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

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

< Back May 6, 2022 HOUSE PASSES $48 MILLION FOR CRIME VICTIM SERVICES DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation that will provide critical resources to programs that support victims of crime. The bill passed 43-20, with 20 of 24 House Republicans voting against the bill, which previously passed the Senate 34-1. “I’m proud that Colorado is putting additional resources toward helping survivors of crime,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill will provide critical support to survivors of crime, including survivors of domestic violence, to help people get back on their feet. This funding fills a gap in the resources available for these programs that was created when the Trump administration cut off their funding.” “This legislation directs $48 million of pandemic economic relief and state funds to support survivors of crime to improve access to the services they need,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “The pandemic has placed enormous strain on our society, and we’ve seen an increase in domestic violence and other crimes as a result. This legislation continues essential crime victim services and programs to help survivors of crime access the assistance they need.” SB22-183 , sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Weissman, would fill a revenue gap in federal funding for crime victims to continue providing lifesaving services for child and adult victims of crime through a one-time investment of pandemic relief funding. The bill is one in a series of bills to invest millions into our state’s economic recovery and deliver urgently-needed relief to Coloradans. The bill invests $42 million in pandemic relief funding to the Colorado crime victim services fund to ensure essential victim services can continue for the next four years. SB22-183 also invests an additional $6 million to services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as recommended by the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. Previous Next

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

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

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

The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed a bill that would incentivize the development of condominium and townhome units to create more affordable housing options. HB25-1272, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird and Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, passed by a vote of 12-1. < Back March 18, 2025 Construction Defects Reform Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed a bill that would incentivize the development of condominium and townhome units to create more affordable housing options. HB25-1272, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird and Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, passed by a vote of 12-1. “From building equity and generational wealth to lowering housing costs, condos offer numerous benefits to Coloradans looking to buy their first home,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Rising rent and housing prices have made it nearly impossible for hardworking Coloradans to save enough money to buy a home at the median price tag of $550,000. After years of hard work, I'm thankful for everyone who worked closely with us to help craft this bill so we can spur new housing options that Coloradans can afford and offer more Coloradans a fair shot at the American Dream.” “With a shortage of over 100,000 homes across our state and a decrease in condominium development, it's becoming increasingly difficult for first-time homebuyers to find housing they can afford,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Offering a variety of housing options is a critical piece in making homeownership a reality for more Coloradans. This legislation would help increase the availability of high-quality starter homes in the market to create more affordable housing options that work for every budget.” 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 Multi-Family 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. Builders in the program would be protected from construction defect action unless the claim has resulted in damage that meets the outlined criteria. 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. 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, 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, sponsored by Representatives Gretchen Rydin and Amy Paschal, to prevent discrimination by transportation network companies (TNCs) against riders with a disability. < Back May 6, 2026 Rydin, Paschal Bill to Combat Rideshare Discrimination Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation, sponsored by Representatives Gretchen Rydin and Amy Paschal, to prevent discrimination by transportation network companies (TNCs) against riders with a disability. HB26-1043 would ensure that TNC drivers understand and follow federal anti-discrimination law. “Many Coloradans with disabilities, especially those with service animals, in my community rely on rideshares to get around. This bill fights back against the discrimination they’ve been experiencing,” said Rep. Gretchen Rydin, D-Littleton. “Federal law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, and our bill ensures that rideshare drivers are educated on federal law and prohibits them from refusing to drive a customer with a disability. I’d like to thank the Colorado Center for the Blind for its commitment to this issue. No one should be refused service for their disability, and this bill protects riders, requires more TNC transparency and removes barriers to reporting driver violations.” “We’ve heard first-hand accounts of rideshare drivers refusing to transport Coloradans with guide dogs and other mobility devices,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs. “Our bill ensures that TNC drivers are informed of federal anti-discrimination law and makes it easier for riders with a disability to report a driver who violates the law. For Coloradans who are blind, rideshares are sometimes the only transportation option they can utilize, and this bill ensures that they are not discriminated against.” HB26-1043 would help prevent rideshare discrimination against people with disabilities. Cancelling on customers who have guide dogs or use mobility devices solely because of their dog or mobility device violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). HB26-1043 would make it easier for riders to report violations while ensuring drivers are aware of their obligations under the law. This bill will also increase TNC transparency and penalize TNCs that violate federal law. The bill passed the House by a vote of 46-18. The bill requires TNCs to provide education and training to their drivers about their legal requirement not to refuse to transport riders with service animals. The training must be completed within six months of the driver’s onboarding with the TNC, or six months after the bill goes into effect for current TNC drivers. To remove barriers to reporting violations, TNCs must provide a mechanism to easily report a driver’s refusal to transport a disabled person directly on the TNCs’ platform. This legislation also boosts transparency by requiring TNCs to provide monthly, rather than annual, reporting of service denial violations by their drivers to the Public Utility Commission (PUC). Aggregated monthly reports would need to be made publicly available by the PUC with all personally identifiable information removed. Additionally, TNCs that violate anti-discrimination law or the provisions of the bill could be fined up to $1,300 per violation. To encourage TNCs to actively prevent violations, the PUC may consider good faith efforts and the number of reported violations by TNC drivers when determining penalties. If drivers have a demonstrated need to refuse rides to particular riders, such as a severe dog allergy, they can be granted accommodations by the TNC under current disability law. In the fall of 2025, the United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit against rideshare companies for discriminatory practices against riders with disabilities. In the lawsuit, the DOJ alleges that TNCs have failed to prevent drivers from cancelling rides when the rider has a mobility device or a guide dog. Previous Next

< Back January 4, 2019 SPEAKER KC BECKER DELIVERS OPENING DAY REMARKS Good morning and welcome to your state capitol. It is one my greatest honors to stand before you today. I want to thank the constituents of my district which stretches from the Wyoming border in the north, to Mount Evans in the south– from Boulder to Kremmling – from Jackson, Grand, and Gilpin to Clear Creek and Boulder counties. It’s an honor to represent you. Thank you to Majority Leader Alec Garnett and to our entire leadership team who will help lead our chamber over the next two years. You all are awesome. Minority Leader Neville, congratulations on being selected to lead your caucus once again and I hope to work together with you to serve the people of our great state. I would also like to congratulate Representative Kyle Mullica and his family who welcomed the birth of a new baby girl, Autumn Grace, this week. I look around this chamber and see many new faces…and a lot more Democrats… I’d like to welcome our first years and returning legislators. No matter your party, we are all here because we want Coloradans to succeed. Running for office or stepping forward to participate in public service is never easy. So on behalf of this chamber and our state, I extend thanks to you and your families and friends who have agreed to let us borrow you for the next two years. Your support is key to our shared success. Together, we are driven to build a fair economy that expands opportunity for all, to invest in our future, and to protect the Colorado Way of Life. Today, we open the first regular session of the 72nd General Assembly. Members, pack your energy and ideas with you every day because you are about to have some of the longest days wrapped into the shortest four months you’ll ever know. Your patience will be tested, your sleep will shorten, your family will miss you and your waistline may grow. But believe me the future is worth the fight and your efforts are worthwhile. This November, Coloradans made history by electing the first Jewish and openly gay Governor. We made history by electing a record number of people of color to our state legislature. And we made history by electing 33 women to the House including 25 in the Democratic caucus alone and the first transgender representative in state Herstory. Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Unaffiliated voter, I think we can all agree that this chamber is sending a strong message that when people participate in democracy, their government is more reflective of their state’s diverse background and ideas. It is our shared hope that the number of women and people of color who were motivated to step forward and run for office will inspire the next generation of Coloradans to pursue public service and become more involved. I am honored to accept this gavel and look forward to working with you all. Now -I’ve watched a few of my predecessors break a few gavels trying to keep this chamber in order so let’s all hope this is the only gavel we need this session… …but based on past experience, Marilyn please have a backup ready. It is not lost on me that I am the third consecutive woman to serve as Speaker and the fourth in our state’s rich history. Standing before you today, I know I won’t be the last. I would be remiss if I did not thank those who have blazed a trail ahead of us including I also want to acknowledge my father-in-law and sister-in law, Ed and Shaun who are here today and my awesome parents, who unfortunately can’t be here today. I am grateful for the care and love they gave to me and my siblings – three of whom are here with me now Karen, Alicia and Elle. I’m most grateful that my parents decided to let me spend my summers as a teenager in the Rockies. I was a Florida girl discovering the vast and transformative place that is the West. Until then I had never seen mountains. I had never seen snow. Actually, it was hailing when I said “oh my god snow” and my now lifelong friend turned to me with a smirk on her face and said “you dummy, that’s not snow, it’s hail.” I truly fell in love with the West and feel lucky to call Colorado home. My husband Miles and I have built our lives and family in Boulder. I’m thankful for the love and support of Miles and our two boys – Ryder and Leo – who are here with us today. 11 years ago, Leo had just been born, he was 7 weeks old when the market tanked and I was laid off from my job. I think about how much has changed in those 11 years. I certainly had no idea then that a run for local office would end up with me standing here before you as the Speaker of the House. But a lot more has changed since Leo was born. Amazon was a fledgling company. There was no bitcoin. No Lyft. No Ikon Pass. No marijuana store fronts. No negative factor. No Affordable Care Act. and Representative Rochelle Galindo was still in high school. 11 years ago, there were only 36 women serving in the House and Senate combined. Each year brings new issues to us at the capitol. But the more things change, the more they stay the same. We’ve gone from a deep recession to a thriving state. But the advantages of Colorado’s growth and economic prosperity of the last 5 or 6 years haven’t been felt by every corner of our state. Unemployment statewide is low and the President might be tweeting about the stock market – at least when it’s up – but many of our neighbors still find it hard to get ahead and they struggle with the rising cost of living. Hardworking families are trying to save for the years down the road or even for the coming months. And they are often one tragedy or paycheck away from financial distress. That means we need to give them the tools they need to get ahead. Last session, we passed bills to help Coloradans with the high cost of child care, increase the construction of affordable housing, and connect more Coloradans to the good, high-paying jobs our economy is now producing in great numbers. But it’s not enough. We are a state built on the value that people who work hard should be treated fairly. That means finally passing paid family leave because no one should have to risk financial ruin – or lose their job – to care for a new child or sick relative. It also means that women and people of color should be paid equally for equal work. We are committed to fighting for every Coloradan to be treated with the dignity, fairness and the respect they deserve. Despite significant efforts from legislators on both sides of the aisle, the rural-urban divide continues to be a challenge. While Colorado’s economy is working for some, it’s not working for everyone in rural communities and the legislature must do more to ensure that our successes touch all parts of our state. That means taking steps in rural Colorado to reduce the cost of health care and kick starting more economic development to get more people into good paying jobs. We must keep building on the bipartisan successes of workforce development programs in communities across the state. Access to affordable housing continues to be out of reach for many people. That means we need to invest state dollars in our affordable housing trust fund. It is my hope and the hope of many in this chamber that we work together to problem solve and expand opportunity. We are also committed to protecting the Colorado way of life, And I cannot think of a more important challenge for us to take on than climate change. Climate change is real. It’s threatening our thriving outdoor economy and our livelihoods. Skiers are seeing smaller snow packs Rafters are seeing smaller rapids Anglers are seeing shallower waters Mountain residents are seeing more frequent and more destructive wildfires And our eastern plains are seeing more drought. And unfortunately, Washington has once again chosen to bury its head in the sand while states and the rest of the world work to address the threat of climate change. We will build a better future by expanding our commitment to renewable energy, giving local communities the tools they need to prepare for the impacts of climate change and creating strong goals to limit carbon pollution. Our recent economic success shows that we can work together to protect our clean air and water and grow our economy at the same time. It is also a point of pride for our state that the leading solutions and studies to this challenge are coming from Colorado’s institutions of higher education and innovative entrepreneurs. We need to continue Colorado’s climate leadership for the sake of our economy, public health and clean air. Colorado’s way of life is also threatened by the growing conflict between neighborhoods and oil and gas. Our state has grown and schools and neighborhoods are butting up against oil and gas operations. It’s time we update our laws to reflect this new paradigm. That means, we must ensure communities feel more confident that the oil and gas happening nearby isn’t negatively impacting their air or water quality and their quality of life. Colorado’s way of life is precious. It’s part of the reason people live, work, play and move here like I did so many years ago. As we think about the Colorado way of life we must also think about investing in our future. Many of our educators are having to work multiple jobs just to pay their own bills, And many students have never had the experience of being in a fully funded school system. We have recently passed bipartisan state budgets that invested hundreds of millions of new dollars into our schools, boosted per-pupil funding, made commitments to address the teacher shortage, and brought down the negative factor. But, if we intend to leave our state in a better position than we found it, then we must do more. We need to give our students, teachers and schools the tools they need to succeed. That means we must continue to invest in early childhood education, K-12 and higher ed. And it means we should make sure our students are well prepared for the jobs of the future in a modernizing economy. Coloradans are also tired over the lack of investment in roads, bridges, and transit. That means coming up with creative and collaborative solutions to our transportation problems. Coloradans – no matter their political affiliation or zip code – are fed up with high cost of health care and out of control prescription drug prices. We hear from Coloradans nearly every day about their struggles with health care. We share the concerns of families and seniors across our state who agonize over access and rising costs. In the absence of federal leadership in Washington, we at the capitol must address this challenge head on. That means, we must work together to address skyrocketing health care costs by promoting transparency in insurance, drug pricing and medical expenses, That also means we must tackle surprise billing and help provide more stability to our health insurance markets. There is no time to waste. The health and well-being of Coloradans must continue to be a top priority because we are facing a public health epidemic. The opioid epidemic in the United States has claimed more lives than the entire Vietnam War. During the last session we passed bills to help battle this epidemic by getting people the care and treatment they need and addressing prescribing practices. These bipartisan measures are a good start, but there is much more work to be done to end the stigma surrounding addiction and recovery. That means we must work together to save lives and end this epidemic. There is another epidemic we must address – gun violence. Our state, our children, our families and even those who are now represented in this chamber have been personally impacted by this crisis. Coloradans are tired of living with the consequences of inaction. They are marching in the streets and taking to the halls of this building. And they are demanding action on gun sense legislation. That means we will work to pass the life saving Extreme Risk Protection Order bill to prevent tragedies before they happen. Over the past few years, we have made significant bipartisan strides towards reforming our broken criminal justice system – we are even seeing consensus at the federal level on this issue so it is my hope that this is an area where we can continue to find common ground. We’ve come a long way from when we were labeled “The Hate State.” Last session, we were able to preserve a strong Colorado Civil Rights Division, and we’ve also made important progress for our LGBTQ community in recent years, but there is still work to do to ensure we have a more inclusive and more fair Colorado. That means instead of building walls and barriers that seek to sow division and block progress, we will build bridges and partnerships that will power our people and our state forward. Last session, we worked to address the culture of the capitol. The Capitol must be a place where everyone feels safe and respected, and that means we will continue to focus on reforming the culture and work together – regardless of party – to implement necessary changes this session. So now it’s time to work together. Coloradans cast their votes for those who will fight to expand opportunity for all and to govern responsibly. Coloradans chose compassion and opportunity over cruelty and chaos. They want leaders who will stand for something – not against everything. They want a government that will work for the people – not special interests. We must continue to reach across the aisle and not be afraid to find those sweet spots that reflect the Colorado way. This is a new and diverse group of lawmakers who will all bring influential ideas and renewed energy to this chamber and it’s on all of us to problem solve for the next one hundred and twenty days. I am honored to serve as your Speaker – and a Speaker for all Coloradans. I am excited about what we can accomplish together in order to protect the Colorado Way of Life. Thank you. God bless the State of Colorado and let’s get to work. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Lorena Garcia that would create a state income tax credit for care workers to address the careworker workforce shortage. HB24-1312 passed by a vote of 46-18. < Back April 30, 2024 House Passes Bill to Support the Care Workforce DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Lorena Garcia that would create a state income tax credit for care workers to address the careworker workforce shortage. HB24-1312 passed by a vote of 46-18. “Care workers are essential in providing care to our loved ones like our children and our parents, and they do not receive the benefits and recognition they deserve,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “This workforce is critical in supporting Coloradans in all industries and they are a crucial component of a thriving economy. This tax credit will allow us to recruit and retain these important care workers while boosting their incomes by over a thousand dollars so they can better afford their bills while staying in the careworker industry.” “Whether you receive support after an accident or have someone who helps your aging relatives, we have all benefited from the work and support that care workers provide,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “This bill is a small token of appreciation that we can give care workers, especially our Family, Friend and Neighbor child care providers, so they can continue to do the important work that they do and encourage our care workforce to grow.” For tax years 2025 through 2028, HB24-1312 would create a refundable state income tax credit of $1,200 for: Home health care workers who who provided at least 720 hours of home health care in the relevant tax year, Child care workers who are employed or licensed by an early childhood education program or a licensed family child care home and provided at least 720 hours of home health care in the relevant tax year, or Informal family, friend, or neighbor care child care workers who provided at least 720 hours of care to children 5 and under, and are registered with the Department of Early Childhood’s Professional Development Information System. Taxpayers must have an income of $75,000 or less for single filers or $100,000 or less for joint filers to be eligible for this state income tax credit. Previous Next

< Back April 24, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES BILL HELP COLORADANS SAVE FOR RETIREMENT America is in a retirement crisis (Apr. 24) – The Colorado Secure Savings Plan Board, a bill by Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp and Rep. Chris Hansen, to allow the state of Colorado to study different options to increase the ability of Colorado workers to save more for their retirement—earned approval from the House Business Affairs & Labor committee this afternoon. “America faces a retirement crisis—people are not saving enough. Almost half of private-sector workers do not have access to a workplace retirement plan, ” said Rep. Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada. “This bill allows the state to study four models including a no action plan to see what is the best way to help Coloradans who don’t have access to a workplace retirement savings plan save a little at a time throughout their life for a secure retirement.” Rep. Kraft-Tharp is chair of the House Business Affairs & Labor committee. The “Colorado Secure Savings Plan Board,” SB19-173, creates a board of trustees that would study various options for a public-private partnership that would offer a low-fee plan, similar to Individual Retirement Accounts, to employees without access to workplace plans. Upon conclusion of the study, the board would then send the legislature its recommendations for final approval “Retirement looks bleak for many adults in Colorado. Imagine what it looks like for our children. Unless we act, we don’t know how long our kids, nieces and nephews are going to have to work before they can finally retire,” said Rep. Hansen, D-Denver. “This bill is practical, it’s straightforward, and it’s a commonsense approach to examine the different ways we can increase the number of Coloradans who have access to workplace retirement accounts.” Several small business owners spoke in favor of the bill, testifying that they would like to be able to offer this benefit to their employees. SB19-173 passed with a vote of 6-3 with all House Republicans voting against securing and protecting the future of Colorado workers and their families. The bill now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back March 21, 2019 HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES BIRD-TITONE BILL TO BOOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Mar. 21) – The House Finance committee approved Rep. Shannon Bird and Rep. Brianna Titone’s bill today to boost the supply of affordable housing in the state by expanding the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which helps leverage private funding for affordable housing projects across the state. “We’ve seen that this is a proven and effective method to helping people access affordable housing and grow the middle class,” said Rep. Bird, D-Westminster. “There is so much extra demand for these grants across the state, so we definitely see a need to expand this tax credit to accommodate the high demand.” The Affordable Housing Tax Credit supports key affordable housing needs such as workforce housing, homeless housing, and senior housing across Colorado and is one of the state’s most effective tools for increasing affordable housing available across the state. Colorado’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit raises private sector equity needed to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing. It currently is authorized to allocate only $5 million; HB 19-1228 would increase the available tax credits to $10 million in 2020-24.. “We need to help ease the housing crunch. This bill will help seniors and hardworking people across our state,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada. “Access to affordable housing can help grow the middle class and our economy which will give back to Colorado in a lot of different ways.” Between 2015-2018, the program supported 4,796 affordable rental units. The development of these homes is estimated to have generated over $1.9 billion in economic impact in Colorado. HB19-1228 passed by a bipartisan vote of 7-3 and now heads to the Appropriations Committee. The Finance committee also approved Rep. Bird’s bill that specifies bonding requirements that apply to certain public/private partnership contracts for construction on publicly owned property. SB19-138 unanimously passed out of committee and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next