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Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera today signed bipartisan legislation to expand property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers, such as community land trusts, to build up Colorado’s affordable housing stock. < Back May 25, 2023 SIGNED! New Law Expands Property Tax Exemptions for Affordable Housing Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera today signed bipartisan legislation to expand property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers, such as community land trusts, to build up Colorado’s affordable housing stock. “Expensive land costs make it difficult for affordable housing developers to buy land to build housing opportunities that work for every budget,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield . “Our bipartisan law expands on existing property tax exemptions for nonprofits to incentivize building more affordable homes, saving educators, first responders, and child care workers money on housing.” “The cost of land is often the biggest barrier that keeps affordable housing projects from getting done, especially for nonprofit homebuilders who build housing for our state's workforce,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This new law represents a huge step forward for nonprofit homebuilders and will make it easier for nonprofit developers to do what they do best: build more housing for working Coloradans so that families can afford to live in the communities they call home.” HB23-1184 , sponsored by Representatives William Lindstedt and Lisa Frizell and Senator Dylan Roberts, expands property tax exemptions to include more nonprofit organizations that build and sell affordable housing. It also extends the exemption period from 5 to 10 years to better reflect the development timeline for larger affordable housing projects. The bill creates a new property tax exemption for land owned by community land trusts and other nonprofit affordable homeownership providers that develop permanently affordable for-sale homes. The National Low Income Housing Coalition ranked Colorado as the 8th least affordable state in 2022 and stated that the average renter needed to work 2.3 full-time jobs at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom rental. Data from the American Community Survey demonstrates the racial inequality when it comes to homeownership with 71 percent of non-Hispanic White Coloradans owning their home compared to only 51 percent of Hispanic and 43 percent of Black Coloradans. Previous Next

< Back June 6, 2020 SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVERY LOANS ADVANCE Bill would leverage private and state funding to stimulate small businesses loans and support the state’s economic recovery and resiliency DENVER, CO — The House Committee Finance unanimously today passed HB20-1413 , sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. The bill establishes a recovery loan fund for the first loss capital on loans to small businesses over the next two fiscal years. “Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and too many are struggling to get through this crisis,” said Rep. Bird, D-Westminster. “While federal loans have relieved some of the economic devastation caused by the pandemic, they aren’t enough to support the long term success and recovery of our small businesses economy. I’m grateful for all the community financial institutions who have come to the table and worked with us to establish this recovery loan fund, and I’m excited to see it move forward.” “Our top priority is helping our state get through this crisis, and that’s why I’m focused on helping our small businesses and hardworking families recover and rebuild,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “We’re passing legislation to help Coloradans and small businesses safety get back to work, and I’m thankful for all our private sector partners that are working with us to support our state’s recovery.” HB20-1413 establishes a small business recovery loan fund of up to $250 million. Participating financial institutions will make loans at below market rates to small businesses, with a preference for women, minority and veteran-owned businesses. To help incentivize financial institutions, such as banks, in providing loans, the state fund will cover any losses on the first $50 million in loans. Under HB20-1413, the state will contribute up to $50 million to the Small Business Recovery Loan Fund, and private lenders will contribute up to $200 million over the next two years through five rounds of contributions to the fund. The money will be matched incrementally with the state contributing one dollar for every four dollars contributed by private investors, a cautious approach where the state will raise $10 million and deposit that funding only after the private sector has raised its first round of $40 million in capital. The bill creates an oversight board of members with specific executive experience in financial services appointed by the governor, speaker, Senate president, treasurer, and the director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The board will ensure the contract and loan terms are consistent with the purpose of the loan fund and collect data on its efficacy. The bill includes robust conflict of interest provisions to prevent undue influence on policies developed to administer the fund or on the loan distributions. Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2020 COMMITTEE APPROVES PROPOSAL TO STUDY ORGANIC WASTE AND INCENTIVIZE COMPOSTING DENVER, CO — Reps. Lisa Cutter and Meg Froelich’s bipartisan bill, HB20-1047 , today was approved by the House Energy and Environment Committee. The bill was approved by the bipartisan Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Study Committee in October and would call for the creation of a statewide organics management plan. The bill passed committee 7-2 and now moves onto the Appropriations Committee. “Composting is a win-win-win — it prevents landfill overuse, improves soil health, and boosts the carbon storage ability of our agricultural lands,” said Rep Cutter (D-Jefferson County). “Caring for our environment and protecting the Colorado Way of Life require us to take a serious look at waste and how it is disposed of. The study put forth by this bill would give our state the crucial information we need to get even closer to our zero waste goal.” “Increasing compost use in agriculture and other sectors is a wonderful way to pull carbon from the atmosphere using natural processes,” said Rep. Froelich (D-Englewood). “This bipartisan bill, which is the result of months of work and stakeholding in the Zero Waste Interim Committee, will give us the information we need to continue our multifaceted approach to tackling climate change. I’m proud to see it move forward today and will continue to work to see it enacted.” As mentioned, HB20-1047 would establish a statewide organics management plan to study the way Colorado disposes of organic waste and encourage the use of composting as a means of carbon storage. In addition to the environmental benefits, compost use could help agriculture producers improve soil health, leading to enhanced crop value and production. If this bill is enacted, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) would consult with a diverse set of stakeholders and submit their management plan by February 1, 2023 to the House Energy and Environment Committee, House Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. Previous Next

< Back October 12, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: McCluskie, Donovan, Roberts and McLachlan Celebrate Biden’s Executive Action to Protect Public Lands in Colorado DENVER, CO – Representatives Julie McCluskie, Dylan Roberts, and Barbara McLachlan and Senator Kerry Donovan today celebrated President Biden’s executive action to protect hundreds of thousands of acres, including Camp Hale, the Tenmile Range and the Thompson Divide. The action protects lands included in the CORE Act – federal legislation sponsored by Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Congressman Joe Neguse that would protect iconic public lands in Colorado, establish new wilderness areas and safeguard existing outdoor recreation opportunities to boost the state’s economy for future generations. On September 16, Representative McCluskie led 34 Colorado lawmakers in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to use the authority granted to him and his cabinet members to protect the public lands proposed for permanent protection in the CORE Act. “This executive action will preserve over hundreds of thousands of acres of critical wildlife, stunning mountains and beautiful rivers that are essential for recreation, conservation and our Colorado way of life,” said Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This is great news for Colorado and the Western Slope, and I’m grateful that President Biden has acted on our recommendations and the overwhelming support of our communities for this proposal. The new national monument will protect our environment and memorialize the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained at Camp Hale and bravely served our nation.” “From Camp Hale where my grandfather trained with the 10th to the Thompson Divide, our public lands are what make Colorado great, and I am deeply grateful that President Biden listened to our request,” said Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. “This important step will ensure some of our most treasured natural spaces remain open to the public and will help secure Colorado’s outdoor heritage for generations to come. My grandfather fell in love with Colorado at Camp Hale, and I know that experience will happen again and again thanks to this new protection.” "Today is a great day for Colorado. Thanks to today’s executive action and the voices of Coloradans across the Western Slope, hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness will be protected, including cherished landscapes in Eagle County as well as the historic Camp Hale," said Representative Dylan Roberts, D-Avon . "This action will protect world-class recreation opportunities for biking, hiking and hunting that power our local economies. I'm grateful for the work of Senator Bennet and Congressman Neguse to get this done, and I’m excited that President Biden has acted on our recommendations from Democrats, Republicans, and Independent officials and residents across our region to protect these beautiful public lands." "This executive action to protect thousands of acres of public land, including the Thompson Divide, is a huge win for conservation and historic preservation on the Western Slope," said Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. "Our state's stunning landscapes drive our economy and must be protected so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come. We’ve been working toward this for a long time because preserving these lands will strengthen our communities and protect our Colorado way of life.” “The bill has enjoyed longstanding and widespread support by a wide array of our constituents and it is past time for these remarkable public lands to be protected,” the lawmakers wrote. “ While our advocacy on behalf of the legislation and our constituents will continue, the protection of these landscapes requires your immediate action. By conserving these lands, you will preserve a rich part of this country’s history through historic landmarks and objects of historic and scientific interest and we know it will provide a path for your administration to protect additional public lands in Colorado in the future.” The full text of the letter is below and can be found here . Mr. President: The undersigned Colorado state senators and representatives urge you to use the authority granted to you and your cabinet members to protect the public lands proposed for permanent protection in the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act (CORE Act). As you are aware, this request was recently made by CORE Act sponsors Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Hickenlooper, and Representative Joe Neguse, and Colorado Governor Jared Polis. The bill has enjoyed longstanding and widespread support by a wide array of our constituents and it is past time for these remarkable public lands to be protected. In Colorado, we have a long history and commitment to public lands conservation. In January 2021, and for the first time in several years, we saw the Colorado public lands ethos shine through the priorities of the presidency when you committed the country to a first of its kind national conservation strategy. In a time when the impacts to public lands from climate change are rising and racial and economic inequities are expanding, the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful conservation plan has never been needed more. By protecting the landscapes within the CORE Act through administrative action, you can secure progress towards the goals set forth in the American the Beautiful plan by taking action to protect Colorado’s public lands. Camp Hale and the surrounding Tenmile Range are incredibly deserving of permanent protection as a national monument under the Antiquities Act. The 10th Mountain Division trained across the landscape in preparation of high altitude warfare in the European Alps during World War II. The adjacent Tenmile Range was particularly integral to their training. Following the war, the soldiers who were lucky enough to have made their way home founded the US ski industry and the outdoor recreation economy that is now so vital to our state. There are few opportunities to experience and appreciate the history of World War II in our country and the sacrifices made by so many of its citizens. However, Camp Hale and the Tenmile Range are living artifacts to that sacrifice and they also happen to be some of our nations’ most beautiful public lands. Further west lies the Thompson Divide; another mountainous landscape that local ranchers and outdoor recreationists have spent years advocating to be protected from oil and gas development. Because the legislation has stalled in Congress, its left local advocates living under the veil of uncertainty. We urge your administration to protect the Thompson Divide landscape through a Federal Lands Policy and Management Act mineral withdrawal. Finally, we request your administration provide protections for the exemplary public lands in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains by working through the ongoing Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest Plan Revision. These landscapes are simply too important for conservation and historic and cultural preservation to become the subject of ephemeral political whims. The CORE Act, which includes the areas mentioned previously and more, already passed the House of Representative five times, only to meet repeated partisan obstacles in the United States Senate over the last several Congresses. While our advocacy on behalf of the legislation and our constituents will continue, the protection of these landscapes requires your immediate action. By conserving these lands, you will preserve a rich part of this country’s history through historic landmarks and objects of historic and scientific interest and we know it will provide a path for your administration to protect additional public lands in Colorado in the future. Thank you, Representative Julie McCluskie President Pro Tempore Kerry Donovan Representative Dylan Roberts Representative Barbara McLachlan Speaker Alec Garnett President Steve Fenberg House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno Speaker Pro Tempore Adrienne Benavidez Senator Julie Gonzales Representative Meg Froelich Representative Lisa Cutter Representative Monica Duran Representative Brianna Titone Representative Judy Amabile Representative Tracey Bernett Representative Matt Gray Representative Shannon Bird Representative Steve Woodrow Representative David Ortiz Representative Karen McCormick Representative Mary Young Representative Chris Kennedy Representative Andrew Boesenecker Senator Rachel Zenzinger Representative Emily Sirota Representative Mike Weissman Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet Representative Cathy Kipp Representative Iman Jodeh Senator Chris Hansen Senator Chris Kolker Representative Edie Hooton Senator Faith Winter Previous Next

< Back June 24, 2021 POLIS SIGNS BILL TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM TOXIC POLLUTION DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law that will protect communities from toxic pollution. “Everyone should have access to clean air and water, but toxic pollution threatens the health of too many Coloradans,” said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City. “Under the bill governor Polis signed today, we’ll collect more real-time data through fenceline monitoring in communities, and more people will know when facilities release air toxins. We’ll also better understand the cumulative health effects of toxic pollution on disproportionately impacted communities, often lower-income Coloradans or people of color.” HB21-1189 requires facilities to collect and publicly report real time air monitoring data and fund community-based monitoring programs to better understand the cumulative health impacts of air toxics emissions from multiple sources. Air toxics are pollutants that cause or may cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as adverse reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental and economical effects. Specifically, the law expands the type of facilities covered by air toxin pollution limits. Importantly, the law requires real-time “fenceline” monitoring and public reporting on the results of the monitoring. Facilities are required to notify the public when emissions breach thresholds for toxic levels or exposure. Covered facilities must take corrective action within 15 days of a violation. The law requires covered facilities to conduct outreach to communities near the facilities, in particular disproportionately impacted communities. Outreach must be conducted in the two most prevalent languages spoken in the communities. Disproportionately impacted communities often include low-income neighborhoods and residents who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino, and people of color. Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES EXUM’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROTECT HEALTH OF FIREFIGHTERS AND COLORADANS (Apr. 11) – The House Energy and Environment committee approved Rep. Tony Exum’s bipartisan bill to protect firefighters from the dangerous impacts of the manmade Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFA) which they use on a daily basis. “As a former battalion chief, I saw not only how often we used this material during training but also the health damage it caused to our firefighters,” said Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “When we used this material, it would frequently contaminate our drinking water. It’s past-time we do something to protect our courageous firefighters and protect the health of people in our communities.” PFA substances are used to battle high-heat fires. The EPA has deemed this material toxic as it stays in the body for two to seven years upon exposure. HB19-1279 would prohibit the use of PFA during firefighting training exercises and includes a fine for compliance failure. The money collected from these fines would go to the Local Firefighters Safety and Disease Prevention Fund. Finally, it also created the Firefighters Foams and Personal Protection Equipment Act which prohibits the use of PFAs, requires companies to inform consumers if their equipment has been treated with this hazardous material, and requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) to conduct surveys to learn if any stations are using this material. HB19-1279 passed with a bipartisan vote of 8-2 and now heads to the House Appropriations Committee. Previous Next

< Back July 6, 2021 POLIS SIGNS BILLS TO IMPROVE DISASTER MITIGATION, PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUILDING MATERIALS DENVER, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation that will help communities mitigate the threat from natural disasters like wildfires and promote the use of building materials for public projects that reduce emissions and help address climate change. “Colorado is seeing more intense natural disasters, often fueled by climate change, that are threatening people’s homes, lives and our Colorado way of life,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “The bill Governor Polis signed today will help our communities access federal funds to pay for mitigation projects that will reduce damage and destruction and prevent greater losses from wildfires, floods and other natural disasters.” “Mitigation projects are some of the best tools we have to reduce the threat of dangerous wildfires, floods and other disasters,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “Now, Colorado communities will have a new way to fund and access federal resources for these critical efforts to protect homes, property and infrastructure.” HB21-1208, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Gray, creates 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 certain 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. “This new law signed today will help Colorado’s departments and agencies meet our climate goals by promoting the use of building materials that are made with and produce less carbon emissions,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “I’m proud Colorado is looking at how we can use more climate-friendly building materials and create jobs along the way in rural areas and in growing industries.” HB21-1303 , sponsored by Representative Tracey Bernett and Representative Barbara McLachlan, also known as the “Buy Clean Colorado Act,” requires state agencies to look at public infrastructure projects and how the state can encourage the use of certain materials that are manufactured in a way that releases fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Under the bill, state departments would accept and evaluate Environmental Product Declaration information from contractors when materials are specified in bids, and define policies that prioritize purchasing the cleanest materials available. By selecting materials that are manufactured with lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), state agencies will reduce the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, helping meet Colorado’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. This encourages use of recycled materials, lower GWP emissions materials and manufacturing processes, use of renewable energy, and use of low emissions fuels. By selecting more environmentally friendly materials, Colorado can reduce smog, toxic emissions, particular matter, and greenhouse gasses released into our atmosphere, and reduce respiratory and other public health issues. Colorado is home to some of the greenest cement and steel manufacturers in the country. Previous Next

< Back May 29, 2019 GOV SIGNS DEM BILLS TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY & EXPAND ACCESS TO BALLOT BOX Reps. Froelich, Lontine, Weissman, Esgar, Mullica delivering results (May 29) – Gov. Polis signed bills led by House Democrats to expand access to voting and protect democracy. First up was HB19-1278, Colorado Votes Act (COVA). This new law will expand access to voting and minimize long lines on Election Day. “While some states are passing restrictive election laws, Colorado again has expanded access to the ballot. Colorado voters are the winners after the signing of the Colorado Votes Act to modernize our elections,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “Many thanks go to Sec. Jena Griswold and the Colorado County Clerks Association for making this new law more effective.” Read more about how this new law will expand access to voting here . The Gov then signed a new law sponsored by Rep. Meg Froelich to increase voting access for people with disabilities. This important law will give voters with disabilities greater access to the ballot box in order to fit their specific needs. “It’s important that we provide equal and secure access to the ballot box for all Coloradans and stop the disenfranchisement of voters,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood when the bill passed the House. “We should never disqualify individuals from voting and participating in our democratic process based on a disability.” SB19-202 passed unanimously out of the House. The Gov then signed the Clean Campaign Act of 2019. HB19-1318 increases the transparency of money in elections consistent with the First Amendment to the United States constitution. “Coloradans have the right to be able to follow the dollars in our elections,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora when the bill passed the House. “All voters deserve to know who or what is trying to influence their vote. This bill will make Colorado a national leader in campaign finance transparency. I thank Secretary Griswold for working with us on this important reform.” This new law prohibits an issue committee or small-scale issue committee from knowingly accepting contributions from any natural person who is not a citizen of the United States, a foreign government or any foreign corporation that does not have the authority to transact business in this state. The Gov also signed Rep. Daneya Esgar and Rep. Kyle Mullica’s automatic voter registration bill will make Colorado voter rolls more accurate as information is updated. “Democracy works when we all get to participate and that’s what this new law does,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Our state has the leading elections system in the country and this is a way to improve it even more. This new law ensures our voter roles are secure, accurate, up to date and that everyone who is eligible to vote can vote.” Read more about how SB19-235 will streamline the voter registration process at the DMV, save counties money and reduce the opportunity for human error here . “Our democracy can truly thrive when we have the most eligible voters participate in our elections,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “We are breaking barriers to ensure a more accessible and inclusive election. Through this, we can continue to allow Colorado to take a lead in elections in our nation.” The Gov also signed Rep. Mike Weissman’s bill to better enforce Colorado’s campaign finance laws. “Unaffiliated voters, Republicans and Democrats are tired of the expanding influence of money in politics and are demanding a fix,” said Rep. Weissman, D-Aurora. “This law will help give voters more confidence that the system works for them – not special interests and deep pocketed mystery money groups.” SB19-232 would codify within the Fair Campaign Practices Act the rules of the Secretary of State to enforce state laws concerning campaign finance. This includes specifying procedures for filing complaints, review of complaints by the elections division, processes for curing campaign finance law violations, the investigation of unresolved complaints, the conduct of hearings, audits by the division of campaign finance, and the issuance of advisory opinions by the Secretary of State. Together, these provisions create a robust system to make sure that political campaigns and organizations abide by Colorado’s disclosure Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2019 HOUSE PASSES EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK ACT For years, bills to ensure pay equity were blocked at legislature (Apr. 27) – The House passed Rep. Janet Buckner and Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez’s bill to help close the wage gap in Colorado. Currently, the gender wage gap is projected to not close until 2057 in Colorado and 2059 nationally. “This bill is extremely important to me on a personal level. Black women make 56.1 cents on the dollar compared to white men. Pay discrimination is a real and persistent issue that short changes women and their families,” Rep. Buckner, D-Aurora, said. “Women are the sole breadwinners in a growing number of hardworking families in Colorado.We believe we are taking a bold step to help close the gender wage gap by addressing the root cause of pay disparity.” Colorado women are paid 86 cents for every dollar paid to men for doing the same job and African-American women earn 63 cents for every dollar paid to men for doing the same job. The bill, SB19-085, provides an avenue by which Coloradans can, through mediation via the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment and through the court system, seek relief if they have been discriminated against in their compensation based on their sex. The bill puts proactive measures to reduce the gender pay gap and prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on sex. “In order to solve the pay gap, we must address unintentional wage disparity. This bill implements common sense prevention and transparency measures to fight the pay gap,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “We are fighting for women to be treated with the dignity, fairness and respect they deserve. This bill is a Colorado solution that strikes a balance between workers and employers. It’s time for our state to take the lead in achieving equal pay for equal work.” The House was approved the bill on a vote of 40-21. Every House Republican voted to maintain the status quo. The bill goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILLS TO SAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MONEY, EXPAND YOUTH ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE BECOME LAW DENVER, CO – Today, Governor Jared Polis signed a pair of bills into law that would reduce licensing fees for mental health professionals and increase access to behavioral health for Colorado youth. HB22-1299 championed by Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley, as well as Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, would reduce license fees ranging from $62 to $262 for mental health professionals regulated by state boards. “This is a thank-you to the frontline mental health workers who have seen firsthand the increase in mental health needs that began pre-COVID and have only accelerated with COVID in our lives,” said Kolker. “We need to keep these essential workers in the profession, and this bill acknowledges their hard work and gives them a break so they can focus on their jobs, and care for patients that desperately need their help and support.” “This session, we prioritized improving behavioral health access, especially for youth and families,” said Young. “We’re waiving licensing fees for psychologists, professional counselors, social workers and other mental health professionals not only to save them money but in recognition of their tireless efforts to provide Coloradans with essential behavioral health services. We are also investing more than $11 million of federal pandemic relief dollars toward addressing Colorado’s youth behavioral health crisis by making it easier for families and youth to access treatment in their own communities. Together, these bills are part of our transformational investment to build a healthier Colorado for all.” “The pandemic has not only exacerbated stress for Coloradans, it has significantly increased the workload for our mental health workers,” said Fields. “To help them out, we’re going to make it easier and cheaper for mental health workers to apply or renew their licenses so our psychologists, counselors, therapists, and social workers can focus on providing critical services to patients, not on paperwork and fees.” Under HB22-1299, Colorado’s hardworking mental health professionals renewing or seeking a license will collectively save nearly $3.7 million. Pandemic pressures have contributed to an increase of Colorado adults seeking mental health services for symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. The Governor also signed SB22-147 , championed by Senator Kolker and Representative Young, which will allow pediatricians to better identify and treat behavioral health conditions and provide school-based support for kids and their families. “Far too many kids in Colorado are struggling with their mental health,” Kolker said. “We must act urgently to address this crisis and provide critical support to our state’s young people where and when they need it most. Together, we can work to end the stigma surrounding mental health, expand access to care, and save lives.” Over the last decade, youth suicide has increased an astonishing 51 percent, as youth behavioral health has reached a crisis level. SB22-147 aims to improve access to behavioral health care services for youth and families through three programs: $4.6 million for the Colorado Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation and Access Program (CoPPCAP): This program provides support and assistance to primary care providers and pediatricians to help identify and treat behavioral health needs. The program connects pediatricians with pediatric psychiatrists who can provide consultations, resources, and referrals for children with mental health or substance use disorder needs. $5 million for the Behavioral Health Care Professional Matching Grant Program : The bill contributes $5 million to an existing grant program to help schools increase the number of school health professionals who can provide behavioral health services to students. $1.5 million for the School-based Health Center Grant Program: The bill invests $1.5 million in funding to expand school-based health centers in Colorado. SB22-147 was developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force . Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BIPARTISAN BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HEALTH CARE Legislation would boost hospital transparency and improve protections from surprise medical bills DENVER, CO – The House passed two bipartisan bills sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar that will increase hospital billing transparency and save Coloradans money on health care. HB22-1285 passed the House today by a vote of 63 to 1 and would increase hospital pricing transparency practices. HB22-1284 passed the House yesterday by a vote of 63 to 0 and will improve surprise medical billing protections in Colorado. “These bills work to save Coloradans money on health care by improving hospital price transparency and protecting patients from surprise billing,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Hospitals are required to be open and honest about what they’re changing patients, and our bill not only ensures transparency but limits the hospital’s ability to collect medical debt if they’re not in compliance. Coloradans deserve to know what they’re getting when it comes to health care, and our legislation protects them against surprise medical bills that are often outrageously expensive.” HB22-1285 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Patrick Neville, would save Coloradans money on their health care costs by increasing hospital transparency and prohibiting hospitals that are out of compliance with federal price transparency laws from referring medical debt to collections. In July 2021, President Biden signed an executive order that directed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop detailed rules to increase hospital billing transparency. Hospitals must now publicly post their “standard charges,” which are the gross charges, discounted cash prizes, payer-specific negotiated charges, and de-identified minimum and maximum negotiated charges so that consumers can make informed decisions when shopping for health care services. Under the bill, hospitals that are not in compliance with federal hospital price transparency regulations will be prohibited from referring, assigning or selling medical debt to collectors, and they will be prohibited from using the courts to obtain a judgment for an outstanding medical debt. The bill would award damages to patients if the courts find that the hospital has violated the provisions of the bill. HB22-1284 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Marc Catlin, would improve Colorado’s surprise medical billing protections by aligning them with recently passed federal legislation. The bill provides clarity to consumers, providers and insurance carriers about how to move forward with surprise billing protections. It adds balance billing protections for post-stabilization services to ensure that patients are protected from surprise bills until they can consent and be safely transferred to an in-network facility. It mirrors the federal law’s notice and consent requirements to ensure that out-of-network providers and facilities provide notice to a consumer before a scheduled service, including an estimate of the total charges the consumer will be responsible for. Finally, it updates Colorado laws to allow for a 90-day period of continued coverage at in-network rates for transitional care. Previous Next

< Back April 5, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO ENSURE COLORADO LEADS ON CLIMATE ACTION Becker-Galindo also introduce companion bill to ensure just transition for workers (Apr. 5) – Today, the House Energy and Environment committee passed Speaker of the House KC Becker and Rep. Dominique Jackson’s legislation to take meaningful action to address climate change. Acting on climate will help protect clean air and water and spur clean energy jobs, innovation, business development, and economic growth for Colorado. Speaker Becker also introduced a companion bill to support Colorado workers affected by the energy transition. “Colorado can act on climate, create clean energy jobs, cut carbon pollution and grow our economy at the same time,” said Speaker Becker of HB19-1261. “We can’t afford to wait. Air pollution doesn’t respect county or governmental boundaries. I thank everyone who came to testify on this bill and all of the stakeholder input throughout this process.” “When I look outside the capitol and in my community, I frequently see the smog, the hazy, bad air quality affecting our public health and the air we breathe. Pollution is changing how we live our lives and threatening the things we love about Colorado,” Rep. Jackson, D-Aurora, said during the hearing. “As the effects of climate change increase, the harms to communities of color will continue to worsen. Sadly, we are not seeing any movement on the federal level so we have no time to waste.” Rep. Jackson is Chair of the House Energy and Environment committee. Speaker Becker and Rep. Rochelle Galindo, D-Greeley, also introduced HB 19-1314 today, a companion bill to create the Just Transition Office within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to support the livelihood of coal transition workers, their families and their communities, and to help provide these workers access to training and job opportunities. “The time to take action on climate is now, but we cannot work towards a clean energy economy without also working on solutions to support workers who are affected by this transition,” Speaker Becker, D-Boulder, said of the companion bill. “Workers and communities whose livelihoods are threatened by shifting economic tides and advancements in technology need support. We can support these communities in this transition, and today I introduced HB19-1314 to address this issue.” Coloradans are already seeing the negative impacts of climate change on a daily basis: Coloradans are experiencing poor air quality affecting our health; mountain residents are seeing more frequent and destructive wildfires; increased drought is harming our farms; smaller snow packs are resulting in shorter ski seasons; and shallower rivers for fishing and rafting are threatening our thriving outdoor economy and the Colorado way of life. The overwhelming majority of Coloradans support climate action. This reasonable, science-based legislation directs the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to develop rules limiting carbon pollution, ensuring Colorado lead on climate action. HB19-1261 puts pollution reduction goals into statute to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas pollution by 26 percent by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050 of 2005 levels. The AQCC will hold an extensive stakeholder process throughout the rulemaking period. At today’s hearing on HB19-1261, proponent after proponent testified in support of taking action to address climate change, reducing carbon pollution and creating clean energy jobs. House Republicans remain in denial about the economic and moral impacts of climate change. HB19-1261 passed through the committee with a vote of 7-4. It now heads to the House Appropriations committee. HB 19-1314 , a bill to ensure a just transition for Colorado workers, was assigned to the Business Affairs and Labor Committee. Previous Next