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< Back March 9, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS PACKAGE House passes three bills to enhance the Safe2Tell program, allow behavioral analysts in public schools and excuse absences for behavioral health issues DENVER, CO– The House today passed a package of bills, sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich, Dafna Michaelson Jenet, and Lisa Cutter, to improve the state of behavioral health in public schools and support students with behavioral health issues. All three bills passed with broad bipartisan support. HB20-1005 , sponsored by Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet would make enhancements to Colorado’s Safe2Tell program , including aligning the Safe2Tell program and the crisis hotline more closely to ensure that individuals in crisis can rapidly access crisis counseling. This bipartisan legislation also sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van Winkle came out of the School Safety Interim Committee. The bill was passed by a vote of 60-4. “Improving our Safe2Tell program will ensure that it can continue to save lives and provide a critical resource for our youth,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Making the changes necessary to address our youth behavioral health epidemic is like solving a complex puzzle. The bills we passed today to enhance Safe2Tell and ensure that public schools allow excused behavioral health absences to reduce stigma are important pieces of the puzzle, and I’m glad we were able to advance these common sense policies today.” HB20-1058 , sponsored by Rep. Froelich, would require local school boards and other education service providers to adopt a policy that will allow behavior health analysts to provide medically necessary services to students in public schools by July, 2021. The bill was passed by a vote of 64-0. “This bill is the culmination of a great deal of passionate advocacy from concerned parents across the state,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “We took an important step forward today and cleared a path towards improving educational and behavioral health outcomes for all of Colorado’s students.” SB20-014 , Sponsored by Reps. Michaelson Jenet and Cutter, would require schools to excuse absences for behavioral health concerns in their attendance policies. This bill came out of the School Safety Interim Committee and passed the Senate and House Education Committee unanimously. The bill was passed by a vote of 64-0.. “It’s time to end the stigma around behavioral health and tackle our state’s mental health crisis head-on.” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “Allowing behavioral health absences will begin to normalize the practice of caring for one’s mental health among our youth and hopefully make a real impact on our soaring rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.” Previous Next

< Back May 27, 2020 BILL INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE EARNED PAID SICK DAYS TO ALL HARDWORKING COLORADANS SB 20-205 promotes transparency and protections for consumers, customers & employees DENVER –– Today, Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg and Senator Jeff Bridges, alongside Speaker of the House KC Becker and Representative Yadira Caraveo, provided a comprehensive overview of their newly introduced bill, SB20-205 which empowers all Colorado workers to protect themselves and their coworkers by earning paid sick days. “In this new reality, we must ensure that people are able to prioritize and protect the health of themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Majority Leader Fenberg, (D-Boulder). “Currently nearly half of Colorado workers are not able to earn a single sick day. To keep our communities safe, our businesses open and our economy on the road to recovery, we need to ensure that all workers can stay home when they are sick.” “We are focusing on how we can help Coloradans safely get back to work as we protect our most vulnerable and prioritize the health and safety of all,” said Speaker KC Becker, (D-Boulder) . “Too many of those on the frontlines of this pandemic, our health care workers, food service workers who are restocking grocery stores, and so many other essential workers, don’t have paid sick leave. If Coloradans return to work sick, then we will reverse the progress we’ve made and our economic crisis will worsen. Paid sick leave will lead to healthier communities, stronger businesses, and a safer road to recovery.” “In many ways the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that we don’t have many of the necessary provisions in place to protect Coloradans,” said Sen. Bridges, (D-Greenwood Village). “When people are going to work sick it hurts all of us. That’s why we are sponsoring this legislation to ensure no Coloradan has to choose between their health and their income.” “As a pediatrician, I see and treat sick children all day long,” said Rep. Caraveo, (D-Thornton). “COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that can affect an entire family. When people have paid sick days, it means that they are more likely to go to the doctor and get the care they need to prevent further spread of the disease to the rest of their family and loved ones. If we’re faced with anything like this again, Coloradans need to have access to paid sick days for the health of us all.” Currently, 40% of Colorado’s workforce are not afforded the opportunity to earn paid sick days–– creating a “work while sick” culture in Colorado that increases the deadly transmission of viruses such as COVID-19. SB20-205 will allow those who are feeling ill to protect their coworkers, customers, and loved ones by staying home, without the fear of losing their income. Earned sick days are a paid, job-protected benefit to ensure people can stay home to care for themselves or a family member during a short-term illness. Under SB20-205 , employees will earn a sick day for every 26 hours worked. Most employees in Colorado will be able to earn a maximum of 80 hours of paid sick time per year, and businesses with 50 or fewer employees will be able to earn a maximum of 40 hours. Employers are not required to pay the balance of sick days to employees when they leave, and because days are earned by employees, there will be a gradual phase of this benefit. Studies show that employees working while sick costs the national economy approximately $160 billion per year—and that was before coronavirus. Studies also show that providing paid sick days allows businesses to benefit from higher employee productivity, healthier workplaces, and lower employee turnover. Previous Next

< Back February 22, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO UPDATE COLORADO’S DEFINITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to update the state’s definition of sexual assault passed the House today by a unanimous vote. HB22-1169, sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Matt Soper, would update the definition of sexual assault in state law to include consent. “This bill makes an update to Colorado’s dated definition of sexual assault to include ‘knowing the victim does not consent’,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet D-Commerce City. “Through modernizing the definition of sexual assault, we’re making it clear that without known consent, it's sexual assault in the eyes of the law. This session, we’re taking big steps towards making Colorado safer, and this bill works to modernize the definition of sexual assault to make it easier for prosecutors to charge perpetrators and get survivors the justice they deserve.” Under current Colorado law, sexual assault is defined as “sexual intrusion or penetration when the actor causes submission of the victim by means sufficient to cause submission against the victim's will.” If passed, HB22-1169 amends this definition to “...when the actor causes sexual intrusion or sexual penetration knowing the victim does not consent.” Colorado’s definition of sexual assault originated nearly 50 years ago when Coloradans’ scope of sexual assault victims was narrow and non-inclusive. This bill aims to modernize the definition of sexual assault to include consent. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2019 JOINT PRESS RELEASE: BIPARTISAN HOUSE & SENATE LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCE SCHOOL SAFETY INTERIM COMMITTEE (May 17) – In the wake of recent violent incidents involving students, House and Senate Leadership at the state capitol announced the formation of a new interim committee focused on studying school safety in Colorado. The safety of Colorado students, school personnel, and volunteers is of paramount concern to the General Assembly. “As a parent, I am concerned about the toll incidents of violent and tragic school shootings have on our children and communities,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “We must do more to help examine and address this crisis, so this committee will study this critical issue over the interim and report back to the legislature on what they’ve learned and what solutions may be found.” “Sadly, Colorado is all too familiar with school shootings, and it is clear that we all have a responsibility to do more to prevent these horrible tragedies ,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo. “Legislators cannot make the necessary changes alone, which is why we will convene this interim study committee, with representation from law enforcement, educators, and other stakeholders, to develop the right policies for Colorado.” “There are 178 school districts in Colorado that operate under local control per our state constitution. We also have voluminous state statute already on the books regarding emergency response planning and armed security in our public schools,” said Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, R-Douglas County. “This interim committee will begin its work by reviewing those statutes, the division of constitutional authority between school districts and state government, and then they will move forward on proposing solutions to better protect students.” “Clearly we can do more to protect our children and our schools from these violent attacks ,” said House GOP Leader Patrick Neville. “We began the process last year by providing financial assistance to schools to secure their facilities and fund trained personnel to enhance physical protection. We’ve also provided funding to enable professionals to come alongside students to assist with their personal needs should tragedy strike. We will do more.” The committee will examine issues related to school safety, mental health, and the prevention of threats to the safety of students, teachers, administrators, employees, and volunteers across the state. The committee will have the opportunity to seek testimony from a wide range of experts to aid in their mission. Two members from each caucus in both chambers will serve on this bipartisan committee, which will meet three times during the interim and will have the ability to recommend legislation. Members of the committee will be appointed by June 1. Click here to read the resolution. ### Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Tammy Story and Bob Marshall that would strengthen accountability for public officials and certain employees in Colorado school districts and special districts. HB25-1079 passed by a vote of 41-23. < Back April 28, 2025 Story, Marshall Bill to Strengthen Government Ethics Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Tammy Story and Bob Marshall that would strengthen accountability for public officials and certain employees in Colorado school districts and special districts. HB25-1079 passed by a vote of 41-23. “This bill would strengthen oversight of elected government officials and their direct hires by creating a pathway for Coloradans to file complaints with an independent entity when serious financial or ethical concerns arise at the local level,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer . “Colorado has established clear ethical codes of conduct for local and state government officials to follow. This legislation would expand the Independent Ethics Commission’s authority to investigate complaints involving school districts and special districts, reinforcing ethics and accountability across all levels of government.” “Elected officials are public servants, and they should be held to high ethical standards,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch. “Schools and special districts are responsible for managing billions of taxpayer dollars, and it’s crucial that we pass this bill to allow the Independent Ethics Commission to apply to these government officials to strengthen public trust in our government.” The Independent Ethics Commission was created in 2006 to investigate complaints and enforce rules of conduct for public officials and government employees. HB25-1079 would expand the authority of the Independent Ethics Commission to include school district board members, superintendents and administrators, as well as special district board members and employees who report directly to them. This bill would allow the Independent Ethics Commission to investigate complaints of ethics violations by public officials and employees in these districts and impose penalties for violations, improving accountability. Previous Next

On August 7, legislation will go into effect to combat gun violence by improving concealed carry permit training, boosting the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal firearm activities, and making it easier to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns. < Back July 31, 2024 New Gun Violence Prevention Laws Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – On August 7, legislation will go into effect to combat gun violence by improving concealed carry permit training, boosting the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal firearm activities, and making it easier to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns. HB24-1174 , sponsored by House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, and Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, requires handgun training classes to include at least eight hours of instruction, including a live-fire exercise and a written exam with a minimum passing score. It also requires handgun training classes to be held in-person and include training on the safe handling of firearms and ammunition, safe storage of firearms and child safety, federal and state firearm laws, interactions with law enforcement, and more. “We all share a common goal of keeping illegal guns out of our communities, which is why I’m proud that two of my laws to ensure the safety of our loved ones and neighbors are going into effect,” said Duran, sponsor of HB24-1174 and SB24-003. “The data is clear - live-fire gun training can save lives. Our new legislation will ensure that Coloradans with concealed carry permits are properly trained before they bring their firearm into their communities. Additionally, SB24-003 uplifts our past work and reflects our commitment to keeping our communities safe by ensuring law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to investigate illegal firearm activity.” “Responsible gun ownership takes work,” said Mullica. “Creating minimum training requirements for safe handling of firearms, shooting fundamentals and more ensures we’re treating concealed carry permits with the seriousness they deserve. Too often, careless gun owners create dangerous situations that needlessly put many others in harm's way. I’m proud to champion this important legislation that advances gun safety measures and helps prevent senseless gun violence.” “When I received my concealed carry permit years ago, I was surprised to learn that Colorado law did not require live-fire training, a necessary skill to have before carrying a gun in public spaces," said Snyder. "Our new law will create a minimum requirement for concealed carry permit holders, including in-person live-fire training with a certified firearms instructor, to ensure that concealed carry permits are issued with appropriate training. Many dedicated and qualified firearm instructors already exceed the minimum requirements in this law, and this law will close that gap to ensure that everyone who applies for a concealed carry permit has proper training. This commonsense gun violence prevention legislation will help prevent senseless gun deaths by improving firearm training.” HB24-1174 also prohibits a person from being issued a permit if they have been convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses within five years of submitting a concealed carry permit application. The law makes it a deceptive trade practice for a person to claim to be a verified firearms safety instructor unless they have been verified by a county sheriff. Sponsored by Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, Majority Leader Duran, and Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, SB24-003 gives the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the ability to investigate illegal activity involving firearms. The law appropriates $1.7 million to the Department of Public Safety to create a team that investigates individuals convicted of felonies who are attempting to illegally purchase a firearm, and other illegal firearm crimes such as possession of a ghost gun. “This year we’re creating safer communities across Colorado by improving CBI’s authority and ability to more effectively investigate illegal firearms purchases and transfers, purchases of illegal components and ghost guns, and information obtained through tip lines such as suspected straw purchases,” said Sullivan, sponsor of SB24-003 and SB24-066. “Additionally, with SB66 in effect, we will finally have even more tools to protect people. In the weeks before my son Alex was killed in the Aurora Theater shooting, his killer purchased multiple firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition - and nobody batted an eye. Merchant category codes will enable credit card companies to detect alarming purchasing patterns like his and alert law enforcement, helping to prevent horrific acts of gun violence before disaster strikes.” “It’s important to tackle illegal guns in Colorado to increase public safety,” said Froelich, sponsor of SB24-003 and SB24-066. “Current gaps in authority and resources make it difficult for law enforcement officials to enforce our laws to the fullest extent, which is why our new law will give CBI the authority and the resources to work with local law enforcement agencies on life-saving investigations of illegal firearms. Another new law will go into effect to expand the use of credit card merchant codes, an effective tool already used by law enforcement, to combat human trafficking and money laundering crimes. Our legislation is crucial in giving law enforcement a head start in preventing gun violence so we can save Colorado lives." Finally, SB24-066 , sponsored by Sullivan, Froelich, and Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, requires payment card networks like Visa or Mastercard to provide a specific code, known as a merchant code, for businesses that sell firearms and ammunition. Merchant codes allow banks and credit card companies to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns – like a domestic extremist building up an arsenal – and report them to law enforcement. “Credit cards have been used to finance many of the major mass shootings in recent years, and identifying suspicious weapon and ammunition stockpiling before a tragedy can take place will save lives," said Mabrey. "Firearms are uniquely exempted from having a merchant code. Almost every other product has one of these codes and this new law removes that exemption. This information could be provided to law enforcement, and it could have a life-saving impact in our communities.” A report found that this policy could have prevented many mass shootings, including the Aurora movie theater shooting and the Pulse Nightclub shooting. The Aurora movie theater shooter used a MasterCard to buy $11,000 worth of weapons and military gear at multiple stores in the six weeks before the shooting. Previous Next

< Back February 18, 2023 House Dems Defeat Extreme Abortion Ban Democrats put a swift end to GOP proposals to criminalize abortion, force the government to interfere in medical decisions and spread disinformation about medical abortions DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House Health and Insurance Committee today defeated three extreme Republican bills that would have criminalized abortion in Colorado and spread dangerous disinformation about a so-called abortion pill reversal. The Republican bills would have eliminated access to safe, legal reproductive health care in Colorado. “We won’t let Republican politicians take away Coloradans’ right to an abortion,” said House Health and Insurance Chair, Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “Coloradans deserve the freedom to make their own health care decisions and choices about when to start a family. Make no mistake, if Republicans were in power, they would criminalize abortion in Colorado, throw physicians in jail and put politicians in control of your private medical decisions–we won’t allow this to happen.” “Criminalizing abortion leads to higher maternal mortality rates, with the largest increases among Black women,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver , Chair of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus. “Abortion bans add to the compounding systemic social, health and economic disparities faced by people of color– often from a disproportionate lack of access to health insurance, reproductive and preventative health care, education and skills training, and job opportunities. The extreme bills presented in committee today are dangerous for women, and especially life-threatening for women of color.” In 2022, Colorado Democrats passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), which Governor Polis signed into law. This landmark legislation updated Colorado’s laws to protect reproductive rights and established a fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion. Given the federal instability on reproductive justice issues, RHEA importantly enshrines the right to an abortion and other critical health care services into state law. Coloradans have been absolutely clear that they support the right to an abortion and have repeatedly defeated ballot measures that sought to ban access to abortion. HB23-1119 , sponsored by Representative Scott Bottoms, would have criminalized all abortions in Colorado with no exceptions. This bill would require the state to imprison providers for performing an abortion and would allow individuals to sue health care providers and potentially even patients. Research by CU Boulder shows that banning abortion would lead to a 24-percent increase in maternal deaths. The data is even more distressing for Black people with the expected increase in maternal deaths jumping to 39-percent if abortion were to be banned in every state. HB23-1097 , sponsored by Representative Stephanie Luck, disregards the autonomy of the patient and would have forced providers to administer legislative-prescribed medical treatments. It also violates the patient-provider relationship and permits governmental control over private medical decisions. HB23-1150 , sponsored by Representative Bottoms, would have required physicians to spread misinformation about a so-called abortion pill reversal. Abortion reversals through the use of progesterone are not scientifically proven , do not meet clinical standards and can be dangerous to recommend to a patient. This bill would have required the Department of Public Health and Environment to create and maintain misinformation about the effectiveness of this anti-abortion method. Abortion providers, patients and Coloradans who support abortion rights testified for hours about the dangerous impact of these bills and how they would insert government into families’ private medical decisions Democrats on the committee defeated each bill. ### Previous Next

The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie to identify steps the state can take to protect the Colorado River and all who rely on its water. The bill passed unanimously by 13 to 0. < Back May 3, 2023 Bipartisan Water Conservation Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie to identify steps the state can take to protect the Colorado River and all who rely on its water. The bill passed unanimously by 13 to 0. “The Colorado River is the soul and spirit of our Western Slope communities,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Millions of Coloradans rely on the Colorado River for drinking water, recreation, and agricultural needs. Our bill creates a formal process to bring every voice to the table and will help identify tools that we can use to ensure we have the water we need for our communities to thrive and secure our future in the face of increasing demand on the river.” SB23-295 , also sponsored by Representative Marc Catlin, creates the Colorado River Drought Task Force. The task force would include representatives from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, regional water conservation districts, local governmental officials, agricultural producers, environmental non-profit organizations, and others that have diverse experience with complex water issues. By December of 2023, after an extensive stakeholding process open to public comment, the task force would make policy recommendations to the General Assembly to: Proactively address the impact of droughts on the Colorado River and its tributaries, Avoid disproportionate economic and environmental impacts to any one region of the state, Ensure that any program related to the acquisition of agricultural water rights is voluntary, temporary, and compensated, Assure meaningful collaboration among the Colorado River District, Southwestern Water Conservation District, and the State of Colorado in the design and implementation of drought security programs, and Evaluate sources of revenue for the acquisition of program water. A sub-task force consisting of representatives from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Department of Natural Resources would also be established to provide policy recommendations to the General Assembly to address tribal needs. These recommendations would consider the unique nature of tribal water rights and tribal water use. The Colorado River provides water to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Mexico. Over 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for their water supply, and record-breaking heatwaves and droughts in the Southwestern US have only exacerbated water conservation issues. SB23-295 will rely on water experts and relevant stakeholders to provide effective solutions to the General Assembly so our state can protect the Colorado River through meaningful collaboration with local voices and without disproportionate impacts on certain regions of the state. Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2023 Willford’s Patient Consent for Intimate Exams Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health and Insurance Committee passed legislation today that requires licensed healthcare facilities to obtain a patient-signed consent form before health care professionals, medical residents, trainees and students perform intimate examinations. “Requiring a consent form for intimate exams needs to be standard practice for the safety and well-being of every patient,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Right now, patients are receiving pelvic exams they did not consent to while under sedation for a completely unrelated procedure; we need to put an end to this. Patients can be traumatized, betrayed and can suffer emotionally as they cope with unauthorized intimate exams, and my bill outlines rules for patient consent to protect Coloradans’ when they’re at their most vulnerable.” HB23-1077 passed committee unanimously and would require health care professionals, students, medical residents and trainees to obtain informed consent from sedated or unconscious patients before performing intimate examinations, unless in emergency situations. In addition to consent, health care professionals would only be able to perform intimate examinations if it is pertinent to the planned procedure. This bill would also create a process for obtaining patient consent and non-compliant medical and health care professionals would be subject to disciplinary action by their regulators or the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Across the country, medical students and residents are performing unauthorized intimate exams , including pelvic exams for educational purposes, on patients under medical sedation for unrelated surgeries. Patients are not able to consent to these procedures and can experience extreme physical and behavioral responses from the trauma of learning about this exam after it has happened. Previous Next

< Back February 26, 2020 HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL DEATH PENALTY DENVER, CO– The House today voted 38-27 on SB20-100 to repeal the death penalty in Colorado. The bill is now awaiting the governor’s signature. “The death penalty is applied inconsistently and it is the one punishment in our entire justice system that can’t be undone or corrected,” said bill sponsor Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Brighton. “Across the nation, over 165 people have been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death since 1973. It’s time to end the death penalty in Colorado and set an example for other states to follow.” “I, like many of my colleagues who supported this bill today, believe that our state should no longer take part in capital punishment,” said bill sponsor Rep. Jeni James Arndt, D-Fort Collins. “I do not believe the state should hold the power of life and death.” “Today, the House sent legislation to the governor to repeal the death penalty in Colorado,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Humans are not infallible, and no system of justice can ever be perfect. The finality of the death penalty means that a mistake could not be corrected, and the potential for injustice is too great to bear.” “Rarely are we asked to decide an issue that is as momentous, impactful, and as hard as this, and I have empathy and understanding for my colleagues who may find a different answer,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “I have been humbled and moved by the testimony and debate that we have heard. My hope is for a society where we spend our resources on rehabilitation, not on appeals; on treating drug addictions, and not administering lethal injections.” The House debated SB20-100 for 12 hours Monday night and into Tuesday morning. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, since 1973, more than 165 people have been wrongly sentenced to death and later exonerated. Of those exonerated, 87 were black. The bill previously passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 19-13. ### Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2021 PENAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ADVANCES Bill would gather data around penal telecommunications service providers and limit the costs of phone calls for inmates and their families DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today advanced Representative Kerry Tipper and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez’s bill to increase transparency and accountability in telecommunication costs for incarcerated individuals in Colorado. The bill would instruct the Public Utilities Commission to gather and report data on penal telecommunications providers and establish a maximum per-minute rate for phone calls in jails and prisons. The bill passed committee by a vote of 9-2. “Affordable phone calls mean incarcerated people can more easily access the legal resources and support networks they need to serve out their sentences and more smoothly reintegrate into their communities upon release,” said Rep. Tipper, D-Lakewood. “Increasing transparency and regulating the exorbitant fees that are wrapped into the prices of these calls will massively improve the wellbeing of both incarcerated individuals and their families on the outside. This bill is a rational, sensible, and humane step forward for Colorado.” “Phone calls are a lifeline for incarcerated individuals, and we shouldn’t be profiting off of their contact with the outside world,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver . “Studies have shown that being in touch with loved ones reduces recidivism. Given Colorado’s high recidivism rate and the Department of Corrections’ stated goal of reducing it, we should be removing barriers to communication, not making it harder for families to stay in touch. This bill would bring much-needed transparency to begin the process of rooting out profits in our criminal justice system.” HB21-1201 would require telecommunications providers that service correctional facilities to track and maintain data related to the services they provide and report it to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The PUC would then be in charge of making the information public and ensuring accountability and transparency surrounding the providers’ practices. Finally, the PUC would also be charged with establishing a maximum per-minute rate for phone calls placed by incarcerated individuals. Previous Next

Representative Katie Stewart today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s funding freezes and employee layoffs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and their drastic impact on farmers and ranchers in rural Colorado. < Back February 26, 2025 Rep. Stewart’s Statement Regarding USDA Funding Freeze Impacting Southern Colorado DENVER, CO – Representative Katie Stewart today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s funding freezes and employee layoffs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and their drastic impact on farmers and ranchers in rural Colorado. Representative Katie Stewart, D-Durango: “A sweeping funding freeze and employee layoffs at the USDA have jeopardized the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers in Southern Colorado. Freezing federally-supported USDA grant programs is bad for hardworking farmers and ranchers, hurts rural Colorado, and will raise food prices for everyone. "From conservation efforts to localized infrastructure projects, farmers and ranchers were promised funding to improve farming and ranch operations and strengthen our food supply – but this bait and switch could leave them on the hook for unexpected costs. “I urge the federal government to strongly reconsider the federal looming funding cuts at the USDA because rural Colorado’s economy, and the farmers and ranchers who feed us, rely upon it.” Representative Katie Stewart represents HD-59 in Southwest Colorado which includes Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan counties and parts of Montezuma County. Previous Next