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< Back Majority Leader Esgar: Celebrate Pueblo Pride - but don’t forget the work yet to come Aug 25, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in the Pueblo Star Journal. Happy Pueblo Pride! It’s time for another year of celebration for the LGBTQ community here in Pueblo. We take time every August to celebrate the achievements we’ve made as a community and to remember the work we still have ahead of us. As an integral part of Pueblo, the LGBTQ community’s presence has grown over the past two decades and our voices are louder than ever. We’ve worked hard to achieve all that we have, but we haven’t done it alone. I’m also so proud to say that Pueblo is home to many allies – allies who continue to show up year after year. In the early 2000s, I was working as a barista at Wireworks coffee house when a small but proud group of folks attended a modest gathering of solidarity and called it Pueblo Pride. Fast forward to this year, when the festival encompassed the majority of Mineral Palace Park with close to 100 vendors, a day full of entertainment, and thousands of folks attending. The event has grown every year thanks to the all-volunteer board of the Southern Colorado Equality Alliance, southern Colorado’s LGBTQ advocacy organization. I was proud to join the SCEA board shortly after coming out in the mid 2000s. It was a way to connect with our community and begin the work I have made the focus of my life. While serving on the board, we re-started the LGBTQ youth group OutFront and grew the Pride event. OutFront was necessary because at the time there were no gay-straight alliances in a Pueblo high school. OutFront continues to exist today and I’m incredibly proud of our youth in this town. Many GSAs have started in our local high schools since. Pueblo PULP was a monthly independent newspaper full of local articles written by an amazing group of people who cared about this town. I was humbled when I was asked to write a monthly column called Inside Out to be sure our LGBTQ voices could be heard. Through this medium, I was afforded the privilege to share my experiences from the LGBTQ community with anyone who wanted to read about them. The column helped folks understand that we are here, in many different parts of the community, and we deserve to be treated as equals. Before marriage equality was being debated at the state level or became the law of the land in the United States, in Pueblo I helped lead one of the first campaigns to help city employees achieve same-gender domestic partner benefits for health care coverage. A group of LGBTQ folks and our straight allies fought City Council and won this benefit for our city employees. We even managed to stop a petition designed to take away our victory. In 2013, when civil unions passed at the state level, our local county commissioners and county clerk helped the SCEA organize a mass ceremony for those seeking that right. Bo Ortiz was one of the first county clerks to offer marriage certificates to couples in Colorado before the Colorado Supreme Court cleared the way for full marriage equality in our state in 2014. Pueblo has a history of acceptance and allyship for our LGBTQ community, but we also have a strong history of pride and perseverance when it comes to the rights we’ve had to fight so hard for. When we take a moment to celebrate those wins at the annual Pride event, it’s well deserved, but we must also continue the work we’ve done as a queer community and the allies who love us. Our transgender family is attacked, even murdered, in this country and is fighting every day for the rights they deserve. And with the fall of Roe vs. Wade, we know, because Justice Clarence Thomas wrote so, that the Supreme Court is looking to end marriage equality next. We can’t afford to sit back and rest. Our allies will continue to be called on to help us keep the rights we all deserve. State Representative Daneya Esgar is the Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives. She is wrapping up her fourth and final term serving Pueblo County as the Representative for House District 46. Born and raised in Pueblo, Esgar is the proud granddaughter of steelworkers, a product of Pueblo City Schools, and a graduate of Colorado State University Pueblo. She lives in Pueblo with her wife, Heather, daughter, Marlo, and their two dogs, Bella and Huck. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Story: Colorado’s broadband funding can be a boon for jobs May 29, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Gazette here . Colorado is slated to receive $826.5 million in federal funding through President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, and this year released another $113 million from the state’s Capital Projects Fund, all to expand broadband access across the state. In addition to closing Colorado’s digital divide, this historic funding has the potential to create thousands of jobs in the process — but only if we hold the companies deploying it accountable to Colorado taxpayers. State legislators recently had the opportunity to put parameters around this nearly $1 billion broadband expansion that would have ensured the creation of long-term, good paying jobs, and promoted a safe build-out and a quality network. Despite sailing through both House committees, passing on the House floor, and passing in the Senate Business Affairs & Labor committee, the bill was purposefully held up on the Senate Appropriations calendar. Now, it’s up to Colorado’s Broadband Office to make sure those guardrails are established and that this historic funding creates good paying jobs in Colorado, while prioritizing a well-trained local workforce that will deploy broadband equitably and safely. Passing HB24-1245 would have been a guarantee to Coloradans everywhere that the state’s upgraded and expanded broadband infrastructure would last for generations to come. This bill would have ensured networks were built responsibly and sustainably by workers making family-sustaining wages and benefits. Across the country, we see internet companies cutting corners and jobs in the industry getting worse. Companies are outsourcing an increasing share of broadband deployment work to contractors, who are often, undertrained and unfamiliar with local infrastructure. When contractors are paid by the job, they often speed through the work, cutting corners and putting safety and quality at risk. While the companies might save a buck, it is our local governments and residents who pay the price: millions in repairs to infrastructure and private property damaged by contractors’ shoddy work, or even dangerous accidents that put residents and local businesses at risk. The bill would have required that the companies that receive public dollars to build broadband pay their workers a family-sustaining wage, also known as prevailing wage, which studies show promotes productivity, reduces injury rates, and helps address the shortage of skilled labor. While legislators failed to pass this law, the state’s broadband office has the power to hold ISPs to this higher standard. It’s crucial they do this now to ensure the money goes into Colorado’s economy, instead of to low-road contractors. Nearly a billion dollars are at stake, and Coloradans deserve a high quality network and high quality jobs, of which thousands will be needed for this massive investment to be fully realized in the years to come. Colorado’s Broadband Office can ensure a higher standard by collecting and publishing workforce plan information; prioritizing applicants that commit to using a directly hired, local workforce; and looking for applicants with robust in-house training programs. The Communications Workers of America, which boasts 3,552 members across Colorado, has made significant investments in its workforce development and apprenticeship programs to help meet this need. If we want to develop the workforce that will be needed to build and maintain these networks, we need to make sure these jobs are good jobs. Colorado has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capitalize on this opportunity for jobs and to build a quality high-speed network that will last, but only by choosing to work with ISPs that invest in good jobs and a sustainable workforce. The stability created in communities by long-term, good-paying career-oriented jobs pays dividends in local economic growth. We cannot risk this historic opportunity to close our country’s digital divide with haphazard build outs by underpaid contractors who lack the training and experience needed to build a quality product. Statewide connectivity and good-paying jobs are things all Coloradans should be able to get behind, and that’s why it’s critical that the Colorado Broadband Office follow through. Sandra Parker is a lobbyist, organizer, and activist for the Communications Workers of America. She has been a union member and activist for 25 years. She is married and lives in Aurora. Rep. Tammy Story moved to Colorado in 1987 with her husband, Mike. For four years, she was a member and leader with the Jeffco Associations Legislative Forum, which is dedicated to discussions concerning education legislation with various stakeholders. Previous Next

< Back Shannon Bird Rep. Bird represents House District 29, which includes both the Adams County and Jefferson County portions of the city of Westmister. Originally elected in November of 2018, she is now serving in her fourth term in the General Assembly. Representative Bird has previously served as a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the Appropriations Committee, the Chair of the House Finance Committee, the Business Affairs & Labor Committee, the Pension Commission, the Pension Review Subcommittee and the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy. Growing and maintaining a strong state economy, housing affordability and high quality public education are Representative Bird’s three policy priorities. A few examples of her work in these areas include legislation that doubled the state’s annual tax credit for affordable housing, Colorado’s Occupational Credential Portability Program, which allows licensed professionals moving to Colorado to have an easier time transferring their licenses so that they can begin working sooner and the Small Business Recovery Loan Program, which established a $50 million low interest rate loan fund for Colorado small businesses recovering from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic recession. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a B.A. in Economics. She later graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver, earning both an MBA and an MS in Finance. Representative Bird completed her education by earning a J.D. at the University of Denver College of Law. Representative Bird has served her community in numerous ways. She was the citizen chairperson for her school district’s bond and mill levy override campaign; served as board chair of the Five Star Education Foundation and also served on the Westminster City Council just prior to being elected to the Colorado General Assembly. She and her husband David are the proud parents of two children who attend Adams 12 public schools. Representative Bird also manages a menagerie of cats! In her free time, she is an avid reader, who loves to take long walks with friends and spend time with her family.

< Back Manny Rutinel Representative Rutinel is an environmental attorney, entrepreneur, first-generation American, and the proud son of a single mother. He represents House District 32, which includes the great people of Commerce City, Welby, and other unincorporated areas of Adams County. Rep. Rutinel's priorities are environmental justice, affordability, and civil rights. Rep. Rutinel received his J.D. from Yale Law School. After law school, he was an Attorney for Earthjustice, fighting to hold corporate polluters accountable. Before law school, Rep. Rutinel was an economist for the US Army Corps of Engineers, where he also served as a First Responder in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. He holds an M.S. in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Florida.

Representative Bob Marshall yesterday attended the annual South Metro Water Symposium at the Parker Water Headquarters. < Back July 24, 2024 Marshall Attends South Metro Water Symposium PARKER, CO – Representative Bob Marshall yesterday attended the annual South Metro Water Symposium at the Parker Water Headquarters. This event gathered regional water authorities to discuss the past, future and present issues facing water supply in the South Metro area of Denver. “Yesterday's symposium was incredibly informative and offered great insight into Colorado’s water future, specifically in Douglas County and Southeast Arapahoe County,” said Rep. Bob Marshall. D-Highlands Ranch. “Securing sustainable water for Colorado and future generations requires us to be diligent, work together across the aisle and craft solutions that will allow us to maintain our lifestyles and livelihoods.” The event featured keynote speaker Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, a presentation from South Metro Water Supply Authority , Castle Rock Water , and the Platte Valley Water Partnership . Previous Next

< Back October 1, 2020 REPRESENTATIVES PRAISE PARDONS FOR MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS DENVER, CO – Representatives James Coleman, D-Denver, Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, today released the following statements after Governor Jared Polis announced pardons for 2,732 Coloradans with state-level marijuana convictions, utilizing expanded authority granted through HB20-1424 . “Today, our state has taken a major step forward in securing justice for the thousands of Coloradans who have been living with a conviction on their record for a crime that no longer exists in our state,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver, the House sponsor of the legislation. “For too long, these convictions continued the injustices perpetrated under the discriminatory policy of marijuana prohibition, making it harder for Coloradans with convictions to find housing, employment or access critical services. Governor Polis’ decision to grant these pardons will finally bring justice to Coloradans who have been denied opportunity and have continued to be punished for possession of small amounts of marijuana long after the state rolled back its prohibition.” “This pardon is long overdue and will make a real difference in the lives of countless Coloradans,” said Colorado Legislative Black Caucus Chair Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, who also championed the change. “Far too many people in our state have continued to suffer the consequences of a small mistake made decades ago while others profit off of the booming and legitimized cannabis industry. I’m proud to have played a part in the justice being served today.” “These convictions for marijuana possession, which disproportionately fell on people of color, have persisted on Coloradans’ records despite being in opposition to our fundamental values of fairness, justice and opportunity for all,” said Rep. Singer, D-Longmont, who advocated for creating the pardon authority under HB20-1424. “I’m proud our state is moving forward and righting this wrong.” Under HB20-1424, the governor has expanded authority to pardon a class of persons convicted of possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana. The conviction must be for a state-level offense. Previous Next

New laws to set updated emission reduction goals, bolster environmental programs, and help mitigate and recover from wildfires will take effect on August 7. < Back August 4, 2023 Laws to Reduce Emissions, Bolster Environmental Programs & Mitigate Wildfires to Take Effect DENVER, CO – New laws to set updated emission reduction goals, bolster environmental programs, and help mitigate and recover from wildfires will take effect on August 7. SB23-016 , sponsored by Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Representatives Emily Sirota, D-Denver, and Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, updates Colorado’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals to match the latest climate science by adding interim targets, including a 65 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to 2005 levels by 2035, and a new goal of 100 percent emissions reduction by 2050. “As the effects of climate change become more and more pronounced, it is clear we must implement bold policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts on our climate and our environment,” Hansen said. “Coloradans are demanding we act, and with the implementation of this legislation, we will be demonstrating national leadership to tackle the climate challenge. The new statute will empower businesses, homeowners, and state and local governments to reduce emissions, set reasonable and attainable goals, and put our state on a path to climate sustainability for generations to come.” “This new law works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide and speeds up our transition to a clean energy economy,” said Sirota. “By reducing emissions, we’ll better protect our families and children for generations to come.” “Every Coloradan deserves clean air and a livable climate, which is why we’re working to reduce harmful emissions and conserve our freshwater resources,” said McCormick, sponsor of SB23-016 and SB23-178. “Our law creates interim targets to help Colorado reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and jumpstart clean energy implementation in our homes as well as businesses. We’re also reducing our water usage by making it easier for Coloradans living in HOAs to replace their water-intensive lawn with drought-tolerant landscaping.” To help reach these targets, the law requires the PUC and local governments to consider and prioritize upgrades and additions to the state’s electric transmission infrastructure system, and ensures quicker connections to the grid for residential solar. Other provisions of the law, including a study on transmission capacity to pave the way for electrification across the state, requirements for climate risk disclosures for insurance companies and tax credits for electric lawn equipment, take effect at a later date. SB23-178 , sponsored by Sen. Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Reps. McCormick and Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, reduces barriers for Colorado homeowners in homeowners associations (HOAs) who wish to replace their lawns with water-wise landscaping. Also sponsored by Sen. Perry Will, R-New Castle, SB23-178 promotes water-wise landscaping, emphasizing native plants that better sustain Colorado’s local ecosystems while requiring little or no irrigation. Many homeowners in HOAs want to replace their lawn and save water, but are deterred by obscure HOA approval processes. The bill streamlines this by requiring HOAs to select and pre-approve water-wise landscape designs for homeowners to choose from, as an alternative to getting HOA permission for their own design. “As extreme weather events like wildfires and droughts become more frequent because of climate change, it’s important that we do everything we can to make private, commercial, and industrial properties more resilient,” said Jaquez Lewis, sponsor of HB23-1005 and SB23-178. “HB23-1005 expands and streamlines the successful C-PACE program, so more properties in Colorado can prepare for natural disasters while reducing their carbon footprint. Additionally, SB23-178 makes it easier for Colorado homeowners to replace their water-guzzling lawns with water-wise landscapes, allowing us to drastically cut down on overall water usage while maintaining beautiful, unique yards natural to Colorado's climate.” “Until now, many Coloradans living in HOAs were not allowed to replace their water-intensive lawns with native drought-tolerant landscaping,” said Lindsay. “Under this new law, HOAs must allow for drought-tolerant landscaping options in their homeowner requirements – which is a win-win for water conservation and saving Coloradans money.” HB23-1005 , sponsored by Sens. Jaquez Lewis, and Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Reps. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, helps protect Colorado's environment and conserve water resources by expanding project eligibility and streamlining the financing process so more commercial properties in Colorado can take advantage of the Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program for eco-friendly property upgrades and investments. “This new law modernizes the successful C-PACE program so more businesses and builders can access financing to improve the resilience and efficiency of their commercial properties,” said Titone. “By expanding this favorable financing tool, more businesses can make eco-friendly infrastructure upgrades, such as high-efficiency lighting and HVAC systems.” “We know many commercial building owners and developers want to make water and energy efficiency upgrades, and our bill makes the process easier so businesses can begin their energy efficiency improvements sooner,” said Marchman. “I’m proud to support measures that invest in eco-friendly infrastructure and improve Colorado’s sustainability for years to come.” “It will soon be easier for commercial property owners in Colorado to improve the efficiency of their buildings,” said Willford. “Our law enhances and expands the widely-used, successful C-PACE program that’s catalyzed hundreds of millions of dollars of commercial property upgrades to reduce their energy usage. As we push to meet our statewide climate goals, it is important our businesses have the tools they need to invest in eco-friendly, cost-saving infrastructure.” HB23-1060 , sponsored by Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer, invests $5 million in Colorado’s forestry and wildfire mitigation workforce and tree nursery to more effectively mitigate and recover from wildfire destruction. “For the past several years we’ve experienced the devastating impacts of wildfires in our state, affecting our lives, homes, health, watersheds and economy,” said Cutter. “The increase in frequency and intensity of these events is a direct result of escalating climate change. Over the past several years, we've worked hard to provide resources for mitigation and suppression, but have lacked the workforce to properly deploy these resources. This legislation builds on that progress to provide a more robust forestry workforce.” “Healthy, robust forests help us mitigate the devastation caused by wildfires,” Story said. “This new law will fund critical upgrades at the State Forest Service’s tree nursery to update the facilities and increase the number of seedlings to repair and replant forests devastated by wildfires. This will help stabilize watersheds and preserve critical natural ecosystems across our state.” Previous Next

HB25-1320 will drive $256 million more to Colorado’s K-12 public schools for the 2025-26 school year < Back April 16, 2025 2025 School Finance Act Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed the 2025 School Finance Act on a preliminary vote. This bill will implement the new school funding formula and sustainably drive more funding to Colorado’s K-12 public schools. “The 2025 School Finance Act delivers for our students and teachers by boosting funding by $256 million and turning on the new school finance formula that will drive more resources to the students who need them the most,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “Despite nearly universal declining enrollment, the 2025 School Finance Act ensures that no district drops below the funding amount they received this school year. We’re deeply committed to investing in our K-12 public schools, and this year’s School Finance Act supports rural schools and our most vulnerable students while creating a sustainable pathway to significantly increase school funding.” “As a teacher, I know how important adequate funding is to create an environment where students can succeed,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “The 2025 School Finance Act will invest $256 million more in our public schools this year, meaning funding will rise by over $410 per student on average. The bill implements the new school funding formula to better support every student in our public schools. This bill drives funding to our K-12 schools equitably and sustainably, so our students can maximize their learning potential.” Colorado lawmakers have worked diligently to drive record-breaking funding to Colorado’s K-12 public schools. Since 2019, when voters gave Democrats the trifecta, total funding for schools has increased by over $3 billion, while Colorado schools have lost tens of thousands of students in that time, even after accounting for increased student counts from full-day kindergarten. Since the 2018-2019 school year, average per-pupil funding has increased from $8,123 to $11,852 next year. The 2025 School Finance Act ( HB25-1320 ) would drive $256.7 million more to Colorado’s public schools than last school year, bringing the 2025-26 school funding total to a record $10.035 billion despite Colorado facing a declining student enrollment environment. HB25-1320 acknowledges unique challenges for rural and remote districts, increases education funding to keep up with inflation and prioritizes sustainable funding for years to come. In last year’s School Finance Act , lawmakers delivered on their promise to pay off the Budget Stabilization Factor. At the same time, HB24-1448 modernized the school funding formula used to determine the total program funding for Colorado’s K-12 public school districts for the first time in 30 years. This legislation created a more student-centered formula designed to drive more resources to rural and underserved districts, as well as students living with a disability, at-risk students and English Language Learners (ELLs). For the 2025-2026 school year, HB25-1320 will: Provide $83.2 million more for public schools next year than the old school finance formula. Increase average per-pupil funding by $412, bringing the total per-pupil funding to $11,863. Ensure that 157 of 178 districts will see an average 2.9 percent increase in funding, while the remaining 21 districts with significantly declining enrollment are held harmless. HB25-1320 will implement the new school funding formula at 15 percent per year for six years, and then 10 percent for the final seventh year of implementation, while still maintaining the four-year averaging model for the 2025-26 school year. To help stabilize school funding in a declining enrollment environment, the bill includes a three-year averaging model in 2026-27 if the new funding formula is implemented at 30 percent, otherwise it will remain at four-years. Given the tight budget conditions, largely driven by increased Medicaid costs, Colorado lawmakers have had to address a $1.2 billion shortfall in the state budget. However, HB25-1320 is designed to give the legislature the flexibility to continue increasing school funding while adapting to changing budget realities. To maintain the financial health of the State Education Fund (SEF), HB25-1320 provides the flexibility to adjust the percentage of the formula implemented each year or the averaging components of the formula to ensure a healthy reserve in the fund’s balance. Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO REDUCE SUICIDE DEATHS DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Lindsey Daugherty and Janice Rich to reduce suicide deaths in Colorado. “Far too many Coloradans have felt the gut-wrenching sadness and heartbreak of a suicide attempt,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “Today, we’re taking action to ensure that Colorado has a comprehensive approach to stopping suicide deaths. The bill expands a critical grant program so that more students and teachers are trained to support youth in crisis. Importantly, by focusing on the aftermath of a suicide attempt, the bill ensures individuals and communities have the support they need to prevent future tragedies.” HB21-1119 expands the Crisis and Suicide Training Grant Program to include “‘train-the-trainer” programs at public schools and funds peer-to-peer specialist programs that help students support their classmates. The bill incorporates postvention and follow-up care into the state’s comprehensive suicide prevention approach to support individuals and communities in the aftermath of a suicide attempt. Importantly, CDPHE will update the department’s suicide prevention resources to include region-specific information for primary care providers on how to recognize and respond to suicidal patients, including information that can be shared with patients and information for health facilities to share upon a patient’s release. Research shows that people who have known someone who died by suicide were 1.6 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts, 2.9 times more likely to have a plan for suicide themselves, and 3.7 times more likely to have attempted suicide. Suicide has become a far more common cause of death among peace officers, medical professionals, and school-aged children. Children or adolescents who know about a friend’s suicide attempt are nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide themselves. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2021 HOUSE VOTES TO IMPROVE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM, CREATE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION Two lifesaving gun violence prevention bills pass the House on Third Reading DENVER, CO– The House passed two bills to curb the epidemic of gun violence, prevent mass shootings and save lives. The two bills, focused on expanding and improving our background check system and creating the Office of Gun Violence Prevention passed the House on Third Reading. “Colorado is showing that we can do so much more than offer thoughts and prayers in the wake of mass shootings,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Strengthening our background check system and closing the Charleston loophole are a commonsense way to stop firearms from getting into the hands of dangerous individuals, and they have the support of a majority of Coloradans. I’m proud of the work we did today and look forward to more moments of action to come.” “Coloradans have been loud and clear in demanding action to curb the epidemic of gun violence that takes loved ones away from families far, far too often,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Today, the House delivered. While no single bill or initiative will put an end to gun violence, ensuring that violent criminals have a harder time obtaining a deadly weapon is a commonsense step that will undoubtedly save lives.” HB21-1298 , sponsored by Reps. Woodrow and Amabile, prohibits a person who has been convicted of certain violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for five years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault and third degree assault. The bill passed by a vote of 42-21. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. This bill avoids that by creating a state requirement for a firearms dealer to receive approval from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation prior to transferring a firearm. “Colorado has made great strides in the area of gun violence prevention in the past few years, and especially the past few months,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “Today, we voted to establish an innovative office that will centralize these efforts to save lives and prevent gun violence in our communities. Having this office will make our efforts more efficient and effective, and will hopefully provide answers that will guide our path forward.” “The Office of Gun Violence Prevention is designed to respond to the public health crisis that is gun violence by taking cues from affected communities and providing all Coloradans with the type of educational and mental health support that could save lives” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “In addition to the mass shootings we see on the news all too often, gun violence rips communities of color apart every single day in acts of ‘everyday’ violence. I’m proud of the work we did today to reject the status quo and ensure that communities affected by gun violence are properly invested in making necessary change. ” HB21-1299 , sponsored by Reps. Bacon and Sullivan, establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention under the Department of Public Health and Environment. The Office would be responsible for conducting public awareness campaigns about gun violence prevention. It would educate the public about existing state resources and laws, including how to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order, how to access mental health resources and how to store firearms securely. The bill passed by a vote of 40-23. The office would also fund proven community-based violence intervention programs that are focused on interrupting cycles of gun violence through competitive grants. Finally, the Office would be tasked with promoting research and presenting gun violence prevention tools and resources that would be available to the public and to create and maintain a database of research regarding gun violence in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back April 22, 2023 Bill to Save People Money and Expand Clean Energy Moves Forward HB23-1272 saves Coloradans money with approximately $60 million in annual tax credits and incentives for businesses and consumers for decarbonization investments DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to save Coloradans and businesses money by expanding tax incentives for clean transportation, heat pumps, geothermal energy, and industrial emissions reductions. HB23-1272 is part of a package of legislation that will incentivize the advancement and adoption of clean energy technologies and build upon federal initiatives to save Coloradan’s money, create good-paying jobs and help the state meet its climate goals. “This bill will significantly lower energy costs for families, save consumers money on electric vehicles, and help Colorado meet our climate goals and improve our air quality,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “From e-bikes to heat pumps, we’re committed to increasing access to affordable clean energy sources to power our economy and save Coloradans money. Reducing carbon emissions will take time, but with smart investments and strong clean technology adoption, we can move Colorado forward, reduce costs for consumers and protect our environment.” “I’m proud that with this legislation, Colorado will lead the way by lowering the cost of clean energy technologies in our homes, businesses and across the state,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “This bill saves consumers money on clean technology and will attract new businesses and jobs to Colorado while improving our air quality and protecting our Colorado way of life. Soon, consumers and businesses will see increased tax credits that will save them money on heat pumps, electric vehicles and energy efficiency upgrades.” Tax Incentives to Advance Decarbonization: HB23-1272 would work to reduce the costs of adopting clean energy technologies for residents and businesses across Colorado through tax incentives. This includes incentives for investments in geothermal electricity development and high-efficiency heat pumps, and for measures to reduce industrial pollution. It would also extend and expand tax credits for electric trucks and passenger vehicles and provide discounts on electric bikes to help increase uptake of cleaner transportation methods. Specifically, this bill builds upon the federal incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Job Acts to help Colorado maximize the impact of federal dollars. Tax incentives in HB23-1272 are expected to average $60 million each year with individual elements ramping up or down over time depending on available technologies and economic conditions. The bill: Extends and expands the innovative motor vehicle tax credits and creates an additional $2,500 credit for certain electric passenger vehicles. Continues the innovative truck tax credit for electric and plug-in hybrid electric trucks, with the credit ranging between $5,000 and $10,000 depending on the truck’s weight starting in 2024. Creates a $500 refundable income tax credit for bicycle retailers for the sale of qualifying e-bikes so that retailers can offer immediate price reductions to purchasers.. Designs a refundable income tax credit for the installation of heat pump technology in residential and nonresidential buildings. The credits will vary based on the type and use of the heat pump. Establishes the refundable industrial clean energy tax credit to implement greenhouse gas emissions reductions at qualifying large facilities that can be hard to decarbonize. Creates the refundable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility tax credit worth up to $1-3 million annually for the costs of constructing a SAF production facility. Previous Next

< Back May 5, 2021 HOUSE RESOLUTION SEEKS TO RESOLVE QUESTIONS ON REDISTRICTING DENVER, CO– The House today passed a resolution to send an interrogatory to the Colorado Supreme Court regarding changes to redistricting procedures made in SB21-247. “Colorado voters were clear in passing Amendments Y and Z that they want to see an independent redistricting process without partisan gerrymandering,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “ While no one could have predicted that a public health crisis would throw a wrench into our carefully crafted process, we have to do everything we can to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible. That’s why we’re engaged in a bipartisan effort with the Colorado Supreme Court to guarantee fair and balanced maps are delivered on time and with full public participation and input.” Amendments Y and Z established a clear timeline for Colorado’s electoral redistricting efforts. These dates, mandated in the constitution, require the Commissions to use “necessary census data” to accurately draw electoral districts for the state. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a delay in the ability of the United States Census Bureau to deliver to the state the population and demographic data necessary to redraw election districts. This delay prevents both the independent redistricting commissions (both Congressional and legislative) from completing their work by the deadlines in the constitution. The resolution, HR21-XXXX, asks the Colorado Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of two provisions of SB21-247: 1) the use of preliminary, non-final census data for the drafting of preliminary plans, and 2) the provision of SB21-247 that directs the Court to apply a standard of substantial compliance with only the technical requirements of the redistricting process as created in Amendments Y and Z. Final passage of SB21-247 is dependent on the Court’s response on these matters. SB21-247 , an Executive Committee bill sponsored by Minority and Majority Leaders in both the House and Senate, is intended to give the Commission the flexibility it needs to draw fair electoral maps in the face of these delays. Only as it applies to the current redistricting cycle, the bill amends the definition of “necessary census data” to allow the preliminary plans to be developed using state apportionment data that was released on April 26, and other population and demographic data from federal or state sources that are approved by the commissions. The three staff plans to be drafted by nonpartisan staff, one of which will be submitted to the Supreme Court for approval, have to be drawn using final census data. The bill also requires a public hearing on maps being drawn with final census data once it is made available. It also establishes a substantial compliance standard for any legal challenge that may arise concerning compliance with the technical requirements of Amendments Y and Z—not the substantial requirements on the process, such as the criteria in which the districts have to be drawn. Previous Next