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< Back March 4, 2020 BILL TO EMPOWER AG TO CHALLENGE MONOPOLIES PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO– Representative Kerry Tipper’s bipartisan bill to give the Colorado Attorney General the authority to challenge certain business mergers or acquisitions under state antitrust statutes today was passed by the House by a vote of 41-23. The bill has already been passed by the Senate. “Colorado’s consumers need to know that their top prosecutor is empowered to protect them against unfair business practices like monopolies,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “Our bill will ensure that our Attorney General no longer needs to depend on the judgement of the federal government when standing up for Coloradans. We’re one signature away from bringing decisionmaking power back to Colorado.” Under the Colorado Antitrust Act of 1992, the Colorado Attorney General is prevented from challenging mergers or acquisitions in the state if they have already been reviewed and not challenged by a federal department, agency, or commission. Colorado has been an outlier–the only state with such a law. SB20-064 , which is also sponsored by Rep. Matt Soper R-Delta, would end this restriction and allow the Colorado Attorney General to protect Colorado consumers by challenging corporate mergers or acquisitions on behalf of the people of Colorado. This bill is assessed by nonpartisan staff to have no fiscal impact on the Colorado Attorney General’s office, as the AG’s office would be able to review and prioritize cases using existing resources. Previous Next

< Back February 21, 2019 COLORADO TO JOIN NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE INTERSTATE COMPACT (Feb. 21) — A bill sponsored by Rep. Jeni Arndt and Rep. Emily Sirota to enter Colorado into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact was approved by the House this morning. “We shouldn’t let partisan politics get in the way of progress. This bill and this change are a modernization that our founders provided for our country,” said Rep. Arndt, D-Fort Collins. “Twelve battleground states already receive more federal disaster aid, more revenue for education and more presidential campaign visits than Colorado and other states.” Once enough states totaling 270 electoral votes join the popular vote compact, the bill would ensure all of Colorado’s electors are awarded to the presidential winner of the National Popular Vote. Each state has the power to allocate their electors however they choose under Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. “This bill has the potential to help Americans believe that their vote matters whether you’re a rural, urban or suburban voter – through this bill every vote counts equally,” said Rep. Sirota, D-Denver. “ Coloradans shouldn’t allow a few battleground states like Florida or Ohio to be the deciders for our entire country when electing the next President of the United States.” This bipartisan movement enhances democratic values and ensures that every person’s vote has equal value. States that are considered battleground states will no longer possess that title if this compact is adopted. Rather, SB19-042 would ensure each voter has an equal voice in a presidential election. The bill does not get rid of the electoral college. The Colorado legislature approved the compact through one chamber in 2006. The National Popular Vote Compact is an agreement, supported by Americans on both sides of the aisle, and entered into already by eleven states including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, California, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington and the District of Columbia. Compact states award all of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. Rural states are not traditional battleground states in presidential elections. The current winner-take-all method of awarding electoral votes diminishes the influence of rural states. States and entities who have joined the compact have done so through their respective legislatures. Five out of our country’s forty-five presidents have finished in second place in the popular vote but assumed the presidency. Supporters from across the country, including two former Republican presidential candidates – Tom Tancredo and Newt Gingrich – have endorsed the change to the popular vote. Our state has led the nation on efforts to restore faith in our democracy. Colorado just supported Amendments Y and Z to protect against partisan gerrymandering. Democrats at the legislature are stepping up efforts to fix our broken campaign finance system and to get mystery money out of politics to ensure every citizen’s voice is truly heard and isn’t drowned out by powerful special interests. The Colorado Secretary of State’s office and the members of the League of Women Voters testified at a House hearing in support of the bill. The bill is also sponsored in the Senate by Senator Mike Foote, D-Lafayette. SB19-042 was passed by a 34-29 vote and now heads to the Governor’s desk. ### Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation to break down financial barriers for aspiring professionals to enter new, high-demand careers through a zero-cost credentials program. HB23-1246, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, would help meet the state’s workforce demands and save Coloradans money. < Back April 13, 2023 Speaker McCluskie’s Bipartisan Bill to Expand Zero-Cost Credentials Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to break down financial barriers for aspiring professionals to enter new, high-demand careers through a zero-cost credentials program. HB23-1246, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, would help meet the state’s workforce demands and save Coloradans money. “Whether you’re headed back to school or switching careers entirely, zero-cost credentials are a win for everyone because they help meet workforce demands and offer Coloradans the training they need to succeed for free,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “Our communities need more childhood educators, nurses, and firefighters, and this bill breaks down the financial barriers to these and many other in-demand fields. This bill creates new, zero-cost pathways for Coloradans to pursue the careers of their dreams while expanding our state’s strong talent pipeline and helping Coloradans live and serve in the communities they love.” Zero-Cost Credentials for Aspiring Professionals: HB23-1246 passed by a vote of 56 to 7 and would invest $45 million over the span of two years and pave the way for aspiring professionals in high-demand fields to receive free training toward associate degrees and industry certificates in eligible industries. Eligible industries include elementary and early childhood education, firefighting, law enforcement, forest management, short-term nursing programs, and construction trades. For programs that are already zero-cost to students, such as Registered Apprenticeship Programs, funding will be provided to cover the costs associated with the training, such as instructor time and instructional materials. The funding to assist Registered Apprenticeship Programs in HB23-1246 is projected to train more than 3,000 students in the construction trades. HB23-1246 builds off the successful Care Forward Colorado Program that Democrats launched in 2022, by covering the costs associated with reskilling and upskilling, such as tuition, books, and additional instructional training, and expands the number of eligible career fields to include six foundational areas of the workforce. Since its launch in 2022, the Care Forward Colorado Program has successfully trained approximately 1,500 students as certified nursing assistants, emergency services professionals and other high-demand health care careers. On April 3, the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden visited the Colorado State Capitol to discuss this and other pieces of legislation that prioritize workforce training and uplift aspiring professionals to pursue career paths that do not require traditional, four-year college degrees. Previous Next

< Back December 20, 2019 CONTINUED, BUT SLOWER GROWTH EXPECTED, DIFFICULT BUDGET CHOICES LIE AHEAD DENVER, CO — The Joint Budget Committee today received economic and state revenue forecasts, which predict continued expansion, low unemployment, and wage growth above the national average throughout the forecast period. The forecasts from Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budget both indicate the state will issue TABOR refunds in upcoming years and exceed the Referendum C revenue caps, which limit the state’s ability to invest in critical priorities, such as education and transportation. “The forecasts confirm that this year’s budget will be much tighter than before and will require difficult decisions on how to balance our state’s important priorities,” said JBC Chair Rep. Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo). “Every dollar is precious, and I will be working with my House and Senate colleagues and the governor to responsibly allocate our limited resources in a way that invests in our state’s future and helps build an economy that works for all Coloradans in all parts of our state.” “Both revenue forecasts anticipate growth, which is welcome news for the services that Coloradans depend on. But the real story behind both forecasts is how TABOR hamstrings essential spending for critical priorities like education, health care and transportation. As cash fund revenues increase, so do TABOR refunds. It’s important to continue looking for solutions to problems posed by TABOR in order to preserve the most basic services government provides,” said JBC Vice Chair Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Denver).” “Both forecasts show continued growth, which is good news for our state,” said JBC member Rep. Chris Hansen (D-Denver). “Still, we will have to evaluate our budget carefully to ensure we are investing state funds as best we can and for the greatest impact. Despite increased revenue forecasts, we won’t be able to invest those additional resources in transportation, k-12 education, or higher education because of TABOR. The budget is tight, and we know it will be a challenge to continue this progress.” “We’re seeing healthy projections for the upcoming year that will allow us to continue prioritizing investments in crucial areas like transportation and education, but due to TABOR caps, we’re limited in our ability,” said JBC member Sen. Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) . “Risks of recession have eased, but as our economy grows, we must ensure that we continue to practice fiscal responsibility amid expected budgetary pressures.” The forecasts from economists in the Governor’s Office and General Assembly show that growth will continue at a slower rate due to an increasingly tight labor market. The tight labor market, however, will lead to accelerated wage growth, and recessionary risk for 2020 has eased. The state’s trade-dependent industries, such as food and agriculture, are still facing pressures from ongoing trade tensions. The OSPB forecast shows that General Fund revenue is expected to grow 3.5 percent in FY 2019-20, which was revised down from September by $101.2 million due to lower collections from individual income tax withholding. General Fund revenues are projected to grow by 4 percent in FY 2020-21. The LCS forecasts that General Fund revenue will grow by 3 percent in FY 2019-2020 and 4 percent in FY 2020-2021. The LCS forecast shows that the state will issue TABOR refunds totaling above $1 billion over the next three years, estimates that were revised upward from September. Revenue above the Ref C cap is expected to be $304.3 million in FY 2019-20, $367.3 million in FY 2020-21, and $453.4 million in FY 2021-22. Previous Next

Legislation would require responsible business practices to sell firearms to help prevent gun violence, reduce crime and crack down on the illegal sale of guns and firearm components like high-capacity magazines < Back April 21, 2024 House Passes Bill to Require Permit to Sell a Firearm Legislation would require responsible business practices to sell firearms to help prevent gun violence, reduce crime and crack down on the illegal sale of guns and firearm components like high-capacity magazines DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to reduce gun violence, crack down on illegal firearm sales, and prevent crime by requiring firearm dealers to hold a state license. HB24-1353 passed by a vote of 40-21. “From hairdressers and auto dealers to liquor store owners and many other professions, state licenses are required to conduct business, and we believe that people who sell firearms should be held to the same standard,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Our bill would establish a state permitting system for firearm dealers, require dealers and employees to undergo training to better identify suspicious activity, and ensure compliance with business standards to prevent illegal firearm sales. Dealers who violate state laws could lose their permit to sell firearms, preventing illegal guns and components from being circulated in our communities. This bill sets firearm dealers up for success to help us reduce gun violence and crime in our communities.” "A statewide permitting process for firearm sales allows the state to thoroughly vet and inspect firearm dealers, ensuring they have taken necessary steps to reduce crime and prevent gun violence," said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. "Training requirements for the proper storage of firearms, background checks, and identifying potentially dangerous behavior will help keep guns out of the hands of people who may otherwise harm themselves or someone else. This is an important gun violence prevention bill that will equip Colorado firearm dealers and their employees with safety training and protocols that can save lives.” Starting July 1, 2025, HB24-1353 would require firearm dealers in Colorado to hold a state firearms dealer permit in order to sell guns in Colorado. Operating without this permit would be an unclassified felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000. Firearm dealers would apply through the Department of Revenue and must hold a valid federal firearm license to be eligible for a state firearms dealer permit. Additionally, applicants will not be eligible for the permit if they have an adverse licensing action taken for good cause by the federal government or any state within three years of applying. They will also be ineligible if they have been convicted of a violation of any state or federal law regarding the possession or sale of firearms. Other requirements for receiving a state firearms dealer permit include: Finger-printed background checks for employees every 3 years, Training on how to prevent theft and identify straw purchasers, fraudulent activities, and people at risk of self-harm. An exam on this training would also be required before an applicant is granted a permit, Random and regular inspections to ensure firearms dealers are complying with state and federal law, Firearm sales to only occur during business hours, except during a gun show, and Contacting law enforcement to report a suspicious person who tried to unlawfully purchase a firearm within 48 hours of the incident. Studies show that policies regulating firearm dealer licensing can lead to significant reductions in gun violence, including gun homicides and suicides. After Connecticut passed a similar law, its firearm homicide rate fell by 28 percent and firearm suicide rate decreased by 33 percent . Previous Next

< Back May 5, 2022 UITF BILL SAVES PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES MONEY, IMPROVES UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DENVER, CO – The House FInance Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz and Marc Snyder to save people and businesses money and improve unemployment insurance in Colorado. “From reducing filing fees to start your own business to reducing property taxes on commercial and residential properties, we’re doing everything we can to save business and people money as they deal with rising costs from pandemic-induced inflation,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “This legislation supports workers by improving the unemployment system and saves employers and employees money.” “Workers relied on the unemployment system during the pandemic to make ends meet and pay for everyday necessities as they worked to get back on their feet, and as a result, we avoided a full blown economic crisis,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “This legislation will avoid significant cost increases on businesses and improve how we deliver benefits to workers. It also extends a successful change that allows workers to get back to work sooner with part time employment without being penalized by losing part of their benefits.” SB22-234 , which passed by a vote of 9-2, would infuse the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund (UITF) with pandemic relief funds while expanding eligibility and improving benefits to help support Colorado’s working families. SB22-234 invests $600 million to shore up the solvency of the UITF and protect against potential future economic downturns. This will save businesses money on premiums and surcharges and provide certainty to workers who depend on unemployment benefits to continue paying for essentials like food, rent, and transportation while they search for new work. By extending the suspension of the solvency surcharge, a fee placed on employers until the Unemployment Trust Fund reaches solvency, the bill saves businesses money while they continue recovering from the pandemic induced recession. The bill makes further improvements to ensure the unemployment system works better for Colorado families. It raises the benefit amount part-time workers can receive from 25 percent to 50 percent of the weekly benefit amount, in order to make it easier for workers who are laid off to find part-time employment while seeking a full-time job. It also creates a Benefit Recovery Fund to ensure that workers in Colorado who lack work authorization receive the benefits they already contribute to and their employers pay premiums into. The bill also eliminates the one-week waiting period to help workers access their benefits as quickly as possible once the Fund reaches a sustainable level, clarifies what constitutes an overpayment to ensure workers are not unnecessarily penalized for errors or miscalculations made by administrators or their employer explores the feasibility of a dependency allowance to better support primary caregivers as they return to work, and requires employers to inform all workers of their unemployment benefit eligibility upon separation. Previous Next

< Back July 29, 2024 McCluskie, Lukens Tour Behavioral Health Care Facility EDWARDS, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie, Representative Meghan Lukens and Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, today visited the Wiegers Mental Health Clinic. Lawmakers toured the youth and adult facility inpatient construction project and discussed workforce and affordable housing needs. “Expanding access to high-quality behavioral and mental health care in the high country is vital,” said Speaker McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The demand for more inpatient and outpatient facilities is not slowing – and it’s heartening to see our local facilities continue to expand to meet the needs of our community, especially our youth. From lowering the cost of prescription drugs and prioritizing care in rural, underserved areas, improving access to mental and behavioral health care is always top of mind for us.” “No matter where you live, you deserve to have access to mental and behavioral health care resources in your community,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “As we work toward a future of accessible, affordable health care for everyone, especially our youth, it’s exciting to see local behavioral health care facilities expand so our neighbors can access care that’s close to them. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to not only prioritize mental and behavioral health care in our state, but make it more accessible for families and youth.” In 2023, Vail Health Behavioral Health opened the Wiegers Mental Health Clinic to meet the growing demand for outpatient care in Eagle County. In recent years, lawmakers have championed behavioral health care legislation to expand care in rural and agricultural communities, allow youth to receive free therapy sessions , and expand the health care workforce . Previous Next

SB25-290 would support medical providers that serve vulnerable communities, protecting access to essential health care for thousands of Coloradans < Back May 6, 2025 House Advances Bill to Stabilize Safety Net Providers, Protect Access to Health Care DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to protect access to essential health care for thousands of Coloradans. SB25-290 would provide immediate financial support to a broad cross-section of safety net health care providers, including rural hospitals, community health centers and behavioral health clinics. “Our health care safety net providers that take care of our low-income, older, and vulnerable community members are in crisis,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville . “Our bill fills an immediate funding need to prevent our safety net providers from closing their doors and leaving hundreds of Coloradans without the health care they need. These dollars will help protect the essential health care for so many low income and working Coloradans now.” “Without our safety net providers, many Coloradans won’t have access to the preventive and primary care that helps them lead healthier lives,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Higher costs and workforce shortages mean our safety net providers are shouldering enormous financial pressures just to keep the doors open. This bill provides immediate, short-term support to our safety providers so our community members can receive the health care they need.” Safety net providers include primary care and family clinics that provide critical health care to communities across Colorado, like seniors, hardworking families, and rural Coloradans. However, these safety net providers have been under an enormous financial strain as demand and costs increase. SB25-290 would provide stability while long-term, comprehensive solutions can be developed. Specifically, the bill creates the Provider Stabilization Fund to distribute stabilization payments to safety net providers who provide care to low-income, uninsured individuals on a sliding scale or for free. The bill would transfer interest earnings from the Unclaimed Property Tax Trust Fund to the Provider Stabilization Fund as a loan. Payments would be distributed based on the proportion of low-income, uninsured individuals that the provider serves. Without access to preventive and primary care services, Coloradans are more likely to seek emergency care, increasing costs in the health care system as a whole and leading to worse health outcomes. Previous Next

< Back January 6, 2023 Duran Statement on the Increase of Domestic Violence Deaths in Colorado DENVER, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran today released the following statement regarding the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board’s report which revealed an increase in domestic violence deaths in 2021. Statement from Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge: “The annual report from the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board has confirmed one of my worst fears – domestic violence deaths surged in 2021 and are now at an all-time high in Colorado. “This is frightening, and I am keeping those who have lost a friend or loved one to domestic violence very close to my heart. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes and communities. For a time in my life, I was not safe in my own home. I know the feeling of displacement and the struggle of navigating your next move to keep you and your children safe. “Today, and every day, I am deeply committed to ensuring Colorado’s crime victims and survivors receive the support and services they deserve. While the rise of domestic violence deaths is troubling and we have a lot to work to do, we have been able to secure multi-year funding that will enhance services for victims of crime. This year, we will make improving public safety a top priority and continue our focus on providing the services that survivors need.” In Colorado, domestic violence deaths are at an all-time high since the state began tracking this information in 2016. Majority Leader Duran, a domestic violence survivor, has spent her career at the capitol advocating for survivors' rights and services. In 2022, Majority Leader Duran spearheaded SB22-183 which invested $48 million toward providing critical resources, programs and support to victims of crime, including domestic violence. She has also sponsored bills to protect survivors of domestic violence by strengthening enforcement of requirements that certain domestic violence abusers relinquish their firearms. If you need help in Colorado, call (800) 799-7233 to be connected to the National Domestic Violence Hotline or visit violencefreecolorado.org . Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Junie Joseph that would implement a statewide assessment to improve language access within certain state departments. HB25-1153 passed by a vote of 8-3. < Back February 10, 2025 Velasco, Joseph Bill to Improve Language Access Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Junie Joseph that would implement a statewide assessment to improve language access within certain state departments. HB25-1153 passed by a vote of 8-3. “Language access is transformative: the ability to have agency in decisions about your own life, your own body, your children’s lives, your home, your job, your government. Language barriers are also a roadblock to accessing life saving information about health and safety,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Improving language access is crucial to strong communities throughout our state, and ensuring equity in access to government services. This bill works to identify areas of improvement so we can support our state departments as they comply with language access standards, allowing us to better connect with over 300,000 Coloradans who primarily speak languages other than English.” “From job training opportunities to rental assistance and understanding legal rights, our state departments provide essential services that help Coloradans save money, build successful careers, and access critical resources. But when this information is only available in English, those who need support the most—Coloradans whose primary language is not English—may not even know these services exist,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “I’m proud to sponsor this legislation to improve language access in government programs, ensuring that all Coloradans, no matter what language they speak, can fully benefit from these vital resources.” HB25-1153 would require a statewide language access assessment to be conducted in certain state departments. This assessment would help identify departments’ needs for compliance with language access standards, identify existing language services, and recommend improvements to ensure Coloradans can access government services, regardless of English fluency. The bill would require the findings from the assessment to be included in a report by December 31, 2026. The report would include findings and recommendations including: Improving efficiency, increasing quality of service, reducing costs, avoiding duplicative work, utilizing existing best practices, and minimizing administrative burden when implementing linguistically accessible government services and programs, Addressing gaps in language access and improving meaningful services, Identifying potential technological advancements to increase language access, and Determining what infrastructure is needed to fully implement the standards in the language access universal policy. Rep. Velasco has been a champion for language access at the capitol, including boosting translation accuracy in insurance policy information and policy documents and creating a study to identify how municipalities, public safety departments, counties, and local 911 agencies can best provide emergency alerts in a non-English language and implement live interpretation during a 911 call. A December 2024 report from the Office of New Americans found that language access in Colorado state agencies varied and lacked coordination, but nearly all state agencies expressed interest in receiving additional support from the state to address language access needs. Previous Next

Legislation includes designated support for youth with complex behavioral health care needs, system accountability tools and improved access to services for non-english speakers < Back October 26, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Interim Committee Passes Bipartisan Bills to Support Children and Youth in Foster Care Legislation includes designated support for youth with complex behavioral health care needs, system accountability tools and improved access to services for non-english speakers DENVER, CO – Colorado's Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee yesterday passed five bipartisan bills to support children and youth in foster care or at risk of out-of-home placement. “We need to improve access to care to ensure our children and youth with complex behavioral health needs are receiving the treatment they deserve,” said Chair of Colorado's Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee, Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of Bill 5. “This bill would create a system of care, including training for residential child care providers, specifically designed to support children and youth with complex behavioral health needs. Our goal is to make sure our youth can get access to the care they need, when they need it, from high-quality professionals to improve their overall health care outcomes.” “Caring for your behavioral health is just as important as physical health - but behavioral health care needs are often complex, and caring for them can be difficult, especially for young people in foster care,” said Vice Chair of Colorado's Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, sponsor of Bill 5. “Our bill will require the state to expand and improve treatment options and services for those individuals, and will help more children and youth in foster care get the critical treatment they deserve,” Bill 5 , sponsored by Representatives Young and Brandi Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs, Senator Fields and Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, outlines a new system of care designed for youth and children in foster care, or at risk of out-of-home placement with complex behavioral health needs. Specifically, Bill 5 would require state agencies to create a care plan that includes the implementation of a standardized assessment tool, intensive-care coordination, expanded supportive services and expanded access to alternatives to residential treatment. Bill 5 aims to make it easier for youth with complex behavioral health needs to receive the care they need, when they need it. In order to meet the needs of foster youth, the bill would create a training academy and help create a talent pipeline of high-quality residential child care providers. “When it comes to accessibility, Colorado needs to do a better job to support our children and families involved in dependency and neglect court cases,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of Bill 6. “This important piece of legislation will improve our state’s language standards, so that all families and guardians have the court-ordered information they need in a format they can readily understand. Certain accommodations, including language standards, are necessary to support Coloradans as they navigate our judicial and welfare system, and this bill will help in closing this widening gap.” “Neglect and abuse cases are already stressful and challenging for children and families, which is why we must do more to support these families and break down language barriers,” said Senator Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, sponsor of Bill 6. “Bill 6’s accommodations are a no-brainer. Every Coloradan – regardless of their primary language – deserves access to translation services that will help them better navigate the family judicial system and care for children involved.” To improve accessibility for children, families and guardians involved in abuse and neglect legal cases, Bill 6 , sponsored by Representatives Joseph and Bradley, and Senators Michaelson Jenet and Kirkmeyer, would require the Colorado Department of Human Services to translate court-ordered documents, including treatment plans, into the primary language used by the family. The services would include language translation and interpretation services. “Domestic violence deaths are on the rise, we need to do everything in our power to protect survivors and their innocent children,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, sponsor of Bill 7. “My son and I survived domestic violence, but others across our state are not as fortunate. This important bill works to add another layer of protection for children living in homes with domestic abuse by requiring mandatory reporters to report suspected and known DV situations. This bill, combined with other legislative efforts, will help keep our communities safer while supporting our survivors.” “It’s past time we take a close look at how we’re tracking instances of child abuse and domestic violence,” said Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, sponsor of Bill 7. “Our new bill requires a comprehensive audit of the state’s current reporting and tracking tools to ensure we’re getting a complete picture of the problem at hand and so that we can better determine best practices going forward. This is a critical step we can take to ensure we’re doing everything we can to accurately track child abuse and, ultimately, keep our kids safe.” To support children in suspected domestic violence situations, Bill 7 would require mandatory reporters, including teachers, medical professionals, and law enforcement, to report any evidence of known or suspected domestic violence in a child's home including evidence from previous cases. Bill 7, sponsored by Majority Leader Duran and Representative Gabe Evans, R-Fort Lupton, and Senators Kolker and Kirkmeyer, also outlines the framework for the Colorado State Department of Human Services to develop and implement a screening process for counties to follow when responding to a hotline report, including questions regarding domestic violence and a disclaimer that calls are recorded. Additionally, the bill requires an audit on the current tools used to report and track child abuse to ensure best practices and increase child safety. The committee also passed two additional pieces of legislation, including Bill 1 and Bill 2 . Bill 1, sponsored by Senators Zenzigner and Kirkmeyer and Representatives Young and Pugliese, aims to improve measures for kinship foster care homes, including establishing a process for kinship foster care homes to become certified and securing assistance for providing a child’s basic care. Bill 2, sponsored by Senators Michaelson Jenet and Kirkmeyer and Majority Leader Duran and Representative Pugliese would lay down the groundwork toward creating a more streamlined and expansive system of care with focus on prevention so that behavioral health needs can be addressed earlier in the process. Previous Next

Legislation would save Coloradans money on housing by encouraging housing near transit options and supporting local efforts < Back March 7, 2024 Committee Approves Legislation to Incentivize Housing Near Transit Legislation would save Coloradans money on housing by encouraging housing near transit options and supporting local efforts DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to save people money on housing by building more housing near public transit, cycling and walking corridors, places of employment, and other centers of community. It would also provide financial support to cities, counties, and municipalities that meet their housing goals. HB24-1313 passed by a vote of 7-3. “We can all agree that housing affordability is at crisis levels in our state, and we have to act now,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “This legislation unlocks the door for more affordable housing near transit. Coloradans want and deserve shorter commutes and safe, walkable neighborhoods. This bill advances our climate and housing goals, and I’m grateful to the committee and all the stakeholders for helping us get this done.” “We all want a Colorado where our essential workers can afford their rent and families can buy a home, and this bill will help get us there,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “Our bill reduces housing costs by removing burdensome barriers in order to encourage more housing near transit and job centers. It provides financial support to local governments that meet their housing goals. By building in a smart, strategic way, we can bring down the cost of living and prevent our loved ones and neighbors from being pushed out of our communities.” HB24-1313 would increase affordable housing options and help prevent Coloradans from being displaced from their communities by encouraging strategic housing development near transit and job centers. The bill empowers local governments to address Colorado’s housing needs and incentivizes them to build more housing by providing financial assistance to help meet their housing goals. It also aims to conserve our natural resources and improve our air quality to protect vulnerable communities from pollution-related health issues. The bill would establish Housing Opportunity Goals in areas close to transit services where qualifying cities and counties could build more housing. Subject jurisdictions would have the flexibility to decide where it makes sense to build more housing to ensure they are meeting the diverse needs of their communities. Jurisdictions could meet the Housing Opportunity Goals a number of different ways including increasing the maximum building height in multi-family and mixed-use zones, or allowing multi-family residences in commercial-only or single-family zones. Communities that meet their Housing Opportunity Goals would benefit from a new Affordable Housing Tax Credit and the Transit-Oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund to support their efforts in increasing housing opportunities near public transit, employment centers, safe biking and walking corridors. HB24-1313 applies to cities only if they are in Metropolitan Planning Organizations, have a population over 4,000, and have more than 75 acres of Transit Areas. Of the approximately 30 jurisdictions that would qualify under this bill, most are along the I-25 corridor. A recent poll found that 95 percent of Coloradans say the cost of renting or buying a home is a problem, with 70 percent saying that local governments aren’t doing enough to address this issue. Nearly 70 percent of Colorado voters also support a state law, like HB24-1313, to require cities and counties to allow more housing to be built near public transit and businesses and shopping areas while providing financial assistance for these projects. Previous Next