Search Results

< Back Tisha Mauro Representative Tisha Mauro is the Vice-Chair for the Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee and a member of the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee. Representative Mauro represents House District 46 which spans the majority of Pueblo County, including Avondale, Beulah, Colorado City and Rye. Rep. Mauro’s focus is on legislation that conserves and protects Colorado’s water, land and air. As a chile farmer herself, she’s an advocate for the workers, small business owners, farmers, and ranchers who keep local economies running. In the last three legislative sessions, Rep. Mauro has championed legislation to expand and improve EV charging stations across the state, increase railroad safety for railroad workers and local communities, prevent and respond to wildfires, and incentivize economic development and investment in Southern Colorado.

The House today passed legislation that would eliminate administrative court fees for justice-involved juveniles and their families. HB25-1294, sponsored by Representatives Jamie Jackson and Junie Joseph, passed by a vote of 41-23. < Back March 31, 2025 House Passes Bill to Eliminate Court Fees for Youth, Reduce Recidivism DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation that would eliminate administrative court fees for justice-involved juveniles and their families. HB25-1294, sponsored by Representatives Jamie Jackson and Junie Joseph, passed by a vote of 41-23. “People of color and low-income communities are disproportionately more likely to be involved in the justice system, and excessive fees make it increasingly difficult for them to break cycles of incarceration,” said Rep. Jamie Jackson, D-Aurora. “Eliminating administrative fees helps make Colorado’s juvenile justice system more equitable so we can set up Colorado youth for success.” “This legislation helps reduce youth recidivism and financial burdens on Colorado families,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “Our bill builds off a bipartisan law to eliminate certain court fees that can be debilitating for justice-involved youth and their families. This is one step we can take to create a more equitable justice system and make our communities safer for all.” The Colorado General Assembly passed a 2021 law to ban certain court fees and fines for juveniles who are in the juvenile justice system and their families. It also removed outstanding juvenile fee debt. The law is set to be repealed on June 30, 2025. HB25-1294 makes this law permanent to save Colorado youth and their families money on court fees. The bill would continue to eliminate fees, surcharges, and costs such as late penalty fees, prosecution costs and fees related to community service. Previous Next

< Back February 5, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES MCLACHLAN-ROBERTS BILL TO MAKE CLEAN WATER A PRIORITY (Feb. 4) — A bill sponsored by Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango and Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon that looks to help prevent water pollution from future hardrock mining operations in Colorado passed the Rural Affairs and Agriculture committee today. “Mining is central to Colorado’s history and always has been. For a long time, it has shaped our economy, our water rights system, and our communities,” said Rep. Roberts. “However, our state’s clean water must be a high priority. This bill ensures that protecting our state’s precious water resources from high risks of pollution is a top priority for future hardrock mining permits.” Mining operations have polluted more than 1,600 miles of Colorado rivers and streams, and our state is one of just seven that allow “self-bonding,” which allows mines to operate with insufficient recoverable assets, leaving taxpayers vulnerable to potential cleanup costs. “When there are mining accidents, taxpayers foot the bill and also suffer the consequences of the damage to the environment,” said Rep. McLachlan, whose district was impacted by the 2015 Gold King Mine spill. “We can’t change the past, but we can certainly help to ensure it doesn’t happen again in the future.” HB19-1113 would ensure that when new mining permits are issued, sufficient bonds are in place to ensure cleanup and better protect public health and the environment. The bill would end self-bonding for hardrock mines in Colorado and would explicitly include water quality protection in the calculation for the amount of bonding required. It would also require mining license applicants to set an end date for the cleanup of their operation, so that they could no longer simply expect to do water treatment into perpetuity. Numerous small business owners, rafting outfitters, farmers, local elected officials and others from across western Colorado testified in support of the bill. The bill passed the committee 7-4 and now heads to House floor. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed bills to expand reverse mortgage protections and strengthen minimum housing standards for tenants after a natural disaster. Both bills passed by a vote of 9-4. < Back April 12, 2023 Housing Protections for Victims of Wildfires and Natural Disasters Advance in House DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed bills to expand reverse mortgage protections and strengthen minimum housing standards for tenants after a natural disaster. Both bills passed by a vote of 9-4. “Wildfires, floods and other natural disasters have devastated communities throughout Colorado, including mine, leaving many to continue to struggle financially or suffer from negative health outcomes from the aftermath,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of HB23-1266 and HB23-1254. “These two bills expand tools that help homeowners rebuild after substantial damage and protect renters from having to endure living conditions that may cause short or long-term health issues due to damage stemming from a natural disaster. The last thing anyone should be worrying about when their community has been damaged in a wildfire is the long-term financial and health impacts.” “After a devastating natural disaster, our vulnerable communities need extra protections to help them repair,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1266. “Seniors who have relied on reverse mortgages to afford everyday necessities shouldn’t be made financially unstable by a natural disaster outside of their control. Our bill creates a residency exception so seniors aren’t forced to live in an unsafe environment simply because they’ve taken out a reverse mortgage.” Reverse mortgages allow older homeowners to borrow from the equity of their home. Under current law, reverse mortgages may become due and payable if the homeowner does not reside in the home they are borrowing money from as a principal residence, with an exception for temporary absences up to one year.. HB23-1266 would create another exception to the residency requirement for homeowners when their property is uninhabitable due to a natural disaster or another major incident outside the control of the homeowner. This exception would allow a homeowner who is engaged in repairing the home and plans on reoccupying, listing for sale, or selling the house to live elsewhere for up to five years. “This law will better protect renters who end up living in a unit that causes negative health impacts due to wildfire damage or other environmental disasters,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, sponsor of HB23-1254. “Renters should be empowered to raise issues in their home that impact their health and safety without fear of retaliation, this bill provides that peace of mind.” Colorado’s “Warranty of Habitability” law requires a landlord to maintain their property to a standard that is considered safe and fit for habitation. A report conducted after the Marshall Fire called for the General Assembly to pass legislation to increase the standards to protect Colorado renters from unsafe living conditions. HB23-1254 bolsters renter protections in the state’s warranty of habitability by adding damage due to an environmental public health event to the list of conditions that make a property uninhabitable. It would also add additional protections for members of a vulnerable population, including allowing a tenant to terminate their lease if certain conditions are met. The bill also prevents a landlord from retaliating against a renter that makes a complaint about the living conditions. Previous Next

< Back May 13, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES COLORADO’S HEALTH CARE SERVICES RESERVE CORPS DENVER, CO– The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Mullica and Yadira Caraveo to create the Colorado Health Care Services Reserve Corps. “In addition to the strain and stress of the pandemic, the last year revealed gaps in our health care workforce that we have to address going forward,” said ER Nurse Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglen. “As thousands of health workers faced the daily challenges of battling this pandemic, many providers struggled to find ways to help. By creating Colorado’s Health Care Services Reserve Corps, we can build back stronger and ensure our health care workforce is prepared to meet the next crisis.” “Pediatricians like myself are trained to intubate young children and treat respiratory illnesses; we do it all the time, but I’m not trained in adult or emergency medicine,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thorntton, a physician. “Early in the pandemic, when emergency rooms were filling up with older patients, I didn’t have the training to jump in and help. Colorado’s health care providers are ready to serve when a crisis hits, and with the right training and resources, they would be more than willing to step up and fill any gaps that emerge. Whether it’s a natural disaster or another pandemic, Colorado’s Health Care Reserve Corps will bolster our response to the next health crisis.” Rising temperatures, harmful air quality, and more intense wildfires are making health emergencies that require a medical response more common. Thousands of nurses are retiring each year, and there is projected to be a national physician shortage of over 120,000 doctors by 2032 while Colorado has nearly 120 designated health professional shortage areas. HB21-1005 would create a state-level task force made up of experts in licensing, medical professionals, hospital administrators, and cross training facilitators to layout plans to create the Colorado Health Care Service Reserve Corps. The task force will determine the membership of the Reserve Corps, create training practices and recommend benefits that could attract members to the corps. The task force may also make recommendations for legislation necessary to successfully establish the Reserve Corps. Previous Next

House Majority Leader Monica Duran today released the following statement ahead of the rally in support of workers being held tomorrow at the State Capitol: < Back May 22, 2024 Duran: When Workers Thrive, Colorado Thrives DENVER, CO – House Majority Leader Monica Duran today released the following statement ahead of the rally in support of workers being held tomorrow at the State Capitol: “Colorado’s workers are the backbone of our economy, and when they thrive, our state thrives as well. As the granddaughter of immigrant farmworkers, I stand with the Coloradans who are rallying at the Capitol tomorrow to advocate for economic justice, better wages, fair workplace practices, and an economy that works for all. “The bills I sponsored this session would have protected some of our most vulnerable people from having their hard earned money stolen by unscrupulous contractors, and would have prohibited retaliation against workers who don’t want to participate in required anti-union, political or religious meetings. “These bills were top priorities for labor advocates and would have made a real difference for many workers in Colorado, predominantly people of color. But the fight does not end here. I will continue advocating for working families, and will be back at the table next session to achieve these goals.” Previous Next

< Back March 8, 2019 HOUSE GIVES GREENLIGHT TO THE VALDEZ’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE BILL (Mar. 8) – The House gave final approval today to Rep. Alex Valdez and Rep. Donald Valdez’s bill to modify existing statute governing the existing electric vehicle grant fund. “We must act on climate and do our part to cut carbon pollution emissions by encouraging more Coloradans to purchase electric vehicles and help to increase the travel range of EV’s,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “These upgrades will help our rural communities because when drivers stop in to charge their vehicles, they are going to shop and dine in our rural towns and open their wallets, and contribute to the local economy.” HB19-1198 allows the fund to be used to fully fund the installation of more charging stations for electric vehicles and help offset operation costs. “Rural Colorado needs more EV charging stations. Our bill will help protect our way of life and expand the accessibility of electric vehicles and their benefits to all Colorado communities,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara. HB19-1198 passed the House floor with a vote of 39-23 and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back December 12, 2022 Speaker-Designate McCluskie Announces Committee Appointments DENVER, CO – Speaker-designate Julie McCluskie today announced the chairs, vice chairs and committee appointments for the 11 House committees of reference, appointing six new committee chairs. Of the 22 members in committee leadership, 14 are women—a milestone that is consistent with the historic nature of Colorado having the second majority female legislature in the country. “I’m so proud of our historic majority and all the lawmakers who are taking on leadership positions on committees,” said Speaker-designate Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The size of our caucus is a recognition that Democrats deliver on behalf of every Coloradan. Our new chairs and vice chairs, alongside our historically diverse, women-led leadership team, will work hard to make life more affordable, improve health and safety in our communities, protect our air and water, and help every person live their Colorado dream.” Last month, Representative Julie McCluskie was designated Speaker of the House of the 74th General Assembly by her Democratic colleagues. Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, will serve as Majority Leader while Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, will serve as Assistant Majority Leader. Reps. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora and Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins will serve as Majority Co-Whips, while Reps. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada will be the Majority Co-Caucus Chairs. Committee structure, leadership and majority caucus appointments are made by the Speaker. "I want to join Speaker-designate McCluskie in celebrating our new chairs, vice chairs and committee members—we know they will do fantastic work this session to move Colorado forward," said Majority Leader-elect, Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. "Our historically large and diverse class of new lawmakers are going to bring fresh voices and new ideas to our committees, and the leadership team is excited to see so many newly-elected members with experience in public service take on the responsibility of vice chair. Of the 22 committee leadership positions, 14 will be women, recognizing the historic role women will play in mentoring new members and shaping the future of our state.” “For the first time, the House will be led by three women, and there are a historic number of women of color in leadership positions,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Our chairs and vice chairs all share a deep commitment to helping our colleagues advance legislation that responds to the needs of our communities across the state. I’m excited to serve as vice chair of the Judiciary Committee and on the Education Committee where I know we will deliver meaningful policy solutions to improve public education and work towards a future where all Coloradans feel safe in their communities.” “I am grateful for the current chairs and outgoing members of leadership who are pursuing new ways to serve their communities in the new year; Coloradans are better off because of what they’ve accomplished with their work in the legislature,” continued Speaker-designate McCluskie. The complete list of Majority committee assignments is below: Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee (9-4) Chair, Representative Karen McCormick, D-Longmont Representative Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora Representative-Elect Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs Representative-Elect Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango Representative-Elect Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie Representative-Elect Tammy Story, D-Conifer Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Representative-Elect Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs Appropriations Committee (7-4) Chair, Representative Emily Sirota, D-Denver Vice Chair, Representative Shannon Bird, D-Westminster Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins Representative Leslie Herod, D-Denver Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora Representative-Elect Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs Business Affairs and Labor Committee (7-4) Chair, Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Vice Chair, Representative Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Representative-Elect Regina English, D-Colorado Springs Representative-Elect Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood Representative-Elect William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield Representative-Elect Javier Mabrey, D-Denver Representative-Elect Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo Education Committee (7-4) Chair, Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango Vice Chair, Representative-Elect Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista Representative Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver Representative-Elect Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial Representative-Elect Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Aurora Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley Energy and Environment Committee (8-3) Chair, Representative Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Vice Chair, Representative-Elect Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn Representative-Elect Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial Representative Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Representative Alex Valdez, D-Denver Representative-Elect Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs Representative-Elect Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Finance Committee (7-4) Chair, Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Vice Chair Representative-Elect Junie Joseph, D-Boulder Representative Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Aravada Representative Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Representative Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins Representative-Elect William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield Representative-Elect Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch Health and Insurance Committee (8-3) Chair, Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Vice Chair, Representative Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood Representative-Elect Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood Representative Karen McCormick, D-Longmont Representative David Ortiz, D-Littleton Representative Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada Representative-Elect Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn Judiciary Committee (9-4) Chair, Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora Vice Chair, Representative Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver Representative Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Representative-Elect Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver Representative-Elect Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch Representative-Elect Said Sharbini, D-Brighton Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs Representative Steven Woodrow, D-Denver Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee (8-3) Chair, Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City Vice Chair, Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder Representative-Elect Regina English, D-Colorado Springs Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver Representative-Elect Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora Representative-Elect Tammy Story, D-Conifer State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee (8-3) Chair, Representative Steven Woodrow, D-Denver Vice Chair, Representative David Ortiz, D-Littleton Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins Representative Tracey Bernett, D-Louisville Representative-Elect Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver Representative Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora Representative-Elect Said Sharbini, D-Brighton Representative-Elect Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee (9-4) Chair, Representative Meg Froelich, D-Englewood Vice Chair, Representative-Elect William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins Representative-Elect Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial Representative Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora Representative-Elect Javier Mabrey, D-Denver Representative-Elect Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo Representative-Elect Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie Representative-Elect Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs Previous Next

< Back February 28, 2022 FAMILY AFFIRMATION ACT PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – Legislation to simplify the adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction today passed the House by a vote of 53-11. “When parents conceive using assisted reproduction, the law doesn’t always automatically recognize the parent-child relationship,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “In Colorado, there is a burdensome adoption process used to establish the parent-child legal relationship, which is costly, invasive and time consuming. The Family Affirmation Act would create a simplified legal process for parents so they can spend more time with their newborn and less time navigating the adoption process.” “Under Colorado’s laws, my wife still needs to go through the expensive and complicated adoption process just to be legally recognized as the mother of our child, even though she is Marlo’s biological parent,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “My wife, and every parent that goes through assisted reproduction, should have the same parental rights that I do. It’s time to modernize our laws so that every parent in our state has equal protections under the law.” HB22-1153, sponsored by Representatives Kerry Tipper and Daneya Esgar, would create an accessible and streamlined adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction. Some parents, often LGBTQ+ couples, who conceive using assisted reproduction must currently go through the legal adoption process to be recognized as legal parents. This lengthy, expensive and complicated process is necessary just to be recognized as the legal parent of their child. The adoption process currently requires home visits, court appearances, criminal record checks and countless complicated forms to legally confirm the parent-child relationship. This is all required for a parent to legally adopt their child. This makes parenting exponentially more expensive and time consuming for LGBTQ+ and other non-traditional families. The bill would create a process for families to establish a legal parent-child relationship that must be recognized nationwide and instruct courts to confirm the adoption within 30 days. Previous Next

The House today passed a bill that would create clear policies and procedures for metropolitan districts to abide by, improving accountability and consistency when enforcing their policies on homeowners. HB24-1267 passed by a vote of 47-16. < Back March 7, 2024 House Passes Jodeh, Bacon Bill to Protect Homeowners in Metro Districts DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bill that would create clear policies and procedures for metropolitan districts to abide by, improving accountability and consistency when enforcing their policies on homeowners. HB24-1267 passed by a vote of 47-16. “Metro districts are a tool used to help keep up with the increasing demand for housing in our communities, and we must ensure that homeowners in these districts are protected from preventable foreclosures,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “Metro districts can legally conduct design review and covenant enforcement, unfortunately leading to some homeowners being foreclosed on due to fines and fees over decisions like the material used for their roof. Our legislation would encourage metro districts and homeowners to work together to settle disputes and avoid unnecessary foreclosures.” “There are over 2,000 metro districts throughout Colorado where homeowners pay additional taxes to cover costs for infrastructure and services, and these homeowners deserve transparency about the covenant enforcement guidelines of the metro district that they are paying into,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This bill would offer greater transparency for the rules and practices that metro districts must adhere to and prevent homeowners from having their house foreclosed on due to unpaid debts for covenant enforcement, keeping Coloradans housed.” Starting January 1, 2025, HB24-1267 would prohibit a metro district from foreclosing on a lien based on a resident’s delinquent fees or other charges owed to the metro district. It would also create rules and guidelines for metro districts to comply with when enforcing policies on owners, including: Requiring metro districts to adopt written policies regarding the imposition and collection of fines, Prohibiting metro districts from foreclosing on liens based on delinquent fees and requiring residents to use specific flammable roofing or other materials, Establishing a fair process that gives an owner notice and an opportunity for a hearing, and Outlining procedures for dispute resolution between metro districts and residents, including mediation and court cases. HB24-1267 protects residents’ property rights by allowing them to display flags and signs, modify their property to accommodate a person with a disability, park an emergency vehicle in a driveway, remove vegetation for fire mitigation purposes, use a rain barrel, operate a family child care home or install renewable energy devices. Previous Next