices – Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver This bill sets in place common sense campaign finance limits to protect the integrity of county-level campaigns such as those for sheriff, commissioner, clerk and recorder, assessor, and others. HB 19-1008 – Include Career & Technical Ed in BEST Program – Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada and Rep. Colin Larson, R-Littleton This bill allows school capital construction funding to be used for career and technical education projects in public schools, investing in skills for Colorado’s emerging workforce. HB 19-1009 – Substance Use Disorders Recovery – Rep. Kennedy, D-Lakewood and Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont This bill improves support for individuals recovering from substance use disorders by expanding housing assistance for people transitioning out of treatment; increasing oversight of recovery residences to ensure high quality care; and investing in recovery services for people who have sought care and treatment. HB 19-1010 – Freestanding Emergency Departments Licensure – Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn and Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain This bill will bring freestanding emergency departments under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional hospital emergency rooms so that we can ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. This will ultimately improve the quality of care for patients and increase health care affordability. Previous Next