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HB24-1017 would establish critical statutory rights for foster youth, including freedom from discrimination, harassment and access to basic care < Back February 9, 2024 Bill of Rights for Foster Youth Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to establish a Bill of Rights for Foster Youth by a vote of 43 to 19. HB24-1017 outlines critical rights to empower and protect foster youth, including freedom from discrimination, harassment, access to basic care and freedom of gender, cultural and religious expression. “To empower our foster youth, we need to establish in statute their freedoms and rights,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada . “This legislation is about protecting our youth’s access to the personal care and education they deserve and the freedom to express themselves and not be discriminated against. I’m extremely proud of the role our foster youth played in developing this legislation, an important step toward giving them the tools they need to not only succeed, but thrive.” “Through my experience as a foster parent, I understand the sacred trust that must exist between the youth in our system and their host families in order to have the best outcomes for everyone involved,” said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie . “This bill is about ensuring foster youth have full knowledge of the protections and rights their foster families are already obligated to provide them. Through this legislation, we’re helping empower the most vulnerable kids in our communities to be treated with respect, dignity and understanding.” HB24-1017 establishes critical statutory rights for youth living in foster care, requires county human service departments to provide written notice to foster youth about their rights, and clarifies the enforcement of these rights. The rights of foster care youth include: Access to education, basic essentials, and health care The right to confidentiality and privacy Freedom from discrimination or harassment Freedom of thought, cultural and ethnic practice, and religion Freedom to express gender identity Freedom from threats, punishment, retaliation for asking questions, stating concerns, or making complaints about violations of their rights Access to services, placements, and programs they are eligible for and notification of the benefits they are eligible for The ability to request information on how payments were used by individuals who accepted payments for the youth The right to receive appropriate placement and care, including being placed in a safe environment that is free of abuse, having their preferences regarding placement considered, and having providers who are aware of their history The right to timely court proceedings and effective case management The right to a timely notification to the Social Security Administration to initiate the transfer of benefits from providers to youth who are leaving the custody of the department The right to access and communicate privately with caseworkers, legal representatives, advocates, probation officers, and other professionals The ability to participate in legal proceedings and case planning Access to certain necessities and support that will allow them to be self-sufficient in their transition to adulthood Under this bill, the rights listed above would apply to foster youth including those who are ages 18 to 21 and participating in the Foster Youth in Transition Program. HB24-1071 requires that foster youth five years old and older receive written notice about their rights at their initial placement in foster care and that the written notice of rights in the youth’s primary language is updated at least annually, including if there is a new placement change. In 2021, Representative Daughterty championed legislation to establish two new programs within the Department of Human Services to prepare Colorado’s foster youth for life after their foster care placement. Previous Next

< Back June 7, 2020 COMMITTEE PASSES BILL TO BOOST LOWEST IN THE NATION IMMUNIZATION RATES FOR CHILDREN DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Health and Insurance today passed SB20-163, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullcia, D-Northglenn, and Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, to boost Colorado’s childhood immunization rates. The vote was 7-4. “Colorado’s kids are more vulnerable to a massive outbreak of highly infectious disease than children in almost any other state in the country, and that keeps me up at night,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “As a nurse, I know that boosting our immunization rates is the best way to stop preventable diseases like whooping cough and measles from spreading, and nearly 90 percent of Coloradans agree. Today we’re taking steps to protect our children, our communities, and our health care system from diseases that can spread faster and more viciously even than COVID19.” SB20-163 is designed to get more children fully vaccinated by the time they start kindergarten by encouraging those who do not vaccinate, but who have no objections to vaccinations, to immunize their children. The percentage of Colorado kindergartners vaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella is the lowest rate in the country at 87 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This low rate makes our state particularly vulnerable to a measles outbreak. SB20-163 requires parents who choose not to vaccinate their children to present a standardized exemption form signed by an immunization provider or submit a confirmation form that they took a short online class about vaccinations before they send their children to school. The bill also streamlines the immunization exemptions categories by dividing them into medical and nonmedical exemptions, but makes no changes to who can choose to exempt their children or for what reasons. Lastly, SB20-163 would require all immunizing health care providers to use the state’s Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) data system, though providers wouldn’t be subject to a regulatory sanction for noncompliance. Previous Next

< Back March 12, 2021 STATE APPRENTICESHIP AGENCY MOVES FORWARD New state agency would increase access to apprenticeship programs in Colorado DENVER, CO– Legislation that would create a state apprenticeship agency to oversee, promote and ensure the quality of apprenticeship programs in Colorado today passed the House Business Affairs and Labor committee by a vote of 8-5. “State apprenticeship agencies like the one we’re creating help people learn the skills they need to enter and advance in a trade and ensure they get the training they signed up for,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “We can build back stronger by making sure that every worker has access to the tools they need to thrive.” “So many Coloradans would jump at the chance to enter an apprenticeship program, so let’s make it easier for them to do so and improve the quality of these programs at the same time,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “This bill would help create jobs by increasing access to critical skills training programs and by expanding these programs to new and emerging industries.” HB21-1007, sponsored by Representatives Tom Sullivan and David Ortiz, would establish a state apprenticeship agency. The agency will collaborate with the US Department of Labor to register and oversee apprenticeship programs, determine standards for apprenticeship programs, and ensure these standards are being met. It will work to promote apprenticeship programs so that more Coloradans can access these critical training opportunities, which to-date have jump-started the careers of nearly 2 million Americans in the last decade. Because Colorado does not have a state apprenticeship agency, apprenticeship programs are currently registered with the US Department of Labor. This new state agency would work with apprenticeship programs to provide technical assistance to help them create and meet standards and provide more flexibility to ensure apprentices are learning the skills they need to advance in their trade. Twenty-five other states have state apprenticeship councils. Previous Next

The House today passed two bills, sponsored by Representatives Regina English and Junie Joseph, to improve health outcomes for Coloradans, especially Black women. < Back March 3, 2026 House Passes Bills to Address Health Disparities for Communities of Color DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills, sponsored by Representatives Regina English and Junie Joseph, to improve health outcomes for Coloradans, especially Black women. HB26-1044 passed by a vote of 49-13 and would improve Black maternal health care in Colorado. HB26-1135 passed by a vote of 42-20 and would require a warning label on haircare products that may include known carcinogens or chemicals that could cause infertility or birth defects. “Black women face the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation; it’s clear we need to do more to protect our mothers and their children,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “This bill calls for improvements to our maternal health surveys to better capture concerns from community members, specifically women of color who are pregnant or postpartum. We also passed legislation to require a warning label on certain cancer-causing haircare products. By improving communication, demanding cultural competency, and pushing back against discrimination in health care, we can reduce the impacts of maternal mortality and save lives in Colorado.” “Implicit and explicit bias in obstetric care, including delayed treatment and the dismissal of symptoms, can be a major barrier for Black birthing patients," said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “This bill urges cultural competency and equity training to be included in continued education requirements for providers to help prevent harm. We also passed the Hair Product Transparency and Safety Act to require a clear warning on haircare products that contain carcinogenic materials. By addressing health disparities, these bills bring us closer to improving health and safety outcomes for women of color.” HB25-1044 aims to build upon Colorado’s work to improve maternal health care, especially for women of color. This bill requires the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) to report on maternal health outcomes for Black birthing parents and known causes of any disparate outcomes. To boost equity in maternal care, this bill requires health care providers to undergo cultural competency training as part of their Continuing Medical Education (CME). Under HB26-1044, birthing facilities would also be required to provide information to patients who request it about their rights, which include the right to culturally sensitive, evidence-based care and the right to have a birthing companion and family member during the birth. In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was more than three times higher than white women. In addition, Black and American Indian and Alaska Native infants are at least two times more likely to die than white infants. Research also shows that pregnancy-related mortality of Black women persists across education and income levels, and Black women are at a significantly higher risk for severe maternal morbidity, which includes conditions such as preeclampsia. The House also passed the Hair Product Transparency and Safety Act ( HB26-1135 ). To inform consumers, this bill would require that hair relaxers or synthetic hairpieces that contain a carcinogen or reproductive toxicant be labeled by the manufacturer. Research shows that these products are disproportionately marketed to and used by communities of color. This bill aims to improve the health and well-being of Coloradans by increasing awareness and exposure to certain products that may contain harmful chemicals. To improve maternal health care in Colorado, especially for women of color, Colorado Democrats championed HB24-1262 . This important law modified the midwife licensure process, collected more data on mistreatment during the perinatal period, and required advance notice to a patient when a facility reduces or ends maternal health care services. Previous Next

< Back February 4, 2022 BILL FROM REP. YOUNG TO SUPPORT OLDER COLORADANS ADVANCES DENVER, CO – The Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services committee today passed HB22-1035, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Mary Bradfield to bolster supports for older Coloradans. The legislation passed 10-1. “As the number of older Coloradans rises, we have to rethink how we provide the support and services they need to be productive and live the way they want,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “Our legislation updates Colorado law to set clear goals that will guide our state to bolster services for older Coloradans. Our goal is to provide the social services, jobs and skills training programs, health care services and so much more that prepares all Coloradans to live productive lives as they grow older.” HB22-1035 updates the Older Coloradans Act to bolster supports and services to older Coloradans, such as social services, health services, workforce development, digital literacy and the state’s infrastructure for the growing older population in the state. The legislation operationalizes many of the recommendations set forth by the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging and sets clear goals to guide the state as it works to ensure “that Colorado is the best state in which to grow old.” The bill makes it the policy of the state of Colorado to prevent abuse, exploitation and neglect of older Coloradans and recognize “that preparing all Coloradans for the different facets of a longer life is part of the state’s responsibility.” To accomplish these goals, the legislation creates a commission to coordinate and guide state aging programs. Previous Next

We’ve reached the crisis point for the Colorado River and the future of the American Southwest. We need creative solutions for living with a River that contains less water, yet has more demands for its limited supplies. < Back Speaker McCluskie: Taking Action Now to Secure Colorado’s Water Future Jul 10, 2023 See more This op-ed was published in print in the Denver Post in July 2023. We’ve reached the crisis point for the Colorado River and the future of the American Southwest. We need creative solutions for living with a River that contains less water, yet has more demands for its limited supplies. We’ve reached the crisis point for the Colorado River and the future of the American Southwest. We need creative solutions for living with a River that contains less water, yet has more demands for its limited supplies. As a resident of the High Country, I know we’ve had exceptional snowfall this year alongside a rainy spring, but one wet year will not solve a decades-long drought that is devastating the West. I represent the headwaters of the Colorado River, the source of water for more than 40 million people including 30 tribal nations – a resource essential to sustaining Colorado’s agricultural and Indigenous cultural heritage. Our entire state relies on the water that flows from here westward, or eastward through diversion tunnels to the Front Range. As the impacts of historic drought compound with increased demands, Colorado leaders have a critical role to play. Our rivers and streams are running at dangerously low levels, threatening everything from drinking water supplies, wildlife and agriculture to tourism and outdoor recreation. To facilitate a unified approach toward establishing drought resiliency, my colleagues Senator Dylan Roberts, Senator Perry Will, Representative Marc Catlin and I created the Colorado River Drought Task Force to protect Colorado’s water future. I recently made appointments to the task force, whose work will begin shortly. By the end of this year, the task force must provide recommendations for state legislation that will be considered in 2024 to address drought through voluntary and compensated reductions in water demands. I will be blunt: we need bold, inclusive solutions developed through careful collaboration of all those who rely on Colorado River water. The job of our appointees will not be easy, but we’re determined to see this through because our future depends on it. In the past 30 years, climate-driven drought has reduced Colorado River flows by 20%, with an estimated additional 30% reduction by 2050. Out-of-state interests are looking to profit by buying up water rights, growing communities are increasing demands on the river, and each of the Colorado River Basin states are gearing up to fight for as much of its water as they can. Just as the threats to our water are varied, so are the uses and demands on our supply. The Western Slope is home to generational farmers and ranchers who need water to provide food for the country. The state's agriculture industry contributes over $47 billion to our economy and employs about 195,000 people. While healthy rivers support healthy farms, they also support tribal cultural practices, and a vibrant outdoor recreation economy. Our rivers and streams support fishing, kayaking, and rafting, while reservoirs support snowmaking, swimming, and other watercraft sports. According to the organization Business for Water Stewardship, Colorado’s river recreation industry accounts for nearly $19 billion in annual economic output and creates 131,000 jobs. To protect Colorado’s water users, we must lead, otherwise we will find ourselves being led. The Colorado River Drought Task Force brings together state agencies, farmers, ranchers, water providers, water conservation districts, Tribal nations, environmentalists and others to make clear recommendations to protect Colorado’s water. The Colorado River touches everyone’s lives, it’s the fabric that weaves together the entire state, and is why the task force must listen, reflect and uplift the voices of our diverse state during the forthcoming public meetings. I expect nothing short of robust, sustainable solutions crafted by the task force helping all sectors of our economy prepare for the increasingly dire consequences of a hotter, drier future. Recommendations from this task force will allow Colorado to become more resilient to the demands of the River and help us adapt to preserve our Colorado way of life. As the first female Speaker from the Western Slope, protecting Colorado's stable water supply is always top of mind. It is now up to each of the members of this task force to be solution-oriented, emphatic, and creative. Future generations require nothing less, and I look forward to seeing recommendations later this year. Speaker Julie McCluskie represents House District 13 which includes Chaffee, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park, and Summit counties. She is the first woman Speaker elected from the Western Slope. Previous Next

< Back Rep. McLachlan: Legislators work on tax relief, protecting funding during special session Aug 27, 2024 See more The article was originally posted in the Durango Herald here . As a former educator, I ran for office in 2016 with the priority of passing legislation to increase funding for our public schools and support the needs of both our students and educators. I spent six years as chair of the House Education Committee, overseeing legislation to improve student academic performance, boost the teacher and school personnel workforce, and support our students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2024 legislative session, I had my biggest win at the Capitol – the 2024 School Finance Act. This bipartisan law buys down the Budget Stabilization Factor, fully funding Colorado’s public schools and increasing total funding for public schools by more than $500 million to $9.7 billion. Colorado’s K-12 public education is funded by state General Fund money, local property tax revenue and income tax revenue via the State Education Fund. More than 52% of local property taxes go to our K-12 public education, giving us the capital to hire more teachers and school personnel, provide after-school programs, and improve student achievement. Complications resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, growth and other factors have made our state less affordable, especially in rural areas like Southwest Colorado. Colorado legislators have responded with landmark legislation to reduce the cost of housing, health care and child care. We have taken steps to avoid steep property tax increases by extending and expanding 2021 property tax relief in 2023. Last session, we also passed a bipartisan solution to Colorado’s property tax code to reduce property tax costs. Recently, Gov. Jared Polis called the Colorado General Assembly to convene into a special session beginning on Aug. 26 to pass further property tax relief to avoid two devastating initiatives appearing on the November 2024 ballot. One of these initiatives, lobbied by dark money special interest groups, would reduce revenue for public schools, fire departments, health care, libraries, water infrastructure and public outdoor recreation by nearly $3 billion. The two goals of our special session are saving Colorado homeowners money on property taxes and protecting funding for our communities – like schools and fire districts. We have been working diligently since Polis’ call for a special session to deliver property tax relief for hardworking Coloradans while protecting funding for vital institutions, especially for our public schools and special districts. Colorado has the third lowest property tax in the nation; the bipartisan proposal would reduce the local government residential assessment rate by 0.15 points and the school district assessment rate by 0.1 points. It would also reduce the local government growth cap by 0.25% and set the schools growth cap to 6%. Our priority is to make our state a more affordable place to live for all Coloradans, and these reductions will help homeowners better afford the rising cost of living. Constituent requests have been forwarded to House leadership and property tax committee; as of this writing, we are still waiting to see how all concerns are addressed. As I end my eight-year service to Southwest Colorado, I’m proud to look back on everything we were able to accomplish. We bought down the Budget Stabilization Factor, provided two years of free college and boosted the incomes of hardworking Coloradans with new tax credits. I’m happy to get back to work at the Colorado Capitol to save property owners money while maintaining funding for our public K-12 schools, fire departments and other important community services. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, is serving her fourth term representing La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta and San Juan counties. She has been a journalist and teacher. Previous Next

< Back Regina English State Representative Regina English is serving her first term as the Colorado State Legislator, representing House District 17 in South East Colorado Springs. She serves on the Business Affairs & Labor and Health & Human Services committees. During her first session in the legislature, Rep. English plans to focus on education, housing, mental health, criminal justice, public safety, and reproductive rights, to name a few critical issues vital to her and her community. As a current school board director within the Harrison School District Two, she plans to keep education at the forefront of her legislative mission to ensure all students receive the high-quality education they deserve. The mental health and well-being of the entire family unit will drive the thoughtful decisions she plans to make around ensuring all Coloradans have the opportunity to have a better quality of life through accountable and effective legislation and accountable allocation of state funding. Born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, she grew up and was taught the value of hard work by her father, an active union member and foreman, and her mother showed her the importance of consistency and commitment to achieve goals. Regina resides in Colorado Springs with her husband and is the proud mother of five adult children and ten grandchildren. Rep. English is currently on track to complete her doctorate in Organizational Leadership in March 2023.

Legislation would increase housing options Coloradans can afford to help meet demand < Back January 30, 2024 State Legislators Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Housing Legislation would increase housing options Coloradans can afford to help meet demand DENVER, CO - State legislators today unveiled bipartisan legislation to create more housing options Coloradans can afford by allowing homeowners to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). “We need an all-hands approach to tackle Colorado’s housing crisis, and that includes allowing homeowners to have Accessory Dwelling Units on their properties,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “ADUs are typically a more affordable option for renters, and they give homeowners the freedom to use their property to house a family member or earn some extra income. By allowing ADUs to be built and offering financing to lower- and middle-income Coloradans, we can make it easier for Coloradans to afford to stay in the communities where they live and work.” “Colorado families and communities are begging for solutions to help address the housing crisis and build more homes for working Coloradans,” said Sen. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton. “Our bill will give more Coloradans the freedom and support they need to build ADUs on their property, allow more older Coloradans to age in place, and create more affordable housing options in our communities..” "The people of the state, as well as local governments, have been pleading with the legislature to address and provide solutions to the housing affordability crisis," said Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland. "I am strongly of the belief that this bill, while not being the complete solution, will provide relief to the citizens of Colorado and justify why we have been chosen to legislate." “Everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to live, but too many families are struggling to afford the cost of housing in our state,” said Sen. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “By giving folks the flexibility to build ADUs on their property, as well as providing grant funding to help cover construction costs, we can bring down housing prices and keep more Coloradans in the communities they call home.” HB24-1152 would allow homeowners in high-density areas to build an ADU and creates a new state grant program to help local governments implement policies to promote the construction of ADU’s. The bill would provide eligible local governments with access to grants that support lower and middle-income Coloradans building an ADU, property owners renting their ADU at an affordable rate or ADUs intended to serve demonstrated housing needs in the community. The bill also provides grants to increase housing accessibility and availability for Coloradans with disabilities. Finally, the bill includes funding through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to directly help homeowners with down payment assistance or to buy down interest rates on loans connected with ADUs. Recent polling found that 78 percent of Colorado voters support a law that allows ADUs to be built on single family home properties. Previous Next

Representative Tammy Story today highlighted the success of the Capital Development Committee (CDC) as it begins charting state investments for the new fiscal year. < Back July 16, 2024 Rep. Story Highlights Capital Development Committee Meeting DENVER, CO - Representative Tammy Story today highlighted the success of the Capital Development Committee (CDC) as it begins charting state investments for the new fiscal year. This joint legislative committee reviews funding requests for capital projects from all state agencies. Vice Chair Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer: “From higher education and youth services within the Department of Corrections to behavioral health facilities and state parks, the Capital Development Committee works to effectively support the capital construction needs of the state so services are delivered more effectively to communities. As a member of this committee since 2019, I know that when we support our neighbors, invest in education and prioritize accessible health care and behavioral health — Coloradans thrive. “On the higher education front, this committee has championed support for Colorado's public universities and colleges in all areas of the state: in the Four Corners area, the San Luis Valley, the Front Range, the western slope and the eastern plains, and everywhere in between. In recent years , the CDC has also invested in various improvements to better serve our at-risk, highest-need youth at the Mount View and Lookout Mountain youth services centers. “Our meeting today allowed us to tour current projects underway in the Capitol complex. Next month, we will tour the southwest quadrant to dive deeper and work towards an effective plan that will form the basis of our recommendations to the Joint Budget Committee.” Previous Next

The House today passed two bills on a preliminary vote to save Coloradans money on rental applications and bolster residential renter rights. < Back February 25, 2023 Bills to Save Renters Money, Strengthen Renter Rights Advance DENVER, CO - The House today passed two bills on a preliminary vote to save Coloradans money on rental applications and bolster residential renter rights. “As a renter, I’ve experienced firsthand how quickly fees can add up when someone applies to various housing opportunities,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of HB23-1099 . “Rental application fees are around $40 per adult on average, and rental applicants pay this fee at every stop, just to turn up the same information. This bill will allow rental applicants to pay that fee once and then share that report with multiple landlords, saving Coloradans potentially hundreds of dollars in repetitive fees.” “Renters often apply to multiple housing opportunities when their lease ends,” said Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1099 . “Lower-income Coloradans are often forced to choose between spending money on necessities and covering these application fees. Allowing renters to reuse these documents means that they can save more money that could otherwise go toward rent, food, and utilities.” HB23-1099 builds off the Rental Application Fairness Act that was passed by Colorado Democrats in 2019 by allowing prospective renters to reuse a rental application for up to 30 days without paying additional fees. It also minimizes the number of times a credit score is pulled, protecting a potential renter’s credit score from being continuously damaged from credit score inquiries. Under this bill, a landlord must return an application to a potential tenant to reuse if the application is denied and provide a notice of the applicant’s right to dispute the accuracy of the report. Rental and credit history reports and criminal record documents must come from verified consumer reporting agencies to be eligible for reuse. “Renters unknowingly sign away key rights when they secure housing,” said Rep. Stephen Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of HB23-1095. “Rental agreements often exceed 50 pages of dense text littered with hidden fees, legal traps and waivers of key rights like the right to a jury or to participate in a class action. Renters shouldn’t have to be experts in tenant law just to keep from being exploited.” “Many Coloradans are facing the very real threat of housing insecurity and often have to choose between homelessness and rental opportunities that strip away the rights they’re entitled to by Colorado law,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1095. “We created renter protection laws to ensure renters aren’t taken advantage of, but some landlords are writing leases that carve out these important protections. This bill prevents landlords from creating lease agreements that infringe on the rights of renters.” HB23-1095 prohibits most rental agreements from including: Any waiver of the right to quiet enjoyment of the property Any waiver of the right to a jury trial, unless all parties agree to waive a jury trial in a hearing to determine occupancy, Any waiver of the right to participate in a class action, Penalties or charges if a renter does not provide notice of non-renewal unless the landlord incurred actual losses as a result, or The landlord’s ability to charge renters for both third party services like pest control and valet trash that is in excess of 2% of the actual charge and a monthly administrative fee of $10 to cover these services Landlords often profit from renters by including inflated third party charges like pest control and valet trash services in administrative fees. Under this bill, landlords would not be allied to charge renters more than the actual cost for services, limiting excessive profiting off of tenants. The right to enjoyment protects renters from landlords entering the property without notice and their right to have peace and quiet in their home, as landlords often include clauses that waive these rights. Large rental companies often use a class action waiver to protect themselves from lawsuits by preventing renters from collectively pursuing legal action. Individual renters usually can’t afford a legal fight against a large rental company, which allows rental companies to get away with violations. ### Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens that would create jobs and boost rural economies. HB24-1001 passed by a vote of 59-5. < Back April 29, 2024 House Passes Bipartisan Bills to Boost Rural Economies, Support Farmers and Ranchers DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens that would create jobs and boost rural economies. HB24-1001 passed by a vote of 59-5. The House also passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez that would create a refundable state income tax credit for a farm or ranch that uses certain stewardship practices that benefit the environment like improving soil health and water efficiency. HB24-1249 passed by a vote of 57-7. “The Rural Jump-Start Program has supported numerous small businesses and created new jobs for rural Coloradans in communities like mine,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “With this bipartisan legislation, more small business owners can continue to receive grants and tax credits through the Rural Jump-Start Program to grow, support, and retain employees. We’re boosting Colorado’s mountain and rural resort towns and helping rural businesses thrive.” HB24-1001 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, aims to extend income tax credits and grants available to businesses and their employees that participate in the Colorado Rural Jump-start Zone Program and Grant Program. Under this bill, the Grant Program would extend through June 2026 and the Jump-start Zone Program, which includes the business tax incentives, would extend through 2031. These successful programs are designed to reduce the costs of starting a new business or hiring new employees in rural economic jump-start zones . HB24-1001 would play a crucial role in boosting rural economies, supporting small businesses, and creating new jobs in all four corners of the state. HB24-1249 , also sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, would create a new refundable income tax credit from 2026 through 2030 for farms and ranches that engage in agricultural stewardship practices. These stewardship practices can include rotational grazing, reductions in tilling soil, compost application and other practices that increase soil health, improve water efficiency, or create more diverse and thriving ecosystems while maintaining the productivity of the farm or ranch. “With the help of this bill, we are ensuring that our farmers and ranchers are recognized and benefit from the work that they do to keep our lands thriving and conserving water as they utilize practices that improve soil health,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “This tax credit will benefit our agriculture producers who invest in stewardship practices on their lands, saving them money while they produce and support agricultural systems for our state.” Under this bill, farmers and ranchers would be eligible for a refundable income tax credit determined by the number of stewardship practices that the farm or ranch uses. The tax credit amounts are: Up to $75 per acre for one stewardship practice, with a maximum yearly credit of $150,000, Up to $100 per acre for two stewardship practices, with a maximum yearly credit of $200,000, and Up to $150 per acre for three or more stewardship practices, with a maximum yearly credit of $300,000. Previous Next