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The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to improve safety and equity in the workplace by implementing critical anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. < Back April 25, 2023 Bills to Combat Workplace Discrimination, Improve Crime Victim Notifications Pass Committee DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to improve safety and equity in the workplace by implementing critical anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. SB23-172, sponsored by Rep. Mike Weissman and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon passed committee by a vote of 8 to 5. “Workplace discrimination and harassment must not be tolerated, and we need to modernize Colorado’s outdated laws to protect workers, hold harassers accountable and create safer workspaces,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, D-Aurora . “Power and protection need to be on the side of the worker – and the POWR Act improves accountability so the state can hold harassers in the workplace for their actions. Survivors’ voices and concerns need to be taken seriously, which is why I’m also proud to champion legislation to prioritize survivors of crime by improving notifications regarding release from parole." “Harassment and discrimination persist every day in Colorado workplaces, which is why modernizing our laws to protect workers is long overdue,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, D-Denver. “We need to do everything we can to make it possible for Coloradans to earn a living and pursue careers without being harassed. The POWR Act improves accountability measures and works to create safer, more equitable workspaces. This bill will hold bad actors accountable so workers can thrive in the workplace free from harassment and discrimination.” SB23-172 , the Protecting Opportunity & Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act, would update the definition of harassment and specify that harassment does not need to be “severe or pervasive” to constitute a discriminatory or unfair practice. The bill also deters future harassment by modernizing language around non-disclosure agreements, expanding protections for people with disabilities, and adding marital status as a protected class. Eliminating the excessive “severe or pervasive'' hostile work environment requirements and replacing them with clear standards for “harass” and “harassment” considers the totality of the circumstances, and will allow survivors of discrimination and harassment to better pursue justice. The POWR Act also removes the language in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) that permits employers to discriminate against people with disabilities or refuse to accommodate them if “the disability has a significant impact on the job.” Additionally, the bill establishes an affirmative defense for an employer if the employer meets certain requirements, including establishing a harassment prevention program, taking prompt action in response to a complaint, and keeping records of any complaints. The House Judiciary Committee also passed SB23-193 , sponsored by Rep. Mike Weissman and Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, unanimously. SB23-193 aims to prioritize survivors by setting the offender’s release date for parole 15 days after providing notice to the victim. This bill would require the Department of Corrections (DOC) and any other state or local government agency, to provide survivor notifications in easy-to-understand language, using recommendations from victim advocates. If the victim chose to receive notifications, SB23-193 would work to improve communications between the DOC and survivors by giving them advanced notice of their offender’s parole release, in addition to their offender's discharge, transfer, escape, abscondence, unauthorized absence, or parole proceeding. Previous Next

HB25-1030 will require local governments to ensure building codes incorporate accessibility standards in new and renovated buildings < Back March 11, 2025 Signed! New Law Will Improve Building Accessibility for Coloradans with Disabilities DENVER, CO – Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera today signed a bill into law that will improve accessibility standards for Coloradans with disabilities, sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, Senator Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Representatives Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, and Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood. “Coloradans with disabilities deserve the opportunity to move about freely and fully participate in society,” said Cutter. “They deserve equal access to public buildings and services. This law moves us closer to making these things a reality, and to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law nearly 35 years ago.” “Coloradans with disabilities rely on certain accessibility features in going about their daily lives, and it’s important that new and renovated buildings such as schools and health facilities meet or exceed the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Joseph. “With this law, we’re standing by our commitment to Colorado’s disability community by improving accessibility requirements in building codes throughout our state and supporting basic access to public buildings.” “The heart of this new law is about letting all our neighbors live with dignity and respect. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed 35 years ago, yet many buildings are still inaccessible,” said Winter. “One step forward to ensure that we're increasing accessibility is to have local governments update their building codes. Everyone should be able to fully participate in all aspects of society and not be limited by access to a building.” “The Americans with Disabilities Act has been law for over 30 years, yet gaps in enforcing those accessibility requirements continue to act as a barrier to Coloradans with disabilities,” said Stewart. ”As a former local government official, I know this law will benefit our communities by creating a guideline for local governments to follow when it comes to accessibility updates, mitigating lawsuits and making our communities more accessible for all.” Beginning January 1, 2026, HB25-1030 will require local governments to ensure that new or substantially amended building codes meet or exceed international accessibility standards. It also requires the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to ensure building codes for public school and health facilities meet these standards. For hotels, motels, and multiple dwellings in jurisdictions with no local building code, the State Housing Board will be responsible for meeting or exceeding these standards. This bill is another in a series of steps Colorado Democrats have taken in recent years to support Colorado’s disability community, including creating the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office to serve as an official resource for implementing a statewide strategy to promote successful economic, social, and community integration. Previous Next

Governor Polis today signed three bills into law that better prepare communities for evacuations following a wildfire or other disaster, help homeowners better protect their properties from wildfire damage, and expand language accessibility for emergency and public safety alerts. < Back May 12, 2023 SIGNED! Wildfire Protections, Improvements to Emergency Notifications Become Law DENVER, CO - Governor Polis today signed three bills into law that better prepare communities for evacuations following a wildfire or other disaster, help homeowners better protect their properties from wildfire damage, and expand language accessibility for emergency and public safety alerts. “Communities throughout Colorado have seen devastating wildfire damage, sometimes wiping out entire neighborhoods in one day,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of HB23-1075 and HB23-1273 . “Home and property owners want to do everything they can to protect themselves and their property from damage, but those measures can be costly. These new laws will improve evacuation methods and structural resiliency against wildfires so we can better protect Colorado lives and property from natural disasters.” “Wildfire prevention and mitigation strategies are essential in protecting vulnerable community members who are most at-risk of losing their homes to a wildfire or other natural disaster,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB23-1075 and HB23-1273. “I’m proud and grateful to Governor Polis for signing these two bills into law because Coloradans deserve better protections against wildfire and natural disaster damage, and these new laws will help better protect them and their homes.” HB23-1075 requires the Office of Emergency Management to conduct a study to identify and assess the availability of technology to help with evacuation and clearance time modeling in local emergency management plans. The study will also determine if evacuation and clearance time modeling for proposed developments in a wildfire risk area is feasible. The study must be completed by December 1, 2023 and the Office of Emergency Management would be required to report the findings during the 2024 legislative session. HB23-1273 creates the Wildfire Resilient Homes Grant Program. Qualified homeowners can apply to the program to receive grant money to cover retrofitting or structural improvements to existing houses and other buildings. This grant program also expands to new-builds and rebuilds to make any structure on a homeowner’s property more resilient against wildfires. Wildfires have become an increasing threat in Colorado, with the three largest wildfires in Colorado history occurring in 2020 alone. The International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) provides standards for building wildfire-resilient homes, including non-combustible roofing, underfloor protection, defensible space, and residential sprinklers. “Rural and urban Coloradans rely on emergency notifications to alert them about a wildfire, snow storm, or other potential danger, but language barriers make it nearly impossible for non-English speakers to protect themselves from potential threats ,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, sponsor of HB23-1237. “With this bill being signed into law today, we can improve methods to communicate emergency information to non-English speakers and Coloradans with a disability so everyone can access the resources or information they need to protect themselves and their families.” HB23-1237 , also sponsored by Republican Senator Perry Will, would direct the University of Colorado’s Natural Hazards Center, in consultation with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, to conduct a study to identify how municipalities, sheriff's offices, counties, fire districts, and local 911 agencies can best provide emergency alerts in a non-English language and implement live interpretation during a 911 call. The study would identify essential components of a multi-hazard early warning system needed to successfully reach residents and visitors and would include recommendations for how to better reach at-risk communities that may have difficulties accessing English language text alerts. Previous Next

The Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee (COYAC) yesterday voted to advance three bills that would require public schools to address a student by their preferred name in school, study the existing barriers to gender affirming care, and create a loan repayment program for school mental health professionals. < Back October 26, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Colorado Youth Advisory Committee Recommends Bills to Improve Dignity for Students, Get More Mental Health Professionals Into Schools DENVER, CO - The Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee (COYAC) yesterday voted to advance three bills that would require public schools to address a student by their preferred name in school, study the existing barriers to gender affirming care, and create a loan repayment program for school mental health professionals. Bill 1 would require public schools to address a student by their preferred name in school and in school-related publications without requiring the student to obtain a court-ordered name or gender change. The bill also establishes the Non-Legal Name Changes in Schools Task Force under the Department of Education to help examine existing school policies regarding non-legal name changes, and provide policy recommendations for school districts. “Prioritizing the health and well-being of all Colorado youth makes our families and communities more resilient. All kids should feel safe and accepted in order to grow, learn, and thrive, ” said COYAC Chair Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of Bills 1, 5, and 6. “We need to strengthen these protective factors, particularly for families of LGBTQ youth who have been met with hostility for raising their children in an accepting and affirming environment, and for youth who lack resources for mental health support. I'm proud of our student participants' hard work on these policies, and look forward to advancing what we've accomplished together. Our bills will provide clarity to schools when addressing students by their preferred names, increase mental health support with loan repayments to school mental health professionals, and map out access to gender affirming care across our great state. By implementing these improvements and sharing essential resources, we will better support Colorado kids so that all can thrive.” “Every year, legislators on the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee join bright, engaged students to collaborate on legislation that supports their future success,” said COYAC Vice Chair Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, sponsor of all three bills. “This year, the bills we are advancing prioritize the mental health and well-being of students and address much needed staffing shortages for mental health professionals who work in schools. Students deserve to feel safe, confident and supported at school, and these bills mark meaningful steps towards making that a reality for every Colorado kid.“ “Every Colorado child deserves to live and learn with dignity, but right now too many kids have to deal with stigma and harassment. Tragically, 82 percent of trans youth have contemplated suicide at some point in their lives,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, sponsor of all three bills. “By letting kids go by their preferred name in class and increasing access to gender-affirming care, Bills 1 and 6 will give students and young people the support and security to be themselves in the classroom and throughout their lives. Bill 5 meanwhile will help school mental health professionals save money, and make it easier and more appealing to enter this critical profession. These bills are common sense steps that will help students across the state feel more comfortable and confident while they learn and grow.” Bill 5 is a bipartisan bill, also sponsored by Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, that would create the Licensed School Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program in the Department of Higher Education, and require the Commission on Higher Education to adopt program policies, review applications for loan repayment, and report annually on the program. Applicants must be licensed and have a masters or doctoral degree in a program that qualifies the applicant to be a mental health professional and must agree to work as a school mental health professional in Colorado for at least three consecutive academic years to qualify. Bill 6 directs the Department of Public Health and Environment to study the disparities and inadequacies in Colorado’s gender-affirming health care sector. The study will investigate the number of gender-affirming health care providers and facilities throughout the state, the availability of resources for these providers, the number of patients seeking this type of care, the prevalence and impact of non-prescribed treatments, and the availability of insurance coverage. The three bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2024 session, interim bills will follow the legislative process in the same manner as all other bills. Previous Next

< Back June 8, 2021 HOUSE STANDS UP FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS House passes bill to strengthen protections for agricultural workers DENVER, CO– The House today passed Representatives Karen McCormick and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to advance the basic rights of Colorado’s agricultural workers and modernize the agriculture industry. The bill passed by a vote of 40-24. “Colorado’s agriculture industry is a part of our western culture and the fabric of our state,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, a veterinarian. “This bill advances the human rights of agriculture workers in Colorado while helping to keep Colorado’s agriculture workforce competitive with other large agricultural producing states across the country that have already adopted similar standards. The workers in Colorado’s agriculture industry need the same protections and supports that the folks I employ in my clinic do, and today, we are taking a big step forward toward making that a reality.” “Workers who put food on our tables deserve the same protections and opportunities as others in Colorado, like being able to negotiate for better health and safety conditions and to earn a fair wage,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “This bill is a balanced approach that considers the varied producers that make up Colorado’s diverse agriculture industry and is a long overdue step forward that will improve conditions, keep Colorado agriculture competitive and protect these essential workers.” SB21-087 takes several steps to bring Colorado’s agricultural workers under the same labor standards that other workers in the state have and takes other steps to keep Colorado’s agriculture workforce competitive. Among other provisions, the bill would: allow workers to form and join unions to bargain for better pay and increased benefits, remove the exemption that allows certain workers to make less than the minimum wage, provide protections from retaliation and set more humane standards around break times and working in extreme weather conditions. Importantly the bill limits the continuous operation of physically demanding tools that lead to chronic health problems–tools that have been banned in other states for decades. The bill also ensures workers are provided transportation to critical services and access to healthcare providers while creating a pathway for aggrieved workers to seek remedies available to workers in other industries. Previous Next

< Back June 13, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO REFER CIGARETTE AND NICOTINE PRODUCTS TAX TO BALLOT DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB20-1427 by a vote of 40-25. Sponsored by Representatives Yadira Caraveo and Julie McCluskie, the bill refers to voters a ballot measure to increase cigarette, tobacco and nicotine products taxes, and to tax electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and nicotine liquids, in order to fund K-12 schools and boost early childhood education. “As a pediatrician, I’ve seen firsthand how youth nicotine use is devastating the health of our kids,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thornton. “The people of our state should have the opportunity to take meaningful action to reduce our highest-in the-nation youth vaping rates and invest in the future of our children. I’m grateful for the work of so many who came together to craft this proposal and send it to the people for approval.” “We need universal early childhood education so that every four year-old in Colorado can be ready for kindergarten and prepared to succeed,” said Rep. McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Referring this measure to the ballot is the responsible path forward to protect our kids from the dangers of vaping and provide our schools and early childhood education providers with the additional funding they so badly need.” In Colorado, over 5,000 people die each year from smoking related illnesses. More than 90,000 Colorado kids currently under 18 years old will die prematurely from smoking. Colorado has the nation’s highest rate of teen nicotine vaping, with over 27 percent of high school students using electronic nicotine vaping products. Research shows that for every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes, smoking rates among youth and kids drops by six or seven percent. HB20-1427 refers a ballot issue to voters for the November 2020 election. If passed, the ballot initiative would increase the per cigarette tax from one cent to nine cents by 2027. It would, for the first time, place a tax on nicotine products like e-cigarette and vaping nicotine liquids that would start at 10 percent and increase to 22 percent by 2027. At first, the revenue will be used to protect the state’s budget, but starting in 2023, the measure would raise nearly $190 million for early childhood education and nicotine products cessation programs. This funding would provide access to prekindergarten for at least 10 hours a week to every child in the state. It also provides additional preschool programming to lower-income families to promote school readiness. Children who participate in the Colorado Preschool Program are 26 percent less likely to have a significant reading deficiency in kindergarten, half as likely to be held back a grade level, and more than 10 percent more likely to graduate on time. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed legislation to grant funding to community-based organizations that provide crucial services to new immigrants. HB24-1280 passed by a vote of 8-3. < Back March 6, 2024 Legislation to Support New Immigrants Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed legislation to grant funding to community-based organizations that provide crucial services to new immigrants. HB24-1280 passed by a vote of 8-3. “Immigrants come to our country fleeing violence, economic despair, and life-threatening circumstances, and they can contribute a lot to Colorado’s economic growth if we give them the tools to integrate into our society,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Our legislation would create a grant program to help local communities provide a wide range of services, from English classes to job referrals. We must do what we can to support new immigrants as they settle in Colorado to maintain peaceful, safe, and healthy communities.” “We must respond to the needs of new immigrants in our communities to ensure Colorado remains a place of hope and good quality of life for so many,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Supporting new immigrants with referrals to housing and job opportunities helps them contribute to our communities, which they so desperately want to do. This bill will help set up newcomers for success so they can create the future that they came here to build.” HB24-1280 creates the Statewide Welcome, Reception, and Integration Grant Program to grant funds to community-based organizations that provide services and programs to new immigrants within their first year in the United States. Grant money can be used for: Conducting an intake and assessment of needs, Providing cultural orientation and case management Services or referrals to employment services, immigration legal assistance, housing-related services, transportation services, financial orientation, mental and physical health services, interpretation and translation services, and English as a second language courses, Distributing emergency and transitional supplies, and Assisting new immigrant parents to enroll their kids in public schools or summer programs. Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to better regulate social media and protect youth. < Back March 12, 2025 Bipartisan Bill to Protect Youth on Social Media Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to better regulate social media and protect youth. “Right now, it’s far too easy for youth to purchase illicit substances and illegal firearms on social media sites – we need to do more to protect our kids online,” said Rep. Andy Boesnecker, D-Fort Collins. “This bipartisan bill would require social media companies to ramp up their reporting methods and swiftly remove buyers and sellers who violate the companies’ illegal sales policy and state law. As a state, it’s important we step in when our children are being lured toward illegal drugs, firearms, or sex trafficking on unregulated marketplaces – this bill works to keep our kids and communities safe.” SB25-086 , also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, passed committee by vote of 11-2. This bill aims to protect youth by requiring social media companies to provide an annual report to the Attorney General’s Office with detailed data about their policies and enforcement, with specific reporting related to illegal activity occurring through their platforms including: Firearms sales in violation of state and federal law Sales of illicit substances Sex trafficking of minors Possession, display, sale, exchange, or creation of sexually exploitative material involving minors Social media companies also must report on how youth are using the platform and interacting with content related to these illegal activities. This bill also intends to speed up the timeline for social media companies to determine if a violation has occurred to 72 hours and 24 hours to remove a proven violator. This bill also aims to improve public safety by creating a hotline for Colorado law enforcement to follow up on warrants submitted to social media companies. This aims to speed up the legal process for Colorado law enforcement, so they can move forward with their cases faster. For example, Facebook has an explicit policy not allowing the sale of firearms or ammunition between private individuals, but buyers and sellers can violate that policy up to ten times before they’re removed from the site. Additionally, social media companies collectively generate nearly $11 billion in advertising revenue from users under 18 yet are often exposed to drugs, firearms, sex trafficking and sextortion of minors on these sites. Previous Next

< Back June 28, 2021 SIGNED! $75M FOR BROADBAND DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed legislation that will invest $75 million of federal stimulus funds to increase access to broadband in Colorado. “Broadband has never before been more important for commerce, education and daily life, but too many Coloradans don’t have high speed internet,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Today, we are making a historic investment to bring broadband to communities, businesses, schools and homes across Colorado. This funding will boost businesses, create jobs, grow our economy and connect more Coloradans to broadband.” HB21-1289 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Mark Baisley, R-Roxborough Park, codifies the Colorado Broadband Office to help coordinate the planning of broadband deployment throughout the state and creates different grant programs to support infrastructure development. It provides $75M to increase internet access across Colorado through the deployment of devices, and the development of middle and last mile infrastructure to support services that have become a necessity during the pandemic, like telehealth. The bill specifically includes $20M for broadband deployment by the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills to improve public transit and increase transportation options: SB25-161 to improve the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and SB25-030 to encourage alternative modes of transportation. < Back May 13, 2025 Legislation to Expand and Improve Public Transit Options Signed Into Law DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills to improve public transit and increase transportation options: SB25-161 to improve the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and SB25-030 to encourage alternative modes of transportation. SB25-161 , sponsored by Senators Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, and Representatives William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, and Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, would require RTD to adopt new policies to enhance services, boost ridership, and rebuild public trust in the transit system. “Colorado deserves a world-class public transit system that is convenient, safe, and reliable,” said Winter, sponsor of SB25-161 and SB25-030. “As Colorado grows, we must be intentional about growing sustainably, keeping services affordable, and making sure that Coloradans can access transit where they live and work. This new law will help unlock the potential of RTD to deliver fast, frequent, dependable public transportation.” “Coloradans deserve safe, affordable and reliable transportation options,” said Lindstedt, sponsor of SB25-161 and SB25-030. “Colorado’s population has dramatically grown in the past decade, especially in the Front Range, and we must take a strategic approach to build up transit that serves the needs of our communities. I’m proud to have sponsored these new laws that identify funding gaps, create important new accountability, and help improve mass transit ridership.” “Thousands of Coloradans rely on public transit every day to get to work and school, attend essential appointments, and see their loved ones,” said Jodeh, sponsor of SB25-161. “For many, unreliable service can mean losing a paycheck or even their job. This law is about restoring trust in our transit system and ensuring all Coloradans, including my constituents in Aurora, get the safe, efficient transit they need.” “Transit is a key piece of the puzzle that can help Colorado meet our housing and climate goals, and reliable transit saves Coloradans money,” said Froelich, sponsor of SB25-161 and SB25-030. “Colorado Democrats have made major strides to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions and provide quality transit systems. These laws will help ease traffic by increasing ridership, reliability, and safety on mass transit so we can get more single-occupancy vehicles off the roads and safely get Coloradans where they need to go.” SB25-161 will require RTD to develop an ambitious 10-year strategic plan to expand and improve transit in the Front Range, aligning its goals with state climate goals and enhancing partnerships with local governments. The new law will improve transparency and accountability by creating public dashboards for riders to access information on transit performance, safety, and reliability. Finally, the law will establish an RTD Accountability Committee with fourteen voting members and one ex-officio nonvoting member to evaluate RTD’s governance structure, local and state agency representation, workforce retention, paratransit services, and opportunities for transit expansion, as well as make recommendations to the General Assembly. Governor Polis also signed SB25-030 into law, also sponsored by Froelich, Lindstedt, and Winter, in addition to Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. SB25-030 will increase transportation options, making sustainable transportation more accessible, convenient, and reliable. This law will allow the Colorado Department of Transportation and local governments to more efficiently identify gaps in transit, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure in state and regional transportation systems. “This law is a practical, long-term solution to a host of different issues – from traffic congestion to climate change,” said Hinrichsen, sponsor of SB25-030. “We all love shorter commute times and more options to get to school, work, and community spaces. Senate Bill 30 will help give us a clear, practical path to make sure the state’s transit agencies are partners in achieving that goal.” Previous Next

The Defending Against DOGE Act sets aside $4 million to Musk-proof Colorado from federal actions that threaten our Colorado way of life < Back April 15, 2025 House Advances Bill to Protect Colorado Taxpayers DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to protect Colorado taxpayers and critical state services from funding freezes and federal actions that threaten the Colorado way of life. The Colorado Defense Fund comes in the wake of recent adverse action by the Trump administration, including federal funding freezes, disruptions to essential services, and mass lay-offs. “This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans; it’s about standing up for Colorado and protecting our taxpayers from federal actions that threaten health care, early childhood education, water infrastructure and public safety,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Coloradans pay more in federal taxes than we receive back in federal funding. We deserve to have our federal dollars working for us in Colorado – not frozen by unelected billionaires in Washington.” “We’re taking steps now to protect our state so Coloradans can receive the federal programming and services they rely on and pay for,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster . “When the federal government freezes funding, Colorado taxpayers do not see that return on their investment. Federal funding helps fix our roads and improve access to rural health care, and Colorado needs the federal government to uphold its end of the agreement. This bill fights back against federal overreach and puts Coloradans first.” The Colorado Defense Fund ( HB25-1321 ) would set aside $4 million to protect our state’s interests from federal efforts to freeze funding, halt contracts, or otherwise disrupt essential services for Coloradans. Coloradans pay more in federal taxes than our state receives back in federal funding, making federal funding freezes even more painful for our taxpayers. The legislation stands up for Colorado, protects Colorado taxpayers’ return on investment, and minimizes the impact of volatile federal actions on our economy and the Colorado way of life. Under the bill, the governor could use funds to respond to federal action. This includes working to mitigate the impacts of disruptions in federal funding and responding to legal proceedings, inquiries, hearings and investigations initiated or threatened by the federal government. These funds could also be used to defend or protect state officers and employees acting in their official role. In January, the Trump administration, through the recommendation of Elon Musk’s DOGE, froze more than $570 million in federal funding to Colorado. In response, Colorado joined a 22-state lawsuit to restore federal funding. While most of the funding has been restored through a federal judge, more than $69 million in public safety grants are still being withheld by the federal government. Colorado’s ability to deliver on essential government services relies on $13.9 billion in federal funding. Sweeping federal action has caused uncertainty and disruption for Colorado. For example, the federal government recently revoked more than $250 million in federal public and behavioral health care funding and $25.6 million already allocated to address drought in the Colorado River Basin has been paused. Previous Next

The House today passed two bills to protect Colorado’s public lands < Back April 30, 2025 Bills to Protect Colorado’s Public Lands Pass House DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills to protect Colorado’s public lands. HB25-1332 would improve conservation and stewardship of public lands. HB25-1292 would preserve habitats by reducing the environmental impact of essential infrastructure. "Expanding our electric transmission infrastructure is one of the most important actions to successfully transition to a clean and vibrant carbon-neutral economy,” said Rep. Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of HB25-1292. “This bill makes sure that Colorado can meet the need for new and upgraded electric transmission lines while protecting habitats and wildlife.” “Colorado’s clean energy future depends on modern, efficient infrastructure,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB25-1292. “This bill helps streamline the placement of high-voltage transmission lines within the right-of-way for state highways. This will accelerate project timelines while reducing disruption to communities and the environment. By establishing a clear and responsible permitting process, we’re supporting a safer, more sustainable transition to clean energy.” HB25-1292 passed the House by a vote of 45-20. This bill would streamline and codify the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) processes for transmission developers that are considering installing and maintaining essential high-voltage transmission lines (powerlines) along state highways. HB25-1292 aims to create a sustainable pathway for installing and maintaining this essential infrastructure that reduces environmental impact. Co-locating transmission lines along highways can significantly reduce impacts on wildlife and habitat compared to building new lines through greenfield areas When a transmission developer and CDOT pursue the placement of transmission along a state highway right-of-way, the developer would be responsible for outlining mitigation strategies for impacted communities, habitats and wildlife. It is estimated that Colorado needs more than $4 billion of additional transmission investment to meet demand and reach our state’s climate goals. “From recreation to agriculture, our public trust lands play a major role in Colorado’s economy, climate resiliency and habitat conservation,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of HB25-1332. “This bill would help uncover new opportunities for stronger stewardship of our public trust lands while continuing to financially support our schools through long-term funding.” HB25-1332 passed the House by a vote of 43-22. Currently, the Colorado State Land Board (SLB) oversees most of Colorado’s trust lands, including state parks. This bill would establish a formal working group process to identify opportunities to improve and enhance conservation, agricultural operations, and outdoor recreation on state trust lands. There are more than 2.8 million surface acres and 4 million subsurface acres, such as lakes, caves and rivers, overseen by the Colorado SLB. Next year is the 150th anniversary of Colorado and the SLB. This bill aims to uncover challenges and opportunities to advance conservation, agricultural leasing programs, wildlife habitat, climate resiliency and low-conflict recreation. HB25-1332 requires the working group to include participation from Colorado’s Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Tribes, rural schools, and renewable energy organizations, among others. Previous Next