< Back August 1, 2019 DELIVERING RESULTS FOR COLORADANS: HOUSE DEMS TOUT NEW LAWS Suite of bills going into effect Friday address health care costs, affordable housing, environment, and more (August 1) – 221 new state laws are set to go into effect on Friday, representing key components of the Colorado House Democrats’ agenda focused on building a fair economy that expands opportunity for all; investing in our future; and protecting the Colorado way of life. Over half of the new laws going into effect tomorrow had bipartisan sponsors, and the vast majority passed with bipartisan support. “I’m proud of what we accomplished this year – we were able to make progress on a wide range of issues including health care, climate change and the environment, education, transportation, election access and fair campaigns,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “The laws going into effect tomorrow will help Coloradans get ahead and ensure that Colorado continues to be the best state in the nation to live, work and play.” A selection of highlights on key issues is below, and a full list can be found here . ✓ Expanding Opportunity & Building a Fair Economy Too many hardworking Coloradans aren’t seeing the benefit of our state’s economic success and feel like they can’t get ahead. This year Democrats made important progress on leveling the playing field for all Coloradans. One new law going into effect on Friday will help families with the high cost of child care. Another new law will help kick-start college savings for every baby born or adopted in Colorado, helping address the burden of higher education costs on students and their families. HB19-1013 (Exum), HB19-1280 (Herod & Becker) Also going into effect on Friday is a bill increasing protections for student loan borrowers by establishing licensing requirements for loan service providers and increasing enforcement of complaints. SB19-002 (Roberts & Jackson) ✓ Helping to Lower the Cost of Health Care Democrats focused on lowering health care costs this year, improving transparency and enacting cost-cutting measures. Multiple bills going into effect on Friday require increased cost transparency by hospitals , implement protections for consumers when accessing freestanding emergency departments , and streamline access to care . HB19-1001 (Kennedy), HB19-1010 (Mullica & Landgraf), HB19-1211 (Michaelson Jenet & Caraveo) Democrats also focused on addressing the high cost of prescription drugs by capping co-pays for life-saving insulin , allowing importation of lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, and increasing transparency of prescription costs for both prescribers and patients. HB19-1216 (Roberts), SB19-005 (Jaquez Lewis), HB19-1131 (Jaquez Lewis) Also going into effect this week, but for a different reason, is the landmark Reinsurance bill, which is expected to decrease health insurance premiums on the individual market by 18.2% statewide next year. HB19-1168 (McCluskie & Rich) Click here to see our release announcing the approval of a federal waiver allowing the program to proceed. ✓ Increasing Access to Jobs & Workforce Training The SHOP Act, which goes into effect this week, will help Colorado schools build or renovate career & technical education facilities , expanding opportunities for students to explore skills training and a range of career options. HB19-1008 (Kraft-Tharp & Larson) Another new law will help students and adults pursuing careers in the trades access opportunity by building a directory of apprenticeship programs and coordinating with local workforce centers, businesses, and education institutions. SB19-171 (Sullivan & Galindo) ✓ Protecting Colorado’s Environment & Promoting Clean Energy Clean air and water are key to Colorado’s unique quality of life. This year Colorado Democrats took action to protect our environment and promote clean energy. Two key bills that go into effect on Friday will prevent pollution of precious water resources from future hardrock mining operations and protect water sources and firefighters from dangerous PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam. HB 19-1113 (Roberts & McLachlan), HB19-1279 (Exum & Landgraf) Also going into effect is a bill to increase access to renewable energy for Coloradans by expanding and streamlining the community solar gardens program. HB19-1003 (Hansen & Valdez A.) ✓ Increasing Affordable Housing and Renters’ Rights One of the major issues impacting hardworking Coloradans is the cost of living, and in particular the lack of affordable housing. Two key components of the House Democrats’ efforts to boost investment in affordable housing go into effect on Friday and will provide much-needed relief in areas across the state. HB19-1245 (Weissman), HB19-1322 (Roberts & Will) Another important component of the housing crisis is the lack of protections for renters. Also going into effect on Friday are a law to improve a renter’s rights if their home becomes uninhabitable or unfit for human habitation, and a law to put reasonable limitations on the application fees landlords can charge prospective tenants. HB19-1170 (Jackson & Weissman), HB19-1106 (Titone & Gonzales-Gutierrez). ✓ Investing in Student Success On top of historic investments in K-12 and higher education this year, House Democrats have been working to invest in targeted strategies to improve student success. This Friday, two new laws will go into effect increasing access to AP and IB courses for low-income students. Also going into effect is a bill to support local accountability systems to ensure high quality education programs in schools. SB19-059 (Buckner), HB19-1222 (Kipp & McCluskie), SB19-204 (Arndt & Bird). Another bill going into effect Friday will expand access to concurrent enrollment opportunities for students to earn higher education course credit while enrolled in high school and improve workforce readiness. SB19-176 (McCluskie & Geitner) ✓ Improving Access to Mental Health Services An important part of the House Democrats’ legislative agenda this year was to improve mental health care in Colorado and increase access to services. The K-5 Social and Emotional Health Act , which goes into effect this week, will increase access to mental health services for children through a pilot program that provides a social worker in participating elementary schools. HB19-1017 (Michaelson Jenet) Another bill going into effect on Friday creates a new mental health facility to provide residential care, treatment, and services for individuals with mental or physical health diagnoses, to provide treatment options that are more tailored and cost-effective than acute care hospitals. HB19-1160 (Landgraf & Singer) In addition, the new law banning the dangerous practice of “conversion therapy” against LGBTQ individuals partially goes into effect on Friday. This discredited practice has been found to make young people three times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, six times more likely to fall into depression, and eight times more likely to attempt suicide. The bill will be in full effect by October 1st. HB19-1129 (Michaelson Jenet & Esgar) ✓ Pursuing Criminal Justice Reform This year, Colorado made great progress in a significantly bipartisan fashion on reasonable reforms to our criminal justice system. One new law going into effect expands access to record sealing to help more people successfully obtain and maintain housing and employment and move on from their past mistakes after they have served their sentences. HB19-1275 (Weissman & Soper) The legislature also passed a “Ban the Box” bill giving former offenders a chance to demonstrate their qualifications for a job based on their merit and skill during an interview, rather than being immediately passed over because they checked “the box” indicating criminal history on an initial application form. HB19-1025 (Herod & Melton) Another new law creates a scholarship program for former youth offenders who are pursuing a higher education, lowering the chance of recidivism and helping them become productive members of society. SB19-231 (Exum & Tipper) The legislature also passed a bill to increase mental health support for peace officers , as well as training and prevention programs, peer support groups, and other services. HB19-1244 (Coleman & Carver) ✓ Standing Up for Rural Colorado Legislators also continued to work together to address the unique needs of rural Colorado. On Friday, a new law will continue the legislature’s efforts to expand the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the state and close the digital divide. SB19-107 (Roberts) Another bill going into effect promotes both Colorado agriculture and healthy eating by encouraging schools to use food grown in our state. Also going into effect is a bill to improve produce safety standards . HB19-1132 (Buentello & Pelton), HB19-1114 (Catlin & Valdez D.) ✓ Supporting Open & Transparent Government, Fair Campaigns, and Access to the Ballot The legislature passed a range of bills this year to significantly increase access to the ballot and make our elections more secure and transparent. Two particularly notable bills go into effect this week that require expanded disclosure of funding behind campaign communications and increased transparency of political spending . Another bill establishes contribution limits for county candidates to better ensure a level playing field. SB19-068 (Weissman & Cutter), HB19-1318 (Weissman), HB19-1007 (Sirota) Also going into effect are three bills that expand access to the ballot by updating our elections laws, reducing wait times at voting centers, expanding automatic voter registration, and improving access for voters with disabilities. HB19-1278 (Lontine), SB19-235 (Esgar & Mullica), SB19-202 (Froelich) See full list of bills going into effect on Friday, August 2nd, here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mo2mOp8gF14OSaEpQsgbB8LDVWSDnaC9 Previous Next

The House Appropriations Committee today passed a bill that would better balance the authority between the Governor and the General Assembly during times of economic uncertainty. SB25B-001 passed by a vote of 11-0. < Back August 22, 2025 Bill to Increase Oversight and Collaboration Between Executive & Legislative Branches During Revenue Shortfalls Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Appropriations Committee today passed a bill that would better balance the authority between the Governor and the General Assembly during times of economic uncertainty. SB25B-001 passed by a vote of 11-0. “When Congressional Republicans passed Trump’s tax bill last month, it immediately blew a billion-dollar hole in this year’s state budget, putting us in a position to make difficult spending cuts,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, JBC member. “Current law gives the Governor sole power to make cuts to programs and services during a revenue shortfall, which is why I’m sponsoring this law to strengthen collaboration by bringing the Joint Budget Committee to the table. With this bill, we can encourage a more balanced approach to fill the revenue hole that was caused by the reckless federal GOP budget.” “Because of Trump’s corporate giveaways, we are forced to make cuts to our budget. This legislation will help us make well-informed, data-driven decisions to minimize the harm caused by Congressional Republicans,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Creating a responsible and thoughtful process to reduce state spending is a much better approach than the legislature rebalancing the budget on the fly, on the floor without any analysis from our nonpartisan staff, data or input from the Joint Budget Committee. By balancing the Governor’s authority and updating spending reduction triggers, we can better serve the people of Colorado.” Under current law, the Governor has broad unilateral authority to suspend programs and services during a revenue shortfall via executive order. SB25B-001 would require the Governor to notify the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) of executive orders to reduce spending and require the JBC to promptly meet with the executive branch to discuss the plan. The bill balances the authority between the Governor and the General Assembly by ensuring the JBC is involved in decision-making processes early on and by adding guardrails to the executive branch’s existing authority to help ensure that they continue to meet and implement legislative directives. The bill would also update the required spending reduction triggers to more accurately reflect economic pressures and the current status of the reserve, which Democrats have worked to build up to 15 percent since the COVID pandemic, when it fell below 4 percent. In addition to the triggers in existing law, the bill would add that if a revenue estimate indicates that the state needs to use an amount of the reserve equal to 3 percent of the general fund appropriations for that fiscal year (e.g. around $490 million for FY26), the Governor must take action to reduce spending. Previous Next

SB25B-002 protects Coloradans from federal attacks on Planned Parenthood and restores access to health care for over 10,000 Medicaid recipients < Back August 22, 2025 Bill to Restore Access to Planned Parenthood Services for Medicaid Patients Passes Committee SB25B-002 protects Coloradans from federal attacks on Planned Parenthood and restores access to health care for over 10,000 Medicaid recipients DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed a bill to authorize state funding for Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health care providers that were removed from the federal Medicaid program by the federal budget passed by Congressional Republicans. “All Coloradans, whether or not they are a Medicaid recipient, deserve access to reproductive health care,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The federal GOP budget bill targeted Planned Parenthood, threatening access to low-cost family planning and preventive care for all Coloradans in all corners of our state. This bill is an effort to fight back against the largest cut to Medicaid in the history of our country and protect thousands of Coloradans from losing this essential health care coverage and access to the provider of their choice. Health care shouldn't be political.” “Despite Coloradans’ overwhelming support of reproductive freedom, Congressional Republicans continue to attack access to life-saving health care,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “When Trump’s budget was signed into law, it forced Planned Parenthood to immediately cancel every appointment for Medicaid recipients. While corporations enjoy their new tax breaks, Coloradans on Medicaid risk losing access to STI testing, cancer screenings and abortion care. I’m proud to stand up for Coloradans with this legislation that will restore access to life-saving care.” SB25B-002 would allow the use of state funds to reimburse organizations like Planned Parenthood, which were barred from federal Medicaid funding by Congressional Republicans’ tax bill, for services like cancer screenings, birth control consultations, and STI testing. In the event that federal action renders these entities eligible for reimbursements again, the bill would no longer be in effect. H.R.1 immediately removed Planned Parenthood from the federal Medicaid program, forcing Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains providers to cancel thousands of appointments . Weeks later, a Temporary Restraining Order reversed this federal prohibition, though the issue is still working its way through the courts. SB25B-002 passed by a vote of 9-4. Previous Next

< Back April 10, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES TWO BILLS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS & WORKERS Froelich-Singer bill to combat wage theft approved 64-0 (Apr. 10) — The House approved two bills with bipartisan support to protect workers from wage theft and to safeguard Coloradans from the unfair practice of wage garnishment. This morning, the House unanimously passed HB19-1267, sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, and Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. This bill would make the withholding or stealing wages a criminal offense. “This is about protecting workers. Wage theft is being treated very differently from theft when it is a corrosive act in society,” said Rep. Froelich. “We want to bring restitution for these workers and contractors who have faced wage theft. Stealing from workers isn’t a partisan issue and I’m glad the House made that abundantly clear today.” Currently, employers stealing wages from employees or contractors is a classified misdemeanor. Often times, it is not even worthy of prosecutors to go after because the penalties are so low. “Over $750 million a year are in lost wages. These are everyday workers across the board who are losing their hard-earned wages,” said Rep. Singer. “Labor trafficking is the majority of human trafficking. This bill will actually help workers in a way that the government never could.” This bipartisan bill now heads to the Senate. The House also approved HB19-1189, sponsored by Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, and Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, with bipartisan support. The bill would require clearer and more timely notice of garnishment and to allow individuals more time to prepare for possible reduced wages and understand their options better. “We were able to bring consumer advocates and debt collection agencies together to provide relief for Colorado families who need it most,” said Rep. Matt Gray. “Colorado workers who are having their wages garnished will see more take home pay to afford the cost of housing, child care and investing in their future.” In addition to making wage garnishment intentions more clear, this bill will also reduce the disposable earning subject to garnishments and create a general hardship exemption that would permit individuals to prove in court that the amount of their pay subject to garnishment should be further reduced or eliminated all together. “When we heard testimony, someone said wage garnishment is traditionally a methodology used to go after people who don’t have any money, I believe this is true,” said Rep. Valdez. “We need to consider the people we can help, even if it’s just a little bit, even if it’s just a few. We need to take a step in the right direction.” A 2017 national study found that wage garnishments disproportionately impacts lower income individuals earning between $20,000 to $60,000. Colorado ranks 34th among 50 states for protecting individuals’ paychecks from onerous garnishment. The bill passed the House floor with a bipartisan vote of 37-27. The bill now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

The House yesterday passed bipartisan legislation to allow Coloradans 72 years and older to opt out of jury duty. < Back May 1, 2025 ICYMI: Marshall’s Bill to Allow Older Coloradans to Opt Out of Jury Duty Passes House DENVER, CO – The House yesterday passed bipartisan legislation to allow Coloradans 72 years and older to opt out of jury duty. HB25-1065 passed the House by a vote of 50 to 14. “Under this bipartisan bill, older Coloradans can choose whether or not they want to serve on a jury,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch. “This bill aligns the opt-out age for jury duty with the retirement age for judges. The vast majority of states already allow older residents to opt out of jury duty temporarily or permanently, and this bill allows older Coloradans to choose what is right for them.” HB25-1065 would allow Coloradans aged 72 years and older to temporarily or permanently opt out of jury service. If signed into law, this bill would take effect on January 1, 2026. According to the Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons (AARP), 41 states offer an exemption from jury service based on age. The minimum age required to request an exemption from jury service ranges from 65 to 80 years old nationwide. Previous Next

< Back April 5, 2022 ROBERTS’ BILL TO PREVENT CARDIAC ARREST DEATHS PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Health and Insurance Committee today passed HB22-1251 , sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, which would prevent deaths from cardiac arrests. “We need this bill to save lives. This bill will prevent cardiac arrest deaths by helping people locate and use life saving defibrillators,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “The bill creates an outreach and education campaign to raise awareness of cardiac arrest and what to do when someone’s heart stops. Importantly, Colorado will start collecting crucial data on cardiac arrests to help us understand more about one of the leading causes of death in our state. Together, we can save more lives and this bill will provide people the tools they need to act.” The bill, which passed by a vote of 6-4, creates the Office of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Management to increase and improve the use of defibrillators. Under the bill, the office would implement an outreach campaign and training program to raise public awareness of cardiac arrest and teach the skills necessary to save lives. Colorado currently does not track data on cardiac arrests, even though it is one of the leading causes of death in the state. The bill requires the office to collect and coordinate data on cardiac arrests, including data from coroners and facilities that treat cardiac arrest patients. It would also employ a statewide cardiac arrest data coordinator and other personnel as necessary to support the overall goals of the Office of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Management. Previous Next

< Back April 20, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO BOLSTER SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME PASSESS COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Weissman to direct $41 million in federal funds to services for crime victims. The vote was 8-3. “The turbulence caused by the pandemic has led to a rise in crime and domestic violence, and as a result, more Coloradans are seeking essential services to help them through some of the toughest challenges in their lives,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This legislation will ensure that essential victim services continue and that Coloradans have access to the support they need. As a survivor of domestic violence, I can’t stress enough how important these services are.” “This bill puts additional resources into state programs that help survivors of crime access critical support and services,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “With crime rising across the country as a result of the pandemic, we are redoubling our efforts to support survivors of crime with community-based programs and services that respond to their needs.” SB22-183 would fill a revenue gap in federal funding for crime victims to continue providing lifesaving services for child and adult victims of crime through a one-time investment of pandemic relief funding. The bill is one in a series of bills to invest millions into our state’s economic recovery and deliver urgently-needed relief to Coloradans. The bill invests $35 million in pandemic relief funding to the Colorado crime victim services fund to ensure essential victim services can continue for the next four years. SB22-183 also invests an additional $6 million to services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as recommended by the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. Previous Next

Legislation would prohibit firearms in key locations consistent with SCOTUS rulings, improve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal firearm activity < Back April 29, 2024 House Passes Gun Violence Prevention Bills to Improve Investigations of Illegal Firearm Activity and Prohibit Firearms in Sensitive Spaces Legislation would prohibit firearms in key locations consistent with SCOTUS rulings, improve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal firearm activity DENVER, CO - The House today passed gun violence prevention legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Meg Froelich that would improve investigations of illegal firearm activity. SB24-003 passed by a vote of 35-26. The House also passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Mandy Lindsay that would protect communities from gun violence and create safer public spaces by prohibiting the carrying of firearms in certain locations. SB24-131 passed by a vote of 43-21. “From safe storage laws to waiting periods, Colorado Democrats have passed significant gun violence prevention legislation that can have a real impact on the safety of our communities,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “Current gaps in authority and resources make it difficult for law enforcement officials to enforce our laws to the fullest extent. With this legislation, CBI will have the authority and the resources to work with local law enforcement agencies on life-saving investigations of illegal firearms.” “We all share a common goal of keeping illegal guns out of our communities, which is why I’m sponsoring this bill to ensure the safety of our loved ones and neighbors,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “We should be proud of the significant progress that we’ve made to tackle gun violence. This legislation uplifts our past work and reflects our commitment to keeping our communities safe by ensuring law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to investigate illegal firearm activity.” SB24-003 would give the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the ability to investigate illegal activity involving firearms. It would appropriate $1.7 million to the Department of Public Safety to create a team that investigates individuals convicted of felonies who are attempting to illegally purchase a firearm, and other illegal firearm crimes such as possession of a ghost gun. SB24-131 would restrict the presence of firearms in certain locations where children and families may be present. The bill would prohibit carrying a firearm - openly or concealed - in the following locations and their parking areas: government buildings where legislative meetings and offices are located; courthouses; child care facilities, K-12 schools, colleges; and polling locations. The bill includes exemptions for peace officers, members of the US Armed Forces performing official duties, working student resource officers, and more. “Coloradans deserve to vote, peacefully assemble, and receive a quality education, but firearms have historically threatened their right to do so without risking their lives,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “ Firearms can and have been used to intimidate and cause harm, making people afraid to vote in person and attend school. This legislation would restrict guns in certain sensitive spaces, like polling centers and government buildings like the Colorado Capitol, to better protect all Coloradans from gun violence.” “As legislators, we are responsible for passing policy that protects Coloradans’ lives, which is why we’re passing this important gun violence prevention legislation,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. “Our bill would prohibit firearms in sensitive spaces, defined by the U.S. Supreme Court, like polling centers, preschools, and government buildings so we can make our communities safer and prevent threats and intimidation in our schools and government and electoral processes.” Many states protect sensitive places from gun violence. Arizona, Florida, Texas, Georgia and Louisiana prohibit open and concealed carry at voting locations. The locations protected under this bill have been deemed sensitive spaces in recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed three bills to protect and conserve Colorado’s water resources. < Back May 15, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bills to Protect Colorado’s Water DILLON, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed three bills to protect and conserve Colorado’s water resources. HB25-1115 will improve how Colorado measures snowpack and our water supply HB25-1311 will phase out sports betting tax incentives to capture more revenue for water conservation, and SB25-040 studies the future of severance tax revenue to create a sustainable funding stream for water projects. “Water is a part of our Western identity, and we must take steps now to preserve and protect the water resources we have,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB25-1115 and HB25-1311. “To effectively manage Colorado's water supply, we need all the research and data available to inform our decisions. These bipartisan laws increase funding for essential water conservation efforts and research. We’re taking action now to better protect the freshwater Coloradans rely on for outdoor recreation, agriculture and household use.” “Securing our state’s water future is one of the most pressing issues facing Colorado, especially for the rural and mountain communities I represent,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, sponsor of HB25-1115, HB25-1311, and SB25-040. “I’m proud to have sponsored these bipartisan laws, which will ensure we have accurate data and sustainable funding sources to conserve and manage Colorado’s water supply. We’re working today to make sure that our communities have the water we need for generations to come.” HB25-1115 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, will help protect and preserve Colorado’s fresh water resources by empowering the Colorado Water Conservation Board to to oversee a statewide water supply measurement and forecasting program. This statewide approach includes collecting and disseminating data on snowpack levels and investigating the latest advances in snowpack measurement and water supply forecasting. When voters approved Proposition DD in 2019, they legalized sports betting and set an effective tax rate of 10 percent on betting to be used for industry regulation, gambling addiction services, and water projects. However, casinos are only paying an effective 5.89 percent tax rate due to allowable deductions for payouts to customers, federal excise tax, and “free bets”. HB25-1311 , also sponsored by Representative Soper, will bring sports betting companies closer to the voter-approved effective tax rate of 10 percent by prohibiting sports betting operators from deducting “free bets” as a tax write-off, increasing funding for the Colorado Water Plan by a projected $3.2 million in the 2025-2026 fiscal year and $12.9 million in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. “This new law sets Colorado on the right path for creating reliable and sustainable funding for our future water projects,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of SB25-040. “Every sector of our economy relies on water, and we’re taking the step now to preserve and conserve this precious resource.” “From agriculture, recreation and household use – the Colorado way of life depends on our freshwater resources,” said Rep. Matt Martinez, D-Monte Vista, sponsor of SB25-040. “Our new bipartisan law will make sure Colorado has a sustainable and dependable funding stream dedicated to water projects for generations to come.” SB25-040 will help Colorado create a sustainable and reliable funding stream for water projects. This new law permits the Department of Natural Resources to study the future of severance tax revenue and energy grants. Severance tax revenue is volatile and incredibly unpredictable; this law will help Colorado identify new, reliable ways to fund water projects. The task force must develop and deliver recommendations by July 2026. Previous Next

Lawmakers protect K-12 education, universal preschool and core health care services amidst a $1.2 billion deficit while making difficult cuts to balance < Back April 10, 2026 House Advances FY 2026-2027 Budget Lawmakers protect K-12 education, universal preschool and core health care services amidst a $1.2 billion deficit while making difficult cuts to balance DENVER, CO – The House today advanced the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 state budget on a preliminary vote. This bipartisan budget protects K-12 education and core health care services, while making reductions across state departments, lowering the state’s reserve, and reducing Medicaid spending to close a $1.2 billion deficit. “Many of the cuts in this budget are gut-wrenching, but we did our best to protect investments in core services, including health care, universal preschool and K-12 education,” said JBC Chair Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “The TABOR cap requires trade-offs; a dollar for one program or service is a dollar less for another. It’s impossible not to make cuts to programs Coloradans care about–programs that have proven to be effective. However, this bipartisan budget protects what matters most to Coloradans while making responsible reductions to meet our Constitutional requirement to deliver a balanced budget.” “Despite a staggering deficit, this bipartisan budget protects K-12 education, core Medicaid coverage, and public health services,” said JBC Member Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville . “There is a bipartisan agreement that there are no easy places to cut more than a billion dollars from our state budget, but we did our best to preserve core services Coloradans rely on. Medicaid costs have been rising far beyond what the state can afford under the TABOR cap, but I’m proud that, unlike H.R. 1, we were able to reduce some Medicaid spending in a way that doesn’t kick anyone off their health insurance.” The state’s $46.8 billion budget includes $17.4 billion in general fund expenditures, a net increase of just $212 million amidst $470 million more in Medicaid general fund costs This year’s Long Bill, HB26-1410 , is accompanied by 64 “orbital bills,” which move through the legislative process alongside the budget and make the statutory changes needed to balance the budget. Investing in Our Students K-12 Education: Despite declining enrollment, this budget increases education funding at pace with inflation and does not reinstate the Budget Stabilization Factor. The General Fund contribution to K-12 education will increase significantly this year thanks to the Kids Matter Account created by Colorado Democrats last year, which is forecasted to invest more than $216 million in our schools next year. This is in addition to the $4.6 billion base General Fund spending for Colorado’s K-12 schools that will continue in FY26-27, which will be outlined in more detail in the 2026 School Finance Act. Universal Preschool: Increased funding by $14 million to continue free preschool access for all Colorado kids, save families money, and prevent children and families from losing access to early childhood education. Healthy School Meals for All: Increased funding by $38M to implement the voter-approved Prop MM and preserve access to free school meals for students. Higher education: Lawmakers avoided major cuts to Colorado’s higher education institutions by holding funding flat this year. Protecting Core Health Care Coverage This budget protects core health care benefits and does not reduce Medicaid enrollment, preventing Coloradans from losing health insurance entirely. To boost support for parents and children and protect access to maternal health care, the budget exempts Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and maternal health providers from provider rate reductions. Supporting Older Coloradans and Veterans Senior Homestead Property Tax Exemption: This budget protects $200 million to ensure older Coloradans and veterans save money on their property taxes. Safeguarding our Water Colorado River: This budget boosted funding by $3.8 million to strengthen the state’s Colorado River negotiations and protect Colorado’s water future. There are three main factors that have contributed to Colorado’s budget deficit. First, H.R.1 created enormous new tax cuts for the wealthiest corporations and slashed revenue for core state services. This required the JBC to cut $200 million more from the budget to protect the Senior and Veterans Homestead Exemption. It also created a larger hole to fill in FY 2026-2027 by dipping into the state’s reserve in FY 2025-2026. Finally, it turned off over $1 billion in tax credits for families, taking money out of the pockets of hardworking Coloradans. Second, TABOR limits how much Colorado can invest in government services each year, and there is a constitutional requirement to pass a balanced budget. When the costs to provide state services grow faster than the amount of money the state can spend each year under TABOR, then cuts have to be made. That is what is happening this year – Medicaid costs, prison caseload, and utilization of core services continue to grow substantially more than what the state can spend and what program experts previously forecast. Third, Medicaid costs are exploding year over year, far beyond what was forecasted by nonpartisan legislative staff. Medicaid is growing at nearly nine percent per year, while TABOR constrains how much more the state can spend each year (about 3.2 percent for next year’s budget). Medicaid spending is increasing primarily due to inflation and higher costs for existing benefits, higher utilization of services, and higher provider rates, not new benefits or services. The largest growth has been in long-term care, prescription drug coverage, and pediatric behavioral health. To close the $1.2 billion budget deficit and deliver a balanced, bipartisan budget, lawmakers reduced health care spending, including a $270 million reduction in Medicaid reimbursement rates and some services. This is in addition to the $90 million lawmakers already cut from Medicaid this year. Additionally, lawmakers reallocated $570 million that was previously invested in state programs or services, lowered the state’s reserve by $340 million, and made $150 million in cuts across smaller state departments. Lawmakers found additional savings in state employee compensation and held contractor rates flat to save $120 million, reduced health disparity grants and water quality programs by $4.5 million, and made $9.3 million in caseload-based reductions to the early intervention programs at the Department of Early Childhood. One of the more difficult cuts for the JBC was to limit reimbursements to family members who serve as caregivers of Medicaid recipients. At 56 hours per week starting in 2027, reimbursement for family members who serve as caregivers in Colorado will remain one of the most generous in the country. Many states only reimburse up to 10 hours. Lawmakers also made a 9-percent reduction in the Cover All Coloradans program, which provides health care to pregnant women and young children, by reducing benefits. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to make early childhood education In Colorado more language inclusive and accessible. < Back April 19, 2024 House Passes Bill to Expand Bilingual Early Childhood Programs DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to make early childhood education In Colorado more language inclusive and accessible. HB24-1009, sponsored by Representatives Junie Joseph and Barbara McLachlan, would support Spanish-speaking providers seeking professional licensure. “Coloradans across our state are searching for high-quality, affordable bilingual early childhood programs and this bill will help more Spanish-speaking providers get licensed,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “This bill improves bilingual outreach within the Department of Early Childhood Education to better support Spanish-speaking providers seeking professional licensure. Bilingual early childhood programs make education more accessible, inclusive, and culturally-centered for some of our youngest learners.” “Early childhood education is the foundation to preparing our students for a lifetime of success,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This important bill would make bilingual early childhood programs more accessible in Colorado by improving outreach and connection with Spanish-speaking providers. When children have access to education in their primary language, they can grow, learn and succeed, and this bill helps address some of the accessibility issues our state has when it comes to bilingual early childhood programs.” HB24-1009 passed by a vote of 47 to 13. This bill would make early childhood education more inclusive and accessible by expanding bilingual early childhood programs and facilities with a new bilingual licensing unit in the Department of Early Childhood. Specifically, the bill would expand licensed child care options across the state by supporting Spanish-speaking providers to become licensed and provide more linguistically relevant child care options for children and families. The bill would require the department to provide that education and information in plain language and prevalent languages to individuals completing paperwork to meet child care licensing requirements and to open a licensed early childhood program or facility. The demand for high-quality affordable child care is growing in Colorado. However, even when child care slots are available, there is often a lack of linguistically and culturally responsive care. According to the latest Census Bureau data, 16 percent of Colorado residents speak a language other than English at home, including 11 percent who speak Spanish. Providing access to Spanish language child care licensing services and resources and education on licensing in prevalent languages would help remove barriers for child care providers and open the door to new, accessible child care options in communities across the state. Previous Next

< Back May 2, 2019 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE Bill goes to Gov for signature (May 1) – The House sent a bill sponsored by Speaker of the House KC Becker, D-Boulder, and Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, to the Governor. The bill will take action to address climate change. Acting on climate will help protect clean air and water, and spur clean energy jobs, innovation, business development, and economic growth for Colorado. “We can address climate change, create clean energy jobs, reduce carbon pollution and help our economy all at once,” s aid Speaker Becker. “I thank my colleagues for taking action to address this challenge and we look forward to the Governor signing it into law. Air pollution doesn’t respect county or governmental boundaries and in Colorado we take pride in the fact that we are doing our part to address the impacts of climate change. This bill sets goals to reduce carbon pollution and some utilities have already set carbon-free goals.” “We too frequently see the smog, and the hazy, bad air quality impacting the air we all breathe. Pollution is changing how we live our lives and threatening the things we love about Colorado,” said Rep. Jackson when the bill passed the House in April. “We’ve all heard the stories about elderly individuals who have been physically harmed because they couldn’t cool their home. Our seniors, low income people and especially communities of color are more likely to bear the impacts of climate change. Let’s preserve our Colorado way of life today.” Rep. Jackson is Chair of the House Energy and Environment committee. Establishing science-based goals & taking action to meet them are critical to Colorado’s future. The overwhelming majority of Coloradans support climate action. Coloradans are already seeing the negative impacts of climate change on a daily basis: Coloradans are experiencing poor air quality affecting our health; mountain residents are seeing more frequent and destructive wildfires; increased drought is harming our farms; smaller snow packs are resulting in shorter ski seasons; and shallower rivers for fishing and rafting are threatening our thriving outdoor economy and the Colorado way of life. The overwhelming majority of Coloradans support climate action. This reasonable, science-based legislation directs the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to develop rules limiting carbon pollution, ensuring Colorado lead on climate action. HB19-1261 puts pollution reduction goals into statute to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas pollution by 26 percent by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050 of 2005 levels. The AQCC will hold an extensive stakeholder process throughout the rulemaking period. The House re-passed the bill after the Senate added amendments on a vote 39-24. Previous Next