Search Results

< Back April 18, 2022 GOV. POLIS, STATE LEGISLATORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS & CABINET MEMBERS DISCUSS TRANSFORMATIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEGISLATION, VISIT INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC Polis Administration in partnership with state legislature continues to take bold steps to improve access to and delivery of quality behavioral health care services across Colorado DENVER — Today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis joined Rep. Serena Gonzales-Guiterrez, Senator Chris Kolker, Rep. Perry Will, Senator Faith Winter, Rep. Judy Amabile, cabinet members, and community leaders to discuss comprehensive legislation to elevate Colorado’s behavioral health system and address Colorado’s most pressing needs made possible by historic funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Governor Polis and the group then visited the Tepeyac Community Health Center in Denver and participated in a roundtable discussion about Colorado’s successful and continued integration of physical and behavioral health care to support efficient, streamlined health care services for Coloradans. “We are saving Coloradans money on behavioral health care and improving access to quality services to ensure every Coloradan can thrive,” said Governor Polis. “I was proud to visit the innovative Tepeyac Community Health Center and see firsthand the transformative impact of our investment in providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable care that Coloradans deserve.” A bipartisan bill sponsored by Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Naquetta Ricks ( Community Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Gap Grants: HB22-1281 ) will ensure Coloradans across the state — including children, youth and families — have access to the behavioral health care they need. This bill will invest $90 million in grant funds for local governments and nonprofit organizations to implement innovative, community-based programs with the goal of filling regional gaps across the continuum of care and transforming behavioral health outcomes for families, children and youth living in Colorado. The bill passed the House Public and Behavioral Health Committee unanimously earlier this week. “This year, we are making the single largest investment in our state’s history, nearly $450 million, to expand access to behavioral health care,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “The Tepeyac Community Health Center in Denver shows first hand how our transformational investments will allow more Coloradans to access the care they need to thrive. Our package of behavioral health legislation, crafted over the course of many months with experts across the state, will boost access to care, substance use disorder treatment, residential and outpatient services, and save Coloradans money on behavioral health care.” “As someone who has experienced mental health challenges myself, I know how difficult it can be to seek out treatment and get the care you need,” said Senator Chris Kolker (D-Centennial), member of the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. “I was lucky because I was able to get help, but too many Coloradans can’t say the same. I’m proud to be working to help more people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders get the care they need and deserve. We have a lot more work to do, but this package of transformational bills represents an important first step toward expanding access to critical care, ending the stigma around behavioral health, and saving more lives.” Senator Kolker is the sponsor of the bipartisan and Senate passed Behavioral Health Services for Children: SB22-147 which is also sponsored by Senator Jerry Sonnenberg and Representatives. Mary Young and Rod Pelton. The bill aims to improve access to behavioral health care services for youth and families. The bill directs $4.6 million for the Colorado Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation and Access Program, $5 million for the Behavioral Health Care Professional Matching Grant Program, and $1.5 million for the School-based Health Center Grant Program. Additional Behavioral Health Legislation moving through the legislature: Youth and Family Residential Care: HB22-1283 sponsored by Representative 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. 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. The bill passed the House Public and Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee unanimously. Adult Inpatient and Residential 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 for individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, including individuals with co-occuring conditions or in need of civil commitment. The bill supports the addition of 16 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan and 125 residential treatment beds across the state. HB22-1303 passed the House Public and Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee by a vote of 9 to 1. Integrating Primary Care and Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1302 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Perry Will and Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Kevin Priola, invests $35 million to improve behavioral health outcomes by better integrating physical and behavioral health care. The bill will provide grants to primary care practices to integrate behavioral health care into their clinical models, helping Coloradans access whole person care and early behavioral health interventions before a crisis. The transformational investment will increase access to mental health and substance use disorder screening and treatment and help coordinate referrals to other levels of care. HB22-1302 passed the House Public and Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee by a vote of 10 to 1. Behavioral Health Care Workforce Development: SB22-181 , sponsored by Senators. Jeff Bridges and Cleave Simpson and Representatives. Lisa Cutterand Tonya Van Beber , directs the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to invest $72 million to bolster and stabilize the state’s behavioral health care workforce, which will help more Coloradans access the critical care they need to thrive. Investments in Statewide Care Coordination Infrastructure: SB22-177 , sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen and Bob Rankin and Representatives. Brianna Titone and Mary Bradfield , invests $12.2 million to improve Colorado’s statewide care coordination infrastructure to better serve Coloradans seeking behavioral health care. The bill also seeks to cut red tape associated with provider enrollment and credentialing for navigators and care coordination providers, so they can spend less time on paperwork and more time helping Coloradans in need. Behavioral Health Care for Colorado Native American Tribes: SB22-148 , which has passed the Senate and is sponsored by Senator Kerry Donovan and Representative Barbara McLachlan , provides $5 million to Colorado land-based Tribes to support building or renovating a tribal behavioral health facility for inpatient services and transitional housing. The package of legislation is based on the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force recommendations to increase access to affordable care, bolster the behavioral health care workforce, expand residential care for youth and families, and increase support for pediatricians and school counseling programs. The Polis Administration continues to take bold steps to increase access to affordable, high-quality behavioral health care across Colorado, and to create an efficient behavioral health care system that Coloradans deserve. Previous Next

A new law goes into effect on August 7 to grant funding to community-based organizations that provide crucial services to new immigrants. < Back July 29, 2024 Law Goes Into Effect to Support New Immigrants DENVER, CO - A new law goes into effect on August 7 to grant funding to community-based organizations that provide crucial services to new immigrants. “Diversity makes our Colorado communities stronger. We must set up new immigrants for success so they can create a better and safer life for themselves and their families,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “By strengthening Colorado’s existing community-based resources, new immigrants will have a better chance of building a thriving life, just like the generations of immigrants before them did.” “Colorado’s immigrant communities make our state stronger,” said Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora. “With the recent increase of new immigrants to our state, community organizations and local governments are struggling to keep up with the high demand for services. Increasing access to resources like employment and housing services will help new immigrants build successful lives in Colorado.” “Colorado has seen a significant increase in new immigrants, and counties and organizations across the state are struggling to keep up with the demand for necessary services and resources,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Resources like referrals to housing, employment assistance, and school enrollment support have a significant impact on new residents achieving stability here. With our new law going into effect, we can better support the good work that community organizations are already doing to aid new immigrants as they transition to life in Colorado.” “Colorado has seen a recent influx of new immigrants, and they often arrive with very little and no knowledge or connections to help them integrate,” said Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “This critical law will better resource existing community-based organizations so they can support new immigrants and provide them with the tools they need to thrive in Colorado.” HB24-1280 creates the Statewide Welcome, Reception, and Integration Grant Program to grant funds to community-based organizations that provide services to new immigrants within their first year in the United States. Grant money can be used for: Conducting an intake and assessment of needs, Providing cultural orientation and case management, Services or referrals to employment services, immigration legal assistance, housing-related services, transportation services, financial orientation, mental and physical health services, interpretation and translation services, and English as a second language courses, Distributing emergency and transitional supplies, and Assisting new immigrant parents to enroll their kids in public schools or summer programs. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan into law. < Back May 23, 2024 McLachlan Bills to Extend Federal Indian Boarding School Research Program, Boost K-12 Science Performance Become Law DENVER / ENGLEWOOD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan into law. HB24-1444 will implement History Colorado recommendations to support healing generational trauma in tribal communities, capture oral histories and dive deeper into long standing inequities faced by tribal communities. “History Colorado’s research about the federal Indian boarding schools revealed the atrocities of the past; it left us with a choice on how to right these wrongs and better support our tribal communities today,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This law extends this important research for another three years, acknowledging the abuse and forced assimilation and addressing some of the longstanding social, economic, and educational inequities still faced by our tribal communities.” “We cannot erase the horrors of the past, but we must face them,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “This new law directs the state of Colorado to continue to expose the truth about the American Indian boarding schools.” HB24-1444 in consultation with tribes, extends the federal Indian boarding school research program within History Colorado until 2027. Enacted in 2022 through HB22-1327 , this research program was tasked with researching the victimization that occurred at American Indian boarding schools in Colorado. History Colorado released the findings from their report and recommendations in October of 2023, which revealed that nine institutions in the state attempted to assimilate American Indian students. HB24-1444 invests $1 million to continue the program and ensure consultation with different tribes, the steering committee, and the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs in putting forward recommendations to work toward social, educational and economic equity for tribal communities by November 8, 2025. HB24-1446 is a bipartisan law that will make no-cost professional development programs available to science educators, with an emphasis on in-person and virtual programming that supports students who are below grade level, students living with disabilities, gifted students, and students who are English Language Learners. “I’m also proud that my bipartisan bill to make professional development programs available to science educators at no cost became law today,” continued McLachlan. “The key to success in the classroom is a great educator, and this law makes it easier for our science teachers to continue honing their skills and meet the diverse needs of our students.” HB24-1446 aims to improve K-12 science performance for Colorado students by giving teachers the tools and resources they need to foster success among the students who need the most support. With this law, teachers who participate in this professional development may earn credit towards license renewal. Rural school districts must be prioritized if demand for the training exceeds capacity. The program will be made available beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Previous Next

General Assembly Democrats today sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation, calling on them to ensure that funds already appropriated by Congress for Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs are awarded as intended. < Back October 6, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: General Assembly Dems Urge Colorado’s Congressional Delegation to Reinstate Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions DENVER, CO – General Assembly Democrats today sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation, calling on them to ensure that funds already appropriated by Congress for Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs are awarded as intended. In the letter, the General Assembly Democrats wrote: “We are writing with deep concern regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s September 10 decision to discontinue discretionary funding for several Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs. We urge you to take immediate action to ensure that funds already appropriated by Congress for the 2025 fiscal year are awarded as intended.” “Cancelling these program funds, which benefit all students and provide a boost to these critical institutions, would greatly harm Colorado’s students, higher education institutions, and future workforce and amount to a significant setback in our longstanding efforts to better prepare young people for career and life.” “We, the undersigned Colorado State Legislators, urge you to take action to ensure that previously appropriated funding for MSI programs is delivered to our colleges and universities without delay.” The full text of the letter is below: Esteemed Colorado Congressional Delegation Members: We are writing with deep concern regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s September 10 decision to discontinue discretionary funding for several Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs. We urge you to take immediate action to ensure that funds already appropriated by Congress for the 2025 fiscal year are awarded as intended. The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) has reported significant uncertainty and disruption for institutions and students across the state as a result of this announcement. CCCS is the largest higher education system in Colorado, with 13 unique colleges and more than 35 locations across the state. CCCS educates over 124,000 students every year, offering low- to no-cost education and career training. Their programs focus on high-demand career paths that power Colorado’s economy and fill workforce shortages in essential industries like behavioral health care and early childhood education. As of today, four CCCS colleges have received official notices of discontinuation, including three of seven Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designated colleges and Arapahoe Community College, which is not HSI-designated but holds a Title III grant that is also being discontinued. If this decision holds, Morgan Community College will lose $1.6 million for a grant to support the creation of a career and transfer center, a new campus-wide advising system with added technology support, and assistance for English as a Second Language students. Planned initiatives will go unrealized and the Grant Director position will be eliminated. Lamar Community College will lose $3 million for a grant that funds five full-time positions dedicated to serving first-generation, low-income, and Latino students. Pueblo Community College will lose almost $600,000 for a grant to support the college’s Onboarding initiative, designed to provide a more in-depth and personal approach to helping new students transition to college. Funded activities include learning cohorts and mentoring, a laptop lending program, a financial literacy component, and professional development for faculty and staff. Arapahoe Community College (ACC) received notice that its Title III block grant is being discontinued, a loss of over $400,000. This would be the final year of a five-year block grant that supports increasing student retention by strengthening advising, tutoring, closing achievement gaps, and expanding data analytics. The early loss of funds will directly affect four full-time staff positions. CCCS is still awaiting clarity on whether the other HSI-designated colleges, including Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Otero College, and Trinidad State College, will receive similar notices, which would push the total financial effect beyond the more than $5.6 million identified to date. Additionally, the two largest institutions within CCCS, Front Range Community College and Pikes Peak State College, are emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions preparing for future eligibility for these same federal supports. We are also monitoring the status of federal TRIO programs such as Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Services. While Colorado’s TRIO programs have not yet been affected, institutions across the country are reporting uncertainty and disruptions. Any reductions or delays in TRIO funding would jeopardize critical support services that help students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation and under-resourced students, and students with disabilities. As lawmakers who represent these institutions and who are committed to the success of all Colorado students, regardless of their income or background, we urge you to ensure that funds appropriated by Congress for MSI programs in the current 2025 fiscal year are awarded as intended. Cancelling these program funds, which benefit all students and provide a boost to these critical institutions, would greatly harm Colorado’s students, higher education institutions, and future workforce and amount to a significant setback in our longstanding efforts to better prepare young people for career and life. We, the undersigned Colorado State Legislators, urge you to take action to ensure that previously appropriated funding for MSI programs is delivered to our colleges and universities without delay. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to supporting Colorado’s students and protecting access to affordable, high-quality education for all. Senator James Coleman President of the Senate Representative Julie McCluskie Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Senator Robert Rodriguez Majority Leader of the Senate Representative Monica Duran Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives Senator Chris Kolker Senator Cathy Kipp Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Dylan Roberts Majority Caucus Chair Senator Faith Winter Senator Iman Jodeh Senator Janice Marchman Senator Jeff Bridges Joint Budget Committee Chair Senator Jessie Danielson Senator Judy Amabile Joint Budget Committee Member Senator Julie Gonzales Senator Katie Wallace Senator Kyle Mullica Senator Lindsey Daugherty Senator Lisa Cutter Senator Marc Snyder Senator Matt Ball Senator Mike Weissman Senator Nick Hinrichsen Majority Caucus Whip Senator Tom Sullivan Senator Tony Exum, Sr. Representative Andy Boesenecker Speaker Pro Tempore Representative Brianna Titone Representative Cecelia Espenoza Representative Chad Clifford Representative Elizabeth Velasco Majority Caucus Co-Whip Representative Emily Sirota Joint Budget Committee Member Representative Gretchen Rydin Representative Jacque Phillips Representative Jamie Jackson Representative Javier Mabrey Representative Jennifer Bacon Assistant Majority Leader Representative Junie Joseph Majority Caucus Co-Chair Representative Karen McCormick Representative Katie Stewart Representative Kyle Brown Representative Lorena Garcia Representative Mandy Lindsay Majority Caucus Co-Chair Representative Matthew Martinez Majority Caucus Co-Whip Representative Meg Froelich Representative Meghan Lukens Representative Naquetta Ricks Representative Sean Camacho Representative Sheila Lieder Representative Steven Woodrow Representative Tammy Story Representative Tisha Mauro Previous Next

Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution < Back February 15, 2024 Joint Release: Colorado Democrats Unveil Bill to Reduce the Cost of Housing Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution DENVER, CO - Colorado Democrats today introduced legislation to make housing in Colorado more affordable and reduce traffic congestion by eliminating parking mandates that drive up the cost of building new housing, especially multifamily developments. “Requiring more parking spots than the market demands drives up the cost of construction, makes housing more expensive in Colorado, and puts more and more distance between homes and destinations," said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “We have quite literally paved paradise to put up a parking lot. With each new off-street parking spot adding potentially tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new building, the evidence is overwhelming that eliminating minimum parking mandates will allow for more diverse housing stock, free up space for more transportation choices, and improve air quality. It's time for us to put people over parking, and ensure Coloradans can live, work, and play affordably throughout our great state.” “Addressing Colorado’s housing crisis requires an all-of-the-above approach - and with parking mandates eating up more and more space and money, it’s long past time we act to eliminate them,” Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, said. “Parking minimums stifle housing development and act as barriers to building the new housing we need to bring down prices and get folks housed. This bill will make it easier to increase Colorado’s housing supply, and encourage practices that will reduce emissions and help us reach our climate goals.” “The research is clear, the actions we’re taking will keep rents from rising, reduce the cost of building new apartments, homes and condos, and will save people money on housing,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “There are eight parking spaces for every vehicle on the road, and most municipalities require up to three parking spaces per unit, which can add millions to the cost of building new multifamily housing. This common sense reform empowers consumers to choose the housing options that work best for them instead of continuing to force higher costs on builders, renters and homeowners for parking spaces they don’t need or want.” “This year we’re taking a multifaceted approach to combating the housing crisis in Colorado, and removing parking mandates that drive up housing costs is a key part of our agenda,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “Studies have shown time and again that mandated parking minimums negatively impact health outcomes and the environment while slowing housing development and raising prices. I look forward to working on this commonsense solution that can improve affordability for the hardworking folks of Pueblo.” Beginning January 1, 2025, HB24-1304 would prohibit counties or municipalities from establishing or enforcing minimum parking requirements for residential or commercial properties within a metropolitan planning organization. Parking minimums increase home prices and rents by requiring developers to use valuable space for cars that may not be fully utilized and could instead be dedicated to more housing units. With new structured parking spaces costing $25,000 each in the Denver Metro in 2020, developers are disincentivized from building new residential projects or must reduce the number of units that are developed. Since the city of Minneapolis eliminated residential parking minimums in 2021, rents have only increased 1 percent , while Denver saw an average increase of nearly 5 percent in just the last two years. Research attributes the significant expansion of the housing supply in Minneapolis to the elimination of parking minimums. The oversupply of parking is also directly linked to higher vehicle miles traveled. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in Colorado, with cars contributing nearly 60 percent of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified Denver and the Northern Front Range as having unhealthy levels of ground level ozone, which can lead to negative health impacts like asthma and bronchitis, especially for vulnerable Coloradans. Additionally, replacing wildlife habitat to build massive surface lots for parking harms the environment by increasing soil and water pollution, flooding, and the heat island effect. The bill does not impact parking spaces required for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Previous Next

< Back January 30, 2020 REP. TIPPER & COLEMAN’S BILL TO END PRISON GERRYMANDERING ADVANCES Bill would ensure the Census Bureau counts people in prison as residents of their home address DENVER, CO — Reps. James Coleman and Kerry Tipper’s bill, the Colorado Accurate Residence for Redistricting Act, today was approved by the State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee. The bill would count people in prison as residents of their home addresses for purposes of state redistricting, ending the practice of counting those individuals as residents of the localities where the corrections facilities are.. “More accurate district maps and a fairer count of Coloradans means a stronger democracy,” said Rep Tipper (D-Lakewood). “This bill will make a difference not only for the 18,000 or so incarcerated individuals in Colorado, but for everyone who wants to make sure their districts have the most accurate representation possible. I’m pleased to see it move forward in committee today.” “This bill is about fairness, plain and simple,” said Rep. Coleman (D-Denver). “We want to ensure that Colorado has accurate and fair representation in the next decade and beyond, and that means counting incarcerated individuals in their home communities.” HB20-1010 would, for purposes of census redistricting counts, reassign prisoners in correctional facilities to their last known residence in Colorado prior to incarceration. Only in the instance that a prisoner does not have a Colorado address do they get counted in the locality where the prison is located. Prisoners are currently assigned to voting districts based on where they are incarcerated instead of where they live their lives, even though they cannot vote. Per the Colorado Constitution—which declares that a prison cell is not a residence—people in prison are legal constituents of their home address representatives and not the correctional facility they have been placed in. Additionally, the average length of stay in Colorado prisons is three years , while redistricting guidelines last an entire decade. Other states including Maryland, New York, Washington, Delaware and California have passed legislation to address prison gerrymandering. Previous Next

< Back April 12, 2022 COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO PREVENT FENTANYL DEATHS HEARD IN COMMITTEE Legislation significantly increases penalties on dealers and invests in proven public health solutions DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today held a hearing on comprehensive legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Rep. Mike Lynch to combat the fentanyl crisis and save lives. “This comprehensive fentanyl legislation will save lives by cracking down on the dealers peddling death in our communities and by investing in proven public health strategies that we know are effective,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Our targeted efforts will get this deadly drug off our streets, protect our communities from this poison and keep people alive. I’m disappointed there are people who would rather see this bill die for partisan political gain than work to save lives; lawmakers must come together to pass this life-saving legislation.” “We are seeing unprecedented numbers of overdose deaths in Colorado. The fentanyl crisis demands an aggressive response that will hold dealers accountable and remove this deadly drug from our streets, and that’s what this comprehensive fentanyl legislation will do,” said Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein. “This solution will save lives by giving prosecutors the tools we need to put dealers in prison and protect our communities. This legislation will allow us to respond aggressively to dealers who take Coloradans’ lives when distributing this drug, and I encourage lawmakers to pass this bill.” “This legislation will give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on fentanyl dealers to get this dangerous drug off our streets,” said Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington. “Fentanyl doesn’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat; people are dying in every community in our state. This bill is a comprehensive solution that will save lives and prevent fentanyl deaths.” “Colorado is confronting a deadly fentanyl crisis, and this comprehensive bill will save lives and prevent fentanyl poisonings and overdose deaths,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This bill will help ensure that people struggling with substance use disorders get the treatment they need to make a successful recovery. The bill deploys effective public health strategies that emphasize education and awareness, expand addiction treatment and give people the tools they need to protect themselves and others.” A comprehensive approach including both proven public health solutions and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers will save lives and get fentanyl off Colorado streets. HB22-1326 will strengthen criminal penalties on any individual distributing fentanyl. In line with other models for substance use convictions, the bill will also integrate mandatory SUD assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing to ensure people get the treatment they need. The bill focuses on compound fentanyl, which is fentanyl mixed with other drugs or substances, and will provide law enforcement with additional tools to go after dealers while providing treatment options to individuals with an SUD. Individuals who are dealing fentanyl will face increased felony charges, and if the defendant has distributed any amount of fentanyl and it leads to someone’s death, they can be charged with a level one drug felony and face the drug code’s strongest penalties. The bill gives law enforcement tools to require treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. Defendants in possession of any amount of fentanyl compound will be assessed for a substance use disorder and required to complete an education program developed by the Office of Behavioral Health in CDPHE. Individuals assessed as having a substance use disorder will have to complete mandatory treatment. This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will address root causes and keep people alive. Colorado will save lives by investing in effective public health and substance use prevention and treatment strategies and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves from this more deadly drug. The legislation directs $29 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to implement recommendations from the Behavioral Health Task Force on effective harm reduction strategies and increased access to substance use disorder treatment in the criminal justice system. While public awareness of fentanyl has risen, education campaigns that promote effective overdose prevention tools will save lives. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will develop, implement and maintain an ongoing statewide prevention and education campaign to address fentanyl education needs in the state, including the message that no amount of fentanyl is safe. The bill will also provide grants to develop and implement community-focused education campaigns on the dangers of fentanyl. The proposal also makes opiate antagonists more widespread, which will help save lives by preventing overdoses. Previous Next

< Back April 15, 2021 HOUSE DEMS ADVANCE BIPARTISAN BUDGET TO HELP COLORADO BUILD BACK STRONGER DENVER, CO– The House today advanced the FY 2021-2022 Long Appropriations Bill (SB21-205) on a preliminary vote. The bipartisan budget, which passed the Senate with near unanimous support, helps Colorado recover faster and build back stronger by restoring cuts to essential services, supporting K-12 and higher education, and setting aside substantial funding for the bipartisan Colorado Recovery Plan. “I’m proud of our bipartisan and balanced state budget, which is designed to jumpstart our economy and help Colorado build back stronger,” said JBC Vice Chair Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This budget sets aside $800 million for the Colorado Comeback state stimulus plan, our bipartisan package of legislation that will create jobs and help Colorado recover faster. We’re providing historic levels of state funding for K-12 education, nearly cutting the budget stabilization factor in half. Coloradans want us to come together to help rebuild our economy, and that’s exactly what we’re doing with this bipartisan budget.” “This year’s state budget makes historic investments in education, equity, and the Colorado Comeback,” said JBC Member Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “I’m especially proud of our efforts to make higher education more equitable and attainable for people of color, and I’m excited that we’ve been able to restore funding for critical services that Coloradans rely on. From supporting workers to addressing health disparities that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities, this bipartisan budget helps Coloradans in every corner of our state get back on their feet.” Colorado’s $35.9 billion budget funds core state services, such as education, corrections, health care, and human services. A significant portion of the state budget comes from federal matching funds, with lawmakers having direct control of the state’s $13.1 billion General Fund. Last year, budget forecasts estimated the state would face a significant revenue decline, leading lawmakers to enact historic reductions while still prioritizing critical services and education. With the economy and state revenues recovering faster than anticipated, the budget returns funding to pre-pandemic levels while responsibly setting aside historic reserves for the future. Putting Students, Teachers, and Parents First Restores K-12 Funding, Cuts Budget Stabilization Factor Nearly in Half: The FY2022 Long Bill brings the budget stabilization factor back to its pre-pandemic level of $572 million by increasing K-12 education funding by over $480 million. Resumes and Accelerates State Support for Institutions of Higher Ed: After being forced to nearly eliminate state support for institutions of higher education, lawmakers boosted funding in this year’s budget by $494 million to restore the prior year’s reduction. The bill also allocates an additional $100 million to be used for recruitment and retention including additional financial support for first generation, underrepresented minority, and pell eligible students. Increased Resources for Students: This budget prioritizes accessible teaching and learning resources for students to succeed including $3 million for state grants to public libraries and over $1 million to CDHE’s Open Educational Resources program which provides grants to institutions to develop educational programs using 100 percent publicly available teaching materials. The budget also appropriates $6.9 million to restore K-12 education grant programs including the behavioral healthcare professionals grant program, the K5 social and emotional grant program, the 9th grade success program, the school leadership success program, and the automatic enrollment in advanced courses program. Invests $160 Million in School Infrastructure (BEST Fund) and an additional $100 Million for the State Education Fund (SEF): After nearly eliminating funding last year for the Building Excellent Schools Today grant initiative, lawmakers this year will invest $160 million to construct, renovate, or maintain school facilities and structures. The SEF funds teacher recruitment, full-day kindergarten, early literacy programs, and helps finance public school systems across Colorado. Prioritizes the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation program: The JBC set aside $13.4 million for a teacher recruitment toolkit to be established in collaboration with the departments of education and higher education. The set aside includes restorations to CDE’s Quality Teacher Recruitment program and CDHE’s Educator Loan Forgiveness program. In addition, the budget restores CDHE’s teacher mentor grants program and the rural teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development program. Creating Jobs, Getting Colorado Back on Track, and Building Back Stronger $800 Million State Stimulus: The budget sets aside $800 million for the Colorado Recovery Plan , which will create jobs and boost the Colorado Comeback. Creating Jobs Through Investing in Capital Construction Projects: The bill tackles a substantial portion of the state’s capital project backlog by nearly doubling the long bill appropriation for capital construction, creating jobs through creating, maintaining and improving capital construction projects. The bill includes $217.4 million for the capital construction fund, initiating shovel-ready projects at institutions of higher education and across state government. Expanding Job and Skills Training Initiatives: The budget prioritizes workforce and training opportunities through a variety of programs including restoring CDHE’s Colorado First Customized Job Training program, DOC’s Transitional Work Opportunity program, and DHS’ Colorado Works Subsidized Training and Employment Program. Investing in IT Infrastructure & Transportation: This budget package makes significant investments in IT infrastructure including funding for the Office of eHealth Innovation’s Rural Connectivity project, updates to the states unemployment insurance system, and numerous investments in higher education equipment and technology to support increased virtual learning opportunities. In addition, with $124 million set aside for transportation, the budget sets Colorado on a path to address CDOT’s $9 billion project backlog. Addressing Health Disparities: The budget helps Colorado build back stronger by providing over $5 million to combat racial and income-based health disparities that are hurting Colorado communities. Boosting State’s Wildfire Response: After a historic wildfire season and with another one on the way, the budget appropriates $26.2 million for firefighting contracts, aircraft, personnel and state assistance for local response efforts. Building the Reserve and a New Rainy Day Fund: The budget sets aside historic reserves to mitigate downside risks to the forecast and creates a new rainy day fund to provide an additional safety net should state revenues collapse or should the state see a surge in caseload and demand for services. Supporting the Judicial Branch: Recognizing the rise in court cases once trials resume, the budget responsibly allocates funding to increase staffing within Judicial courts and probation as well as within the offices of the public defender, child protection ombudsman, and the public guardianship. The budget also sets aside funding to expand the Senior Judge program to help address the backlog of cases anticipated. Supporting Colorado’s Most Vulnerable Veterans: The budget provides $500,000 in Marijuana Tax Cash Fund to provide grants to enhance workforce center services for veterans, an increase of $200,000 over last year. The Colorado Recovery Act will provide $30 million for a start up loan fund, which will support veteran-owned small businesses. The budget includes $59.4 million for the veteran community living centers, and $425,000 for National Guard tuition assistance. Supporting Hospitals that Treat Uninsured Patients: The bill provides $48.2 million for hospitals that serve a higher share of low-income or uninsured patients. This funding draws down $27 million in federal funds. The funding supports several rural hospitals. Ensuring Coloradans Have Access to the Care They Need: With access to health care essential for every Coloradan, the budget affirms the state’s commitment to Health First Colorado, the state’s Medicaid program. It provides $460.1 million for medical care and long-term services such as nursing homes and community-based services. The funds pay nursing home care, senior dental programs, behavioral health, and vaccine administration. Addressing the IDD Waitlist: The JBC allocated $22 million to protect essential Medicaid benefits including $15.5 million to the Adult Comprehensive Waiver to fund 667 spots on the comprehensive waiver waitlist for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Previous Next

The House today passed two bills on a preliminary vote to improve the safety of natural gas pipelines and make it faster, easier and less expensive for local governments to approve solar installation projects. < Back April 11, 2023 House Advances Bills to Improve Gas Pipeline Safety and Expand EV Charging DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills on a preliminary vote to improve the safety of natural gas pipelines and make it faster, easier and less expensive for local governments to approve solar installation projects. “Many homes in Colorado rely upon natural gas, and this legislation works to improve safety and close gaps in maintenance requirements,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer, sponsor of HB23-1216. “Establishing maintenance responsibility and requiring documentation of inspections are just a few of the ways we can improve the safety of natural gas pipelines that service our homes and businesses. This bill protects Coloradans by ensuring regular inspections and creating a baseline for safely maintaining natural gas pipelines regularly.” "We're taking steps to ensure that natural gas pipelines are well maintained and regularly inspected to keep Coloradans safe," said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of HB23-1216. "This legislation will establish maintenance expectations, communications and documentation for pipelines so Coloradans have accurate and up-to-date information about the pipelines that service their homes, businesses and communities Safety is a priority and closing these gaps in maintenance requirements and upkeep is an important step that protects Coloradans." HB23-1216 , sponsored by Representative Tammy Story, would address the gaps in maintenance and inspections of natural gas pipelines to ensure public safety. This bill would direct the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules requiring a combination of inspections, maintenance responsibilities and written notice from a pipeline’s owner or operator to a natural gas consumer before March 1, 2024 to bolster accountability. Specifically, HB23-1216 would require inspections of gas meters and service regulators every 36 months, documentation of inspections and ensure specific placement of natural gas vents to ensure gas can properly escape. Additionally, this bill would establish an improved process to determine who is responsible for maintenance and repairs of existing service lines as well as clear written notice to consumers regarding future service line installation, maintenance and repair. “Many Coloradans are interested in owning an EV, however it can be difficult to secure charging locations near their home or even in their communities,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo, sponsor of HB23-1233. “This bill will expand EV charging infrastructure to accommodate new and future EV owners. By making EV use and ownership more accessible, we’re reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs and saving Coloradans money.” “With more EVs on the road than ever before, it’s vital we invest in EV-specific infrastructure now to meet growing demand,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, sponsor of HB23-1233. “By expanding charging stations, we can break down accessibility barriers in our communities and across the state that hold people back from owning EVs. Our legislation sets in motion a plan to expand EV charging, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and save Coloradans’ money in the long term.” HB23-1233 , sponsored by Representatives Tisha Mauro and Alex Valdez, would remove barriers to EV ownership by ensuring Coloradans have access to EV charging, especially renters or those living in multifamily housing. Specifically, HB23-1233 would expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new construction to accommodate new and current EV owners. The bill would update electric code requirements, remove burdensome parking restrictions for EVs, and provide property tax relief to Coloradans for EV charging stations. HB23-1233 is part of a broader legislative package to incentivize the advancement and adoption of clean energy technologies, accelerate the clean energy transition and make Colorado a leader in budding clean energy technologies. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed Representative Stephanie Vigil’s bill to bring life-saving information on suicide prevention to workplaces. < Back January 31, 2024 Vigil’s Workplace Suicide Prevention Education Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed Representative Stephanie Vigil’s bill to bring life-saving information on suicide prevention to workplaces. HB24-1015 passed committee unanimously. “Suicide deaths are preventable, and anyone can save a life. This is a public health crisis that requires a community response, and we can save lives by equipping more people with the skills and knowledge to do effective suicide prevention,” said Representative Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “Workplaces are an excellent venue for this, a source of continuing education for many working people, and a place where they regularly see others who aren’t their family or household members.” HB24-1015 would require the Office of Suicide Prevention in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to create suicide prevention education posters and notices to make them available to employers. Posters would include an overview of suicide prevention training programs, information on reducing access to means of self-harm, including firearms, and information on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It would also require the department to post a link to the landing page for workplace suicide prevention information on its official website. Under this bill, employers would be required to display posters in their workplaces beginning on July 1, 2025. There is no cost to Colorado employers to create or obtain the posters. Previous Next

< Back March 27, 2019 JANET BUCKNER’S BIPARTISAN ORGAN DONOR BILL PASSES COMMITTEE (Mar. 27) – Speaker Pro-Tem Janet Buckner’s bipartisan bill passed out of the House Health and Insurance committee today. The bill prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums for living donors based on their status as a living donor. “We shouldn’t be punishing people who are trying to save lives,” said Rep. Buckner, D-Aurora. “This bill will address this problem and ensure that people who are trying to help others aren’t charged more or worse, denied insurance all together.” HB19-1253 prohibits a person who offers life insurance, disability income insurance, or long-term care insurance from discriminating against a person based solely on the person’s status as a living organ donor. In addition, in 2020, the state department shall develop materials to educate the public on the benefits of being a living organ donor and their access to insurance. In 2018, 263 Coloradans died or became too sick to remain on the transplant waitlist while there were 168 living organ donors in Colorado. Currently, 1872 Coloradans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. HB19-1253 passed the committee with unanimous, bipartisan support and now goes to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back May 28, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES HISTORIC TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE DENVER, CO — The House today advanced historic legislation that will future-proof Colorado’s broken transportation funding system, improve air quality, create jobs and save Coloradans time and money spent on roads and vehicle repairs. SB21-260 , sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Representative Matt Gray, will save Coloradans money and time spent on roads by reducing congestion, creating new transportation options, and balancing the needs of every Colorado community. Colorado’s gas tax was created in 1991, and its value has significantly eroded since then, leaving Colorado roads and transportation system drastically underfunded. The bill will create a sustainable funding source for transportation infrastructure that will support a dynamic economy, improve air quality, create jobs, and ensure Colorado is positioned to compete with other states. The bill provides $5.365 billion in transportation funding to fix roads and bridges, improve transit options, meet Colorado’s climate goals, help disproportionately impacted communities, and future-proof the state’s transportation system. The funding will come from a fair and responsible mix of state and federal funding, as well as fee revenue that reflects all the users and uses of our transportation system. For the first two years, the proposal reduces vehicle registration fees, saving drivers money in 2022 and 2023. New fees won’t begin until FY23 and will be nominal, phased and spread across all users of the system to bring down longer-term maintenance and repair costs while ensuring we are improving our infrastructure. Overall, the bill promotes collaboration between the Department of Transportation (CDOT), Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), and the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) to coordinate both regional and statewide efforts to develop a transportation system that supports a dynamic economy while mitigating climate impacts, saving Coloradans money and time spent on the roads, and making key investments in rural and disproportionately impacted communities. To ensure transparency, performance and accountability measures will be required for every entity that receives funding through this bill, including the four new enterprises. The Colorado Energy Office and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will report on progress made toward the electric motor vehicle adoption goals in the “Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan 2020” and the transportation sector greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals in the “Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap.” CDOT and every new enterprise will maintain public project management dashboards that will show key performance indicators for projects paid for by the funding in this bill. Over the course of the eleven-year plan set forth in the bill, nearly $3.8 billion will be generated through new revenue, and the bill will leverage over $1.5 billion in state general fund revenue and stimulus dollars. This will provide long overdue funds after years of failed legislative attempts and ballot measures to support our statewide transportation system, as well as create good-paying jobs that will continue to exist for decades to come. In addition to bipartisan legislative support, the proposal has garnered endorsements from local leaders and organizations across the state, including: Governor Polis, Mayor Hancock of Denver, Mayor Arnt of Fort Collins, Chair of the Metro Mayors Caucus Mayor Jackie Millet, Mayor Suthers of Colorado Springs, Mayor Weaver of Boulder, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber John Tayer, A Way Forward chair and president and CEO of Colorado Concern Mike Kopp, Adams County Commissioner Eva Henry, SMART Union, Action 22, SWEEP, Lyft, Pipefitters Local 208, Colorado Competitive Council, Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Mike Ferrufino, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President Kelly Brough, Grand Junction Economic Partnership Executive Director Robin Brown, Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Executive Vice President Dave Davia, Former Colorado Speaker of the House Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, Routt County Commissioner Beth Melton, Chaffee County Commissioner Keith Baker, Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue, Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy, Grand County Commissioner Rich Cimino, La Plata County Commissioner Clyde Church, Eagle County Commissioner Matt Scherr, Larimer County Commissioner Kristin Stephens, Adams County Commissioner Emma Pinter, and Clear Creek County Commissioner Randall Wheelock. Previous Next