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< Back April 5, 2024 Lukens’ Bipartisan Water Conservation Bill Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed Representative Meghan Lukens’ bipartisan bill to conserve water through more widespread adoption of graywater use. HB24-1362 passed unanimously. “With the passage of this bill, we’re conserving our water resources, protecting our environment and upholding the Colorado way of life,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This bipartisan bill encourages local governments to use graywater in irrigation and for non-drinking household purposes, which is a great option for getting the most out of our water. Living on the Western Slope, I’m committed to protecting and conserving our precious water resources – and this bill makes it easier for our communities to recycle water.” HB24-1362 is also sponsored by Representative Marc Caitlin, R-Montrose. This bill would encourage the use of graywater in Colorado to conserve our state’s scarce water supply by authorizing the installation of graywater systems statewide. It also offers flexibility for local governments to opt-out with an ordinance or resolution prohibiting the installation of graywater systems for use in newly constructed residential buildings for indoor use. Water that has been used for washing dishes, laundering clothes, or bathing is considered graywater. Although it might be on its second or third round of use, graywater can be used for non-drinking purposes such as landscape irrigation and toilet flushing. Previous Next

< Back April 20, 2024 Gig Worker Protections Advance in the House DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representatives Stephanie Vigil and Javier Mabrey on a preliminary vote that would improve protections for gig workers by increasing wage and task transparency. “Delivery apps have made big promises to Coloradans, including flexibility for workers and more choices for consumers. But too often hidden algorithms interfere with the worker autonomy that drivers in this industry so highly value,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “From misleading incentives to faulty tip information, big tech can use deceptive practices to pressure drivers to take low-paying offers, rather than paying what they're worth. This legislation would improve transparency and fairness in Colorado law to provide drivers with the information they need and deserve to make free and informed decisions about their work.” "App-based employment should not be excluded from the important protections that the labor movement has fought for to ensure the health and safety of Colorado workers," said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. "Over 60 percent of Denver delivery app drivers rely on gig work for their main source of income. Our bill will provide wage transparency to workers, ensure that they receive all tips paid by consumers, establish a fair reactivation process and improve safety on the job.” HB24-1129 aims to improve wage and task transparency by requiring specific information to be shared with gig workers of delivery network companies (DNCs), providing workers with the ability to make more informed decisions about which tasks to accept. When a consumer is prompted to leave a tip for a delivery driver who is paid based on a per-delivery-task or per-transaction basis, DNCs would be required to disclose the amount of money that the consumer paid or will pay for the transaction and how much the driver received or will receive for the transaction. It would also require the DNC to pay the entire tip to the driver. Before a driver who is paid based on a per-delivery-task or per-transaction basis accepts a delivery task, DNCs would be required to disclose to the driver: An estimated or actual amount the driver will earn for the task, including the tip or reimbursement amounts, The number of transactions involved in the task, The address(es) of the food, beverages, or other goods must be picked up from, The direction from where the driver is required to pick up the goods and the location where goods must be delivered, The estimated or actual time it will take for the driver to complete the task, and The estimated or actual distance the driver will travel for the task. If a driver is paid for a block of time for multiple deliveries, DNCs would be required to disclose the following before the driver accepts a task: The minimum amount the DNC will pay the driver for completing deliveries during the specific block of time, The direction from where the driver is located and where the driver must pick up and deliver the products, The estimated or actual distance required to travel to complete the deliveries, Clear information on which products need to be delivered within specific time windows, and The number of items required to be delivered. The bill would also require DNCs to share data with the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics about driver payments and deactivations, delivery tasks, and other information that will be made publicly available. The bill also requires a DNC to develop and maintain an account deactivation policy that clearly establishes procedures for deactivating a driver from the platform, allows a driver to request a reconsideration and ensures a driver is not penalized for failing to respond to a delivery task offer. A 2022 report about Denver gig workers found that most gig workers earn $5.49 per hour after expenses. Denver’s 2022 minimum wage was $15.87. The report also found that DoorDash drivers only made $1.23 per hour, and none of the surveyed platforms had hourly wages that surpassed $9. Previous Next

< Back February 23, 2022 RURAL ED BILLS ADVANCE IN HOUSE DENVER, CO – Two bills that would address the rural educator shortage and improve access to early childhood education in rural areas today advanced on Second Reading in the House. “We’re serious about addressing the teacher workforce shortage in rural Colorado,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Our bipartisan legislation will boost the rural education workforce by simplifying the path for teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers and other retired staff to return to rural school districts. This will help prepare students for success by making sure they have enough talented, qualified teachers and educators in their schools.” HB22-1101 , sponsored by Representatives McLachlan and Catlin, would make it easier for rural school districts to address the rural educator shortage. It would 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. “This session, we’re making every effort to improve access to early childhood education and prepare our students for success,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Between pandemic induced-learning loss and educator workforce shortages, this has been a challenging year for parents and students. This bill would make it easier to access quality, community-driven early learning and care solutions which saves parents money and sets our youngest learners up for success.” HB22-1070 , sponsored by Representative McCluskie, would make it easier to form an early childhood development service district. Under current law, a service district must include all of the territory of a political subdivision. For example, a service district established in a municipality or county, would need to include all of that county or municipality. The bill allows a service district to include only a portion of a special district, municipality, county or other existing taxing entity. This bill would also allow for early childhood districts to receive gifts, grants and donations to provide early learning opportunities to students. Previous Next

< Back May 29, 2019 GOV SIGNS MULLICA’S BIPARTISAN PACKAGE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE (May 29) – Earlier today, Gov. Polis signed two bills that will improve safety at freestanding emergency room departments and increase health care access in rural schools across the state. “This bipartisan new law is about ensuring the safety of patients and that emergency departments in rural, urban and suburban communities offer the best services available,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. HB19-1010 will bring freestanding emergency departments under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional hospital emergency rooms to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. This will ultimately improve the quality of care for patients and increase health care affordability. This new law will create a new license for Freestanding Emergency Departments (FSEDs) through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). It also requires FSEDs to medically screen every patient seeking care as well as prohibit them from delaying a medical examination in order to inquire about the patient’s ability to pay for the care or their insurance status. Rep. Mullica is an emergency room nurse by profession. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain. HB19-1010 passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 54-9 earlier this year. Gov. Polis also signed Rep. Mullica’s bill to hire more school nurses in schools across Colorado, especially schools in rural areas and in disadvantaged communities. “As a nurse, I see first hand how untrained school staff are administering medication to students with chronic illnesses. This can be dangerous for the staff and especially for the students,” said Rep. Mullica. “This bill would ensure Colorado’s kids have access to health care professionals in their schools. School nurses provide a range of health care services to our students while also handling medical emergencies during the school day.” HB19-1203 would provide grants to improve the ratio of school nurses to students while also prioritizing nurses in rural areas and lower-income communities. This bill also allows school nurses to partner with local public health agencies so that nurse practitioners can also serve in schools. Currently, there are 632 nurses that serve 910,000 school-aged students. That’s roughly one nurse for every 1,500 to 1,700 students. Previous Next

< Back May 26, 2021 HOUSE MOVES TO BAN JUVENILE JUSTICE FEES Herod bill to end cycles of poverty for families in the juvenile justice system gets preliminary House approval DENVER, CO– The House today advanced a bill to eliminate court fees for juveniles in the justice system. The bill passed the House on Second Reading. “There are thousands of kids in Colorado’s juvenile courts every year. And every year these youth are charged administrative fees that can sabotage their reform and set them up to fail,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “Young people will still be held accountable for their crimes, and they’ll still be required to pay restitution to their victims, but the court system will no longer be perpetuating the poverty that often explains why kids get in trouble in the first place. It’s time to take away the obstacles standing in the way of our youth bouncing back and succeeding.” HB21-1315 , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Matt Soper, eliminates certain fees levied on individuals and families in the juvenile justice system. The average fees per case total about $300 in Colorado, despite studies showing that about 40% of Americans would be unable to cover a $400 emergency. Further, it is estimated that the state of Colorado spends about 75% of juvenile fee revenue on collection, meaning only 25 cents out of every dollar paid by families ends up contributing to the courts. Previous Next

< Back April 10, 2020 REP. BUENTELLO APPOINTED TO GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC STABILIZATION & GROWTH Lawmaker will serve on Telecom Infrastructure Committee DENVER, CO — House Democrats today announced that Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, has appointed Representative Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo, to serve on the Telecom Infrastructure Committee, part of the governor’s Council on Economic Stabilization and Growth. “A lot of Coloradans are hurting right now. We need to use all the tools we have to help people, families and businesses get through this crisis,” said Rep. Bri Buentello. “Whether it’s helping us work from home or continue our children’s education, video conferencing has become essential to our lives. I’m excited to join private sector and community leaders to continue working on the issues that are important to Colorado families and small businesses.” 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. In addition to making policy recommendations, the Council is focused on identifying existing relief programs and is actively connecting small businesses, nonprofits and independent contractors to these programs. The Council is looking at gaps in federal relief programs and potential ways to fill them. Read more about the other committees and the Council on their website . Previous Next

< Back March 25, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES BILL TO ALLOW HIRING OF FORMER INMATE FIREFIGHTERS DENVER, CO– The House Energy and Environment Committee today passed legislation that would allow former inmate wildland firefighters to join professional crews to help bolster Colorado’s wildfire response capabilities and foster opportunities for formerly incarcerated wildland firefighters. The bill passed unanimously. “Colorado’s State Wildland Inmate Fire Team (SWIFT) has performed life-saving work to protect our communities and halt devastating wildfires in my district and all across our state,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “With passage of this bill, Colorado can hire back former SWIFT crew members so they can continue protecting us from increasingly frequent wildfires. This bill is a win-win: helping people get jobs and protecting our communities. We owe it to the firefighters to open up this important post-incarceration career pathway and to invest in firefighting teams across our state.” HB21-012, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, would allow the wildland fire management section in the Department of Public Safety to more easily hire former inmates with wildland firefighting experience. The bill also requires the department to develop materials to increase awareness of wildland firefighting career opportunities for Coloradans who have experience fighting fires through the inmate disaster relief program. Previous Next

< Back February 28, 2019 REP. MCCLUSKIE’S BIPARTISAN REINSURANCE BILL TO HELP LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR COLORADANS PASSES COMMITTEE McCluskie joined by Gov. Polis, Republicans, county commissioners in support of bill (Feb. 27) – A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, that will lower health care costs for Coloradans across the state passed in the Health and Insurance committee. Earlier in the day, Rep. McCluskie was joined by Gov. Polis, county commissioners and Coloradans struggling to keep up with the out-of-control costs of health care at a press conference in support of this legislation. Reinsurance is a proven approach to helping cut health care costs “I’m proud to partner with Democrats, Republicans, Governor Polis and Coloradans who are focused on driving down the cost of health care on the Western Slope and in every corner of our state,” said Rep. McCluskie. “ We must work together to protect our Colorado way of life and fix a broken healthcare system for the working people in our state.” Rising health care costs are driven in part by the underlying cost of care but are exacerbated by an insurance market that assigns the highest risks and highest costs to the individual market. This is particularly the case on the Western Slope and in rural Colorado, causing families and individuals to choose between putting food on the table and paying for their health insurance coverage. Rep. McCluskie introduced the bipartisan bill in the House with Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction. Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail and Senator Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale are the Senate sponsors. This bipartisan bill aims to reduce insurance premiums for individuals and families by January 2020 to provide much-needed relief to Coloradans, many of whom are paying up to a third of their income on monthly premiums. Our state, especially the Western slope, has some of the highest health insurance costs in the country. Gov. Polis joined the bipartisan group of lawmakers this afternoon in a press conference and offered his support. “This has been done in red states and blue states and that’s why it’s a proven method to bring down rates in the individual market,” Gov Polis said. Reinsurance can be considered insurance for Colorado’s health insurers. The bill will establish three tiers, from the highest cost areas of the state to the lowest cost areas, in order to pass savings on to Coloradans. The first tier, consisting of regions in the state with the highest costs, will experience the greatest reduction in premiums, by 30 to 35 percent. The second tier will experience reductions in premiums by 20 to 25 percent. Finally, the third tier, regions with the lowest costs, will experience reductions in premiums by 15 to 20 percent. The bill passed through committee with a vote of 8-2. It now goes to the Appropriations committee. Here’s how a reinsurance program works: The reinsurance program will pay a percentage of claims, also known as the coinsurance rate, once the claim reaches the minimum amount required in order to be eligible for reinsurance coverage. This minimum amount is called the attachment point. Claim costs that exceed a certain dollar amount, called the reinsurance cap, are not eligible for reinsurance coverage. By insuring this middle range of claims the bill will help reduce risk in the market and drive down healthcare costs. The initial premium savings for Coloradans comes from a reduction in the amount paid to hospitals and other providers, which leads to a reduction in the amount paid by health insurers. These savings are then passed along to people insured on the individual marketplace through reduced premiums. The state will request a section 1332 waiver from the federal government to implement and help fund the reinsurance program, like eight other states have done to implement similar programs. The text of HB19-1168 can be found here . Previous Next

< Back June 7, 2021 HOTELS, MOTELS, AND HOUSING SUPPORT House passes innovative proposal to convert underutilized motels and hotels into affordable housing units DENVER– The House today passed Representatives Gonzales Gutierrez and Woodrow’s bill to invest $30 million of federal funds into a grant program that will allow local governments to convert underutilized properties into shelters or affordable housing units. The bill passed by a vote of 42-22. “Colorado’s housing crisis demands action, and today we empowered local governments to take immediate steps to help keep people housed,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-242 and SB21-027. “Revitalizing hotels and motels to meet housing needs is an innovative and commonsense way to tackle one of Colorado’s most persistent issues.” “Working to help families keep a roof over their heads isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s a matter of investing in Colorado’s economy and improving public health,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-242. “By converting underutilized hotels and motels, we’re leveraging existing assets to provide shelter and housing to some of Colorado’s most vulnerable residents.” SB21-242 provides $30 million in federal funding for grants and loans for local governments and nonprofits to purchase underutilized hotels, underutilized motels and other underutilized properties for the purpose of providing shelter or affordable housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. Grant recipients, local governments and nonprofits are encouraged to invest in hotels and motels that are women and minority-owned, as well as those that are ADA compliant. The legislation also provides direct assistance to workers who were unable to receive prior federal and state relief. Previous Next

< Back April 18, 2022 COLORADO ELECTION SECURITY ACT MOVES FORWARD Republicans on the committee vote to oppose bipartisan, common-sense measures to protect Colorado elections from insider threats DENVER, CO – The House State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to protect Colorado’s elections by a vote of 7-4. “Colorado has the gold standard for elections and leads the way nationally when it comes to voter access and holding fair and secure elections,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “This common sense legislation would hold people accountable when they break the law and tamper with our election equipment and would bar anyone convicted of election crimes from serving as an election official. These bipartisan reforms will stop insider threats and defend our democracy from ‘Big Lie’ conspiracy theorists who have used their positions to jeopardize our election security.” “I am disappointed that my Republican colleagues opposed the bipartisan Colorado Election Security Act,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood, chair of the House State, Civic, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. “By voting against this bill, Republican lawmakers are standing on the side of election deniers and extremists rather than supporting common sense protections against actions that jeopardize our elections and undermine our democracy.” SB22-153, the Colorado Election Security Act, will improve election security by, among other measures, prohibiting anyone from serving as an election official if they have been convicted of any election offense or any offense or conspiracy to commit sedition, insurrection, treason, or conspiracy to overthrow the government. SB22-153 also prohibits election officials or candidates from physically tampering with voting equipment, and from having access to or being present in a room with voting equipment without being accompanied by one or more persons with authorized access. The Colorado Election Security Act further seeks to secure Colorado’s gold standard elections by improving training for clerks and election workers, and penalizes anyone who interferes with or obstructs the notification of a potential violation, or retaliates against someone providing notice. The bill also prohibits accessing electronic equipment or a reporting system without authorization, makes knowingly publishing passwords or other confidential information a class 5 felony, and directs the District and Supreme Courts to expedite scheduling and issuance of final rulings of any orders in connection with a violation of election code. Previous Next

Legislative Aide House Majority Office Colorado House of Representatives Description: Being a Legislative Aide at the Capitol puts you in the middle of the state’s most exciting political action. Our 46 House Democrats turned many popular proposals into law: lowering the cost of health care, building a fair economy, addressing climate change, tackling the opioid crisis, reforming our criminal justice system, and helping hard-working Coloradans make ends meet, even during a pandemic. With a front row seat to action on a wide range of issues, a position as a legislative aide often opens the door for other exciting opportunities in politics, government, and public service. Legislative aides keep the essential day-to-day functions of a legislative office running smoothly. Primary responsibilities include managing the legislator’s calendar, scheduling meetings, responding to constituent emails and phone inquiries, maintaining databases of contacts, drafting and sending newsletters, supporting policy and constituent efforts with social media content, creating fact sheets, conducting research, organizing town halls and other events in the district, and preparing the legislator for bill hearings and meetin gs with constituents, stakeholders, and lobbyists. Aides are held to a high level of professional conduct, as they are expected to represent legislators at the Capitol, in their district, and in the broader community. Qualifications: Strong verbal and written communication skills Highly organized with ability to balance and track progress on multiple projects at once under tight deadlines; excellent time management and attention to detail Motivated self-starter who produces high quality work without daily supervision A high level of confidentiality and discretion High degree of self-awareness, humility, and openness to feedback Flexible and adaptable work style; ability to stay calm in a high stress environment Eagerness to develop leadership skills Commitment to progressive values and policies Preferred Qualifications: Copywriting and/or graphic design skills Experience with event planning and execution Experience and comfort using Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) Experience and comfort managing social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter) Knowledge of Colorado government a plus Compensation: $24.57 per hour. Possible to work a maximum of 40 hours/week during session, depending on the legislator and their needs. Benefits include a PERA retirement account membership and an EcoPass. Health, life, and dental benefits will be available for one Senior Legislative Aide in each office. Start dates depend on the needs of each individual caucus member and the time of year. Most legislative aides work full-time (40 hours/week) during the legislative session, which usually begins in early January and ends in early May. Many legislators request that their aides also work full-time in the weeks leading up to the session in December and the weeks immediately following the session in the second half of May. During the legislative interim (mid-May through December) there is often a need for part-time legislative aides; hours vary by legislator, but are typically around 32 hours/week. How to Apply: When applications are open you can apply using this form . Applications will be considered on a rolling basis as openings become available, and will be filled with qualified applicants along the way. Contact colegislativeaide@gmail.com with any questions regarding the application or hiring process. Colorado House Democrats are committed to hiring a diverse staff. We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, membership in an employee organization, parental status, creed, ancestry, military service, or disability. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive organization and strongly encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and identities to apply.

< Back May 12, 2021 COLORADO COMEBACK FUNDS WEATHERIZATION GRANTS Reps. Weissman and Hooton’s state stimulus bill to put funds towards the Weatherization Assistance Program DENVER, CO — The House Energy and Environment Committee today passed a bill to put $3 million of state stimulus funds toward the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which provides grants to help qualified Coloradans save money, increase comfort, and better their homes and environment through proven energy conservation solutions. This bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bill passed by a vote of . “The Weatherization Assistance Program helps low income families across Colorado lower heating costs, become more efficient energy consumers, and increase safety in their homes,” said Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder. “Hundreds of thousands of Colorado homes are currently eligible for this program, and these state stimulus funds will help us ensure that a few more low income families can reap the benefits.” “Today we voted to invest in a proven and badly needed program that is already helping thousands of Coloradans every year,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Ensuring that more low income families can access the support that the Weatherization Assistance Program provides will help lower costs, and ensure more homes are as energy efficient as possible. It’s win-win.” The Colorado Energy Office’s Weatherization Assistance Program offers free weatherization support for Colorado’s low-income residents. WAP works to maximize energy cost savings for each client by providing them with cost-effective energy efficiency services. The program’s services focus on the home as a system and include a variety of measures that improve the home’s energy efficiency. These cost-effective services reduce wasted energy and lower heating bill costs, while improving the overall comfort and safety of a home year-round, they include things like air sealing, furnace safety testing, LED light bulb retrofits, and more. SB21-231 provides $3 million in additional funding to supplement the program’s $20 million budget. Under its current budget, the program only serves about 2,000 homes per year, although about 500,000 Colorado households could qualify. Previous Next