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< Back May 26, 2021 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE GETS MAJOR FUNDING BOOST DENVER, CO– The House Education Committee today approved Representative Kerry Tipper’s bill to invest in our early childhood education and care providers and channel state and federal funds to support Colorado’s families. This bill is a part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bill passed by a vote of 7-2. “This session, we’ve made sure to put families first as we worked to build back a stronger Colorado and create an economy that leaves no one behind,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “The robust investments that this bill channels into early childhood education and child care will support working parents returning to their places of employment post-pandemic, create and retain good jobs for educators, and help beat back some of the worst effects of the economic downturn that disproportionately affected women.” SB21-236 takes several steps to support child care providers and young families in Colorado. First, it creates the innovative new Employer-based Child Care Facility Grant Program and funds it with Colorado Comeback state stimulus dollars. The program would award matching grants to nonprofit, private, and government employers to retrofit and develop new, on-site or near-site, licensed child care facilities. These grants are meant to ensure that Coloradans have access to high-quality child care at their places of work as we come out of the pandemic, and would prioritize employers whose workforce earns below the area median income. The bill also sets up a framework to ensure hundreds of millions of federal dollars directed to the Child Care and Development (CCDF) fund can be spent effectively and efficiently by the Department of Human Services. These funds have already been disbursed by the federal government but require state approval to be properly implemented. SB21-236 sets up several new programs and adequately funds several others to ensure Colorado’s youngest kids, as well as their parents and early childhood professionals, can thrive. The seven programs in this category, as outlined in the bill’s fiscal note , include The Child Care Sustainability Grant Program, created in last year’s special session to provide financial support to licensed child care providers and neighborhood youth organizations that were at risk of closing their doors due to the pandemic. The bill also creates and funds several programs to foster innovation, recruit and retain educators, and support mental health wellness in the early childhood education and care sector. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to protect Colorado renters from arbitrary, retaliatory, and discriminatory evictions. < Back March 14, 2023 House Advances Eviction Protections DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to protect Colorado renters from arbitrary, retaliatory, and discriminatory evictions. “Evictions are devastating for Colorado renters, leading to an increased likelihood of food instability and lower academic achievement in kids, and even causing me to drop out of high school when my family was evicted,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver . “Landlords should only be able to kick you out of your home for instances like lease violations or refusal to pay rent. Preventing unnecessary evictions ensures that families aren’t frivolously pushed out of their communities.” “Evictions are disproportionately filed against low-income and people of color, creating barriers to qualifying for future housing and perpetuating the cycle of housing insecurity,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver . “I have seen the impacts to the families I have worked with over the last 20 years who are regularly faced with housing instability. Colorado law has no just cause eviction protections, allowing landlords to evict tenants even when they pay their rent on time and follow the rules. This legislation will help keep more Colorado families from being unfairly pushed out while allowing landlords the tools they need to keep their units profitable and in good condition.” HB23-1171 creates the Just Cause Eviction Policy in Colorado law to prevent an unnecessary eviction when a tenant abides by the lease agreement and keeps up with rental payments. It permits landlords to evict a tenant when a tenant: Fails to pay rent after the landlord provides a written notice of nonpayment, Commits a substantial lease violation and does not cure it within 10 days of receiving written notice of the violation, Refuses to allow the landlord to enter the property after the landlord has given at least 72 hours of notice, unless the lease requires a longer period of notice, or Refuses to sign a new rental agreement with terms that are substantially identical to the current agreement. It also permits some no-fault evictions, which allow a landlord to evict for demolition, conversion, or substantial repairs to a residence, and for the purpose of allowing the landlord or their family to live in the unit as a primary residence. If a landlord moves forward with a no-fault eviction, they must provide two months’ rent worth of relocation assistance. Renters under 18 years old, over 60 years old, low-income, or with a disability qualify for a third month of relocation assistance. The bill includes certain exemptions from the relocation assistance requirement, including small landlords. The bill exempts short-term rentals and properties owned by landlords who rent out a portion of their primary residence, including an accessory dwelling unit. Previous Next

< Back December 9, 2022 Polis-Primavera Administration Announces Behavioral Health Grant Opportunities and Toolkit to Help Communities Apply DENVER - Today, the Polis-Primavera administration and Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) announced that over $130 million in grant opportunities supporting behavioral health care are now available for eligible parties to apply. The grant programs focus on implementing innovative, data-driven behavioral health strategies that meet the needs of individual communities and expanding crime prevention. As part of these grant opportunities, the BHA has partnered with Colorado Health Institute to provide technical assistance to applicants through the community behavioral health services toolkit which will support navigating the application process and creating the most effective projects for each community. “Ensuring people have access to high-quality behavioral healthcare when they need it is one of the most important investments we can make in our state,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. “Governor Polis and I are encouraged by the investments we’ve delivered over the past four years, including the allocation of resources to bolster Colorado’s behavioral health workforce and funding to address targeted areas of community need, but the work does not stop here. I look forward to continuing improving behavioral healthcare resources so that every Coloradan can reach the support they deserve.” “As we emerge from the pandemic, it is the BHA’s plan to operate as a community anchor, supporting local efforts while elevating our collective cause to strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health system,” said Dr. Morgan Medlock, Behavioral Health Administration Commissioner. The new four grant programs are a result of SB22-196 , sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales and Pete Lee as well as Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Adrienne Benavidez, and HB22-1281 , sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Naquetta Ricks and Senators Faith Winter and Bob Rankin. These laws were signed by Governor Polis this summer as a part of the Polis-Primavera administration’s commitment to delivering bold investments in behavioral healthcare for Coloradans. The grant opportunities now accepting applications include: The Criminal Justice Early Intervention Grant Program Community Investment Grant Program Children, Youth, and Families Grant Program Substance Use Workforce Stability Grant Program “Arresting and jailing Coloradans with behavioral health needs has never been an efficient or cost-effective way to combat our state’s behavioral health crisis and help folks get the care they need, so we’re taking steps to change that,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “Through this grant opportunity, local communities will be equipped with the resources they need to divert people away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate community treatment programs.” “The Criminal Justice Early Intervention Grant Program is a community-based solution that will reduce reliance on our jails and prisons for mental health care and make it easier for Coloradans with behavioral health needs to receive the treatment they need," said Assistant Majority Leader-elect Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, sponsor of SB22-196 . "Now, with grant applications open, we're one step closer to improving behavioral health access for Coloradans in communities across the state.” “Coloradans with behavioral health conditions deserve treatment, not punishment, yet the criminalization of these conditions has only made the problem worse,” said Senator Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs. “This grant opportunity will help ensure folks with mental health conditions and substance use disorders can get the treatment they need rather than enter the criminal justice system while making our communities safer, reducing recidivism, and saving taxpayers money.” “Early behavioral health intervention is one tool we have to divert Coloradans away from the criminal justice system toward treatment," said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City, sponsor of SB22-196. "The Criminal Justice Early Intervention Grant Program is a local strategy to get Coloradans the behavioral health they need before they enter the criminal justice system in the first place." The grant programs invest in local strategies and encourage those who understand their community’s individual needs and challenges to apply. Eligible applicants include local governments, community-based and/or nonprofit organizations, nonprofit hospitals, rural health clinics, substance use disorder treatment or recovery providers, federally recognized tribes, and local law enforcement agencies. “Navigating Colorado’s behavioral health system can be unnecessarily difficult, which makes it challenging for folks to access the care they need when they need it,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “These grants will help local governments and nonprofits implement innovative, community-based programs to fill critical gaps within our behavioral health system and improve outcomes for families, children, and youth across our state.” “Coloradans in every corner of our state feel the acute lack of behavioral health services, and each community’s needs are different,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of HB22-1281. “I’m thrilled that this grant program will soon accept applications because it means families, kids, and youth will soon have expanded access to the behavioral health care they so critically need.” “New grant programs, including the Children, Youth, and Families Grant Program, will fill critical gaps in care so that more families can access the behavioral health services they need to thrive,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB22-1281 . “Every community's needs are different and the available grants are designed to help local governments, non-profits and substance use organizations secure the necessary funding to improve behavioral health outcomes for Coloradans." The community behavioral health services assessment toolkit was created by the BHA in partnership with the Colorado Health Institute to support applicants through the application process and understanding their community’s strengths, needs, and gaps; overall strengthening their investments. The toolkit offers assistance with grant writing, needs assessment, and/or program design. Applicants for the Community Investment Grant Program and the Children, Youth, and Families Grant Program are able to utilize the toolkit. “We know navigating grant application processes can have many obstacles, especially for our historically-excluded communities and those who have been unable to access trusted resources, and we truly want to make applying for funding as simple and accessible as possible. The BHA is here to support you and to honor lived experiences,” said Kayla Martin, BHA Contracts & Procurement Manager. Other transformative behavioral healthcare investments signed this year by Governor Polis include: SB22-177 was signed by Gov. Polis in May and sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen (now Congresswoman-elect) and Bob Rankin and Representatives Brianna Titone and Mary Bradfield. SB22-177, Investments in Statewide Care Coordination Infrastructure, will improve coordination across Colorado between behavioral health providers and include new resources for communities statewide. Streamlining information and data will improve how providers coordinate care and services for people seeking behavioral health services and improve patient experiences. SB22-181 , the Behavioral Healthcare Workforce Development, created a new plan to strengthen and build the behavioral healthcare workforce to ensure Colorado can continue to provide high-quality services. This bill was sponsored by Senators Bridges and Simpson and Representatives Cutter and Van Beber. Through collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, institutions of higher education, and community colleges, this plan will provide new training opportunities, internships, scholarships, and more to help recruit, train, and retain a qualified behavioral healthcare workforce. The Polis-Primavera administration has committed to developing the behavioral healthcare system in Colorado and saving people money on healthcare. Through their commitment, the administration has created innovative resources to ensure that more Coloradans can access quality support when needed. Governor Polis created the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force (BHTTF) in 2019 which focuses on streamlining Colorado’s behavioral health system and increasing the efficiency and access to resources. The task force is made up of stakeholders, legislatures and community leaders to deliver well-rounded strategies. The Polis-Primavera administration has worked closely with the BHTTF to create transformative behavioral health bills. Further information regarding available technical assistance for these grant opportunities can be found by creating an account and logging in to VSS to access the request for applications (RFA) and more information regarding each of these grant programs and timelines can be found on the BHA Funding Opportunities webpage. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Lorena Garcia and Iman Jodeh to improve maternal health care in Colorado. < Back April 17, 2024 House Passes Legislation to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Address Disparity of Care for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Lorena Garcia and Iman Jodeh to improve maternal health care in Colorado. HB24-1262 includes modifying the midwife licensure process and creating a new professional title, collecting more data on mistreatment during the perinatal period, and requiring advance notice to a patient when a facility reduces or ends maternal health care services. HB24-1262 passed the House by a vote of 48 to 12. “Coloradans increasingly want expanded birth options, especially in Black and Latino communities, but existing barriers prevent community birth facilities from providing these services,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Increasing access to maternal care, including midwives, will allow Colorado parents to choose a birth plan that fits their needs. By giving Coloradans more options for maternal health care, we can reduce the impacts of the maternal mortality crisis and save lives.” “The worsening maternal mortality crisis is a growing issue, especially for Black, Indigenous, and rural parents, and our bill seeks to address these preventable deaths,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “Maternal health deserts and other barriers to maternal health care access prevent parents from receiving necessary, and sometimes life-saving care. By boosting health care provider options and perinatal resources, we can create a health care system that keeps our parents and newborns safe and healthy.” Starting September 1, 2024, HB24-1262 would require any individual who practices certified professional midwifery to have a valid license. The bill would update the title of “direct-entry midwives” to “certified professional midwives” (CPMs) and change the regulation from registration to licensure. The licensure process includes passing an exam, graduating from an accredited midwifery education program, holding a CPM credential from the North American Registry of Midwives, being certified by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross to perform adult and infant CPR, or having an equivalent education that is approved by the director of the Division of Professions and Occupations. The bill would also: Direct the Civil Rights Commission to collect reports of mistreatment in maternity care to help identify ways to address prenatal mistreatment and discrimination, Create an advisory panel to provide recommendations on disciplinary actions against CPMs, Add a midwife who is practicing in a freestanding birth center, in a rural area, or as a home birth provider to the Environmental Justice Advisory Board, Require a health care facility that provides maternal health care services to provide public notice at least 90 days before the discontinuation of these services, Require the Colorado Maternal Mortality Prevention Program to study the availability of perinatal health care, facility and practice closures and the impacts on maternal and infant health, and provide recommendations to the General Assembly, and Add pregnancy as a protected class for the purposes of discrimination in places of public accommodation. The Colorado Maternal Mortality Review Committee made recommendations to combat the maternal mortality crisis, including increasing access to varied health care like midwifery, addressing maternal health workforce shortages, and studying the impact of facility shortages on Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, rural, and immigrant and refugee communities. A 2022 report found that 38 percent of Colorado counties are a maternal health care desert, meaning they don’t have perinatal health care providers or birth centers. A 2023 report found that Black Coloradans are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or within one year postpartum, while Indigenous communities are three times as likely. Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation to protect patients from surprise ambulance billing. < Back February 11, 2025 Legislation to Protect Patients from Surprise Ambulance Billing Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation to protect patients from surprise ambulance billing. HB25-1088, sponsored by Representatives Karen McCormick and Kyle Brown, would shield Colorado patients by expanding existing consumer protections to public ambulance services. “No one should hesitate dialing 9-1-1 during an emergency because they’re concerned about cost,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont . “This bill aims to extend surprise billing protections to public ambulance service so Coloradans can receive the emergency services they need. Our bill would establish clear reimbursement rates and ensure that when patients require an ambulance, they aren’t later charged unreasonable and often unaffordable bill.” “The last thing on someone’s mind when calling an ambulance during an emergency should be cost – yet many patients still receive expensive, surprise bills from ambulance services,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “This important legislation extends consumer protections to cover surprise billing from public ambulance services. Keeping our communities safe and healthy is a top priority, and this legislation makes sure Colorado patients won’t face surprise ambulance bills that they cannot afford.” HB25-1088 , passed committee by a vote of 12-1. This bill would protect patients from surprise, and typically expensive, ambulance billing. Colorado’s existing billing protections only include private ambulance services. HB25-1088 builds upon previous bipartisan legislation to protect patients from surprise ambulance billing by extending protections to public ambulance services. Additionally, this bill would put key federal Advisory Committee on Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing (GAPB) recommendations in place, such as: Prohibiting all ambulance agencies from balance billing patients for both emergency and non-emergency transports. Establishing reimbursement rates for ambulance services that are out of network. Requiring carriers to pay the rates adopted by governing political subdivisions, assuming those rates meet conditions designed to improve transparency and limit costs. Creating a public-facing website of rates adopted by political subdivisions. Ensuring ambulance agencies are paid directly after a transport. During an emergency, patients cannot choose who responds to their 9-1-1 call and more than 75-percent of ambulance agencies in Colorado are public departments, not covered by current law. The bill establishes clear reimbursement rates to ensure patient access and improves ambulance sustainability in all Colorado communities. Previous Next

New tax would fund crime victims grant programs, public safety grants, and behavioral health services < Back April 2, 2024 Bill to Bolster Crime Victim, Behavioral Health Programs Passes House Committee New tax would fund crime victims grant programs, public safety grants, and behavioral health services DENVER, CO - The House Finance Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Meg Froelich to refer a measure to the ballot that would fund the Colorado Crime Victims Services, School Security Disbursement Program, and behavioral health crisis response system services by creating an excise tax on the firearm industry. HB24-1349 passed by a vote of 6-5. “With this measure, Coloradans will have the opportunity to vote to fund critical crime victim services and school safety by creating a new tax on the firearms industry,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Federal funding for the Victims of Crime Act will decrease in Colorado by 40 to 50 percent in the next year, leaving Colorado victims without housing support, legal advocacy, and other services that they depend on. This legislation would create consistent funding for crucial community-based services that help victims of violence and Colorado youth facing a mental health crisis so we can continue providing this life-saving support.” “With nearly half of the funding for victims of crime disappearing next year, we must act now to ensure that safety net services are still available,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “We’re giving Colorado voters the opportunity to approve a tax that would provide necessary funding for youth behavioral health services and support for victims of violence to save Colorado lives.” If approved by voters in the November 2024 election, HB24-1349 would create a new excise tax on gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and ammunition vendors beginning April 1, 2025. As amended, this bill would generate approximately $54 million annually. If approved by Colorado voters, the funds would be allocated in the following manner: $35 million to the Colorado Crime Victims Services fund to administer grants, $10 million to the School Security Disbursement Program cash fund for grant programs like School Access for Emergency Response Grant Program, School Security Disbursement Grant Program and Youth Violence Prevention Grant Program, $10 million to the Behavioral Health Administration to provide crisis resolution services to youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis, and Any remaining funds to the Crime Victim Services fund for additional grants to support crime victims and survivors. Small businesses with less than $20,000 in annual retail sales and retail sales to peace officers and law enforcement agencies are exempt from this bill. Previous Next

The House today advanced on a preliminary vote HB24B-1001, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, that will reduce property taxes while protecting critical community institutions like public schools, health care, fire response, libraries, water infrastructure, and municipal parks, playgrounds and recreation centers. < Back August 27, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Responsibly Reduce Property Taxes and Protect Colorado’s Future Advances DENVER, CO – The House today advanced on a preliminary vote HB24B-1001, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, that will reduce property taxes while protecting critical community institutions like public schools, health care, fire response, libraries, water infrastructure, and municipal parks, playgrounds and recreation centers. “Colorado Democrats are dedicated to making our state more affordable, which is why we’re back at the Capitol to responsibly reduce property taxes for Coloradans while protecting the progress we’ve made to invest in our future and boost school funding,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Two initiatives from wealthy special interests on the November ballot would have catastrophic impacts on Coloradans. I’m proud that through additional negotiations with the proponents of these measures, I secured a significant win for our schools and local governments by providing greater flexibility in the revenue cap, which will do more to preserve the local services we all rely on and protect our future.” Democrats have stepped up to avoid steep property tax hikes and are leading a multi-year effort to deliver meaningful relief while protecting critical funding for schools and local services. In May, the General Assembly passed SB24-233 by a vote 92-8 to responsibly reduce statewide local taxes by more than $1 billion, prevent future spikes in property taxes, and protect critical services that Coloradans rely on. HB24B-1001 makes minor adjustments to SB24-233 in order to avoid devastating ballot measures from wealthy special interests. Irresponsible ballot measures would reduce revenue for public schools, fire departments, health care, libraries, water infrastructure, and public outdoor recreation by nearly $3 billion. They would risk the major strides Colorado Democrats have made to boost public education funding and eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor. If these measures were to pass, they would lead to draconian cuts to fire response and public safety. HB24B-1001 reduces property taxes in a responsible way while protecting funding for crucial institutions, especially Colorado’s K-12 public schools. Using SB24-233 as the baseline, the bipartisan proposal would reduce assessment rates and the local government revenue cap. The House today adopted two amendments. Amendment L042 provides additional flexibility to school districts and local governments by allowing them to retain revenue above the growth cap if in the prior assessment cycle they did not reach the cap. This will allow districts to keep additional funding in years that follow low-growth cycles, letting revenue catch back up to the long-term trendline. The House also adopted an amendment to direct the Property Tax Commission to evaluate the property tax changes made in SB24-233 and HB24B-1001 and report back on how Colorado’s tax code does or does not deliver relief to the people who need it the most. Residential Assessment Rates (RARs) Depending on the growth in assessed valuation (AV) between property tax years 2024 and 2025, there are two options for adjustments to RARs: *RARs and value exemptions would apply to and stack with the Senior Homestead Exemption. Nonresidential and Personal Property Assessment Rates Nonresidential assessment rates and exemptions are for both schools and local governments. Oil and gas and producing mines remain excluded from this classification. Colorado Democrats have passed legislation in recent years to reduce the cost of housing, health care, and child care. In the 2024 legislative session, Colorado Democrats passed new laws that will provide two years of free college , reduce evictions , and boost the incomes of hardworking families with new tax credits. Previous Next

< Back February 21, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO HELP COLORADO RENTERS Titone and Gonzales-Gutierrez’s commonsense bill could help ease housing crunch (Feb. 21) – This morning, the House voted in favor of a bill that would protect renters from unnecessarily high rental application fees. “Unchecked rental application fees that are too high for families and seniors struggling with the rising cost of living have exacerbated Colorado’s affordable housing crisis,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “ We need to do everything we can to ease the housing crunch and increase transparency in the rental application process to ensure bad actors aren’t harming Coloradans seeking a home for themselves and their families. This bill helps accomplish that.” Under current state law, there are no limits on what landlords can charge for a rental application fee, and there are no safeguards to ensure the fee aligns with the actual costs of screening a prospective tenant. “Rental application fees should be used to conduct a consumer credit or reference check – not line a landlords pockets,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “This legislation will provide relief to individuals or families searching for housing from the Front Range to the Western Slope by putting in place a key consumer protection safeguard in the rental application process.” HB19-1106 puts in place commonsense limits on the application fees that renters face as they search for their next rental home. The bill limits application fees to the price of what is necessary to screen residents—such as credit reports, reference checks or tenant screening reports—and ensures the fee is refunded if the applicant is never screened. More than a dozen states have enacted policies that set reasonable terms for the collection and retention of rental application fees. For hardworking individuals or families struggling to find housing, the high cost of non-refundable application fees can easily exhaust their limited financial resources, sometimes making it impossible for them to pay a security deposit or the first month’s rent. The bill was approved by a vote of 40-23 and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

Laws will strengthen protections & accountability, save lives in Colorado < Back February 23, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATS UNVEIL HISTORIC PACKAGE OF BILLS TO CREATE SAFER COMMUNITIES AND PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE IN COLORADO DENVER, CO – Democratic lawmakers today unveiled a historic package of bills aimed at combating gun violence in Colorado and creating safer communities across our state. Democrats introduced legislation that will expand and strengthen Colorado’s “Red Flag” law, raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21 years old, establish waiting periods, and remove Colorado’s overly-broad firearms industry immunity protections so survivors of gun violence can better seek accountability and justice through the courts. “Far too many Colorado families have suffered through the unimaginable pain of having someone they love killed by a gun, which is why Democrats are committed to ending the scourge of gun violence in our state,” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, said. “These bills will help address this public health crisis and give communities more tools with which to protect themselves. These are common sense policies that will respect the rights of law-abiding gun owners while protecting our communities, improving public safety, and saving lives across Colorado.” “Improving public safety and reducing gun violence is one of our top priorities this session,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Colorado Democrats are delivering on our promise to take bold action that will prevent Coloradans from dying of gun violence. As a responsible gun owner, I know these proposals respect our rights and are broadly supported across the state. These common sense solutions will save lives, protect our communities, and keep firearms away from dangerous individuals and those who are contemplating self-harm.” Gun violence prevention bills introduced Thursday include: Improving and Expanding Colorado’s Red Flag Law President Fenberg & Sen. Sullivan // Assistant Majority Leader Bacon & Rep. Weissman The legislation will expand who is eligible to file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO), which will allow more qualified individuals to intervene before gun violence has a chance to occur. Currently a petition for removal can only be filed by a family member or a law enforcement officer. This bill will expand the list of individuals eligible to file an ERPO to include District Attorneys and other law enforcement officials, licensed health care providers, mental health professionals, and educators. Raising the Age to Purchase all Firearms to 21 Sen. Danielson & Sen. Mullica // Majority Leader Duran and Rep. Hamrick Currently, individuals must be 21 to purchase a handgun but only 18 to purchase long guns. The bill would increase the age to purchase a firearm to 21 for all firearm purchases and includes exceptions for peace officers and members of the military, antique weapons collectors, and those who have completed a hunter’s safety education course and hold a hunting license. The bill also allows individuals 18-21 to possess a firearm while under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian. According to Everytown for Gun Safety , firearms are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased a staggering 61 percent in the last decade. Research indicates that 18 to 20-year-olds commit gun murders at triple the rate of adults 21 years and older, and peer-reviewed research shows that adolescent and post-adolescents have less capacity for mature judgment and self-control, which often leads to risky behavior and aggressive impulses. Establishing a Three Day Waiting Period for Firearm Purchases Rep. Froelich & Rep. Amabile // Sen. Sullivan & Sen. Hansen This legislation establishes a three-day waiting period to purchase a firearm. Research shows that creating a waiting period for purchasing a firearm has led to a seven to 11 percent reduction in suicides by firearm and a 17 percent reduction in firearm-related homicides. In 2020, Colorado had the seventh highest suicide rate in the US, and in 2021, there were 740 suicides by firearm in Colorado, more than half of all suicides in the state. Advancing Justice for Victims of Gun Violence and Removing Gun Industry Immunity in Colorado Sen. Jaquez Lewis & Sen. Kolker // Rep. Mabrey & Rep. Parenti Right now, gun sellers and manufacturers enjoy broad protections under federal law from most types of civil lawsuits, and Colorado law goes even further by including a punitive provision that makes victims of gun violence who sue the gun industry pay the company’s legal fees in dismissed cases. This bill would remove Colorado’s overly-broad immunity protections for gun sellers and manufacturers and allow legitimate lawsuits against the gun industry to move forward. Previous Next

< Back May 29, 2019 GOV SIGNS MULLICA’S BIPARTISAN PACKAGE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE (May 29) – Earlier today, Gov. Polis signed two bills that will improve safety at freestanding emergency room departments and increase health care access in rural schools across the state. “This bipartisan new law is about ensuring the safety of patients and that emergency departments in rural, urban and suburban communities offer the best services available,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. HB19-1010 will bring freestanding emergency departments under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional hospital emergency rooms to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. This will ultimately improve the quality of care for patients and increase health care affordability. This new law will create a new license for Freestanding Emergency Departments (FSEDs) through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). It also requires FSEDs to medically screen every patient seeking care as well as prohibit them from delaying a medical examination in order to inquire about the patient’s ability to pay for the care or their insurance status. Rep. Mullica is an emergency room nurse by profession. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain. HB19-1010 passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 54-9 earlier this year. Gov. Polis also signed Rep. Mullica’s bill to hire more school nurses in schools across Colorado, especially schools in rural areas and in disadvantaged communities. “As a nurse, I see first hand how untrained school staff are administering medication to students with chronic illnesses. This can be dangerous for the staff and especially for the students,” said Rep. Mullica. “This bill would ensure Colorado’s kids have access to health care professionals in their schools. School nurses provide a range of health care services to our students while also handling medical emergencies during the school day.” HB19-1203 would provide grants to improve the ratio of school nurses to students while also prioritizing nurses in rural areas and lower-income communities. This bill also allows school nurses to partner with local public health agencies so that nurse practitioners can also serve in schools. Currently, there are 632 nurses that serve 910,000 school-aged students. That’s roughly one nurse for every 1,500 to 1,700 students. Previous Next

The House today passed the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 state budget package < Back April 10, 2025 Bipartisan FY 25-26 Budget to Protect Investments in K-12 Education, Medicaid Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 state budget package. This bipartisan budget protects critical investments in K-12 education and Medicaid, caps tuition for higher education, and makes responsible reductions across programs and agencies to achieve a balanced budget. “This budget is something we can be proud of because it navigates significant reductions in resources while still meeting our core responsibilities. It’s no secret that protecting essential services, like K-12 education and health care, required strategic reductions to our state’s spending plan,” said JBC Vice Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “From protecting access to health care for our most vulnerable, to fully funding our public schools, and capping college tuition increases, this bipartisan budget invests in the services that Coloradans rely on. Despite having to make painful decisions over the last few months, our efforts preserve the popular services that keep Coloradans safe and healthy and expand opportunity for all." “I’m proud of the thoughtful decisions we made to soften the impact of our $1.2 billion gap while prioritizing the essential services needed by families and older Coloradans,” said JBC Member Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Making these cuts doesn’t feel good; however, TABOR requires difficult tradeoffs in order to protect funding for essential services like K-12 education and Medicaid. While we’ve made progress in Colorado, I remain deeply concerned about federal policies that could harm our economy, increase costs and freeze the federal funding for services Coloradans rely on.“ The state’s $43.9 billion budget contains $16.7 billion in general fund expenditures. This year’s Long Bill, SB25-206 , is accompanied by 61 “orbital bills,” which move through the legislative process alongside the budget and make the statutory changes needed to balance the budget. The Long Bill passed by a vote of 44-21. The vast majority of orbital bills passed with bipartisan support from lawmakers. Protecting Investments in K-12 and Higher Education Protecting K-12 Funding: In just the last few years, Colorado Democrats have increased total funding for our schools by nearly $3 billion. Since the 2018-19 school year, per pupil funding has increased from $8,123 to $11,852 next year. Despite a declining enrollment environment, this year’s budget builds on steady progress to increase the resources going to our classrooms by directing an additional $150 million more from the General Fund into schools as compared to the FY24-25 budget. Ultimately, total K-12 school funding will increase by over $250 million next year through HB25-1320 , the 2025 School Finance Act. Capping Tuition Rates for Higher Education: In recent years, Colorado Democrats have fought to increase college access by limiting tuition increases and boosting funding for financial aid. This year’s budget includes a 3.5 percent cap on tuition increases for in-state students. Continuing Medicaid Services for Vulnerable Coloradans Protecting Medicaid Services that Coloradans Rely On: This year, Colorado Democrats rejected proposed reductions to provider rates and instead secured a moderate 1.6 percent increase and protected Medicaid eligibility, avoiding dire impacts to Coloradans who rely on Medicaid services. However, this progress remains under threat by federal government actions to potentially cut Medicaid. Continuing Dental Services Provided Through Medicaid: This year’s budget protects funding for Coloradans on Medicaid to receive dental care. Supporting Colorado Kids and Families Bolstering Child Care Assistance: The budget invests $15 million in FY24-25 and $10 million in FY25-26 to increase support for the child care assistance program, a vital resource for low-income families to ensure access to quality child care providers which have seen long waitlists and frozen enrollment in many counties due to funding restrictions. Early Intervention Support for Colorado Children: The budget increases support for early intervention services that help bridge developmental gaps for infants and toddlers who were born premature or with other special needs. This year, Colorado Democrats acted swiftly to plug an unexpected gap in funding in FY24-25 by providing $4 million to halt proposed service reductions, and are investing an additional $16.5 million to sustain the program in FY25-26. Healthy School Meals for All: This budget fully funds the Healthy School Meals for All program through the end of the year, preserving what voters previously approved at the ballot. If HB25-1274 passes, a referred ballot measure in November will ask voters to weigh in on whether to continue the program or scale it back. Anti-Poverty Programs Administered by Local Governments: This year’s budget protects programs like TANF and SNAP administered by local governments to serve the most vulnerable communities. Preserving Colorado’s Public Lands and Natural Resources Investing in State Parks: This budget preserves and improves Colorado’s state parks, including $52 million in investments to protect critical habitats, maintain park facilities, and reinforce parks infrastructure. Promoting Water Conservation: This year’s budget protects funding for water conservation and resource management projects to ensure access to clean water for generations of Coloradans to come. Safeguarding Colorado's Civil Liberties Maintaining Election Security: The Trump administration abruptly halted federal support for election security, including from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. This budget keeps Colorado’s elections safe and secure by providing $410,000 for robust security assessments and critical technology for all local elections systems. Defending Against Unlawful Federal Actions: Amidst ongoing uncertainty from the Trump administration, the budget allocates an additional $604,000 for increased support in the Attorney General’s Office to fight reckless, unlawful federal actions and protect federal funding that Coloradans rely on. This year’s budget also sets aside $4 million via SB25-269 and HB25-1321 to protect Colorado from the Trump administration's attempts to freeze federal grants or undermine Colorado’s sovereignty. Previous Next

< Back July 7, 2021 CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BILLS BECOME LAW DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed six bills into law to improve our pre-trial detention systems, implement recommended misdemeanor reforms, improve existing police accountability laws, and ensure Coloradans involved in the criminal justice system have the right to a second chance. “My colleagues and I made improving our criminal justice and law enforcement systems a top priority this session, and the incredible lineup of bills signed today shows it has paid off,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of HB21-1250 and 1280 as well as SB21-271. “The laws we created will help us improve police-community relations and ensure our misdemeanor sentencing and pre-trial detention systems are more efficient and more fair for Coloradans. I’m proud of the work we did to advance the cause of justice.” “Last year, Colorado set a powerful example by passing a bold police accountability reform bill that now serves as a model for the rest of the nation,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, sponsor of HB21-1250, 1314 and 1315. “This year, we set out to make necessary adjustments to the law to ensure it meets our goals of protecting our communities and holding our law enforcement to the highest standards. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done to make our law enforcement and criminal legal systems more just. The two new laws signed today to reduce burdensome court fees and prevent the suspension of driver’s licenses for reasons that are unrelated to dangerous driving are an important part of this effort.” “Colorado’s pre-trial systems, particularly when and how bond is set, have been in dire need of reform for a long time, and today we took a major step toward fixing them,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of HB21-1280. “The law created this afternoon will ensure that Coloradans no longer languish in our jails for long periods of time while awaiting trial on a minor offense. Colorado is on track to create a more efficient and more just system for individuals awaiting trial.” HB21-1250 makes changes to the provisions of law enacted by SB20-217 to provide clarity and strengthen the progress made to date on its implementation. The bipartisan bill clarifies requirements related to the instances when body-worn cameras must be operating to include welfare checks. It directs the Division of Criminal Justice to create a single form to streamline the reporting requirements for peace officers, which will now include whether an ambulance was called to the scene of an incident, whether there was a forcible entry into a residence, and the number of officer-involved civilian deaths. Among other provisions, HB21-1250 explicitly outlines a peace officer’s due process rights and allows an administrative law judge to participate in an internal affairs investigation. The bill defines what it means for a peace officer to be exonerated from a charge of misconduct. It extends the elimination of qualified immunity to the Colorado State Patrol and it prohibits employers from preemptively determining whether a peace officer acted in good faith before such action in question even occurred, closing a loophole in SB20-217 that was taken advantage of by the city of Greenwood Village last year. HB21-1280 requires courts to hold an initial bond hearing with an arrested individual within 48 hours of arrival at a detention facility and changes statute to allow these hearings to be conducted online or over the phone. Some counties throughout the state already hold bond hearings six or seven days a week. For rural and under-resourced jurisdictions, this bill creates and funds a statewide bond hearing officer to better allow hearings to be held on weekends and holidays. The law also makes several changes to the monetary bond process. It requires that a defendant who has posted bond be released no later than six hours later, allows bonds to be paid by cash, money order, or cashier’s check, ensures that a defendant receives receipt of the payment of their bond, and prohibits officers from requirings bonds to be paid in the defendant’s name. Lastly, it requires each jail to establish a way to pay bond online by January 1, 2022. SB21-271 , also sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, implements misdemeanor and petty offense sentencing reforms recommended by the Sentencing Reform Task Force of the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. Under current law, there are three classifications for misdemeanors and two classifications for petty offenses. This law reduces the number of misdemeanor classifications to two classifications, reduces the number of petty offenses to one classification, and creates a new civil infraction classification. “Punishments in the criminal justice system aren’t designed to be permanent, but under our current system the consequences of a small mistake can follow you for a lifetime,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB21-1214. “This new law will allow Coloradans who’ve committed lower level offenses to leave their past behind and access housing, employment and other necessities without fear of being turned away because of their records.” “Nearly half of Black men and almost 40 percent of white males are arrested by the time they are 23 years old,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, sponsor of HB21-1214. “An arrest record, even in instances when a charge was never brought, can hamper a person in devastating ways for the rest of their lives. The new law signed today gives Coloradans a second chance and ensures people aren’t forever defined by their worst mistakes.” Two years ago the legislature passed HB19-1275, a bill that created a process for people convicted of low level offenses to petition the court to have their record sealed, by a vote of 91-6 across both chambers. Under HB21-1214 , certain records for low-level drug offenses will be automatically sealed. The bill does not change the non-drug offenses eligible to be considered by a court for discretionary sealing and will still not apply to violent offenses, child abuse, or driving under the influence, among other exceptions in current law. It requires waiting periods of up to ten years depending on the offenses being considered by a court for sealing. The new law shifts the onus of responsibility onto the court system, while still allowing records to be easily unsealed if there is an intervening factor, for example if the person who committed the offense is running for public office. Furthermore, comprehensive arrest data is collected under SB20-217 regarding the race, ethnicity and gender of every person arrested in Colorado in order to reveal patterns of discriminatory law enforcement practices. “Taking away a driver’s license from someone who can’t afford to pay a fine is counterproductive and plain wrong,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, sponsor of HB21-1314. “I’m proud that we were able to get this new law across the finish line this year, ensuring that our approaches to public safety are fair and just.” HB21-1314 will limit the circumstances when driver’s licenses and learners permits can be revoked to only those where public safety requires it. It prohibits the suspension or revocation of licenses for failure to appear in court or failure to pay, but does nothing to impact revocation for driving under the influence or other offenses that reflect dangerous driving. Over 100,000 Coloradans have their licenses suspended for failure to appear in court or failure to pay. This is a counterproductive punishment that makes it harder for Coloradans to pay back their debts and restricts their mobility, impacting their ability to get to work, appear in court, and care for their families. HB21-1315 , sponsored by Representative Leslie Herod, eliminates certain fees levied on individuals and families in the juvenile justice system. The average fees per case total about $300 in Colorado, and it is estimated that the state spends about 75% of juvenile fee revenue on collection. Previous Next