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< Back May 11, 2022 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING EXPANSION BILL PASSES HOUSE Majority Leader Esgar’s bill would expand collective bargaining rights to 36,000 public service workers and builds upon the 2020 state workers bill DENVER, CO – The House today passed Majority Leader Daneya Esgar’s monumental collective bargaining bill by a vote of 41 to 24. SB22-230 would expand collective bargaining rights to an estimated 36,000 county workers, more than doubling the number of public workers in Colorado entitled to negotiate for better pay, benefits and working conditions. SB22-230 ensures that county workers would receive recognized collective bargaining rights that private-sector and state employees in Colorado already have. “We’re one step closer to securing collective bargaining rights for the tens of thousands of county workers who carried Colorado through the pandemic,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “County workers staff our public health departments, maintain our roads and keep our communities safe and soon they’ll have the right to join together to improve their workplace conditions and negotiate for better pay and benefits. Our bill ensures that county workers can unionize if they so choose and have a seat at the table to discuss decisions that directly affect their livelihood.” SB22-230 builds upon the state workers bill from 2020 , also sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar. This bill extends collective bargaining rights to county workers, more than doubling the current number of public workers with recognized collective bargaining rights in Colorado. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would give public service workers who choose to form a union a seat at the table to collectively bargain on issues like working conditions, job safety, pay and benefits, and to collaborate with management to address shared challenges like staff shortages, high turnover, and improving public services. This bill is a historic step forward in Colorado’s labor and workers’ rights movement. Right now, only four out of Colorado’s 64 counties recognize their workers’ right to collectively bargain. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would guarantee collective bargaining rights to an estimated 98% of eligible statutory county workers in Colorado. Under this bill, county workers in counties with over 7,500 residents have the ability to organize and form a recognized union to advocate for safer workplaces and better public services. Additionally, the Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would extend protections to workers who are currently vulnerable to retaliation, discrimination, and coercion for exercising basic union rights. Previous Next

Complementary bills would reform reporting, transparency and accountability for health care facilities that utilize the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program < Back May 6, 2025 House Passes Bills to Lower the Cost of Health Care and Prescription Drugs DENVER, CO — The House today passed two complementary bills to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Coloradans. Both SB25-124 and SB25-071 improve transparency in reporting, guard against profiteering, and work to save low and middle income Coloradans' money on health care. “The federal 340B program has needed additional transparency and accountability for some time, while pharmaceutical companies have continued to rake in profits,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of SB25-124. “This important bill adds accountability measures on how non-profit hospitals can spend 340B revenue to ensure they are investing in lowering health care costs for low-income Coloradans, as the program was intended. SB25-124 also ramps up transparency by requiring hospitals to provide an annual report on how their 340B revenue was spent.” SB25-124 would improve transparency and establish revenue spending guardrails for Colorado hospitals that utilize the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Under this bill, non-profit hospitals would be required to reinvest at least 80 percent of their 340B revenue toward lowering the cost of health care for low and middle income Coloradans. Additionally, non-profit hospitals would not be allowed to use 340B revenue for certain expenses, including administrative compensation, penalties and fines, advertising, and lobbying. To preserve access to life-saving prescription medications, manufacturers or providers of 340B drugs could not limit 340B prescription drugs to community hospitals and safety net providers. To improve transparency, non-profit hospitals must submit an annual report on their 340B program profits, including their operating costs for the 340B program, and charity care. SB25-124 passed by a vote of 42-23. “We must ensure that Coloradans in rural and underserved communities receive the prescription drugs they need to lead healthy lives,” said Rep. Matt Martinez, D-Monte Vista, sponsor of SB25-071. “This bipartisan bill ensures that pharmaceutical companies do not impose restrictions on the local pharmacies, clinics and safety net providers that are dependent on 340B and serve our rural communities.” The House also passed SB25-071 , which ensures prescription drug manufacturers do not impose restrictions on facilities, such as pharmacies and clinics, that utilize 340B prescription drug pricing, and requires hospitals to include certain information in their annual reports. The goal of SB25-071 is to preserve access to affordable prescription drugs across Colorado, especially in Colorado’s rural and underserved communities. 89 percent of rural hospitals in Colorado are running on low or negative margins. This bill would help preserve no-cost clinics and vaccines that help keep Coloradans healthy. SB25-071 passed by a vote of 57 to 8and is also sponsored by Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grant Junction. The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a federal program that requires drug manufacturers participating in Medicaid to provide outpatient drugs to covered hospitals, clinics, or pharmacies at a discount. To qualify for these reduced drug prices, health care facilities must serve a high percentage of low-income patients. In Colorado, an estimated 68 hospitals and 20 federally qualified health centers participate in the 340B program. There are currently no requirements on how covered entities must use savings or revenues generated by the purchase of discounted 340B drugs, beyond the federal guidelines of using savings to expand and lower the cost of healthcare for low-income individuals. Previous Next

Today, Governor Jared Polis signed into law two pieces of legislation to reduce insurance premiums and the cost of prescription drugs. < Back May 10, 2023 Signed! Legislation to Reduce Insurance Premiums, Costs of Prescription Drugs AURORA, CO - Today, Governor Jared Polis signed into law two pieces of legislation to reduce insurance premiums and the cost of prescription drugs. HB23-1224 , sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and Reps. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, and Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, lowers insurance premiums and makes it easier for consumers to shop for high value standardized health plans that work for them and their families. The bill strengthens the Department of Insurance’s (DOI) ability to hold carriers accountable for the premium rate reduction requirements on Colorado Option Standardized Plans by granting the DOI the authority to: Limit factors such as as excessive profit and administrative expenses; Structure the public hearing process efficiently while ensuring all parties have the opportunity to participate; Help consumers easily find and compare plans that could lower their out-of-pocket costs. “Too many Coloradans are forced to choose between preventative health care services and paying the bills,” Jodeh said. “By reducing premium rates for Colorado Option plans and strengthening cost-saving requirements over Pharmacy Benefit Managers, our new laws will protect Colorado patients, pharmacies, and businesses from unfair practices while saving them money on health care.” “Every Coloradan, no matter where they live, deserves to have access to the life-saving health care they need,” said Roberts. “Colorado has led the way in lowering costs of health care by creating the Colorado Option. This bill builds on the first year of success of that plan and makes changes that will ensure that next year and in the years to come, even more Coloradans, particularly in the rural communities like those I represent, will be able to access more affordable and higher quality insurance options.” “The Colorado Option has been very successful, creating $14 million in savings for Colorado patients on health care plans, in its first year in the market,” Brown said. “With this new law, we’re making improvements to the Colorado Option to save Coloradans even more money on health care. I’m proud of the work that we’ve done to cut down on health care costs and pass savings down to Colorado consumers.” The second bill, HB23-1227 , ensures that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) follow through on critical cost savings reforms that the legislature has passed in recent years to save consumers money. Sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Perry Will, R-New Castle, and Reps. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, and Jodeh, the bill provides the DOI with more direct oversight over PBMs by requiring them to register and specifying that the DOI has the ability to enforce those reforms. “As a pharmacist I know firsthand how critical it is for Coloradans to be able to afford their prescription drugs, but too many of our families are still getting squeezed by high costs of medication,” said Jaquez Lewis. “HB1227 is part of a multi-year effort to keep Colorado prescription drug prices affordable. I’m thrilled to see this critical bill to save families even more money on life-saving medications signed into law.” “Addressing the cost of prescription drugs is a critical part of creating an equitable and accessible health care system,” said Ortiz. “This new law will give us the tools to hold Pharmacy Benefit Managers to the cost-saving measures that Colorado Democrats have passed to improve access to affordable, quality health care for all.” The bipartisan bill grants the Insurance Commissioner the power to investigate and impose penalties on PBMs for failing to comply with consumer protections such as charging pharmacies fees to adjudicate claims, clawing back money from pharmacies inappropriately, and discriminating against independent pharmacies versus PBM-affiliated pharmacies. Previous Next

< Back Meg Froelich Chair of the Transportation, Housing, & Local Gov Committee Representative Meg Froelich is Chair of the House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee and a member of the State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee and represents House District 3, which includes Sheridan, Englewood, Cherry Hills Village, and Denver. Rep. Froelich is passionate about the health of all Coloradans, and endeavors to be a voice for the most vulnerable people in our communities as well as domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. During the 2022 legislative session, Rep. Froelich sponsored the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) to safeguard all reproductive rights, including abortion. She also sponsored key legislation to protect those from out-of-state who are seeking reproductive and gender affirming care in Colorado. As a member of the Energy & Environment Committee, Rep. Froelich is passionate about preserving Colorado’s air, land and water, reducing pollution and protecting pollinators.

The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster basic access at places of public accommodations for people with disabilities. < Back April 10, 2023 Ortiz’s Bill to Improve Basic Access for People with Disabilities Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster basic access at places of public accommodations for people with disabilities. “Coloradans living with a disability should be able to visit and enjoy the restaurants, museums and retail stores in their community without having to worry about whether they'll be able to navigate the space,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “This legislation empowers Coloradans living with a disability by allowing them to pursue legal action if a public accommodation space is not accessible. I’m committed to making our public places more accessible and accommodating so they can be enjoyed by everyone.” HB23-1032 ensures that individuals with a disability have legal recourse if they are discriminated against by any place of public accommodation. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network , places of public accommodation include restaurants, theaters, doctors' offices, pharmacies, hotels, retail stores, museums, libraries, amusement parks, private schools and day care centers. HB23-1032 aims to improve accessibility for all Coloradans. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2022 DEFEATED: GOP ANTI-SCIENCE IVERMECTIN COVID MISINFORMATION BILL DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House Health and Insurance Committee today defeated a dangerous and misguided bill sponsored by Representative Stephanie Luck that recklessly promotes the use of ineffective and unapproved drugs like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19. “Other than for a few specific reasons, Ivermectin is meant for animals, and I would know since I’m a veterinarian,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “GOP politicians urged on by former President Trump have spread dangerous misinformation about unproven COVID treatments and encouraged the use of these drugs, leading to many overdoses. At the same time, they sowed doubt about COVID vaccines, which are proven to be highly effective and which save lives. Their rhetoric based on unscientific claims and misinformation has endangered people’s lives, and I hope this is the last year we see this misguided bill.” HB22-1015 promotes the practice of prescribing hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin off-label for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. The World Health Organization has warned against using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, and the FDA has been vocal about the dangers of using ivermectin , especially veterinary ivermectin, which is intended for livestock. The use of these drugs can cause adverse effects in patients, and they have been proven to be ineffective in treating COVID-19. In the fall of 2021, poison control centers reported seeing a surge in ivermectin overdose calls linked to COVID misinformation. People have been hospitalized after taking ivermectin, even after receiving a prescription . The bill would waive liability for doctors whose patients experience adverse health impacts as a result of being prescribed Ivermectin off label. The bill failed on a party line vote of 4 to 7. Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL EXTEND TEMPORARY ADJOURNMENT 1 WEEK DENVER, CO– Democratic Leadership in the General Assembly today announced that the temporary suspension of the legislature will continue until the week of May 25 to give additional time for preparations including safety protocols, to work through appropriate legislation, and to seek greater clarity on potential Congressional action that could significantly impact our state budget. “When we set out a tentative timeline to reconvene the General Assembly, we did so with the recognition that we faced a lot of uncertainty, and so we built in the flexibility to extend the temporary adjournment if needed,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “As businesses across Colorado also begin the process of reopening, this extension allows the General Assembly additional time to double check our safety protocols, continue conversations on appropriate legislation and seek more information about any Congressional action that may be coming in the weeks ahead. We are hopeful that Congress may provide additional and badly needed aid to help us avoid budget cuts that will devastate our communities.” “Last week our Joint Budget Committee had to begin the heart-wrenching process of rewriting Colorado’s budget after COVID-19 created a more than $3 billion revenue shortfall,” said President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo . “With so much at risk and our desired return date fast approaching, we determined that it would benefit all Coloradans if we gave our budgetary and legislative process a bit more breathing room. Though facing our dire fiscal situation has been a painful task, we are committed to protecting our most critical institutions and vulnerable populations as best as we possibly can. We look forward to continuing to fight for our communities in the Capitol when we all return on May 26.” Previous Next

< Back February 21, 2020 BUENTELLO BLOCKBUSTER: HOUSE APPROVES FOUR BILLS TO IMPROVE SPECIAL ED, SUPPORT VETERANS AND RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DENVER, CO — The House today took overwhelmingly bipartisan votes to pass two bills sponsored by Representative Bri Buentello that would give educators the tools they need to serve special education students and allow disabled veterans to more easily access State Parks free of charge. “Passing these bills today represents one of my proudest accomplishments in the state legislature so far,” said Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo. “These simple proposals will make an important and lasting impact on veterans, servicemembers, and their families — not to mention special ed students and Colorado’s educators. Teachers, police officers, veterans, and military families are communities that are near and dear to my heart, and I’m glad we were able to deliver big wins for them today.” HB20-1128 , which is sponsored by Representatives Buentello and James Wilson, R- Salida, would require that educators (teachers, principals, administrators, etc.) complete ten hours of special education related professional developments before renewing their licenses. The bill would also require educator preparation programs to include coursework on inclusive teaching practices relating to the education of students with disabilities, individualised education programs, behavioral concerns, and effective special education classroom practices. It was passed by a vote of 51-8. Currently, Colorado veterans who display a disabled license plate receive free access to Colorado’s state parks or recreation areas. Veterans who cannot, or do not, drive are unable to take advantage of free state park access. Under SB20-069 , disabled veterans will be able to enjoy free access to Colorado’s state parks without having to first acquire a license plate. It was passed unanimously on third reading by a vote of 60-0. The House also gave preliminary approval to two of Rep. Buentello’s other bills to make it easier for veterans, servicemembers, and their families to receive in-state tuition at Colorado community colleges, and to provide scholarships for rural law enforcement agencies to pay for the cost of sending potential officers to training academies. HB20-1275 , which passed on second reading, allows an active or honorably discharged member of the United States armed forces or one of their dependents to be eligible for in-state tuition status at a community college regardless of whether the person satisfies Colorado domicile or residency status. HB20-1229 , also passed on second reading, would establish a scholarship fund for rural and small communities to assist in paying for the cost of potential police officers to attend an approved basic law enforcement training academy. The cost of basic training that satisfies the peace officers’ standards and training (P.O.S.T.) requirements can cost thousands of dollars , which is especially prohibitive to potential candidates in rural areas where funds can be scarce. Previous Next

< Back February 28, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES JACKSON-GALINDO BILL TO HELP RENTERS Colorado ranks among lowest when it comes to renters rights (Feb. 27) – The House Transportation and Local Government committee approved Rep. Dominique Jackson and Rep. Rochelle Galindo’s bill to allow sufficient time for tenants to make their rent payment or remedy a lease violation before getting evicted. “This bill will give people time to find the resources they need to stay in their homes, and that helps the renter as well as the landlord,” said Rep. Jackson, D-Aurora. “Rental assistance is available, but people need more time to get that assistance. Homelessness is already a problem. Let’s help keep people housed.” Current state law does not allow sufficient time for tenants to make their rent payment or remedy a minor lease violation. Right now, Coloradans can have an eviction filed against them within three days of missing a payment. Three days is not enough time to find a new place to stay, to move out, or to find pro-bono legal resources to help postpone an eviction and leads to instability and homelessness or even job loss. Forced moves or evictions have a domino effect in communities across Colorado leading to homelessness, poverty and job loss. Housing instability benefits no one and often destabilize families, children’s education and local communities. “Hardworking families and individuals struggling to get ahead are being evicted for owing as low as $40. This bill ensures a tenant has sufficient time to make their rent payment,” said Rep. Galindo, D-Greeley. “ This bill will help prevent the downward spiral into poverty that is so often associated with an eviction.” Under HB19-1118, tenants will now receive 10 days to pay their rent or address a minor lease issue before an eviction is filed against them, up from three days. Having an eviction record can make it close to impossible for an individual or family to secure housing in the future. Twenty-eight states give more notice before eviction than Colorado in the case of unpaid rent and 36 states provide more notice in the case of other lease violations. The bill passed committee on a vote of 7-4 and now goes to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back March 20, 2019 HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES ACCESS TO FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS This bill maintains dignity to women while in custody (Mar. 20) – The House approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, to provide menstrual hygiene products to women who are in custody immediately and free of charge. “If you can’t say the word tampon, then don’t restrict access to one,” said Rep. Herod. “Women’s bodies are different, and we need to ensure that we are treating all women, especially those that are in custody, with the respect and dignity that they deserve.” Under current policies, some county jails provide limited menstrual hygiene products to inmates, while some provide none. HB 19-1224 requires all local jails, multijurisdictional jails, and municipal jails to provide menstrual hygiene products to people in custody at no expense. HB19-1224 passed by a unanimous vote of 65-0 and now heads to the Senate. The bill follows legislation from 2017, sponsored by Rep. Herod and Senator Winter, which required that the Department of Corrections provide free menstrual hygiene products to those in state prisons and other DOC facilities. Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2022 BILL TO MAKE CHILD CARE MORE AFFORDABLE PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House passed a bill to save families money on child care. SB22-213 invests $50 million of federal pandemic relief dollars toward increasing child care capacity and boosting the professional child care workforce. “The pandemic has made it even more difficult for families to find affordable, high-quality childcare and as a result, many parents, especially moms, are leaving the workforce to care for their kids,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood . “We’re investing $50 million toward expanding Colorado’s child care facilities and training more professionals to bring down the cost of child care. This bill will help us provide critical support for working families who’ve been stretched thin to ensure their children have a safe place to learn and thrive during the workday.” “Colorado’s child care system has been stretched thin for years, so we’re taking the initiative to fill funding gaps and make child care more affordable and accessible,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “Our bill invests federal pandemic relief dollars toward training more child care professionals and expanding our state’s child care capacity so families can more easily access quality care.” Child Care Support Programs: SB22-213 , sponsored by Representatives Kerry Tipper and Alex Valdez passed the House by a vote of 41 to 22. This bill aims to boost Colorado’s economy and make it easier for families to access child care by increasing capacity across the state and better developing the workforce to help Coloradans get the training they need to provide that care. This bill utilizes $50 million of federal pandemic relief dollars to boost child care capacity by providing $16 million in grant funding to open a new child care center or expand capacity at an existing licensed childcare facility. It will also invest $10 million to support the employer-based child care facility grant program, which will help business owners and other employers provide convenient, high-quality child care on-site while parents are at work. SB22-213 also adds $15 million to the successful workforce recruitment and retention grant program and provides $7.5 million to support and train license-exempt informal caregivers working with young children in their communities. Previous Next

< Back September 15, 2021 MAJORITY LEADER ESGAR STATEMENT ON SCOTUS ORAL ARGUMENTS ON MISSISSIPPI ABORTION LAW DENVER, CO — Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today released the following statement on the US Supreme Court hearing on the Mississippi law seeking to overturn Roe v Wade: “The Mississippi law under review is a direct attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate a patient’s right to an abortion. The Court must uphold decades of precedent that has protected safe and legal abortion in our country. We refuse to go back in time to when people could not control their reproductive health care and did not have autonomy over their bodies, which led to many losing their lives seeking an unsafe, illegal abortion. Patients in consultation with their doctors should have the right to decide when they want to start a family–and this decision should not be left to or threatened by any branch of government. I am committed to protecting access to abortion in Colorado, and we will proudly continue to defeat dangerous efforts by Republican state lawmakers to ban or create barriers to abortion access in our state.” Previous Next