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The House today advanced two bills that would strengthen protections against firearm intimidation around elections and help drive up grant funding to boost mass shooting victim support services. < Back March 28, 2025 Election Intimidation Protections, Funding Boost for Mass Shooting Response Advance DENVER, CO - The House today advanced two bills that would strengthen protections against firearm intimidation around elections and help drive up grant funding to boost mass shooting victim support services. “Despite no proof of widespread voter fraud, Trump’s reaction to losing the 2020 election has had a long-term impact on the safety of election officials and voters,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of HB25-1225 and SB25-059. “While Republicans defend Tina Peters, we’re defending the right to vote. Firearms have been used as a voter suppression tactic to intimidate Coloradans from exercising their constitutional right to vote. I’m proud of Colorado’s gold standard election system, and with this bill, we’re helping ensure that Coloradans can vote, serve as an election worker, and campaign without fear.” “The Freedom From Intimidation in Elections Act will protect Colorado voters and election workers from intimidation and threats,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, sponsor of HB25-1225. “Colorado has one of the highest voter turnout rates in the country, but there is more we can do to protect our election systems. This legislation protects civil servants and voters to ensure our elections are safe and secure.” HB25-1225 , also known as the Freedom From Intimidation In Elections Act, would expand protections against intimidation, threats or coercion while voting, attempting to vote, assisting others in voting, or helping administer an election. With the exemption of law enforcement officials and hired on-site security working within their scope of work, carrying a visible firearm, imitation firearm or toy firearm while engaging in certain election-related activities would be considered intimidation. The bill would also allow an individual who alleges intimidation, threats, or coercion to pursue civil recourse. In 2022, Colorado Democrats passed a law to prevent armed voter intimidation by prohibiting the open carry of firearms at or near polling centers. SB25-059 would direct the Division of Criminal Justice to apply for, accept, and utilize federal grant money or other grant funds to improve Colorado’s mass shooting response. The bill would also define “mass shooting” as a shooting where at least four people, other than the perpetrator, are injured or killed with a firearm. “Mass shootings like Columbine have impacted our communities for decades, and victims deserve every resource available to help them heal and move forward,” continued Rep. Woodrow. “This bill would direct the state to seek funding for victims of mass shooting attacks so we can better provide the support they need.” “It’s the unfortunate truth that mass shootings are a part of the American experience, and this bill is one of many efforts that Colorado Democrats are taking to reduce gun violence and support victims,” said Rep. Michael Carter, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB25-059. “There are federal grant programs that support responses to mass shootings and improve crisis training for first responders, and we should take advantage of any opportunity to strengthen our response. I’m committed to passing legislation that protects Colorado communities, especially our schools, from gun violence.” Previous Next

< Back March 26, 2021 HOUSE MOVES TO END CIVIL STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CLAIMS DENVER, CO– The House today gave preliminary approval to SB21-073, legislation sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Matt Soper, which would end the civil statute of limitations on claims of sexual misconduct and allow survivors of sexual assault to sue for damages regardless of when the abuse occurred. “Statutes of limitation do nothing to help victims, and today, we took a giant step forward to send statutes of limitations to the dustbins of history,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D- Commerce City. “Justice has no time limit, and now victims will no longer face one in order to seek it. This historic moment has been years in the making and would never have happened without the courageous and fierce advocacy of so many Coloradans who told their painful stories and continued this fight year after year.” SB21-073 would remove the current six year limitation on bringing a civil claim based on sexual misconduct. The bill applies to a cause of action that accrues on or after January 1, 2022, or a cause of action that accrued prior to that date but before the current six year statute of limitations expires. The legislation defines sexual misconduct in statute and eliminates restrictions on civil cases that limit victims to recovering only certain damages. The bill eliminates other restrictions that limit victims’ ability to file a civil action. Previous Next

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< Back May 28, 2020 TELL COMMUNITIES WHEN TOXIC POLLUTION IS RELEASED! Legislation advanced to require public notification and direct outreach when toxic chemicals are released Denver, CO– The House Finance Committee today advanced Representatives Adrienne Benavidez and Alex Valdez’s bill to protect Colorado communities from toxic chemicals that are emitted from many refineries, factories, coal plants and other facilities. These air toxins heavily impact the communities that live close by and can cause a number of documented health complications. The bill passed 7-4. “Our communities have a right to know when their industrial neighbors release dangerous levels of toxic and deadly chemicals into our air,” said Rep. Benavidez, D-Brighton. “Every Coloradan has a right to clean air and water, and the communities living in the shadows of these facilities, often communities of color and non-english speakers, must be immediately notified when dangerous chemicals are released.” “For too long, facilities that release toxic chemicals have repeatedly failed to provide timely and accurate information to the communities nearby. This needs to end,” said Rep. Valdez, D-Denver. “Our bill will require Suncor and other facilities that release toxic air pollution to notify their neighbors when they release harmful levels of deadly chemicals so that our communities have the information they need to respond appropriately and protect their health.” Toxic air pollution primarily affects those living and working closest to the facilities, which are primarily made up of minorities and lower income Coloradans. Some of these air toxins include Benzene, which can cause a variety of symptoms including respiratory complications, eye and skin irritation, headaches and more. Hydrogen cyanide , another chemical commonly released by factories, refineries and other such entities can cause damage to the central nervous system, which can cause headaches, dizziness, numbness, loss of vision and more symptoms. HB20-1265 requires facilities to conduct outreach in english and spanish and notify the surrounding communities when they release toxic levels of benzene, hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide into the air. The requirement applies to anticipated or unanticipated incidents, including as a result of a malfunction, start-up, shutdown, upset or emergency. The bill is supported by: Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) Sierra Club Conservation Colorado Colorado Latino Forum Earthjustice Western Resource Advocates Healthy Air and Water Colorado Environment Colorado CoPIRG Mi Familia Vota Together Colorado 350 Colorado Colorado Fiscal Institute Mothers Out Front Colorado National Parks Conservation Association Previous Next

< Back Eliza Hamrick Representative Eliza Hamrick is a member of the House Education and Health & Human Services committees. Rep. Hamrick represents House District 61 which includes southeast Aurora and Centennial. Rep. Hamrick is a career-long educator and has championed legislation to promote apprenticeship programs, support Colorado’s workforce and boost funding for K-12 education. She also sponsored legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to help keep our schools and communities safer.

Governor Polis today signed two bills into law to support Colorado students and bolster workforce readiness. < Back May 23, 2025 Signed! Pair of Bills to Bolster Workforce Readiness and Support Colorado Students DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed two bills into law to support Colorado students and bolster workforce readiness. HB25-1278 , sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Representatives Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, will implement recommendations from the Accountability, Accreditation, Student Performance, and Resource Inequity Task Force created by HB23-1241 . Co-sponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, HB25-1278 makes a number of improvements to benchmarks for student success, including standardized assessments and performance indicators. It will also increase measures to gauge accountability from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), including the appointment of an Accountability Work Group to provide feedback on state and federal accountability policies and make recommendations to the State Board of Education. “Making sure that every student is receiving a high quality education no matter where they attend school is critically important,” said Bird, sponsor of HB25-1278 and SB25-315. “A new law I sponsored will update how we measure the quality of education being offered in our public schools. The goal is to ensure that K-12 students are receiving the best education to prepare them for the future ahead – whether that be higher education or career readiness. Additionally, we’re streamlining how our state funds career readiness programs so our students have more, higher quality opportunities to find in-demand, well-paying careers after graduation.” “Meeting students where they are and providing accurate benchmarks to measure their success is one of the best ways we can support students and educators,” said Michaelson Jenet. “I’m proud to sponsor this new law that will invest in our students and invest in our state’s future.” “As a teacher, I know students succeed in the classroom when they have resources tailored to them,” said Lukens. “This new law will ensure that statewide tests are more accessible for all students – including students living with a disability and Spanish-speaking students. We want every student, no matter where they live in Colorado, to receive a world-class education and this law implements some important accountability measures to ensure the diverse needs of our K-12 students are being met.” The updated state accountability laws for public schools and districts will better measure student outcomes and create a new sub-indicator to support postsecondary and workforce readiness before graduation. SB25-315 , sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, Kirkmeyer, and Reps. Bird, and Emily Sirota, D-Denver, restructures existing postsecondary workforce (PWR) readiness funding into a singular, coordinated distribution mechanism in the CDE to improve access to programs that will boost highly-skilled, in-demand career opportunities. The new PWR Innovation Grant Program will distribute grants to local education providers for the development and implementation of programs that support students in completing postsecondary credit, credentials, or work-based learning. “Opportunity is a Colorado value, and this bill ensures that more kids across our state will have the skills they need to succeed in Colorado’s highly skilled workforce,” said Bridges. “I’ve said for years that every high schooler should graduate with an associates degree, certificate, or meaningful internship. Over the last 10 years, we’ve made incredible progress toward that goal, and this bill will ensure that those opportunities are available in districts throughout the entire state.” “We’re taking steps today to help our students land good-paying, high-demand careers after graduation,” said Sirota. “This law simplifies the postsecondary workforce readiness grant program to make it easier for our students to access education programs, including work-based learning and apprenticeships. Strengthening Colorado’s workforce requires us to invest today in our students, and this new law boosts educational opportunities and opens career pathways for students.” Earlier this week, Governor Polis signed an executive order directing Colorado’s state agencies - including the Departments of Education, Higher Education, Labor & Employment, and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade - to coordinate more closely on the state’s efforts to better prepare learners for the future. Previous Next

< 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 May 6, 2021 BILL TO EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS, SAVE LIVES ADVANCES Judiciary Committee Advances gun violence prevention measure DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today advanced Reps. Judy Amabile and Steven Woodrow’s bill to strengthen Colorado’s gun transfer background check system by preventing individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors from obtaining a firearm for a period of time and closing the ‘Charleston Loophole’. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “When my community was devastated by the senseless actions of a troubled individual with a history of violence, I was left reeling and grasping for answers on how to prevent this from happening again,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “As the investigation continues, it has become clear to me that the shooter’s conviction of a violent misdemeanor should have been the red flag that prevented him from buying a deadly weapon. I’m proud to honor my community with action today.” “Child abuse, hate crimes, possession of an illegal weapon — these are the types of recent convictions that would stop you from obtaining a firearm under this bill,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “While I’m certain we’ll continue to encounter opposition on this legislation moving forward, an overwhelming majority of Coloradans agree it really shouldn’t be controversial. This bill is about saving lives, and ensuring that individuals with a history of violence have a more difficult time getting their hands on the type of weapon that can take a dozen lives in mere seconds.” HB21-1298 prohibits a person who has been convicted of certain violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for 5 years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault, and third degree assault. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. This bill avoids that by creating a state requirement for a firearms dealer to receive approval from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation prior to transferring a firearm. Previous Next

< Back June 24, 2021 POLIS SIGNS LEGISLATION TO CURB YOUTH ACCESS TO HIGH POTENCY MARIJUANA New law advances research, addresses diversion and helps educate consumers DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Representative Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician, that seeks to address youth access to high-potency cannabis products. “Working with patients, doctors, parents, students, teachers and the marijuana industry, Colorado is leading the way in addressing youth access to high potency cannabis,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “The reality is that it’s too easy for Colorado’s youth to access high potency mairjuana when they shouldn’t be able to, and we don’t have the full picture of how these products impact the developing brain. With Governor Polis’ signature today, it will be harder to divert products from the medical marketplace into the hands of our youth. This law will help educate consumers about high potency cannabis, and it will advance critical research that will give us a better understanding of how high potency products impact developing brains.” “Doctors like myself, school-based providers and parents have all seen firsthand how some of our younger Coloradans have experienced health issues after consuming high-potency marijuana products,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician. “I’m proud that Governor Polis signed this critical law today, which will make a big difference by strengthening the doctor-patient relationship, cracking down on looping and diversion, advancing critical new research and better educating consumers on high-potency products while ensuring we protect patients’ access to medical marijuana.” The law will advance research into the impact of high potency marijuana on the developing brain, address diversion of cannabis concentrates purchased in the medical marijuana marketplace and educate consumers about concentrates through visual representations of a recommended serving size and public awareness campaigns. Advances Research: The law funds and advances critical research into the impact of high-potency cannabis concentrate products on the developing brain and on physical and mental health. It requires the Colorado School of Public Health to conduct a systematic review of the current scientific research into the effects of high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates and identify gaps in order to conduct new research. Under the law, a new scientific review council of doctors and experts will review the report and make recommendations to the General Assembly on appropriate evidence-based regulatory changes and the funding of additional necessary evidence-based research. Addresses Diversion of High-Potency Products: The law cracks down on “looping” and diversion by reducing the amount of medical concentrates someone can purchase in a day and requiring the Marijuana Enforcement Division’s seed-to-sale tracking database, METRC, to update at the point of sale, instead of at the end of each business day. The data collected is confidential and cannot be shared with anyone except when necessary to complete a sale. Enhanced Doctor-Patient Relationship: The law adjusts medical marijuana recommending practices by requiring doctors to specify a daily quantity authorization if it is above the maximum allowed for the patient’s age and to consider a patient’s mental health history when making a cannabis recommendation. For patients ages 18-20, the law requires two physicians from different medical practices to diagnose the patient as having a debilitating or disabling medical condition after an in-person consultation, and the patient must attend a follow-up appointment every six months after the initial visit unless that patient is homebound. Real-Time Medical Marijuana Purchase Reporting: Through a practice known as “looping,” consumers can purchase the daily limit at multiple dispensaries, circumventing the limits and increasing youth access to high-potency cannabis products. The law will crack down on “looping” in the medical marketplace by requiring medical marijuana stores to immediately record transactions in the seed-to-sale inventory tracking system. This will allow the system to identify discrepancies with daily purchase limits, access and retrieve real-time sales data and alert medical mariuana stores if a sale to a patient has exceeded their daily purchase limit for that business day. Reduced Daily Purchase Amounts: The law will limit daily medical marijuana concentrate purchases to eight grams for patients 21 years and older and to two grams for patients between the age of 18 and 20. Patients who had a medical marijuana card before the age of 18, patients who are homebound, for whom a physician has recommended a higher daily authorization, or for patients for whom going to a medical marijuana store on a daily basis presents significant physical or geographical hardship are exempt from these new limits. Consumer Education and Protection: The law will help better educate consumers about high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates by tasking the Colorado School of Public Health with developing a public education campaign, requiring MED to create a tangible education resource on the potential risks of concentrates and that shows visual representations of a recommended serving size be included with every sale and by prohibiting advertisements targeted toward Colorado youth. Previous Next

Legislation would ensure compliance with landlord-tenant laws and uphold housing standards statewide < Back April 16, 2025 ICYMI: Committee Passes Bill to Ensure Safe Housing and Strengthen Renter Protections Legislation would ensure compliance with landlord-tenant laws and uphold housing standards statewide DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee passed legislation expanding the Attorney General’s and local governments’ authority to initiate and enforce landlord-tenant laws, ensuring safe housing and strengthening renter protections. SB25-020, sponsored by Representatives Mandy Lindsay and Javier Mabrey, passed by a vote of 6-5. “Every Coloradan deserves access to safe, stable housing,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. “When an apartment complex in my district in Aurora was closed due to years of unmanaged rodent infestations and structural damage, it was clear that we needed to take action to ensure we have the tools to hold property management companies accountable. This legislation would empower the Attorney General and local governments to step in when the health and safety of Colorado renters are at risk, creating safer housing for all.” “Far too many Coloradans have been forced to live in untenable, dangerous conditions due to bad-acting landlords turning a blind eye,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “Aurora and Denver made national headlines last year, highlighting the need to bolster Colorado’s renter protections and crack down on property management companies who ignore Colorado’s housing protection laws. With this bill, we’re holding neglectful landlords accountable for side-stepping Colorado’s tenant protection laws and preventing more Coloradans from being stuck in unlivable housing situations.” SB25-020 would give the Colorado Attorney General authority to enforce housing protections for victims of unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, or domestic violence, documentation requirements for housing agreements, and protections regarding bed bugs in residential homes. The bill would give counties and municipalities the ability to initiate and enforce these same landlord-tenant laws in addition to existing provisions the Attorney General may already enforce. The bill would establish a process where, only in severe cases, residential housing may be placed into receivership - a legal process where a court appoints a caretaker to oversee a neglected property to temporarily manage operations, make necessary repairs, and repay debts. The bill outlines the process for receivership cases, including proper notice to parties, powers and responsibilities for entities appointed as receivers, and the process for ending receiverships. Reps. Lindsay and Mabrey have championed numerous tenant protection laws, including legislation to prevent unnecessary and arbitrary evictions and strengthen residential lease agreements to protect renters from signing leases with harmful hidden language. They have also bolstered Colorado’s warrant of habitability law to ensure tenants have access to timely repairs when unsafe conditions arise and adding damage due to an environmental public health event to the list of conditions that make a property uninhabitable. Previous Next

< Back February 17, 2022 WILDFIRE MITIGATION MEASURES ADVANCE, WILL SAVE COLORADANS MONEY DENVER, CO – The House Energy and Environment Committee today passed three bills that will save Coloradans money on wildfire mitigation efforts and help prevent wildfires. The bills passed today continue to build on the legislature’s work from prior sessions to invest additional resources in wildfire mitigation and recovery. Last session , the legislature dedicated over $100 million to prevent and mitigate the destructive impact of wildfires in our state and help our natural environment recover from previous fires. “As wildfires become more frequent, we’re working in a bipartisan way to help homeowners save money on mitigation measures to protect their property and prevent wildfires,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara. “These bills will help our communities move forward after wildfires and fund local efforts to remove debris and restore damaged lands after a fire.” Saving Homeowners Money on Wildfire Mitigation: HB22-1007 , sponsored by Representatives Donald Valdez and Mike Lunch, passed unanimously and would save people money on wildfire mitigation measures. The bill extends an existing income tax deduction and creates a state income tax credit to reimburse landowners for the costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures on their property. A landowner with a federal taxable income at or below $120,000 is allowed a state income tax credit equal to 25% of mitigation costs, up to $625 per year. It also creates a grant program to fund local outreach efforts to communicate best practices in wildfire mitigation and prevention to landowners. “Colorado is seeing more frequent and intense wildfires as a result of our changing climate; with these bills, Coloradans will save money on their mitigation efforts and help prevent wildfires,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “Wildfire prevention, mitigation and recovery is going to be a big focus of our work this session, and I’m excited to see the hard work begin to support homeowners and local governments to help us meet the challenges ahead.” Wildfire Mitigation and Recovery: HB22-1012 , sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Donald Valdez, passed by a vote of 11-1. The bill expands the Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program to support efforts by counties to promote the recovery of forested lands from wildfires by removing deadwood and other potential fuels as well as debris from wildfires. “I’m proud of the bipartisan legislation we’re working on this session to save people money on wildfire mitigation and prevention and support local governments,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “Wildfire isn’t a Republican or a Democratic idea. That’s why we’re working together to support our communities and continue the progress we’ve made to reduce the threat communities face from wildfires.” Wildfire Mitigation Incentives For Local Governments: HB22-1011 , sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Marc Snyder, passed by a vote of 9-3 and would leverage local and private funds through a matching grant program to provide resources to local governments for forest management and wildfire mitigation efforts. By incentivizing local governments to identify dedicated long-term funding for wildfire mitigation, the bill makes smart investments to maximize state resources and encourage sustainable local and state funding for wildfire mitigation efforts. Previous Next