HB26-1345 would make updates to the performance model funding to capture Colorado’s entire student body, including part-time and transfer students < Back April 29, 2026 House Advances Bill to Modernize, Improve Higher Education Funding Formula DENVER, CO — The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to modernize Colorado’s higher education funding model to meet the needs of Colorado students, including those from diverse and underserved backgrounds and non-traditional students. “Higher education is foundational in Colorado, and I dream of a day when we can drive more dollars to Colorado’s colleges and universities. However, until that day, we must ensure the funds we do have are properly distributed to meet the diverse and ever-evolving needs of Colorado students,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Based on recommendations by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education working group, our bill modernizes the funding formula to foster high-quality education. Whether they’re part-time or transfer students, we’re making sure the modern-day student has the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.” “Part-time students account for 55 percent of Colorado’s higher education student body, but they’re not accurately accounted for in the current funding formula,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “This bill lays the groundwork for a modernized and improved higher education funding formula that will better meet the needs of Colorado students, including transfer and part-time students. We’ve taken bold steps to reimagine education funding in Colorado, and this bill is another step toward our shared mission to drive funding to the students who need it the most.” HB26-1345 implements changes and modifications to higher education funding as recommended by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education’s 2025 Report on the Higher Education Funding Allocation Formula . This bill aims to streamline and modernize higher education data systems and definitions to better meet the needs of Colorado’s student body, including part-time and transfer students. One component of higher education funding uses a results-informed funding model, and beginning in fiscal year 2027-2028, HB26-1345 would make modifications to this model by: Expanding qualified transfers: The current formula does not recognize four-year transfers as a successful touchpoint, despite 45 percent of Colorado students transferring between schools at least one time. This bill expands qualifying transfers to include those from four-year institutions who immediately transfer to another higher education institution with at least 18 credits earned at the previous institution. Without this modification, only students who earn 18 credits and transfer out of a community college would be counted in the credential completion weights. Prioritizing part-time students: 55 percent of Colorado’s higher education students attend classes part-time, but they are not included in any outcome measure rate. This bill would create an inclusive retention rate that measures the year-to-year prevalence of both part-time and full-time students. Modernizing graduation calculations: Collaborative programs, including the Bridge and Partnership programs, allow students to complete their degree in a field of study that is not offered by their home institution. However, this can skew the graduation calculations at their home campus. This bill would exclude students who are enrolled in a co-located degree partnership to ensure this population does not negatively impact the graduation calculations of their home campus. Streamlines formula definitions and data sources: This bill cleans up language and definitions in the current formula to make it more streamlined and clear for higher education institutions and policymakers. Specifically, HB26-1345 would make formula “levers” consistent, predictable, and focused on student-centered performance. Additionally, this bill standardizes data sources by transitioning the calculation of retention and graduation rates to the Department of Higher Education’s data system. To respond to shifts at the federal level, this bill also changes the definition of “Pell-eligible” student to “Pell-recipient” to ensure that this metric remains consistent. Previous Next

The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote that would incentivize the development of condominium and townhome units to create more affordable housing options. < Back March 28, 2025 House Advances Construction Defects Reform Bill DENVER, CO - The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote that would incentivize the development of condominium and townhome units to create more affordable housing options. “Increasing rents and home prices have created a housing affordability crisis and have made it nearly impossible for first-time homebuyers to enter the market,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Home ownership means everything to people who want to build a better, more secure life and future for themselves and their families. By incentivizing high quality construction and creating a less expensive process to resolve construction defect claims, we’re creating a better environment for the construction of housing that has historically been more affordable.” “This legislation aims to boost the number of condos and townhomes across Colorado to create more opportunities for homeownership and save people money on housing,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Condos are a great entry-level housing option that allows Coloradans to build equity that comes with a single-family home. Those same benefits make it a great option for those looking to downsize and age in place. This bill would help ramp up condo development while ensuring any problems are remedied so we can create safe homes at a price Coloradans can afford.” HB25-1272 aims to reform construction defect laws by encouraging condo builders to work with third-party inspectors to help identify and correct any construction issues upfront, establishing clear guidelines for construction defect claims, and adjusting the statutes of limitation for construction defect claims. Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill would create the Multifamily Construction Incentive Program. Builders could opt into this program if they offer a warranty for any defect and damage and hire a third-party inspector to periodically review the construction throughout the building process. In exchange for providing these additional safeguards upfront, builders in the program would receive additional protections against construction defect actions, which can be costly to litigate and discourage condo development. Under HB25-1272, a homeowner who purchased a property built under the program would have six years to bring an action for damages if the builder provides a warranty that meets minimum coverage requirements. The homeowner would have a duty to mitigate damage alleged to be caused by a defect and notify the builder, who must offer a fix to any defect claims. When a participating construction professional receives a claim, they must provide documentation to the claimant related to building plans, soil reports, maintenance recommendations, and insurance. If the issue is not resolved through this warranty process, the homeowner may proceed with a defect claim. The bill would exempt a construction professional participating in the program from liability for a damage or defect if they can prove the damage or defect was caused by: Certain weather conditions, an act of war, terrorism or vandalism, A homeowner’s unreasonable failure to timely mitigate damages or complete ongoing home maintenance, or Misuse, abuse, or neglect after the sale to the claimant. From 2007 to 2022, the number of condo developers working in Colorado declined by 84-percent in part due to the potential for expensive lawsuits. Meanwhile, the median age of first-time homebuyers in Colorado rose from 35 to 38 in the past year. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation that would implement voter-approved Proposition 130 and direct significant new resources to public safety and law enforcement training, recruitment and retention. SB25-310, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird, passed by a vote of 55-9. < Back May 5, 2025 House Passes Bill to Improve Law Enforcement Training DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation that would implement voter-approved Proposition 130 and direct significant new resources to public safety and law enforcement training, recruitment and retention. SB25-310, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird, passed by a vote of 55-9. "This legislation honors voter intent when they passed Prop 130 by investing these new resources in public safety,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Last year, Colorado voters approved Prop 130 to better support the recruitment and training of peace officers and ensure that families of first responders can receive death benefits after a tragedy. This solution implements the will of the voters and supports our law enforcement departments and officers while maintaining funding for essential services like K-12 education and health care." SB25-310 , also sponsored by Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would implement the voter-approved Proposition 130 and direct a total of $350 million to keep Coloradans safe and to recruit new peace officers, hire additional peace officers, and provide continuing education and training for peace officers. The bill would implement and create a funding mechanism for the distribution of $350 million for local law enforcement officer recruitment, retention and training. The bill would make a one-time investment of $500 million of the general fund reserve in PERA and reduce future general fund payments to PERA by the amount of interest earned. It would then divert that amount to the new Peace Officer Training and Support fund each year, which will be distributed to local police departments. In addition, the bill would require a transfer of $15 million to the fund from the General Fund in 2026-27, and a minimum of $15 million from the general fund each year regardless of the amount offset by interest earnings. Once the full $350 million is fulfilled or if the general fund reserve falls below $1 billion, the bill would establish mechanisms to effectively return the $500 million invested in PERA to the general fund. The bill would also implement the death benefit required in Proposition 130 of $1 million to the surviving spouse, family member, or designee of any first responder who died as a result of injuries or an occupational disease sustained while performing their job, and create the Death Benefit Fund. The bill would transfer $5 million on July 1, 2025, and a further $5 million on July 1, 2026, to the Death Benefit Fund. Beginning in 2027, the bill would require an annual transfer from the General Fund to the Death Benefit Fund that restores the fund balance to $10 million. Previous Next

< Back June 17, 2020 HOUSE DEMS RELEASE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REPORT Dems deliver with COVID-19 relief package, legislation to prioritize education and expand economic DENVER, CO — House Democrats today released the 2020 Legislative Session Report . From an unprecedented global health emergency and dire budget crisis, to protests against racial injustice on the steps of the Capitol, the 2020 legislative session was unlike any other session before it. Colorado House Democrats rose to the occasion and worked to pass responsible laws to protect the health and safety of hardworking Coloradans and get our state back on track. In response to the pandemic,we passed legislation to provide $270 millions in grants and loans to small businesses, channeled tens of millions into direct housing assistance, utilities support and mental health assistance, ensured access to paid sick leave for Colorado workers and expanded unemployment benefits to help hardworking Coloradans make ends meet. When the murder of George Floyd sparked protests about generations of racial injustice in Denver and across the country, House Democrats stepped up and passed sweeping, bipartisan reform measures to enhance accountability, integrity, and transparency in law enforcement. We also continued to move our state forward on issues that are important to Coloradans, such as improving air quality, lowering the cost of health care, addressing youth nicotine use, creating a robust retirement savings system and increasing access to higher education. We worked to protect renters and increase access to affordable housing, and advanced bills to help more hardworking Coloradans access the critical services they need. Read the full end of session report here. Previous Next

< Back May 29, 2020 HOUSE WILL NOT CONVENE UNTIL MONDAY DENVER, CO — Speaker KC Becker and House Majority Leader Alec Garnett today announced that the House would not convene Friday, May 29 or Saturday, May 30. “I feel a deep sense of grief for our great city, and for all our communities who are experiencing profound pain, anger and sadness,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “I know our city is hurting tonight, and I hope that our grief turns into peaceful action, rather than vandalism and violence. To allow space for protests that we expect to continue on Friday and into the weekend, the House will not convene tomorrow or Saturday.” “Tonight, the pain and rage brought on by the death of yet another black man in America at the hands of law enforcement came to a boiling point in Denver,” said Black Caucus Chair Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “What began as a peaceful call for justice after the death of George Floyd and far too many others before him turned to chaos when the shots rang. By the end of the night, highways were taken over and protestors had been targeted and intentionally run over. My heart breaks for our community, our city, and our nation tonight.” Previous Next

New law passed by Colorado Democrats helped prevent nearly 100,000 Coloradans from losing their health care plan in 2025 < Back September 10, 2025 Lawmakers Celebrate Law that Protects Access to Health Care for Nearly 100,000 Coloradans, Urge Congress to Extend Tax Credits New law passed by Colorado Democrats helped prevent nearly 100,000 Coloradans from losing their health care plan in 2025 DENVER, CO – Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist and Speaker Julie McCluskie today released the following statements after Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem’s HMO Colorado withdrew the discontinuances of health care plans that they filed in August. Colorado Democrats passed HB25B-1006 to help blunt health insurance rate increases and significantly reduce the number of Coloradans who could lose their health insurance coverage due to Congress’s refusal to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. “While I am relieved to hear that Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem will continue to offer health care coverage for Coloradans, Congress must act now to continue the enhanced premium tax credits to prevent massive increases in health care costs,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Thanks to our new law, over 96,000 Coloradans will stay insured on their health care plan, but Congress’s inaction will still cause health care costs to skyrocket for hardworking Coloradans and small businesses. I strongly urge Republicans in Congress to step up to the plate and prevent these life-threatening price increases.” “Colorado Democrats passed legislation that is already preventing people from losing their health care coverage, but only Congress can prevent premium increases from jumping thousands of dollars,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “Every Coloradan deserves access to affordable, quality health care. When people skip doctor’s visits due to high cost or lack of coverage, it leads to worse health outcomes. Plus, the bill for these costly and preventable treatments gets passed onto everyone else, increasing costs for businesses and people with every type of health insurance. For many Coloradans, Congress’s failure to act before the end of the month could be life or death.” “Colorado Democrats have continued to demonstrate our commitment to making health care more affordable for all Coloradans, but if Congressional Republicans do not act soon, Coloradans on average can expect a 20-percent increase on their health care premiums,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The law we passed this special session is the reason that insurers are no longer pulling out of counties across Colorado, which will protect access to health care for almost 100,000 Coloradans. I strongly urge Congress to do what is right for the people in our state and prevent unsustainable premium increases by extending tax credits for people who purchase their own health insurance.” In August, Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem’s HMO Colorado filed to discontinue multiple health insurance plans in the individual market due to the failure of Congressional Republicans to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. This would have caused 96,000 Coloradans to lose their health insurance coverage , impacting Coloradans from the Denver Metro Area and the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains. Last month, the Colorado General Assembly returned to the Capitol to combat some of the harm caused by Trump’s tax bill and Congress’s failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits for people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Colorado Democrats passed HB25B-1006 to blunt serious increases in insurance premiums and protect health care coverage for Coloradans by helping the reinsurance program buy down premiums and cover the most expensive health care for patients. With Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, average statewide premiums were projected to increase by 28-percent. In the Eastern Plains, premiums are expected to rise more than 33-percent. The Western Slope will see premium increases of about 38-percent. Passing HB25-1006 is projected to keep premium increases to a statewide average of only 20-percent. Previous Next

< Back June 16, 2021 GOV SIGNS BILLS TO BOOST EDU WORKFORCE, REVITALIZE COMMERCIAL CENTERS Gov signs bill to create new career pathways for workers to enter the renewable energy industry DENVER, CO- – Governor Polis today signed four bills into law that will boost the educator workforce, create new pathways for students to fill renewable energy jobs and offer $72 million in grants to revitalize commercial centers through projects that construct, or convert older buildings into, new mixed use spaces. SB21-185 , sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Barbara McLachlan would reduce the teacher shortage in Colorado by helping districts recruit and retain new teachers. The law creates the Educator Recruitment and Retention (ERR) program in CDE to provide eligible ERR participants up to $10,000 for the tuition cost of participating in an educator preparation program. It also creates the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation (TREP) program to increase the number of students entering the teaching profession and create a more diverse educator workforce. Finally, the law charges the University of Colorado with establishing and operating an educator well-being mental health program to provide support services for educators. HB21-1104 , sponsored by Representatives McLachlan and Colin Larson, extends the renewal period for professional educator licenses from five to seven years, without lowering the standards or requirements for licensure. The law ensures that those teachers who are approaching the end of the renewal cycle will not have to worry about renewing their license for another two years. “Today, the governor signed the most significant legislation in years to invest in our educator workforce and recruit and retain the talented teachers our students need to thrive,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Even before the pandemic, Colorado struggled to attract and retain educators due to the high cost of living here and our near bottom in the nation funding levels for public education. The programs we’re creating will offer new opportunities and pathways for people to become educators in Colorado.” “I’m proud that Colorado is going to invest millions to retain and attract new educators and help our school districts offer the high quality education every student deserves,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Teachers are vitally important in our young people’s lives, and we need to attract the best people we can to this critical profession and do what we can to help them stay in teaching jobs.” HB21-1149 , sponsored by Representatives Dominique Jackson and Brianna Titone, calls on the Colorado Workforce Development Council to work with local workforce boards, school districts across the state, the Colorado Department of Education, community colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning to create and implement a career pathway for students in the renewable energy sector. The bill invests $5 million into the career pathway so institutions of higher learning and workforce development authorities can implement what is known as the Strengthening Photovoltaic and Renewable Careers, or the SPARC program. “The renewable energy sector is growing fast, and companies are hiring lots of Coloradans with the right training and skills,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora. “We have a tremendous opportunity as our economy recovers to create new career pathways for workers, particularly those who have been displaced by the pandemic, to enter the renewable energy sector and fill good jobs. The bill the governor signed today will do exactly that by offering students the tools and skills they’ll need to fill jobs and build careers in the renewable energy industry.” “This session, we focused on how we can help Coloradans and communities across our state bounce back stronger,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “The two bills I sponsored that Governor Polis signed into law today will create jobs in the renewable energy industry and revitalize commercial centers with new spaces for vendors, performance arts, housing and businesses.” “It’s exciting that $72 million in grants will soon be out the door to fund construction projects that will revitalize commercial centers in communities across Colorado, creating jobs and opportunities for businesses,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “This grant program is going to boost commerce, provide new workforce housing options and grow local economies across our state.” SB21-252 , sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Susan Lontine, would create the Community Revitalization Grant Program within the Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) and Department of Local Affairs and provide it with $72 million in Colorado Comeback State Stimulus Funding, in addition to allowing gifts, grants, and donations to be contributed into the fund. The program’s grants would help revitalize our main streets and downtowns by providing funding for creative construction and revitalization projects that combine commercial spaces with community spaces. Previous Next

Representative Meghan Lukens today attended the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) Welcome Reception at the Steamboat Art Museum where she was recognized for her bipartisan legislative efforts to expand and improve Colorado’s conservation easement tax credit law (SB24-126). < Back August 9, 2024 Rep. Lukens Recognized for Local Conservation Effort STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO – Representative Meghan Lukens today attended the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) Welcome Reception at the Steamboat Art Museum where she was recognized for her bipartisan legislative efforts to expand and improve Colorado’s conservation easement tax credit law ( SB24-126 ). “I would like to thank the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust for their acknowledgment of my legislative work this year under the gold dome,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “Many of our neighbors are good stewards of the land – and this new law makes it easier for small or family operations to access a conservation easement tax credit while preserving the beautiful spaces we call home. Together, we’re taking a strong step forward to boost local and agricultural economies by keeping families on their land for generations to come.” Conservation easements are used to preserve wildlife habitat, encourage watershed restoration and maintain open space. Additionally, they allow farmers and ranchers to continue sustainable operations and protect their lands from development or demolition. SB24-126 reconfigured the conservation easement tax credit program to benefit smaller or family-operated farms, ranches and private land stewards to meet the backlog of projects and the current demand for credits. The 2024 CCALT Welcome Reception was the opening event of the 2024 Forever Colorado BBQ and benefited the conservation of working lands. Previous Next

Legislation would strengthen firearm training requirements for concealed carry permits to ensure responsible gun ownership < Back February 13, 2024 Committee Passes Bill to Strengthen Firearm Training, Promote Responsible Gun Ownership Legislation would strengthen firearm training requirements for concealed carry permits to ensure responsible gun ownership DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to strengthen firearm training requirements for concealed carry permits to promote responsible firearm ownership and protect Colorado communities from gun violence. HB24-1174 passed by a vote of 8-3. “As a gun owner and a concealed carry permit holder, I’ve seen the gaps in Colorado’s firearm training and testing protocols that can lead to unsafe situations," said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. "Our policy is crucial in ensuring our concealed carry permits come with robust firearm knowledge, including instruction on federal and state gun laws, the use of deadly force for self defense, in-person gun handling, and safe storage and use of firearms to prevent accidental deaths. I’ve worked tirelessly during my time as a public servant on this bill, and I’m proud to sponsor legislation that will improve the safety of our communities and save Colorado lives.” “Current Colorado law does not require in-person, live fire training before you can receive a concealed carry permit, putting guns into the hands of people who may have never touched a gun before in their life," said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. "This is a commonsense gun violence prevention bill that will ensure Coloradans have in-person training, protecting our communities and preventing accidental firearm deaths.” In Colorado, a person can be issued a concealed carry permit if they complete a handgun training class by a verified firearms safety instructor, pass a background check, and demonstrate competence with a handgun. HB24-1174 would require handgun training classes to be held in-person and include training on safe handling of firearms and ammunition, safe storage of firearms and child safety, safe firearms shooting fundamentals, federal and state firearm laws, state laws related to the use of deadly force for self-defense, and techniques for conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force. Under the bill, the handgun training class would include at least eight hours of instruction, including a live-fire exercise and a written exam that the student must receive passing scores on. The eight hour requirement may take place over multiple days. The bill would also require a concealed handgun refresher class (refresher class) to be completed in order to renew a concealed carry permit. This refresher class must be at least two hours, including a passing score on both the live-fire exercise and written exam. The refresher class must also include instruction on changes to federal or state firearm laws. HB24-1174 prohibits a person from being issued a permit if they have been convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses within five years of submitting a concealed carry permit application. The bill also makes it a deceptive trade practice for a person to claim to be a verified firearms safety instructor unless they have been verified by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Majority Leader Duran sponsored a 2021 law that promotes responsible gun ownership by ensuring that gun owners properly store their firearms when they are not in use, especially when children are present. Previous Next

HB26-1004 extends a tax credit that makes life more affordable for working Coloradans < Back May 28, 2026 SIGNED! Bill to Save Families Money on Child Care HB26-1004 extends a tax credit that makes life more affordable for working Coloradans DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to spur the creation of more high-quality and affordable child care facilities in our communities. “Child care is essential for hardworking families to have a fair shot at the Colorado Dream, and this law will create quality child care options to save Colorado families money,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The Child Care Contribution Tax Credit is an important tool to support hardworking families while creating jobs, which is why I sponsored this bipartisan law so communities across the state can continue to benefit from this tax credit.” “Colorado’s families, communities, and economy are all stronger when we have a vibrant child care ecosystem,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “This law drives donations toward child care facilities, which means more good jobs and more options for hardworking families at all price points. For many Colorado families, child care is their number one expense every month. This law is about taking action to make child care more available and affordable.” The Child Care Contribution Tax Credit allows taxpayers who donate money to a licensed child care facility in Colorado to receive an income tax credit of 50 percent of their contribution. HB26-1004 , also sponsored by Minority Leaders Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, and Jarvis Caldwell, R-Monument, extends the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit until 2037. These child care facilities could include qualifying child care centers, homeless youth shelters and residential treatment centers. These donations can be used to create or maintain a child care facility, fund child care financial assistance programs for families and train child care providers. In tax year 2023, around $33 million in credits were claimed by almost 16,000 taxpayers, generating a total of $66 million for the child care ecosystem. In January, the Trump Administration attempted to freeze over $300 million of funding for child care and social services that thousands of Colorado families rely on. As a result, Colorado Democrats are stepping up to create more avenues to fund affordable care. Previous Next

< Back September 18, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: COLORADO DEMOCRATS SPEAK OUT ON ALLEGATIONS OF FORCED HYSTERECTOMIES PERFORMED BY ICE DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the House and Senate, with the full support of the Colorado Latino Democratic Caucus, today released the following statement regarding the claims made by Dawn Wooten, a nurse at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Georgia that detainees there have been denied basic medical care and subjected to hysterectomies without their consent. “These whistleblower claims of sterilization surgeries performed on immigrant women without their consent are horrifying and infuriating. If found to be true, these actions represent an unspeakable affront to human decency, dignity and rights. We support calls for Congressional investigations and demand that those responsible are held accountable and swiftly removed from their responsibilities overseeing the detention of immigrants. “Reports of families being separated, women being sexually assaulted, children being kept in cages and now women being sterilized without their consent – the Trump administration repeatedly doubles down on practices that treat undocumented immigrants as less than human. We must work to increase accountability and move towards a system that can enforce our country’s laws while treating immigrants with decency, compassion, and respect. That’s exactly why this year the legislature passed legislation allowing the state to conduct regular and unannounced follow-up inspections of ICE facilities in Colorado, just as it would conduct inspections of any other penal facility in our state. While not an overarching solution to the inhumane treatment of immigrants, this oversight is an important step that we can take at the state level to ensure basic health, and safety standards are met. “Crossing a border without proper documentation does not take away a person’s humanity or basic human rights. We demand a full and fair investigation into these allegations, and if they are found to be true, a swift end to these inhumane practices, accountability for any perpetrators and justice for victims.” Today’s statement is signed by Representatives Lontine, Garnett, Froelich, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Alex Valdez, Woodrow, Coleman, Herod, Sirota, Hooton, Singer, Jaquez-Lewis, Becker, Exum Sr., Snyder, Kennedy, Duran, Cutter, Roberts, Titone, Tipper, Kraft-Tharp, Sullivan, Melton, Michaelson Jenet, Caraveo, Benavidez, Mullica, Bird, Weissman, Buckner, Jackson, Esgar, Buentello, Young, Kipp, McLachlan, McCluskie, and Donald Valdez, as well as Senators Garcia, Fenberg, Todd, Fields, Donovan, Winter, Bridges, Danielson, Moreno, Story, Gonzales, Pettersen, Williams, Lee, Foote, Hansen, Zenzinger, Rodriguez, and Ginal. Previous Next

Speaker Julie McCluskie, in consultation with the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado, has appointed Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon and Representative Naquetta Ricks to serve on the Black Coloradan Racial Equity Commission. < Back September 6, 2024 Bacon and Ricks Appointed to Black Coloradan Racial Equity Commission DENVER, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie, in consultation with the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado, has appointed Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon and Representative Naquetta Ricks to serve on the Black Coloradan Racial Equity Commission. Created by SB24-053 , the commission will direct a study to examine racial disparities and make recommendations surrounding the lasting effects of systemic racism in Colorado’s practices, systems, and policies. Assistant Majority Leader Bacon will serve as vice chair. “I’m excited to get to work and support this critical effort to explore the role certain laws and policies have led to inequities Black Coloradans experience today,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This commission will develop a deeper understanding of the impacts of such systemic racism as we specifically examine their lasting impacts. Importantly, the idea for this commission came from community-led engagement and I want to thank them for their diligence with this effort. It’s incredibly important that we understand the past to develop the tools to craft forward-thinking policy that will support Black Coloradans into the future.” “Uncovering the historical harm to Black Coloradans is an important step forward in our healing and creating a more equitable future for us all,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB24-053. “This commission will work alongside History Colorado to research decades of systemic inequalities in our schools, our neighborhoods, and in statewide policies that will help us better understand their lasting impacts on Black Coloradans today. While painful, this racial equity study opens the door to future conversations and will help us craft future policies that will uplift Black families instead of putting barriers in front of them.” “Colorado House Democrats were proud to support legislation to create the Black Coloradans Racial Equity Study, and it is an honor to appoint Assistant Majority Leader Bacon and Representative Ricks to the Commission,” said Speaker McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Their dedication, lived experiences and expertise will be invaluable for the commission and its work to build a more equitable and just Colorado.” The Speaker also appointed the following individuals to the commission: Dr. Darlene Sampson, to serve as a person who has expertise in quantifying the economic impacts on historically impacted Black Coloradans; Ms. Charleszine “Terry” Nelson, to serve as a person who has expertise in researching the history and impact of slavery and systemic racism on Black Coloradans; and Mr. Javon Brame, to serve as community member with a track record of public service with historically impacted Black Coloradans SB24-053 , signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on June 4, establishes a commission to direct History Colorado to conduct historical research across areas like economic mobility, housing, K-12 education, health care and the criminal justice system. Racial equity studies, like the one outlined in SB24-053, can be used as tools to qualify and quantify past discrimination and make recommendations. The study will also include an economic impact analysis of the racial discrimination determined by the study. Under this law, History Colorado would submit the study to the commission and any recommendations within two-and-a-half years. The work of the commission and the study is funded through gifts, grants and donations. Previous Next