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< Back January 24, 2020 DANGEROUS GUN BILLS DEFEATED Dems praise bipartisan school safety measures, stop bills that would have allowed dangerous high capacity magazines that can shoot 50 or 100 rounds back on Colorado streets Democrats on the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today defeated HB20-1040 and HB20-1099, two dangerous gun bills that would have allowed armed teachers in Colorado schools and once again permitted high capacity magazine sales in the state. “These two bills would have endangered students’ lives and allowed weapons capable of quickly shooting a hundred rounds onto our streets,” said committee member Rep. Emily Sirota (D-Denver). “I worked hard on the School Safety Committee to craft bipartisan legislation to save students’ lives. We should focus on bills that will keep our students safe. Instead, we’re debating the same dangerous proposals year after year.” “We’ve seen too much devastation caused by high capacity magazines to go back to when these extremely dangerous accessories could be sold in our state,” said committee member Rep. Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins). “I’ve heard from many constituents and Coloradans across our state who fear gun violence and are deeply concerned for their safety. I also heard it when I was a school board member for seven years. Putting guns into classrooms won’t make them safer.” The National Association of School Resources Officers strongly opposes allowing guns in schools because in an active shooter situation, it could cause confusion and lead law enforcement to mistakenly identify someone not in uniform as an assailant. They also point out the wide discrepancy, often hundreds of hours in training requirements, between law enforcement and concealed carry permit holders. There have been multiple incidents where students have accessed firearms that adults brought on campus. Research shows that access to a firearm triples the risk of suicide and doubles the risk of a homicide occurring, all while we know young people in this age group are at some of the highest risks for behavioral health conditions and suicide. House Democrats have instead focused on bipartisan school safety reforms , developed from dozens of hours of expert testimony, that aim to save lives in school. These bills would enhance the Safe2Tell program, expand access to mental health in schools, and improve existing school safety initiatives. The second bill Democrats defeated would have allowed the sale of high capacity magazines, like the one used in the Aurora shooting, back on Colorado streets. Research from Everytown on mass shooting incidents where data was collected on magazine size found that 58 percent of these incidents involved firearms with high-capacity magazines. There were twice as many fatalities and 14 times as many injuries on shootings where high-capacity magazines are involved. In Dayton Ohio, an assailant shot 26 people in 32 seconds. Previous Next

< Back April 9, 2019 FROELICH’S BILL TO INCREASE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION BENEFITS AT CSU-GLOBAL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY Since 2018, CSU-Global has graduated over 18,000 students (Apr. 9) – Rep. Meg Froelich’s bipartisan bill to allow Colorado State University’s Global Campus to offer students who are National Guard Members tuition benefits unanimously passed in the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee. Currently, CSU-Global students cannot seek financial aid or receive tuition benefits through the National Guard’s state statute as an institution for which the National Guard members can utilize their tuition benefits. “CSU-Global is a really good fit for National Guard members because CSU-Global is designed to serve non-traditional students. Many of our National Guard members travel outside of the country to keep us all secured and safe,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Giving our troops the ability to utilize their tuition benefits at CSU-Global will allow them to serve while also working to complete their higher education.” Nearly 40 percent of CSU-Global students are Colorado residents who reside in 63 out of the 64 counties in the state. Roughly 15 percent of those students are military affiliated. “I have a CSU-Global campus in my district and I want to help those students be successful on their path to higher education while they continue serving our great state,” Rep. Froelich added. SB19-194 unanimously passed in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back April 5, 2021 HOUSE VOTES TO BOOST OUTDOOR REC INDUSTRY McLachlan’s bill establishes state office to cultivate and promote outdoor recreation industry DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation by a vote of 44-20 to create the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. “Colorado can recover faster and build back stronger by boosting one of our state’s most vital industries, outdoor recreation,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “The outdoor recreation office will help create jobs in rural Colorado and protect the public lands that foster our thriving outdoor recreation economy.” HB21-1223 , which is sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Matt Soper, would formally create the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office in the Office of Economic Development. The Office was formed by the governor in 2015, and this bill would cement the Office in statute and outline the Office’s specific responsibilities and objectives.HB21-1223 calls for the cultivation, promotion, and coordinated development of the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado and for the protection and conservation of public lands, waters, air, and climate. It directs the Office to help address some of the inequities preventing underserved communities from engaging in the numerous recreation opportunities available throughout the state. It calls on the state to partner with the outdoor recreation industry to ensure that the industry serves as a good steward of Colorado’s natural beauty. The Office would support the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado by working with state, federal, local governments and nongovernmental organizations to promote economic development, conservation, stewardship, education, workforce training, and public health and wellness. Previous Next

< Back March 15, 2022 HOUSE ADVANCES WILDFIRE INSURANCE PROTECTIONS DENVER, CO – A bill to protect Coloradans with wildfire insurance by updating standards to ensure consumers’ claims are paid in a timely manner today advanced in the House. HB22-1111 is a proactive approach to ensure homeowners displaced by wildfires receive a fair and comprehensive payout for lost property after deeply traumatizing/catastrophic disasters. “After the fires and devastation our communities have experienced, it is clear that we need to update our laws so that future victims of catastrophic fires receive the insurance payouts they’re owed,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “By passing this bill, victims of fires will face fewer barriers to file and receive their claims for lost property and living expenses. This streamlined process will help Coloradans get on the road to recovery faster.” HB22-1111 , sponsored by Representative Amabile, would update a 2013 law by standardizing what insurers will pay out in claims for lost property and additional living expenses after a declared wildfire disaster. More specifically, it would require insurers to pay disaster victims 65 percent of the value of the contents of their home up front without requiring the victim to do a comprehensive inventory of their personal property. Current law only guarantees 30 percent upfront, creating a burdensome process for many people to claim what they are owed after a deeply traumatizing event. The bill also puts in place several provisions that would streamline the insurance claims process for disaster victims. Due to climate change and dryer seasons, Coloradans are at risk for future wildfires. The Insurance Coverage For Loss Declared Fire Disaster would boost the number of insurance providers required to pay by 50 percent so displaced wildfire victims receive more for their destroyed homes and its contents faster. Following the devastation from the Marshall Fire and pressure from those in support of this legislation, many insurers have already agreed to increase the amount of money that will be paid out to fire victims, streamline the inventory process and cover the costs of habitability testing for smoke damage. This bill will ensure all policyholders will receive the benefits they are owed. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to establish the second Monday in October as “Colorado American Indian Recognition Day” in Colorado. < Back March 10, 2025 House Passes Bill to Establish Colorado American Indian Recognition Day DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to establish the second Monday in October as “Colorado American Indian Recognition Day”. HB25-1266 would create a new observed holiday to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the Ute Tribes in Colorado. “Celebrating and recognizing the historic contributions of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and all American Indian nations with ties to Colorado is incredibly important – this holiday helps accomplish that,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “We must acknowledge the tragedies of the past while honoring the sovereignty of the Ute Tribes in Colorado and this bill recognizes the second Monday in October as “Colorado American Indian Recognition Day”. “The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe called Colorado home long before it was a state – this bill helps acknowledge their many contributions,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “The Ute Tribes have provided significant cultural, social and economic contributions to the state and their histories are integral to Colorado’s identity. With the passage of this bill, we’re one step closer to establishing the second Monday in October as “Colorado American Indian Recognition Day”. HB25-1266 , passed the House by a vote of 50-10. This bill establishes the second Monday in October as “Colorado American Indian Recognition Day,” an observed state holiday. Nationally, the second Monday in October is recognized as "Indigenous People’s Day” but is not observed at the state level in Colorado. If signed into law, this bill would create “Colorado American Indian Recognition Day,” as an observed, but not a legal, state holiday on the same day. The goal of HB25-1266 is to celebrate and honor the histories, culture and contributions of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and all American Indian nations with historic ties to Colorado. Colorado replaced “Columbus Day” in 2020 with “Frances Xavier Cabrini Day”, which is observed on the first Monday in October and is a legal state holiday with paid-time off for state employees. Previous Next

< Back May 12, 2021 HOUSE BILL WOULD BOOST WILDFIRE AND DISASTER MITIGATION DENVER, CO– The House today advanced HB21-1208 , legislation that would help Colorado communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change and related natural disasters. “As the changing climate threatens structures, livestock, and Coloradans across our state, we have to take action now to help build more resilient communities,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “This bill will help local governments and communities draw down significant federal resources to protect against natural disasters like wildfires and droughts that are devastating our state, forcing Coloradans from their homes, and harming industries that create jobs. Our local communities desperately need a consistent, ongoing source of revenue to fund mitigation resources to fund mitigation projects so they can be better prepared to weather increasingly severe droughts, fires, and record temperatures.” “By investing in natural disaster and wildfire mitigation, we can prevent some of the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in damages and losses consumers and property owners face each year in Colorado,” said Rep Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “Climate change is making natural disasters worse and worse each year, burning people’s homes and threatening job creating industries that rely on our beautiful environment.” HB21-1208, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Gray, would create a natural disaster enterprise to draw down federal funds to help Colorado communities mitigate the impact and reduce the threat of climate-related natural disasters, such as wildfires. The bill establishes a small $2 per year flat fee on some disaster related insurance policies that will be leveraged for three times as much federal funding. The funding will be used to finance disaster mitigation projects in communities that are actively working to increase their resiliency.. The grant program will also provide technical assistance to local governments to help them address and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law to build more condos now and reduce the cost of housing. < Back May 12, 2025 SIGNED! Construction Defects Reform Bill Becomes Law DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law to build more condos now and reduce the cost of housing. “From building equity and generational wealth to lowering housing costs, condos offer numerous benefits to Coloradans looking to buy their first home,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Rising rent and housing prices have made it nearly impossible for hardworking Coloradans to save enough money to buy a home at the median price tag of $550,000. After years of hard work, I'm thankful for everyone who worked closely with us to help craft this new law so we can spur new housing options that Coloradans can afford and offer more Coloradans a fair shot at the American Dream.” “HB25-1272 will make fair and balanced reforms to our construction defects laws, ensuring that high-quality homes are built, problems are fixed before sale and excessive costs that deter development can be reined in,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “This law is a proactive solution that incentivizes responsible development, making it a win-win for homeowners and builders alike. It’s intended to meet the demands of our communities, respond to changing demographics, and provide housing that is adaptable to different housing sizes and needs. With this new law, we can create more attainable housing opportunities and ensure that more Coloradans can achieve the dream of homeownership.” “With a shortage of over 100,000 homes across our state and a decrease in condominium development, it's becoming increasingly difficult for first-time homebuyers to find housing they can afford,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Offering a variety of housing options is a critical piece in making homeownership a reality for more Coloradans. Our new law will help increase the availability of high-quality starter homes in the market to create more affordable housing options that work for every budget.” “In Colorado’s mountain and rural communities, there are teachers, police officers, small business owners, nurses, and other crucial working folks who desperately want to be able to buy a home and put roots down, but there’s not any housing available for them to purchase,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco . “For years, construction defects laws have stunted the development of condos and townhomes, generally more affordable housing options for first-time buyers. This new law will change that and help ensure that we have a healthy mix of housing units, allowing more Coloradans to achieve their dream of homeownership.” HB25-1272 reforms construction defect laws by encouraging condo builders to work with third-party inspectors to help identify and correct any construction issues upfront, establishing clear guidelines for construction defect claims, and adjusting the statutes of limitation for construction defect claims. Beginning January 1, 2026, the law creates the Multifamily Construction Incentive Program. Builders will be able to opt into this program if they offer a warranty for any defect and damage and hire a third-party inspector to periodically review the construction throughout the building process. In exchange for providing these additional safeguards upfront, builders in the program will receive additional protections against construction defect actions, which can be costly to litigate and discourage condo development. Under HB25-1272, a homeowner who purchased a property built under the program will have six years to bring an action for damages. The homeowner will have a duty to mitigate damage alleged to be caused by a defect and notify the builder, who must offer a fix to any defect claims. If the issue is not resolved through this warranty process, the homeowner may proceed with a defect claim. The law exempts a construction professional participating in the program from liability for a damage or defect if they can prove the damage or defect was caused by: Certain weather conditions, an act of war, terrorism or vandalism, A homeowner’s unreasonable failure to timely mitigate damages or complete ongoing home maintenance, or Misuse, abuse, or neglect after the sale to the claimant. From 2007 to 2022, the number of condo developers working in Colorado declined by 84-percent in part due to the potential for expensive lawsuits. Meanwhile, the median age of first-time homebuyers in Colorado rose from 35 to 38 in the past year. Previous Next

< Back May 6, 2021 BILL TO EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS, SAVE LIVES ADVANCES Judiciary Committee Advances gun violence prevention measure DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today advanced Reps. Judy Amabile and Steven Woodrow’s bill to strengthen Colorado’s gun transfer background check system by preventing individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors from obtaining a firearm for a period of time and closing the ‘Charleston Loophole’. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “When my community was devastated by the senseless actions of a troubled individual with a history of violence, I was left reeling and grasping for answers on how to prevent this from happening again,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “As the investigation continues, it has become clear to me that the shooter’s conviction of a violent misdemeanor should have been the red flag that prevented him from buying a deadly weapon. I’m proud to honor my community with action today.” “Child abuse, hate crimes, possession of an illegal weapon — these are the types of recent convictions that would stop you from obtaining a firearm under this bill,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “While I’m certain we’ll continue to encounter opposition on this legislation moving forward, an overwhelming majority of Coloradans agree it really shouldn’t be controversial. This bill is about saving lives, and ensuring that individuals with a history of violence have a more difficult time getting their hands on the type of weapon that can take a dozen lives in mere seconds.” HB21-1298 prohibits a person who has been convicted of certain violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for 5 years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault, and third degree assault. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. This bill avoids that by creating a state requirement for a firearms dealer to receive approval from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation prior to transferring a firearm. Previous Next

< Back April 18, 2019 SINGER-DURAN FOSTER SIBLINGS BILL OF RIGHTS BILL PASSES HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY (Apr. 18) – A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Singer and Rep. Monica Duran that outlines protections for siblings when they are placed in foster care passed unanimously out of the House. “Foster care should not change people’s status as siblings. We know that siblings share a special, lifelong bond often being each others’ first friends, ” said Rep. Singer, D-Longmont, chair of the House Public Health Care & Human Services committee. “If siblings cannot be placed together, then they should be able to receive regular updates about each other and have consistent, frequent contact, and that’s what this bill tackles.” HB19-1288 strongly emphasizes the importance of the sibling relationship to youth in foster care. It outlines protections that siblings should receive, such as placing siblings together, having regular contact and communication, and having their relationship encouraged despite their involvement in the foster care system. “Many studies have shown that relationships with siblings benefit their emotional and mental well-being,” said Rep. Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill was brought to us by foster youth who go through the horrible experience of being ripped away from their siblings. We need to keep these kids together and avoid any further mental trauma to them.” The bill was unanimously approved in the House and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable < Back June 5, 2024 SIGNED! New Law Will Improve Black Maternal Health Care Coverage More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable DENVER, CO – Today, Governor Jared Polis signed legislation that aims to improve perinatal health outcomes, especially in Black and historically marginalized communities. SB24-175 , sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Representatives Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, requires large employer health benefit plans to cover doula services in alignment with Medicaid. The law also instructs hospitals that provide labor and delivery or neonatal care services to participate in at least one maternal or infant health quality improvement initiative. Additionally, the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will contract with a Colorado perinatal care quality collaborative to provide maternal and infant health equity improvement initiatives to hospitals; track disparity and health outcome data; and address disparate outcomes particularly among American Indian, Native Alaskan, and Black birthing populations. “The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any rich country and significant disparities in outcomes – and the crisis will continue to worsen unless we act,” said Fields. “This law is incredibly important as it addresses gaps in coverage and holds hospitals accountable for ensuring equitable care for all people, and I’m proud to see it signed today.” “Addressing the access gap in health care coverage is the first step we can take to reduce our country’s maternal mortality rate, which is far too high and disproportionately high for Black, American Indian and rural mothers,” said McLachlan. “To improve health outcomes for expecting mothers, including those in rural and remote areas, we need to ensure they have access to a range of perinatal care and that it’s covered by their insurance. I’m proud to have sponsored this law to keep expecting mothers and their newborns safe.” “No Black woman should lose their life, or come close to losing their life, in an attempt to birth their child,” Buckner said. “While maternal mortality rates around the world fell 44 percent, maternal mortality rates in the United States increased by 16.7 percent during that same period of time. It's unacceptable. Working to solve our maternal health crisis – especially for Black and historically marginalized communities – will lead to better economic, health, and social outcomes while saving lives.” “As a new mother myself, I want the best possible outcomes for all expecting mothers. Yet, our country’s maternal mortality rate reflects a different reality, especially for Black mothers,” said Jodeh. “This law works to combat the maternal mortality rate by encouraging hospitals to focus on improving their maternal or infant health outcomes, expanding insurance coverage for doula services and improving health equity training for birthing health care providers.” Under this law, CDPHE will create a program that provides financial support to hospitals in rural areas, hospitals serving a higher percentage of Medicaid and uninsured patients, or hospitals with lower-acuity maternal and neonatal care. Lastly, it requires coverage of over-the-counter and prescribed choline supplements for pregnant people. Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. According to the CDC, multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality health care, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. SB24-175 intends to address systemic racism in health care and develop better and more culturally informed care for historically marginalized communities. Previous Next

SB23-189 works to make reproductive health care more accessible and affordable < Back March 28, 2023 House Committee Passes Legislation to Increase Access to Reproductive Health Care SB23-189 works to make reproductive health care more accessible and affordable DENVER, CO – The House Health & Insurance Committee today passed legislation to make reproductive health care, including abortion, more equitable and accessible. SB23-189 is part of the Safe Access to Protected Health Care legislative package and works to increase insurance coverage and close accessibility gaps for reproductive health care. “The last thing on anyone’s mind when receiving life-saving care, including an abortion, should be – can I afford this? However, financial barriers keep that question top of mind for too many Coloradans,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City . “This bill will increase access to reproductive health care by reducing surprise billing and filling gaps in insurance coverage. I was privileged enough to pay for my own abortion out-of-pocket, but you shouldn’t have to be in my shoes to receive the health care you need. Our bill ensures that all Coloradans, regardless of income level or zip code, are supported in accessing reproductive health care and STI treatments.” “Inequity in health care access is a systemic problem, which is why we’re committed to breaking down barriers and making it possible for all Coloradans to receive the reproductive health care they need,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County . “Our bill makes accessing reproductive health care, including abortion and STI treatment, more equitable and affordable. To achieve reproductive freedom for all, we need to prioritize health care access for underserved communities and communities of color, and uproot the barriers that hold people back from receiving the care they need.” Increasing Access To Reproductive Health Care : SB23-189 passed committee by a vote of 8 to 3. This bill would limit surprise medical billing and remove patient cost sharing for reproductive health care services and treatment, including but not limited to sterilization, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and abortion care. This bill expands access to contraception and related information for all Coloradans, specifically for minors, by modernizing a 1971 law currently in place and aligning it with Colorado’s Public Health code. Additionally, this bill expands family-planning related services and treatment for routine visits. Through the Family Planning Access Collaborative created in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the department would work to examine issues related to access to family planning services, gaps in coverage, and confidentiality of services. SB23-189 additiontally prioritizes access to life-saving HIV medication by including coverage for the treatment and prevention of HIV by health benefit plans. Previous Next

SB25-041 would refine competency restoration and services to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and more quickly bring cases to trial < Back April 22, 2025 Bipartisan Bill to Improve Competency Restoration Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to restore competency to more individuals with behavioral health disorders in the criminal justice system. SB25-041 passed committee by a vote of 9-2. “To create safer communities, we need to make sure Coloradans in the criminal justice system with behavioral health disorders receive the care they need to effectively stand trial,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “Without consistent behavioral health care for these individuals, criminal trials are likely to be delayed, which hinders our justice system. This bill streamlines access to inpatient services for those in the criminal justice system to help reduce recidivism and prioritize justice for survivors.” SB25-041 is also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, R-El Paso County. This bill would allow the state to provide inpatient services for an additional 90 days after an individual’s case is dismissed because the person is deemed “incompetent to proceed.” The bill also allows the state to work with community organizations to provide permanent supportive housing for these individuals or those who complete the Bridges of Colorado program. Without streamlined access to inpatient services, such as psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation, or addiction treatment, the overall health of those with behavioral health disorders could regress, resulting in a delayed competency restoration and ultimately extending the time before individuals can even stand trial. This bill aims to provide consistent inpatient services to those with behavioral health disorders, provide clarification for courts, and pause the statute of limitations for those seeking competency diversion programs in Colorado’s criminal justice system. The bill was recommended last interim by the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Interim Committee , which is responsible for overseeing its associated task force and implementing recommendations regarding the treatment of people with behavioral health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems until 2027. Previous Next