Search Results

< Back May 25, 2021 BILLS TO PREVENT SUICIDE DEATHS, IMPROVE 2-1-1 HOTLINE PASS COMMITTEE DENVER, CO– The House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee today passed two bills that would better connect Coloradans with critical behavioral health support. SB21-154 , sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Soper, would implement the 988 national suicide prevention lifeline network in Colorado. By calling this number, individuals will be provided with crisis outreach, stabilization, and acute care that aims to prevent suicide deaths. The bill aims to establish the new hotline by January 20222. The bill passed unanimously. “This is such an important bill, and setting up this hotline will make a real difference for people in crisis,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “This hotline will allow every Coloradan to directly access crisis services that can prevent suicide deaths and life-saving behavioral health care.” SB21-239 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Mary Young, would improve the 2-1-1 Statewide Human Services Referral System. The bill appropriates $1 million to expand referral services authorized by the Colorado 2-1-1 collaborative to include referrals for behavioral health services and other resources in the state. By doing so, the 2-1-1 hotline will be able to connect more Coloradans with the mental health services they need. The bill additionally focuses on connecting Coloradans who are unemployed or who do not have health benefits to mental and behavioral health services. “We have a behavioral health crisis in Colorado, and one of the highest barriers people face is not being able to connect and access critical services,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “The 2-1-1 hotline already helps Coloradans access state services. The bill we advanced today would simply add behavioral health referrals to what they are already doing so that when people call and need help, they are connected to providers and the state services they need.” “Too many Coloradans are left without options or without even a phone number to turn to when they need mental health care,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “We’re going to change that. Soon, the 2-1-1 hotline will be able to refer callers to behavioral health services to help more Coloradans get connected with life-saving health care.” Previous Next

< Back October 25, 2023 LGBTQ+ Caucus: Private Schools Shouldn’t Be Allowed to Use Taxpayer Funds to Discriminate DENVER, CO – The Colorado Democratic LGBTQ+ Caucus released the following statement regarding a federal judge’s preliminary injunction to block Colorado from preventing preschool providers in the taxpayer-funded universal preschool (UPK) program from discriminating against LGBTQ+ families and educators: “Institutions that receive public funds should not be able to use those taxpayer resources to discriminate against LGBTQ+ families. All children should have access to high-quality early childhood education that sets them up for success. This decision is in direct conflict with the majority of Coloradans who overwhelmingly support LGBTQ+ rights, oppose discrimination, and support free, high quality preschool for all early learners in Colorado. “The Department of Early Childhood’s non-discrimination requirements for UPK providers are crucial to ensure that taxpayer resources aren’t used to perpetuate bigotry toward LGBTQ+ families. However, under this ruling, taxpayers will now be forced to subsidize religious education institutions who want to use public funding for programs that exclude LGBTQ+ families. Taxpayer dollars should be spent on preschools that are willing to serve all Coloradans, no matter the sexual orientation of parents, or the gender identity of students or staff.” The current members of the Colorado Democratic LGBTQ+ Caucus are: Rep. Brianna Titone, Chair Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, Co-Chair Rep. Jennifer Lea Parenti Rep. Elizabeth Velasco Rep. Stephanie Vigil Rep. Lorena Garcia Rep. Ruby Dickson Rep. Elisabeth Epps Rep. Leslie Herod Rep. Alex Valdez Rep. David Ortiz Sen. Joann Ginal Previous Next

< Back March 5, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES PAIR OF ALEX VALDEZ’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE BILLS Bills encourage the use of electric vehicles and will help Colorado act on climate (March 4) – The House Energy and Environment committee gave approval today to Rep. Alex Valdez and Rep. Donald Valdez’s bill to modify existing statute governing the existing electric vehicle grant fund. “This bill will help address the threat of climate change and reduce carbon emissions by encouraging more Coloradans to purchase electric vehicles and increasing the travel range of EV’s,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “These upgrades can help rural communities because when drivers have to charge their vehicles, they are going to stop in our rural towns, open their wallets and contribute to the economy.” HB19-1198 allows the fund to be used to fully fund the installation of more charging stations for electric vehicles and help offset operation costs. “It’s time that we bring more charging stations to the rural parts of Colorado. Doing so will help address climate change and expand the accessibility of electric vehicles and their benefits to all Colorado communities,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara. HB19-1198 passed the committee 8-2 with bipartisan support and now heads to the House floor. Rep. Alex Valdez’s Colorado Clean Pass Act also passed in the Energy and Environment committee. HB19-1199 expands the number of electric vehicle owners able that can receive discounted access to HOV, HOT, and Toll lanes by imposing a $35 annual fee. This bill updates the number of eligible cars on a regular basis and gets rid of the current waitlist for the program by lifting the cap on an annual basis. That bill passed in the committee by 7-4 and heads to the Finance committee. Previous Next

< Back January 15, 2021 HEROD: WE CAN’T LET MINORITY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES FALL FURTHER BEHIND DENVER, CO — The House today passed SB21-001 on Third Reading and final passage by a vote of 47-16. “To build back stronger, we have to do what we can to keep the small businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic from falling further and further behind,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “Colorado for All means every Coloradan has equal access to the relief and financial support they need for their distressed business, but that hasn’t been the case. This bill is aimed at achieving that goal by allocating funds to disproportionately impacted businesses, particularly those owned by people who have faced historic inequalities and lack access to capital or financial resources. This bill helps remedy some discriminatory systems and gives these businesses a chance to weather the economic consequences of this pandemic.” SB21-001,sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Shane Sandridge, R-El Paso County, would make minor tweaks to the COVID-19 small and minority business relief program that was established during last year’s special session. The legislation will help small businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, especially minority owned businesses, receive timely relief through the program, which is being challenged in a lawsuit that is preventing release of the funds. Minority-owned businesses have not only been disproportionately impacted by the current pandemic, they have faced historic discrimination and barriers to success. For minority-owned businesses, accumulating capital, purchasing property, and starting a business have always been more difficult due to the long-lasting impacts of discriminatory systems that are only exacerbated by the pandemic. These disparities are the result of generations of discrimination through laws and practices that restrict employment and housing opportunities, and limit access to loans and banking, practices which continue today. A 2020 report from the Federal Reserve Banks of Kansas City and Atlanta found that people of color face persistent and structural barriers to acquiring capital, knowledge, and market access to start and grow their business. It found minority-owned small businesses have higher loan denials and interest rates and lower profit margins than their counterparts. Research from the Brookings Institution shows that the PPP program initially relied on traditional banks and disfavored Black and Latinx-owned businesses, blocking access to the program for many. Finally, the US Securities and Exchange Commission concluded that COVID-19 is more likely to negatively impact minority-owned businesses because they are more likely to be in industries and sectors vulnerable to the pandemic, with employees at Latinx and Black-owned businesses far less likely to be able to work from home compared with white-owned businesses. Previous Next

< Back May 28, 2019 GOV SIGNS BILL TO ENSURE CULTURALLY COMPETENT HISTORY IS PROVIDED TO STUDENTS (May 28) – Gov Polis signed a bill by Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, and Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo, to ensure the inclusion of the history of American-Indians, Latinos, African-Americans and Asian-Americans in social studies courses in Colorado’s classrooms. “Our diversity is what makes our country and our state strong but for too long, individuals and communities that have moved or immigrated here and those that have been here for many centuries communities have been excluded from our teaching of history,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “With an increase in division among some of our communities, it will be beneficial for all children and youth to learn about each other’s background and to be able to see themselves in the history books.” HB19-1192 was signed at the Corky Gonzales Library in Denver. Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez is the granddaughter of Chicano leader Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales. Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, is the Senate co-prime sponsor. All three bill sponsors are Latinx women in their first year at the state legislature. “Teaching inclusive curriculum boosts test scores and student engagement,” said Rep. Buentello when the bill passed the House. “I’m proud to sponsor this bill to ensure that the history taught in our state is truly inclusive and tells our country’s full story.” This bill would establish a 16-member commission to provide recommendations to the Department of Education so that those standards and programs accurately reflect the history, culture, social contributions and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including the contributions and influence of American Indians, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans. Parents, teachers, administrators and school board members testified in support of the bill at the House Education committee hearing this year. ### Previous Next

< Back March 7, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates Holds First Meeting to Investigate High Energy Prices DENVER, CO – Members of the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates held their first meeting today to explore the underlying causes of recent spikes in energy prices and to begin identifying strategies that can save Coloradans money on their utility bills. Committee members heard testimony and asked questions of panels of experts representing the Public Utilities Commission, the Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate, the Colorado Energy Office, and Energy Outreach Colorado to better understand the factors that influence how rates are set and how those mechanisms lead to higher costs for Coloradans. “Recent spikes in energy prices have hit Colorado families hard, and today’s hearing highlighted just how fraught certain aspects of our current regulatory structure are,” Joint Select Committee Chair Sen. Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, said. “We’ve heard loud and clear that Coloradans are looking for relief, which is why we convened this committee so we can better understand the underlying forces behind rising utility rates and begin identifying solutions. I’m excited by the progress we made today, and I look forward to continuing our work so we can better protect consumers, improve our energy stability, and eventually save Coloradans money on their energy bills.” "Expensive utility bills have left many Coloradans struggling to heat their homes, and today's hearing offered insight into some main drivers of pricing instability that are often invisible to customers who are left to foot the bill," said Joint Select Committee Vice Chair Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood. "This hearing was a great first step toward building an in-depth understanding of what's causing high utility prices. High energy prices hit families and low-and middle-income folks the hardest, and it's our responsibility to shed light on how we got here, and to work together towards potential cost-saving solutions." “Skyrocketing utility bills are adding to the stress Coloradans are already feeling as we recover from the economic challenges brought by the pandemic,” Joint Select Committee member Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County said. “Today, the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates heard from a number of experts that helped us better understand the energy landscape and factors at play in rate setting. I look forward to continuing our work to shed light on the process and get answers for the people of Colorado." "We heard from Coloradans across the state and the message is clear — high, unpredictable energy costs are taking their toll," said Joint Select Committee member Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “Communities in Southwest Colorado are often left out of the conversation when it comes to rising energy costs, I’m proud to share and voice their concerns on this committee. The Joint Select Committee is committed to uncovering the root causes for high energy costs and hearing from experts helped us gather a stronger understanding of what is driving costs that are passed down to consumers.” The Committee heard testimony from the following experts: Erin O'Neill, Chief Economist for the Public Utilities Commission The Public Utilities Commission regulates utilities, which involves reviewing and approving generation and transmission plans, and the rates charged to pay for them. O’Neill explained how the utility rate setting process works, and addressed the false narrative that the transition to clean energy is what’s driving high utility rates. Joseph Pereira, Deputy Director for the Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate The Office of Utility Consumer Advocate represents consumers when utility companies want to raise rates. Pereira spoke about the Office’s work to support pro-consumer policies in utility regulation, highlighting the difficulties of doing this work in an environment of asymmetric information Keith Hay, Senior Director of Policy for the Colorado Energy Office The Colorado Energy Office works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer energy costs by advancing energy efficiency. Hay discussed his office’s ongoing efforts to mitigate rate increases while advancing Colorado’s use of clean energy. Jennifer Gremmert, CEO and Executive Director of Energy Outreach Colorado Energy Outreach Colorado is a non-profit that provides utility bill payment assistance for low-income Coloradans. During today’s meeting, Gremmert shared how Energy Outreach Colorado has seen a significant increase in requests in recent months from Coloradans who need help paying their utility bills. Convened by President Fenberg and House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon in response to recent spikes in energy prices , the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates is working to better understand issues such as the impact of volatility in natural gas markets, the frequency and justification for rate increases sought by utilities, and other relevant factors. The Committee’s next meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. Learn more about the Committee’s work HERE . Previous Next

< Back March 1, 2022 $27 MILLION TO SUPPORT NURSING FACILITIES MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO – The House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Julie McCluskie to provide an additional $27 million to skilled nursing facilities that are Medicaid providers. “Skilled nursing facilities in Colorado and across the country are facing staffing challenges and funding shortfalls, which is why we are taking swift action to stabilize nursing facilities in Colorado,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “We are going to distribute $27 million in state and federal funds to nursing facilities to keep them from closing so thousands of Coloradans aren’t forced out of where they live.” “The pandemic has taken an enormous toll on Colorado’s nursing facilities, and some are now at risk of closing because Medicaid reimbursement rates are so low and their costs have increased,” said JBC Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Nurses who care for Medicaid patients in skilled nursing facilities have been through so much the last two years and are vastly underpaid. We need to make sure we have the nursing workforce necessary to care for the patients with the greatest need, and this bill will help. We’re moving quickly to shore up our nursing facilities so that Coloradans won’t lose access to affordable skilled nursing options.” HB22-1247 , sponsored by Representatives Herod and McCluskie, passed by a vote of 12-1 and would direct additional payments to skilled nursing facilities that are Medicaid providers to help them address staffing shortages, provide quality care and support their short term solvency. State funding would be matched by federal dollars, bringing the total additional funding for nursing homes to $27 million. The bill also instructs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to seek additional opportunities to draw down federal funds. The legislation also requires the department to establish reporting and result tracking requirements. Nursing facilities across Colorado, especially those with Medicaid patients, have faced funding and staffing challenges, and some have struggled to stay open. At the same time, nurse staffing agencies and travel nursing agencies have been able to attract providers with higher wages than what facilities that care for Medicaid clients can pay, exacerbating the staffing challenges at nursing facilities that are Medicaid providers. Previous Next

< Back January 30, 2020 COVERAGE FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENINGS ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would require insurance plans to better cover colorectal cancer screenings DENVER, CO– Legislation to require health insurance plans to cover colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 45 today passed the House Committee on Health and Insurance 10-0. HB20-1103 is sponsored by Representatives Janet Buckner and Perry Will. “According to the Colorado Cancer Coalition, one in 21 men and one in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime,” said Rep. Buckner (D-Aurora). “There’s more we can do to make sure that Coloradans can access life-saving screenings for colorectal cancer, such as lowering the age when coverage for the screening is required, and that’s what this bill would do.” Under current law, health insurers must provide coverage for preventive colorectal cancer screenings in accordance with the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines. The bill would instead require carriers to provide coverage for screenings in accordance with the current best medical practice guidelines. Plans must cover a colonoscopy or other medical test for colorectal cancer screening and a follow-up test if necessary. Current best practice guidelines recommend that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45 instead of age 50, as under the USPSTF guidelines. Previous Next

< Back March 11, 2020 REP. YOUNG’S CHILD WELFARE MEDICAID IMPROVEMENT BILL PASSES COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY Legislation would allow children in the child welfare system to more easily access health care close to home DENVER, CO– The House committee on Public Health Care and Human Services today passed Representative Mary Young’s bill to codify the practice of keeping children in the child welfare and juvenile justice system in the Medicaid regional entity where they were originally placed. This will shorten delays in getting these children and youth the behavioral and physical health services that they need near where they are living. The committee approved the bill unanimously. “Managing the Medicaid and child welfare systems is complicated enough– I’m proud to work to simplify these systems and deliver better behavioral and physical health care outcomes for some of our most vulnerable children,” said Rep. Young, D-Greeley. “A simple codification in statute will go a long way towards preventing coverage lapses and improving care for some of our most vulnerable groups.” Many children in the child welfare system rely on Medicaid for physical and behavioral health services. Once enrolled into Medicaid, these children are assigned to a Regional Accountability Entity (RAE) based on the physical location of the child’s primary care physician. Many children are enrolled in Medicaid prior to their involvement with child welfare and juvenile justice. However, if the child is later placed by the child welfare or juvenile system in a different county, a common occurrence with high need children, the child may change to a new primary care physician. If the primary care physician is in a different RAE, sometimes the child’s RAE changes which can result in delays in getting services to the child that were already approved under the former RAE. HB20-1237 codifies the state’s intended policy to keep children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in the RAE in which they were originally enrolled. Given the relative infancy of the RAEs, there was confusion that led to counties being encouraged to switch RAEs when the child’s placement changed. HB20-1237 clears up this confusion for counties, RAEs and providers so that vulnerable children maintain services and do not risk delays in receiving services. Previous Next

< Back March 21, 2024 Legislation to Address Long-Standing Environmental Injustices in Colorado Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Energy & Environment Committee today passed legislation to help address some of the long-standing environmental injustices that have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities in Colorado. HB24-1338 , sponsored by Representatives Manny Rutinel and Elizabeth Velasco, would direct the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to carry out recommendations from the Environmental Justice Action Task Force, created by HB21-1266 . “The Environmental Justice Action Task Force spent almost a year meeting with communities and gathering important data points to create a comprehensive checklist of must-dos to clean up our air and support communities disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City. “This bill implements key task force recommendations, including increased oversight of known polluters and better response time to community complaints of air pollution. Our legislation also dives deeper into the cumulative impacts of environmental injustice, so we can better understand and address the burdens on our neighbors of color and low income neighbors affected by harmful pollution.” “Coloradans of color and low-income communities across our state have been disproportionately impacted by poor air quality and other environmental factors that have led to breathing or other health related issues,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “We owe it to our neighbors to implement the recommendations of the Environmental Justice Action Task Force to clean up our air, take air pollution complaints seriously and combat some of the long-standing environmental injustices. Environmental justice is a statewide issue, and we all deserve access to clean air and water. This legislation takes the hard work of the task force and implements it into real, effective policy to make it easier for Coloradans most affected by poor air quality, and water and soil pollution to lead healthy lives.” HB24-1338 passed by a vote of 9-4 and would authorize the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to carry out recommendations of the Environmental Justice Action Task Force and address long-standing environmental injustices. Specifically, this bill would: Increase oversight of petroleum refineries. The bill would fund the hiring of an expert in air pollution control for petroleum refineries. This expert would assess gaps in public health protections and identify the best regulatory tools to fill those gaps. The bill would also require refineries to provide near real-time emissions monitoring and compliance data. Improve response to air pollution complaints. The department’s Air Pollution Control Division would house a new rapid response inspection team to support quicker responses to air pollution complaints by impacted communities. Analyze the cumulative impacts of pollution . The bill would implement recommendations of the Environmental Justice Action Task Force by formally establishing and authorizing the department's Office of Environmental Justice to create at least two Environmental Equity and Cumulative Impact Analyses to analyze the cumulative air, water, soil, and demographic impacts in specific disproportionately impacted communities. Founded in 2021 through HB21-1266, the Environmental Justice Action Task Force hosted several in-person meetings and gatherings with Coloradans in Commerce City, Grand Junction, Greeley, and Pueblo in addition to receiving more than 300 written comments and survey responses. The task force provided its final recommendations to Governor Polis, the legislature and the CDPHE in 2022. Previous Next

< Back April 1, 2019 HOUSE SENDS LIFE-SAVING EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER BILL TO GOVERNOR’S DESK Bill named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III (Apr. 1) – The House gave final approval today to the Extreme Risk Protection Order bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, and Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver. This life-saving bill would provide a critical tool to help prevent gun violence and suicide and protect families and first responders. The bill has been in the works for over a year and includes input from law enforcement, the mental health community, advocates for gun violence prevention and elected officials on both sides of the aisle. “Today, the House and the legislature stood up and did the right thing,” said Rep. Sullivan. “One of the reasons I ran for office was so I could tell all of you about my son Alex who lit up rooms and was beloved, and so I could tell all of you about other victims and families of gun violence. This bill will give law enforcement and families the tools that they need to stop tragedies from constantly happening and save lives.” Rep. Sullivan’s son, Alex was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting on his twenty-seventh birthday. Sullivan wears Alex’s jacket every day and wore it during the course of the debate in the House. “Colorado took a big step forward today. Today, we rejected the status quo and finally put forward meaningful change that can truly save a life,” said Majority Leader Garnett. “I am grateful for the support of Rep. Sullivan, who championed this carefully crafted bill and all those who stood shoulder to shoulder with us every step of the way. This bill is supported by the majority of Coloradans because it will help save the lives of law enforcement and members of our communities.” HB19-1177 will give law enforcement another tool to help keep our communities safe. Through this bill, family members or law enforcement can petition a judge for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) for someone who is exhibiting violent or dangerous behavior or is at significant risk of causing personal injury to themselves or others. If approved, a temporary order would be placed for up to two weeks and the court would hold a hearing to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for an ERPO. During this hearing, respondents will be provided with legal counsel at no cost to ensure due process rights are protected. If the judge determines, by a clear and convincing evidence standard, that the respondent poses a significant risk of causing personal injury to themselves or others, the protection order may be approved for up to 364 days. The respondent can also request to have the order terminated at any point during that time period. The bill, which was also introduced during the 2018 legislative session and passed the House with bipartisan support, is named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III, who was killed in the line of duty New Year’s Eve in 2017 by an individual in the middle of a mental health crisis. Law enforcement officials, including Deputy Parrish’s Sheriff, Tony Spurlock, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, testified at a Feb. 21 House hearing on the bill. Pelle’s son Jeff is a Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy who was also seriously injured responding to the same call with Deputy Parrish. Attorney General Phil Weiser submitted a letter in support of the legislation. Former U.S. Attorney John Walsh explained to the committee during the hearing how the language in the bill is legal under the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Hours of testimony during House and Senate committee hearings in support of the bill included survivors and their families as well as gun owners and members of law enforcement. Fourteen states have enacted bipartisan ERPO laws (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington). At least 29 other states and Washington, D.C. have considered ERPO laws. A U.S. Senate committee held a hearing on an ERPO bill this March. Colorado lost over 1,100 people to suicide in 2017. Studies show that access to a gun in a home triples the risk of death by suicide. Indiana’s firearm suicide rate decreased by nearly eight percent in the ten years after their ERPO legislation was enacted. The House concurred with Senate amendments to the bill and it was approved on a final vote of 38-25. The bill now goes to Gov. Polis for his signature. Previous Next

< Back May 12, 2021 HOUSE PASSES WILDFIRE MITIGATION BILL Legislation extends tax deduction on wood harvested from beetle-killed trees DENVER, CO– The House today advanced two bills that would promote healthy forests by extending a tax deduction on the sale of wood harvested from trees killed by Pine or Spruce beetles. “Climate change is leading to more intense and devastating wildfires that are threatening our communities,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “By keeping our forests healthy and incentivizing the removal of dead trees from the forest floor, we can help reduce the devastation and intensity of wildfires. This bill will continue critical efforts to enhance forest health in Colorado.” Pine and spruce beetles are killing trees in forests across Colorado, leaving a trail of destruction that can serve as explosive fuel for increasingly intense and dangerous wildfires. By encouraging the sale of wood products from trees killed by these beetles, the state can incentivize removing them from our forests, which helps to slow the growth and intensity of wildfires. HB21-1261 , which is sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Marc Catlin, would extend an expired tax exemption on the sale of wood and wood products from trees killed by pine or spruce beetles until 2026. The bill passed 63-1. Previous Next