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< Back May 25, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: COMPREHENSIVE FENTANYL BILL SIGNED INTO LAW Bipartisan legislation significantly increases penalties on dealers and invests in proven public health solutions to save lives DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed comprehensive, bipartisan legislation sponsored by House Speaker Alec Garnett and Senators Brittany Pettersen and John Cooke to combat the fentanyl crisis and save lives. “This law is a bold response deploying both public safety and public health approaches to combat Colorado’s fentanyl crisis and save countless lives from this deadly drug,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This comprehensive plan cracks down on dealers peddling this poison in our communities and invests in proven public health strategies to prevent overdoses and deaths. For months, we worked with law enforcement, public health experts, Democrats and Republicans to craft this law, and it’s a major step forward toward saving lives.” “We are in the third wave of the opioid epidemic and in the worst overdose crisis in the history of this country. Fentanyl is the drug of choice for the cartels because it’s potent, cheap and easy to traffic,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood . “We need to go after the dealers who are poisoning our communities and provide training and resources to better equip law enforcement to investigate fentanyl poisonings while increasing access to desperately needed treatment and life-saving harm reduction tools. This law is about saving lives with a comprehensive public health and public safety approach, and will complement the work we’re doing to fix our broken behavioral health system throughout Colorado.” HB22-1326 is a comprehensive approach that includes both proven public health solutions and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers to save lives and get fentanyl off Colorado streets. The bill will strengthen criminal penalties on individuals who are distributing fentanyl and bringing it into our state. In line with other models for substance use convictions, the bill will also integrate mandatory substance use disorder (SUD) assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing to help ensure people get the treatment they need. The bill focuses on compound fentanyl – fentanyl mixed with other drugs or substances – which is by far the most prominent form of fentanyl found in Colorado. It will provide law enforcement with additional tools to go after dealers while providing treatment options to individuals with substance use disorders. Individuals who are dealing fentanyl will face increased felony charges, and if the defendant has distributed any amount of fentanyl and it leads to someone’s death, they can be charged with a level one drug felony and face the drug code’s strongest penalties. The bill also gives law enforcement tools to require treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. Defendants in possession of any amount of fentanyl compound will be assessed for a substance use disorder and required to complete an education program developed by the Behavioral Health Administration in CDPHE. Individuals assessed as having a substance use disorder will have to complete mandatory treatment. HB22-1326 makes it a felony to possess more than one gram of fentanyl compound/mixture while creating legal guardrails for individuals who genuinely did not know they were in possession of this deadly drug. The new language says that if a defendant can successfully argue that they made “a reasonable mistake of fact,” then they will be sentenced with the lesser charge – a level one drug misdemeanor rather than a felony. The new felony, which is not prison eligible, also includes what is known as a “wobbler” provision that allows individuals who successfully complete treatment to have the felony moved down to a misdemeanor on their record. Additionally, once Colorado’s labs have the ability to test for the percentage of fentanyl within a compound, this bill turns on a no tolerance policy for the possession of pure fentanyl. Finally, the legislation creates a grant fund for law enforcement agencies to pursue investigations of fentanyl poisonings. This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will address the root causes of fentanyl use and keep people alive. Colorado will save lives by investing in effective public health and substance use prevention and treatment strategies and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves from this extremely potent drug. The legislation directs $29 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to implement recommendations from the Transformational Behavioral Health Task Force on effective harm reduction strategies and increased access to substance use disorder treatment in the criminal justice system. This money will be used to buy and distribute fentanyl testing strips and Naloxone, a life-saving opiate antagonist that helps prevent overdose deaths; boost funding to harm reduction community programs across the state; and expand medication assisted treatment in jails to get people the help they need to get back on track. The bill will also provide additional funding to crisis stabilization and detoxification centers. While public awareness of fentanyl has risen, education campaigns that promote effective overdose prevention tools will save lives. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will develop, implement and maintain an ongoing statewide prevention and education campaign to address fentanyl education needs in the state, including the message that no amount of fentanyl is safe. The bill will also provide grants to develop and implement community-focused education campaigns on the dangers of fentanyl, so the State of Colorado can reach as many people as possible to raise awareness of this critical issue. Previous Next

< Back April 19, 2022 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS BILL DENVER, CO – The House Transportation & Local Government Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to provide volunteer firefighters with more resources and tools to combat wildfires. “Colorado’s wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive — it is critical that we invest our firefighters so they have the tools they need to protect our land, homes and lives,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton. “The work of local fire departments will only become more difficult as climate change continues. So our bipartisan bill provides the funding our local fire departments need to upgrade old equipment, recruit new seasonal firefighters, improve training and address the behavioral health needs of our firefighters.” Resources For Volunteer Firefighters : SB22-002 , sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter and Perry Will would invest $5 million to better prepare local fire departments and their firefighters for wildfires. Specifically, this bill would make local volunteer fire departments eligible for reimbursement for wildland fire suppression activities, including equipment costs and volunteer firefighter recruitment, training and retention. Local fire departments will also be able to use funds from the Local Firefighter Safety and Disease Prevention Grant Program for the replacement or disposal of damaged or obsolete equipment. The bill also creates the Firefighter Behavioral Health Benefits Trust to provide behavioral health care services to firefighters and paid for by public employers. SB22-002 passed committee unanimously. As climate change elevates the threat of destructive wildfires in Colorado, this bill aims to provide funding to Colorado’s local fire departments so they have the resources needed to purchase necessary equipment, train seasonal firefighters and respond safely to wildfires. Previous Next

< Back March 2, 2020 HOUSE PASSES EXTENSION OF CONTRACTING SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES The House today passed by a vote of 49-12, Representatives Daneya Esgar and Tom Sullivan’s legislation to extend the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for the next five years. “The Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is an invaluable resource for small businesses across Colorado. Being able to take advantage of federal contracting is a huge boost to not only their businesses but to our economy said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Minority, veteran and women-owned businesses need our support, and now that the House has passed PTAC, we’re one step closer to supporting these businesses for the next five years. “Entering the world of government contracting is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for a small business. PTAC is a resource that guides small minority, veteran and women-owned businesses through the complex process,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial . “When small businesses succeed, Colorado is better for it.” HB20-1116 would extend the Colorado Procurement Assistance Center for five years. The state currently contracts with a nonprofit to provide procurement assistance services, and that contract will end in September 2020. The bill will also allow the state to contribute additional resources to the program if the nonprofit agrees to match that investment 100 percent. PTAC provides free consulting with procurement counselors, as well as a variety of subject matter experts, to Colorado’s small, women, veteran and minority-owned businesses applying for and performing government contracts at the federal, state and local levels. PTAC also runs free workshops and host events, including a training series, a speaker series and networking events with major federal contractors. The program, which started in 2009, has served over 5,000 clients and helped support 55,000 jobs in Colorado. In 2018 alone, the program helped companies earn a combined $419 million in government contracts and helped create/retain over 8,000 jobs. The program has consistently outperformed its statutorily required performance metrics, serving six times the number of active businesses required by law. It has provided over 1,000 more counseling hours than required by law and sponsored twice as many events. Previous Next

< Back February 13, 2023 Titone Statement on Defeated Anti-Trans Bill DENVER, CO – Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, today released the following statement on anti-trans legislation defeated by Democrats on the State, Civic, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee: “It is infuriating that trans people, their families and allies must come to the Capitol to advocate against legislation that targets our community just months after a shooter attacked LGBTQ Coloradans at Club Q – violence incited in part by dangerous rhetoric elevated by politicians with platforms. While Colorado is long past being known as ‘the hate state,’ GOP lawmakers continue to sponsor dangerous legislation that would harm trans youth. Laws like these give legitimacy to the hateful rhetoric and increase bullying, physical assaults on trans youth, and rates of suicide and self harm. “Across the country, Republican-led state legislatures are attacking LGBTQ people and passing laws that endanger trans lives by legislating away their existence. From furries in classrooms to claims of voter fraud, discredited conspiracies are fueling Republican bills that are nothing more than solutions in search of problems that don’t exist. We won’t let them pass in Colorado. House Democrats will continue to govern responsibly, focus on the most pressing needs in our communities, and defend our freedoms and democracy.” Previous Next

< Back May 20, 2021 HEALTH COMMITTEE DEMS ADVANCE BILL TO LOWER RX DRUG COSTS DENVER– The House Health and Insurance Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Yardira Caraveo, a physician, and Chris Kennedy to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. The committee also passed HB21-1307, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, to ensure all Coloradans who need it have access to affordable insulin. “Colorado Democrats have made reducing the cost of health care and prescription drugs a top priority, and today we’re continuing our efforts by creating an affordability board that will save Coloradans money on the life-saving prescription drugs they need,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Pharmaceutical companies are making billions in profit and spending billions more on advertising, CEO pay and stock buybacks that enrich their shareholders. At the same time, they are demanding consumers pay more and more for the same drugs they’ve used for years. It’s time to put an end to the myth that Big Pharma needs to price gouge US consumers to pay for research and development, and it’s time to make sure that every Coloradan can afford the life-saving prescription drugs they need.” “Coloradans need us to act now to reduce the cost of prescription drugs,” s aid Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, a physician. “Prescription drugs are essential tools for physicians to manage, prevent and cure diseases, but Coloradans are struggling to access them because the cost is too high when it shouldn’t even be a consideration. Even the most successful drug on the market becomes ineffective when a patient can’t afford it. The prescription drug affordability board is going to reign in the high cost of prescription drugs and ensure more patients have access to the treatments they need.” Nearly one-in-three Coloradans struggle to afford the cost of prescription drugs. As established in SB21-175, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will convene a panel of experts to investigate prescription drug cost increases, and set guardrails on cost increases for the most expensive prescription drugs in the state. The affordability board would set upper payment limits for prescription drugs that meet certain cost increase thresholds. These payment limits would apply to all purchasers in the state, but will only be placed on the highest cost drugs. The board will collect and evaluate the data necessary to review the affordability of prescription drugs and make policy recommendations to legislators. The board will be made up of nonpartisan, unpaid, highly qualified experts who are free from conflicts of interest. A recent poll from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative found that 77% of Coloradans supported the idea of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to analyze and act to lower the cost of certain prescription drugs — and this bill seeks to answer their call. In addition to passing SB21-175, the committee also advanced Rep. Dylan Robert’s bill to make insulin more available and reduce its cost. “No one should have to go without the insulin they need to survive, but too many Coloradans can’t afford the medicine they need. In 2021, that should not happen and we need to do something about it,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This bill builds on Colorado’s national leadership on this issue and will guarantee that regardless of insurance status, Coloradans with diabetes can get insulin at an affordable price when they need it.” HB21-1307 would increase access to insulin by clarifying that the current $100 cap on a person’s monthly insulin supply applies regardless of the number of prescriptions a person may have. Furthermore it allows eligible consumers to access one emergency prescription insulin supply for no more than $35 per 12-month period. Finally, it creates the Insulin Affordability Program in the Division of Insurance to help eligible individuals obtain prescription insulin for $50 a month for 12 months. The findings of an investigation conducted by the Colorado Attorney General’s office released in November, 2020, found that over 40% of Coloradans using insulin rationed their medicine due to cost and that over 37% use expired insulin to stretch their supplies due to high costs. Previous Next

< Back May 20, 2024 SIGNED! Bipartisan Bills to Make Mountain Roads Safer CMVs represent about 7 percent of traffic, but account for more than 52 percent of traffic incidents; and wrecks involving CMVs take nearly twice as long to clear as passenger incidents GYPSUM, CO – Today, Governor Jared Polis signed into law bipartisan legislation that would improve safety and keep traffic flowing on Colorado’s mountain highways and better enforce commercial driving infractions. SB24-100 , sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Representative Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, improves safety by allowing the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to establish a zone with double speeding fines for commercial drivers in Glenwood Canyon. The bill also bans commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) from driving in the left lane on I-70 in several key stretches where crashes are most frequent and disruptive, except to lawfully pass. “The last few winters on our mountain highways have been particularly challenging with way too many avoidable closures as the result of unprepared CMV drivers,” Roberts said. “We can’t control the weather, but avoidable crashes, spin-outs, and other accidents have unnecessarily closed our highways and hurt our economy by delaying the delivery of goods, negatively impacting tourism and the businesses in the mountains that rely on visitors. By increasing common sense safety measures, these bipartisan bills will make I-70 and mountain passes safer.” “My community of Glenwood Springs experiences the most accidents of the entire stretch of I-70, and road closures due to these accidents can have negative consequences on our businesses and the safety of our residents,” said Velasco. “When I-70 is closed, employees can’t make it to work and first responders can’t address an emergency in a timely manner. The goal of our new law is to reduce accidents on I-70 so we can keep our roads open and communities safe.” SB24-100 further expands locations where CDOT may require traction equipment from parts of I-70 to key mountainous stretches of other state and U.S. highways, and to enable this, directs CDOT to study additional locations for chain-up stations. It also gives port of entry officers the powers of a peace officer when enforcing highway closures while HB24-1135 , sponsored by Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, and Roberts, aims to increase road safety by keeping unqualified commercial drivers off the road. First, it upgrades the severity of 3 offenses from traffic infraction to class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense: operating a CMV without a commercial driver license; operating a commercial motor vehicle while under 21 years of age; or driving a commercial vehicle with more than one license. It also adds legal accountability for employers who knowingly employ underage or unlicensed drivers. “Coloradans deserve to drive on safe roads, and our law will create stronger guardrails to help prevent traffic accidents,” said Snyder. “This new law will help ensure that people have the proper qualifications to operate commercial vehicles so Coloradans can have peace of mind while on our roads.” Additionally, during the 2024 legislative interim, the bill requires the Transportation Legislation Review Committee to analyze the enforcement of impaired driving offenses, including situations involving a driver that refuses to take or complete a blood or breath test as required by law. Previous Next

< Back April 22, 2022 THREE WILDFIRE BILLS ADVANCE HOUSE Legislation will save homeowners money on wildfire mitigation, invest in statewide wildfire prevention efforts and ensure Coloradans displaced by wildfires receive fair insurance payouts DENVER, CO – The House advanced three wildfire bills today to build a healthier, safer Colorado. These bills move forward as Colorado faces the worst fire conditions in over a decade. “The time to act on wildfire prevention efforts is now,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara, sponsor of HB22-1007 “My heart goes out to all those displaced by the recent wildfire in Monte Vista and yet this is another reminder of why we need to invest in prevention efforts to protect communities and build a safer state. Our bill saves homeowners money on removing debris, restoring fire damaged land and other mitigation efforts.” “Damage from wildfire trickles down our watersheds, endangering our access to clean drinking water and making it harder for agricultural producers to supply the products we need,” Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of HB22-1379. “Our bipartisan bill makes investments to improve our watersheds so we can protect Coloradans’ access to clean water and reduce widespread wildfire risk. We are taking steps to combat destructive wildfires in Colorado by protecting our watersheds.” “We are making it clear, Coloradans who’ve lost everything in a wildfire should receive the insurance payouts they are owed,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB22-1111 . “This bill cuts the red tape for Coloradans displaced by wildfire, so they can file and receive insurance claims faster. Recovering after a wildfire is stressful enough, and our bill ensures Coloradans face fewer insurance barriers and have more time to rebuild.” Saving Homeowners Money on Wildfire Mitigation : HB22-1007 , sponsored by Representatives Donald Valdez and Mike Lynch, passed the House by a vote of 56 to 8 and would save people money on wildfire mitigation measures. The bill extends an existing income tax deduction and creates a state income tax credit to reimburse landowners for the costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures on their property. A landowner with a federal taxable income at or below $120,000 is allowed a state income tax credit equal to 25% of mitigation costs, up to $625 per year. It also creates a grant program to fund local outreach efforts to communicate best practices in wildfire mitigation and prevention to landowners. Preventing Wildfires and Conserving Colorado’s Watersheds: HB22-1379 , sponsored by Representatives Karen McCormick and Marc Catlin advanced the House on a preliminary vote and would invest $20 million to protect Colorado’s watersheds and reduce the risk of wildfires. HB22-1379 directs $20 million in federal pandemic economic relief funds to prevent wildfires and conserve Colorado’s watersheds through mitigation, watershed restoration and flood mitigation grants ensuring that Colorado can compete for other available water and wildfire funds. Insurance Coverage For Loss Declared Fire Disaster: HB22-1111 , sponsored by Representative Judy Amabile, concurred with the Senate amendments and the House repassed the bill by a vote of 54 to 10. HB22-1111 now heads to the Governor’s desk. The bill takes a proactive approach to ensure homeowners displaced by wildfires receive a fair and comprehensive payout for lost property after deeply traumatizing and catastrophic disasters. This bill would update a 2013 law by standardizing what insurers will pay out in claims for lost property and additional living expenses after a declared wildfire disaster. More specifically, it would require insurers to pay disaster victims 65 percent of the value of the contents of their home up front without requiring the victim to do a comprehensive inventory of their personal property. Current law only guarantees 30 percent upfront, creating a burdensome process for many people to claim what they are owed after a deeply traumatizing event. The bill also puts in place several provisions that would streamline the insurance claims process for disaster victims. Previous Next

< Back May 20, 2019 GOV SIGNS BILLS TO HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR COLORADANS WHO NEED IT THE MOST Colorado is ranked near the bottom for behavioral health care (May 20) – Gov. Polis signed two bills today at the Colorado Mental Wellness Network to address the current mental health crisis facing Colorado. SB19-222, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, expands community based services, providing a safety net of comprehensive mental health care that could cover the entire state. “SB 222 is about implementing a vision for a system that can serve everyone, so Colorado’s jails don’t have to. When people with serious behavioral health disorders cannot access the treatment they need, other parts of our system are negatively impacted as we’ve directly seen in Pueblo,” said Rep. Esgar. “These new laws are about helping the people in our communities who are the hardest to serve.” Rep. Esgar’s bill requires access to civil beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institutes at Fort Logan and Pueblo. It also requires a robust collaboration with all local enforcement jurisdictions and counties in the service area. SB19-223, sponsored by Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, was also signed today, and improves the process and provision of services for individuals who have been ordered for competency evaluation and restoration in the criminal justice system. “This bill will ensure that our criminal justice system adheres to constitutional requirements when questions of competency are raised,” said Rep. Weissman. “We can, we must, and with SB19-223, we will address competency evaluations and restorations more quickly and efficiently. Together with SB19-222, this bill will help keep individuals with behavioral health issues from becoming entangled in our justice system.” Rep. Weissman’s bill is the primary legislative mechanism to codify the reforms set forth by the taskforce. It includes a series of reforms to help the Colorado Department of Health Services come into compliance with a mandated timeframe for providing competency services. It also requires the Department of Human Services to implement policies to prioritize in-patient treatment for those with the greatest need while providing community-based services for other patients. Both bills were co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain. Previous Next

< Back July 1, 2021 SIGNED! FRONT RANGE RAIL AND JUST TRANSITION BILLS BECOME LAW DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed two bills into law to invest millions into helping communities transitioning away from coal and to lay the groundwork for the development of a passenger rail to connect Colorado from our Northern to our Southern borders. Both of these bills were sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar. “The two new laws created today have been longstanding priorities of my Southern Colorado constituents for years,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, sponsor of HB21-1290 and SB21-238. “Creating the framework for front range rail today will allow us to take advantage of federal transportation funds efficiently and keep Colorado connected from North to South. At the same time, making a major investment in the Office of Just Transition will go a long way toward supporting coal-dependent workers and families in communities like mine. I’m so proud of the work we did this session to create a more prosperous and connected Colorado for all.” The Office of Just Transition was created by the legislature in 2019 to support coal workers, employers and communities as they plan for the future closings of coal plants and mines upon which their communities depend. As market shifts, consumer choices and environmental policies move our state toward renewable energy, the Office and the Just Transition Action Plan was created to support coal transition communities. HB21-1290 , also sponsored by Rep. Perry Will, R-New Castle, will invest $15 million of state stimulus funds into the Office of Just Transition. Of that amount $8 million will go to the Just Transition Cash Fund and $7 million to the newly created Coal Transition Worker Assistance Program account within the fund. The new law requires the Office of Just Transition to use these funds to implement the Just Transition Action Plan and provide funding for existing programs that make targeted economic development investments in coal transition communities for business retention, creation, expansion and attraction; infrastructure investments; and strategies for attracting increased investment in these communities. The Coal Transition Worker Assistance Program’s share of the funding will be allocated to programs that directly assist coal transition workers, including apprenticeship programs, financial planning support, tuition reimbursements, job search assistance, on-the-job training, or other strategies to help impacted workers. “The framework created today gets us one step closer to making Front Range Rail a reality,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, sponsor of SB21-238 . “In addition to keeping Colorado connected, a passenger rail between our Front Range communities will revitalize local economies, improve congestion on our highways and help us lower emissions. After today, Colorado will be uniquely prepared to receive federal transportation funds and put them to work for our constituents right away.” SB21-238 creates the Front Range Passenger Rail District and tasks it with conducting the necessary research, development, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the Front Range Passenger Rail system, which would connect Coloradans living and working along the I-25 corridor. The new law outlines funding options and authorizes the District to pursue a sales and use tax that would be subject to voter approval. The District will be overseen by a board of directors that are instructed to work closely with RTD and Amtrak to ensure the passenger rail and transit systems are compatible and work well for travelers. The law ensures Colorado will be in position to benefit from the federal government’s proposed investment in railroad development. Previous Next

< Back November 12, 2019 REP. ESGAR TAKES HELM OF JBC DENVER, CO– Representative Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo) today took the gavel of the Joint Budget Committee after serving as the committee’s vice-chair during the last legislative session. The JBC is responsible for authoring the Long Bill, which sets the state’s annual budget and departments’ spending priorities. “I’m honored to have the privilege to lead the Joint Budget Committee as we work to craft a budget that balances our state’s many competing priorities,” said JBC Chair Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo). “I’m committed to working with Governor Polis and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to write a balanced budget that invests in our state’s future, strengthens our economy so that it works for everyone and protects our Colorado way of life.” “Representative Esgar is a respected voice on budget issues in the legislature and is well known in Southern Colorado for fighting for her constituents and standing up for their priorities,” said Colorado House Speaker KC Becker (D-Boulder). “She will be an excellent JBC chair this session, and I know she will continue to produce results for Coloradans in all parts of our state.” The JBC is meeting this week to receive testimony on state departments’ budget requests. Tomorrow, Governor Polis will present his budget to the committee. The committee will continue to hold hearings and craft the state’s budget as the legislative session convenes in January. Rep. Esgar represents parts of Pueblo, Pueblo West, Beulah, Rye and Colorado City. The granddaughter of steelworkers, she was born and raised in Pueblo. Rep. Esgar is a graduate of Pueblo City Schools and Colorado State University-Pueblo. She has worked as a television news producer and a community organizer focusing on poverty and communities of color in Pueblo. Rep. Esgar is known for her work on issues of equality, education, justice, and poverty. She lives with her wife, Heather Palm, in Pueblo. Previous Next

< Back February 7, 2024 House Advances Supplemental Budget Package DENVER, CO - The House today advanced the FY 2024-2025 Budget Supplemental Package on a preliminary vote. The package of bills includes $4.6 million for at-risk students, $11 million for child care and $69.4 million toward expanded access to behavioral health care treatment, including residential beds. Other top priorities in the package include funding for autism care for children, workforce housing, victims of crime, and senior services including Meals on Wheels. “From boosting child care to investing in public safety, this supplemental package delivers on our promise to Coloradans,” said JBC Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster . “These adjustments to our budget will make it easier for Colorado families to not only just get by, but thrive, and they increase support for at-risk students, children with autism spectrum disorder and healthy school meals. I’m proud of our bipartisan work to put Coloradans first and continue to responsibly balance our budget.” “This year’s supplemental package shows our dedication to building a Colorado that meets the needs of its people while responsibly working with the limited budget that we have,” said JBC Member Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “I’m proud that our supplemental package makes critical investments to support our behavioral health workforce, boost education funding, save Coloradans money on energy efficient lawn equipment, and advance critical measures that will help us better fund our schools.” Each year, the legislature adopts a budget supplemental package to make mid-year adjustments to the 2023-2024 budget based on changes to caseload, pupil counts and other considerations. Supporting Education, Setting Students Up for Success HB24-1183 Boosting Funding for At-Risk Students . To support at-risk students in their educational journey, this bill funds over $4.6 million from the State Public School Fund. This bill helps school districts meet the needs of their at-risk students to help them succeed and graduate. HB24-1183 Reaching Educational Goals . To ensure that Colorado schools have the funding they need, HB24-1183 sets aside $2.8 million for two adequacy studies required by SB23-287 to better understand the level of funding Colorado schools need to provide the education students deserve. HB24-1205 Improving Youth’s Access to Books. This bill helps get more books into the hands of our youngest Coloradans by helping the Imagination Library reach its goal of providing one, no cost, book a month to children under the age of five. This bill specifically allows the Imagination Library of Colorado program to partner with other nonprofit organizations and book publishers to reach its goal. HB24-1206 Expanding the Healthy School Meals program . This bill would expand the Healthy School Meals program to include facility schools as well the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. This bill aims to ensure all youth have access to healthy, nutritious food during the school day. Boosting Childcare HB24-1182 Saving Families Money on Child Care. HB24-1182 allocates over $11 million of federal Child Care Development Funds money to the Child Care Sustainability Grant Program and the Early Care and Education Recruitment and Retention Grant and Scholarship Program. Increasing Access to Behavioral Health HB24-1187 Behavioral Health Services in the Criminal Justice System. This bill devotes $58 million to properly staff hospitals that house patients with pending criminal charges that require competency evaluations and services. HB24-1187 Boosting Mental Health Care. This bill supports mental health care by funding $13.1 million to Pueblo’s Colorado Mental Health Hospital so they can fill staff openings with contract staffers. HB24-1203 Increase Residential Treatment Beds. To ensure Coloradans can receive the behavioral health care treatment they need, when they need it this bill allocates $11.4 million for inpatient treatment beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan. HB24-1185 Provider Rate Increase for Child Autism Therapy. This bill meets the recommendations of the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee by offering $10.4 million to increase rates for child behavioral therapies with autism spectrum disorder. Improving Public Safety HB24-1214 Supporting Victims of Crime. This bill aims to support survivors of crime by boosting the Community Crime Victims Grant Program with a $4 million investment. This fund directly supports qualified victims of crime through assisting with emergency housing, child care and medical visits. HB24-1197 Protecting Places of Worship. To aid local places of worship, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, in ramping up their security measures, this bill allocates $1 million toward the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program. HB24-1181 Increase Workforce Housing for Correctional Staff. The bill allocates an additional $120,000 to the Department of Corrections to secure housing for up to 50 correctional employees in the greater Buena Vista area. HB24-1197 Boosting School Security. To help schools keep their students safe through improved physical security measures as well as advanced security training for their staff and teachers, this bill sets aside more than $200,000 in grant funding for local education providers and eligible nonprofits to apply for. Uplifting Communities HB24-1187 Providing Services for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind. Allocating $500,000 for the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind allows the state to meet the rising demand for the long-term needs of Coloradans and maintain accessibility services these communities rely on. Supporting Services for Older Coloradans HB24-1211 Ensuring Older Coloradans have Access to Nutritious Meals. Due to interruptions in federal funding, older Coloradans who use the popular Meals on Wheels food delivery program could experience a lapse in service. This bill offers $2 million in supplemental funding to the Meals on Wheels program and other senior services to ensure the thousands of Coloradans who rely on these programs can have access to healthy, nutritional meals. Reaching our Climate Goals HB24-1196 Saving Coloradans Money on Lawn Equipment . To save Coloradans money on electrifying their lawn equipment, this bill includes a $1.3 million grant renewal to help Coloradans transition to eco-friendly, electric lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other lawn equipment. HB24-1196 Protecting Colorado’s Water. The Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision left Colorado’s wetlands vulnerable to pollution and destruction. This bill allocates over $214,000 to ensure the state can educate on and protect Colorado’s water and ecosystems. Previous Next

< Back March 19, 2019 E-SCOOTERS ZOOM SAFELY UP THE ROAD TOWARD HOUSE FLOOR (Mar. 19) – Rep. Alex Valdez and Rep. James Coleman’s bill to more properly regulate electric scooters passed the House Transportation and Local Government Committee with bipartisan support. “It’s time for Colorado to consider these scooters as an effective mode of transportation,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “We need to include them in our larger strategy for better, more accessible transportation in our communities.” HB19-1221 will remove the current definition of electric scooters as toy vehicles and add them to the definition of motor vehicles. Through this, e-scooters can be used on roadways and will be regulated similarly to electric-assisted bicycles. “These scooters aren’t going away anytime soon, so it’s time we embrace them and help keep riders and pedestrians safe,” said Rep. James Coleman, D-Denver. According to a report from Denver Public Works, e-scooters have already traveled almost one million miles around Denver and could be headed to other communities in the future. Scooters also have the potential to reduce carbon pollution emissions. HB19-1221 passed by a bipartisan vote of 9-2. The bill now heads to the House floor. Previous Next