Search Results

43 House Democrats fighting for hardworking Coloradans at the Capitol and across our state by saving you money, building a healthier Colorado and preparing our students for success. COLORADO HOUSE DEMOCRATS Colorado Democrats fighting for hardworking Coloradans at the Capitol and across our state LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS LATEST NEWS MEET YOUR COLORADO HOUSE DEMOCRATS CAREERS During the productive 2025 Legislative Session, we passed legislation to save people money, improve public safety and protect the Colorado way of life in the face of threats from the Trump Administration and significant budget constraints. 2025 LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS Latest News Committee Passes Bill to Improve Road Safety, Reduce Costs and Fund Wildlife Crossings April 20, 2026 The House Finance Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to prevent wildlife collisions and improve road safety. The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, also sponsored by Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, passed by a vote of 8-2. Read All SIGNED! Legislation to Support First Responders Through Affordable Housing Opportunities April 17, 2026 Today, the Governor signed legislation sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representative Chad Clifford, D-Centennial, to support first responders and help them afford to live in the communities where they serve. Read All Legislation to Support Students Advances April 17, 2026 Bills would expand awareness about mental health and concussions and save students money on college-level courses Read All ICYMI: Bill to Protect Vulnerable Workers Passes Committee April 16, 2026 HB26-1283 would prohibit employers from confiscating and sharing an employee’s ID with federal law enforcement agencies Read All Visit Our Newsroom Press Releases WE ARE COLORADO HOUSE DEMOCRATS CONTACT US FIND MY REP SEARCH

Learn more about the Colorado House Democrats, including meeting minutes and locations. Meetings & Minutes Meeting minutes and notices prior to August 22, 2024 can be found in the archive. April 22, 2026 8:00 AM Energy and Environment Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 22, 2026 8:00 AM Business Affairs & Labor Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 22, 2026 8:00 AM Education Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 21, 2026 8:15 AM House Health and Human Services Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 21, 2026 8:00 AM Judiciary Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 20, 2026 9:00 AM House Democrats Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 20, 2026 8:00 AM Finance Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 20, 2026 8:00 AM State, Civic, Military, & Veteran Affairs Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 16, 2026 8:30 AM Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 16, 2026 8:00 AM Appropriations Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 15, 2026 8:00 AM Education Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes April 14, 2026 8:00 AM Judiciary Caucus Meeting Meeting Notice Meeting Minutes

Press Releases Apr 20, 2026 Committee Passes Bill to Improve Road Safety, Reduce Costs and Fund Wildlife Crossings The House Finance Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to prevent wildlife collisions and improve road safety. The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, also sponsored by Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, passed by a vote of 8-2. Read More Apr 17, 2026 SIGNED! Legislation to Support First Responders Through Affordable Housing Opportunities Today, the Governor signed legislation sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representative Chad Clifford, D-Centennial, to support first responders and help them afford to live in the communities where they serve. Read More Apr 17, 2026 Legislation to Support Students Advances Bills would expand awareness about mental health and concussions and save students money on college-level courses Read More Apr 16, 2026 ICYMI: Bill to Protect Vulnerable Workers Passes Committee HB26-1283 would prohibit employers from confiscating and sharing an employee’s ID with federal law enforcement agencies Read More Apr 16, 2026 Committee Passes Bill to Expand Access to Abortion Care for College Students The House Education Committee today passed legislation to make reproductive health care, including abortion, more accessible to Colorado’s college students. Read More Apr 16, 2026 ICYMI: Hamrick Bill to Protect Student Athletes, Boost Awareness of Mental Health Passes Committee The House Health and Human Services Committee yesterday passed legislation to require youth coaches to receive training on the mental health risks from concussions, including depression, anxiety and suicide. Read More Apr 16, 2026 Martinez, Mauro Bill to Improve Funeral Home Transparency Passes The House today passed legislation to improve transparency with county coroners and their potential financial interests in funeral homes and mortuaries. SB26-105, sponsored by Representatives Matt Martinez and Tisha Mauro in response to the incident with the Pueblo County Coroner, passed by a vote of 62-0. Read More Apr 14, 2026 Bill to Support Survivors of Crimes Passes Committee SB26-095 would update Colorado law to improve transparency, strengthen survivor rights, and bolster trauma-informed procedures in court and law enforcement response Read More Apr 14, 2026 Legislation to Create More Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities Passes Committee SB26-040 would modernize the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet the needs of hardworking Coloradans Read More Apr 14, 2026 Mobile Home Park Protections Bill Advances The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s Mobile Home Park Act to make mobile home park sales more fair and transparent. Read More Apr 13, 2026 Bill to Reduce Human-Bear Conflicts Passes Committee The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation to keep Coloradans, visitors and the state’s bear population safe. Read More Apr 11, 2026 House Advances FY 2026-2027 Budget Lawmakers protect K-12 education, universal preschool and core health care services amidst a $1.2 billion deficit while making difficult cuts to balance Read More 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 ... 214

Latest press releases and op-eds from Colorado House Democrats. NEWSROOM PRESS RELEASES > OP-EDS > Committee Passes Bill to Improve Road Safety, Reduce Costs and Fund Wildlife Crossings April 20, 2026 The House Finance Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to prevent wildlife collisions and improve road safety. The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, also sponsored by Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, passed by a vote of 8-2. Committee Passes Bill to Improve Road Safety, Reduce Costs and Fund Wildlife Crossings SIGNED! Legislation to Support First Responders Through Affordable Housing Opportunities April 17, 2026 Today, the Governor signed legislation sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representative Chad Clifford, D-Centennial, to support first responders and help them afford to live in the communities where they serve. SIGNED! Legislation to Support First Responders Through Affordable Housing Opportunities Legislation to Support Students Advances April 17, 2026 Bills would expand awareness about mental health and concussions and save students money on college-level courses Legislation to Support Students Advances

The House Finance Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to prevent wildlife collisions and improve road safety. The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, also sponsored by Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, passed by a vote of 8-2. < Back April 20, 2026 Committee Passes Bill to Improve Road Safety, Reduce Costs and Fund Wildlife Crossings DENVER, CO – The House Finance Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to prevent wildlife collisions and improve road safety. The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, also sponsored by Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, passed by a vote of 8-2. “The success of the Kremmling wildlife crossing has made it clear that wildlife crossings help prevent dangerous accidents,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Wildlife collisions are common on the Western Slope, which not only makes road travel risky, but also drives up car insurance costs and impacts Colorado’s ecosystem. Our bipartisan bill would create more opportunities to build wildlife crossings, saving lives and protecting Colorado wildlife.” SB26-141 would create an optional $5 collision prevention fee during annual vehicle registration, creating reliable and dedicated funding for wildlife crossing infrastructure. The bill aims to dramatically reduce motor vehicle crashes with wildlife by authorizing an optional $5 fee that will be collected during annual vehicle registration beginning in 2027. The fund would be used to construct wildlife collision prevention infrastructure, including overpasses, underpasses, jump-outs, and fencing, and would also allow Colorado to leverage federal matching funds for these projects. A portion of the funds would also benefit the Wildlife Cash Fund, administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to conserve habitat on either side of the crossings. Collisions with wildlife can be fatal, damage property, and create financial burdens. In 2024, at least 3,500 crashes with animals occurred on Colorado roads. From 2010-2025, these tragic accidents resulted in 52 motorist fatalities and over 400 serious injuries. The total estimated annual cost of wildlife-vehicle collisions in Colorado is over $300 million . Wildlife crossings have been shown to reduce these collisions by more than 90 percent . Previous Next

House Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks to open the Second Session of the 75th General Assembly. < Back January 14, 2026 Speaker McCluskie Delivers Opening Day Remarks DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks to open the Second Session of the 75th General Assembly. Speaker’s Opening Day Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: Good morning members! A warm welcome to the guests and dignitaries who have joined us, thank you for being here on opening day! First off, I want to take a moment to recognize the veterans here today, and those currently in our armed services - both in the chamber and in the gallery. Please stand or wave. We thank you for your service. I also want to be sure to give a huge thanks to the many people who keep this building and the legislature running: our aides and caucus staff, nonpartisan staff and clerks, our facility workers, and of course our sergeants. And let's not forget our Chief Clerk’s new Chief Responsibility – Baby Trevor! Congratulations to the Reilly family on your newest addition! More good news - Love is in the air! Not only did Rep. Lukens receive a big diamond ring atop the cliffs of Ireland… We also have some good news, from the press table for once – Seth, congratulations on your wedding! We all know that Hawaii can't possibly beat opening day at the Colorado State Capitol, so I'm sure it wasn't all that hard to get back on the plane. A lot has happened since we last gathered here. Every year changes, some changes and some years can feel harder than others. We are missing a colleague in our halls today. Senator Faith Winter served Colorado for twelve years before her tragic passing. I mourn her, as I miss her smile and warmth and her unwavering, steely dedication to fighting for what’s right. And last June, I saw with horror and a deep sadness that my friend, former Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, had been shot and killed in their home. Melissa had been a support to me personally, a political force for good, and someone truly dedicated to making her home state of Minnesota better every day. Just months after Melissa's death, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in front of a crowd in Utah. Their murders crystalized even more powerfully for me that political violence is rising, and it flows downstream from the caustic rhetoric all around us. No matter how bitterly we might disagree on the important issues, we have to raise the decency in our discourse, together. I am heartened by the leaders on both sides who have had the courage to condemn political violence…violence can never be the price of democracy. Before we move on, I want to acknowledge that there are others we have lost…family members, friends, and constituents who are no longer with us. I invite everyone present to please stand if able, and take a moment of silence in recognition of those who have passed. Thank you. I love that we begin each legislative session at the start of the year. Just as our calendars flip to a new page, we come back to the Capitol with novel ideas, bright faces, and sometimes also a fresh blanket of snow. Fingers crossed on the last one – you know we need the moisture! I also come back to this building each year with a different perspective. In the high country, we say that you never step in the same river twice. I think that's true of our time at the Capitol, too. The river keeps moving, the challenges change. Though the last year has been hard in so many ways, as I look at all of you today, I see resilience. I see 65 representatives and dozens more staff who have faced real hardship – and have still shown up ready to work. That commitment renews my sense of purpose today. Today is the start of a new session. It is the start of 120 brand new days where we work together to make a difference. We won't ignore the havoc outside these walls, or the gloom, or bury our heads in the sand to avoid discomfort. But we will tune out the noise that's designed to capture attention for attention's sake. Coloradans have made it clear for years now that they simply do not care about the noise or performative outrage. They care about results. And here, in our Colorado, we deliver real results. Our Colorado is a bulwark against the chaos in Washington. Coloradans are looking for us to focus on what matters. What matters is that too many children live in poverty. And because of a single policy passed in this building, our Family Affordability Tax Credit, we cut child poverty by nearly 41% in one year – proof that it can be done. What matters is the $800 million budget gap that puts safety net programs at risk and we must turn over every stone to find the funding to sustain them. What matters is protecting the rule of law and upholding justice for the dignity and rights of women, immigrants, LGBTQ Coloradans and working families. What matters is that Coloradans' costs are too damn high. That is why I am fortified by the resilience in your faces today. We’ve got a steep mountain to skin, but the run will be worth it. In August, we faced the fallout from Congress's budget, which immediately blew a billion dollar hole in Colorado’s finances on top of new unprecedented threats to Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and other essential services. In this moment, when the White House would hold Colorado hostage, I'm reminded of a Churchill saying: "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will still have war." I fear this administration will target Colorado no matter what we do. So members, let’s do what’s right. It's plain that Colorado’s fiscal constraints make it hard to pivot quickly when costs rise unexpectedly or revenues disappear overnight. Medicaid costs are growing at twice the rate of what we are allowed to spend under TABOR, driven by long-term care for seniors, behavioral health services, and prescription drug costs – health care that every Coloradan might need. To be clear, this deficit is not reckless overspending. It is time to modernize our outdated fiscal structure, because our future shouldn’t be bound by a 30-year-old formula that doesn’t account for today’s realities. The math just isn't mathing for the people of our state. No one is coming to the rescue during our session. There are no easy buttons. Balancing this budget will require shared sacrifice and serious leadership. To the members of the Joint Budget Committee, Representatives Sirota, Brown, and Taggart: I know all of you have sleepless nights both behind you and ahead of you. Thank you for taking on this weighty responsibility. In the pain we're facing, I also see a chance to look beyond our budget, and find answers to the question Coloradans have been asking: How do we unrig our economy, so it works for everyone – not just the few, but the many? The promise of America is freedom and a fair shot. And the promise of the West goes further: it's progress. Progress comes from new ideas, and from the determination to see them through. We know hardworking people are struggling to stay ahead under the lingering effects of inflation and global tariffs. Now skyrocketing costs are sinking all boats. In Colorado, it's time to continue fighting for a new economy that brings back a shot at success for everyone. No one should be able to pull up the ladder behind them to keep other people down. That's not the Colorado way. It is not how we move forward. That's why this session we will do three things: lower everyday costs… protect our successes… and sustain targeted investments in our future. When we lower costs and create good paying jobs, we can keep building an economy: where working people have a fair shot. where entrepreneurs can take a risk and start a business, where small businesses are equipped to hire, compete and succeed. where farms and ranches are passed down to the next generation, instead of being sold off in pieces. On healthcare and housing especially, we need to cut right to the heart of what is making Coloradans' lives more expensive. That also includes working on childcare costs, the prices of everyday goods, and putting consumers first. When Congress let health care premiums surge, Colorado Democrats stepped up to stabilize our insurance market and blunt the devastating impact of these hikes. If Congress continues to fail to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, we’ll need to look at options once again to keep health insurance prices from spiraling. Colorado is a beautiful place to call home. We're lucky to live here. But the cost of renting or buying a home is making that dream almost impossible for working people. This year we will work to unlock innovative financing mechanisms to build more affordable housing, make it easier for nonprofits to build homes on land they already own and continue to reduce property insurance costs. We know that health care and housing represent the biggest squeezes on working people's budgets. That is why we keep coming back to these policy issues, with the fortitude to both make big changes and get it right. We're not just bringing back a fair shot for working people to thrive – we will also make sure our kids have more possibilities too. We have a lot to be proud of where our children are concerned. When I first entered the legislature in 2019, school finance was dire. Since then, we have raised the per-pupil funding for K-12 schools by 46%, brought total program funding up by $3 billion, and eliminated the budget stabilization factor. We didn't stop there. We secured free full-day kindergarten and launched universal pre-K. Universal preschool is not just saving thousands of families over $6,000 each year in child care, it's giving kids a head start on school readiness and social connection at a critical stage. Our next task is to unify education and opportunity, by bringing higher education, apprenticeships, and workforce pathways under one roof. Everyone must be equipped to start the career of their dreams. Our kids don't just deserve a top-notch education, and the skills to confront a changing world. We owe our kids, and our kids' kids, a liveable future by protecting Colorado’s pristine environments, land, air and water. And we owe it to rural communities and urban centers alike to invest in our renewable energy future. We must hold our ground on all the protections we've put in place, and fight the Trump administration's attempts to claw away our 8 million acres of public lands and auction them off. Coloradans agree, and we all agreed in this very chamber last year: our public lands are not for sale. And it's not just Coloradans who love their public lands: Katy Perry may have been our first pop star in space, but when those 11 minutes were up, she kissed the earth and she liked it. I'm immensely proud that Western Slope Democrats and Republicans have a tradition of bipartisan collaboration, especially on water rights and land protection – one I hope we continue. Together we can balance a clean, healthy environment with the needs of a growing state. This session we're going to protect our progress. But we will not forget about the other crucial part of the American promise: our freedoms. Coloradans' civil rights are not to be played with. We won't shove our immigrant and LGBTQ neighbors back into the shadows. We won't give up on disability access or voting rights. We are a model for abortion rights in the post-Dobbs reality, and we won't roll them back. We are a nation founded by immigrants and social outcasts. Diversity does make our state stronger, and it is un-American for the federal government to use masked vigilantes to arrest, detain, and evict people off the street on the basis of their skin color, language, gender, or very identity. Colorado will continue to stand against this betrayal of our values. We will remember Renee Good…and the wrongful detentions of Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez, Fernando Jaramillo-Solano and his children, and just so many others. Members: we have a lot ahead of us. Our budget situation especially will force us to concentrate on what truly allows Coloradans to thrive. The path forward is not always clear. But in Colorado we know how to trailblaze right through the brush. Our work for the year is just beginning. But as this is my final opening day speech… Thank God, says my husband. …I have to reflect for a moment on how far we have come. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished in the seven years I have been a part of this body. I am so proud of the results we have delivered often in partnership with Republicans: Poverty is down. Incomes are up. Tax rates are lower. School meals for free for every student. Protections now abound for public health and air quality in oil and gas operations. More people have health coverage thanks to reinsurance, the Colorado Option, and OmniSalud. We strengthened protections for renters, and passed breakthrough measures to build more housing. We’ve led on pragmatic gun violence prevention. We passed first-in-the-nation protections for our waterways, streams, and wetlands. AND: One year from now, the curtains will rise on the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder. Just like the Avalanche, and the Nuggets, and the Broncos, and someday soon, our women’s soccer and hopefully, women’s hockey - the big green machine has been a winning team. To our new faces today: Reps. Slaugh, Flanell, Goldstein, and Nguyen, welcome to the Thunderdome – I mean, the Gold Dome. Minority Leader Caldwell: Thank you for stepping up to lead your caucus. I look forward to growing our partnership this session. To my colleagues in their final year: Majority Leader Duran, Representatives Froelich, Sirota, Soper, Titone, Valdez, and Woodrow, thank you for your service. It's been real, it's been fun…alright yeah, it's been real fun at times. On a more personal note, it is the privilege of my life to be your Speaker. Thank you for your trust. I'm proud we have done the daily, nitty-gritty work to compromise and find solutions together. Majority Leader Duran: I am eternally grateful to have you in my corner. You are a legislator's legislator and a fearless advocate. We have traveled far together, and I know we’re not done yet. The Senate doesn't know what it's got coming. Thank you Monica, for everything. To my dear, wonderful family: just one more session. And I really mean it this time. You have been my collective rock through this incredible ride. Thank you for just being here and walking up the hill with me. And Susan, you are the bravest, toughest person I know - stay strong! "Thank you" isn't enough – but thank you all. Folks, we have big things to do this session. As we start each of the remaining 119 days in this building, I will keep some things in mind, and I hope you will too. Talk to each other, kindly whenever you can. Lead with laughter. Lead with compassion. Assume the best of each other, and in each other. Each of you can find common ground with the other people who sit in these chairs, no matter how strange walking that acreage together might turn out to be. Members..staff..and guests. We are present. We are organized. We are ready to take care of business. Welcome to the opening day of the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly. Previous Next

Meet Your House Democrats We are the Colorado House Democrats. With a historically large and diverse majority, we represent communities from the Front Range and the San Luis Valley to rural towns in the high country and Southwest Colorado. Our members are teachers, veterinarians, business owners, law enforcement officers, veterans, engineers, lawyers, advocates, and more. Our top priority is to make Colorado more affordable and protect our hard-fought rights and freedoms. We love Colorado and believe in public education, clean air and water, access to parks and a safe and just society. From our littlest learners to working families and eldest Coloradans, we think everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive. We’ve governed responsibly through challenging times and delivered results that move Colorado forward. These landmark laws prevent gun violence, support small businesses, address climate change and lower the cost of health care, child care and housing. We bolstered renters’ rights to reduce evictions, provided two years of free college and boosted the incomes of hardworking families with new tax credits. Colorado House Democrats reflect the diversity of our communities and are the right people to lead our state, protect our Colorado Way of Life, and uphold our promises to future generations. Julie McCluskie Speaker of the House Learn More Matthew Martinez Majority Whip Learn More Emily Sirota Chair of JBC Learn More Bob Marshall Learn More Eliza Hamrick Learn More Javier Mabrey Chair of the Judiciary Committee Learn More Monica Duran Majority Leader Learn More Elizabeth Velasco Majority Whip Learn More Kyle Brown JBC Member Learn More Brianna Titone Learn More Gretchen Rydin Learn More Jennifer Bacon Assistant Majority Leader Learn More Mandy Lindsay Majority Caucus Co-Chair Learn More Alex Valdez Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee Learn More Cecelia Espenoza Learn More Jacque Phillips Learn More Andrew Boesenecker Speaker Pro Tempore Learn More Junie Joseph Majority Caucus Co-Chair Learn More Amy Paschal Learn More Chad Clifford Learn More Jamie Jackson Learn More 1 2 3 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3

New legislation tackles housing affordability, supports behavioral health care and prioritizes public safety < Back January 14, 2026 House Democrats Introduce First Ten Bills DENVER, CO – Colorado House Democrats today introduced the first ten House bills of the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly. “Colorado Democrats are working to build an economy that rewards working people and where every Coloradan has a fair shot to achieve their dreams,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “From reducing the cost of housing, health care and child care to investing in our students, our first ten bills help address the most pressing issues our communities face. We believe in equipping workers with the tools and skills they need to land good-paying jobs. These legislative priorities highlight our commitment to making our great state more affordable, safer and healthier for all.” “We’re ready to get to work lowering costs for Coloradans, safeguarding your freedoms and fostering safer communities,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Colorado Democrats are committed to making our state more affordable, boosting small businesses, and protecting our air and water. . Key legislation I am sponsoring will foster stronger, safer communities by putting survivors of crime first.” The HOME Act ( HB26-1001 , sponsors Representatives Andy Boesenecker and Javier Mabrey and Senators Tony Exum and Julie Gonzales) Creating housing options that Coloradans can afford is one of Colorado Democrats’ biggest priorities. The HOME Act would allow schools, nonprofit organizations, and transit districts to use underutilized land to build housing, breaking down barriers to building affordable homes near transit, local businesses and the heart of our communities. Improving access to behavioral health care ( HB26-1002 , sponsors Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist and Senators Matt Ball and Byron Pelton) Everyone deserves getting the behavioral health care they need, but Colorado’s workforce shortages can limit patient access. This bill will bring more behavioral health workers and substance use disorder experts into the workforce by expediting the credentialing process and updating licensing requirements for social workers. Saving small businesses money ( HB26-1003 , sponsors Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Sean Camacho and Senator Chris Kolker) This legislation would make the successful CLIMBER pandemic recovery loan program permanent to support small businesses, create more good-paying jobs and boost local economies. Making child care more affordable ( HB26-1004 , sponsors Speaker Julie McCluskie, Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell, Senate President James Coleman and Minority Leader Cleave Simpson) To save families money on child care and spur the creation of more high-quality and affordable child care facilities in our community, new bipartisan legislation will extend an income tax credit that helps fund child care facilities. Worker Protection Act ( HB26-1005 , sponsors Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, Representative Javier Mabrey and Senators Jessie Danielson and Iman Jodeh) Our economy should work for everyone, especially hardworking people. To empower workers, increase wages and strengthen the middle class, this legislation would update the 80-year-old Colorado Labor Peace Act by removing the need for a second election to form a union. Improving higher education outcomes ( HB26-1006 , Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Matthew Martinez and Senator Dylan Roberts) To equip students with the education and skills they need to secure a good-paying job after graduation, new legislation will establish a thriving designation for post-secondary higher education institutions. This bill aims to boost Colorado’s higher education landscape and support students from diverse, low-income and rural backgrounds. Reducing energy costs with easy-to-access solar panels ( HB26-1007 , sponsors Representatives Lesley Smith and Rebekah Stewart and Senator Cathy Kipp) In an effort to expand access to solar energy, new legislation will remove barriers to ‘plug-in solar’ so more Coloradans, especially those living in apartments or in shared spaces, can benefit from cost-saving solar. Bolstering outdoor recreation and rural economies ( HB26-1008 , sponsors Representatives Meghan Lukens and Rick Taggart and Senators Janice Marchman and Janice Rich) From the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains and everywhere in between, Colorado’s public lands are essential to our way of life. Colorado supports a $65.8 billion outdoor recreation economy, and this bill improves collaboration between conservation efforts, agriculture, private landowners and other public land users. Prioritizing public safety and supporting victims of domestic violence ( HB26-1009 , sponsors Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Ryan Gonzalez and Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Byron Pelton) Supporting crime survivors and keeping our communities safe are top priorities for Colorado Democrats. New legislation would require police officers responding to a domestic violence case to conduct a “lethality assessment” in their report. Based on the findings, the peace officer would immediately connect the victim with a victim advocate if they believe the victim is at risk. Supporting older Coloradans in the workforce ( HB26-1010 , sponsors Representative Jenny Willford and Jamie Jackson and Senator Jessie Danielson) Colorado’s economy continues to evolve and no worker should be left behind. New legislation will help ensure older Coloradans have more opportunities to grow and thrive in their careers by studying their participation in the workforce and ensuring they have a seat at the table when making recommendations to better support and uplift them. Previous Next

< Back April 7, 2020 BECKER APPOINTS DEMS TO ECONOMIC STABILIZATION COUNCIL House Democrats to serve on four key committees Denver, CO– House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, today announced House Democrats’ appointments to the Governor’s Council on Economic Stabilization and Growth. House Democrats will serve on four of the eight sub-committees. Rep. Shannon Bird, vice-chair of the House Finance Committee, will join the Financial Services Committee. Rep. James Coleman, vice-chair of the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, will join the Local, Rural, Women & Minority Led Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits-Entrepreneurs Committee. Rep. Dylan Roberts, chair of the House Committee on Rural Affairs and Agriculture, will join the Tourism Committee. Rep. Dominique Jackson, chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environment, will join the Energy Committee. “House Democrats are working around the clock to help constituents during this public health crisis,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “We’re organizing PPE drives, connecting constituents with critical state and federal resources and hosting virtual town halls with public officials. Helping our state right now is a team effort, and I know our members will bring valuable experiences and resources to the governor’s council.” The Governor’s Council on Economic Stabilization and Growth is looking at how COVID-19 is impacting all aspects of Colorado’s economy and will make recommendations to the governor on how to help families, businesses and communities through the crisis. Other committees include Infrastructure, Workforce and Education, Arts and Culture and Outdoor Recreation. Members of the legislature from both chambers and both parties have been appointed to the committees. Read more about the Council on their website . Previous Next

< Back May 6, 2022 PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ADVANCES Legislation will cut methane and toxic air pollution and invest a record setting $111.25 million toward air quality improvements DENVER, CO – The House advanced three bills today on a preliminary vote to improve air quality, address orphan wells and foster a healthier Colorado. “With some of the worst air quality in the country, Colorado needs a better understanding of where our toxic emissions are coming from and how we can reduce them,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood, sponsor of HB22-1244 . “This bill is personal–ethylene oxide emitted by a manufacturer in my community is potentially increasing the risk of cancer for my constituents. Our bill identifies these hazardous air toxics based on their health impacts and empowers Colorado’s air quality experts to require polluters to clean up their act.” “Some of our most disproportionately impacted communities, my neighbors, are breathing in Colorado’s most polluted air,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of HB22-1244. “This bill improves the way we monitor air toxics in Colorado and takes a proactive approach to reduce these harmful emissions based on what is best for our health. Latino communities in Colorado are adversely impacted by poor air quality, one in three Latino children has asthma–this is our reality. Ongoing exposure to air toxics takes a devastating toll on our health and this bill protects vulnerable Coloradans and improves the air we all breathe.” Reducing Air Toxics Emissions: HB22-1244 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, would improve Colorado’s air quality through increased monitoring and regulation of hazardous air toxics. HB22-1244 requires the identification of priority air toxics and sets protective health-based standards to prioritize public health. The bill requires emissions control regulations to reduce toxic air pollution and establishes a framework for future permitting. Colorado is facing an air quality crisis. Last month, the Front Range was declared a “severe” violator of federal ozone standards by the EPA. Unlike ozone, the state does not currently have a plan to protect Coloradans from toxic pollution, HB22-1244 would establish a comprehensive approach to monitoring air toxics. “We are one step closer to passing a bill that prioritizes clean air, improves our health and builds a pathway toward a healthier future for every Coloradan,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of SB22-193. “We’re tackling air pollution from every angle including cutting back on industrial emissions, ramping up air monitoring equipment and electrifying transit. This is an investment toward a cleaner, healthier future for all of Colorado.” “Building a healthier Colorado starts with improving the air we breathe and this record investment is a step in the right direction,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, sponsor of SB22-193. “Colorado’s disadvantaged communities and low-income neighborhoods are often exposed to higher rates of pollution and toxic emissions–our plan works to address that reality. This transformational investment to clean up our air will electrify school buses, cut down on industrial air toxics and fund more renewable energy projects.” Air Quality Improvements: SB22-193 , sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Alex Valdez, would provide funding for several different programs in the transportation and industrial sectors, as well as the Department of Public Health and Environment, to reduce emissions and improve Colorado’s air quality. The bill includes record investments in clean transportation initiatives and air quality monitoring and incentives. SB22-193 will invest $111.25 million to improve Colorado’s air quality. This includes: $65 million for the Electrifying School Buses Grant Program to help school districts and charter schools convert and replace fossil-fuel reliant school buses with electric-powered school buses. $25 million for the Industrial and Manufacturing Operations Clean Air Grant Program to help private entities, local governments, and public-private partnerships finance projects to reduce industrial emissions through different technologies such as beneficial electrification, renewable energy projects, and methane capture. $12 million for the Community Access to Electric Bicycles Grant and Rebate programs which will ease and accelerate the adoption of electric bicycles by providing businesses, local governments, and individuals discounted e-bikes and easier access to e-bike sharing programs. $7 million for increased and expanded aerial surveying and localized monitoring to help identify leaks at oil and gas facilities. $1.5 million for financing and incentives for cannabis producers to reduce their energy and water use. $750,000 for increasing access to transit for state employees. “Orphaned oil and gas wells are a major contributor to methane emissions in Colorado and a financial liability for taxpayers,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB22-198 . “This bipartisan bill would help reduce harmful emissions and Colorado’s carbon footprint by ensuring oil and gas operators contribute to cleaning up orphaned wells. Building a healthier Colorado includes improving our state’s methane emissions, and this bill addresses a significant source of those emissions.” Protecting Communities from Contamination from Orphan Wells: SB22-198 , sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Perry Will, aims to reduce methane emissions from abandoned, unmaintained oil and gas wells by creating a sustainable funding mechanism to plug, remediate, and reclaim orphan wells. Colorado has more than 200 orphaned wells and 500 orphaned sites, which leak methane and contribute to climate change. If passed, SB22-198 would create an enterprise within the Department of Natural Resources to fund, through annual per well fees paid by operators, the proper plugging and remediation of orphaned or abandoned wells. This bill works to complement the recent financial assurances rulemaking required in SB19-181 . Previous Next

< Back March 4, 2020 AMBER ALERT NOTIFICATION READINESS BILL PASSES HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY DENVER, CO– The House today passed Representative Donald Valdez’s bill to ensure Colorado’s AMBER Alert notification system stays up to date with the latest telecommunications technology. The bipartisan bill passed the House by a vote of 64-0. and has already passed the Senate unanimously. “I want to make sure that Colorado is as ready as it can be to stop tragedies from happening and protect our children and missing persons,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara. “Making sure our AMBER Alert systems are always up to date will help move us in the right direction.” SB20-079 requires the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to send AMBER Alerts using technological applications that promote the largest reach of community notifications. While Colorado’s current method of sending AMBER Alerts meets the criteria, this bill will ensure that Colorado’s AMBER Alert system keeps up with technological advances in the future to ensure the widespread receival of these critical alerts of missing children. Previous Next