< Back February 8, 2023 Bill to Require Eco-Friendly Appliance Replacement Option Passes Committee This bill would allow Coloradans to replace broken gas appliances with electric appliances under warranty DENVER, CO – The House Energy and Environment committee passed legislation today that would allow homeowners to replace their under warranty gas appliances with electric appliances. HB23-1134 aims to give Coloradans more eco-friendly and energy efficient options when it comes to replacing their everyday appliances. “If your gas appliance breaks, you should be able to replace it under warranty with an eco-friendly electric option,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “Our bill would give Coloradans the option of replacing their broken stove that relies on unpredictable natural gas prices with an electric equivalent. We’re giving Coloradans a choice when it comes to replacing gas-powered household appliances to help save them money and cut down on harmful indoor emissions.” “No one wants to deal with a broken water heater, but at least under our bill Coloradans have eco-friendly options when it comes to selecting a replacement,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins . “Our bill would give Coloradans the option of replacing their under warranty, unrepairable gas-powered appliances with electric models. Coloradans interested in making the switch from gas to electric appliances when their gas appliance is in need of replacement would have that option under this legislation.” HB23-1134 passed committee by a vote of 6-3 and would require home service warranty contracts that provide coverage for gas-fueled appliances to allow homeowners to replace them with electric-powered appliances if they are still covered under warranty. This bill aims to give consumers the option to replace their broken down gas powered appliances, including stoves, ovens, furnaces, HVAC systems, and water heaters, with an eco-friendly electric option. A growing body of research shows when used without proper ventilation, gas stoves emit unsafe levels of nitrogen oxides indoors. HB23-1134 would also require home warranty service contracts to describe minimum efficiency and performance standards for each gas-fueled appliance and for any electric replacements so consumers can make informed and cost-effective decisions. Previous Next

< Back March 9, 2021 PASSED: BILLS TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND LESSEN CMAS TESTING LOAD DENVER, CO — The House today passed legislation on third reading and final passage to protect public health workers from dangerous doxxing attempts and to reduce the CMAS testing load on Colorado students. “As Colorado students continue to grapple with the challenges of an extremely difficult year, I’m proud that we were able to come together to lessen the testing load,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver . “It took a lot of work and compromise by stakeholders from every corner of the education community to reach agreement on this proposal, but with this bill, we’ve found a solution that works for Colorado students, parents and teachers while still complying with federal guidance.” “By crafting this responsible solution, we are allowing our incredible educators, who have been through so much, to focus on teaching their students and getting through the rest of this unprecedented school year,” said House Education Chair Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This bill represents a careful compromise that will put educators, students, and parents first while keeping us in compliance with federal regulations.” HB21-1161 , which passed by a vote of 52-12, requires the administration of the English Language Arts exam in grades three, five, and seven, while students in grades four, six, and eight will take the Math exam. Parents will also have the option to opt their child in to taking whichever exam they did not automatically receive. The legislation also requires the Colorado Department of Education to request a waiver to suspend science exams normally administered in grades 5, 8, and 11. The bill suspends for one year the statutorily required social studies exams for grades 4 and 7. The bill also implements consensus recommendations from a departmental task force last year, including suspending the link between tests, accountability, and educator evaluation. The bill would direct the Colorado Department of Education to seek a waiver from the federal Department of Education to implement these policies as soon as practicable. “Our public health officials have helped Colorado navigate through a devastating emergency, but they’ve been subject to relentless harassment and instances of doxxing,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, (D-Thornton) . “No public servant deserves to have their families and their wellbeing threatened because of the work they do. With this bill, we spoke clearly and declared that our public health officials deserve protection from harassment.” HB21-1107 , sponsored by Representatives Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, and Terri Carver, R-Colorado Springs, would create anti-doxxing protections for public health workers. Currently, it is unlawful to post on the internet the personal information of a law enforcement official, if that information poses an imminent and serious threat to the official or the official’s family. HB21-1107, which passed today by a vote of 61-4, would add the same protections for public health workers. “State employees working to keep our communities and correctional systems safe take risks while serving Colorado,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “This straightforward bill will ensure that these employees and their families are protected from those who would do them harm by posting their personal information online. State employees deserve to feel safe in their own homes.” HB21-1015 , sponsored by Representatives Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, and Terri Carver, R-Colorado Springs, would create anti-doxxing protections for employees at the Department of Corrections. The bill would add dissemination of personal information that poses a serious risk to a Department of Corrections employee or their family to Colorado’s existing anti-doxxing statutes. The bill passed 63-2. Previous Next

The House today passed a bill that would create clear policies and procedures for metropolitan districts to abide by, improving accountability and consistency when enforcing their policies on homeowners. HB24-1267 passed by a vote of 47-16. < Back March 7, 2024 House Passes Jodeh, Bacon Bill to Protect Homeowners in Metro Districts DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bill that would create clear policies and procedures for metropolitan districts to abide by, improving accountability and consistency when enforcing their policies on homeowners. HB24-1267 passed by a vote of 47-16. “Metro districts are a tool used to help keep up with the increasing demand for housing in our communities, and we must ensure that homeowners in these districts are protected from preventable foreclosures,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “Metro districts can legally conduct design review and covenant enforcement, unfortunately leading to some homeowners being foreclosed on due to fines and fees over decisions like the material used for their roof. Our legislation would encourage metro districts and homeowners to work together to settle disputes and avoid unnecessary foreclosures.” “There are over 2,000 metro districts throughout Colorado where homeowners pay additional taxes to cover costs for infrastructure and services, and these homeowners deserve transparency about the covenant enforcement guidelines of the metro district that they are paying into,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This bill would offer greater transparency for the rules and practices that metro districts must adhere to and prevent homeowners from having their house foreclosed on due to unpaid debts for covenant enforcement, keeping Coloradans housed.” Starting January 1, 2025, HB24-1267 would prohibit a metro district from foreclosing on a lien based on a resident’s delinquent fees or other charges owed to the metro district. It would also create rules and guidelines for metro districts to comply with when enforcing policies on owners, including: Requiring metro districts to adopt written policies regarding the imposition and collection of fines, Prohibiting metro districts from foreclosing on liens based on delinquent fees and requiring residents to use specific flammable roofing or other materials, Establishing a fair process that gives an owner notice and an opportunity for a hearing, and Outlining procedures for dispute resolution between metro districts and residents, including mediation and court cases. HB24-1267 protects residents’ property rights by allowing them to display flags and signs, modify their property to accommodate a person with a disability, park an emergency vehicle in a driveway, remove vegetation for fire mitigation purposes, use a rain barrel, operate a family child care home or install renewable energy devices. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to create jobs and boost rural economies. < Back February 1, 2024 Lukens’ Bipartisan Bill to Boost Rural Economies Clears Committee DENVER, CO – The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to create jobs and boost rural economies. HB24-1001, sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens, will extend the Rural Jump-start Program until 2031. “Rural economies are driven by local business, and this bill will help ease economic barriers for new small businesses and create jobs in rural Colorado,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “For Coloradans on the Western Slope, small businesses serve as a hub for community and a cornerstone for our rural economies. This bipartisan bill continues the successful Rural Jump-start Program, which offers small businesses grants and tax credits to grow, hire, and retain workers. Investing in rural Colorado is critical for our communities and makes our state stronger.” HB24-1001 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, passed committee unanimously. This bill aims to extend income tax credits and grants available to businesses and their employees that participate in the Colorado Rural Jump-start Zone Program and Grant Program. Under this bill, the Grant Program would extend through June 2026 and the Jump-start Zone Program, which includes the business tax incentives, would extend through 2031. These successful programs are designed to reduce the costs of starting a new business or hiring new employees in rural economic jump-start zones . HB24-1001 would play a crucial role in boosting rural economies, supporting small businesses, and creating new jobs in all four corners of the state. Previous Next

< Back March 2, 2020 HOUSE PASSES EXTENSION OF CONTRACTING SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES The House today passed by a vote of 49-12, Representatives Daneya Esgar and Tom Sullivan’s legislation to extend the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for the next five years. “The Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is an invaluable resource for small businesses across Colorado. Being able to take advantage of federal contracting is a huge boost to not only their businesses but to our economy said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Minority, veteran and women-owned businesses need our support, and now that the House has passed PTAC, we’re one step closer to supporting these businesses for the next five years. “Entering the world of government contracting is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for a small business. PTAC is a resource that guides small minority, veteran and women-owned businesses through the complex process,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial . “When small businesses succeed, Colorado is better for it.” HB20-1116 would extend the Colorado Procurement Assistance Center for five years. The state currently contracts with a nonprofit to provide procurement assistance services, and that contract will end in September 2020. The bill will also allow the state to contribute additional resources to the program if the nonprofit agrees to match that investment 100 percent. PTAC provides free consulting with procurement counselors, as well as a variety of subject matter experts, to Colorado’s small, women, veteran and minority-owned businesses applying for and performing government contracts at the federal, state and local levels. PTAC also runs free workshops and host events, including a training series, a speaker series and networking events with major federal contractors. The program, which started in 2009, has served over 5,000 clients and helped support 55,000 jobs in Colorado. In 2018 alone, the program helped companies earn a combined $419 million in government contracts and helped create/retain over 8,000 jobs. The program has consistently outperformed its statutorily required performance metrics, serving six times the number of active businesses required by law. It has provided over 1,000 more counseling hours than required by law and sponsored twice as many events. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed a bill that would create safeguards around AI chatbots to protect Colorado kids. HB26-1263, sponsored by Representatives Sean Camacho and Javier Mabrey, passed by a vote of 10-3. < Back March 26, 2026 AI Chatbot Protections Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed a bill that would create safeguards around AI chatbots to protect Colorado kids. HB26-1263, sponsored by Representatives Sean Camacho and Javier Mabrey, passed by a vote of 10-3. “The unfortunate reality is that AI chatbots have encouraged suicides and engaged in romantic interactions with minors. Our bill would protect users, especially children, from misleading AI chatbot conversations,” said Rep. Sean Camacho, D-Denver. “As a parent, it is unsettling to know that unchecked AI chatbots can put children in harm's way, especially when children show signs of depression or suicidal ideation. Our legislation improves transparency and safeguards around AI chatbots to protect Colorado children from manipulative and dangerous AI technology.” “AI chatbots have posed as licensed mental health professionals or as a romantic partner, which has led to emotional dependence and even suicide,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “Our phones have become an extension of ourselves, making these AI chatbots available at kids’ fingertips. Our bill establishes guidelines to prevent the gamification of chatbots, prohibit AI from generating or engaging in sexually-explicit content and require AI companies to provide resources to users who express mental health struggles.” Beginning January 1, 2027, HB26-1263 implements safeguards around artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, particularly as they interact with children. The bill would require AI developers to provide a clear and visible disclosure to the minor that the AI chatbot is artificially generated and not human, and prohibit the use of rewards to encourage engagement. AI developers would be required to take reasonable steps to prevent AI chatbots from generating sexually explicit content or generating conversations that encourage or engage in sexually explicit interactions with minors. These developers would also be required to prevent AI chatbots from creating an emotional dependence through false claims that the chatbot is human, generating conversations that are romantic or sexual or role-playing with a minor. The bill also requires AI developers to allow for parental controls if their chatbots are accessible to children under the age of 13.HB26-1263 would also require AI chatbots to provide suicide-prevention resources to users who express suicidal thoughts or interest in self-harm, and platforms would be required to file reports on how often a chatbot flags suicidal or self-harm behaviors. The American Psychological Association warned that, while AI chatbots are low-cost and accessible, they lack necessary regulations to guarantee that they are being used safely. When a 16-year-old told an AI chatbot about his suicidal thoughts and plans last year , the chatbot discouraged him from telling his parents and offered to write his suicide note. A 14-year-old also died by suicide after his AI chatbot engaged in sexual role play and falsely claimed to be a psychotherapist. Previous Next

< Back April 15, 2023 House Passes Bills to Boost Apprenticeships and Support Food Banks DENVER, CO – Legislation to boost Colorado’s workforce by helping graduating students access apprenticeship and increase funding for Colorado food banks today passed the House. “Connecting graduating students with apprenticeships in high-demand trade industries addresses Colorado’s workforce needs while saving students money in the process,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “Our legislation makes it easier for Coloradans to search, apply and participate in apprenticeship programs that will lead to good-paying careers. This bill is good for everyone, especially aspiring professionals and critical industries in need of skilled, qualified workers.” “Apprenticeship programs can jumpstart a student’s career in something they’re passionate about,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton. “This bill builds on our work to save graduating students money on training and on-the-job education while preparing for good paying careers in high-demand industries. From construction trades to firefighting, there are many industries searching for qualified workers and this bill helps fill workforce demand and boost Colorado’s economy.” HB23-1212 passed the House by a vote of 59 to 4. This bill would direct the Office of the Future of Work, the Colorado Department Education and other state agencies to collaborate with schools and trade industries to create apprenticeship pathways for graduating students. HB23-1212 would also require the creation of an online job board for students, task the state with incorporating trades apprenticeships in career planning tools, and develop standards for individual career and academic plans for students registered in the program to better support job preparation. Colorado’s trade and construction industries are still experiencing workforce shortages following economic disruptions from the pandemic. This bill would help create a talent pipeline for graduating students to enter good-paying careers after graduation and support Colorado’s workforce. HB23-1158, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representatives Jenny Willford and Rick Taggart, passed by a vote of 53-10 and would provide $6 million to help low income, older Coloradans access healthy food. “Colorado’s food banks have done incredible work supporting our communities, and with this bill, we’ll provide additional resources to help more Coloradans access nutritious food,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “I’m proud we passed this bipartisan bill to help deliver meals to nearly 15,000 older Coloradans living below the poverty line.” HB23-1158 supports older Coloradans by increasing access to nutritious food. This bill would provide grants to local food banks and food distribution programs so they can create and deliver food packages for low-income older adults below the poverty line. HB23-1158 would positively impact more than 14,000 low income older adults in Colorado. Previous Next

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

< Back June 14, 2021 ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR RETAILERS, TOOLS TO HELP SMALL BIZ GROW SIGNED INTO LAW DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed two bills into law that will allow retailers to retain the sales tax they collect and provide small businesses with the tools and funding they need to grow. “Colorado’s bars, restaurants, food trucks and retailers have gotten a boost this year from legislation that allows them to keep the sales tax they collect, and now that will continue through the summer,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn. “This law will help keep our recovery on track by supporting the small businesses that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic as they work to get back on their feet and grow.” HB21-1265 , sponsored by Reps. Kyle Mullica and Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, continues a successful sales tax assistance effort passed during the 2020 special session. It allows restaurants, bars, caterers and food service contractors (such as airline food service contractors and food concession contractors at sporting events) to deduct up to $70,000 in net taxable sales from their monthly state sales tax return for five different locations and retain the resulting sales tax revenue during the months of June, July and August 2021. “While it’s been a tough year, there are so many small businesses and entrepreneurs who are primed to grow and take the next step with their businesses,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “This new program that the governor signed into law today will help provide small-and-medium-sized employers the tools, training and funding opportunities they need to jump ahead, create jobs and enter into the next phase of their business.” “There are so many businesses across Colorado that could grow, create jobs and help boost our economy with a little technical assistance, funding or support,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “With this new initiative, Colorado businesses that are ready to expand will have access to critical assistance and tools to help them thrive.” Sponsored by Representatives Lindsey Daugherty and Naquetta Ricks, SB21-241 creates the Small Business Accelerated Growth Program, which is designed to provide small businesses on the verge of major growth with the tools and funding they need to take their small businesses to the next level. The program will support businesses with 19 employees or fewer and provide them with technical, operational, marketing and financial assistance to ensure they can grow sustainably and continue to create jobs. Previous Next

The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Resources Committee today passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Lindsey Daugherty to increase price transparency for health care services to save Colorado patients money. < Back April 25, 2023 Bills to Lower Health Care Costs and Protect Consumers Pass Committee DENVER, CO - The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Resources Committee today passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Lindsey Daugherty to increase price transparency for health care services to save Colorado patients money. “Patients often don’t know in advance what they should expect to pay for medical services, leading to many being shocked when they receive large medical bills that they have no choice but to pay,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, sponsor of SB23-252. “This bill requires hospitals to publicize a list of the services they offer so patients can anticipate costs and appropriately budget for their medical care. When hospitals make their prices public, Colorado families and employers can compare costs across providers and choose an option that best fits their budget and health care needs.” SB23-252 , also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, passed by a vote of 9-0. In 2022, the General Assembly passed legislation to prohibit hospitals from pursuing debt collection action against a patient if the hospital failed to comply with federal hospital price transparency laws during the patient’s treatment. Under the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule, hospitals must publicly post standard charges and provide an out-of-pocket cost estimator tool for patients. This bill would build on the federal transparency requirements by having hospitals post their Medicare reimbursement rates and annually submit pricing information to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Violations of SB23-252 would be a deceptive trade practice under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act . “HB23-1303 is vitally important to protect Coloradans, doctors and hospitals from insolvent insurers that leave communities and patients without health insurance coverage,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of HB23-1303. “Patients and doctors shouldn’t be on the hook when insurance companies go out of business. This bill makes sure insurance companies keep their promises and protects consumers, hospitals, and health care providers.” “Rural communities like mine are especially vulnerable to changes in the health insurance market,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB23-1303. “If insurers leave town, then people in our rural communities are stuck with exorbitant costs and are left wondering how they’re going to find an affordable plan that works for them. This legislation is an important safeguard that will protect Coloradans from instability in the health insurance market that can spread and disrupt coverage for consumers.” HB23-1303 would make the distribution of insurance claims a class 1 distribution priority in the case of an insurer’s liquidation, preventing other insurers from becoming impaired or insolvent due to another’s failure. This prioritization adjustment would be repealed on July 1, 2026. The bill also amends the “Life and Health Insurance Protection Association Act” by: Adding health maintenance organizations (HMOs) as members of the Colorado Life and Health Insurance Protection Association, bringing HMOs into this public safety net, and subjects HMOs to assessments, Allocating responsibility for long-term care insurance assessments between health and life insurance association members, and Specifying that the Act does not provide coverage to a person that acquires rights to receive, or to a payee or beneficiary that transfers its rights in, a structured settlement factoring transaction, as defined in federal law, regardless of when the transaction occurred. HB23-1303 passed by a unanimous vote of 11-0. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing, & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to give local governments the right of first refusal and right of first offer to preserve Colorado’s affordable housing opportunities. < Back February 20, 2024 Bill to Preserve Housing Coloradans Can Afford Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing, & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to give local governments the right of first refusal and right of first offer to preserve Colorado’s affordable housing opportunities. “Colorado Democrats are working to save Coloradans money on housing and address Colorado’s housing crisis not only by building more housing but also by maintaining affordable housing units that already exist and have benefitted from public investment,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Many Coloradans are struggling to keep up with rising housing costs, and losing affordable housing in the rental market only makes it more difficult for hardworking people to find a place to live. This bill is an important tool for local governments so they can preserve housing Coloradans can afford in our communities while ensuring sellers receive fair compensation for the sale of their property.” “With rental rates increasing much faster than income, the right of first refusal is crucial in protecting housing options that work for every Coloradan’s budget,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Our bill gives local governments the opportunity to buy affordable housing properties before private companies and hedge funds grab them, so we can prevent corporate greed from pricing Coloradans out of their communities and displacing our neighbors.” HB24-1175 , which passed by a vote of 8-3, would give local governments a right of first offer and a right of first refusal to preserve long-term affordable housing opportunities. The right of first offer gives local governments the right to make an offer to purchase a qualifying multi-family rental property before the property is listed for sale to other parties. In urban counties, a property qualifies under this bill if it is an existing affordable housing multi-family residential or mixed-use rental property with more than five and less than 100 units. In rural or rural resort counties, a property qualifies under this bill if it is an existing affordable housing property and has more than three and fewer than 100 units. Certain transactions of qualifying properties are exempt, and the right of first offer terminates on December 31, 2029. The right of first refusal gives local governments the right to purchase a multi-family residential or mixed-use rental property that is existing affordable housing if they match any offers that the seller receives and continue to use the property for long-term affordable housing. Previous Next

< Back April 16, 2019 GOV. SIGNS BECKER-CARAVEO BILL TO PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF COLORADANS & GIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES A VOICE (Apr. 16) – Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill that will update Colorado’s antiquated oil and gas laws to protect families and individuals from residential drilling by putting health and safety first, empowering local communities, and protecting our clean air and clean water. “Today, our state took a big step forward toward ensuring local governments have a seat at the table with the oil and gas industry and state government when new wells are to be drilled in that community. This law will give communities concerned about the health and safety impacts of oil and gas greater assurance that air quality and other impacts don’t take a back seat to other concerns,” said Speaker KC Becker. “This bill was years in the making, and for far too many, it’s long overdue. I’m proud of what we have accomplished with this new law.” “As we discussed flow lines, well sites and profits, it was easy for some to lose sight of a major aspects of this new law and that’s the refocusing of the COGCC to put health and safety first,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, the legislature’s only doctor and the co-prime sponsor of the bill. “We shouldn’t prioritize well sites over of the health of wheezing infants. This bill gives local governments a voice when it comes to residential drilling.” The landmark law directs the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to regulate oil and gas development to protect public welfare, and clarifies that local governments have the same authority to regulate the oil and gas industry as they have with every other industry in Colorado, including the mining industry. The law also removes the prohibition against local governments requiring oil and gas companies to cover the direct costs of regulating, monitoring and permitting the sites in their communities. “I want to thank Erin Martinez for lending her powerful voice to this fight. My colleagues and I share her belief that industry can put health and safety first and continue to thrive at the same time,” Speaker Becker added. “Like many Coloradans, we admire Erin Martinez’s strength, commitment, and courage to enact change in the wake of terrible tragedy.” The new law addresses emissions and air quality by requiring increased monitoring and implementing a rule-making process to reduce emissions to better meet federal regulations. A “brown cloud” returned to Denver last month and reports showed that the air quality was worse than that of Beijing. SB19-181 would also ensure that taxpayers are not footing the bill for cleaning up orphan oil and gas wells that have been abandoned but not adequately plugged. Current bonding requirements are inadequate to cover the cost of clean-up when a company abandons a well. Cleanup costs for just one abandoned well costs an average of $82,000. Currently, there are nearly 400 known orphan wells in Colorado and a long list of wells that should be investigated. Finally, SB19-181 also provides increased protections for property owners with regard to forced pooling. Under current law, just one mineral rights owner can start the process of “forced pooling” other mineral owners and require development of those resources against the will of the majority of the owners. This bill would raise the threshold and put more transparency and guardrails on the process. The sponsors and proponents of the bill made clear during each hearing and floor debate that this bill is not a reiteration of Proposition 112, nor is it a moratorium or a ban on drilling. Watch the bill signing here . Previous Next