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< Back April 7, 2020 BECKER APPOINTS DEMS TO ECONOMIC STABILIZATION COUNCIL House Democrats to serve on four key committees Denver, CO– House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, today announced House Democrats’ appointments to the Governor’s Council on Economic Stabilization and Growth. House Democrats will serve on four of the eight sub-committees. Rep. Shannon Bird, vice-chair of the House Finance Committee, will join the Financial Services Committee. Rep. James Coleman, vice-chair of the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, will join the Local, Rural, Women & Minority Led Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits-Entrepreneurs Committee. Rep. Dylan Roberts, chair of the House Committee on Rural Affairs and Agriculture, will join the Tourism Committee. Rep. Dominique Jackson, chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environment, will join the Energy Committee. “House Democrats are working around the clock to help constituents during this public health crisis,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “We’re organizing PPE drives, connecting constituents with critical state and federal resources and hosting virtual town halls with public officials. Helping our state right now is a team effort, and I know our members will bring valuable experiences and resources to the governor’s council.” The Governor’s Council on Economic Stabilization and Growth is looking at how COVID-19 is impacting all aspects of Colorado’s economy and will make recommendations to the governor on how to help families, businesses and communities through the crisis. Other committees include Infrastructure, Workforce and Education, Arts and Culture and Outdoor Recreation. Members of the legislature from both chambers and both parties have been appointed to the committees. Read more about the Council on their website . Previous Next

< Back June 4, 2024 SIGNED! Bill to Save Employee-Owned Businesses Money DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation that will create a refundable state income tax credit to support employee-owned businesses. HB24-1157 will also make the Employee Ownership Office a permanent resource for small businesses as they transition into employee-owned businesses. “Employee-owned business models allow locally-owned businesses to stay within their communities; however, the costs and resources that are needed during transition can create barriers for employees seeking to purchase the business,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield. “This legislation creates a permanent resource and lessens the financial burden of transitioning to employee-owned. . We’re continuing the work we’ve done in recent years to make Colorado a national leader in providing support to employee-owned business owners so they can thrive in their communities.” “Employee-owned business models are not only beneficial for retiring business owners, but they also reward hard-working employees for their dedication to the company, promote higher wages, and keep businesses rooted in their communities,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs . “By offering tax credits to new employee-owned businesses, we can incentivize more businesses to stay local and ensure that working people keep more of the value of their own labor." HB24-1157 will make the Employee Ownership Office, temporarily created by Governor Polis in an executive order , a permanent office to continue supporting small business owners who are transitioning to an employee-owned business model. The new law also creates a refundable state income tax credit for costs that come with running a new employee-owned business. The tax credit is available for tax years 2025 through 2033 and businesses are eligible if they have been partially or wholly owned by employees for fewer than seven years. This tax credit covers 50 percent of qualifying costs, granting up to $50,000 a year in savings. In 2021, Colorado Democrats created a first-in-the-nation refundable income tax credit that incentivizes a move towards employee-owned business models. It provides support to business owners who are looking to move on from their ownership by passing their business onto their employees, allowing communities to retain homegrown economic opportunities while giving hard-working Coloradans new entrepreneurship roles. Rep. Lindstedt also passed a law in the 2023 legislative session that expands the Employee Ownership Tax Credit by including partially employee-owned businesses, allowing new methods that businesses are using to transfer equity to employees, and strengthening incentives for eligible businesses that are transitioning to employee ownership with existing resources. Previous Next

< Back May 28, 2021 IT’S ELECTRIC! BILL TO SAVE CONSUMERS ON UTILITY COSTS ADVANCES DENVER, CO– The House Energy and Environment Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Alex Valdez and Meg Foelich that would promote the use of energy efficient electric equipment. “Technological advances are constantly producing more energy efficient equipment that can save consumers money on their electric bills,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D- Denver. “Every dollar saved by investing in efficiency measures, is a dollar that can directly help working Coloradans. By incentivising consumers to adopt energy efficient technologies, like electric water heaters and furnaces, we are going to create good jobs, emit less dirty greenhouse gases into our environment, and improve indoor air quality in homes and businesses across the state.” “Colorado can meet our climate goals, create jobs, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and improve both our indoor and outdoor air quality by embracing energy efficiency equipment,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D- Englewood. “The bill we advanced today would ask utility companies to create plans that encourage their customers voluntarily to adopt more energy efficient technologies that will save everyone money and help protect Colorado’s beautiful environment for everyone to enjoy.” SB21-246 directs the Public Utilities Commission to set longer-term energy savings targets for utility beneficial electrification programs and approve plans from investor-owned utilities that would use incentives to promote the use and installation of energy efficient electric equipment. Transitioning to clean electric homes and businesses will improve public health, save energy, create jobs, and help Colorado meet its climate goals by reducing the use of fossil fuels. Under the bill, utilities will develop plans to help their customers replace costly natural gas and propane fueled appliances with high efficiency electric equipment, and utilities must include programs targeted to lower-income households in their plans. Clean heat from appliances such as electric heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and induction stoves will help Colorado reduce greenhouse gas pollution and has potential to help improve indoor air quality and health and safety in buildings. Improving indoor air quality is especially beneficial to families with children, older Coloradans, or who have household members with respiratory issues. Businesses that sell and install energy efficient technologies will see increased demand and growth through greater adoption of more efficient equipment. The legislation explicitly clarifies that beneficial electrification projects be implemented voluntarily without any coercion or discriminatory treatment to customers that decline any incentives that may be offered to them. Previous Next

< Back April 19, 2021 LIFE SAVING GUN SAFETY BILLS BECOME LAW DENVER, CO– Two life saving gun safety bills were signed into law by Governor Jared Polis today. The bills seek to prevent suicides, community violence, and tragic accidents by promoting the prompt reporting of lost or stolen firearms and the safe storage of guns when children or other vulnerable populations are present. “There’s no single gun safety policy that can put an end to the epidemic of gun violence in America, but by taking commonsense steps like the two laws signed today, we can start to make a dent and save some lives,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “Reporting a missing firearm is a simple measure that will stop firearms from ending up in the wrong hands and give law enforcement more tools to find these weapons before they end up in crime scenes.” “Coloradans are tired of seeing gun violence rip families apart and take precious lives away from us far too soon,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “Our bill to require that missing firearms be reported to police is a simple and commonsense request that will hopefully prevent senseless tragedies like the one that took Isabella Joy Thallas’ life. I’m immensely proud that we were able to honor her memory by naming this law after her today.” “Asking all gun owners in Colorado to safely store their firearms the way the majority of responsible gun owners already do is a small measure that can save countless lives,” said Representative Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn . “A simple and affordable lock on a firearm could prevent the type of tragedies and injuries that befall Colorado families every day.” “Responsible gun owners who frequently have children in the home should already be locking their firearms away safely,” said Representative Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “I know that many gun owners, including myself, already take this simple step to prevent tragedies. The bill signed into law by Governor Polis today will get us closer to our goal of ensuring everyone practices safe storage.” SB21-078 , sponsored by Representatives Sullivan and Herod, requires an individual who owns a firearm and has reasonable cause to believe that the firearm has been lost or stolen to report that firearm to a law enforcement agency within five days after discovering that the firearm is missing. A first offense for failure to make such a report is a civil infraction punishable by a $25 fine, and a second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine. The bill requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report to enter information about the lost or stolen firearm into the National Crime Information Center database and report the information to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Through an amendment, SB21-078 was renamed the ‘Isabella Joy Thallas Act’, in memory of the young woman who was murdered on June 10, 2020 while she and her boyfriend were walking their dog outside of their apartment in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood. The high-powered semi-automatic rifle used in the killing was stolen. HB21-1106 , sponsored by Representatives Duran and Mullica, will promote responsible gun ownership by creating an educational campaign to encourage gun owners, especially those with children in the home, to properly store their firearms. The bill also requires licensed firearms dealers to provide a locking device at the time of sale or transfer of all firearms. Federal law already requires that handguns sold by licensed dealers be sold with locking devices. Finally, the bill would create the charge “unlawful storage of a firearm” when a firearm is not stored safely and a juvenile or someone who is ineligible to possess a firearm is present, making it a class 2 misdemeanor. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2022 SIGNED! BILLS TO BOOST RURAL TEACHER WORKFORCE AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will boost Colorado’s teacher and school staff workforce. These bipartisan bills come at a time when Colorado is facing a dire teacher shortage, especially in rural school districts. “Getting talented educators back in the classroom will prepare our students for success and I’m thrilled these laws will ease the path for reentry,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan D-Durango. “Our state is facing a significant teacher and school staff shortage, and this couldn’t be more true for rural school districts. I’m proud of the bipartisan work we’ve done to craft these bills and their passage today is a step in the right direction in addressing the teacher shortage, improving education outcomes for our students and moving Colorado forward.” PERA Service Retiree Employment in Rural Schools: This bill will make it easier for rural school districts to address the teacher and employee shortages. HB22-1101 , sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Marc Catlin, will make permanent a program that is currently scheduled to expire that allows retired public employees to return to full-time work in a rural school district without an impact on their retirement benefits. It also expands the program to include school nurses and paraprofessionals. PERA Employment After Teacher Retirement: This bill will temporarily waive the limitations set by the public employees' retirement association (PERA) regarding the number of days qualified service retirees can substitute teach. HB22-1057 , sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Mary Bradfield, will make it easier for retired teachers to re-enter the classroom. Under current limitations, if retired teachers work over the number of allotted days, their PERA benefits are reduced. The bill temporarily lifts the waiver until July 1st, 2025. Additionally, qualified service retirees can teach in any school district while there is a critical substitute teacher shortage in Colorado. Colorado is facing a significant teacher shortage. During the 2020-2021 school year nearly 13% of teacher positions were filled through a shortage mechanism and more than 200 positions went completely unfilled statewide. These bills aim to break down barriers for retired teachers, educators, paraprofessionals, school nurses and bus drivers to work in districts facing a shortage of school staff. Sourcing quality teachers and school staff help better prepare students for success. Previous Next

< Back May 5, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES COLORADO COMEBACK PACKAGE TO SUPPORT WORKERS, STUDENTS, BUSINESSES, FAMILIES, AND MORE House advances five state stimulus proposals on second reading DENVER, CO– The House today gave preliminary approval to five Colorado Comeback state stimulus proposals to give restaurants a leg up, invest in jobs training, close the COVID learning gap, and boost affordable housing opportunities. The bills are part of the $800 million package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. “Restaurants, bars, and other food service businesses took quite a hit during the pandemic, but many are on the mend as our economy continues to safely reopen,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn. “Extending a crucial tax break that has served as a lifeline for many of these businesses will help our restaurant industry build back stronger. I hope and expect that the summer months will be a boon for small businesses across the state, and I’m proud to say that many of them will be able to take thousands of dollars in additional deductions. HB21-1265 , sponsored by Reps Kyle Mullica and Kevin Van Winkle R-Highlands Ranch, continues a successful sales tax assistance effort passed during the 2020 special session. It allows restaurants, bars, caterers, and food service contractors (such as airline food service contractors and food concession contractors at sporting events) to deduct up to $70,000 in net taxable sales from their monthly state sales tax return for five different locations and retain the resulting sales tax revenue during the months of June, July, and August 2021. “Coloradans who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 are eager to get back to work,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “By investing in the SNAP Employment First initiative, we’re making sure that the Colorado comeback extends to low-income workers across the state. The skills and jobs training provided by this proven program will go a long way toward helping Colorado’s workers find rewarding employment that will support them for years to come.” The SNAP Employment First initiative has successfully helped Coloradans who receive SNAP benefits obtain new skills to thrive and reenter the workforce. HB21-1270 , sponsored by Representatives Tony Exum and Yadira Caraveo, leverages $3 million in state funds to draw down an additional $3 million in federal funds to provide a total of $6 million for jobs and skills training services to SNAP recipients. The funds may also be used to support work based learning opportunities and expanding 3rd party partnerships to expand the SNAP employment and training program’s reach. “Affordable housing has long been a top priority for myself and my colleagues in the legislature,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The pandemic only heightened the need to take bold action to ensure that Colorado families can keep a roof over their head despite the economic turmoil. As we work to build back a stronger Colorado, we’re giving local governments the tools and the funding they need to meet the unique affordable housing needs of their rural, rural-resort, suburban and urban communities.” Local governments are on the forefront of building affordable housing, but often lack the tools and resources to increase the available housing stock. HB21-1271 , sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Iman Jodeh, provides $13 million in incentives and technical assistance to local governments to provide for the rapid deployment of affordable housing projects and to also ensure local communities have the tools and resources they need to help them identify and meet their unique housing needs. HB21-1234 , sponsored by Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, would create and fund the Colorado High Impact Tutoring Program. Data consistently demonstrates that high-impact tutoring, when administered during the school day to groups of four of fewer students by the same qualified tutor at least three times per week, is one of the most effective interventions to raise student achievement. This program would be administered under the Colorado Department of Education and would provide grants to local education providers for high impact tutoring programs designed to address COVID-related learning loss. The bill outlines the process and requirements for applying for funding, and establishes that rural education providers and schools serving low-income or underserved students must be among the criteria taken into consideration in awarding grants. Previous Next

< Back February 27, 2024 Bills to Save Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs, Prevent Violence Against Health Care Workers Pass Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed two bills to improve health care in Colorado. HB24-1010 would streamline prescription drug access for Coloradans with chronic, complex, rare, or life-threatening medical conditions and save them money on life-saving prescription drugs. HB24-1066 would help prevent workplace violence against nurses, CNAs and other health care workers. “Health care decisions should be based on the health and safety of a patient, not dictated by profits for health care insurers,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB24-1010. “Doctors are sometimes required to order medications for their patients through specific pharmacies, which leads to delays in care and additional costs. Our legislation saves Coloradans money on these medications and breaks down prescription drug access barriers to ensure that Coloradans can access the medication they need, when they need it.” HB24-1010 , also sponsored by Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, passed by a vote of 9-3. The bill would protect Coloradans’ access to critical provider-administered prescription drugs by breaking down unnecessary barriers, including added fees, that make it difficult for patients to access their life-saving medication. The bill would: Prohibit insurance carriers from requiring certain prescription drugs to be available only by specific pharmacies, or only at in-network pharmacies, Prevent insurance carriers from limiting or excluding provider-administered prescription drugs due to the patient’s choice of preferred pharmacy, or Prohibit insurance carriers from imposing additional fees, copayments, or coinsurance due to the patient’s choice of preferred pharmacy or if the provider-administered drug was not provided by a pharmacy in the carrier’s network. “Violence in the workplace should never be tolerated, and we’re stepping up to help protect our valued health care workers,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, sponsor of HB24-1066. “With verbal and physical aggression against our health care workers on the rise, this bill establishes procedures and protocols to prevent these instances and creates proper channels for reporting. No one should feel unsafe while on the job, and this bill works to protect our health care workers from violence.” “The majority of health care workers are reporting an increase in verbal abuse and physical aggression while they’re on the job,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor HB24-1066. “This bill takes the necessary steps to protect our health care workers from violence by incorporating evidence-based solutions, such as reporting channels and dedicated worker safety plans in facilities, to curb violence. Our health care workers have worked tirelessly the past few years to keep Coloradans safe and healthy, and this legislation is a step in the right direction to keep them safe from violence in the workplace.” HB24-1066 , passed by a vote of 12 to 1 and would work to protect health care staff from violence. This bill would require facilities, such as hospitals, nursing care facilities and assisted living residences, among others to establish a workplace violence prevention committee that documents and reviews violent incidents, develops and implements prevention plans for their employees, offers immediate post-incident services, and submits biannual incident reports to the Department of Public Health and Environment or the Behavioral Health Administration. The bill specifies that facilities must not discourage staff from reporting incidents to law enforcement. It also protects health care workers who choose to either report a workplace violence incident, advise a staff member of the right to report, or choose not to report an incident. HB24-1066 intends to curb the increase in violence against health care workers, including verbal aggression and physical violence . Health care workers are 5-times more likely to experience violence at the workplace compared to other workers. Previous Next

< Back February 22, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO UPDATE COLORADO’S DEFINITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to update the state’s definition of sexual assault passed the House today by a unanimous vote. HB22-1169, sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Matt Soper, would update the definition of sexual assault in state law to include consent. “This bill makes an update to Colorado’s dated definition of sexual assault to include ‘knowing the victim does not consent’,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet D-Commerce City. “Through modernizing the definition of sexual assault, we’re making it clear that without known consent, it's sexual assault in the eyes of the law. This session, we’re taking big steps towards making Colorado safer, and this bill works to modernize the definition of sexual assault to make it easier for prosecutors to charge perpetrators and get survivors the justice they deserve.” Under current Colorado law, sexual assault is defined as “sexual intrusion or penetration when the actor causes submission of the victim by means sufficient to cause submission against the victim's will.” If passed, HB22-1169 amends this definition to “...when the actor causes sexual intrusion or sexual penetration knowing the victim does not consent.” Colorado’s definition of sexual assault originated nearly 50 years ago when Coloradans’ scope of sexual assault victims was narrow and non-inclusive. This bill aims to modernize the definition of sexual assault to include consent. Previous Next

< Back February 17, 2022 BILL TO BOOST COLORADO WORKFORCE PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – Legislation to boost Colorado’s workforce by breaking down barriers for Coloradans with a criminal history to obtain licensure, certification or registration for many professions and occupations passed the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee unanimously. HB22-1098, sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird and Jennifer Bacon, would make it easier for Coloradans with unrelated criminal charges to obtain the credentials they need to enter a profession. “Access to opportunity is the key to a fulfilling life. We must not allow our laws and regulations to stand in the way of a person’s right to get a job and provide for themselves,” said Rep. Shannon Bird D-Westminster. “This legislation levels the playing field for those involved with the justice system by requiring DORA to evaluate barriers to entering a profession and to also create a standard for Coloradans with criminal records to apply for jobs. We’re working hard to boost Colorado’s workforce by making it easier for qualified, talented individuals to pursue careers in health care, professional trades work and other high-demand jobs." “This session, we’re continuing our work to break down barriers to employment,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon D-Denver. “Right now, many individuals with a criminal record of any kind are barred from applying for certain jobs that are regulated by the state. In the U.S., one in three Americans have a record and communities of color are disproportionately represented. This bill would open up new opportunities for qualified Coloradans who have been involved with the criminal justice system to apply for jobs, begin new careers and boost our workforce.” If passed, HB22-1098 would make it so applicants may only be denied a credential based on their criminal history if that history would hinder their ability to do their job safely and competently. Additionally, the bill allows regulators to issue a conditional credential to a potential applicant with certain guardrails in place. Nearly one in three Coloradans have a criminal record that hinders them from applying for state regulated jobs, including K-12 teaching, child care, health care and other high-demand sectors in Colorado facing workforce shortages. HB22-1098 would make it easier for qualified Coloradans to apply for these jobs if their criminal record does not hinder their ability to do the job safely. Previous Next

< Back May 7, 2023 House Passes Colorado River Drought Task Force DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie to identify steps the state can take to protect the Colorado River and all who rely on its water. “On the Western Slope, the Colorado River speaks to the very spirit of our Colorado way of life,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “This bipartisan legislation brings every voice to the table, uplifts the needs of Coloradans from around the state and ensures collaboration between the state and local voices to find solutions to the devastating impacts of a hotter, drier climate. Troubling drought conditions have put the water we use for agriculture, outdoor recreation and drinking in jeopardy and threatens our economic future. This bill will help us craft a robust plan to ensure our water future.” SB23-295 , also sponsored by Representative Marc Catlin, passed the House by a vote of 63 to 2. This bill creates the Colorado River Drought Task Force that would include representatives from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, regional water conservation districts, local governmental officials, agricultural producers, environmental non-profit organizations, and others that have diverse experiences with complex water issues. By December of 2023, after an extensive stakeholding process open to public comment, the task force would make policy recommendations to the General Assembly to: Proactively address the impact of droughts on the Colorado River and its tributaries, Avoid disproportionate economic and environmental impacts to any one region of the state, Ensure that any program related to the acquisition of agricultural water rights is voluntary, temporary, and compensated, Assure meaningful collaboration among the Colorado River District, Southwestern Water Conservation District, and the State of Colorado in the design and implementation of drought security programs, and Evaluate sources of revenue for the acquisition of program water. A sub-task force consisting of representatives from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Department of Natural Resources would also be established to provide policy recommendations to the General Assembly to address tribal needs. These recommendations would consider the unique nature of tribal water rights and tribal water use. The Colorado River provides water to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Mexico. Over 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for their water supply, and record-breaking heatwaves and droughts in the Southwestern US have only exacerbated water conservation issues. SB23-295 will rely on water experts and relevant stakeholders to provide effective solutions to the General Assembly so our state can protect the Colorado River and its tributaries through meaningful collaboration with local voices and without disproportionate impacts on certain regions of the state. Previous Next

< Back February 17, 2022 BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS COLORADO’S RURAL TEACHER AND STAFF SHORTAGE PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to address the critical school staff and teacher workforce shortage in rural Colorado by a vote of 8 to 1. HB22-1101, sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Marc Catlin, would allow retirees to return to rural school districts experiencing a critical shortage of staff without a reduction to their PERA benefits. “This bipartisan legislation aims to boost our teacher workforce by allowing retired staff to return to the classroom in rural school districts experiencing a critical teacher shortage,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan D-Durango. “We know our rural schools are also experiencing a workforce shortage that goes beyond the classroom which is why this bill extends provisions to paraprofessionals and school nurses. We’re making huge strides towards providing rural school districts with the resources they need to prepare their students for success and move Colorado forward.” If passed, HB22-1101 would continue a program currently set to expire next year that allows retired teachers, school bus drivers and food services workers to return to work without a reduction in their PERA benefits. This bill would make the program provisions permanent and allow qualified PERA retirees to return only to rural school districts experiencing a critical workforce shortage. Rural school districts are suffering from an extreme labor shortage that extends beyond the classroom. In addition to teachers, HB22-1101 would allow retired food service cooks, paraprofessionals, school nurses and school bus drivers to return to their rural school districts within two years of retirement. Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2022 RECYCLING IMPROVEMENT BILL WILL SAVE COLORADANS MONEY Bipartisan legislation would ease recycling for all Coloradans, improve Colorado’s waste diversion and cut down on excessive packaging DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bipartisan bill on a preliminary vote to transform Colorado’s recycling and waste diversion. The Producer Recycling Responsibility Program, sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter and Senators Kevin Priola and Julie Gonzales, would make recycling easier, more effective and save Coloradans money. “Colorado’s waste diversion rates are terrible and that’s through no fault of everyday Coloradans,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D- Littleton. “It’s time to rethink the way we recycle and our bipartisan bill would create an easier and more consistent recycling system to combat climate change, improve waste diversion, create a circular economy and save Coloradans money. It’s clear, our current recycling system isn’t working – and this bill revamps the way Colorado diverts waste to protect our planet.” The Producer Recycling Responsibility Program: HB22-1355 , would transform Colorado’s fractured approach to recycling by requiring producers to contribute, based on their product’s packaging, to a producer responsibility organization to create more coordinated management of a statewide recycling system. This bill aims to distribute the recycling responsibility from consumers and local governments to producers. Under the bill, producers will pay a fee based on the material used to package their products including cans, bottles, boxes, containers and shrink wrap. Revenue generated from producers would be used toward expanding Colorado’s recycling infrastructure, making it easier for Coloradans across the state to access reliable, no-cost curbside recycling. Colorado’s recycling programs are disjointed resulting in inconvenient, inconsistent and costly waste diversion. As a result, Colorado only diverts 15 percent of all recyclable materials from landfills every year, less than half the national recycling rate. Colorado also buries more than 5.9 million tons of recyclable materials in landfills that are worth $100 million. By increasing Colorado’s recycling rates, we can create a more reliable supply of materials for new products that support local communities and create a circular economy to save Colorado businesses and households money. This bill would centralize Colorado’s recycling system to save Coloradans money, remove barriers for consumers and expand recycling services and access for everyone, including Coloradans living in rural communities. HB22-1355 is based on successful international producer responsibility programs that have resulted in recycling rates of 70-80 percent in Canada and some European countries. Previous Next