< Back April 7, 2021 DEMS ADVANCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO REDUCE RX DRUG COSTS DENVER, CO– The House Health and Insurance Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representatives Karen McCormick and Mike Lynch, which would reduce the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Colorado to expand the state’s prescription drug import program. The vote was 8-5. “Reducing the cost of prescription drugs is one of our top priorities–Coloradans are suffering under the high cost of drugs and can’t wait any longer for relief,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “This bill will ensure that Colorado is ready to act if and when the federal government expands safe and affordable drug imports.” Recent analysis of Colorado’s All Payer Claims Database found that Colorado spent $4 billion in 2018 on prescription drugs, which is 13 percent of all health care spending in the state and an increase of over $300 million since 2016. Nearly 11 percent of Coloradans did not fill a prescription due to cost in 2019, a figure that’s even higher in some parts of the state, such as Pueblo, where it was 18.3 percent. HCPF estimates after looking at 50 drugs that drugs imported from Canada are on average 63 percent cheaper compared to prices in Colorado. SB21-123 would authorize the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to expand its current drug importation program to include countries in addition to Canada, if federal policy allows such an expansion. The legislation positions Colorado to continue lowering drug costs by expanding the drug importation program. Drugs imported through the program would meet federal supply chain laws and labeling requirements and be the same as the current FDA-approved versions, which are produced across the world for the US market. They would also be tested for authenticity and degradation. Previous Next

< Back February 27, 2020 SCORE! COLLEGE ATHLETES A STEP CLOSER TO EARNING COMPENSATION FOR THEIR LIKENESS The House Committee on Education today passed landmark legislation to allow collegiate athletes to be compensated for the use of their likeness. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and James Coleman, passed by 11-2. “College sports are a cash cow for institutions and corporations alike, but the athletes who diligently train, work and perform every week aren’t sharing in the prosperity,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “This bill will support those college athletes by allowing them to profit off of their image and likeness and to monetize the brand they have worked so hard to cultivate.” “College athletes work their whole life to earn the right to play at this level,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver . “America loves to cheer on their favorite athletes, and more and more Americans are turning to college sports for entertainment. This is a substantive way to support the hard work of the young athletes who so many of us follow and admire.” Last October, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Board of Governors announced their intention to permit student athletes to profit from the use of their likeness. Prior to the NCAA announcement, California passed a bill that banned in-state schools from preventing athletes from accepting compensation from advertisers. It also allows them to hire agents. Illinois , New York , Florida and now Colorado have introduced bills to allow for athletes to profit from their likeness. SB20-123 would prevent higher education institutions in Colorado from upholding any rule, requirement, standard or other limitation that prevents a student athlete of the institution from earning compensation from the use of the athlete’s name, image or likeness. The bill would also prevent collegiate institutions from providing prospective athletes with compensation prior to their signing. Additionally, athletes will be able to secure athletic and legal representation, and any compensation the athlete receives cannot affect their eligibility to participate in collegiate sports. Athletes who decide to enter into an endorsement deal would have to let the athletic directors of their institutions know 72 hours after the contract is signed. Previous Next

HB26-1424 would keep riders and drivers safe by requiring stronger policies and reporting for TNCs < Back May 9, 2026 Colorado Rideshare Safety and Accountability Act Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to establish new safety requirements for transportation network companies (TNCs), including Uber and Lyft. The Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act would require more frequent background checks and crack down on imposter accounts. “With the Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act, we can keep riders and drivers safe,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “The driver who sexually assaulted me was using an imposter account, and it’s important TNCs take proactive measures to crack down on account sharing. Under this bill, drivers would be subject to more frequent background checks, and TNCs would have more rigid reporting requirements. A sexual assault or misconduct happens in a rideshare nearly every eight minutes, and I’m proud of our efforts to make large-scale rideshares safer.” “Coloradans deserve safe, reliable transportation options. Far too many sexual assaults are happening in rideshares, and the Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act establishes much-needed guidelines to protect riders and drivers,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “This bill addresses many of the persistent safety concerns with large rideshares, including imposter accounts, drivers with disqualifying criminal histories and driving records. To enhance transparency, this bill also requires large-scale TNCs to provide an annual report of the crimes that happen on their watch.” The Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act ( HB26-1424 ) would establish new safety requirements and policies designed to keep riders and drivers safe. The bill would apply to large-scale rideshare companies with more than 20,000 monthly rides and does not apply to HopSkipDrive. HB26-1424 passed the House by a vote of 44-18. More frequent background checks TNCs must procure privately administered background checks on drivers every six months after the initial criminal history record check. Crackdown on imposter, shared and rented accounts To help prevent multiple drivers from operating under one account, this bill would require TNCs to develop and enforce a company policy against impostor drivers, account sharing, and account renting. Stronger driver vetting and clear disqualifications Drivers with a history of convictions for assault, harassment, kidnapping, menacing, stalking, or domestic violence, or who had previously been caught account sharing, would be barred from driving with a rideshare company. If a driver is barred by one rideshare company for serious safety concerns, they would be barred from driving for all TNCs operating in Colorado. This also applies to drivers who were disqualified from driving for a rideshare company in another state with similar TNC regulations to Colorado. Robust complaint procedures and survivor updates If a rider submits a complaint to a TNC about their driver, the TNC must provide up-to-date information to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to investigate complaints. Additionally, the TNC must respond to a complaint-related subpoena or search warrant within 72 hours. Survivors may also opt in to receive updates about their complaint. If a complaint is filed against a driver, the TNC must procure a new background check before the driver can drive again. Improved transparency and accountability TNCs must provide annual reports to the PUC, the Attorney General’s Office and every member of the general assembly. These reports must include the number of homicides, assaults, verbal threats, and accidents, as well as any instances of stalking, harassment, theft and discrimination. The PUC may penalize a TNC that violates any provision of HB26-1424 up to $1,500 per violation. TNCs must provide ongoing driver and rider safety training based on rules adopted by the PUC. The PUC would be required to create rules and standards for driver and rider audio and video recording by June 1, 2028. This includes opt-in and opt-out procedures for both drivers and riders, rider preference for drivers with recording available, and the procedures and timeline for TNCs to integrate audio and video recording directly into their apps. Additionally, TNCs would need to establish and enforce certain policies that: Prevent sex assault, physical assault and homicide. Prohibit the transportation of unaccompanied minors, unless they are part of an authorized family account. Require food and beverages offered during a ride to be factory-sealed. Educate drivers on new safety policies. Prevent crimes against drivers by riders. Do not allow the collection of any rider or driver biometric data. More than 15,500 Uber and Lyft riders and drivers were sexually assaulted between 2017 and 2022. This number only represents the number of sexual assaults that were reported. On average, only 30 percent of sexual assaults are reported. Countless instances of sexual assault have happened in Ubers and Lyfts in Colorado, including a former Denver Lyft driver sentenced to 290 years in prison last year for charges related to kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault of more than a dozen women over four years. In 2024, an Aurora Lyft driver was sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. Last week, an Arvada Uber driver was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault against a passenger. Arvada police believe there are likely more victims in this case, as the driver used multiple vehicles over his more than 1,000 rides. Previous Next

< Back March 11, 2019 TIME TO SQUEEZE OUT THE COMPETITION: HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO HELP KIDPRENEURS (Mar. 11) – The House gave final approval to a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. James Coleman, D-Denver, to allow children to operate a temporary business, such as a lemonade stand, without a license. “I’m proud to work on this bill that will help encourage our kidpreneurs and allow their creativity to flow,” said Rep. Coleman. “Ultimately, it will allow Colorado’s young people to build new skills and experiences, to start their own businesses or to raise funds for a good cause.” SB19-103 would allow small and temporary businesses such as lemonade stands, snow removal, and other kid-owned businesses across Colorado to operate without licensing requirements. These businesses must operate for fewer than 84 days each year and be located at a proper distance from other businesses to avoid unfair competition. The bill arose from an incident last Memorial Day with a family with three young boys who tried to have a lemonade stand but were shut down by police due to the lack of a license. The House co-prime sponsor is Rep. Terri Carver, R-El Paso. The bill passed unanimously through the Senate with sponsors Sen. Angela Williams, D-Denver, and Sen. Jack Tate, R-Centennial. The bill passed out of the House with a bipartisan, unanimous vote. It now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to increase access to telehealth services in rural and underserved areas, and to better combat cardiac disease. < Back May 29, 2024 Gov. Polis Signs Bill to Increase Availability of Telehealth Services FRISCO, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to increase access to telehealth services in rural and underserved areas, and to better combat cardiac disease. “Coloradans in my district know firsthand how challenging and expensive it can be to access critical health care services,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “During my time in the legislature, I’ve worked hard to deliver high-quality, affordable health care services to underserved and rural areas and this law expands access to remote health services and continuous glucose monitors, which have proven to be successful at ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time and save so much money in the long-run.” “Expanding access to health care is critical, especially in our rural and mountain communities,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “My family lives with diabetes, and continuous glucose monitors have made living with this disease better for all of us and ensured strong health outcomes for my husband. To help ensure everyone has access to the health care they need when they need it, our law works to expand and encourage telehealth options. This new law also establishes a grant program to help our hospitals and providers implement telehealth technology and better serve our community members.” “For many of the residents living in my district, the nearest hospital is miles and miles away, making it hard to receive high-quality health care when they need it,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez. “This law expands telehealth services into rural and underserved communities like mine so everyone can access the treatment and care needed to live a healthy life. Our bipartisan law also creates a rural-specific grant program to help our health care providers locate and implement telehealth technology in their practice.” Also sponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, SB24-168 will direct the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to reimburse the use of telehealth monitoring for outpatient services for Medicaid patients and provide coverage for continuous glucose monitoring devices. Additionally, the new law will create a grant program to assist rural and shortage area providers in obtaining remote telehealth monitoring equipment. Funds from the grant program could also be used for training staff on utilizing remote monitoring equipment. Governor Polis also signed HB24-1219 , sponsored by Speaker McCluskie, Representative Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, and Senators Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Byron Pelton, R-Sterling. This new law aims to detect cardiac disease and symptoms early and help save lives. Specifically, this law expands eligibility for required firefighter heart and circulatory malfunction benefits to include part-time and volunteer firefighters, requires employers to participate in the multi-employer cancer trust, and creates a cardiac screening trust for peace officers. “Cardiac disease impacts so many Colorado families and early detection can save lives,” said Speaker McCluskie . “Minority Leader McKean was a great leader who left us too soon. In his honor, we will continue to fight against cardiac disease, save lives and work toward a brighter future that he can be proud of.” “Diagnosing cardiac disease early on can lead to better prognoses, more effective treatment, and can save lives,” said Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton. “By expanding eligibility for cardiac benefits programs to first responders like firefighters and peace officers, we’re taking better care of the folks that take care of our communities. This new law will help reduce the risks of life-threatening cardiac disease and support the well-being of our communities – I’m proud to see it signed into law.” In 2022, House Minority Leader Hugh McKean passed away after expressing concern about pain on the left side of his body. McKean was 55 years old. Previous Next

2023 legislation will prevent gun violence, protect reproductive rights, provide record public school funding, improve air quality and reduce the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs < Back May 8, 2023 Legislature Adjourns with Dems Delivering Real Results on the Issues that Matter Most for Coloradans 2023 legislation will prevent gun violence, protect reproductive rights, provide record public school funding, improve air quality and reduce the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs DENVER, CO – The First Session of the 74th General Assembly adjourned today. Democratic lawmakers passed legislation that focused on the issues that matter for Coloradans: addressing the cost of living, protecting reproductive rights, reducing gun violence and improving public schools. “From improving public education with a record investment in our schools, teachers and students, to reducing the cost of health care and prescription drugs, this session delivered real results on the issues that matter most to Coloradans,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The legislation we passed will protect access to abortion, support our workforce and save people money on housing. I’m proud of our work to boost rural economies, protect our water future, and pass bipartisan legislation that will uplift people all across our state and help everyone reach their Colorado dream.” “Coloradans demanded bold action on the issues that matter most to them, and this session we delivered,” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, said. “From passing landmark gun violence prevention laws and working to lower your energy bills, to improving our gold standard elections and taking action to lower property tax bills for families and businesses, we fought tirelessly this session to make a real difference in our communities and for the people who make this state great.” “This session, we worked to address the most pressing needs in Colorado and did what we told voters we’d do when they elected the largest Democratic majority since the 1930s,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Democrats passed a landmark package of commonsense gun violence prevention laws, increased funding for crime victim services, and worked across the aisle to protect our freedoms, support working families, and improve public safety. We rejected the GOP’s extreme abortion bans, bills that would upend our gold standard election system, and anti-science climate denialism that threatens our future and our Colorado way of life.” “Democrats delivered real results for Coloradans this session that meet the needs of our growing state and position us well for the future,” Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, said . “We remained laser-focused on the issues that matter most to Colorado families: making Colorado a more affordable place to live, building safer, healthier communities, and setting students, teachers, and our workforce up for success. I’m proud of the progress we made this year, and I look forward to building a better Colorado for generations to come.” This year, the General Assembly passed packages of legislation to make housing more affordable, reduce health care costs, advance affordable clean energy, cut property taxes, prevent gun violence, increase access to protected health care, improve public education, and boost Colorado’s workforce. Reducing Housing Costs Building Homes for Every Colorado Budget: Lawmakers encouraged affordable housing development by making it possible to build housing on state-owned property through public-private partnerships ( SB23-001 ). Democrats also passed legislation to eliminate arbitrary local caps on new housing that restrict supply and drive up costs for families, thereby increasing our housing supply, saving people money on housing, improving our environment, and allowing people to live where they work ( HB23-1255 ). Lawmakers also passed first in the nation legislation that will give local governments a right of first refusal r on a multifamily or mixed-use rental property, if they commit to maintaining the property as affordable housing for at least 100 years ( HB23-1190 ). Proposition HH, which will appear on the ballot in November, would reduce property taxes, help seniors and veterans on fixed incomes stay in their homes, and boost TABOR refunds for everyone making under $100,000 to help renters, lower and middle income Coloradans, and put more money back into the pockets of the people who need it the most ( SB23-303 ; HB23-1311 ). Creating New Renter Protections and Saving Renters Money : Democrats passed landmark laws to protect renters. New legislation will limit security deposit amounts, cap income requirements, and reduce barriers to housing eligibility ( SB23-184 ). Lawmakers saved Coloradans money on rental applications by allowing potential renters to reuse a rental application for up to 30 days without paying additional fees ( HB23-1099 ). Democrats also strengthened residential lease agreements to protect renters against leases with hidden language that negate legal protections for excessive fees and legal rights ( HB23-1095 ). Lawmakers protected lower-income Coloradans and Coloradans living with disabilities who rely on critical safety net programs from unjust evictions by providing for mandatory mediation prior to an eviction being filed ( HB23-1120 ). Lawmakers also passed a bill to allow Coloradans to participate in eviction proceedings remotely, so renters can avoid a default judgment from not being able to attend in person ( HB23-1186 ). Saving People Money on Health Care Saving People Money on Prescription Drugs: Democrats strengthened the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs ( HB23-1225 ), held pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) accountable for cost saving requirements ( HB23-1227 ), and made it an unfair business practice for PBMs to charge employers more for a drug than what they pay pharmacies for the same drug ( HB23-1201 ). With the cost of critical drugs skyrocketing, lawmakers also tackled the high price of EpiPens so that Colorado residents can better afford this life-saving medication ( HB23-1002 ). Lowering Premiums, Reducing Costs and Increasing Transparency: Democrats passed laws to lower insurance premiums and make it easier for consumers to shop for high value health plans that work for them and their families ( HB23-1224 ), expanded access to affordable community health service workers in health-care settings ( SB23-002 ), ensured hospitals are reinvesting in their communities in ways that align with community needs ( HB23-1243 ), and improved hospital transparency requirements to identify ways to reduce costs for patients ( HB23-1226 ). Enhancing Medical Consumer Protections: Democrats created additional consumer protections from high interest rates for medical debt and confusing debt collection practices that lead to long-lasting financial instability ( SB23-093 ; HB23-1126 ) and protected patients, doctors, and hospitals from exorbitant costs in the case that a health insurance company becomes insolvent ( HB23-1303 ). Improving Access to Behavioral Health for Colorado Youth: Lawmakers passed bills to support the mental well-being of Colorado’s students by offering mental health screenings in schools ( HB23-1003 ) and by streamlining the hiring process for licensed mental health professionals and expanding access to mental health resources and support in schools ( SB23-004 ). New legislation will require insurance to cover multiple types of therapy and treatment planning services for Medicaid members who are under the age of 21 ( SB23-174 ). Investing in Education and Workforce Providing Record K-12 Public Schools Funding, Boosting Math Achievement, Increasing Special Education Resources: Democrats put more money into classrooms to increase teacher pay, reduce class sizes and set up students to thrive by increasing public school funding by $660 million next year– increasing per pupil funding to $10,614 per student on average. Lawmakers provided $30 million to rural schools and committed to fully eliminating the Budget Stabilization Factor for the 2024-2025 school year ( SB23-287 ). Bipartisan legislation will ensure students get the support they need to improve their math skills by increasing access to affordable programs inside and outside of the classroom ( HB23-1231 ). The General Assembly also significantly increased funding for special education programs ( SB23-099 ). Boosting Colorado’s Workforce: Democrats invested $45 million over two years for aspiring professionals in high-demand fields to receive free training toward certificates and degrees in fields such as elementary and early childhood education, firefighting, law enforcement, forest management, nursing, and construction trades ( HB23-1246 ). Bipartisan legislation will provide qualifying students with a scholarship up to $1,500 for an apprenticeship or on-the-job training at a trade school, community college, or college and university ( SB23-205 ). To help working families, the legislature increased the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit by over $170 million, putting hundreds of dollars directly into the pockets of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans ( HB23-1112) . Addressing the Teacher Shortage: Lawmakers passed legislation to get more teachers into classrooms through the creation of an apprenticeship program as an alternative route to teacher licensure ( SB23-087 ), and created new pathways for qualified out-of-state teachers to more quickly gain professional licensure in Colorado and start teaching in our schools ( HB23-1064 ). A new law will save educators money by expanding the pool of student educators who qualify for stipend programs ( HB23-1001) . Preventing Gun Violence Expanding the ‘Red Flag’ Law: Democrats expanded who can file an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) to now include district attorneys and other law enforcement officials, health care providers, mental health professionals, and educators ( SB23-170 ). Creating a Three Day Waiting Period: A new law will require a gun seller to wait for an approved background check or three days from the initiation of the background check - whichever is later - to deliver a firearm. Creating a waiting period delays immediate access to firearms and can help prevent suicides and impulsive acts of violence ( HB23-1219 ). Raising the Minimum Age to Purchase a Firearm to 21: Under current federal law, individuals must be 21 years old to purchase a handgun but only need to be 18 years old to purchase long guns. To reduce youth access to firearms and prevent gun violence, this law raises the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21, with limited exceptions ( SB23-169 ). Cracking Down on Ghost Guns: This bill prohibits the possession, sale, or transfer of an unserialized firearm, frame or receiver. It also prohibits manufacturing a frame or receiver, including via a 3D printer, unless done by a federally licensed firearm manufacturer ( SB23-279 ). Improving Gun Violence Survivors’ Access to Justice: Previously, gun sellers and manufacturers enjoyed broad protections under the federal PLCAA law from most types of civil lawsuits - and Colorado law had a punitive provision that forced survivors of gun violence to pay legal fees in dismissed cases. This law removes Colorado’s overly-broad immunity protections to allow for legitimate lawsuits to move forward to hold bad actors in the firearm industry accountable ( SB23-168 ). Taking Bold Climate Action and Wildfire Mitigation Lowering the Cost of Clean Energy, Electric Vehicles and E-Bikes : This legislation will save Coloradans money and help meet our climate goals with approximately $60 million in annual tax incentives to businesses and consumers for electric vehicles, e-bikes, and investments in clean energy and industrial emissions reductions ( HB23-1272 ). Other laws will reduce the cost of energy bills by aligning utility company incentives with consumer interests ( SB23-291 ) and making electric vehicles more accessible ( HB23-1233 ). Reducing Emissions From Energy Sources: Democrats passed legislation to reduce the time and cost of residential solar installation and permitting to save Coloradans money on their energy bills ( HB23-1234 ), and lower Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions through new reduction targets, electrification incentives, and climate-aware investments ( SB23-016 ). Conserving and Protecting Water Resources: Conserves fresh water by requiring oil and gas operators to reduce, reuse and recycle water in their drilling operations ( HB23-1242 ) and allows all homeowners in HOAs to pursue water-wise landscaping ( SB23-178 ). Invests $12.6 million towards the implementation of the state Water Plan to support the Colorado River, outdoor recreation and agriculture ( SB23-237 ). Protecting Against Wildfires: Supports local governments to better investigate and prevent the causes of wildfires ( SB23-013 ), and invests in Colorado’s forestry and wildfire mitigation workforce and tree nursery to more effectively mitigate and recover from wildfire destruction ( SB23-005 , HB23-1060 ). Helps restore natural stream systems and freshwater resources to mitigate floods and wildfires ( SB23-270 ), and secures a second Firehawk helicopter, the most technologically advanced firefighting aircraft available ( SB23-161 ). Protecting Our Freedoms and Access to Reproductive Health Care Protecting Reproductive Health Care Patients and Providers: Establishes a shield law to protect those receiving, providing, or assisting with legally-protected health care – including abortion and gender-affirming care – from criminal prosecutions. Prevents Colorado state employees from assisting with interstate investigations in order to protect patients traveling to Colorado from other states to access protected health care ( SB23-188 ). Increasing Access to Reproductive Health Care: Limits surprise medical billing and removes patient cost sharing for reproductive health care services and treatment, including but not limited to sterilization, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and abortion care. Modernizes a 1971 law to expand access to contraception for all Coloradans, increases family-planning related services, and prioritizes access to life-saving HIV medication ( SB23-189 ). Cracking Down on Deceptive Practices by Anti-Abortion Centers: Protects Coloradans seeking reproductive health care by making it a deceptive trade practice to advertise providing abortion care, emergency contraceptives or referrals of either of these services when the service is not actually provided. Clarifies that it is unprofessional for health care providers to administer or prescribe a “medication abortion reversal” ( SB23-190 ). Expanding Access to Contraceptive Care: Improves access to the single dispensing of 12 months of contraception and ensures health insurance plans and PBMs are providing coverage in compliance with current law ( SB23-284 ). Defeating Dangerous Bills to Criminalize Abortion: Democrats in the House defeated dangerous Republican bills that would have criminalized abortion in Colorado and spread harmful disinformation about so-called “medication abortion reversals”. The efforts would have eliminated access to safe, legal reproductive health care in Colorado ( HB23-1150 ; HB23-1119 ; HB23-1097 ). Previous Next

HB25-1030 will require local governments to ensure building codes incorporate accessibility standards in new and renovated buildings < Back March 11, 2025 Signed! New Law Will Improve Building Accessibility for Coloradans with Disabilities DENVER, CO – Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera today signed a bill into law that will improve accessibility standards for Coloradans with disabilities, sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, Senator Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Representatives Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, and Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood. “Coloradans with disabilities deserve the opportunity to move about freely and fully participate in society,” said Cutter. “They deserve equal access to public buildings and services. This law moves us closer to making these things a reality, and to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law nearly 35 years ago.” “Coloradans with disabilities rely on certain accessibility features in going about their daily lives, and it’s important that new and renovated buildings such as schools and health facilities meet or exceed the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Joseph. “With this law, we’re standing by our commitment to Colorado’s disability community by improving accessibility requirements in building codes throughout our state and supporting basic access to public buildings.” “The heart of this new law is about letting all our neighbors live with dignity and respect. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed 35 years ago, yet many buildings are still inaccessible,” said Winter. “One step forward to ensure that we're increasing accessibility is to have local governments update their building codes. Everyone should be able to fully participate in all aspects of society and not be limited by access to a building.” “The Americans with Disabilities Act has been law for over 30 years, yet gaps in enforcing those accessibility requirements continue to act as a barrier to Coloradans with disabilities,” said Stewart. ”As a former local government official, I know this law will benefit our communities by creating a guideline for local governments to follow when it comes to accessibility updates, mitigating lawsuits and making our communities more accessible for all.” Beginning January 1, 2026, HB25-1030 will require local governments to ensure that new or substantially amended building codes meet or exceed international accessibility standards. It also requires the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to ensure building codes for public school and health facilities meet these standards. For hotels, motels, and multiple dwellings in jurisdictions with no local building code, the State Housing Board will be responsible for meeting or exceeding these standards. This bill is another in a series of steps Colorado Democrats have taken in recent years to support Colorado’s disability community, including creating the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office to serve as an official resource for implementing a statewide strategy to promote successful economic, social, and community integration. Previous Next

HB26-1340 will require water buyers to prioritize revegetation and dryland farming when making certain changes to the land < Back June 1, 2026 ICYMI: Mauro’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Water Resources Signed Into Law HB26-1340 will require water buyers to prioritize revegetation and dryland farming when making certain changes to the land DENVER, CO – Last week, Governor Jared Polis signed legislation to ensure long-term and responsible management of water resources in Southeastern Colorado. “When done successfully, dryland farming and revegetation can restore previously irrigated farmland, prevent soil erosion and combat excessive weeds,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo . “Front Range water users are purchasing water in Southeastern Colorado, but are not encouraged to maintain the land for long-term use. Water buyers should aim to be better stewards of our land, and this law will require them to successfully revegetate or dryland farm their land while making changes. Dryland farming and revegetation are important tools for the responsible management of Colorado's water resources, and this requires water buyers to step up to protect our land.” HB26-1340 is also sponsored by Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad. To address a growing need in water division 2, this law will require a water user to successfully revegetate or convert to dryland farming with effective erosion and weed control when making changes in beneficial use. Front Range cities have purchased land in the Lower Arkansas Valley for its water rights. However, this has negatively impacted Pueblo, Otero, Bent, Crowley and Prowers counties because the land is often left dry, leading to erosion and sand-covered roads. Under the law, water users making land changes in division 2 must make plans to revegetate or dryland farm land that would be subject to evaluations by an appointed third-party expert using site-specific criteria and scientifically supported methods. After a five-year maintenance plan, the water court may require the water user to continue dryland farming or revegetation, or allow responsible water use on land that has been successfully restored. Dryland farming, also known as farming without irrigation, is a sustainable agricultural technique that utilizes drought-tolerant crops or plants to help prevent soil erosion and excessive weed growth. Dryland farming and revegetation can help restore previously irrigated farmland into more habitable land for native species. Previous Next

< Back May 6, 2022 HOUSE PASSES $48 MILLION FOR CRIME VICTIM SERVICES DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation that will provide critical resources to programs that support victims of crime. The bill passed 43-20, with 20 of 24 House Republicans voting against the bill, which previously passed the Senate 34-1. “I’m proud that Colorado is putting additional resources toward helping survivors of crime,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill will provide critical support to survivors of crime, including survivors of domestic violence, to help people get back on their feet. This funding fills a gap in the resources available for these programs that was created when the Trump administration cut off their funding.” “This legislation directs $48 million of pandemic economic relief and state funds to support survivors of crime to improve access to the services they need,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “The pandemic has placed enormous strain on our society, and we’ve seen an increase in domestic violence and other crimes as a result. This legislation continues essential crime victim services and programs to help survivors of crime access the assistance they need.” SB22-183 , sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Weissman, 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 $42 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 includes $13 million toward affordable workforce housing, water-wise landscaping in HOAs and wildfire mitigation and resilience building codes < Back April 18, 2023 House Committee Passes Bills to Reduce Housing Costs, Combat Drought and Wildfire Destruction Legislation includes $13 million toward affordable workforce housing, water-wise landscaping in HOAs and wildfire mitigation and resilience building codes DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed three pieces of legislation to support communities in creating more housing that is affordable, combating drought through water-wise landscaping and building more wildfire-resilient homes. “From the front range to our mountain communities, Colorado’s housing crisis is affecting us all,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, sponsor of SB23-001. “Through this bill, we’re taking tremendous steps to address our housing affordability crisis from all angles. This legislation will make it easier for public-private partnerships to construct new, quality housing and support our state’s growing workforce.” “The housing affordability crisis is hitting my community hard, and we’re investing in innovative projects to create affordable homes for our teachers, nurses, firefighters and others critical to our diverse workforce,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, sponsor of SB23-001. “This legislation helps the state streamline housing construction through public-private partnerships that benefit everyone. Turning unused, state-owned land into affordable housing is win-win for everyone because those who serve our communities can have a place to call home.” SB23-001 , sponsored by Representatives Bird and Lukens, passed committee by a vote of 9 to 4. This bill would provide $13 million in funding for public-private partnership projects managed by the Public-Private Collaboration Unit within the Department of Personnel Administration to help develop affordable workforce housing on state-owned land so that Colorado workers like teachers, nurses, and everyone in between, can find housing that fits their budget. SB23-001 builds on work from previous sessions, including HB21-1274 and SB22-130 , regarding the inventory of underutilized properties and state-owned land. The bill would transfer $5 million from the General Fund and $8 million from the Housing Development Grant Fund to the Unused State-Owned Real Property Fund for these housing projects. “There are many homeowners who are interested in replacing their water-intensive lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping, but it doesn’t align with their HOA regulations,” said Rep. McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of SB23-178. “ Water-wise landscaping supports biodiversity, is unique to Colorado’s climate and significantly cuts back on freshwater usage. This legislation allows Coloradans living in HOAs to have water-wise landscaping options for their lawns, which is good for wallets and the planet.” “As Colorado combats historic drought conditions a good place to reduce freshwater usage is on our lawns,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB2-178 . “This legislation breaks down barriers for homeowners in HOAs to plant a water-wise yard. Water-wise yards require less maintenance than traditional turf lawns and utilize native plants to contribute to our state’s natural landscape and beauty. Property owners should have the right to change their landscaping so they can be a partner in how we use less water and conserve our most precious resource.” SB23-178 , sponsored by Representatives McCormick and Lindsay, passed committee by a vote of 11-2. This bill would reduce barriers facing Colorado homeowners in homeowners associations (HOAs) who wish to replace their lawns with water-wise landscaping. SB23-178 would promote water-wise landscaping, emphasizing native plants that better sustain Colorado’s local ecosystem while requiring little or no irrigation. The bill requires HOAs to select and pre-approve three water-wise landscape designs for homeowners to choose from. The bill would also prevent an HOA from requiring hardscape on more than 20 percent of a landscape area and prohibiting vegetable gardening in a homeowner’s front yard. About half of the water used in single-family homes in Denver goes toward “outdoor use,” according to Denver Water . Last year, the legislature passed legislation to create the Turf Replacement Program , which provides financial incentives for voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water-wise landscaping. SB23-178 complements that initiative by helping homeowners who may not need financial incentives but are hindered by HOA regulations. “Wildfire season in Colorado is now year round and we need to be mindful about how we build in the wildland-urban interface to protect Coloradans who live there,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, Chair of the House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee and sponsor of SB23-166. “Establishing minimum building standards is key to fortifying our homes and businesses against destructive wildfires. County to county, wildfires do not recognize local boundaries and it is important we create smart and flexible building standards that work to keep each and every community safe.” “On the Western Slope and across Colorado, catastrophic wildfires uproot entire communities and it’s important we act now to create more resilient buildings,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, sponsor of SB23-166. “This legislation establishes wildfire-resilient building codes across local governments to ensure we’re reducing the risk of wildfire displacement and destruction. Our bill is an important step forward in protecting our homes, communities and livelihood against the growing threat of wildfires.” SB23-166 , sponsored by Representatives Froelich and Velasco, passed committee by a vote of 8 to 4. This bill would help communities and Coloradans living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) better defend homes and property from catastrophic wildfires by establishing a statewide wildfire resiliency code board charged with establishing proven building codes to better protect life and property against increasingly common wildfires. Local governments with jurisdiction in the new WUI area, as determined by the code board, would be required to adopt the model code or a code of their own that meets or exceeds minimum standards. SB23-166 would create the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board made up of 21 voting members representing local governments, utilities, and other relevant disciplines such as fire and building code professionals that would work to define and establish minimum standards that better defend building structures in the WUI from dangerous wildfires.The bill also requires the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to support local governments upon request in conducting inspections and enforcing their local code. Wildfires have grown increasingly destructive in recent years. The Marshall Fire in 2021 burned more than 1,000 homes and over 30 commercial structures, and caused more than $2 billion in damage, while 2020’s East Troublesome Fire destroyed 366 houses, causing $543 million in damage. Previous Next

Legislation would promote responsible gun ownership, safe storage of firearms in vehicles < Back March 13, 2024 Legislation to Reduce Gun Thefts from Vehicles Passes Committee Legislation would promote responsible gun ownership, safe storage of firearms in vehicles DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to help prevent firearms from being stolen in cars by requiring them to be secured while unattended in a vehicle. HB24-1348 passed by a vote of 7-3. “As a rural legislator from the Western Slope, I know that so many gun owners value proper training and safety, and that includes safe storage," said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. "It’s just common sense to protect valuable property and to keep our communities safe. This bill has broad support from experienced gun owners. I look forward to continuing to improve gun violence prevention measures in Colorado.” “Guns are more likely to be stolen from a car than a house, yet Colorado does not have any laws that require guns to be properly secured when stored in a car," said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. "Our legislation would require guns to be locked in a safe storage container and hidden when left in a vehicle so they can’t be easily accessible during a break-in. This will save countless lives and prevent stolen, untraceable firearms from being found at crime scenes.” HB24-1348 would require firearms in unattended vehicles to be stored in locked containers that are out of plain view to help prevent them from being stolen. The bill would also require the Office of Suicide Prevention to include information for vehicle safe storage on its website and include vehicle safe storage information that must be displayed at gun stores. Antique firearms, peace officers, military service members and people engaged in hunting are exempted from this law. According to the Denver Police Department, 846 of the 1,221 guns that were reported as being stolen were stolen from vehicles in 2023. Of those stolen firearms, 61% were stolen without stealing the vehicle itself. Data from 2020 found that Grand Junction, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs had the highest rates of gun thefts from cars in Colorado. Colorado Democrats passed a 2021 law that promotes responsible gun ownership by requiring gun owners to properly store their firearms when they are not in use, especially when children are present. The law also requires licensed firearms dealers to provide a locking device at the time of sale or transfer of all firearms. Federal law already requires that handguns sold by licensed dealers be sold with locking devices. Finally, the law created the charge “unlawful storage of a firearm” when a firearm is not stored safely and a juvenile or someone who is ineligible to possess a firearm is present, making it a class 2 misdemeanor. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2021 BILL TO IMPROVE COLORADO ELECTIONS MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO– The House State, Civic, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee today advanced legislation to improve Colorado’s gold standard elections system. “Colorado leads the nation when it comes to ballot access and election security,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “One of the hallmarks of our system is that we are always looking at how we can make it better. While Republicans in the legislature have made multiple attempts this year to dismantle Colorado’s vote-by-mail system and restrict access to voting, Democrats have steadfastly protected Colorado’s gold standard election system, and now we’re making it better.” “The bill we passed today will improve Colorado’s election system by implementing the recommendations and findings of a group of bipartisan, statewide election officials,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “It improves drop boxes and voter services and prohibits disruptive electioneering tactics near polling locations. Importantly, the bill increases transparency in recall efforts and makes it easier for Coloradans to complete their voter registration online using the last four digits of their social security number if they don’t have a driver’s license.” SB21-250, sponsored by Representatives Susan Lontine and Yadira Caraveo, stems from the recommendations and findings of Colorado’s sixty-four county clerks, the Secretary of State, and other stakeholders. It makes clarifications, adjustments, and improvements to ensure Colorado’s election system remains the gold standard. The bill will improve access to drop boxes and Voter Service and Polling Centers, streamline Colorado’s voter registration system, and increase transparency in recall elections. Additionally, it clarifies and expands prohibitions on electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place in order to protect against partisan election interference. Specifically, the bill ensures that voters who are in dropbox lines at 7:00 PM are allowed to drop off their ballots, the same way voters who are in line by 7 PM at a voter service and polling center are able to cast a ballot. It also allows greater public input into the location of drop boxes. The bill clarifies what constitutes “electioneering” and ensures that voters may not be challenged for frivolous reasons unrelated to their eligibility. The bill modernizes the voter registration system to create a process for voters to register online with the last four digits of their social security numbers should they not have a driver’s license, requiring that information be matched and checked against the social security database in real time before proceeding to register the voter. The bill also requires institutions of higher education to provide information to enrolled students on their eligibility to vote and how to register to vote or update their address during the first full week of fall semester and the last full week of spring semester. Previous Next