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< Back April 22, 2021 SIGNED! BILLS TO CREATE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMIN. AND PREVENT SUICIDE DEATHS DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will expand access to behavioral and mental health services for Coloradans and reduce suicide deaths. “The tragedy and devastation of a suicide death or attempt is something that far too many Coloradans have endured,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “Today, we’re taking a great step forward with a comprehensive approach to reduce youth suicide deaths and ensure our communities have the resources they need in the aftermath of a suicide attempt to prevent future tragedies.” “Far too many of us have seen firsthand just how devastating and widespread the impact of a suicide can be on a community,” said Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. “This bill empowers the Suicide Prevention Commission to proactively prevent, intervene, and react to suicide in Colorado by recognizing and addressing the full scope of the problem. We are meeting the moment with the urgency it requires and I’m proud to see the bill signed into law.” HB21-1119 , which is sponsored by Representatives Daugherty and Rich and Senators Donovan and Coram, expands the Crisis and Suicide Training Grant Program to include “‘train-the-trainer” programs at public schools and funds peer-to-peer specialist programs that help students support their classmates. The bill incorporates postvention and follow-up care into the state’s comprehensive suicide prevention approach to support individuals and communities in the aftermath of a suicide attempt. Importantly, CDPHE will update the department’s suicide prevention resources to include region-specific information for primary care providers on how to recognize and respond to suicidal patients, including information that can be shared with patients and information for health facilities to share upon a patient’s release. Research shows that people who have known someone who died by suicide were 1.6 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts, 2.9 times more likely to have a plan for suicide themselves, and 3.7 times more likely to have attempted suicide. Suicide has become a far more common cause of death among peace officers, medical professionals, and school-aged children. Children or adolescents who know about a friend’s suicide attempt are nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide themselves. “Too many Coloradans have suffered because our state has not addressed gaps in our behavioral health system that prevent people from accessing the care they need,” said Rep. Young, D-Greeley. “Today, Governor Polis signed legislation to create the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration, bringing about critical reforms to address gaps and access challenges in our health system to ensure that Coloradans can get the mental health care services they need. This new administration will oversee and administer behavioral health programs in Colorado, creating a more comprehensive approach to connect services with those who need them.” “Mental and behavioral health is critical to Coloradans’ wellbeing, but too often it is treated as a luxury rather than a necessity – with prohibitive costs restricting access to those who need care the most,” said Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora. “HB-1097 sets the groundwork for a more connected, convenient mental health system in our state so that people can receive high-quality, professional help no matter their income level. I am incredibly proud to see this bill signed today and look forward to the difference it will make for our state.” HB21-1097 , sponsored by Representatives Young and Pelton and Senators Fields and Gardner, would create the Behavioral Health Administration to ensure that every Coloradan experiencing behavioral health needs has access to timely, high-quality services in their communities that they can afford. It tasks the Department of Human Services with creating a plan for a single state entity that would be responsible for administering and overseeing behavioral health programs in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back February 13, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO JOIN NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE INTERSTATE COMPACT Eleven states & Washington, D.C. have already joined the compact (Feb. 12) — A bill sponsored by Rep. Jeni Arndt and Rep. Emily Sirota to enter Colorado into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact was approved by a House committee tonight. “This idea is not new and hasn’t been a traditionally partisan issue,” said Rep. Arndt, D-Fort Collins. “Twelve battleground states receive more federal disaster aid, more revenue for education and more presidential campaign visits than other states. This bill and this change are a modernization that our founders provided for our country.” If adopted and if enough other states join the compact, the bill would ensure all of Colorado’s electors are awarded to the presidential winner of the National Popular Vote. Each state has the power to allocate their electors however they choose under Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. “This bipartisan movement enhances our democratic values and ensures that every person’s vote has equal value,” said Rep. Sirota, D-Denver. “Coloradans shouldn’t allow a few battleground states like Florida or Ohio to be the deciders for our entire country when electing the next President of the United States.” Once enough states totalling 270 electoral votes join the popular vote compact, the agreement would go into effect. States that are considered battleground states will no longer possess that title if this compact is adopted. Rather, SB19-042 would ensure each voter has an equal voice in a presidential election. The bill does not get rid of the electoral college. The Colorado legislature approved the compact through one chamber in 2006. The National Popular Vote Compact is an agreement, supported by Americans on both sides of the aisle, and entered into already by eleven states including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, California, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington and the District of Columbia, to award all of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. Rural states are not traditional battleground states in presidential elections. The current winner-take-all method of awarding electoral votes diminishes the influence of rural states. States and entities who have joined the compact have done so through their respective legislatures. Five out of our country’s forty-five presidents have finished in second place in the popular vote but assumed the presidency. Supporters from across the country, including two former Republican presidential candidates – Tom Tancredo and Newt Gingrich – have endorsed the change to the popular vote. Colorado has led the nation on efforts to restore faith in our democracy. Voters just supported Amendments Y and Z to protect against partisan gerrymandering. Democrats at the legislature are stepping up efforts to fix our broken campaign finance system and to get mystery money out of politics to ensure every citizen’s voice is truly heard and isn’t drowned out by powerful special interests. SB19-042 passed the committee by a vote of 6-3 and now heads to House floor. The Colorado Secretary of State’s office and the members of the League of Women Voters testified in support of the bill. The bill is also sponsored in the Senate by Senator Mike Foote, D-Lafayette. Listen to Rep. Sirota and Rep. Arndt discuss the importance of the national popular vote with Majority Leader Alec Garnett here. Previous Next

< Back January 8, 2020 OPENING DAY SPEECH OF 2ND REGULAR SESSION 2020 Good morning everyone. Welcome to your Colorado State Capitol. It is my distinct pleasure to welcome each and every one of you to the first day of our 2020 legislative session. I’d like to first take a moment to greet and thank all of the family members and loved ones gathered here to watch as we continue our work on behalf of the people of Colorado. I know I speak for everyone in this Chamber when I say we appreciate your support — and your patience — as we take on this important work. Thank you also to Majority Leader Alec Garnett and to our wonderful Democratic caucus and leadership team. You all are amazing. To Minority Leader Neville and the Republican Leadership team — I look forward to working together to find bipartisan solutions to Colorado’s most pressing challenges — and hopefully to be done every day by 4:00 pm. While I’m truly excited to see all of my colleagues here today, I’d like to especially extend a warm welcome to Representative Mary Young, who will be starting her first session representing the people of Greeley in the legislature this year. I’d also like to take this opportunity to mention someone who is dearly missed by everyone in this chamber, Representative Kimmi Lewis. As everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her knows, Kimmi was a devoted fighter for rural communities and a caring, responsive leader. Her spirit and tenacity will be dearly missed by all this session. I’d like to welcome our newest member, Richard Holtorf, who is the new Representative for House District 64. You, sir, have some big shoes to fill. We look forward to working with you. This year, we also lost a true trailblazer and an incredible presence in this building, Speaker Ruben Valdez. The first Latino Speaker of the House in Colorado, Ruben Valdez was an inspirational figure, and a mentor to many. I’d also like to recognize the former Speakers in attendance today: Finally, I’d like to recognize former legislators who are present: Thank you all for being here. A year ago, as I welcomed you to the start of the 72nd General Assembly, I wasn’t shy about our bold plans to work on behalf of the people of Colorado. In my speech, I promised that as Speaker, I would work to keep this body focused on investing in our state’s bright future, building an economy that works for all, and protecting the Colorado Way of Life. As I stood at this podium and accepted the Speaker’s gavel, I talked about the obstacles our state faces. I called on all of you to put your ideas, your passion, and your determination to work towards lowering the cost of health care, investing in education, building a fair economy, tackling climate change, combatting homelessness and the housing crisis, confronting the opioid epidemic, and reforming our criminal justice system. Your response? One of the most historic, productive sessions in our state’s history. 120 long days flew by as the legislature wrote, discussed, debated 598 bills and 4,500 amendments. We passed laws that that are moving our state forward and protect the Colorado way of life for years to come. We proved that although inaction and gridlock may have the federal government in a headlock, good government is alive and well in the Centennial State. While Washington D.C. gets itself stuck in the mud it’s so busy slinging, our state moves forward. While some in D.C. are still looking for ways to repeal the Affordable Care Act and strip health care away from millions of Americans, we joined together, Republicans and Democrats, and found innovative ways to save consumers money on health care — like our bipartisan bill to prevent surprise medical bills from costing families thousands. As Congress continues its decade-long failure to address the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, here at home we passed a first-in-the-nation bipartisan bill to cap the cost of insulin. Although it wasn’t always easy, we took on some of the biggest challenges our state faces. While the Trump Administration denies scientific consensus on climate change and actively undermines efforts to address it by rolling back environmental protections left and right, we fought hard to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, the mountains we hike, and the rivers we fish. We took a measure to the voters and successfully secured new revenue for our water plan and passed landmark oil and gas reforms to give our communities a say in what goes on in their own backyards. We set our state down a path towards a clean energy future and set bold targets that we intend to meet while keeping our economy and the future of Colorado workers in mind. As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to act on behalf of all Coloradans, to strive to address the very real and dire challenges that are facing too many in our state, and to invest in our future. That’s what our constituents sent us here to do. I don’t know of a single parent in Colorado who doesn’t want their children to have a better life than they did. At least I know I do — I want Leo and Ryder to grow up in a more just, more compassionate, and more conscientious world. As a mom, that means trying to lead by example and pass on the values that I’d like to see in the world around me. In this House, that means working to build an economy that works for all. That’s why I was so proud last year when we delivered on equal pay for equal work and created college savings accounts to help families plan for their childrens’ future. Our effort to build an economy that works for all didn’t end there — we strengthened renters’ rights and the rights of mobile home park residents and made one of the largest investments in affordable housing in our state’s history. Despite our state’s unique budget constraints, we managed to make significant investments in our future. We paid down the budget stabilization factor by $100 million, boosting investment in our classrooms. We passed a budget that included $20 million for rural schools and $22 million for special education programs. And just in case you’ve never heard Governor Polis speak, I’ll have you know we also expanded full-day kindergarten to every school district in our state. We did great things last year and truly made a difference in the lives of people in every corner of our state, from the Western Slope to the Front Range and from Southern Colorado to the Eastern Plains. We worked around the clock–literally–on behalf of our constituents because this House belongs to them. We work for the people, and there is more work to be done. This year, we will strive to create a more just economy and to make our state affordable for all. So as long as there are families facing the harrowing prospect or the cruel reality of homelessness, this House moves forward. As long as there are Coloradans making the impossible choice of paying for prescription drugs or paying for groceries, this House moves forward. As long as there are teenagers attempting to take their own lives or fearing a school shooting, this House moves forward. As long as our schools are underfunded and our classrooms are overcrowded, this House must move our state forward. Nationally, this year may go down as one of the most bitter and divisive our nation has ever been through. Obstructionism, corruption, and partisan logjams have driven Washington from bad to worse. And while I remain hopeful that a change will soon come in DC, I invite you to join me in taking matters into our own hands to prove once again that government can still work for the people. The interim has flown by, and as we begin this new session, I am asking you to do it all again. Come to this job with fresh ideas for how we can make our state more affordable. Work together with diverse stakeholders on all ends of the political spectrum to find solutions. Coloradans need and are demanding a more affordable state and a more just economy. Too many people are not feeling the benefits of our state’s growth. That’s where our focus should be. Every Coloradan should have the opportunity to share in our state’s prosperity. To get there, we’ll have to have hard conversations and make difficult decisions, together. We’ll need Republicans and Democrats alike to work hard, listen to stakeholders on all sides, and come to the table ready to work. My door is always open, and all ideas that will improve the lives of Coloradans are ready to be considered. We will need everyone at the table working to make housing, health care, and higher education more affordable. We need everyone at the table working to create a more fair and more rational criminal justice system. We need everyone at the table to enhance the rights of state employees to collectively bargain for better pay, better working conditions and benefits. We need everyone at the table to promote responsible gun ownership and move forward on gun safety initiatives that have already been adopted on a bipartisan basis in states across the country. We need everyone at the table working to heed the call on climate change * and* protect workers and communities impacted by a changing climate and energy economy. We need everyone at the table to deliver on our school safety initiatives and increase access to mental health support, especially in our schools. I have no doubt in this body’s ability to work together and find bipartisan ways to get things done. House members have already reached across the aisle to make sure that we tackle the epidemic of teen nicotine use in our state. Last year we promised to deliver on paid family leave. We brought our state closer than it’s ever been to guaranteeing that every working Coloradan can take the time off they need to care for a loved one or a newborn without fear of financial ruin. The time is now. We need stakeholders on every side of the issue to return to the discussion and work out a paid family leave program that is fiscally sustainable, workable for business, and makes a real difference for working families. We’ll also need everyone to come back to the table to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing this state — our retirement crisis. Our population is aging and our economy is changing. Forecasts show that 1 in 5 residents will be over 65 by 2050. Meanwhile, more and more people in Colorado are participating in the gig economy and taking nontraditional jobs. A modern and flexible economy requires a modern and flexible retirement savings system — and that’s what we aim to achieve. As we move forward this session, we must keep in mind the unique challenges that our state’s fiscal policies present. Colorado is handcuffed by a restrictive and antiquated law that doesn’t allow the state to benefit from our booming economy and doesn’t let us make the investments we need. Transparency in our budget is critical so that Coloradans can easily learn about where their dollars go. That’s why I’m excited to announce that here in the next few months, a visual, interactive display of the state’s budget will be available for the public on the General Assembly website. This is a critical step in providing Coloradans with an accurate and accessible picture of our state’s finances to increase their trust in how we prioritize these dollars because every single dollar counts. Given our state’s restrictions, we have to keep in mind that our state’s revenue is precious. Every single dollar must be spent wisely. This means being thoughtful about any permanent decisions we make that could have an impact on our state’s bottom line. Permanent tax cuts that only further inequalities, exacerbate the achievement gap, make our higher ed institutions less competitive, and hinder our ability to meet our already dire transportation needs will not put us on the path to becoming a more prosperous and equitable state. How we prioritize within our budget is of vital importance. We need to ensure that all of our dollars are being used in service to key goals. While we’ve made substantial investments in K-12 education funding by paying down the budget stabilization factor, we’ll remain focused on ways to bring it down even further and will continue working on longer term school funding solutions. This session, we will once again face the challenge of finding new money to invest in our state’s transportation system. Over the past few years we’ve made great strides to make multi-year commitments and find creative ways to set aside a significant amount of funding for transportation. But there is no secret pot of money hiding in the couch cushions; continuing these investments remains a challenging issue. If we are going to find actual solutions to invest more in transportation, members on both sides of the aisle will have to bring forward specific solutions that voters haven’t already rejected and that are serious attempts at bipartisan solutions. Past proposals like unspecified, across the board budget cuts to every department impacting programs from services for the disabled to food inspections to school funding, is not a realistic approach and is not the answer. Cutting Coloradans off Medicaid isn’t the answer. Members need to show us where they believe this money should come from and make good faith efforts to find common ground. I know this is an issue that every single one of us cares about, and if we’re going to make progress, we need to do it together. I know we can do this. From criminal justice reform to the great work coming out of the School Safety Interim Committee, we’ve seen incredible bipartisan progress on important issues. We must continue this progress for the people of this state. Investing in our future will also mean continuing to grapple with a host of difficult health care challenges as we attempt to lower costs and improve access and affordability across our state. While we work to keep Colorado healthy and strong, we won’t be dissuaded by a small chorus of loud voices who let their fear drive them to ignore the science of vaccines and endanger the lives of others. We’ll stay strong and move forward on issues that may be difficult but that require our action and attention, like abolishing the death penalty once and for all in our state. This session, we will continue our work to lower the cost of prescription drugs — an issue that affects Coloradans from the newborn nursery room to the hospice wing and at every point in between. We can and will increase transparency in drug pricing and address the root causes that have made the costs of prescription drugs soar. Our work is cut out for us. As long as we keep in mind who we are working on behalf of, our path forward will remain clear. So join me, bring your best ideas to the table and let’s get things done. On behalf of every veteran and every family struggling to afford the cost of housing, come to the table. On behalf of future generations of Coloradans and their right to enjoy our state’s natural treasures just like we have, come to the table. On behalf of every young person caught in an unjust criminal justice system, come to the table. On behalf of every child in an underfunded classroom in Colorado and on behalf of the teacher working to give those kids the best education possible, come to the table. On behalf of every person living with a chronic illness who’s rationed their prescription drugs because they couldn’t afford the cost, come to the table. Come to the table and let’s move Colorado forward together — towards prosperity, towards justice, towards progress! This will be my last session serving as your colleague and your Speaker. It will be my last session representing the wonderful people of the 13th district under the golden dome. And while there’s a great deal left to do and a great deal of new memories to make before I close this chapter, I can already tell you that working here with you all has been the honor of a lifetime. It is with immense pride that I declare the House open for business for the second regular session of the seventy-second General Assembly of the great State of Colorado. Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES ROBERTS-MCCLUSKIE BILL TO HELP LOWER THE COST OF HEALTH CARE (Apr. 11) – This morning, the House Rural Affairs and Agriculture committee unanimously approved a bill address the high costs of healthcare in Colorado. The bill is sponsored by Western Slope Representatives Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. SB19-004 will strengthen Colorado’s laws to allow healthcare cooperatives to incorporate consumer protections like coverage for preexisting conditions. It will also allow the State Insurance Commissioner to work with groups seeking to create co-ops so that they can get their co-op up and running as soon as possible. The bipartisan bill will help lower healthcare costs by encouraging consumers to negotiate rates on a collective basis directly with providers and offer plans to individuals, business, and other groups that are more affordable than what currently exists on the market. “A key part of lowering the cost of health care will be the formation of health insurance co-ops across the state where consumers collectively negotiate rates directly with providers,” said Rep. Roberts. “This bill will authorize the formation of these co-ops across the state which could result in plans that are significantly cheaper than those available today.” “In the absence of federal solutions to the health care crisis we face, Colorado communities are finding creative, innovative approaches to making health care more accessible. Health care co-ops can be one more viable option to provide relief,” said Rep. McCluskie. “I’m proud of the bipartisan bills we’ve worked to pass this session to help provide solutions to health care challenges hardworking families face every day.” Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. The Senate approved the bill on a bipartisan vote of 34-to-1 earlier this month. SB19-004 now goes to the House floor. Previous Next

The House today passed the “Freedom to Read Act” by a vote of 42-22. < Back April 14, 2025 House Passes “Freedom to Read Act” DENVER, CO – The House today passed the “Freedom to Read Act” by a vote of 42-22. SB25-063 would create safeguards against book bans in public school libraries. “Knowledge is power, and our bill preserves access to age-appropriate literature in Colorado public schools,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “This legislation creates a standard process to evaluate a book’s inclusion or removal from a library – further shielding our public school libraries from D.C. culture wars and political fights. Schools are for learning, and our students deserve access to age-appropriate books that encourage them to think more broadly and critically about the world.” “Free societies don’t ban books. This bill maintains access to a wide range of literature, including books that share the experiences and voices of marginalized communities,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Books offer a window to the world where students can explore new places, discover different cultures and dive deep into a new experience. The freedom to read is a cornerstone to a strong democracy, and we’re making sure our students have access to age-appropriate literature.” SB25-063 would create safeguards against book bans in public schools by requiring local school boards to establish a standard policy on the acquisition, use and removal of library resources. The policy would ensure that any removal or restriction of a library resource follows a clear, fair and consistent process. Without a policy in place, a local school board or the Charter School Institute could not remove a library resource from its collection. SB25-063 would also prevent discriminatory policies and protect librarians from retaliation. Previous Next

< Back March 24, 2022 GOV. SIGNS BILLS TO SUPPORT OLDER COLORADANS, PREVENT DOXXING OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis signed two bills into law today that would support older Coloradans and prevent doxxing of health care professionals. “This law is a commitment to strengthen our support for older Coloradans,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of HB22-1035. “Throughout this process, we have collaborated to redefine the programs and supportive services that older Coloradans need to lead impactful, productive lives. We also prioritized the state’s ability to respond faster to the ever changing needs of older Coloradans. Together, we modernized Colorado law to include support for health services, social services, workforce development and digital literacy programs. This bipartisan effort proves our state not only cares about older Coloradans but prioritizes their needs.” HB22-1035 updates the Older Coloradans Act to bolster supports and services to older Coloradans, such as social services, health services, workforce development, digital literacy and the state’s infrastructure for the growing older population in the state. The legislation operationalizes many of the recommendations set forth by the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging and sets clear goals to guide the state as it works to ensure “that Colorado is the best state in which to grow old.” The law requires the state of Colorado to prevent abuse, exploitation and neglect of older Coloradans by creating a commission to coordinate and guide state aging programs. “Today, we’re standing up to protect our health care workers,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Ft. Collins. “Threats against code enforcement offices, animal control officers, and health care and child protection workers will not be tolerated in Colorado and this law protects them from having their personal information published online. Doxxing is dangerous and this law shields everyday Coloradans just doing their jobs from violent threats against them and their family.” HB22-1041 will protect code enforcement officers from doxxing, a practice of sharing someone’s sensitive information online with malicious intent. This law extends protections to health care workers and animal control officers, among others, to withhold their personal information from the public. The law will create a new process for workers to redact their full name and address from online records if they receive a personal threat. Previous Next

< Back February 17, 2022 BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS COLORADO’S RURAL TEACHER AND STAFF SHORTAGE PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to address the critical school staff and teacher workforce shortage in rural Colorado by a vote of 8 to 1. HB22-1101, sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Marc Catlin, would allow retirees to return to rural school districts experiencing a critical shortage of staff without a reduction to their PERA benefits. “This bipartisan legislation aims to boost our teacher workforce by allowing retired staff to return to the classroom in rural school districts experiencing a critical teacher shortage,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan D-Durango. “We know our rural schools are also experiencing a workforce shortage that goes beyond the classroom which is why this bill extends provisions to paraprofessionals and school nurses. We’re making huge strides towards providing rural school districts with the resources they need to prepare their students for success and move Colorado forward.” If passed, HB22-1101 would continue a program currently set to expire next year that allows retired teachers, school bus drivers and food services workers to return to work without a reduction in their PERA benefits. This bill would make the program provisions permanent and allow qualified PERA retirees to return only to rural school districts experiencing a critical workforce shortage. Rural school districts are suffering from an extreme labor shortage that extends beyond the classroom. In addition to teachers, HB22-1101 would allow retired food service cooks, paraprofessionals, school nurses and school bus drivers to return to their rural school districts within two years of retirement. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to ensure that surviving spouses will receive lifetime death benefits if their spouse is killed on the job. < Back February 12, 2024 House Passes Bill to Secure Death Benefits for Surviving Spouses DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to ensure that surviving spouses will receive lifetime death benefits if their spouse is killed on the job. “When the surviving spouses of firefighters, Colorado State Patrol officers, and other first responders remarry, they lose the death benefits they are entitled to,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood. “Death benefits for spouses are crucial in supporting widows and widowers during these times of need. Our legislation ensures that surviving spouses will continue to see death benefits, even if they remarry, to help them heal from the trauma of losing their spouse while allowing them to move forward with their life.” HB24-1139 , also sponsored by Representative Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, passed by a vote of 56-8. Currently, a surviving spouse may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation death benefits for the rest of their life, but if they remarry, they forfeit the right to these benefits. This bill would ensure lifetime workers’ death benefits for surviving spouses of state employees with high-risk jobs, even if they remarry. The bill defines a job with high-risk classification as State Troopers, Colorado Bureau of Investigations officers, corrections officers, community parole officers, state firefighters, port of entry officers, parks and wildlife officers, and CDOT safety and maintenance workers. Previous Next

SB25-290 will support medical providers that serve low-income communities, protecting access to essential health care for thousands of Coloradans < Back May 29, 2025 Signed! Legislation to Protect Access to Health Care, Stabilize Health Care Safety Net LAFAYETTE, CO – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representatives Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, and Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, to protect access to essential health care for thousands of Coloradans was signed into law today. SB25-290, also sponsored by Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, will provide immediate financial support to a broad cross-section of safety net health providers, including rural hospitals, community health centers, and behavioral health clinics. “In every corner of Colorado, our health care safety net is in crisis. Senate Bill 290 is a much-needed lifeline to ensure the most vulnerable people in our state continue to have access to health care,” said Mullica. “Between higher costs and workforce shortages, our safety net providers are facing unprecedented pressures, with more than half reporting operating in the negative. This new law fills an immediate need to ensure these safety net providers can keep their doors open and the people of Colorado can still receive the care they need.” “Our health care safety net providers that take care of our low-income, older, and vulnerable community members are in crisis,” said Brown. “Our law fills an immediate funding need to prevent our safety net providers from closing their doors and leaving hundreds of Coloradans without the health care they need. These dollars will help protect essential health care for so many low-income and working Coloradans now.” “Without our safety net providers, many Coloradans won’t have access to the preventive and primary care that helps them lead healthier lives,” said Bird. “Higher costs and workforce shortages mean our safety net providers are shouldering enormous financial pressures just to keep the doors open. This law provides immediate, short-term support to our safety net providers so our community members can receive the health care they need.” Safety net providers include primary care and family clinics that provide critical health care to communities across Colorado, like seniors, hardworking families, and rural Coloradans. These safety net providers have been under an enormous financial strain as demand and costs increase. SB25-290 will create the Provider Stabilization Fund within the Department of the Treasury to distribute stabilization payments to safety net providers who provide care to Medicaid recipients and low-income, uninsured individuals on a sliding scale or for free. The new law will transfer interest earnings and, if necessary, principal from the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund to the Provider Stabilization Fund as an interest-free loan to be repaid by 2045. Payments will be distributed based on the proportion of low-income and uninsured individuals that the provider serves. Congressional Republicans’ proposed budget reconciliation bill would further strain safety net providers, especially rural hospitals that depend on Medicaid funds. Without access to preventive and primary care services, Coloradans are more likely to seek emergency care , increasing costs in the health care system as a whole and leading to worse health outcomes. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to prevent physical violence in a child care or public school setting and address adolescent substance use disorders. < Back March 15, 2023 Dem Bills Improve Safety and Well-Being of Colorado Kids DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to prevent physical violence in a child care or public school setting and address adolescent substance use disorders. “Current Colorado law doesn’t protect kids from being physically disciplined by their teachers at school or caretakers at child care,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of HB23-1191. “With this bill, we’re creating a safer environment for Colorado children to learn and grow. Parents should be able to send their kids to child care and school without fearing that they face corporal punishment, which many of us thought was something we left behind long ago.” HB23-1191 would prohibit an employee or volunteer in a public school, state-licensed child care center, family child care home, or a specialized group facility from using corporal punishment on a child under their care. Under the bill, corporal punishment would include willfully causing physical pain on a child. The bill passed by a vote of 48-16. “Substance use is an increasing issue for kids all over Colorado, and many of our teens don’t have the tools they need to prevent or stop addictive behavior,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1009. “We’re bringing students, parents, teachers, school administrators, licensed special service providers, and substance use medical professionals together to figure out how we can best address rising drug use in Colorado teens.” HB23-1009 , which passed by a vote of 45-19, would establish the Secondary School Substance Use Committee in the Department of Education to create, identify, or modify a practice for secondary schools to use to address substance use disorders in students. The practice would identify students who need substance use treatment, offer a brief intervention, and refer the student to substance use treatment resources. The committee would consist of students, teachers, licensed special service providers, school administrators, adolescent substance use medical professionals, representatives from state departments, and parents or legal guardians of students. To the extent practical, all of the members will represent the racial and ethnic diversity of the state and will have equal rural and non-rural representation. The Department of Education would be required to put together a report of the Secondary School Substance Use Committee’s findings and distribute it to every secondary school superintendent and chief administrator across the state. Previous Next

Bill would implement History Colorado recommendations to work towards social, educational and economic equity for tribal communities < Back May 1, 2024 House Passes Bill to Extend Federal Indian Boarding School Research Program Bill would implement History Colorado recommendations to work towards social, educational and economic equity for tribal communities DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to continue the federal Indian boarding school research program within History Colorado. HB24-1444, sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Leslie Herod, would implement History Colorado recommendations to support healing generational trauma in tribal communities, capture oral histories and dive deeper into long standing inequities faced by tribal communities. “History Colorado’s research about the federal Indian boarding schools revealed the atrocities of the past; it left us with a choice on how to right these wrongs and better support our tribal communities today,” said Rep. Barbara Mclachlan, D-Durango. “This bill would extend History Colorado’s important research for another three years, acknowledging the abuse and forced assimilation and addressing some of the longstanding social, economic, and educational inequities still faced by our tribal communities.” “We cannot erase the horrors of the past, but we must face them,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “This bill directs the State of Colorado to continue to expose the truth about the American Indian boarding schools.” HB24-1444 , passed the House by a vote of 61 to 2. This bill would extend, in consultation with tribes, the federal Indian boarding school research program within History Colorado until 2027. Enacted in 2022 through HB22-1327 , this research program was tasked with researching the events, abuse, and deaths that occurred at American Indian boarding schools in Colorado. History Colorado released the findings from their report and recommendations in October of 2023, which revealed that nine institutions in the state attempted to assimilate American Indian students. This bill would implement recommendations from History Colorado’s initial report, including ongoing research and tribal consultations with different historically impacted tribes and listening sessions with American Indian and Alaska Native communities on the history and impact of federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado. The program will also undertake the collection of oral histories of survivors through listening sessions that highlight American Indian narratives. This bill would invest $1 million to continue the program and ensure consultation with different tribes and the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs in putting forward recommendations to work toward social, educational and economic equity for tribal communities by November 8, 2025. 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