< Back March 25, 2021 PASSED! BILLS TO HELP STUDENTS PLAN FOR HIGHER ED & IMPROVE EDUCATOR DIVERSITY DENVER, CO– The House Education committee today passed legislation that would increase diversity in the educator workforce and improve financial literacy standards so that students have the tools they need to plan for the cost of higher education, manage debt, save for retirement, and achieve financial stability as they navigate adulthood. Both bills passed unanimously. “With students taking on more and more debt to attain a higher education degree, it’s critical that we provide them all the tools they need to weigh decisions that could have decades-long financial consequences, said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “This bill will provide students with the knowledge they need to plan for how to pay for higher education and manage the financial aspects of adulthood so they can graduate with less debt and have the opportunity to thrive.” HB21-1200, sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Janice Rich, would require the Department of Education to include higher education planning tools in financial literacy standards the next time they are updated. Financial literacy standards for ninth through 12th graders would ensure students understand the costs associated with obtaining a degree, managing credit card and student loan debt, buying a home, and saving for retirement. The updated standards would also include tools to help students manage student loan debt and access both federal and Colorado higher education financial assistance. The bill adds how to budget and pay for higher education and how to manage student loan debt to the suggested financial literacy curriculum and requires school districts to inform students and parents about the importance of applying for state and federal financial aid. “All Colorado students should be able to see themselves in their teachers, but we see far more diversity among our students than we do in our educator workforce,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “We know students of color do better when they have a teacher with a similar background. That’s why we’re taking action to help make our educator workforce more diverse.” “Educators are so important in our children's’ lives, but far too often in Colorado, students grow up without ever having a teacher that looks like them or shares their life experiences,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez. “The legislation we moved forward today will help bring greater diversity to our schools and classrooms and ensure that more Colorado students have the role models they need to thrive.” HB21-1010, sponsored by Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, passed unanimously and directs the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Education to create a workgroup on diversity in the educator workforce. The workgroup would investigate barriers to the teaching profession for educators of color, including obtaining a professional license, and recommend strategies to increase the preparation, recruitment and retention of a diverse educator workforce to serve Colorado students. In Colorado, 76 percent of teachers are women and 67 percent of teachers identify as white women. The bill requires the departments to report on graduation rates from teacher preparation programs, as well as first-time pass rates on the educator licensure exam, broken out by gender, race and ethnicity. Previous Next

Representatives Cathy Kipp and Eliza Hamrick today released the following statements on the 2024 Pension Review Commission. < Back August 16, 2024 Pension Review Commission Explores Future Legislation DENVER, CO – Representatives Cathy Kipp and Eliza Hamrick today released the following statements on the 2024 Pension Review Commission. This bipartisan interim committee studies and proposes future legislation related to state employees’ benefits and pension plans, including the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA). Vice Chair Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins: “There are nearly 700,000 Coloradans , both former and current state employees, who rely on the state pension plan, PERA. We are working to keep our promise to Colorado’s retirees, and this commission’s goal is to ensure our troopers, teachers and other state employees receive the benefits they’ve earned. “As we get closer to the next legislative session, our state employees are top of mind. I look forward to working alongside other members of this commission as we outline legislation that not only fulfills the state’s pension commitment, but sets us on a path forward to better supporting our state employees.” Committee Member Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial: “As a former public school teacher, a fully funded PERA is incredibly important to me and thousands of Colorado’s former and current state employees. A strong pension plan ensures the state can recruit and retain those who keep our communities safe, such as firefighters and state troopers. “I look forward to the continued work of the Pension Review Subcommittee which is exploring future legislation intended to uplift our state’s employees.” Previous Next

Viewers accessed the video live stream of committees more than 15,000 times this interim < Back November 14, 2025 Speaker McCluskie Highlights Success of Committee Video Streaming Pilot Project DENVER, CO – The Executive Committee of the Legislative Council today received a report from Legislative Council Staff (LCS) on a recent pilot project to live stream and record video from legislative committee hearings. The pilot program is set to expire at the end of 2025. Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon: “The committee video streaming pilot has been a resounding success – viewers accessed the live streams of 35 committee hearings more than 15,000 times this interim. For example, during our hearing with state economists and department leaders on the devastating impacts of the federal GOP budget on Medicaid, SNAP and health care, viewers accessed the live stream more than 2,500 times. “Video streaming increases transparency, improves civic engagement and helps modernize the legislative process. There is no doubt that video streaming is popular. While cost and budgetary constraints are certainly factors, I would like to find a way to continue streaming video of our committee hearings, and I want to thank our nonpartisan staff for their efforts to make this pilot possible.” According to LCS, viewers accessed livestreamed video a total of 15,251 times during 35 committee meetings between July 30 and November 5, 2025. Nearly 60-percent of the views were related to or occurred during August’s special session. Viewers accessed the live streams for the 10 committees of reference that met during the special session 4,500 times. The live stream was accessed more than 2,500 times for the July 30 Executive Committee, where state economists and departments presented on the impacts of HR. 1. The LCS report says the informal feedback has been “very positive” and that viewers “were especially happy to be able to see slide presentations live.” The pilot program, for which the Speaker strongly advocated, covered five committee rooms, including the Old State Library, the Old Supreme Court Chamber, House Committee Room 0112, Senate Committee Room 357, and Committee Room A in the Legislative Services Building. Colorado is one of two states in the nation that does not have video streaming in legislative committee rooms. Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HOUSING ADVANCE House and Senate committees advance legislation to invest over $200 million to build and sustain affordable housing and boost affordable workforce housing options DENVER, CO – Legislation to save people money on housing by building thousands more homes and expanding access to critical workforce housing today passed House and Senate Committees. “The lack of affordable housing is at a crisis level in Colorado, and I am so glad the state legislature is doing something to help increase affordable housing stock in our state,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, Chair of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force. “This historic, transformational legislation will provide nearly $180 million directly to local governments and nonprofits all across the state to construct thousands of new units and retain existing affordable housing for our teachers, our nurses, our first responders, and workers and families all over the state. This bill is part of the historic $400 million we are allocating this year for housing - the single largest investment the state has ever made to get homes built and drive down the cost of housing to save people money.” “As Colorado’s population continues to grow, we have to make sure communities have the land and resources required to develop affordable housing now and in the future,” said Sen. James Coleman, D-Denver. “Local governments and nonprofits are the experts when it comes to pinpointing their communities’ unique needs. That’s why this bill is targeted at uplifting their work and providing the necessary tools to achieve their housing development goals.” “Our state is growing, and we must make sure communities have the resources they need to keep pace,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, Vice Chair of the Affordable Housing Task Force. “This bill will help local governments and nonprofits access the space and funding that communities need to equitably accommodate that growth. By helping communities increase their housing supply we can make sure every Coloradan has access to a home they can afford.” Nonprofit and Local Government Grants and Strong Communities : HB22-1304 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Mary Bradfield and Senators James Coleman and Julie Gonzales, passed the House Transportation and Local Government Committee by a vote of 9-3. The bill invests $178 million, a historic sum, to provide direct, flexible, and timely grant funding to nonprofits and local governments all across the state that have or are pursuing measures to facilitate affordable housing development, including purchasing land. This includes development of supportive, rental, and for-sale housing targeted at populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The bill also makes a substantial investment for local communities to create strategic development patterns, including funding for infrastructure projects and updating land and use codes. The legislation will ensure flexibility of funding, including allowances for operating grants to community-based organizations and qualified local governments, particularly in small, rural, and mountain resort communities, so they can best meet their own development needs according to their community’s workforce and local economy. By building homes closer to where people work, the bill will also save Coloradans money on their transportation costs. “The housing crisis is impacting businesses large and small across the state, making it harder to attract workers and fill critical positions,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “As part of our strategy to drive down the cost of housing and save people money, we will target resources to expand workforce housing for middle income Coloradans. This will build affordable places to live for workers in communities that are experiencing workforce housing shortages, which is becoming common in nearly every part of our state.” “Coloradans across the state are struggling to afford a place to live, and the time to act is now,” said Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “This bill will improve support systems for middle income families whose modest resources squeeze them between skyrocketing housing costs and ineligibility for assistance, save people money, and help more Colorado families thrive.” CHFA Middle Income Access Program: SB22-146 , sponsored by Senators Rachel Zenzinger and Dennis Hisey and Representatives Marc Snyder and Marc Catlin, passed the Senate Local Government Committee by a vote of 5-0. The bill will expand critical workforce housing so that more Coloradans and communities have access to affordable housing that allows them to live in the communities where they work. The legislation provides $25 million for the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s Middle-Income Access Program , which finances projects to build housing for middle income families and individuals with incomes too high to qualify for low income housing tax credits but too low to afford market rates. Specifically, this funding will provide financing to developers seeking to build rental housing affordable to Coloradans earning 80 percent or more of the area median income through acquisition, new construction, or rehabilitation of existing properties. To date, the Middle Income Access Program has leveraged $14 million of CHFA-invested funds to support five developments comprising over 600 units. Developments leverage significant private sector investment and have brought much needed housing to communities such as Estes Park, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Gypsum, and Denver. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to strengthen protections for victims of gender-based violence. HB25-1168 improves housing security, expands access to justice, and keeps Coloradans safe. < Back May 22, 2025 New Law Will Strengthen Victim Protections and Housing Security DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to strengthen protections for victims of gender-based violence. HB25-1168 improves housing security, expands access to justice, and keeps Coloradans safe. “Housing instability is one of the biggest threats to people who experience gender-based violence, with 11 percent of people experiencing homelessness in the Denver Metro Area fleeing domestic violence,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. “Many victims can’t safely leave their abuser, which is why our new law strengthens Colorado’s victim protection laws and establishes new mechanisms to improve a victim’s access to justice and safe housing. Gender-based violence is traumatic, and no one deserves to face long-lasting financial consequences or homelessness as a result.” "Too often, survivors of domestic violence are forced to choose between their safety and their housing," said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. "No one should be stuck in a dangerous situation because they can’t afford to break a lease or are left with damages they didn’t cause. This law gives survivors the legal protections they need to reclaim their safety and move forward with dignity." “The Violence Against Women Act is near and dear to my heart, and I’m proud to sponsor this law to better align Colorado law with these protections to keep victims safe,” said Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver. “As a judge, I know how important it is to have strong protections in statute, and this law is a meaningful change that better allows victims to end their leases early while providing a payment plan to protect landlords and keep victims housed. This law is a huge win for survivors of gender-based violence to ensure they have the tools they need to build a strong, safe future away from their abuser.” "Too often, survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking face a lose/lose situation when it comes to their housing," said Sen. Mike Weissman. "It can be expensive to try to stay in one's home or expensive to relocate, on top of the immense personal cost of victimization. Whatever difficult choice they make, this important new law will help survivors by offering payment plans for back rent or limiting the costs of relocating such as losing a security deposit. Either way, survivors have a better path to safety, stability, and a chance at a fresh start." Currently, a tenant cannot be found guilty of unlawfully residing in a property if the tenant is experiencing domestic violence or domestic abuse and they provide a police report or civil or emergency protection order proving they were a victim. HB25-1168 expands these victim protections to include victims of unlawful sexual behavior and stalking and allows self-attestation or a letter signed by a qualified third party to be used as proof, reducing hurdles to accessing critical protections. Additional victim protection expansions include: Allowing victims who terminate a lease to not be held liable for property damage caused by their abuser during incidents of unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, domestic violence, or domestic abuse, Ensuring victims can change locks to their rental property on their own as long as they provide a copy of the key to the landlord as soon as reasonably possible, if the victim provides documentation to prove they are a victim-survivor, Prohibiting a landlord from assigning debt allegedly owed by a tenant who is a victim-survivor to a third-party debt collector unless the landlord provides at least a 90-day notice to the tenant and complies with the requirement to provide the tenant with documentation of the economic damages, and Requiring tenants to pay no more than one month’s rent after they vacate the residence and terminate the lease if, within 30 days, the landlord provides proof of economic damages as a result of the early lease termination. To strengthen eviction protections, this law also requires landlords to offer a repayment plan to victim-survivors for late or unpaid rent before a court may issue an eviction order. The repayment plan cannot exceed nine months from the date the plan was established. A 2023 report from the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless found that 1,265 Coloradans experiencing homelessness also reported being a victim of domestic violence. Previous Next

The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Regina English and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon that would create the right to visitation for Coloradans who are incarcerated. HB25-1013 passed by a vote of 7-4. < Back February 5, 2025 Right to Visitation, Family Connection Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Regina English and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon that would create the right to visitation for Coloradans who are incarcerated . HB25-1013 passed by a vote of 7-4. “ Family support and connection can have a powerful impact on the success of incarcerated Coloradans, with studies showing it can reduce recidivism by 26 percent so we can help them build a thriving future and keep our communities safer ,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “Support from one's closest friends and family can help them cope with the stress of incarceration and foster optimism about life outside of prison. We’re bringing this bill to build stronger, more resilient communities and ensure that Coloradans, no matter if they are incarcerated or not, can stay connected with their support system.” “Currently, withholding family connection is being used as a form of punishment for incarcerated Coloradans who choose not to work or as a tool to control their behavior, which not only exacerbates the mental health crisis in Colorado prisons but also violates the abolishment of slavery,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Visitation is an important aspect of rehabilitation, and phone calls and visits from family and loved ones can help incarcerated people survive their sentence. Our bill makes it clear that incarceration does not strip Coloradans of their right to maintain connections with their families and loved ones.” HB25-1013 would create the right to visitation for incarcerated Coloradans to ensure they can stay connected with their family, friends, and loved ones and be set up for success after they serve time and re-enter the community. Visitation includes social visits including in-person visits, family time visits, phone calls, and video calls. The bill extends this right to any incarcerated person who has been restricted privileges, especially for those who have been placed in restrictive housing like solitary confinement or those who choose not to work. Under the bill, an incarcerated person could file a grievance with the Department of Corrections if they are not allowed visitations, and those grievances would be shared with the Colorado legislature. A study found that visitation in prison results in a 26 percent decrease in post-release criminal activity as well as a 28 percent reduction in new convictions overall. Previous Next

< Back October 30, 2019 TAX EXPENDITURE EVALUATION INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE ADVANCES BIPARTISAN PROPOSALS Bills would improve the state’s ability to evaluate tax expenditures for effectiveness, make changes to some existing provisions DENVER, CO– The Tax Expenditure Evaluation Interim Study Committee today advanced five bills to better evaluate tax expenditures and refine existing tax provisions in order to improve the state’s tax code. “Today, we advanced proposals to modify certain tax expenditures and improve how our state evaluates and enacts tax expenditures to ensure these policies achieve their intended outcomes,” said Tax Expenditure Evaluation Interim Study Committee Chair Rep. Adrienne Benavidez (D-Adams County). “The state is facing challenges when evaluating the effectiveness of all of our tax expenditures, which makes it difficult for lawmakers to consider changes to exemptions, deductions and other tax provisions,” said Rep. Marc Snyder (D-Colorado Springs). “The proposals we moved forward today will improve this process significantly by ensuring each new tax expenditure includes clear metrics we can use to evaluate its effectiveness and by creating a committee that can continue this work.” The committee has been hearing presentations and drafting legislation this interim to study changes to tax expenditures recommended by the Office of the State Auditor in its ongoing review of the state’s various tax expenditures. Given the large number of expenditures, this review is expected to take five to six years, and current estimates show the state loses over $6.5 billion in revenue each year through tax expenditures. 1) Creating a Tax Oversight Committee: The committee passed legislation that would create both a legislative oversight committee concerning tax policy to make changes to the state’s tax code, and a task force to study and recommend potential changes to the current system of state and local taxation. The committee would be required to consider the policy changes recommended by the Office of the State Auditor and would be responsible for oversight of the task force. It can also recommend legislative changes that would be treated as bills recommended by an interim legislative committee. Sponsors: Sen. Court, Sen. Tate, Rep. Snyder, Rep. Benavidez 2) Improving Evaluations of Tax Expenditures: Currently, it can be challenging for the state auditor to evaluate the effectiveness of all the state’s tax expenditures, leading to inefficiencies in tax policy and outcomes that are difficult to monitor. To help address this issue, the committee advanced a proposal that would require the bill sponsors of all future tax expenditure legislation to include additional information on their proposals. Under the bill advanced today, future tax expenditure legislation will have to include a repeal of the expenditure after a specified period. They will also have to include a statement of the intended purpose of the tax preference that contains clear, relevant, and ascertainable metrics and data requirements that allow the expenditure to be measured for effectiveness in achieving its purpose. Sponsors: Sen. Court, Sen. Tate, Rep. Snyder, Rep. Benavidez 3) Changes to Net Operating Loss Deduction: Under current law, taxpayers can claim a deduction for net operating losses on their state tax returns. The deduction is allowed in the same manner that a similar deduction is allowed under federal tax law, meaning taxpayers can carry forward their net operating loss deduction for the same number of years allowed under the Internal Revenue Service code. However, in recent years, that was limited to 20 years, but the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in 2017 allowed taxpayers unlimited years to carry forward the net operating loss. The legislation advanced today returns the state’s net operating loss deduction carryforward period to 20 years, maintains that net operating losses cannot be carried back, matches the federal law to allow a net operating loss to offset 80 percent of taxable income, and it would also treat financial institutions the same as other businesses. Sponsors: Rep. Benavidez, Rep. Snyder, Sen. Moreno 4) Modifications to Energy Used for Industrial and Manufacturing Purposes Exemption: Under current law, there is a sales tax exemption for the purchase of energy products used for industrial purposes. The legislation would modify the exemption so that it only applies when the energy is used by a metered machine. Sponsors: Rep. Benavidez, Rep. Snyder, Sen. Tate, Sen. Court 5) Repeal of Long Term Lodging Exemption: There is currently a sales tax exemption for long-term lodging stays for 30 days or more at hotels, apartment hotels, lodging houses, motor hotels, etc. This exemption has remained largely unchanged since 1959, and was meant to provide equal tax treatment for people who sign residential leases of 30 days or more and people who stay for more than 30 days at lodgings typically used for short-term stays. The Department of Revenue has allowed the exemption to be claimed when multiple people stay at the same place, each for less than 30 days, but when one person pays for at least 30 days. This application expands the use of the exemption beyond its presumed original purposes of providing equal tax treatment. With an amendment, the committee voted to have the sales tax exemption apply only to natural persons to ensure people who are in need of housing who stay in these types of facilities for longer than 30 days are not adversely impacted.. Sponsors: Rep. Benavidez, Rep. Snyder, Sen. Moreno Previous Next

< Back June 16, 2020 GOVERNOR SIGNS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES! Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs & Services Act will allow state employees to join together to bargain for better pay and terms of employment DENVER, CO — The Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis today. HB20-1153 was sponsored by Representative Daneya Esgar and cosponsored by the entire House Democratic Caucus. The new law will allow state employees to collectively bargain on matters of pay, benefits, and conditions and terms of employment. “State employees have been at the forefront of our state’s fight against COVID-19,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo. “In addition to their crucial public health work, these public servants care for our veterans, keep our prisons safe, plow our roads in winter storms and protect our air and water. Getting this bill passed was a top priority of mine in the 2020 legislative session, and I’m beyond proud to see the Governor sign it today. Thanks to their tireless work, advocacy and dedication, state workers will soon be able to negotiate for the pay, benefits and working conditions they deserve.” This law will allow state employees to collectively bargain on pay and benefit issues. It seeks to foster new partnerships between frontline workers and the state that will lead to innovation and better state services. Furthermore, by helping to fill the nearly 1 in 5 vacant state positions, the bill will ensure that Colorado has the experienced and talented workforce needed to serve state residents. This legislation is critical to retaining and recruiting the state workforce Coloradans need and deserve. Stagnant wages have led to increased turnover and state employees working multiple jobs, which negatively impacts the delivery of state services. The Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act does not permit state employees to strike, which is similar to collective bargaining laws for state employees in the states that have them. The law does require the state to participate in good faith in the formalized partnership process. All determinations regarding wage and benefit issues reached through the partnership process must be included in the governor’s budget and be approved by the Joint Budget Committee and General Assembly, a transparent process in which the public can engage. For more than a decade, WINS, the state’s public employee union, has represented state employees who have been united in their desire to be part of an organization that fights to improve their lives. Membership in the union is completely voluntary, but it’s clear that state employees overwhelmingly support union membership in WINS. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Amabile: Filing a wildfire insurance claim shouldn’t be another trauma Mar 23, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in The Colorado Sun. Many Coloradans who lost their homes and all of their personal belongings in fire disasters are living another nightmare as they seek reimbursement from their homeowner’s insurance policies. Most of these folks chose policies based on what their mortgage holder required and insurance agent recommended. They paid their premiums in good faith, some for decades. But many have found the claims process to be an unanticipated and onerous ordeal. We started to hear from constituents after the fires of 2020. One Grand County resident lost her home in the Cameron Peak fire. She had been paying premiums to her insurance company for nearly 35 years. Her personal property was insured for $161,000. Under current law, the insurance company would pay out an automatic 30%, but to get more she would have to complete a contents inventory. So she did. She and her husband, both in their late 60s, worked diligently to remember all of their worldly possessions. They placed a value on each item, recalled when they bought it and who they bought it from, searched for receipts, and declared what condition each item was in. As required, they used the insurance company’s software system to document all of this. Every day for the last year, they have entered items and answered all of these questions. The insurance company contacted them recently to say that the items had been entered into its system incorrectly. They would need to start over. This couple is agonizing over whether to just walk away with 30% or keep fighting for the full value of their policy. Right now, they feel they just can’t fight anymore. We have heard many variations of this story, with seniors and other vulnerable people struggling the most. It’s heartbreaking. Even people who hire attorneys to negotiate on their behalf feel they are on the losing end of what should be a straightforward business transaction. Not all insurance companies operate the same and not all experiences of wildfire victims have been so disturbingly unfair. But based on the stories we’ve heard and the complaints registered with the Commissioner of Insurance, too many are still agonizing over insurance settlements. Although many homeowners may actually have been underuninsured, the process of claims adjustment should be easier for victims of these horrible events. In Grand County, where the East Troublesome fire took 366 homes more than a year ago, many people still have not been paid by their insurance companies. Many of those who have received payments feel they are much too low; not even close to covering what was lost. People are tired, traumatized, and giving up. It’s unfair to the victims and doesn’t speak well for the laws and regulations of our state that support wildfire disaster victims. Unfortunately, we can expect repeats of those horrific events. That’s why we’ve introduced a measure, House Bill 1111, in this year’s General Assembly to address insurance claims in a declared wildfire disaster. The bill requires that insurance companies automatically pay out a higher percentage of the contents coverage residents have insured in their policies without requiring an inventory. From there, claimants can pursue the full amount with an inventory. An analysis by Colorado’s Division of Insurance showed that between 2015 and 2020, the 10 largest insurance companies in the state paid between 37% and 100% of the contents coverage provided for in homeowner insurance policies, averaging 65% across those 10 companies. Two companies paid below 40%. A standard higher payout percentage will move all of the companies to more fair adjustment processes. The bill provides other common-sense protections for people who have experienced a declared wildfire disaster. It gives people the option to use all available policy benefits to replace their homes by rebuilding or by buying in another location. It extends the time people have to rebuild, and the time people can collect additional living expenses. This is critical when the rebuilding process backs up. The House has passed the bill, but it still has a long way to go. We are going to work hard to see it through to the Governor’s desk. Unfortunately, the bill comes too late for Marshall fire victims who collectively lost nearly 1,100 homes in Boulder County. But it will help the Coloradans who most certainly have a major fire disaster in their future. Judy Amabile, of Boulder, represents House District 13, Steve Fenberg, of Boulder, represents Senate District 18, and Bob Rankin, of Carbondale, represents Senate District 8 in the Colorado General Assembly. Previous Next

< Back January 14, 2019 FROELICH SWORN IN TO THE HOUSE (Jan. 14) – Upon the vacancy of Senator Jeff Bridges, Meg Froelich, a former Greenwood Village council member, was sworn in today at the state capitol as the next representative for House District 3. A vacancy committee selected Rep. Froelich to replace state Sen. Bridges in the House. “I am excited for to join the House and am thankful to be chosen for this position,” said Rep. Meg Froelich. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to invest in education, transportation and ensure more people can participate equally in our wonderful Colorado way of life.” Rep. Froelich will sit on the Energy & Environment and the Transportation & Local Government Committees. HD3 includes Englewood, Sheridan, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village and northern Littleton. Rep. Froelich is a documentary filmmaker, she sat on the board of NARAL-Pro Choice Colorado and Emerge Colorado. She was also the executive director of the Colorado Institute of Leadership Training. She lives in Englewood with her son Ozzie, a senior at Littleton High School, and their dog Molly. She also has two children in college, Katrina and Annalise. Previous Next

< Back February 28, 2019 REP. MCCLUSKIE’S BIPARTISAN REINSURANCE BILL TO HELP LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR COLORADANS PASSES COMMITTEE McCluskie joined by Gov. Polis, Republicans, county commissioners in support of bill (Feb. 27) – A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, that will lower health care costs for Coloradans across the state passed in the Health and Insurance committee. Earlier in the day, Rep. McCluskie was joined by Gov. Polis, county commissioners and Coloradans struggling to keep up with the out-of-control costs of health care at a press conference in support of this legislation. Reinsurance is a proven approach to helping cut health care costs “I’m proud to partner with Democrats, Republicans, Governor Polis and Coloradans who are focused on driving down the cost of health care on the Western Slope and in every corner of our state,” said Rep. McCluskie. “ We must work together to protect our Colorado way of life and fix a broken healthcare system for the working people in our state.” Rising health care costs are driven in part by the underlying cost of care but are exacerbated by an insurance market that assigns the highest risks and highest costs to the individual market. This is particularly the case on the Western Slope and in rural Colorado, causing families and individuals to choose between putting food on the table and paying for their health insurance coverage. Rep. McCluskie introduced the bipartisan bill in the House with Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction. Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail and Senator Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale are the Senate sponsors. This bipartisan bill aims to reduce insurance premiums for individuals and families by January 2020 to provide much-needed relief to Coloradans, many of whom are paying up to a third of their income on monthly premiums. Our state, especially the Western slope, has some of the highest health insurance costs in the country. Gov. Polis joined the bipartisan group of lawmakers this afternoon in a press conference and offered his support. “This has been done in red states and blue states and that’s why it’s a proven method to bring down rates in the individual market,” Gov Polis said. Reinsurance can be considered insurance for Colorado’s health insurers. The bill will establish three tiers, from the highest cost areas of the state to the lowest cost areas, in order to pass savings on to Coloradans. The first tier, consisting of regions in the state with the highest costs, will experience the greatest reduction in premiums, by 30 to 35 percent. The second tier will experience reductions in premiums by 20 to 25 percent. Finally, the third tier, regions with the lowest costs, will experience reductions in premiums by 15 to 20 percent. The bill passed through committee with a vote of 8-2. It now goes to the Appropriations committee. Here’s how a reinsurance program works: The reinsurance program will pay a percentage of claims, also known as the coinsurance rate, once the claim reaches the minimum amount required in order to be eligible for reinsurance coverage. This minimum amount is called the attachment point. Claim costs that exceed a certain dollar amount, called the reinsurance cap, are not eligible for reinsurance coverage. By insuring this middle range of claims the bill will help reduce risk in the market and drive down healthcare costs. The initial premium savings for Coloradans comes from a reduction in the amount paid to hospitals and other providers, which leads to a reduction in the amount paid by health insurers. These savings are then passed along to people insured on the individual marketplace through reduced premiums. The state will request a section 1332 waiver from the federal government to implement and help fund the reinsurance program, like eight other states have done to implement similar programs. The text of HB19-1168 can be found here . Previous Next

< Back November 4, 2020 DEMS SECURE HOUSE MAJORITY DENVER, CO — Coloradans voted tonight in favor of continued Democratic leadership of the Colorado House. With ballots still being counted, results indicate that House Democrats will have a strong majority, winning at least 41 seats, with additional races still too close to call. “I’d like to thank the people of Colorado for continuing to put your trust in us and for the clear message you sent tonight about how we can continue moving the state forward for all Coloradans,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Now, we must all work together to help our nation heal, to take control of this pandemic, and to build back a better, stronger Colorado than the one we had before COVID hit.” “From lowering the cost of healthcare to protecting our communities from oil and gas drilling, our Democratic Majority made important progress over the past two years on issues that are important to families across our state,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “We governed responsibly through the pandemic, passing an ambitious COVID relief package to help Coloradans make ends meet and get through this crisis. Tonight, it’s clear Coloradans support what we’ve accomplished and want to see our work continue.” Colorado Democrats strengthened their majority in the Colorado House of Representatives, with David Ortiz victorious in HD-38 , a seat that had previously been held by a Republican. During a victory celebration over Zoom, Majority Leader Garnett sent a clear message about the future Coloradans deserve: “For far too many, and especially for our communities of color, the American Dream is broken, with only flat wages and mounting debt in its wake. Together, we can forge an economic recovery that renews the fundamental promise of America – that if you get a good education, work hard, and play by the rules, you can have a fair shot at success. “To every Coloradan whose support we didn’t earn this time around, we’ll be working for you and your family too. Together we can build back a better Colorado for all.” Election night results as of 9:50 showed Coloradans had definitively re-elected at least 41 House Democrats: Susan Lontine (HD-01) of Denver and Jefferson Counties Alec Garnett (HD-02), Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (HD-04) Alex Valdez (HD-05), Steven Woodrow (HD-06), Leslie Herod (HD-08), and Emily Sirota (HD-09) of Denver County Edie Hooton (HD-10) of Boulder County Tony Exum, Sr. (HD-17) and Marc Snyder (HD-18) of El Paso County Chris Kennedy (HD-23), Monica Duran (HD-24), Lisa Cutter (HD-25), , Brianna Titone (HD-27), and Kerry Tipper (HD-28) of Jefferson County Dylan Roberts (HD-26), Eagle and Routt Counties Dafna Michaelson Jenet (HD-30), Yadira Caraveo (HD-31), Adrienne Benavidez (HD-32), Kyle Mullica (HD-34), and Shannon Bird (HD-35) of Adams County Matt Gray (HD-33) of Boulder and Broomfield Counties Meg Froelich (HD-03), Mike Weissman (HD-36), Tom Sullivan (HD-37), and Dominique Jackson (HD-42) of Arapahoe County Daneya Esgar (HD-46) of Pueblo County Mary Young (HD-50) of Weld County Cathy Kipp (HD-52) and Jeni James Arndt (HD-53) of Larimer County Barbara McLachlan (HD-59) of Archuleta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Ouray, and San Juan Counties Julie McCluskie (HD-61) of Delta, Gunnison, Lake, Pitkin, and Summit Counties Donald Valdez (HD-62) of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Mineral, Pueblo, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties. With thousands of ballots yet to be counted, HD-47 where Bri Buentello is seeking reelection is too close to call. Joining the House Democratic Caucus for the first time in January 2021: Jennifer Bacon (HD-7) of Denver County fills the seat previously held by James Coleman, now the Senator-elect for SD-33 Karen McCormick (HD-11) and Tracey Bernett (HD-12) of Boulder County fill the seats held by Jonathan Singer, who is term limited, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, now Senator-elect for SD-17 Judy Amabile (HD-13) of Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, and Jackson Counties fills the seat held by Speaker KC Becker Lindsey Daugherty (HD-29) of Jefferson County fills the seat held by Tracy Kraft-Tharp, now Commissioner-elect for Jefferson County Naquetta Ricks (HD-40) and Iman Jodeh (HD-41) of Arapahoe County fill the seats held by Janet Buckner, now Senator-elect for SD-28, and Jovan Melton, who is term limited. Races have not been called in: Jennifer Mitkowski (HD-43) Mary Parker (HD-22) Previous Next