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The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Elizabeth Velasco that would improve safety and keep traffic flowing on Colorado’s mountain highways. SB24-100 passed by a vote of 60-4. < Back April 30, 2024 Bipartisan Velasco Bill to Improve Safety, Keep Traffic Flowing on Mountain Highways Passes DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Elizabeth Velasco that would improve safety and keep traffic flowing on Colorado’s mountain highways. SB24-100 passed by a vote of 60-4. “My community of Glenwood Springs experiences the most accidents of the entire stretch of I-70, and road closures due to these accidents can have negative consequences on our businesses and the safety of our residents,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “When I-70 is closed, employees can’t make it to work and first responders can’t address an emergency in a timely manner. The goal of our bill is to reduce accidents on I-70 so we can keep our roads open and communities safe.” SB24-100 also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would improve safety by allowing the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to establish a zone with increased speeding fines for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in Glenwood Canyon. The bill would also ban CMVs from driving in the left lane on I-70 in several key stretches where crashes are most frequent and disruptive, exceptions are permitted to pass vehicles going under the speed limit. According to CDOT , CMVs represent about 7 percent of traffic, but account for more than 52 percent of traffic incidents. Wrecks involving CMVs take nearly twice as long to clear as passenger incidents. SB24-100 would further expand locations where CDOT may require traction equipment from parts of I-70 to key mountainous stretches of other state and U.S. highways. The bill would also give port of entry officers the powers of a peace officer when enforcing highway closures and direct CDOT to study additional locations for chain-up and chain-down stations. Previous Next

Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: < Back May 3, 2024 McLachlan and Simpson Joint Statement on CommonSpirit Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Impasse DURANGO, CO - Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: Coloradans in our communities must have access to hospital care and medical services within a reasonable distance from home, and this impasse puts critical care out of reach for consumers in Southwest Colorado. Coloradans in rural communities often have to travel hours for care, but forcing patients to drive to Colorado Springs or Grand Junction to receive treatment is not an appropriate alternative. It’s time for Anthem and CommonSpirit to put patients before profits and come to an agreement that continues in-network coverage for facilities such as Mercy Hospital in our communities. Previous Next

< Back May 18, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILLS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SAVE PEOPLE MONEY ON HEALTH CARE Legislation significantly boosts number of inpatient beds for adults and youth, increases access to care for families and saves Coloradans money on prescription drugs DENVER, CO – Two critical bills from the legislature’s behavioral health package were signed into law today. They invest nearly $120 million to increase residential treatment options in Colorado and expand access to behavioral health care for youth and families. Governor Polis also signed legislation that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs and save Coloradans money on health care. Adult Inpatient and Residential Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1303 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Shane Sandridge and Senators Faith Winter and Jim Smallwood, invests $65 million to expand inpatient and residential treatment options. “Colorado needs more residential treatment options to ensure that people have access to the care they need, and that’s what the bill signed into law today will do,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Too many people are waiting for treatment and seeing their conditions worsen because there isn’t a treatment bed available for them. The legislation signed today will fund new beds across the state for people struggling with serious mental illness.” “Far too many of our neighbors are struggling to access the health care they need, and we must increase our capacity to support folks who require urgent, immediate care,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster . “These new laws will provide additional inpatient and residential treatment beds for individuals in need, and help people save money and improve certainty for folks who rely on lifesaving prescription drugs, which will make a world of difference and allow more Coloradans to access the care they desperately need.” Currently, Colorado does not have enough residential treatment beds to treat individuals with serious mental illness, including individuals with co-occuring conditions or in need of civil commitment. The law supports the addition of 16 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan and 125 residential treatment beds across the state. These beds will be available for adults with urgent behavioral health needs who need clinical support to become stabilized. They will provide integrated care to flexibly serve all populations, including individuals involved in the criminal justice system and those awaiting competency restoration services. “The legislation Governor Polis signed today will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies and prescription drug benefit managers to pass on savings from manufacturer rebates to consumers,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “No one should have to choose between life saving medication and paying for everyday necessities. This new law will protect consumers and help ensure that cost isn’t a barrier to the treatment patients need.” Saving Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs: HB22-1370 , sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Iman Jodeh and Senators Faith Winter and Janet Buckner, makes prescription drugs and health care more affordable and dependable. The bill ensures doctors are in charge of a patient’s treatment instead of insurance companies by limiting when a patient has to try and fail a treatment that their insurance company prefers before they can get what their doctor recommends. The bill ensures that patients know what they’ll be expected to pay for prescription drugs by requiring that 25 percent of health plans have a set dollar amount for co-pays instead of unpredictable percentage-based coinsurance. “This legislation prevents people from seeing their health coverage change when they are in the middle of lifesaving treatment and will help ensure patients have access to the medications they need,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We’ve taken historic action in recent years to bring down the cost of health insurance and save people money on health care, and I’m proud to see us take this important step forward today to save people even more on their prescription drugs.” The bill will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies to pass along the savings from manufacturers’ rebates. The bill also bans health insurance companies from raising the out-of-pocket costs of someone’s prescription medications in the middle of their coverage and prohibits companies from dropping coverage of a medication a patient needs midway through the patients’ coverage. “Kids and families all across Colorado deserve access to quality behavioral health care, but our current system isn’t getting them the care they need,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “I am proud to champion these bills that will improve access to behavioral health care for youth in Colorado, lower the cost and improve access to lifesaving prescription drugs, and help make sure that every family in our state is able to receive the vital care they need to thrive.” Youth and Family Residential Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1283 sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Mary Bradfield and Senators Janet Buckner and Kevin Priola, will make it easier for families and youth to access residential and outpatient care in Colorado. “Colorado is facing a youth mental health crisis; we made expanding access to care for youth and families one of the major focuses of our behavioral health package this year,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Too many families can’t find options for treatment in Colorado so they are forced to send their kids out of state. I’m proud Colorado is making a historic investment to substantially increase our ability to care for our kids and provide the care they need to thrive.” Right now, Colorado does not have adequate capacity to serve children and youth with complex behavioral health needs. As a result, too many children are sent out-of-state to access treatment, far away from their families and support network. This bill will invest $54M to support intensive youth and family residential and outpatient care, ensuring that children, youth, and families can access behavioral health treatment and services they need right here in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back March 8, 2021 DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REDUCE COSTS AND INCREASE AFFORDABILITY OF LIFE-SAVING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DENVER – This afternoon, Senators Jaquez Lewis and Gonzales, along with Representatives Caraveo and Kennedy, in partnership with Governor Polis, announced the introduction of SB21-175, a bill to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. “Prescription drugs cost too much and Coloradans are sick and tired of being ripped off. This bill is an important step toward our goal of saving people money on health care,” said Governor Jared Polis. “I want to thank the bill sponsors for their efforts to ensure that hardworking Coloradans can get the medicine they need for themselves and their families without worrying about astronomical costs.” “As prescription drug costs continue to skyrocket, people are forced to make impossible choices,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County, a pharmacist and prime sponsor of the legislation. “This proposal–this group of non-partisan experts–has the potential to save Coloradans as much as 75% on the most unaffordable drugs. We have no choice but to address this issue–we absolutely must get this under control so we can build a healthy Colorado for all!” “The painful and heartbreaking accounts of Coloradans who are forced to choose between filling prescriptions, skipping doses or paying for basic necessities are far too common,” said bill sponsor Representative Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “The skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs is hurting families, and it’s hurting our economic recovery. Coming out of this pandemic, we must build back stronger, and that means making common sense reforms to lower the costs of the drugs that are eating away at the bottom line of so many hardworking Coloradans.” Too many Coloradans skip doses, stretch the length of their prescriptions, or delay filling prescriptions because they simply cannot afford them. As established in the bill, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will convene a panel of experts to investigate prescription drug cost increases, and set guardrails on cost increases for the most expensive prescription drugs in the state. The affordability board would set upper payment limits for prescription drugs that meet certain cost increase thresholds. These payment limits would apply to all purchasers in the state, but will only be placed on the highest cost drugs, with purchasers continuing to be able to negotiate rates for the vast majority of drugs. The board will collect and evaluate the data necessary to review the affordability of prescription drugs and make policy recommendations to legislators. The board will be made up of nonpartisan, unpaid experts who are free from conflicts of interest. “Even prior to the pandemic, nearly 1 in 3 Coloradans struggled to afford the prescription drugs they need to stay healthy, forcing families to choose between buying their prescriptions or paying rent and buying groceries,” said bill sponsor Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “At a time when Coloradans are struggling with the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we should ensure that all Coloradans – particularly in communities of color – have access to affordable health care.” “Prescription drugs are essential to managing, preventing, and curing diseases, but not every Coloradan can access them because cost is a barrier when it shouldn’t even be a consideration,” said bill sponsor Rep Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, a physician. “Coloradans need us to act now. Colorado families are struggling with unfair and unaffordable drug costs. The affordability board will reign in the highest cost drugs and stop the out of control increases that are reaching deeper and deeper into Coloradans pockets and driving up the cost of healthcare for everyone.” A recent poll from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative found that 77% of Coloradans supported the idea of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to analyze and act to lower the cost of certain prescription drugs — and this bill seeks to answer their call. To read the full text of the bill and track it through the legislative process, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-175 Previous Next

Legislation would require responsible business practices to sell firearms and make it easier to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns, helping to prevent gun violence < Back March 28, 2024 Bills to Reduce Gun Violence Passes Committee Legislation would require responsible business practices to sell firearms and make it easier to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns, helping to prevent gun violence DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed two gun violence prevention bills to require firearm dealers to hold a license to sell firearms and help law enforcement recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns. HB24-1353 passed by a vote of 6-3. SB24-066 passed by a vote of 8-3. “Colorado Democrats have passed numerous gun violence prevention laws over the last few years, and this bill will help ensure compliance with these laws,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, sponsor of HB24-1353. “Our legislation would require a firearms dealer to have a state permit in order to sell firearms and would increase inspections to ensure that gun dealers are complying with state and federal gun laws. Data show that state permitting policies for firearm dealers lead to fewer guns trafficked. I’m proud to sponsor this legislation to keep our communities safe from gun violence.” "Firearm dealers could be the first line of defense against gun violence if they are given the proper tools, which is what this legislation aims to do," said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of HB24-1353. "Our bill would train firearm dealers to better identify people with dangerous intentions from accessing guns – from straw purchasers, those at risk for self-harm and more. We’re implementing crucial oversight measures to prevent gun violence and save Colorado lives." Starting July 1, 2025, HB24-1353 would require firearm dealers in Colorado to hold a state firearms dealer permit in order to sell guns in Colorado. Operating without this permit would be an unclassified felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000. Firearm dealers would apply to the Department of Revenue and must hold a valid federal firearm license to be eligible for a state firearms dealer permit. Additionally, applicants will not be eligible for the permit if they have an adverse licensing action taken for good cause by the federal government or any state within three years of applying. They will also be ineligible if they have been convicted of a violation of any state or federal law regarding the possession or sale of firearms. Other requirements for receiving a state firearms dealer permit include: An annual finger-printed background checks for employees, Training on how to prevent theft and identify straw purchasers, fraudulent activities, and people at risk of self-harm. An exam on this training would also be required before an applicant is granted a permit, Random and regular inspections to ensure firearms dealers are complying with state and federal law, Firearm sales to only occur during business hours, except during a gun show, Compliance with safe storage regulations, and Contacting law enforcement to report a suspicious person who tried to unlawfully purchase a firearm within 48 hours of the incident. Studies show that policies regulating firearm dealer licensing can lead to significant reductions in gun violence, including gun homicides and suicides. After Connecticut passed a similar law, its firearm homicide rate fell by 28 percent and firearm suicide rate decreased by 33 percent . “When we’ve looked back into mass shooters’ actions before they attacked our communities, we often find suspicious activity like large purchases of firearms and ammunition," said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of SB24-066. “Merchant codes have been used effectively to alert law enforcement to activity related to human trafficking and money laundering. With specific merchant codes for gun store purchases, we can identify this suspicious activity before they attack our schools, places of worship, and grocery stores so we have the opportunity to intervene before innocent lives are taken from us.” “Many mass shootings are preventable, and our legislation is an important tool in identifying people with dangerous intentions so we can prevent gun violence before it happens," said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, sponsor of SB24-066. "When Coloradans make purchases with a credit card, these transactions are categorized with merchant codes to identify financial patterns and criminal activity, like human trafficking. Every industry has these codes, and the firearm industry should not be an exception. This legislation would give law enforcement the tools they need to better recognize dangerous activity so we can prevent mass shooting tragedies that plague our communities.” SB24-066 would require payment card networks like Visa or Mastercard to provide a specific code, known as a merchant code, for businesses that primarily sell firearms and ammunition. Merchant codes would allow banks and credit card companies to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns – like a domestic extremist building up an arsenal – and report them to law enforcement. A report found this legislation could have prevented many mass shootings, including the Aurora movie theater shooting and the Pulse Nightclub shooting. The Aurora movie theater shooter used a MasterCard to buy $11,000 worth of weapons and military gear at multiple stores in the six weeks before the shooting. Previous Next

Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the June economic forecasts. < Back June 20, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Forecast Shows Colorado Economy Remains Strong, Despite Headwinds DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the June economic forecasts. “Today’s forecast shows that Colorado’s economic outlook remains positive, despite the structural difficulties and potential further challenges that we face,” said JBC Chair Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Thanks to smart, responsible budgeting we have been able to bolster support for Colorado’s families by investing in housing, health care, and education, and we are committed to protecting those gains and ensuring that Colorado remains on a sound and sensible economic path, enabling our state to thrive for generations to come.” "Despite persistent inflation, Colorado's economy remains strong with one of the lowest rates of unemployment in the nation,” said JBC Vice-Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Today’s forecast showed Colorado’s continued growth, but underscores the ongoing need to budget and govern responsibly as we find ways to make the most impact for Coloradans with limited resources. I’m proud that we have prioritized investments in the services our communities need, like education, public safety and at the same time, have built a strong reserve. This kind of smart budgeting will help us weather any possible economic headwinds that we may face.” “The numbers we saw today show that while Colorado’s economy remains strong, there are mixed signals that could spell trouble on the horizon if left unchecked,” JBC Member Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, said. “That’s why we worked so hard this session to craft a thoughtful, flexible budget that meets the needs of families and communities across our state. I am proud of the work we’ve done to support Coloradans during this volatile economic period, and I look forward to continuing our work to set Colorado on a path to further economic success.” “This economic forecast showed Colorado is on a steady track forward," said JBC Member Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We've made important progress over the years to support our youngest learners, save Coloradans money on health care and reduce the cost of living. While this economic forecast looks promising, Colorado continues to face some fiscal constraints. This includes inflation in the rental housing market, making it more challenging for Coloradans to keep pace with rising costs. We've budgeted wisely to be able to provide critical services to our communities and must continue to make smart choices with our limited public dollars so that all Coloradans can thrive." Colorado’s economy continues to grow, with an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent, which is lower than before the pandemic and below the national average of 3.7 percent, with total employment growth clocking in at around 1.1 percent. The Legislative Council Staff (LCS) forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $17.70 billion in FY 2022-2023 and $17.76 billion in FY 2023-2024 – a $540 million increase for FY 2022-2023 and a $20 million increase for FY 2023-2024 as compared with the earlier March revenue forecast. The LCS forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $18.57 billion for FY 2024-2025. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) anticipates that General Fund revenue will be $17.80 billion for FY 2022-2023, an $806 million increase over the March forecast. For FY 2023-2024, OSPB revised down its projected General Fund revenue by $178.9 million to $16.52 billion. For FY 2024-2025, OSPB estimates that General Fund revenue will be $18.14 billion, an increase of $146.2 billion as compared with the March forecast. The forecast anticipates continued growth as Colorado stands well positioned to fare better in the case of a downturn. Factors that could improve the forecast include slowing inflation in the services industry, stronger wage growth, and a rebound in real wages, and reduced housing costs. Risks that could negatively impact the forecast include persistent inflation leading to further restrictive monetary policies and continued geopolitical and trade uncertainty. Previous Next

< Back January 18, 2019 JOINT PRESS RELEASE: DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKERS URGE COLORADO’S SENATORS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO RE-OPEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Longest Federal Shutdown in US History Harming Colorado Families & Economy (Jan. 18) – Democratic members of the Colorado General Assembly urged Colorado’s U.S. Senators to push Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the President to re-open the federal government. In a letter addressed to Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner, the lawmakers wrote: “The more than 53,000 federal employees who call Colorado home are dedicated public servants who deserve to go back to work and be paid for their hard work. Roughly 15,000 of these federal workers did not receive a paycheck last week. As a result, they are struggling to make rent, mortgage or car loan payments, to pay for utility or medical bills and to keep food on the table.” More than 1,000 federal workers have filed for unemployment assistance because of the financial strains of this shutdown and SNAP recipients are at risk. The lingering effects of the shutdown are taking a toll on Colorado’s businesses, brewers and National Parks. “This shutdown just entered its 28th day and we are concerned about the devastating impacts it will have the longer it goes on.” “We are thankful to the individuals, organizations and responsible businesses who are assisting our fellow Coloradans in this time of trouble and stress.” “We encourage you to use your position in the Senate to advocate for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring up and pass the House-approved legislation that would re-open the federal government. Please do everything in your power to convince the President, the administration and Senate leadership to end this deadlock and work to re-open the federal government,” the letter concluded. The letter can be found here . The letter was signed by House Speaker KC Becker, House Majority Leader Alec Garnett,, House Speaker Pro Tem Janet Bucker, House Assistant . Majority Leader Chris Kennedy, Representative Mike Weissman, Representative Kyle Mullica, Representative Tracy Kraft-Tharp, Representative Meg Froelich, Representative Dominique Jackson, Representative Shannon Bird, Representative Lisa Cutter, Representative Monica Duran, Representative Kerry Tipper, Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Representative Brianna Titone, Representative Dylan Roberts, Representative Adrienne Benavidez, Representative Emily Sirota, Representative Barbara McLachlan, Representative Leslie Herod, Representative Susan Lontine, Representative Cathy Kipp, Representative Daneya Esgar, Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Representative Donald Valdez, Representative Alex Valdez, Representative Yadira Caraveo, Representative James Coleman, Representative Chris Hansen, Representative Rochelle Gallindo, Representative Matt Gray, Representative Marc Snyder, Representative Tony Exum, Sr., Representative Julie McCluskie, Representative Tom Sullivan, Representative Bri Buentello, Representative Edie Hooton, Representative Jeni Arndt, Representative Sonya Jaquez Lewis, Representative Jovan Melton, Representative Jonathan Singer Senate President Leroy M. Garcia, Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, Speaker Pro Tem Lois Court, Assistant Majority Leader Rhonda Fields, Senator Kerry Donovan, Senator Pete Lee, Senator Joann Ginal, Senator Tammy Story, Senator Mike Foote, Senator Rachel Zenzinger, Senator Jessie Danielson, Senator Dominick Moreno, Senator Brittany Pettersen, Senator Faith Winter, Senator Jeff Bridges, Senator Nancy Todd, Senator Robert Rodriguez, Senator Angela Williams, and Senator Julie Gonzales. Previous Next

< Back May 14, 2019 REP. EXUM & REP. SNYDER’S BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW (May 14) – Gov. Polis signed bills sponsored by Colorado Springs Democratic Reps. Tony Exum and Marc Snyder into law today. This morning, Rep. Tony Exum, Sr. traveled to Pueblo to join Gov. Jared Polis as he signed into law SB19-065, a bill he sponsored with Senate President Leroy Garcia to create a peer-to-peer assistance program to help EMS paramedics who are struggling with the stresses of their job. “Being an EMS paramedic is one of the most stressful jobs out there,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “This new law will open doors for emergency medical providers to peer assistance when they are going through challenges in their life and are not able to perform their duties. This law puts a focus on mental health and can help ensure Colorado’s EMS workers are in the best shape physically and mentally to help save lives and respond to a crisis.” Rep. Exum is a retired battalion chief in the Colorado Springs Fire Department. SB19-065 is a bipartisan law that creates a fund that will pay for a peer health assistance program which will evaluate, assist, and counsel EMS paramedics who are dealing with the stresses of their job. Whenever an EMS worker becomes certified or renews their certification, a small fee of $2.55 will be applied to create the program within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Sometimes the toll and exposure to traumatic events in these positions can lead to depression, aggressive behaviors, substance abuse, and even suicide. This afternoon, another bipartisan Exum bill was signed into law at Centennial Elementary in Colorado Springs today. HB19-1013, will extend the low-income child care tax credit to help ease the childcare burden on roughly 32,000 hardworking families in Colorado for another eight years. “The high cost of child care places a burden on hardworking families in Colorado Springs and our state,” Rep. Exum said when the bill passed the House. “I was proud to sponsor this bill when I first got to the state capitol and hope we can continue helping thousands of Coloradan families afford child care every year.” Gov. Polis then signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “The goal of this program is to help those with traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries. This update will help expand services to Coloradans with brain injuries who deserve proper assistance,” said Rep. Snyder. HB19-1147 makes revisions to the traumatic brain injury program, including requiring the traumatic brain injury trust fund board to include members who have experienced a brain injury, family members of persons who have experienced brain injury, and those with specific personal or professional experience with traumatic brain injury. The Senate sponsor is Sen. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs. ### Previous Next

The House today introduced two bills that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs. < Back March 2, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Bills to Reduce the Cost of Prescription Drugs Introduced DENVER, CO - The House today introduced two bills that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs. HB23-1225 , sponsored by Representatives Chris deGruy Kennedy and Ruby Dickson and Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, increases the effectiveness of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Coloradans. “Colorado Democrats have made substantial progress lowering the cost of prescription drugs and saving Coloradans money on their health care,” said Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood. "Big pharmaceutical companies shouldn’t be able to rake in record profits as hardworking Coloradans struggle to afford the medications they need. With this legislation, we’re extending the effective cost saving measures established with the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to more drugs in order to save Coloradans money on their prescriptions." “As a pharmacist I know firsthand how critical it is that Coloradans are able to afford their prescription drugs, but too many of our families are still getting squeezed by high costs of medication,” said Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont. “The Prescription Drug Affordability Board is an essential tool to keep Colorado prescription drug prices affordable, and these changes will make the Board even more effective at saving families money on their life saving medications.” “Every day, Coloradans across the state are having to choose between filling their life-saving prescriptions, buying groceries or paying rent,” said Rep. Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial. “This new legislation builds on our work to lower prescription drug costs by improving how the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will work. By limiting out-of-pocket costs for more life-saving drugs, this legislation will ensure that more Coloradans can access essential medications at a cost they can afford.” In 2021, lawmakers passed the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to evaluate and place upper price limits on the highest cost prescription drugs. The legislation introduced today will increase the impact of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to save people money on out of pocket prescription drug costs. It removes the limit on setting no more than 12 Upper Payment Limits (UPLs) per year in the first three years of the PDAB, and improves the criteria for selecting drugs for an affordability review. “Pharmacy Benefit Managers can be a big part of our efforts to save Coloradans money on prescription drugs, but they have to follow the rules,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “We’ve passed legislation to save consumers money on healthcare costs, but PBMs are coming in between consumers, health insurance plans, pharmacies and manufactures while making large profits. This bill will protect consumers and employers and save Coloradans money by making sure that PBMs follow the rules.” “Our bill strengthens consumer protections and holds pharmacy benefit managers accountable to ensure that Coloradans save money on prescription drugs,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “We’ve made incredible progress toward lowering the cost of prescription drugs. This legislation will allow the Commissioner of Insurance to investigate, hold hearings, issue cease-and-desist orders, and impose penalties on PBMs for failing to comply with cost saving measures and consumer protections.” HB23-1227 , sponsored by Representatives Iman Jodeh and David Ortiz and Senator Perry Will, will ensure that Pharmacy Benefit Managers follow through on critical cost savings reforms. The legislature has passed reforms to ensure that PBMs save consumers money, and this bill would ensure that PBMs follow through. This bill will provide the Division of Insurance with more direct oversight over PBMs by requiring them to register and specifying that that Division has the ability to enforce those reforms. Specifically, this bill would allow the commissioner the power to investigate and impose penalties on PBMs for failing to comply with consumer protections such as charging pharmacies fees to adjudicate claims, clawing back money from pharmacies inappropriately, and discriminating against independent pharmacies versus PBM affiliated pharmacies. Last week, the House also introduced HB23-1201 , sponsored by Representative Lindsey Daugherty and Matt Soper. Currently PBMs can charge employers one price, but reimburse pharmacies less and keep the difference, a practice known as price spreading. This bill makes it an unfair business practice for PBMs to charge employers more for a drug than what they pay pharmacies for the same drug and increase transparency for employers into PBM and carrier behavior that impacts their costs. Previous Next

< Back July 14, 2020 NEW LAWS PROTECT AND EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR HARDWORKING COLORADANS Gov signs bills to guarantee paid sick leave, expand unemployment insurance and protect renters with alternative sources of income, such as UI benefits. Denver, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed four bills into law that guarantee paid sick leave, expand access to unemployment insurance (UI) and protect renters who are relying on alternative sources of income, such as UI benefits, to make ends meet. “No one, especially during a pandemic, should be forced to go to work sick in order to make ends meet and doing so jeopardizes the progress we’ve made in Colorado to safely reopen,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “COVID-19 has shown just how badly workers in our state need guaranteed paid sick leave, and with the governor’s signature today, we’ll be better prepared to weather this pandemic and anything that comes our way in the future.” “As a pediatrician, I know how important it is for Coloradans to access the care they need, and guaranteeing paid sick leave means more workers and their families will stay healthy during this pandemic and be able to care for their loved ones without risking their job,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D- Thornton. SB20-205 , sponsored by Speaker KC Becker and Representative Yadira Caraveo, would allow workers to earn paid sick leave. Currently, 40 percent of Colorado’s workforce is not afforded the opportunity to earn paid sick days. The bill allows Colorado workers, including part-time workers, to earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours of work, up to 6 days per year. The bill also provides leave during a public health emergency like COVID-19; employees that work 40 or more hours a week will receive at least 80 hours of additional paid sick leave. SB20-207 , sponsored by Representatives Matt Gray and Tom Sullivan, increases the amount of wages a person may earn before having their unemployment insurance benefits reduced and expands the state’s Work Share Program, which allows employers to use UI benefits to compensate employees for lost hours as an alternative to laying off employees. It also allows workers who fear for their safety if they return to work to apply for UI benefits. SB20-170 , sponsored by Representatives Dominique Jackson and Monica Duran, makes it easier for domestic violence victims and siblings who are primary caretakers to receive unemployment insurance benefits. “Many Coloradans are struggling right now to pay their rent and support their families,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “This new law will help hardworking Coloradans make ends meet and continue essential economic assistance for workers who have seen their hours reduced or who cannot return to their workplace because it is not safe.” “When we came back into session in May, we said we’d pass legislation to help Coloradans get through this crisis, and that’s exactly what this new law will do,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “One of the most devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increase in domestic violence that far too many in Colorado have experienced,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “I’m proud we were able to eliminate red tape and make it easier for survivors to get the economic assistance they need to be safe and get through this crisis.” HB20-1332 , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Dominique Jackson, makes discrimination in housing based on a person’s source of income an unfair housing practice. As long as a person’s source of income is lawful and verifiable, including income from any government assistance program, a landlord cannot refuse to show, rent or lease housing. This is especially important given the sharp increase in the number of Coloradans claiming unemployment benefits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans are receiving unemployment insurance or other essential economic assistance during this pandemic, and this new law guarantees that access to housing won’t be closed off for those hardworking families who need a little help to get through this crisis,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “No longer will we allow someone’s source of income to be a proxy for discrimination.” “Access to housing is critical for economic stability and the health of everyone in our state,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora. “With our country facing an eviction crisis, it’s essential that we remove barriers that make it harder for Coloradans to find a place to live. I’m also proud that we were able to make it easier for survivors of domestic violence to access the support they need to live safely during these challenging times when rates of domestic violence are rising.” Previous Next

< Back May 30, 2019 ONE STEP CLOSER TOWARD ENSURING PAID FAMILY LEAVE: GOV SIGNS FAMLI BILL INTO LAW (May 30) – Today, Gov. Polis signed Rep. Matt Gray and Rep. Monica Duran’s bill, SB19-188 Family Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI), that will ensure a seamless implementation of the best possible FAMLI policy for Coloradans. “There is consensus across all political spectrums that paid leave should be a reality,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Denver. “This new law is the biggest next step we can take and look forward to taking bigger ones in the future that will help make life better for the majority of workers in our state who don’t have access to paid leave.” “After I escaped domestic violence to keep my son safe, I lost a job and a home. I made a promise to myself that if I was ever in position to make a difference and be a voice for others, I would,” said Rep. Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This law will help offer safe leave. Whether you’re a server, a nurse, a fast food worker, or a lawyer, you should have access to paid leave. The plan creates an outline and execution schedule that lays the groundwork for the implementation of a strong, robust paid family leave policy for Colorado workers and businesses by 2024. Over 90 percent of Coloradans don’t have access to leave to care for a sick loved-one or a newborn. The implementation plan is comprised of a number of analyses that will ensure the program is administered efficiently, effectively, and fiscally responsible, including: A family and medical leave implementation task force, which will be appointed by July 1, 2019 . A report prepared for the taskforce with results from a third-party study and recommendations from experts in the field by October 1, 2019 . An independent actuarial analysis completed by December 1, 2019 . The implementation plan also requires an analysis of the feasibility of contracting with a third party to administer parts of the program as an alternative to administration by the state. The plan does not change the timeline for when Coloradans can start receiving benefits from the program. These analyses will assist in the preparation of legislation in the 2020 legislative session establishing paid family leave in Colorado. Following the establishment of the program, education and outreach will begin on January 1, 2022, the funding stream will be established on January 1, 2023 and benefits will be provided beginning on January 1, 2024. The bill does require that the General Assembly grant permission for implementation of the program by legislation. Eighty eight percent of Coloradans do not have access to paid family leave, and even unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act is inaccessible for 64 percent of working people. That means most Coloradans do not have time off to recover from a serious illness, to care for a sick family member or to welcome the birth of a child. They are often forced to choose between their jobs or taking care of sick loved one. Previous Next

< Back September 8, 2022 ROBERTS AND MCLACHLAN CELEBRATE HISTORIC BROADBAND INVESTMENTS Moffat, Routt, and Ouray Counties to receive over $5 million to connect nearly 760 homes to high speed internet AVON/DURANGO, CO – Representatives Dylan Roberts and Barbara McLachlan today celebrated a historic $22.8 million investment in broadband grants that will connect 4,267 homes to high speed internet across Colorado. This funding, awarded last week by the Broadband Deployment Board , comes from a combination of state and federal funds, including $35 million of stimulus funds provided through HB21-1289 . The Yampa Valley Electric Association will receive over $3 million to connect 439 homes in Craig and Hayden. “I’m excited to see this historic investment in broadband infrastructure that will connect over 400 homes in Craig and Hayden to high speed internet,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This is exactly why we directed $35 million to expand high speed internet access in rural Colorado, save people money and build the 21st century infrastructure our families need. Affordable, high-speed internet is critical for our rural residents and economies and with these grants, we’re closer to our goal of connecting nearly every Coloradan. This is great news for Northwest Colorado..” Clearnetworx in Ouray County will receive over $2 million to connect 318 homes in Ouray. “High speed internet has become essential for everyday activities, but access can be a real struggle in our communities,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “The Colorado Broadband Board has already directed millions to expand high speed internet access in Southwest Colorado, and I’m excited to see even more funding flow to our communities that will provide hundreds more families in rural Colorado affordable internet access they need.” The projects announced last week are below, and the full list of projects funded by the Board can be found here : ### Previous Next