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The Governor today signed into law the “Freedom to Read Act.” Sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Representatives Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County, SB25-063 creates safeguards against book bans in public school libraries. < Back May 1, 2025 “Freedom to Read Act” Signed Into Law DENVER, CO – The Governor today signed into law the “Freedom to Read Act.” Sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Representatives Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County, SB25-063 creates safeguards against book bans in public school libraries. “Free societies don’t ban books,” said Cutter. “The Freedom to Read Act will ensure that the next generation of Coloradans has the opportunity to access a broad spectrum of literature, including works that might challenge preconceived notions or present uncomfortable truths. By doing so, we empower Colorado's children to become well-informed, open-minded individuals who can contribute meaningfully to our democracy. As diverse identities are being erased and marginalized throughout the country, it has never been more important to protect the freedom to read.” “Knowledge is power, and our law preserves access to age-appropriate literature in Colorado public schools,” said Willford. “This legislation creates a standard process to evaluate a book’s inclusion or removal from a library, further shielding our public school libraries from D.C. culture wars and political fights. Schools are for learning, and our students deserve access to age-appropriate books that encourage them to think broadly and critically about the world.” “As an author and owner of a publishing company, I am committed to telling stories that would not otherwise be told,” said Michaelson Jenet. “These are the stories that end up on banned book lists. While other states enact laws to criminalize educators and restrict access to books, this policy sends a strong message that Colorado values our students’ freedom to access diverse voices and opinions.” “This law ensures a transparent policy to avoid discriminatory censorship and protects students’ access to books that share the voices and experiences of marginalized communities,” said García. “Books offer a window to the world where students can explore new places, discover different cultures and dive deep into a new experience. The freedom to read is a cornerstone to a strong democracy, and we’re making sure our students have access to age-appropriate literature.” SB25-063 will create safeguards against book bans in public schools by requiring local school boards to establish a standard policy on the acquisition, use and removal of library resources. The policy would ensure that any removal or restriction of a library resource follows a clear, fair and consistent process. Without a policy in place, a local school board or the Charter School Institute could not remove a library resource from its collection. SB25-063 will also prevent discriminatory policies and protect librarians from retaliation. Previous Next

< Back April 25, 2019 GOV POLIS SIGNS TITONE AND GONZALES-GUTIERREZ’S BILL TO HELP RENTERS (Apr. 25) – Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Brianna Titone and Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez to protect renters from unnecessarily high rental application fees. “Unchecked rental application fees that are too high for families and seniors struggling with the rising cost of living have exacerbated our affordable housing crisis, ” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “This new law will increase transparency and protect renters in the rental application process to ensure bad actors aren’t harming Coloradans seeking a home for themselves and their families.” Under current state law, there are no limits on what landlords can charge for a rental application fee, and there are no safeguards to ensure the fee aligns with the actual costs of screening a prospective tenant. “Rental application fees should be used to conduct a consumer credit or reference check – not line a landlords pockets,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “This new law will provide relief to individuals or families searching for housing across our state by putting in place a strong consumer protection safeguard in the rental application process.” HB19-1106 puts in place commonsense limits on the application fees that renters face as they search for their next rental home. The bill limits application fees to the price of what is necessary to screen residents—such as credit reports, reference checks or tenant screening reports—and ensures the fee is refunded if the applicant is never screened. More than a dozen states have enacted policies that set reasonable terms for the collection and retention of rental application fees. For hardworking individuals or families struggling to find housing, the high cost of non-refundable application fees can easily exhaust their limited financial resources, sometimes making it impossible for them to pay a security deposit or the first month’s rent. The bill was approved by a vote of 40-23 in the House and 20-10 in the Senate. The Governor signed it into law this afternoon. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS RETAIL CRIME AND THEFT ADVANCES DENVER, CO – A bill to address the rise in retail crime and protect Coloradans from fraudulent online marketplace sellers advanced today in the House on Second Reading. HB22-1099, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, would require online marketplaces to verify personal seller information and allow buyers to report suspicious activity. “This is a smart-on-crime bill that will make it harder for thieves to resell stolen goods online and it will reduce theft from Colorado businesses,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts D-Avon . “This bill attacks the root cause of large-scale retail theft requiring online marketplaces to verify personal seller information which would knock down suspicious online sellers. This common-sense bill works to build a safer Colorado for everyone by protecting businesses from theft and consumers from purchasing stolen or counterfeit goods.” If passed HB22-1099 would require online marketplaces to verify the bank account information, tax identification number, and contact information from high-volume third-party sellers. This bill would also require sellers to disclose personal contact information to buyers, such as their name and address to assist in the authentication process for purchasing goods online. Previous Next

Bills aim to crack down on tax evasion, tax breaks for corporations and would help fill $1 billion revenue hole created by Congressional Republicans’ budget < Back August 21, 2025 Bills to Crack Down on Offshore Tax Cheats, Close Tax Breaks for Corporations and Protect Critical Services Pass Committee Bills aim to crack down on tax evasion, tax breaks for corporations and would help fill $1 billion revenue hole created by Congressional Republicans’ budget DENVER, CO – The House Appropriations Committee today passed two bills that would protect core services and close corporate tax loopholes after Republicans in Congress created a $1 billion hole in Colorado’s budget with massive corporate tax cuts. HB25B-1002 would crack down on foreign tax havens and offshore bank accounts, and HB25B-1001 would limit tax breaks for higher-earning business owners by permanently decoupling from a federal tax giveaway. “This bill cracks down on corporate tax evasion and offshore tax cheats to ensure that billionaires can’t dodge the taxes they owe to pay for Colorado roads, schools and health care,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of HB25B-1002. “Offshore tax loopholes help companies hoard wealth and avoid paying their fair share. With this legislation, we’re keeping Colorado dollars in Colorado and taking a stand against Trump's handouts to giant corporations." “With Trump’s tax bill offering massive tax breaks to corporations, it is only fair that they aren’t able to dodge Colorado taxes by using tax loopholes the Republicans in Congress put into the federal tax code that Colorado never agreed to accept under our rolling conformity tax system,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, sponsor of HB25B-1002. “This bill would help prevent US companies from hiding their income in tax havens like the Netherlands and Singapore. Our legislation would also decouple the state from a federal tax credit to ensure Colorado taxpayers aren’t subsidizing corporations that operate outside of our state.” HB25B-1002 , which passed by a vote of 7-4, would crack down on foreign tax havens, offshore bank accounts and other tax loopholes for US companies that dodge Colorado taxes with foreign assets. Unless they can prove legitimate operations in the foreign country, Colorado requires companies incorporated in common tax havens, like Cayman Islands and Panama, to pay Colorado taxes to prevent international tax avoidance. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the bill would expand the list of countries to include Hong Kong, Ireland, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands and Singapore. In 2017, President Trump created a special tax break, now known as the Foreign-Derived Deduction Eligible Income (FDDEI) deduction, for multi-national businesses that kept their intangible assets in the US. The bill would decouple the state from the FDDEI to prevent companies from benefiting from larger Colorado tax breaks for investments and assets that are based outside of the state. President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts also allowed pass-through businesses, like S corporations and real estate investment trusts, to avoid paying taxes on up to 20-percent of qualified business income. In 2020, the Colorado legislature passed the “Tax Fairness Act” , decoupling from this federal tax cut by creating an add-back for this deduction for high-income business owners with an income over $500,000 per year for single filers or $1 million per year for joint filers. “Trump’s tax bill blew a billion-dollar hole in our state budget while padding the pockets of billionaires, forcing the legislature into this special session,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, sponsor of HB25B-1001. “This legislation would close this corporate tax loophole in Colorado and prevent cuts to education, health care and core services that people rely on. The people who deserve tax relief are the hardworking people of Colorado - not corporations.” The legislature extended the decoupling and add-back through 2025. HB25B-1001 would make Colorado’s decoupling permanent, responding to the action by Republicans in Congress to make the tax giveaway permanent at the federal level in HR 1. The bill passed by a vote of 7-3. Previous Next

HB23-1231 would use data-driven tactics to improve students’ math skills < Back March 16, 2023 Bipartisan Bill to Boost PreK-12 Math Performance Sails Through House Education Committee HB23-1231 would use data-driven tactics to improve students’ math skills DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed a bipartisan bill to improve the math performance of Colorado’s students. This bill, sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan, incorporates evidence-informed tools to help boost the math skills of students ages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. “Pandemic-induced learning disruptions have certainly taken their toll on our students, which is why we’re making a major investment in out-of-school programming to address and improve the math skills of all of our students,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, Chair of the House Education Committee, D-Durango. “Our bipartisan legislation meets students where they are by embedding evidence-informed math practices into educator training and creating math-focused learning opportunities after school. As a former teacher, I know how important it is for students to be well-prepared for the grade ahead, and this bill works to strengthen their math performance so all of our students can thrive.” HB23-1231 , sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan and Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, passed committee unanimously. This bill invests $25.6 million to incorporate multiple evidence-informed 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 education. The House Education Committee also passed HB23-1089 , sponsored by Rep. Mary Young, unanimously. This bill improves stability for youth in foster care, including students with a disability, by allowing them to attend their same school after they’ve been placed in foster care. “Youth in our foster care system face enough uncertainty every day, and this bill offers them some stability in their routine by allowing them to attend the same school they attended before their foster care placement,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “We all want our students to succeed in school and they perform best when they’re surrounded by familiar support systems. My legislation works to keep our students supported by keeping them connected to their friends, teachers, and after-school activities.” Previous Next

< Back May 26, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES BILL TO CURB YOUTH ACCESS TO HIGH-POTENCY THC Legislation would advance research, address diversion, and educate consumers DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Representative Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician, on a preliminary vote that would address youth access to high-potency cannabis products. “Colorado is going to lead the way on addressing youth access to high-potency cannabis,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “ We are going to be at the forefront of looking at the science and the relationship between high-potency concentrates and the developing brain, taking on a role the federal government should have played years ago. This bill takes a measured, innovative approach to prevent Coloradans age 18-20 from purchasing massive quantities of concentrates and then diverting those products into the gray and black markets where our youth are buying them.” “As a pediatrician, I’ve seen first hand how young Coloradans have experienced significant health issues after using high-potency products,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician. “We have to take a look at how we can keep high-potency cannabis away from our youth who aren’t supposed to have access to it. This bill will make a big difference by strengthening the doctor-patient relationship and better educating consumers on high-potency products while ensuring we protect patients’ access to medical marijuana.” The bill would advance research into the impact of high potency marijuana on the developing brain, address diversion of cannabis concentrates purchased in the medical marijuana marketplace, and educate consumers about concentrates through visual representations of a recommended serving size and public awareness campaigns. Advances Research: The bill funds and advances critical research into the impact of high-potency cannabis concentrate products on the developing brain and on physical and mental health. It requires the Colorado School of Public Health to conduct a systematic review of the current scientific research into the effects of high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates and identify gaps in order to conduct new research. Under the bill, a new scientific review council of doctors and experts will review the report and make recommendations to the General Assembly on appropriate evidence-based regulatory changes and the funding of additional necessary evidence-based research. Addresses Diversion of High-Potency Products: The bill cracks down on “looping” and diversion by reducing the amount of medical concentrates someone can purchase in a day and requiring the Marijuana Enforcement Division’s seed-to-sale tracking database, METRC, to update at the point of sale, instead of at the end of each business day. Enhanced Doctor-Patient Relationship: The bill adjusts medical marijuana recommending practices by requiring doctors to specify a daily quantity authorization and to consider a patient’s mental health history when making a cannabis recommendation. For patients ages 18-20, the bill requires two physicians from different medical practices to diagnose the patient as having a debilitating or disabling medical condition after an in-person consultation, and the patient must attend a follow-up appointment every six months after the initial visit unless that patient is homebound. Real-Time Medical Marijuana Purchase Reporting: Through a practice known as “looping,” consumers can purchase the daily limit at multiple dispensaries, circumventing the limits and increasing youth access to high-potency cannabis products. The bill would crack down on “looping” in the medical marketplace by requiring medical marijuana stores to immediately record transactions in the seed-to-sale inventory tracking system. This would allow the system to identify discrepancies with daily purchase limits, access and retrieve real-time sales data, and alert medical mariuana stores if a sale to a patient has exceeded their daily purchase limit for that business day. Reduced Daily Purchase Amounts: The bill would limit daily medical marijuana concentrate purchases to eight grams for patients 21 years and older and to two grams for patients between the age of 18 and 20. Patients who had a medical marijuana card before the age of 18, patients who are homebound, for whom a physician has recommended a higher daily authorization, or for patients for whom going to a medical marijuana store on a daily basis presents significant physical or geographical hardship are exempt from these new limits. Consumer Education and Protection: The bill would better educate consumers about high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates by tasking the Colorado School of Public Health with developing a public education campaign, requiring MED to create a tangible education resource on the potential risks of concentrates and that shows visual representations of a recommended serving size be included with every sale, and by prohibiting advertisements targeted toward Colorado youth. Previous Next

< Back February 24, 2020 BILL SPONSORS OF FAMLI PROPOSAL AFFIRM COMMITMENT TO COLORADO WORKERS DENVER — Senator Faith Winter and Representative Matt Gray released the following statement regarding their dedication to creating a fair family and medical leave benefit for Colorado. “We are fully committed to passing a paid family and medical leave program this year. The approach we’ve been working on would provide a much-needed benefit to Colorado workers. This is a very complex policy; we are still working to find the right solution, and we won’t stop until we get there. Too many Coloradans are fearful that one unforeseen event could upend their entire lives and their carefully laid plans for the future. Guaranteeing paid family and medical leave and the economic security it provides will give more Coloradans the fair shot they deserve. ” Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2022 HOUSING PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS ADVANCE DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz and Tom Sullivan to establish new housing protections for veterans today passed the State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee by a vote of 10-1. “No veteran should ever be denied a place to live because they served our nation,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, “It’s already challenging enough to find an affordable place to live in Colorado, and the last thing someone needs to face is a baseless act of discrimination. With this bill, we’re breaking down barriers by prohibiting discrimination against veterans that has sometimes prevented those who have protected our country from renting or buying a home.” “We make a promise to the men and women who serve our nation, and that means having their backs when they complete their service,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “I’m proud of our work to protect those who have protected us and ensure that no veteran in Colorado is denied a place to live because they put their country first.” Over 400,000 veterans call Colorado home. HB22-1102 prohibits anyone selling or leasing a dwelling from discriminating against an individual based on their veteran or military status. The bill also prohibits someone from refusing to negotiate for housing with a veteran or otherwise denying or withholding housing on the basis of someone’s veterans or military status. The bill would add veteran or military status to Colorado law that currently prohibits housing discrimination because of a person’s disability, race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry or familial status. The bill does not extend protections to those who have been dishonorably discharged. Previous Next

2023 legislation will prevent gun violence, protect reproductive rights, provide record public school funding, improve air quality and reduce the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs < Back May 8, 2023 Legislature Adjourns with Dems Delivering Real Results on the Issues that Matter Most for Coloradans 2023 legislation will prevent gun violence, protect reproductive rights, provide record public school funding, improve air quality and reduce the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs DENVER, CO – The First Session of the 74th General Assembly adjourned today. Democratic lawmakers passed legislation that focused on the issues that matter for Coloradans: addressing the cost of living, protecting reproductive rights, reducing gun violence and improving public schools. “From improving public education with a record investment in our schools, teachers and students, to reducing the cost of health care and prescription drugs, this session delivered real results on the issues that matter most to Coloradans,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The legislation we passed will protect access to abortion, support our workforce and save people money on housing. I’m proud of our work to boost rural economies, protect our water future, and pass bipartisan legislation that will uplift people all across our state and help everyone reach their Colorado dream.” “Coloradans demanded bold action on the issues that matter most to them, and this session we delivered,” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, said. “From passing landmark gun violence prevention laws and working to lower your energy bills, to improving our gold standard elections and taking action to lower property tax bills for families and businesses, we fought tirelessly this session to make a real difference in our communities and for the people who make this state great.” “This session, we worked to address the most pressing needs in Colorado and did what we told voters we’d do when they elected the largest Democratic majority since the 1930s,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Democrats passed a landmark package of commonsense gun violence prevention laws, increased funding for crime victim services, and worked across the aisle to protect our freedoms, support working families, and improve public safety. We rejected the GOP’s extreme abortion bans, bills that would upend our gold standard election system, and anti-science climate denialism that threatens our future and our Colorado way of life.” “Democrats delivered real results for Coloradans this session that meet the needs of our growing state and position us well for the future,” Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, said . “We remained laser-focused on the issues that matter most to Colorado families: making Colorado a more affordable place to live, building safer, healthier communities, and setting students, teachers, and our workforce up for success. I’m proud of the progress we made this year, and I look forward to building a better Colorado for generations to come.” This year, the General Assembly passed packages of legislation to make housing more affordable, reduce health care costs, advance affordable clean energy, cut property taxes, prevent gun violence, increase access to protected health care, improve public education, and boost Colorado’s workforce. Reducing Housing Costs Building Homes for Every Colorado Budget: Lawmakers encouraged affordable housing development by making it possible to build housing on state-owned property through public-private partnerships ( SB23-001 ). Democrats also passed legislation to eliminate arbitrary local caps on new housing that restrict supply and drive up costs for families, thereby increasing our housing supply, saving people money on housing, improving our environment, and allowing people to live where they work ( HB23-1255 ). Lawmakers also passed first in the nation legislation that will give local governments a right of first refusal r on a multifamily or mixed-use rental property, if they commit to maintaining the property as affordable housing for at least 100 years ( HB23-1190 ). Proposition HH, which will appear on the ballot in November, would reduce property taxes, help seniors and veterans on fixed incomes stay in their homes, and boost TABOR refunds for everyone making under $100,000 to help renters, lower and middle income Coloradans, and put more money back into the pockets of the people who need it the most ( SB23-303 ; HB23-1311 ). Creating New Renter Protections and Saving Renters Money : Democrats passed landmark laws to protect renters. New legislation will limit security deposit amounts, cap income requirements, and reduce barriers to housing eligibility ( SB23-184 ). Lawmakers saved Coloradans money on rental applications by allowing potential renters to reuse a rental application for up to 30 days without paying additional fees ( HB23-1099 ). Democrats also strengthened residential lease agreements to protect renters against leases with hidden language that negate legal protections for excessive fees and legal rights ( HB23-1095 ). Lawmakers protected lower-income Coloradans and Coloradans living with disabilities who rely on critical safety net programs from unjust evictions by providing for mandatory mediation prior to an eviction being filed ( HB23-1120 ). Lawmakers also passed a bill to allow Coloradans to participate in eviction proceedings remotely, so renters can avoid a default judgment from not being able to attend in person ( HB23-1186 ). Saving People Money on Health Care Saving People Money on Prescription Drugs: Democrats strengthened the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs ( HB23-1225 ), held pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) accountable for cost saving requirements ( HB23-1227 ), and made it an unfair business practice for PBMs to charge employers more for a drug than what they pay pharmacies for the same drug ( HB23-1201 ). With the cost of critical drugs skyrocketing, lawmakers also tackled the high price of EpiPens so that Colorado residents can better afford this life-saving medication ( HB23-1002 ). Lowering Premiums, Reducing Costs and Increasing Transparency: Democrats passed laws to lower insurance premiums and make it easier for consumers to shop for high value health plans that work for them and their families ( HB23-1224 ), expanded access to affordable community health service workers in health-care settings ( SB23-002 ), ensured hospitals are reinvesting in their communities in ways that align with community needs ( HB23-1243 ), and improved hospital transparency requirements to identify ways to reduce costs for patients ( HB23-1226 ). Enhancing Medical Consumer Protections: Democrats created additional consumer protections from high interest rates for medical debt and confusing debt collection practices that lead to long-lasting financial instability ( SB23-093 ; HB23-1126 ) and protected patients, doctors, and hospitals from exorbitant costs in the case that a health insurance company becomes insolvent ( HB23-1303 ). Improving Access to Behavioral Health for Colorado Youth: Lawmakers passed bills to support the mental well-being of Colorado’s students by offering mental health screenings in schools ( HB23-1003 ) and by streamlining the hiring process for licensed mental health professionals and expanding access to mental health resources and support in schools ( SB23-004 ). New legislation will require insurance to cover multiple types of therapy and treatment planning services for Medicaid members who are under the age of 21 ( SB23-174 ). Investing in Education and Workforce Providing Record K-12 Public Schools Funding, Boosting Math Achievement, Increasing Special Education Resources: Democrats put more money into classrooms to increase teacher pay, reduce class sizes and set up students to thrive by increasing public school funding by $660 million next year– increasing per pupil funding to $10,614 per student on average. Lawmakers provided $30 million to rural schools and committed to fully eliminating the Budget Stabilization Factor for the 2024-2025 school year ( SB23-287 ). Bipartisan legislation will ensure students get the support they need to improve their math skills by increasing access to affordable programs inside and outside of the classroom ( HB23-1231 ). The General Assembly also significantly increased funding for special education programs ( SB23-099 ). Boosting Colorado’s Workforce: Democrats invested $45 million over two years for aspiring professionals in high-demand fields to receive free training toward certificates and degrees in fields such as elementary and early childhood education, firefighting, law enforcement, forest management, nursing, and construction trades ( HB23-1246 ). Bipartisan legislation will provide qualifying students with a scholarship up to $1,500 for an apprenticeship or on-the-job training at a trade school, community college, or college and university ( SB23-205 ). To help working families, the legislature increased the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit by over $170 million, putting hundreds of dollars directly into the pockets of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans ( HB23-1112) . Addressing the Teacher Shortage: Lawmakers passed legislation to get more teachers into classrooms through the creation of an apprenticeship program as an alternative route to teacher licensure ( SB23-087 ), and created new pathways for qualified out-of-state teachers to more quickly gain professional licensure in Colorado and start teaching in our schools ( HB23-1064 ). A new law will save educators money by expanding the pool of student educators who qualify for stipend programs ( HB23-1001) . Preventing Gun Violence Expanding the ‘Red Flag’ Law: Democrats expanded who can file an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) to now include district attorneys and other law enforcement officials, health care providers, mental health professionals, and educators ( SB23-170 ). Creating a Three Day Waiting Period: A new law will require a gun seller to wait for an approved background check or three days from the initiation of the background check - whichever is later - to deliver a firearm. Creating a waiting period delays immediate access to firearms and can help prevent suicides and impulsive acts of violence ( HB23-1219 ). Raising the Minimum Age to Purchase a Firearm to 21: Under current federal law, individuals must be 21 years old to purchase a handgun but only need to be 18 years old to purchase long guns. To reduce youth access to firearms and prevent gun violence, this law raises the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21, with limited exceptions ( SB23-169 ). Cracking Down on Ghost Guns: This bill prohibits the possession, sale, or transfer of an unserialized firearm, frame or receiver. It also prohibits manufacturing a frame or receiver, including via a 3D printer, unless done by a federally licensed firearm manufacturer ( SB23-279 ). Improving Gun Violence Survivors’ Access to Justice: Previously, gun sellers and manufacturers enjoyed broad protections under the federal PLCAA law from most types of civil lawsuits - and Colorado law had a punitive provision that forced survivors of gun violence to pay legal fees in dismissed cases. This law removes Colorado’s overly-broad immunity protections to allow for legitimate lawsuits to move forward to hold bad actors in the firearm industry accountable ( SB23-168 ). Taking Bold Climate Action and Wildfire Mitigation Lowering the Cost of Clean Energy, Electric Vehicles and E-Bikes : This legislation will save Coloradans money and help meet our climate goals with approximately $60 million in annual tax incentives to businesses and consumers for electric vehicles, e-bikes, and investments in clean energy and industrial emissions reductions ( HB23-1272 ). Other laws will reduce the cost of energy bills by aligning utility company incentives with consumer interests ( SB23-291 ) and making electric vehicles more accessible ( HB23-1233 ). Reducing Emissions From Energy Sources: Democrats passed legislation to reduce the time and cost of residential solar installation and permitting to save Coloradans money on their energy bills ( HB23-1234 ), and lower Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions through new reduction targets, electrification incentives, and climate-aware investments ( SB23-016 ). Conserving and Protecting Water Resources: Conserves fresh water by requiring oil and gas operators to reduce, reuse and recycle water in their drilling operations ( HB23-1242 ) and allows all homeowners in HOAs to pursue water-wise landscaping ( SB23-178 ). Invests $12.6 million towards the implementation of the state Water Plan to support the Colorado River, outdoor recreation and agriculture ( SB23-237 ). Protecting Against Wildfires: Supports local governments to better investigate and prevent the causes of wildfires ( SB23-013 ), and invests in Colorado’s forestry and wildfire mitigation workforce and tree nursery to more effectively mitigate and recover from wildfire destruction ( SB23-005 , HB23-1060 ). Helps restore natural stream systems and freshwater resources to mitigate floods and wildfires ( SB23-270 ), and secures a second Firehawk helicopter, the most technologically advanced firefighting aircraft available ( SB23-161 ). Protecting Our Freedoms and Access to Reproductive Health Care Protecting Reproductive Health Care Patients and Providers: Establishes a shield law to protect those receiving, providing, or assisting with legally-protected health care – including abortion and gender-affirming care – from criminal prosecutions. Prevents Colorado state employees from assisting with interstate investigations in order to protect patients traveling to Colorado from other states to access protected health care ( SB23-188 ). Increasing Access to Reproductive Health Care: Limits surprise medical billing and removes patient cost sharing for reproductive health care services and treatment, including but not limited to sterilization, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and abortion care. Modernizes a 1971 law to expand access to contraception for all Coloradans, increases family-planning related services, and prioritizes access to life-saving HIV medication ( SB23-189 ). Cracking Down on Deceptive Practices by Anti-Abortion Centers: Protects Coloradans seeking reproductive health care by making it a deceptive trade practice to advertise providing abortion care, emergency contraceptives or referrals of either of these services when the service is not actually provided. Clarifies that it is unprofessional for health care providers to administer or prescribe a “medication abortion reversal” ( SB23-190 ). Expanding Access to Contraceptive Care: Improves access to the single dispensing of 12 months of contraception and ensures health insurance plans and PBMs are providing coverage in compliance with current law ( SB23-284 ). Defeating Dangerous Bills to Criminalize Abortion: Democrats in the House defeated dangerous Republican bills that would have criminalized abortion in Colorado and spread harmful disinformation about so-called “medication abortion reversals”. The efforts would have eliminated access to safe, legal reproductive health care in Colorado ( HB23-1150 ; HB23-1119 ; HB23-1097 ). Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to improve wildfire mitigation in rural communities < Back April 30, 2024 Legislation to Improve Wildfire Mitigation in Rural Communities Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to improve wildfire mitigation in rural communities. HB24-1006, sponsored by Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Marc Snyder, would make it easier for rural communities to locate and apply for state and federal wildfire prevention grants. “Rural communities like mine are often most at risk for wildfire-related damage and displacement,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs . “This bill would connect rural communities to state and federal wildfire mitigation grants and assist with the application process. From improved emergency response efforts to risk management, there are many things that communities can do to ease the impact of wildfires. This bill uplifts rural communities and connects them to the resources they need to mitigate wildfires and keep their homes and businesses safe.” “Rural communities often have fewer resources to mitigate destructive wildfires, which can leave communities in disarray,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “This bill makes it easier for our rural communities to find and apply for state and federal wildfire mitigation grants. From wildfire prevention tactics to increased emergency response efforts, there are many wildfire mitigation efforts that can keep our communities safe and better prepared.” HB24-1006 , which passed by a vote of 57 to 7, would he lp rural communities find and apply for state and federal wildfire mitigation grants. Specifically, this bill would establish a rural grant navigator program within the Colorado State Forest Service to aid rural communities in locating and applying for wildfire mitigation grants. Grants can help communities obtain the resources they need to combat wildfires through prevention tactics, response efforts, and risk management. Previous Next

< Back November 13, 2022 Reps. Bird and Sirota Appointed to JBC DENVER, CO – House Speaker-designate Julie McCluskie today appointed Representatives Shannon Bird and Emily Sirota to the Joint Budget Committee. “It’s certainly bittersweet for me to leave the budget committee, but with these two lawmakers stepping up, I know it’s in great hands,” said Speaker-designate Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I’m proud of the results we’ve delivered in recent years–more funding for schools to increase teacher pay and reduce class sizes, increased resources to improve public safety, and some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Representatives Bird and Sirota will bring incredible talent, vision and leadership to the JBC. I know they will listen and work closely with each member to advance the diverse interests of every community in every corner of our state.” “I’m thrilled that Representatives Sirota and Bird will be joining the JBC,” said Majority Leader-elect Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “We have one of the largest and most diverse caucuses in the history of our state, and I know that with these appointments, our wide range of voices and views will be well represented on the JBC and in our budget. With people of color making up more than half of our leadership team, I’m excited to see our inclusive values will be a consistent focus of our state budget. Reps. Sirota and Bird will be instrumental in helping us invest in key priorities while increasing funding for schools and critical services. I’m confident both of our new JBC members advance our values and move Colorado forward.” “It’s a privilege to join the Joint Budget Committee and continue our work to make Colorado more affordable, invest in our schools, create jobs, support small businesses and build an economy that works for everyone in our state,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “While Colorado leads the nation in job growth, fiscal constraints mean we must be smart about where we direct our resources. We have an opportunity to address historical inequities that disproportionately impact communities or color, and I’m committed to working with my colleagues to craft an equitable budget that reflects the priorities of our constituents and the diversity of our caucus and prepares our state for the bright future we have ahead.” “I’m honored to serve on the Joint Budget Committee, and I’m excited to get to work crafting a budget that protects and expands critical services in every community in our state, especially those that have been underserved,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “I’ll prioritize investments that uplift the communities historically left behind–often communities of color, which are disproportionately impacted by the challenges we must address like climate change, education funding and income inequality. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass a budget that addresses the most pressing needs in our state, helps every community thrive and moves Colorado forward.” Rep. Bird, first elected in 2018, represents House District 29 in Adams County, which includes much of Westminster. Rep. Bird is currently the Chair of the House Finance Committee, a member of the Business Affairs & Labor Committee, and the Pension Commission and Pension Review Subcommittee. She has passed legislation to support small businesses and boost Colorado’s economy, including creating the Small Business Recovery Loan Program in 2020. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a B.A. in Economics. She later graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver, earning both an MBA and an MS in Finance. Representative Bird completed her education by earning a J.D. at the University of Denver College of Law. Rep. Sirota, first elected in 2018, represents House District 9 in the Colorado Legislature, and is Vice-Chair of the Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee and she serves on the Energy & Environment Committee. Before her election to the Colorado House of Representatives, Emily helped run an early learning center in Denver. As a Representative for House District 9, Emily has championed worker's rights, campaign finance reform, a healthy and vibrant public education system, environmental justice, progressive tax policy and fundamental reforms to our pillars of democracy. She received her B.A. in Political Science at Indiana University and received her Master of Social Work from the University of Denver. Previous Next

< Back October 31, 2022 Rep. Michaelson Jenet Statement Condemning Violence Against Paul Pelosi DENVER, CO – Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a leader in Colorado on addressing hate speech and identity-based violence, today released the following statement condemning the recent acts of violence against Paul Pelosi: "My thoughts and support for a full recovery are with Paul Pelosi and the entire Pelosi family after the brutal attack on his life last Friday. We must stand united in condemning violence and extreme political rhetoric. Free speech is a cherished right in our country, but with freedom comes responsibility. By celebrating, condoning and perpetuating hate speech, under the guise of “freedom,” we contradict the word's very meaning. Hateful and violent rhetoric leads to violence, preventing us all from living in peace and freedoms. We must condemn all violence toward elected officials, their families and loved ones. And we must call for an end to the violent threats that have become far too frequent in our political discourse. The very foundation of democracy depends on it." Previous Next