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< Back June 11, 2020 HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES BILL BANNING GAY AND TRANS PANIC LEGAL DEFENSE DENVER, CO– The House Committee of Public Health and Human Services today passed Representatives Brianna Titone and Matt Soper’s bipartisan bill to ban the use of the gay and transgender “panic” defense. The bill passed 12-0. “This is an antiquated and cruel legal defense strategy that should have been abolished a long time ago, “ said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada . “The LGBTQ community deserves our support, not our suspicion. As long as we allow biased defenses like this to continue, trans people and the broader LGBTQ population will never truly feel safe, especially black trans women. I’m proud of the work that we did this year to revive this legislation and am proud to see it move forward today.” The gay and trans panic defense is a legal tactic that has been used to strengthen a legal defense by playing on the prejudice of jurors. SB20-221 states that evidence about a defendant’s knowledge or discovery of a victim’s gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation cannot be asserted as a legal defense constituting ‘sudden heat of passion’ in a criminal case. If this bill is signed into law, Colorado would join California, Hawaii, Nevada, Illinois, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington as states that have banned the gay and trans panic defense strategy. In 2018, Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and House Representative Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA) introduced legislation to ban the gay and trans panic defense at the federal level. According to the FBI’s 2018 hate crime statistics , 1,404 hate crimes perpetrated in 2018 were based on sexual orientation. Of these offenses, 59.8 percent were classified as anti-gay male and 25 percent were classified as anti-LGBTQ bias. According to this FBI data , in Colorado in 2018, there were 123 hate crimes reported and of those 24 were related to sexual orientation and three of them were related to gender identity. Previous Next

DENVER, CO - On August 7, three laws to reduce the cost of housing, protect homeowners’ access to insurance plans, and improve local governments’ ability to hold short-term rentals to local rules and regulations will go into effect. < Back August 7, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Laws to Save Coloradans Money on Housing, Improve Wildfire Insurance Coverage Take Effect DENVER, CO - On August 7, three laws to reduce the cost of housing, protect homeowners’ access to insurance plans, and improve local governments’ ability to hold short-term rentals to local rules and regulations will go into effect. “The lack of housing in Colorado is driving up home prices and rental rates while also negatively impacting our environment,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, sponsor of HB23-1255 . “By eliminating arbitrary local growth caps, communities will be able to strategically build housing that better accommodates our needs while also reducing our reliance on car travel, which will improve our air quality.” "Colorado needs more housing," said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, sponsor of HB23-1255. "Eliminating arbitrary growth caps will increase supply and allow more Coloradans to remain in the communities they currently live and work in. I’m proud to champion policy that will help communities keep up with ongoing growth, ease displacement, and help us meet our housing needs." “Arbitrary growth caps shift the burden of keeping up with housing demand on neighboring, and often lower-income, communities,” said Rep. Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial, sponsor of HB23-1255 . “Housing affordability is one of the biggest concerns for Coloradans. With our new law going into effect soon, we can tackle our housing shortage together while reducing commute times and air pollution.” Beginning August 7, local governments are prohibited from enacting and enforcing housing growth restrictions that limit housing development to a certain number of building permits or approvals without a transparent process and fair consideration of a proposal’s merits. Under HB23-1255 , local governments are not required to accept any specific developments or projects, but they can’t reject a proposal simply due to an arbitrary growth cap. “The increasing threat of wildfires has left many homeowners with less insurance coverage than they need, but with our new law, home owners will have more options for additional coverage they can afford,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB23-1174 . “Coloradans will be able to purchase a plan that provides the peace of mind that their home is appropriately insured in the event of a wildfire disaster.” “Homeowners in my community have faced devastating and costly damage from wildfires that can feel impossible to build back from,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of HB23-1174. “With our new law going into effect soon, Colorado homeowners will be able to purchase coverage that meets their needs and protects them from future wildfire damage.” Starting August 7, HB23-1174 , also sponsored by Republican Senator Mark Baisley, requires home insurance companies to offer a variety of extended coverages to protect consumers, covering the cost of repair or replacement for a damaged or destroyed structure. If a homeowner wants additional coverage, the insurer must offer coverage for extended replacement, law and ordinance, and inflation protection. It also extends the length of time in which an insurer would have to notify a homeowner of a cancellation or refusal to renew a homeowner’s policy from 30 days to 60 days. Representative Judy Amabile passed similar legislation in the 2022 Legislative Session in response to the Marshall Fire that destroyed over 1,000 homes in Boulder County. The law ensured that homeowners received fair compensation for the loss of their property and streamlined the insurance claims process for underinsured disaster victims. “These two new bipartisan laws that take effect today are the next step forward in our continued and multi-faceted commitment to addressing the housing crisis in Colorado,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, sponsor of HB23-1174 and HB23-1287. “The bolstered insurance protections offered by HB 1174 will help protect vulnerable Coloradans and allow people to insure their homes, businesses, and property against potential disasters like wildfires. And with HB23-1287, we’re strengthening protections for local residents in rural resort communities to help curb the unintended impacts of short-term rentals on our communities.” “Short-term rentals offer important benefits to our mountain communities and support tourism, but it’s clear they have impacts on the liveability of our towns,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB23-1287. “By strengthening transparency and compliance with local regulations of short-term rentals, we can live in neighborhoods that work better for everyone.” “Rural resort communities know firsthand the impact that short-term rentals have had on our neighborhoods and our housing market,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, sponsor of HB23-1287. “With the implementation of our new law, local governments will now be able to effectively regulate short-term rentals to protect owners, renters, and community members if a short-term rental violates local rules and regulations.” A board of county commissioners already has the authority to regulate units that are rented or used for short-term stays. HB23-1287 clarifies the definition of a short-term rental and provides counties with the authority to work with digital platforms to accurately list compliant short-term rentals. Beginning August 7, HB23-1287 gives counties the ability to require an owner of a property, or the owner’s agent, to include a rental license or permit in any listing for a short-term rental unit on a digital platform. If a county has regulations on short-term rentals, the county will be able to require a digital platform to remove any rental listing if the owner of the listing: Has their local short-term rental license or permit suspended or revoked, Has received a notice violation, or a similar legal process, for not holding a valid local short-term rental license or permit, or Is not allowed to list their unit as a short-term rental due to county rules. Previous Next

The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to boost public safety by streamlining the process for properly trained armed forces members to become peace officers. < Back February 6, 2024 Bill to Boost Public Safety Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to boost public safety by streamlining the process for properly trained armed forces members to become peace officers. HB24-1093 passed by a vote of 10 to 1. “Peace officers in the armed forces are well-trained professionals, and this bill streamlines the process for these individuals to become public peace officers,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista . “Peace officers play an important role in public safety and this bipartisan legislation removes barriers for qualified members of the armed forces to become peace officers in our state. We’re taking steps to improve public safety around Colorado, and this bill makes it easier for qualified peace officers to begin protecting our neighborhoods and livelihoods.” HB24-1093 , also sponsored by Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, would streamline the process for qualified members of the armed forces to become peace officers in Colorado. Under current law, the Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Board has the authority to grant a provisional peace officer certification to individuals that were authorized as peace officers in a federal jurisdiction, excluding the armed forces. This bill removes the armed forces exclusion so that peace officers in the armed forces can become public peace officers in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back April 16, 2019 MCLACHLAN’S BIPARTISAN BILL ON FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN PASSES FINAL HOUSE TEST Bipartisan vote of 53-11 (Apr. 16) – A bipartisan bill by Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Rep Jim Wilson, R-Salida, to fund full-day kindergarten for Colorado’s youngest learners was approved by the House today. The state budget proposes funding full-day kindergarten in a responsible, sustainable manner. “We have the tools to set our kids up for success－the kids who live in every corner of our state,” said Rep. McLachlan, chair of the House Education committee. “As a former teacher, I can definitively say that early childhood education is a necessity to set our kids up for the future. Full-day Kindergarten is an investment that will reap profound benefits for the hardworking families of our state for many years to come.” Many young students lack access to full-day kindergarten, despite research showing they will benefit significantly from this learning experience. While a large number of Colorado schools have increased access to full day kindergarten over time despite inadequate funding, there are still 14,000 children without access to this important educational resource. Those who lack access often face some of the steepest obstacles to affording the tuition that is charged in many districts or live in communities that cannot afford to cut resources from other parts of the K-12 budget to offer a free full-day experience. Increased state funding would help open doors to a research-proven strategy to improve children’s academic and life success. An added benefit of funding full-day kindergarten is the complementary freeing up of more than 5,000 Early Childhood At-Risk Enhancement (ECARE) slots in the Colorado Preschool Program for young learners. HB19-1262 was approved on a bipartisan vote of 53-11 and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back Rep McLachlan: ‘When we take the “I” out of legislating, using “we” instead, we proved we can get a lot done’ May 28, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Durango Herald. You can view the story here . We accomplished a lot this year – our bipartisan success happened because we communicated, compromised and collectively decided how to best address our problems. Affordable and attainable housing, one of Colorado’s most urgent issues, made headway. We ran several bills protecting our existing supply of homes, while also protecting renters. We asked some local governments to allow granny flats on personal property. We addressed urban density issues: One bill encourages local governments to build housing near transit centers so people can easily get to work. Another limited the number of parking spots each building needs, leaving room for more housing. The long-awaited property tax bill passed with little trouble, with both Republican and Democrat prime sponsors. It caps future spikes, and cuts rates for both commercial and residential properties. Some sponsors demanded the tax cuts could not affect schools, and others required Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds could not be touched. Both sides got their way. Our public schools did very well this year. One bill paid off the budget stabilization factor, raising the per-pupil dollars and giving a one-time stipend to rural schools. The best news is that it ended reliance on an antiquated and outdated 30-year formula; the second bill created a new formula. This time, money goes to identified student populations, such as English language learners, and low income, special education and rural students. Colorado will pay districts a base salary, then add to it according to the student population, not according to the district itself. Rural schools will now be getting extra funding on top of that, every year, meaning we will be able to hire more teachers and pay them better. Rural schools have been left out of the budget process for 30 years; we are now finally fully involved. In other education news, some low-income families will get free college tuition for two years of school, giving students the boost they need to pursue careers and future education. We did a lot for water in our state, funding dozens of conservation and storage projects, banning nonessential public turf to save both money and water and passing a huge bill addressing the U.S. Supreme Court ruling removing protection for some Colorado waters. We created a permitting program for the dredge and fill activities impacting those waters. And, we referred a ballot measure allowing revenue from sports betting above the $29 million cap to be used for the Colorado Water Project. You will vote on that. Another bill passed that will cut child poverty in half by offering refundable tax credits to low-income families with children under 5. This helps take care of our youngest residents, giving their parents the breathing room to work full time. Environmental advocates joined forces with the oil and gas industry advocates to address air quality and safety; it is the first time in many years both sides sat down together to make decisions for our future. We voted yes. Transportation was a popular topic this session, and commuter rail along the front range and into some mountain areas drew interest. Getting people off the roads will be efficient and clean. Bipartisan work was key to our success. We didn’t always agree, but we tried to compromise as often as possible. When we take the “I” out of legislating, using “we” instead, we proved we can get a lot done. Not everyone joined in, and not everyone was happy, but we are headed in the right direction. I am proud of our success. We did it. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, is serving her fourth and last term in the Legislature, representing House District 59. Previous Next

The Colorado House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to ensure children featured in online content can access the money they earned once they reach adulthood. < Back January 28, 2026 Lukens’ Bipartisan Bill to Protect the Financial Security of ‘Kidfluencers’ Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The Colorado House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to ensure children featured in online content can access the money they earned once they reach adulthood. HB26-1058 passed committee unanimously. “In a digital age, we need to be doing more to prioritize the safety and financial security of children featured in online content,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This bipartisan bill steps up to protect ‘kidfluencers’ by requiring parents to establish a trust for their child when videos earn thousands of dollars. It also provides the right to remove online content once a child reaches adulthood. I’m proud to carry this forward-thinking bill that helps protect the privacy and personal dignity of Coloradans with online content." HB26-1058 , also sponsored by Rep. Scott Slaugh, R-Berthoud, would establish new protections and requirements for children featured in online content, also known as ‘kidfluencers’. To ensure children are paid for their work, parents would be required to establish a trust for their child if the child earns at least $15,000 a year from online content. In addition, the child must be featured in 30-percent or more of monetized content, and the content must earn at least $0.10 per view. This bill would also allow children featured in monetized online content to request that the videos, pictures or other content be removed from the internet when they reach adulthood. HB26-1058 would prohibit the sexualization of children for financial gain and establish avenues for children to pursue civil action if they are featured in sexualized content. To further stop the sexualization of children, the bill also requires social media platforms to develop and implement strategies that keep children safe. Similar laws to protect child actors are already in place. Established in the late 1930s, California’s Coogan Law requires the earnings of child performers be placed in a protected trust. If HB26-1058 is signed into law, Colorado would join Illinois, California, Minnesota and Utah in enacting ‘kidfluencer’ protections. Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2022 SIGNED! BILL TO INVITE COLORADO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADDRESS GENERAL ASSEMBLY DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis signed a bill today that invites Tribal governments from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe to address a joint session of the Colorado general assembly on an annual basis. “Representation matters and this law makes space for leaders of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe to share their priorities and voices in the Colorado general assembly,” said Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Colorado is the home to generations of native Ute people, many of whom led and represented the people long before the legislature we know today existed. This law expands our state’s governmental inclusion and equity to ensure we’re listening to and representing all Coloradans.” SB22-105 , sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan and Senator Kerry Donovan, invites representatives from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe to give an address to a joint session of the general assembly on an annual basis. This important law makes space for the Tribal governments of Colorado to share their priorities and voices with the general assembly. Previous Next

< Back Rep Joseph: Air Force proposal threatens Colorado’s workforce pipeline Jun 6, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Daily Camera here . Transferring Air National Guard (ANG) space missions from the state level to the U.S. Space Force (USSF) threatens Colorado’s civilian aerospace and defense industry and jeopardizes our state’s security and path to prosperity. In March, the Secretary of the Air Force sent a Legislative Proposal — titled Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) — to the Hill for consideration by Congress. LP 480 mandates Congress to strip space units out of the Air National Guard and force them into the U.S. Space Force. Colorado’s National Guard, with its unique and significant space unit footprint, plays a crucial role in our state’s aerospace and defense industry. This role, which is under threat from LP 480, is not just a part of our industry, but a key aspect that if lost could hinder the growth of aerospace companies in Colorado and eliminate the community-based social mobility ladder that ANG space units represent. The Guard has a unique dual mission, with both federal and state responsibilities. During peacetime, the governor commands Guard forces through a state adjutant general and during wartime the Guard is commanded by the President through the Department of Defense. The governor can request Guard action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, drought and civil disturbances. As such, LP 480 will affect everything from national security, to capability in space, to governor’s and state’s rights. The ANG makes up 30% of the nation’s space capability and has been conducting space operations for over 27 years. To perform these missions, ANG space personnel receive the same training, security clearances and certifications as their active-duty Air Force (and Space Force) counterparts. ANG space operators, who have a unique skill set, often hold full-time jobs in the civilian sector as their primary employment and work part-time within the National Guard. They can convert their training, skills, clearances and certifications into jobs in the civilian aerospace sectors of their local communities. The average Colorado ANG space operator has 10 years of space experience and over 60% work in civilian aerospace and STEM full-time. This interplay between military space experience and the civilian aerospace sector is a testament to their exceptional capabilities and a win-win-win for our nation. Space operators in the ANG also bring the skills they gain and develop in the civilian sector to their military duties and, by extension, the war fight. American civilian aerospace and defense companies are on the cutting edge of space capabilities. The technologies and strategies they develop today are the capabilities of our nation’s military tomorrow. ANG space operators working for companies like Lockheed, Raytheon and Northrup Grumman don’t have to wait until tomorrow to learn these systems second-hand. These individual service members get the best of both worlds. ANG space operators come from every community, socioeconomic class and background. With the only requirements for service being a certain Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score, medical readiness, a high school diploma and a relatively clean criminal background, the ANG represents an unparalleled development pipeline. The ANG takes young Coloradans straight out of high school and, with a six-year contract, provides them the resources and training to become educated, gain leadership experience, obtain a security clearance and purchase a home. This inclusivity and accessibility is a testament to the ANG’s commitment to our people. The ANG in Colorado offers every Coloradan a pathway toward prosperity and a high-paying job. As a state and nation, our people are our greatest asset. The community-based ANG model of space operations is an investment in our people that pays off multiple times over. At a time when military recruitment is struggling, the aerospace and defense industry is facing overwhelming vacancies, and income inequality is growing, why would we cut out a process that addresses all three? In doing so, we risk not just losing a process, but also the opportunities it provides to Coloradans. ongress must vote “no” on Legislative Proposal 480 to protect our aerospace and defense industry, preserve the industry’s career development pipeline, and ultimately safeguard our national security. These threats to our state cannot be taken lightly, and it is our duty to prevent them. Representatives Junie Joseph and Ryan Armagost are the co-chairs of the Aerospace & Defense Caucus. Previous Next

Legislation raises Colorado’s EITC federal match by 25 percent < Back November 21, 2023 Signed! Bill to Boost Colorado’s Earned Income Tax Credit Legislation raises Colorado’s EITC federal match by 25 percent DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Representatives Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Mary Young, D-Greeley, that puts more money back into the pockets of hardworking Coloradans by increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for tax year 2023. HB23B-1002 expands the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for tax year 2023 to one of the highest state matches in the country. With the current state EITC at 25 percent, the average tax credit is $521. By increasing the EITC, families will see hundreds of additional dollars back in their wallets next year. “During this special session, we were able to deliver critical assistance to the Coloradans that need it most,” said Kolker. “This targeted relief refunds $182 million in a more equitable way. I’m proud of our work to successfully double the Earned Income Tax Credit, which will ultimately help lower-income, working families put food on the table, pay rent, and take care of their essentials.” “The Earned Income Tax Credit helps hardworking families that are the most at-risk for housing insecurity and poverty due to the rising cost of living in Colorado,” said Willford. “Boosting this credit will put more money back into the pockets of the people who need it most right now, who are disproportionately people of color, women, and people with a disability. Our legislation will bolster the economic security of the Coloradans feeling the brunt of our affordability crisis and make it easier for all Coloradans to call our state home.” “Studies have shown us time and again that the Earned Income Tax Credit especially helps communities of color and renters – much like the communities I represent,” Fields said. “In my district alone, there are over 15,000 low-income, hardworking Coloradans who benefit from this credit – and I’m glad that we are able to deliver this relief in time for tax season.” “This bill will boost the incomes of over 400,000 hardworking Colorado families, making it easier for them to afford rent, groceries, childcare, and other costs,” said Young. “Getting $182.5 million out to hardworking Coloradans will help grow our economy, support local business owners and enable more Coloradans to afford to live in Colorado.” The bill builds on legislation passed by Colorado Democrats in recent years to make Colorado more affordable for working-class families. The General Assembly passed HB20-1420 and HB21-1311 , which more than doubled the state's EITC and funded the Child Tax Credit for the first time in Colorado, saving hundreds of thousands of Colorado families money. Additionally, Colorado Democrats passed HB23-1112 last session to increase the Colorado EITC from 25 percent to 38 percent of the federal EITC for tax year 2024. The bill’s demographic note showed that EITC recipients were more likely to be women, people of color, and people living with disabilities. Previous Next

< Back June 25, 2020 AURORA HOUSE DEMOCRATS REACT TO ELIJAH MCCLAIN SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCEMENT DENVER, CO — Members of the House Aurora Delegation today released the following statement after Governor Polis announced he would direct Attorney General Phil Weiser to act as Special Prosecutor in an investigation into the death of Elijah McClain at the hands of Aurora Police officers: “The death of Elijah McClain at the hands of police is a tragedy, and far too many questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered. We’re heartened and grateful to see Governor Polis exercising his authority to appoint Attorney General Phil Weiser to conduct an investigation. High profile tragedies like this one shed light on the larger, systemic issues of police brutality that the legislature began to address this year by passing SB20-217. It is vitally important – for the McClain family, the Aurora community, and everyone in our state – that law enforcement responses resulting in death or potentially involving excessive use of force are investigated fully and fairly. We are confident that Attorney General Weiser will undertake a rigorous inquiry and are hopeful that the process will provide transparency and justice for the family of Elijah McClain.” The House Aurora Delegation includes Representatives Dominique Jackson, Mike Weissman, Janet Buckner, Jovan Melton, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet. Previous Next

< Back February 20, 2020 LEGISLATION TO COMBAT OPIOID CRISIS PASSES HEALTH AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE Legislation bolsters prevention efforts and would help reduce the rate of opioid deaths. DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Health and Insurance today advanced two bills that will help prevent more Coloradans from developing an opioid use disorder and reduce the rate of opioid overdose deaths. “We can lower the rate of opioid overdose deaths, slow the spread of communicable diseases and prevent more Coloradans from developing a substance use disorder, but we have to adopt best practices for prevention and provide better access to alternative pain therapies,” said Rep. Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “These bills will help keep Coloradans from developing a substance misuse disorder or dying of an overdose,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “Across our state, communities are being devastated by substance misuse disorder, and we need to act now to turn the tide in this deadly crisis. These bills will improve prevention efforts and help keep more Coloradans alive.” HB20-1085 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Leslie Herod focuses on prevention efforts. The bill would encourage best practices to prevent opioid misuse, increase access to alternatives to opioids for pain relief, expand continuing education for opioid prescribers and support the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to work with community partners such as local public health agencies in a variety of prevention efforts. It would also establish screening and brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) as a health care standard. Furthermore, it requires health plans to cover a minimum number of physical therapy, occupational therapy and acupuncture visits per year as alternative pain treatment and would require insurance companies to make opioid alternatives available at the lowest cost-sharing tier applicable. HB20-1085 passed the committee 10-0. HB20-1065 , which is also sponsored by Representatives Kennedy and Herod, aims to lower the rate of opioid overdoses and related deaths and better prevent the spread of communicable diseases that can be associated with the injection of illicit opioids. It would protect people who act in good faith to respond to overdoses by administering an opiate antagonist, such as naloxone, that has expired. The bill would also require insurance plans to reimburse hospitals that provide opiate antagonists to counteract overdoses that often occur upon discharge. To help prevent communicable diseases, the bill would allow pharmacists to provide clean syringes and removes a regulatory barrier to operating syringe exchange programs. HB20-1065 passed the committee 6-4. Opioid use disorder is impacting communities across Colorado. The state recorded 543 opioid overdose deaths in 2018. Data tracking the number of pills dispensed per person shows that some Colorado counties have rates that are higher or at the same level as some of the hardest-hit states, such as West Virginia and Kentucky. A 2018 estimate from the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that the opioid epidemic has cost the US $2.5 trillion from 2015 to 2018. Previous Next