The House today passed two bipartisan bills to boost the math performance of Colorado’s students and train educators in “Stop the Bleed” for emergency, life-saving situations. < Back April 13, 2023 Bipartisan Bills to Boost PreK-12 Math Performance, Train Educators for Emergencies Press Ahead DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bipartisan bills to boost the math performance of Colorado’s students and train educators in “Stop the Bleed” for emergency, life-saving situations. HB23-1231 passed by a vote of 51 to 12 and HB23-1213 passed by a vote of 57 to 6. “As a former teacher, I know the importance of out-of-school programming, which is why we’re making a major investment to improve the math skills of all of our students,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, sponsor of HB23-1231. “By using evidence-informed tools, we can meet students where they are while empowering educators and parents in the process. From educator training to creating math-focused learning opportunities after school, this legislation takes a multi-pronged approach to boost our students' math skills.” HB23-1231 , sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan and Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, invests $25.6 million to incorporate multiple evidence-informed curriculum and intervention strategies into schools, after-school programs, and educator training to improve students’ math performance. Specifically, this bill makes it easier for students to get the support they need to improve their math skills both in and out of school. HB23-1231 permits the Colorado Department of Education to make free training available through a train-the-trainer model and technical assistance in math instruction to empower teachers to incorporate evidence-informed math education in the classrooms and identify areas of improvement for students. The bill would enable schools to send notifications to parents and caregivers if their students are underperforming or struggling in math and incorporates a train-the-parent model to increase understanding of math concepts at home. This bill also creates a new state-based grant program focused on after-school math and STEM improvement. In addition, HB23-1231 takes a compounding approach to improve students' math skills throughout the course of their educational experiences. This includes integrating early numeracy into universal preschool quality standards and establishing a Ninth Grade Success Grant Program to help students tackle math concepts at a critical point in their secondary education. “The more teachers and staff we can prepare for emergency situations, the more likely we are to save a life,” said School Psychologist Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of HB23-1213 . “This legislation makes it easier for schools to get the training and materials needed to stop excessive bleeding. Time is precious in any emergency and this bipartisan legislation ensures teachers, staff and older students have proper “Stop the Bleed” training to respond effectively and efficiently to save lives.” HB23-1213 , sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Mary Bradfield, would require the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to distribute “Stop the Bleed” kits and training materials to K-12 schools that opt into the program. Bleed control kits and training resources contain first-aid materials for treating blood loss in traumatic injuries. This legislation aims to better prepare educators for emergency situations by providing life-saving materials accompanied by training to help keep people alive. “Stop the Bleed” is a straightforward, standardized set of training materials and recommendations for everyday people caring for someone experiencing excessive bleeding through applying pressure to the wound and tying tourniquets to help those trained act quickly in emergency situations. Previous Next

The General Assembly today sent legislation to Governor Jared Polis that will support farmers and the agricultural industry by making the business personal property tax exemption for agricultural equipment permanent. < Back August 29, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Make Property Tax Exemption for Ag Equipment Permanent Passes DENVER, CO – The General Assembly today sent legislation to Governor Jared Polis that will support farmers and the agricultural industry by making the business personal property tax exemption for agricultural equipment permanent. “Our farmers are also feeling the brunt of the affordability crisis, which is why we’re making a property tax exemption for agricultural equipment permanent,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “I’m proud that we were able to get this bill passed this special session so we can make Colorado a more affordable place for agriculture production.” HB24B-1003 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, would make the business personal property tax exemption for agricultural equipment used in a controlled environmental agricultural (CEA) facility permanent. It would also expand the exemption to include equipment in commercial greenhouses that grow food for human or livestock consumption. Previous Next

Legislation would ensure compliance with landlord-tenant laws and uphold housing standards statewide < Back April 25, 2025 Bill to Ensure Safe Housing and Strengthen Renter Protections Passes Legislation would ensure compliance with landlord-tenant laws and uphold housing standards statewide DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation expanding the Attorney General and local governments’ authority to initiate and enforce landlord-tenant laws, ensuring safe housing and strengthening renter protections. SB25-020, sponsored by Representatives Mandy Lindsay and Javier Mabrey, passed by a vote of 40-23. “As an Aurora legislator, I’m proud to sponsor this bill to ensure renters don’t have to spend multiple years fighting corporate landlords for basic rights,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. “When negligent landlords allowed several properties in my community to fall into disrepair, the city had limited tools to address the issues. This legislation builds on past work Colorado Democrats have done to ensure renters can live in safe conditions by helping counties and municipalities enforce tenant protection laws. No one deserves to live among rodents or without functioning heat or cooling systems, and this bill will help ensure Coloradans have a safe place to live.” “This legislation would hold negligent landlords accountable when they illegally ignore dangerous living conditions,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “By giving the Attorney General, counties and municipalities more authority to enforce tenant protection laws, Colorado renters would have more advocates in their corner to fight for safe housing. Colorado Democrats are committed to not only making housing more affordable, but also ensuring that these affordable housing options are a safe and healthy place to live.” SB25-020 would give the Colorado Attorney General authority to enforce housing protections for victims of unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, or domestic violence, documentation requirements for housing agreements, and protections regarding bed bugs in residential homes. The bill would give counties and municipalities the ability to initiate and enforce these same landlord-tenant laws in addition to existing provisions the Attorney General may already enforce. The bill would establish a process where, only in severe cases, residential housing may be placed into receivership - a legal process where a court appoints a caretaker to oversee a neglected property to temporarily manage operations, make necessary repairs, and repay debts. The bill outlines the process for receivership cases, including proper notice to parties, powers and responsibilities for entities appointed as receivers, and the process for ending receiverships. Reps. Lindsay and Mabrey have championed numerous tenant protection laws, including legislation to prevent unnecessary and arbitrary evictions and strengthen residential lease agreements to protect renters from signing leases with harmful hidden language. They have also bolstered Colorado’s warrant of habitability law to ensure tenants have access to timely repairs when unsafe conditions arise and adding damage due to an environmental public health event to the list of conditions that make a property uninhabitable. Previous Next

< Back June 16, 2022 SPEAKER GARNETT ANNOUNCES REBECCA KISNER AS CHIEF OF STAFF DENVER, CO – Speaker of the House Alec Garnett today announced Rebecca Kisner as the next Chief of Staff for the Colorado House Democrats. Kisner has worked for the Colorado House Democrats since 2019, most recently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff where she steered a monumental bill package that invested more than $2.5 billion in federal relief money to improve behavioral health outcomes, increase affordable housing and promote economic recovery across Colorado. “Rebecca’s dedication, policy experience, strong relationships and institutional knowledge make her well-suited to serve as Chief of Staff for our caucus,” said Speaker Alec Garnett . “When Colorado received once-in-a-generation pandemic relief funding, Rebecca stepped up to lead the charge on a transformational bill package that will save people money and make Colorado a better place to live. I know I speak for our entire caucus when I say I’m thrilled to have her serve as our next Chief of Staff.” “The Colorado House Democrats are known for bold policy ideas that make meaningful change in our communities and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together the last three years,” said Rebecca Kisner, Chief of Staff . “Our members and our team worked diligently during the 2022 legislative session to respond to the most pressing needs facing our state, including improving access to behavioral health care and making Colorado a better place to live. I’m honored the caucus has put its trust in me to serve in this new capacity as we continue working for the people of Colorado.” As Deputy Chief of Staff, Kisner shepherded a 32-bill package that invested more than $2.5 billion of Colorado’s allocation of federal relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The legislation included multi-faceted efforts to improve behavioral health care access, make housing more affordable, promote economic recovery and increase student success. Kisner’s career has bridged direct service, policy and advocacy on a range of political issues. A social worker by training, she joined the House Majority staff in 2019 as the Outreach Director where she laid a strong foundation for constituent engagement and supported more than 50 legislative aides in their professional development. In 2020, Kisner became a Policy Analyst focusing on education, criminal justice and election access. She was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff in December. Kisner succeeds Kelly Watkins, who spent ten years as a dedicated public servant for the Colorado House Majority with the last five as Chief of Staff. Earlier this month, Watkins joined the Biden-Harris Administration as Chief of Staff for the Environmental Protection Agency in Region 8, serving Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, North and South Dakota, and 28 Tribal Nations, working with former Speaker of the House and current EPA Region 8 Administrator KC Becker. Previous Next

< Back September 2, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: WINTER, CUTTER & BERNETT HONORED FOR WORK TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AT STATE CAPITOL GOLDEN, CO – Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster, as well as Representatives Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton, and Tracey Bernett, D-Louisville, were recently awarded the 2022 CRES Courage Award by the Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) for their efforts to combat climate change. “We are in the midst of a growing climate emergency, and the time to act is now,” said Winter. “The past several legislative sessions, I have worked hard to ensure we meet our climate goals, and I’m pleased to be recognized for those efforts. With these new policies, we are taking important steps toward building a healthier and more sustainable future for us all.” Winter was awarded for her efforts championing SB22-180 , which created the Ozone Season Transit Grant Program to provide free transit rides during ozone season to encourage transit ridership, ultimately reduce air pollution, and further Colorado’s climate goals. Winter was also recognized for her work on HB21-1266 , which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance environmental justice in disadvantaged communities, and set Colorado on a pathway toward meeting its climate targets. “Due to a lack of access to convenient, affordable curbside recycling services, Colorado only recycles about 15 percent of its waste,” said Cutter. “We all need to do our part to protect our environment, which is why I worked hard this legislative session to make it easier for Coloradans to recycle. Through these new laws, we can help conserve energy, reduce air and water pollution, reduce greenhouse gasses, and preserve our natural resources.” Cutter was honored for her work on HB22-1355 , which makes recycling free for most consumers, improving access to reliable, no-cost curbside recycling for Coloradans across the state. She was also recognized for HB22-1159 , which aims to improve access to end markets – businesses that use recycled material to make new products. “I’ve spent my time at the Capitol advocating for energy efficiency, transitioning to a sustainable future and creating a healthier Colorado for all,” said Bernett. “Under these new laws, Colorado will build right the first time, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve indoor air quality and create more efficient homes and buildings for the future, all while saving Coloradans money in the process. We’ve taken action to address pollution on the Front Range and improve the resiliency and reliability of Colorado’s electric grid, especially in rural areas vulnerable to grid disruption due to natural disasters.” Bernett was recognized for her work on HB22-1362 , which updates Colorado’s building codes to improve energy efficiency, save Coloradans money, and reduce harmful indoor and outdoor air pollution. Additionally, she was awarded for her efforts on HB22-1249 , which will jumpstart the development of a grid resilience and reliability roadmap to improve grid resilience and reliability, as well as better serve the electricity needs of customers. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Shannon Bird: The Colorado Opportunity Caucus puts paychecks first Jan 14, 2025 See more This story was originally published in Colorado Politics here. In the face of unprecedented challenges and opportunities, it has become clear all hardworking Coloradans need champions who prioritize solutions over soundbites, collaboration over conflict and progress over partisanship. That is why we, as members of the Colorado state House and state Senate, are proud to announce the creation of the Colorado Opportunity Caucus. The mission of this caucus is simple yet profound: to focus on the issues that truly matter to Colorado families — the kitchen-table concerns that affect paychecks, livelihoods and futures. From housing affordability to high-quality jobs, better schools and strengthening our local economy, we are dedicated to pragmatic solutions that expand opportunity for all Coloradans. Together, we aim to foster a culture of leadership where problem-solving and consensus building create lasting progress for working families. For too long, political discourse has been dominated by extremes, leaving behind hardworking people who keep our state running. Divisive rhetoric and political theatrics have no place in the legislature when the stakes are this high. Families are struggling to afford housing, energy costs continue to rise, and our infrastructure — both physical and social — is overdue for an upgrade. These aren’t partisan problems; they’re Colorado problems. Solving them requires leaders willing to roll up their sleeves, listen to diverse perspectives and find common ground. The Colorado Opportunity Caucus is built on the belief collaboration isn’t a compromise — it’s a strength. Though members of this caucus may not always vote the same way on every issue, what unites us is our commitment to creating an environment where pragmatic leaders can tackle the key challenges head-on. This caucus will prioritize discussions that cut through gridlock and focus on results, not ideological purity: Expanding the middle class We are committed to promoting policies that foster upward mobility, advocate for homeownership and create high-quality jobs with fair wages and benefits. Upgrading core infrastructure From transportation to utilities, we will invest in the systems to keep our state moving and growing sustainably. Market-based housing solutions We will push for policies to increase housing supply, streamline regulations and make homeownership more attainable. Supporting business growth Entrepreneurs and small business owners are the backbone of our economy, and we’ll work to ensure they have the resources to thrive. Investing in education and health care Every Coloradan deserves access to high-quality schools and affordable health care. We will prioritize policies that strengthen these essential pillars. Promoting collaborative leadership We will stand against divisive politics and work to find practical solutions that benefit the people of Colorado. The caucus members advancing this work are: Chair, Rep. Shannon Bird (HD 29); Vice Chair, Sen. Lindsey Daugherty (SD 19); Sen. Dylan Roberts (SD 8); Sen. Marc Snyder (SD 12); Sen. Judy Amabile (SD 13); Sen. Kyle Mullica (SD 24); Rep. Cecelia Espenoza (HD 4); Rep. Sean Camacho (HD 6); Rep. Karen McCormick (HD 11); Rep. Meghan Lukens (HD 26); Rep. Rebekah Stewart (HD 30); Rep. Jacque Phillips (HD 31); Rep. William Lindstedt, (HD 33); Rep. Michael Carter (HD 36); Rep. Lesley Smith (HD 49). The Colorado Opportunity Caucus is more than a group — it’s a call to action. We are committed to bridging divides, embracing innovation and taking bold steps to address the needs of our communities. From protecting jobs to reducing energy costs, we will work tirelessly to ensure every Coloradan has the opportunity to succeed. This is not about moving to the left or to the right. It’s about moving forward. Colorado’s families deserve legislators who put people over politics. The Colorado Opportunity Caucus aims to be a home for progressively pragmatic and collaborative leaders who understand the best way to build a stronger state is by supporting the people who live and work here. We’re ready to get to work on the paycheck issues that matter most, and we invite others in the legislature to engage with us on these vital concerns. This is a critical moment for Colorado. Let’s seize it together. Shannon Bird represents Colorado’s 29th House District. Rep. Bird currently serves as vice chair of both the Joint Budget and Appropriations Committees. Lindsey Daugherty serves Colorado’s 19th Senate District. Sen. Daugherty serves on the Health & Human Services and Judiciary Committees. Previous Next

Today Governor Jared Polis signed into law a pair of bipartisan bills to increase protections in the funeral home industry and prevent more tragedy. < Back May 24, 2024 Governor Signs Bipartisan Bills to Increase Protections in the Funeral Home Industry, Prevent More Tragedy DENVER, CO – Today Governor Jared Polis signed into law a pair of bipartisan bills to increase protections in the funeral home industry and prevent more tragedy. “Enough is enough. It is long past time for funeral tragedies in our state to stop. Coloradans should be able to trust the services being provided during the most difficult moments of their families’ lives - but too often in Colorado, our state’s lack of oversight results in tragedy instead,” said Roberts, sponsor of SB24-173 and HB24-1335. “We worked hard this year to correct that. These new laws put in place stronger oversight that will hold funeral homes and crematories to a higher standard, and require folks who work in the industry to be licensed and in good standing. Combined, the laws will help restore faith in this valuable industry and ensure that Coloradans’ remains are handled with the care, dignity, and respect they deserve.” “Until today, we were the only state in the nation that did not require proper licensure for funeral professionals – these bills will help us ensure that our state’s funeral homes and crematories are operated by professionals only with the utmost respect and care,” said Titone, sponsor of SB24-173 and HB24-1335. “These bipartisan bills will expand and extend the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ ability to inspect funeral homes and crematories as well as require proper oversight from licensed professionals. Colorado has unfortunately been at the center of many egregious instances of fabricated cremation records and the mishandling of bodies. Funeral homes and crematories must operate within the law – our public health and safety depends upon it and our loved ones deserve it.” SB24-173 , sponsored by Senators Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, and Representatives Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, and Matt Soper, R-Delta, establishes licensure of funeral professionals in Colorado. Introduced following numerous tragedies at funeral homes and crematories across Colorado, the new law aligns Colorado with the 49 other states that already require education and licensure for those who work as funeral directors, mortuary scientists, cremationists, and embalmers. Colorado is the only state in the nation without licensure for directors and employees of the funeral industry, and this lack of oversight and training has resulted in numerous tragic cases of funeral home mismanagement, mistreatment of human remains, and hundreds of impacted family members. SB24-173 requires an individual to obtain a license to practice as a funeral director, a mortuary science practitioner, an embalmer, a cremationist, or a natural reductionist starting January 1, 2027. To be eligible for a license, a person must have graduated from an accredited educational institution for that profession, passed the national board examination, completed an apprenticeship, and passed a criminal background check. Those currently working in the industry will be able to obtain a provisional license by showing they have worked at least 4,000 hours in the field, received the requisite workplace learning experience, passed a criminal background check, and will be subsequently eligible to qualify for full licensure. The Governor also signed into law HB24-1335 , which extends and expands regulations of the Mortuary Science Code, helping avoid future tragedies caused in part by a lack of oversight by the state. Sponsored by Roberts, Gardner, Titone, and Soper, the new law also: Requires inspection of funeral homes and crematories on a routine basis, including after businesses have ceased operations; Allows inspections to occur outside business hours; Expands rulemaking authority for DORA; Adds failure to respond to complaints as grounds for discipline; and Authorizes DORA to suspend the registration for persons who do not comply with orders following a complaint or investigation. Previous Next

< Back May 13, 2019 COLEMAN, GONZALES-GUTIERREZ BILLS TO SUPPORT COLLEGE STUDENTS SIGNED INTO LAW (May 13) – Gov. Polis signed two bills sponsored by House Democrats at Metro State University today. First up was Rep. James Coleman’s bill, HB19-1187, which will help increase federal financial aid application completion rates. Colorado students missed out on as much as $50 million in financial aid last year due to students failing to complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. “We are letting our hard-earned taxpayer dollars go to other states because our students are not filling out their FAFSA forms,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver. “This new law will help Colorado get a huge return on our investment in our students, ensure more students have the tools they need to succeed and make our higher-ed institutions stronger.” Finally, Polis signed a bill to expand state financial aid resources for ASSET students. HB19-1196, sponsored by Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, will provide Advancing Students for a Strong Tomorrow (ASSET) students the ability to receive state financial aid. “Increasing the eligibility for state financial aid will help Colorado’s rural institutions that lack financial resources to supplement state financial aid for ASSET students,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “Improving access to higher education by increasing financial assistance will erase our state’s equity gaps and serve as an investment in Colorado’s future.” Previous Next

< Back March 10, 2020 COMMITTEE VOTES: HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS MUST DISCLOSE CONVICTIONS OR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT The House Committee on Health and Insurance today unanimously passed Representatives Yadira Caraveo and Brianna Titone’s bill to require specified health care providers to disclose when they are convicted or professionally disciplined for a sex offense after the effective date of this bill. “Patients deserve the right to be informed of their health care providers’ backgrounds– especially in allegations as serious as sexual misconduct,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thorton . “As a pediatrician, I know first hand how important it is to build strong patient-doctor relationships based on trust. These disclosures will ensure that patients have all of the information they need to make their own decisions.” “Patients need to have as much information as possible when deciding who they are trusting to take care of them,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada . “We as patients need to know if a health care provider who we trust to take care of us and our wellbeing, has taken advantage of that trust.” SB20-102 would require that, for sexual misconduct occurring after the effective date of this bill, certain health care providers would have to disclose to patients, in writing, sexual misconduct resulting in a conviction for a sex offense or a plea agreement. Providers would also have to disclose findings by a regulator that the provider engaged in sexual misconduct that was determined to be grounds for final agency action. Patients would then have to sign an agreement to receive care from the health care provider. If convicted of a sex offense or entering a plea agreement to a sex offense, health care providers must disclose the date of the conviction or acceptance of the plea agreement, the penalties that were imposed and the jurisdiction of the conviction or plea agreement. Similarly, if a health care provider was subject to a final agency action for sexual misconduct, the provider must disclose the offense that took place, the type of professional disciplinary action that resulted from the offense, the date that the disciplinary action was issued and the contact information of the regulator who imposed the disciplinary actions. The bill was unanimously passed by the Senate by a vote of 33-0 and by the House Committee on Health and Insurance 9-0. Previous Next

< Back March 13, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO PROVIDE POLITICAL PARTIES FLEXIBILITY ON TIMING DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB20-1359, sponsored by Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver, and Minority Leader Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock, in order to provide political parties flexibility to safely continue the primary process during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation is part of several steps the General Assembly is taking to prepare for a potential recess in the session. “While we work to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Colorado, our democratic process needs to be able to continue in the safest way possible,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett,D-Denver. “This bill takes into consideration that large groups of delegates would have to meet in public gatherings and that many of these delegates are members of high-risk populations that are vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. Please follow the advice of medical and public health experts who have urged us all to take simple precautions.” With county assemblies beginning as early as this weekend, legislation is needed urgently to allow parties the flexibility to ensure that the process can continue without requiring a high number of at-risk individuals to meet in large public gatherings, often held in schools. HB20-1359 extends various deadlines related to ballot access requirements in 2020. It allows political parties to amend their bylaws as needed during 2020 to allow remote participation in assemblies and conventions and to fill vacancies. Delegates to assemblies may participate remotely if allowed by the party, and parties may reduce or waive any quorum requirements to allow assemblies to proceed. The modifications are repealed effective December 31, 2020 Previous Next

I want people to know they are not alone in this battle < Back MONICA DURAN: Domestic violence awareness more important now than ever Oct 31, 2023 See more This op-ed was published in the Aurora Sentinel on Oct 30, 2023 I want people to know they are not alone in this battle Hidden behind closed doors and hushed about in dark hallways is the growing epidemic of domestic violence. Nationally, domestic violence is on the rise , and troubling data from the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board reveals Colorado is not immune to this trend. Economic uncertainty, isolation and lack of child care, all exacerbated by the pandemic, have created more dangerous conditions for many in our state. Throughout October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are tasked to spread awareness about this epidemic and connect those fleeing abusers with crucial services. The trauma, hardship and pain are very real for me, and a constant reminder of why this work is important. At just nineteen, I found myself in an abusive home situation that left me in fear for my life. Domestic abuse is difficult to talk about, let alone escape with a young son. It took me years to muster up the courage to leave my abuser, reclaim my life, and breakthrough stigmas to make my voice heard. Throughout those trying years, I navigated a challenging court system, limited survivor resources, financial uncertainty and ultimately homelessness. Today, I have my life. But we must remind ourselves that for every person who escapes, there are many more who are still living in dangerous and terrifying situations. After all this time, sharing my story still isn’t easy. As we face more domestic violence deaths than ever recorded before in Colorado, I want people to know they are not alone in this battle. I am fighting for you at the Capitol and working to break down the wall of silence surrounding domestic violence. Since the end of the last legislative session in May, I have been busy collaborating with local leaders, survivors, and advocates to help shape policy that supports domestic violence survivors. One of the persistent issues survivors face is the lack of resources to help them start anew. That daunting list of tasks can include arranging child care, hunting for a new apartment, seeking health care treatment and attending court dates. As I plan for the 2024 legislative session that begins in January, securing more funding for crime survivors, making survival resources more readily available and cutting red tape with criminal filings are at the top of my priority list. Our work this session will build on important legislation I helped pass that combats the domestic violence epidemic and protects survivors. In 2021, we passed HB21-1255 , which allows for the removal of firearms from someone who has a domestic violence-related protection order issued against them, and HB21-1165 , bipartisan legislation to make criminal investigations more seamless for victims of strangulation. To improve the court system experience for survivors, we passed HB23-1222 , which establishes standards for domestic violence cases tried in municipalities, strengthens oversight, and increases data sharing. These pivotal pieces of legislation, along with many others, make our communities safer and protect Coloradans. While it is humbling to see my own personal history shape statewide policy and to be awarded the Domestic Abuse Survivor Award by the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abuse non-profit and the Aquamarine Award for being a champion in our fight against domestic violence from Violence Free Colorado, our work is never done. We must continue to spread awareness of domestic violence and work toward a future where we can all live violence-free. October is the time to be extra aware of the lingering and growing dangers of domestic violence. Identify warning signs of abuse as a partner tries to gain or maintain power and control over you and your household. If you need help in Colorado, call (800) 799-7233 to be connected to the National Domestic Violence Hotline or visit violencefreecolorado.org . Those living in Jefferson County can call Porch Light, a Family Justice Center, at (720) 853-8850 to seek help. Majority Leader state Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, represents House District 23 which includes Lakewood, Lakeside, Applewood, and Mountain View Previous Next

Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon and Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, today released the following statement on the agreement reached between Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and CommonSpirit Health to maintain in-network coverage for consumers: < Back May 24, 2024 McCluskie, Roberts Applaud Anthem CommonSpirit Agreement DENVER, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon and Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, today released the following statement on the agreement reached between Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and CommonSpirit Health to maintain in-network coverage for consumers: Coloradans in rural communities often have few options for health facilities, and many have to drive far distances to receive care. CommonSpirit hospitals and clinics are critical for patients in Northwest and Central Colorado, and in-network coverage for these providers is essential for people to access the care they need. I applaud the parties for reaching an agreement that will allow Anthem consumers to continue receiving care from CommonSpirit providers. I know many in our communities are relieved for this situation to be resolved so they can access their providers at facilities that are the most convenient or best suited for their care. On May 6, McCluskie and Senator Dylan Roberts issued a joint statement calling on the parties to reach an agreement. Previous Next