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< Back June 12, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BUENTELLO BILL TO ADDRESS OPIOID CRISIS DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Bri Buentello to address the opioid crisis. SB20-007 passed the House 48-17, and SB20-028 received initial approval on second reading. The bills would enhance access to treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) and help more Coloradans through their SUD recovery. “The opioid crisis didn’t go away when the pandemic hit, and it’s clear our communities still need help increasing access to treatment and helping Coloradans stay in recovery,” said Rep. Buentello, D-Pueblo. “These bills will help Coloradans get the care they need to overcome substance use disorders. I am grateful for the bipartisan work that went into crafting these bills and getting them across the finish line.” SB20-007, which passed 48-17, requires insurance carriers to provide coverage for the treatment of a SUD in accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine or other evidence-based guidelines. It also encourages access to medical or substance use disorder treatment services, including recovery services, to people participating in prescribed medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for a SUD and prohibits courts, probation or community corrections from prohibiting MAT as a condition of participation or placement. It also requires the Insurance Commissioner to ensure that insurance carriers’ formularies include medications for MAT and coverage for the opioid antagonist naloxone (Narcan). SB20-028 , which received preliminary approval from the House on second reading, furthers the work of the Opioid and Other Substance Abuse Disorder Interim Committee by convening a group of stakeholders to review progress on opioid legislation and recommend additional policies to address opioid use. It would also modify the determination of child abuse, neglect or dependency to ensure that a positive toxicology test cannot be the sole reason for deciding that a child born affected by alcohol or other substance exposure is abused or neglected, instead allowing families, moms and babies to bond and remain together if a pregnant or new mom is participating in prescribed medication assisted treatment and a newborn child’s welfare isn’t threatened by substance use, in accord with current best practice for maternal and child health. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Amabile: We propose to outlaw encouraging someone to commit suicide Oct 1, 2023 See more This story was published in the Colorado Sun on Oct 1, 2023. Nearly 50,000 Americans completed suicide during 2022 – a stunning number, reflecting a continued rise in the suicide rate of some 35 percent over the last two decades. Numerical tolls provide a blunt gauge for societal problems, but numbers alone can make a problem feel remote and impersonal. People who lose a loved one to suicide experience shock and hurt that is both tender and omnipresent despite the passage of time. A healing instinct motivates us to want to prevent this pain from repeatedly occurring in our community. We have heard from fellow Coloradans reaching out to us as their elected representatives and asking, “what else can be done?” We are answering their call with action that honors the memory of lost loved ones and prevents more families in our state from experiencing this devastating tragedy. Unfortunately, online encouragement and easy access to life-ending materials can lead to unnecessary death by suicide. Last November, a Clear Creek County family’s 17-year-old son was struggling with chronic physical issues and common anxiety when he found a supportive community online that encouraged suicide. From there, he was directed to an online retailer who sold pure sodium nitrite, a substance which has few household uses but has become an increasingly popular suicide method. The price he paid to an online retailer who knew the pure sodium nitrite was being used for suicides was $13.99, shipped by two-day mail. Ingesting the compound, he died shortly afterwards. Sadly, this young man, a constituent of ours, was one of at least 222 people nationwide using this particular poison to complete suicide during 2022. Shockingly, there is an ecosystem online for people who want to complete suicide, outside and distinct from the legal path of medically-assisted suicide; there are deadly materials available online, shipped right to young people. For people feeling intense hurt, depression, or trauma, going online to find a way to heal is common. A web search for relief from a physical ailment generally leads to sites that recommend medication or a physician visit. But people struggling with suicidal ideation who seek help online can easily wind up in a web-based wasteland that offers advice on “how to” take one’s own life. And many heed that sick advice. We plan to introduce two bills in the upcoming General Assembly that could save lives and spare families from the enduring pain of suicide caused by this online reality. The first would explicitly prohibit encouraging an individual to complete suicide, not just by restricting the means as current law does, but by prohibiting advice and encouragement. The First Amendment cannot simply be tossed aside, of course, but we believe the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized the validity of restricting speech that is “integral to a criminal act.” The power of words directed at someone who is struggling to maintain mental equilibrium can be just as impactful as handing someone a loaded gun and our statutes should reflect that. Colorado’s End-of-Life Options Act permits qualified medical professionals to assist terminally ill adults to end their lives. But in “non-medical” situations, assisting with suicide is a criminal offense – manslaughter — in Colorado and most other states. However, due to vague language, prosecutors used the suicide manslaughter statute only four times in the last five years. This pales in comparison to the frequency of suicides completed after people receive instruction and encouragement to take their own lives. While difficult to document, with 1,287 people completing suicide in Colorado in 2022, numbers compel us to act. Our second bill would ban the sale of pure sodium nitrite to consumers and require any pure sodium nitrite product sold to carry explicit warnings of harm. Experts know that this type of suicide prevention, often referred to as “means restriction,” can be an effective method to reduce death. The Colorado Department of Health and Environment recently released, to health care providers throughout the state, an advisory on sodium nitrite, noting “an increase in suicide by ingestion of sodium nitrite in Colorado and across the United States.” We commend the Department for taking this important step and look forward to bolstering their efforts with legislation. We have just concluded September, which is Suicide Prevention month. September is not merely about remembering the harm suffered by so many Coloradans or about lending support to families impacted by limitless grief, but is also about taking tangible measures to interrupt the cycle of suicide, and we are ready to get to work. If you or a loved one is experiencing emotional distress, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 988 or Colorado Crisis Services at text TALK to 38255, or access chat via coloradocrisisservices.org , where help and hope are available at any hour, any day. Previous Next

State-driven tax cuts have wildly different impacts on Colorado communities, so let’s leave it to local governments to make adjustments < Back Rep. deGruy Kennedy: After Colorado legislature’s latest special session is finished, we must restore local control over property taxes Aug 20, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Colorado Sun here . Over my eight years representing Jefferson County in the state House, I’ve learned that good policy is about thoughtful stakeholding, delicate balancing, and, ultimately, hard choices. As the state embarks on yet another special legislative session on property taxes, those shaping this round of policy solutions should keep in mind the lessons we’ve already learned. Those are: All voices — including those not in the room — need to be considered, not just those with the resources to make their voices the loudest. Despite posturing to the contrary, proponents of the extreme, badly crafted measures are seeing the writing on the wall and are eager for a deal. And, state-driven policy on issues that are inherently local is fraught with problems. It needs to stop. Let’s start with the consensus-driven process that created Senate Bill 233 , the bipartisan property tax legislation we passed this year that will lower property taxes by $1 billion. Even as I struggled with some of the sacrifices we had to make to maintain strong support from across the aisle, the bill provides meaningful property tax cuts and a cap on future growth without undermining K-12 funding, which is still well below the national average. And it delivers more property tax relief to regular folks and small businesses without giving exorbitant tax breaks to the wealthiest homeowners and largest corporations. Importantly, it was the result of countless hours of public discussion. Fairness and inclusion should continue to be the guideposts for any new policy emerging from the special session. Lawmakers should not feel as though they need to put the interests of everyday Coloradans on the back burner in order to kowtow to whomever is bankrolling Initiatives 50 and 108 , the chaotic conservative measures that would create a fiscal trainwreck at the state and local levels. While it’s understandable that many stakeholders are afraid of the possibility that these measures might pass in November, polling shows they are headed toward defeat. I think proponents of 50 and 108 know that too. Otherwise, why would they express an openness to relatively small cuts in exchange for pulling down their ballot measures? I’ve always thought that the classic negotiation strategy of staking out an extreme position and wiggling back toward a middle ground was silly. Shouldn’t grown-ups just be able to sit down, put their cards on table, discuss their differences, and let the democratically elected representatives cast their votes? But that’s never what happens, because that’s not what serves the special interests. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a corporate lobbyist bluff their way through a negotiation. They come in hot, suggesting they have the upper hand and convincing legislators that the only way to get the votes for a bill is to cut a deal. Are the proponents of 50 and 108 bluffing? I don’t know. Maybe they’re willing to bankrupt state and local governments to prove a point. But I think they very much want a deal so they can claim victory for cutting taxes without having to spend millions of dollars on a campaign that may or may not succeed. The third lesson we should take from the thoughtful deliberations that went into crafting Senate Bill 233 centers on local control. What we need is stable state policy, restoring true local control to our duly-elected city councilors, county commissioners and district board members. They have the tools to engage with their voters and balance the impact of taxes with the needs of public services. And these communities are all different. Some have more residential while some have more commercial properties. Many rural counties didn’t see significant home value growth, and the property tax cuts hurt their ability to provide services when their constituents did not experience the same property tax increases seen elsewhere. Many local governments had passed voter-approved revenue changes in previous years. But many other local governments had never passed revenue increases, meaning their constituents were paying lower taxes to begin with. The 2023 value increases finally caught them up with their neighbors and allowed for investments that had been deferred for years, if not decades. Additional state-driven property tax cuts will have wildly different impacts across our state, and they will be permanent. That means that economic downturns could have serious consequences in communities. Our local leaders, on the other hand, have the tools to temporarily lower their mill levies in times like these. And they have the ability to focus on the needs of their own communities, allowing them to find the sweet spot between additional tax relief and funding their unmet needs. So, if the state is going to have one last hurrah in property tax policy, then fine. We’re well positioned to get a good deal that prioritizes regular folks and carefully balances statewide priorities like K-12 and higher education funding. But this should be the very last time. After that, we must restore local control over property taxes. Chris deGruy Kennedy of Lakewood was one of the prime sponsors of Senate Bill 233 and outgoing Colorado House Speaker Pro Tem; he is now the president and CEO of the Bell Policy Center. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Meghan Lukens: Supporting students and schools in our communities Feb 25, 2025 See more This story was originally published in the Vail Daily here . As chair of the House Education Committee and your representative for House District 26, I am excited to share updates on legislation that will directly impact our students, teachers, and schools. This year, I am championing several education bills that address key priorities: improving classroom learning environments, enhancing school safety, maximizing school resources, and preparing students for future careers. Each of these initiatives responds to specific needs I have heard from educators, parents, and students across Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties. Addressing the cell phone challenge In my years as a teacher, I experienced firsthand how technology, particularly cell phones, can impact student learning. After hearing from countless educators and parents across Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties, they consistently identified cell phones as one of their most significant challenges in the classroom. Studies increasingly show these devices can significantly impact both academic performance and mental health. In response, I have introduced HB25-1135, which empowers school districts to develop policies regarding cell phones during school hours. Unlike approaches that dictate specific rules from the state level, this legislation recognizes that each school district may have different needs. This bipartisan bill, strongly supported by Colorado Attorney General Phil Wieser, acknowledges local expertise while providing a framework to help students focus on learning and meaningful connections. Innovative solutions for school resources I am very excited about HB25-1006 , which has already passed the House with bipartisan support and moved on to the Senate. This bill removes the current 10-year restriction on school districts leasing unused land for affordable housing, solar fields, and energy storage systems. The idea came directly from Eagle County School District, which had a specific parcel of land that was largely unusable and draining resources. Now, they will be able to lease that land for solar energy production — generating revenue while contributing to our clean energy goals. This is precisely the kind of creative, practical solution our Western Slope communities need. Improving education accountability By refining how we measure student success and providing the right support, we can create an education system that works better for students, educators, and schools. This is why I am proud to co-sponsor HB25-1278 , which implements recommendations from the Accountability, Accreditation, Student Performance, and Resource Inequity Task Force. This bipartisan bill modernizes Colorado’s education accountability system to better meet the needs of students and schools. The legislation makes assessments more accessible by dividing them into shorter sections with age-appropriate time frames and developing versions in additional languages. It improves how we identify schools needing support by implementing early warning systems and providing targeted assistance before problems escalate. The legislation also creates a more transparent accountability dashboard for families and communities. Supporting students at every level Nothing is more important than keeping our students safe. HB25-1173 is a bipartisan bill that expands the role of the school safety advisory board in recommending policy to the School Safety Resource Center and Office of School Safety. I am committed to supporting measures that protect our children and create secure learning environments. At the same time, every student deserves equal access to educational technology. That is why I am sponsoring HB25-1152 , which requires school technology contractors to meet accessibility standards for students with disabilities and accept liability for non-compliance. I am proud to share that this bipartisan bill passed its third reading in the House and will soon be heard in the Senate Education Committee. By ensuring all students can access digital learning tools, we are removing barriers to education for our most vulnerable learners. Looking toward the future, education must extend beyond traditional classrooms. HB25-1186 would create a pilot program giving higher education students hands-on work experience that complements their academic learning. This program will help students develop practical skills for their future careers while completing their studies — bridging the gap between education and employment that many young people face after graduation. Building education progress together These education initiatives address specific challenges our schools and communities face while paying careful attention to our state’s fiscal realities. Each bill responds directly to feedback from educators, parents, and students across House District 26, focusing on practical solutions from technology accessibility to work-based learning opportunities. I believe we make the best policy when we listen to those closest to the issues. If you have insights about education in our communities or thoughts on any of these bills, please share them with me. You can reach me at meghan.lukens.house@coleg.gov or attend one of my upcoming town halls. For more frequent updates throughout the legislative session, I invite you to join my newsletter by sending me an email. Let’s keep in touch and keep making a difference in House District 26. Onward! Meghan Lukens of Steamboat Springs is the representative for Colorado’s House District 26, which encompasses Moffat, Rio Blanco, Eagle, and Routt counties. Previous Next

With updates to zoning laws, Lakewood officials can lead other communities down a path to fixing housing shortages and costs < Back Rep. Rebekah Stewart: Lakewood’s attempt to increase “middle housing” would be big step to address crisis in Colorado Aug 7, 2025 See more This story was originally published in the Colorado Sun here . H ousing is personal to me. For most of my childhood, my family lived paycheck to paycheck, often just one emergency or disaster away from homelessness. Today, all too many of our Colorado neighbors experience that same insecurity. Later as a young adult, my husband and I made countless offers on Lakewood starter homes we desperately wanted — only to lose out to buyers able to make all-cash offers, or go far above the asking price. Unfortunately, nothing about what we experienced has changed much for first-time homebuyers since then. In fact, it’s gotten even more challenging. Lakewood and Colorado face a growing housing shortage, driving prices to unsustainable levels. More than half of Lakewood renters are cost-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on housing. The average Lakewood home price has jumped from $350,000 in 2017 to $590,000 today . Research shows housing shortages drive up prices — and homelessness. In Jefferson County, unsheltered homelessness has more than doubled between 2022 and 2025. Make no mistake: We face a housing shortage. For two decades, Colorado’s population has grown faster than our housing stock. The Denver Regional Council of Governments estimates the metro area needs over 200,000 new homes in the next decade. Lakewood’s share is nearly 10,000 , but at our current pace, we’ll produce less than a fifth of that. Without change, the crisis will only worsen. As a state legislator representing Lakewood and Edgewater in Jefferson County, I’ve made this issue a north star. This past session, I passed bills to stabilize zoning density in urban areas, streamline standards so Colorado can benefit from the cost saving potential that modular housing presents, limit unjustifiably high tap fees , and ease burdensome regulations — concrete steps to make housing more affordable across the Front Range. But local challenges also need local solutions. During my time on Lakewood City Council, we began prioritizing housing with the urgency it demands. Now, I’m proud to see my former colleagues on council continuing that work with a thoughtful, common-sense zoning update that will unlock the potential for affordable, sustainable housing, while protecting what makes Lakewood such a special place to live. Lakewood families need housing options they can actually afford: smaller starter homes, duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, accessory dwelling units and cottage clusters. According to a recent article in The Colorado Sun , a zoning atlas shows that most of Colorado prohibits these types of “missing middle” homes from being built in areas zoned for residential use. Lakewood’s proposed zoning update includes long-overdue changes to make these options more widely available over time to support affordability, sustainability and walkability. Affordability: The new code loosens overly restrictive rules to allow duplexes and triplexes in more neighborhoods. It’s a strategy shown in other cities to create homes that sell for $300,000 less than the typical single-family home. That price point makes homeownership possible for many more working families. The update also revises outdated minimum lot size rules that have historically excluded lower-income and more diverse residents. These rules often force people to purchase more land than they need, raising costs and harming the environment. Cities that relax these rules show that while changes are gradual , they make more affordable housing possible over time. Sustainability: Lakewood’s proposed code also helps us meet our climate goals. Smaller homes come with smaller carbon footprints . One analysis found that introducing just three “missing middle” homes on a block — a duplex, triplex and fourplex — can reduce its carbon footprint by 20%. Walkability: The update will also make Lakewood more walkable. It encourages building homes closer to workplaces and public transit. It allows for a small amount of neighborhood-serving retail, like a coffee shop, so residents can walk to grab their morning coffee. This approach means more residents can live near jobs, transit and small businesses — walking to work, seeing neighbors and reducing traffic congestion. That’s exactly the direction we need. This proposal won’t transform neighborhoods overnight. We’ve seen from other cities that reforms like these lead to slow, steady and gentle change. But over time, they help make communities more inclusive, sustainable and affordable. None of these ideas are radical or untested. Cities around the country have successfully implemented similar reforms, proving they work and reassuring residents that neighborhood character doesn’t disappear. Middle housing like this was once common, but exclusionary zoning policies sharply curtailed it, leading to a 90% drop in production. Lakewood now has the chance to lead and show we can do better. Later this summer, I’m excited to see Lakewood take a big step forward with zoning reform that delivers more affordability, more sustainability and more walkability. I hope you’ll join me in supporting it. Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood, represents District 30 in the Colorado House of Representatives. Previous Next

< Back Cecelia Espenoza Rep. Cecelia Espenoza represents House District 4 in North/West Denver, a community she has Called home for over 30 years. Born to migrant farmworkers from Colorado, she was the first in her family to graduate from college and she went on to be the second Latina to pass the bar in Utah. She returned to Colorado as the first tenure-track Latina to teach law in Colorado. She was also the first Mexican-American to become an appellate judge on the highest immigration court in the country. She is focused on addressing the housing crisis, investing in our K-12 public schools, combating gun violence, and protecting reproductive rights while supporting the most vulnerable in our communities including: immigrants and refugees; and Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community. Rep. Espenoza serves on the Judiciary and State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs committees.

In the spirit of celebration and appreciation, I am reminded how grateful I am to represent all of you in the state legislature. I am excited for the work ahead this legislative session to continue delivering results for our communities. < Back Rep. Meghan Lukens: Gratitude in focus: Investing in education and community in House District 26 Dec 7, 2023 See more Originally published in the Steambot Pilot & Today here . In the spirit of celebration and appreciation, I am reminded how grateful I am to represent all of you in the state legislature. I am excited for the work ahead this legislative session to continue delivering results for our communities. This year, we have a historic opportunity to significantly increase funding for K-12 public schools and finally eliminate what is known as the Budget Stabilization Factor, which has reduced state funding for schools since the Great Recession. This landmark investment in our schools will finally meet the long-promised funding levels that Colorado students deserve. It will put more money into classrooms to increase teacher pay and reduce class sizes. For the last few years, Colorado Democrats have been working hard to increase funding for our schools to put us in the position we are in now. Each year, we have increased funding for schools and gotten closer to eliminating the Budget Stabilization Factor. The increase we are planning this year is badly needed and will set up our state to finally fund schools closer to the levels we need. For far too long, schools have had to make do with fewer resources than they need, which has led to some of the lowest teacher salaries in the country. These additional dollars will help us recruit and retain new teachers and ensure every student in our community has the resources they need in the classroom to thrive. Under the governor’s budget for next year, the state will fully fund its share of public education, keeping our promise to invest in students’ success and increasing per-pupil funding to an average of $11,317 per student. This commitment to our students and their future is the Western Slope Way. During our special session last month, we reaffirmed our commitment to our schools while delivering urgent property tax relief. I am proud of the responsible package we passed that will reduce property taxes and protect funding for our schools, fire districts, emergency responders and critical local services our communities rely upon. As a teacher, I know we have to step up to make our state more affordable and prevent teachers from losing their homes because they can’t afford rising property taxes. At the same time, I know how important it is that we protect funding for our schools. It was important to do both, and we did. I know that the Western Slope Way is why so many of you bring up education when we bump into each other at the grocery store, on the slopes or at a community event. When we support and increase resources for our students, our entire community benefits. The 2024 legislative session begins on Jan. 10, and I have been working tirelessly with constituents and colleagues from both sides of the political aisle to gear up for the upcoming legislative session. I am committed to serving the people of Eagle, Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties, and am looking forward to passing laws this legislative session that deliver results on the issues most important to the people of House District 26, like affordable housing, behavioral health, education and economic prosperity. I would love to hear from you about education, and any other issues that matter to you. Please contact me at repmeghanlukens@gmail.com with comments and concerns. If you would like to be added to my newsletter for more frequent legislative updates, feel free to send me an email as well. Follow me on social media to be the first to know when I will be hosting town halls to answer your questions in person. Let’s keep in touch and keep making a difference in House District 26. Onward! Previous Next

< Back Yara Zokaie Yara Zokaie is the State Representative for House District 52 in Fort Collins. Representative Zokaie is a first generation child of immigrants and the first Iranian American to serve in the Colorado General Assembly. Rep. Zokaie serves on the House Judiciary, Finance and Appropriations committees. Representative Zokaie is an attorney with a masters in taxation and former Deputy Assessor. As a tax attorney, she has represented hundreds of individuals and small businesses against the IRS and Colorado Department of Revenue. Rep. Zokaie also founded a non-profit that worked to bring resources to marginalized communities in Northern Colorado, including COVID vaccinations during the pandemic and voter registration drives. Rep. Zokaie is committed to using her expertise to champion policies that bring meaningful and lasting improvements to the lives of working class families and marginalized communities. Her priorities include strengthening public education, supporting workers’ rights, creating affordable housing, increasing access to affordable health care, addressing climate change, and creating an equitable tax code. Representative Yara Zokaie is a mother to three young boys, and enjoys spending her free time with her family and crafting for her children’s school parties and projects.

< Back Manny Rutinel Representative Rutinel is an environmental attorney, entrepreneur, first-generation American, and the proud son of a single mother. He represents House District 32, which includes the great people of Commerce City, Welby, and other unincorporated areas of Adams County. Rep. Rutinel's priorities are environmental justice, affordability, and civil rights. Rep. Rutinel received his J.D. from Yale Law School. After law school, he was an Attorney for Earthjustice, fighting to hold corporate polluters accountable. Before law school, Rep. Rutinel was an economist for the US Army Corps of Engineers, where he also served as a First Responder in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. He holds an M.S. in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Florida. He serves as a member of the House Energy & Environment Committee.

< Back Gretchen Rydin Representative Gretchen Rydin is a social worker, therapist, former Littleton city council member, musician, and advocate working to build a stronger, more inclusive Colorado. She brings a unique blend of expertise in social work, mental health, and public service. Her background as a social worker has equipped her with a deep understanding of community needs, especially in serving vulnerable populations. As a therapist, she has consistently advocated for accessible and comprehensive care, recognizing how essential mental well-being is for both individuals and the community. As a council member, she has experience navigating the complexities of local government and working collaboratively to create policies that improve the lives of our residents, which she will continue in the legislature. As a social worker, Rep. Rydin sees firsthand the outsize impact felt by underserved communities, and wants to bring the thoughtful, data-driven approach learned in her social worker training to the state legislature to make sure no Coloradans get left behind as our state grows. She is a member of the House Business Affairs & Labor and the Health & Human Services committees and represents HD-38.

< Back Rep Cutter: It’s time to invest in our most valuable asset — Colorado kids Sep 18, 2022 See more Rep. Lisa Cutter, Sen. Tammy Story, Sen. Jessie Danielson President John F. Kennedy Jr. once said, “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future” and we couldn’t agree more. If we want to build a brighter future for all of us, then we have to invest in our most valuable asset: our kids. We’ve raised our families here in Jeffco, sending them to our public schools and watching them flourish in our community – we have navigated or are navigating the same school system you are, and we want to make sure all of our children get the high quality education they deserve. We can’t think of anything more important than ensuring young Coloradans have the tools they need to grow, succeed and thrive. After all, our kids are our future leaders – and one day, we’re going to pass the torch on to them and we need to give them the tools and training they need right now to be prepared. As mothers ourselves, we want to give our children the best future possible, and that future starts with a quality education. That’s why we prioritized passing policies this year to prepare students for success so every Colorado kid – no matter where they live – has an equal shot at success. First, we sought to give our youngest Coloradans a leg up by implementing universal pre-K and providing high-quality early childhood education opportunities for every child. Decades of research has shown that greater access to early childhood education leads to better outcomes for children all the way into adulthood, but far too many parents across Colorado simply can’t afford it. Providing up to 10 hours a week of free universal preschool for families means more kids will have access to the nurturing early education programs they need to grow, it will be easier for parents to get back to work and we will save families money. This is a win for families with young children, and a win for our economy. We also made a historic investment in K-12 education through the 2022 Public School Finance Act. The new law increases per pupil funding to a historic high of $545 per student, which school districts can use to reduce classroom sizes, increase teacher pay, and help provide more individualized support to help students learn. We know high quality teachers and educators are an integral part of our kids’ educational success – the law also breaks down financial barriers to entering the teaching profession through loan forgiveness and stipends for teachers, so we can attract higher quality teachers to the profession and better support our kids. Finally, we wanted to make sure our students are equipped with the tools necessary to attain a higher education degree and be successful in the workforce. Higher ed is the key to a bright future for many Colorado students, but too many folks are finding it hard to afford the cost of a degree. That’s why we fought to keep the cost of tuition down, while creating more pathways for students to get the skills and training they need to land a job in their field of choice. Colorado students entering the workforce need efficient and effective pathways to gain the experience and training they need to earn a degree and, ultimately, a good-paying job. We passed legislation to expand credential pathways to help Coloradans seeking to further their education or get the training they need to land jobs in high-demand industries, a measure that will accelerate our economic recovery and help businesses fill critical gaps in the workforce. As our students head back to school, we’re reflecting on all of the things we accomplished this year to make sure our kids are on the best path forward to achieve their dreams. Through the measures we passed, we will not only prepare our students for success – we will also help develop our workforce and power our economy as we continue to move Colorado forward. But the work doesn’t stop here – our kids will always be our priority. We look forward to continuing to pass meaningful policies that will help ensure Colorado learners frompreschool through high school, and beyond are adequately prepared for life beyond the classroom – because when our students succeed, we all succeed. Previous Next

< Back Katie Stewart Rep. Katie Stewart is a fourth-generation Durangoan who represents House District 59 in the Southwest corner of Colorado, including Archuleta, La Plata, San Juan counties, and most of Montezuma County. She is a member of the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources, House Education and the Health & Human Services committees. Her background as an emergency responder in Silverton and Durango and a member of the Durango 9-R Board of Education shapes her priorities in the Colorado Capitol - which are addressing the affordability crisis, strengthening the state’s education system, and advocating for rural Colorado. Rep. Stewart is ready to work across the aisle to be a strong voice for Southwest Colorado and its future.