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< Back June 18, 2021 CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW Bill signed into law today provide three free mental health session for Colorado youth, improve 2-1-1 human services hotline DENVER, CO - – Governor Polis today signed two bills into law that will provide three free mental health sessions to Colorado youth and include behavioral health referrals as part of the states 2-1-1 human services hotline. “We’ve heard from parents and students in every community that they need better access to mental health care,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Thanks to this new law, any school aged person will be able to get three free mental health sessions. We have to put students first as we recover from this pandemic and build back stronger, and that’s what we’ve done by creating this program and directly addressing the mental health needs of our students.” HB21-1258 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Kevin Van Winkle, would create a temporary youth mental health services program in the Office of Behavioral Health within the Department of Human Services to facilitate access to mental health services for identified needs, including those that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program would provide any young person age 18 and under with an online mental health screening and would then reimburse providers for up to three mental health sessions. This support is intended to prepare children for the return to in-person learning and a review of stress management tools, and to make a plan for ongoing treatment when necessary. We estimate that this program can support up to 25,537 children. “Colorado’s 2-1-1 Human Services Referral System connects people with critical services, and now it will also be a resource for Coloradans who are struggling to access behavioral health care,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “To build back stronger and recover, we have to ensure that everyone in our state can access the mental health care and support they need to heal and thrive.” “People who don’t have health insurance or who are unemployed face some of the toughest obstacles to obtaining mental health care,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “The bill Governor Polis signed today will boost funding for the 2-1-1 hotline and expand it to include behavioral health care referrals, providing more Coloradans access to mental health providers and the services they need.” SB21-239 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Mary Young, would improve the 2-1-1 Statewide Human Services Referral System. The bill appropriates $1 million to expand referral services authorized by the Colorado 2-1-1 collaborative to include referrals for behavioral health services and other resources in the state. By doing so, the 2-1-1 hotline will be able to connect more Coloradans with the mental health services they need. The bill additionally focuses on connecting Coloradans who are unemployed or who do not have health benefits to mental and behavioral health services. Previous Next

< Back March 30, 2021 TRANSPO COMMITTEE VOTES TO BOOST RTD RIDERSHIP, IMPROVE TRANSIT SYSTEM DENVER, CO– The House Transportation and Local Government Committee today passed HB21-1186 , sponsored by Representatives Matt Gray and Tom Sullivan, which would authorize RTD to make several improvements in order to boost ridership. The vote was 7-4. “For Coloradans across our metro area, RTD is an essential service that they can’t live without,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “This bill came out of a year-long effort and partnership with RTD, the Governor’s office, and transit experts to craft an accountability plan that will boost ridership and ensure the system meets the needs of our communities. I’m proud of the collaborative effort that led to the crucial accountability report and this important legislation.” “As an RTD rider who takes the bus to work every day, I know what it’s like to rely on public transit and how critical these services are to our communities,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “This bill will give RTD the tools it needs to boost ridership, create new services, and lower costs. I’m excited to see how the increased flexibility will allow RTD to better serve our communities and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.” HB21-1186 acts on the recommendations offered by the RTD Accountability Committee report . It includes three provisions aimed at creating new revenue sources, boosting ridership, and improving RTD services. The bill repeals the requirement that 30 percent of RTD operating costs be covered by fare revenue, allowing RTD to reduce fares in order to boost ridership as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows RTD to develop District properties for retail, commercial or residential purposes to generate new revenue streams and attract a wider ridership. Finally, HB21-1186 allows RTD to contract with nonprofits and local governments to provide critical services and help lower the overall operating costs. Previous Next

< Back September 6, 2021 ISABELLA JOY THALLAS ACT GOES INTO EFFECT TOMORROW Law requires gun owners to report lost and stolen firearms DENVER, CO– SB21-078, legislation sponsored by Representatives Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod to promote responsible gun ownership, will go into effect tomorrow. The new law aims to prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands by requiring gun owners to report to law enforcement within five days of realizing their firearms have been lost or stolen. “Last session, we took historic action to prevent gun violence in Colorado, passing six commonsense laws that will help save lives,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “The law going into effect today is an educational tool that will help keep firearms out of the wrong hands by setting an expectation for gun owners to report when their firearms are lost or have been stolen. No law will prevent every gun death, but we’ve seen that well-crafted policies–like Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law–save lives, and the Isabella Joy Thallas Act will, as well.” “Lost and stolen firearms are found at crime scenes across the country every day, and data shows that tens of thousands of firearms have been stolen in Colorado in recent years,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “Unreported lost or stolen firearms make our communitiees less safe, and it doesn’t have to be that way. Timely reporting of lost or stolen firearms saves lives, helps prevent crime, and it’s the simple and responsible thing to do if you realize your firearm is missing.” SB21-078 requires an individual who owns a firearm and has reasonable cause to believe that the firearm has been lost or stolen to report that firearm to a law enforcement agency within five days after discovering that the firearm is missing. A first offense for failure to make such a report is a civil infraction punishable by a $25 fine, and a second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine. The bill requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report to enter information about the lost or stolen firearm into the National Crime Information Center database and report the information to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Through an amendment, SB21-078 was renamed the ‘Isabella Joy Thallas Act’, in honor of the young woman who was murdered on June 10, 2020 while she and her boyfriend were walking their dog outside of their apartment in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood. The high-powered semi-automatic rifle used in the killing was stolen. Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2019 HOUSE PASSES KENNEDY-LONTINE BIPARTISAN BILL TO HELP ADDRESS HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF COLORADO House Democrats working to lower the cost of health care (Apr. 29) – The House passed Assistant Majority Leader Chris Kennedy and Rep. Susan Lontine’s bill requiring non-profit hospitals to submit an annual community health needs assessment and benefit implementation plan to the state so that the hospitals can better prioritize investments in community activities that improve health outcomes. “Nonprofit hospitals are given tax-exempt status with the understanding that they will reinvest money back into their communities. We have reason to believe that not all hospitals are spending this money in a way that best benefits their community-identified health needs,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “This bill will allow us to compare hospital community benefit spending on an apples-to-apples basis and encourage more hospitals to invest in the things that count.” According to data collected by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), hospital costs account for 39 percent of health care spending nationwide. The bill is designed to increase the transparency of hospital investments in community health by requiring all nonprofit hospitals to submit annual reports to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) regarding their community benefit activities. The Colorado Hospital Association supports the bill. “Our non-profit hospitals are here to serve the public good and their local communities. This important bill ensures non-profit hospitals are financially transparent and that community voices are able to guide the investments of non-profit hospitals that are meant to best serve their community,” said Rep. Lontine, D- Denver. Rep. Lontine is chair of the House Health and Insurance committee. Earlier this year, Rep. Kennedy’s bipartisan hospital transparency bill was signed into law. HB19-1320 passed on a bipartisan vote of 45-20. The bill now goes to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back April 9, 2020 JBC ANNOUNCES PLAN OF ACTION ON BUDGET DENVER, CO — Joint Budget Committee leadership today announced a plan of action and preliminary timeline agreed to by all JBC members for completing the budget. The JBC aims to finalize the Long Bill, School Finance Act, and any budget-related bills by the end of May to allow state departments, local governments, school districts, and others the time necessary to finalize their budgets by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2020. “The JBC is committed to a transparent, accountable and responsible budget process that allows us time to gather information on how this crisis is impacting state revenues and work through how we can minimize the impact of severe budget cuts on Coloradans,” said JBC Chair Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We are prioritizing public health and safety as we work to protect core priorities, such as K-12 education, and craft a balanced budget that supports Colorado families and gets our economy moving again.” “The JBC is working incredibly hard to re-map Colorado’s budget in the wake of COVID-19,” said JBC Vice-Chair, Sen. Dominick Moreno D- Commerce City. “Many of our priorities are being adjusted as we determine how to best support citizens during the next chapter of relief and recovery. We have some extremely difficult decisions ahead, but we will continue to be guided by our values and fight for Colorado’s most critical programs and institutions.” “As the General Assembly extends its recess and the statewide stay at home order remains in effect, the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) and its staff continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on Colorado’s economy to identify an appropriate time to review the state budget and make necessary balancing decisions,” wrote JBC members in the letter announcing the plan of action. The JBC will use the next few weeks to gather information with the goal of releasing new, publicly available figure setting documents by late April. “JBC and its staff are also utilizing this time to monitor increased demand for social services and unemployment benefits as well as declining state revenues. The JBC continues to work with departments to calculate these impacts on department budgets while also collaborating to identify feasible budget reductions,” the members continued. The JBC plans to begin meeting again in early May under the preliminary timeline below: This preliminary timeline is subject to adjustment if necessary based on how the public health and budgetary situation continues to evolve. Previous Next

< Back November 5, 2024 Majority Leader Duran, Rep. Froelich Release Statements on Proposition KK DENVER, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Meg Froelich today released the following statement on the passage of Proposition KK. HB24-1349 referred a measure to that ballot that will place 6.5-percent excise tax on firearms to support Colorado Crime Victims Services, School Security Disbursement Program, and behavioral health crisis response system services: Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge: “Tonight really is a full circle moment for me; without the support from crime victim services as a young single mother trapped in an abusive relationship, there is no way I’d be here today celebrating the passage of Prop KK. I’d like to thank our volunteers, advocates and non-profit organizations who helped get the word out about this modest, 6.5 percent excise tax on firearms. As federal dollars dwindle, Coloradans made the right choice this evening to step up and help fill the funding gaps in crime victim services. From navigating the challenging judicial system to helping secure child care, crime victim services play a major role in uplifting survivors by providing them the resources they need to start anew. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your support of Prop KK.” Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood: “I’m beyond proud of the passage of Prop KK, and I’d like to personally thank each and every volunteer and advocate who made this possible. We know survivors of domestic abuse often face an uphill battle when navigating the judicial system, securing housing and obtaining financial security and crime victim services often play a vital role in connecting survivors to resources they need. Prop KK’s modest excise tax will go directly to Colorado’s crime victim services, which will help offset drastic cuts in federal funding for life-saving services. Tonight, Coloradans stepped up to support survivors and their children, and I couldn’t be more proud.” ### Previous Next

< Back February 12, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES HANSEN BILL TO HELP CONSUMERS & ENERGY COMMUNITIES Bill could help lower energy bills and ensure Colorado leads on climate action (Feb. 11) – The House Energy and Environment committee gave approval to Rep. Chris Hansen and Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo’s bill to help lower the cost of energy bills and transition toward renewable energy today. As a result of market forces, Colorado workers and communities are being negatively affected by the closure of aging power plants. “We have a moral imperative to act on climate and ensure our state transitions to renewable energy sources in a responsible manner. This bill will help lower energy costs for consumers, invest in low-cost renewable energy, and provide direct assistance to communities impacted by the retirement of a fading power plant,” said Rep. Hansen, D-Denver. The Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Act would offer job training and financial support to communities impacted by the decommissioning of power plants. “Coloradans are currently on the hook for the outstanding debt on aging power plants. This legislation would allow the state to refinance that debt at a much lower interest rate by authorizing ratepayer-backed bonds. The bill will help hardworking families save money on their energy bills and ensure a soft landing for when an aging power plant inevitably shuts down because of market forces,” Rep. Hansen added. The bill would have no impact on the state budget. As utilities retire facilities, workers and communities where the plants are located can face economic challenges, and this bill creates a means of mitigating those challenges. HB19-1037 creates the opportunity for Colorado to take advantage of low-cost ratepayer-backed bonds. Bonds can be used if an electric-generating facility is being closed. From a portion of bond proceeds, the bill also creates and funds the Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Authority, which acts to mitigate impacts of plant closures on affected Colorado workers and communities. Twenty-one other states have laws in place allowing ratepayer-backed bonds to be used but this would be the first time in U.S. history that savings from the bonds would help workers and communities transition and cost tax-payers zero dollars in the process. HB19-1037 was approved by a vote of 7-4. The bill now goes to the House floor. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis and the Department of Local Affairs recently announced the third round of Transformational Affordable Housing Grant recipients, including a $10,750,000 investment in House District 26 that is expected to create 333 new units in rural Colorado. < Back July 13, 2023 Lukens Applauds Over $10.5 Million in Grant Money to Make Housing More Affordable in Rural Colorado DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis and the Department of Local Affairs recently announced the third round of Transformational Affordable Housing Grant recipients, including a $10,750,000 investment in House District 26 that is expected to create 333 new units in rural Colorado. “This investment of over $10.5 million is expected to create hundreds of affordable homes that will reduce the cost of housing, save people money and make it easier for Coloradans in rural parts of our state to stay in the communities we love,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This round of funding will provide Routt, Eagle and Moffat counties with significant new resources to help our rural and mountain towns drive down the cost of living and boost our workforce with more affordable places to live.” In the 2022 legislative session, Colorado Democrats passed HB22-1304 and HB22-1377 to allocate over $280 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to develop more affordable housing units and to provide housing support and other essential services to unhoused people. One of the grant programs created from these laws, the Transformational Affordable Housing Grant program, aims to aid eligible applicants with the development, creation, and preservation of affordable housing opportunities throughout Colorado. The legislation requires half of the grant money to be made available to rural communities to give them a fair shot at accessing grant dollars so they can address rural housing shortages. In the recently announced third round of grant recipients, Moffat, Routt, and Eagle county recipients collectively received over $10 million in grant money. The grant program awarded: The Yampa Valley Housing Authority and Lone Tree Trust, LLC with $4 million to add 234 more workforce housing units in Steamboat Springs by developing for-sale condominiums and rental apartments, Colorado Mountain College with $2 million to build 36 units in Eagle County for residents who are at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI), The Eagle County Housing and Development Authority with $2 million to purchase 43 newly-constructed condominium units, and The Craig Housing Authority with $2.75 million to develop 20 new modular homes. In May 2023, the department awarded over $31 million in its second round of grants, including a $8.6 million investment to the Town of Hayden. This investment will fund a workforce housing project in Hayden that will create 129 new housing units in the Prairie Run Workforce Apartments. These rental units will offer housing between 80% and 160% AMI and will be all-electric with high efficiency electrical heating. Previous Next

< Back January 30, 2020 REP. CARAVEO’S MULTILINGUAL BALLOT ACCESS BILL ADVANCES DENVER, CO– HB20-1081, sponsored by Representative Yadira Caraveo, today passed the House Committee on State, Veteran, and Military Affairs by a vote of 6-3. “It’s essential for our democracy that every citizen in our state have the ability to understand their ballots,” said Rep. Caraveo (D- Thornton). “This bill will make ballot access easier for Coloradans across the state while placing only minimal responsibilities on our local governments.” The bill establishes a hotline run by the Secretary of State’s office to provide access to ballot translation and requires the Secretary of State’s office to have the hotline available for the November 2022 election and for every general election and statewide odd-year election thereafter. County clerks are to make available minority language sample ballots when a language is spoken by at least 2,000 or 2.5 percent citizens of voting age who speak English “less than very well” in a county. These sample ballots would be available in-person beginning in November 2022 and for every general election and statewide odd-year election thereafter. There are over 100,000 Colorado voters who speak English “less than very well,” and over 80,000 of them live in counties where ballots and other election materials are not available in languages other than English. Ballots are often difficult for minority language speakers to comprehend, even if they do speak and read some English. The federal Voting Rights Act only requires the counties of Conejos, Costilla, Denver, and Saguache provide election materials in both English and Spanish, limiting ballot access for Coloradans across the state who speak English “less than very well.” Previous Next

House Speaker Julie McCluskie today introduced legislation to restore critical protections for Colorado’s streams, rivers and wetlands. HB24-1379 is also sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts and Representative Karen McCormick.  < Back March 20, 2024 JOINT RELEASE: Legislation to Protect Streams, Rivers and Wetlands in Colorado Introduced DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie today introduced legislation to restore critical protections for Colorado’s streams, rivers and wetlands. HB24-1379 is also sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts and Representative Karen McCormick. “This Colorado approach to protecting our streams, rivers and wetlands will provide certainty to communities, sustain our water quality, and ensure future generations can enjoy the great Colorado outdoors we all love,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Clean water is our most precious resource on the Western Slope–necessary for everything from our booming outdoor recreation economy and agriculture industry to high country breweries, ski resorts and increasing household demand. I’m proud Colorado is stepping up to secure our water future after the Supreme Court removed important protections and left our waterways in jeopardy.” “Protecting Colorado's threatened water supply is a key priority for the communities I represent on the Western Slope, and is far too important to be left in limbo, which is why we're taking action now," said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. "This critical bill will help us protect our precious water resources while appropriately balancing the agricultural and community needs in our state." “Water is a precious resource and is critical to our economy and way of life. I am committed to protecting Colorado’s water today and building a more water-efficient, sustainable, and resilient future. Today, we further our commitment to protect Colorado’s water for the next generation of Coloradans,” said Governor Polis. The Clean Water Act authorizes the EPA to define waterways of the United States and the Army Corps of Engineers to regulate discharges from dredge and fill activities into waters that meet that definition. The May 2023 US Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA redefined what constitutes waters subject to federal regulation and placed an estimated 60 percent of Colorado wetlands at risk of losing protections. “Protecting our vital freshwater resources is one of the most important things we can do as Colorado lawmakers,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “Everyone from our farmers and ranchers to the native plants and animals that call Colorado home, rely upon our rivers, streams and wetlands. This important legislation provides certainty and clarity for businesses and landowners while protecting Colorado’s watersheds–securing our water future for generations to come.” The legislation introduced today protects Colorado waters that are not federally protected. The permitting framework is based on well-established approaches already used by the Army Corps of Engineers and will provide clarity on when a permit is needed. Normal farming and ranching activities, such as plowing, farm road construction, and erosion control practices would not require a permit. "As demands on water resources increase, and the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, Colorado will be wise to step up its efforts in wetland preservation," said Gregory Hill, fourth-generation farmer, Yuma County. "Speaker McCluskie and Senator Roberts are stepping up where the courts have left off. I applaud their leadership to fill in the gap in regulation left by the Supreme Court, and to regulate and preserve our wetlands and all the benefits provided by them. Until the recent decision, the Army Corps’ permitting program safeguarded the vast majority of Colorados’ state waters from pollution caused by dredge and fill activities. Dredge and fill activities involve digging up or placing dirt and other fill material into wetlands or surface waters as part of construction projects. These operations are necessary in many infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, housing developments, flood mitigation, and utility pipelines. The legislation provides a way for these projects to move forward and to protect Colorado’s water resources. "As the owner of a brewery in a resort town I depend on cold, clean water to craft award-winning beers. Clean water allows me to run my business, create jobs and contribute sales tax revenue for my community. Our town depends on clean water for a multitude of tourist activities that bring people from all over the world. We need to protect our waterways and wetlands. House Speaker Julie McCluskie and Senator Dylan Roberts' bill is a needed remedy to a terrible decision by the U.S. Supreme Court," said Tom Caldwell Co-owner and Head Brewer at Big Trout Brewing Company, Winter Park, Colorado. "The Supreme Court’s Sackett decision threatens my community's water supply and resilience to climate change, especially those already living with disproportionate impacts of polluted water," said Steve O'dorisio, Adams County Commissioner (District 4) and member of Governor Polis' WOTUS Task Force. "I applaud Speaker McCluskie and Senator Roberts for introducing HB24-1379 . This legislation creates regulatory certainty allowing for responsible development to occur in a manner that also protects the wetlands and streams which are critical to providing safe, affordable, drinking water for all." Previous Next

< Back May 11, 2021 IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND PASSES ON SECOND READING House gives preliminary approval to Reps. Tipper and Ricks’ bill to help provide immigrants with legal representation DENVER, CO– The House today advanced Reps. Kerry Tipper and Naquetta Ricks’s bill to help to provide legal representation for low-income Coloradans facing deportation or other immigration proceedings. The bill passed on second reading. “Forcing low-income individuals to face an immigration court, especially during a complicated deportation proceeding, without an attorney is a failure of our justice system,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “Immigrants contribute immensely to our economy, our culture, and our communities. Regardless of whether they are documented or not, immigrants have legal rights in our country. This fund will ensure that they are aware of and able to exercise their rights.” “As an immigrant myself, I understand firsthand how complicated our immigration legal system can be for families hoping to make Colorado their permanent home,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “So many kids in Colorado are growing up in mixed-status families. Ensuring that parents who are facing deportation or other immigration proceedings have the legal representation they deserve is the right thing to do.” HB21-1194 would create the immigration Legal Defense Fund and charge it with administering grants to nonprofit organizations that provide legal advice, counseling, and representation for, and on behalf of, clients appearing in an immigration court. These funds are designated to go toward serving low income clients, in particular those who are detained for deportation proceedings. The bill also includes stipulations to ensure funds go to clients outside of the Denver area. Many people in immigration court proceedings have valid legal claims to remain in the United States but are unable to argue their cases effectively absent legal expertise in complex U.S. immigration law. Between 2007 and 2021, only five percent of immigration cases were won without an attorney, while ninety-five percent of cases where people were represented by an attorney were successful. Previous Next

< Back March 25, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BIPARTISAN VALDEZ BILL ON CDOT (Mar. 25) – The House unanimously approved a bipartisan bill that would create a study to help determine what is the best method to pay Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) engineer contractors, through an hourly rate or through a fixed bid amount. “This bill is about transparency and accountability, and will create fairness and efficiency for CDOT,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara. “We need to make responsible investments in transportation and this is a good government bill.” The current practice is for CDOT outside engineers that are contracted with an hourly rate. SB19-076 would create a study to see if changing the payment method to a fixed bid amount would improve current concerns of cost efficiency of CDOT projects. SB19-076 was also sponsored by Rep. Janice Rice, R-Grand Junction. It passed unanimously through the House and now heads back to the Senate to vote on the bill with the amendments added in the House. Then it will head to the Governor’s desk. Previous Next