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LEGISLATION WILL HELP PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM COMMITTING GUN VIOLENCE, SAVE LIVES IN COLORADO < Back April 28, 2023 SIGNED! BILL TO RAISE MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE A FIREARM TO 21 BECOMES LAW LEGISLATION WILL HELP PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM COMMITTING GUN VIOLENCE, SAVE LIVES IN COLORADO DENVER, CO – Legislation that would raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado to 21 was signed into law today.Under current federal law individuals must be 21 years old to purchase a handgun, but only 18 years old to purchase long guns. SB23-169 , sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and House Minority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, and Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, would raise the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21 with limited exceptions. “Gun deaths in Colorado climb higher every year, and a disproportionate number of them are committed by younger Coloradans,” Mullica said. “As an ER nurse I’ve seen firsthand the devastating ways gun violence impacts our communities, which is why I am proud to champion this new law that will reduce gun violence and save lives all across our state.” “Gun violence is traumatic for anyone to experience, let alone for a child or young adult,” Duran said. “As a survivor of domestic violence and gun intimidation at a young age, I know firsthand how critical it is to prevent our youth from being put in a life or death situation because a firearm was too easily accessible. By increasing the minimum age to purchase a gun, we can prevent suicides and gun violence and keep our Colorado kids and communities safer.” “Young people aged 12-24 make up one-fifth of the population, but commit just under half of all gun murders,” Danielson said. “There is an urgent need to do more to prevent gun violence in Colorado, and I am proud to champion this legislation that does just that. Raising the age to purchase a firearm will keep more deadly weapons away from our youth, reduce youth suicide rates, and make our communities safer.” “Having been a teacher for over 30 years, so many of my students have grown up fearing the constant threat of gun violence – sadly, they are known as the lockdown generation,” Hamrick said. “From countless active shooter events to losing peers to suicide, Colorado youth are forced to grapple with gun violence from a very young age. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to implement this commonsense gun violence prevention policy into Colorado law to keep firearms away from our youth and our children, making our schools and communities safer.” According to Everytown for Gun Safety , firearms are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased a staggering 61 percent in the last decade. Previous Next

< Back May 31, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS AND BIPARTISAN BILL TO HELP COLORADANS FIND HOUSING AND JOBS DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will protect whistleblowers and help Coloradans with low-level criminal records find secure jobs or housing. In 2020, the legislature passed legislation establishing protections for whistleblowers during a public health emergency. SB22-097 , sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen and Robert Rodriguez and Representatives Leslie Herod and Tom Sullivan, makes these protections permanent. “With the passage of HB 20-1415 we gave workers the protection to speak out about health and safety concerns without fear of retaliation only during public health emergencies,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood. “Essential workers will still be essential after the pandemic, which is why I am proud to champion this new lawl that will extend these protections permanently and help keep workers and the public safe.” “Extending whistleblower protections for essential workers is the right move to keep our workers and the public safe,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “This law permanently extends protections for workers put in place during the pandemic so Coloradans can report health and safety concerns without fear of retaliation. All Coloradans should feel safe speaking out about workplace conditions that could harm them or the people around them.” “Coloradans shouldn’t have to worry about losing their job or having their hours slashed for reporting unsafe working conditions. These whistleblower protections prioritize the health and safety of our essential workers,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial . “When the pandemic began, we gave workers the necessary protection to report health and safety concerns without fear of retaliation. This new law extends those reporting protections for workers regardless of a public health emergency, so they can always feel safe to report dangerous conditions.” SB22-097 protects workers in the public and private sectors by ensuring that all workers have the same protections, including the ability to raise concerns about workplace health and safety practices or hazards to their employer, other workers, the public or government agencies. The legislation also protects workers from retaliation, discrimination, or adverse action, allows workers to wear personal protective equipment while at work without fear of discrimination, and requires employers to notify employees of their rights. When employees do raise concerns, various remedy options are included under the bill, including filing a claim with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) or bringing an action in court. The legislation also gives CDLE the authority to enforce and investigate claims. “The pandemic highlighted the need to improve how we take care of our community, and we worked hard this session to help give working folks better protections and opportunities,” said Senator Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “These news laws will ensure that no worker will have to worry about losing their job or having their hours cut because they speak out about working conditions that threaten them and their colleagues, and allow Coloradans who have paid their debt to society to access the jobs and housing they need to rebuild their lives while strengthening our workforce as we work to rebuild our economy and move Colorado forward.” Currently, criminal records are a substantial obstacle for people in search of jobs or housing, which punishes Coloradans after they have served their time and exacerbates the state’s workforce shortage. SB22-099 , sponsored by Senators Robert Rodriguez and Dennis Hisey and Representatives Kerry Tipper and Colin Larson, extends automatic record sealing to all eligible offenses, removing this obstacle to housing and employment for many Coloradans. “This bipartisan law will help Coloradans who are already eligible for record sealing by automatically sealing their records, making it easier for people to find jobs and housing opportunities,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “This new law will boost our workforce, increase job opportunities for Coloradans and reduce recidivism by helping people get back on their feet.” The pandemic has made it harder for employers to hire and retain employees and for Coloradans to find adequate housing. Under the law, criminal records that are currently eligible for sealing upon petition, including civil infractions, will now be automatically sealed. This includes the records of victims of human trafficking who have been convicted or charged with prostitution. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation to make it faster, easier and less expensive for local governments to approve solar installation projects < Back May 11, 2023 SIGNED! Brown’s Bill to Streamline Clean, Solar Energy Projects BOULDER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation to make it faster, easier and less expensive for local governments to approve solar installation projects. This law, sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Matt Soper, helps local governments implement free automated permitting and inspection software by establishing a grant program to offer one-time financial assistance. “With this law, it will be easier and cheaper for Coloradans to transition to solar energy and take climate action,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville . “Permitting can be a huge barrier to bringing new solar energy sources online, and this legislation speeds up the permitting process, so more Coloradans can begin powering their homes with clean, renewable energy. Streamlining this permitting process saves local governments and their residents time and money, cuts bureaucratic red tape and boosts the transition to renewable energy.” HB23-1234 , establishes the Streamlined Solar Permitting and Inspection Grant Program to assist local governments with the start-up costs associated with implementing free automated permitting and inspection software. This program would offer one-time financial assistance to implement the software, helping local governments to review and approve residential solar projects faster. Automating the permit and inspection process will reduce costs for consumers and local governments and accelerate Colorado’s transition to clean energy. Previous Next

Representative Katie Stewart today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s funding freezes and employee layoffs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and their drastic impact on farmers and ranchers in rural Colorado. < Back February 26, 2025 Rep. Stewart’s Statement Regarding USDA Funding Freeze Impacting Southern Colorado DENVER, CO – Representative Katie Stewart today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s funding freezes and employee layoffs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and their drastic impact on farmers and ranchers in rural Colorado. Representative Katie Stewart, D-Durango: “A sweeping funding freeze and employee layoffs at the USDA have jeopardized the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers in Southern Colorado. Freezing federally-supported USDA grant programs is bad for hardworking farmers and ranchers, hurts rural Colorado, and will raise food prices for everyone. "From conservation efforts to localized infrastructure projects, farmers and ranchers were promised funding to improve farming and ranch operations and strengthen our food supply – but this bait and switch could leave them on the hook for unexpected costs. “I urge the federal government to strongly reconsider the federal looming funding cuts at the USDA because rural Colorado’s economy, and the farmers and ranchers who feed us, rely upon it.” Representative Katie Stewart represents HD-59 in Southwest Colorado which includes Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan counties and parts of Montezuma County. Previous Next

< Back March 18, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO ENSURE CULTURALLY COMPETENT HISTORY IS PROVIDED TO STUDENTS (Mar. 18) – The House approved a bill by Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, and Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo, to ensure the inclusion of American-Indians, Latinos, African-Americans and Asian-Americans in social studies courses in Colorado’s classrooms. “Our state and our country are comprised of the diverse individuals and communities that have moved or immigrated here and those that have been here for many centuries. That is what makes us strong but for too long, these communities have been excluded from our teaching of history,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “With an increase in division among some of our communities, it would be beneficial for all children and youth to learn about each other’s background and to be able to see themselves in the history books.” This bill would establish a sixteen member commission to provide recommendations to the Department of Education so that those standards and programs accurately reflect the history, culture, social contributions, and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including the contributions and influence of American Indians, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans and reflecting them accurately and inclusively. “Teaching inclusive curriculum boosts test scores and student engagement,” said Rep. Buentello. “I’m proud to sponsor this bill to ensure that the history taught in our state is truly inclusive and tells our country’s full story.” Parents, teachers, administrators and school board members testified in support of the bill at a hearing this month. HB19-1192 passed on a vote of 40-24. The bill now goes to the Senate. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation to extend the Occupational Credential Portability Program to dependents and Gold Star spouses of military members. The bill unanimously passed by a vote of 11-0. < Back February 15, 2024 Committee Passes Bill to Support Military Families DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation to extend the Occupational Credential Portability Program to dependents and Gold Star spouses of military members. The bill unanimously passed by a vote of 11-0. “The Occupational Credential Portability Program has supported many military families' transition when they make the move to Colorado by streamlining the licensure process for skilled job seekers,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Our legislation expands the program to include the kids and spouses of military members, boosting our workforces and making it easier for military families to build their careers in Colorado.” HB24-1097 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, allows dependents and Gold Star spouses of US Armed Forces members to participate in the Occupational Credential Portability Program. It also changes the Occupational Credential Portability Program by: Eliminating the temporary nature of the licensing program, Requiring that regulators, when reviewing an application, focus on whether an applicant has a license in good standing and not whether the applicant has committed an act that would be subject to discipline in Colorado if that act is not prohibited in the home state, and Increases the validity of licenses from 3 to 6 years and makes them renewable. The Occupational Credential Portability Program was created by bipartisan 2020 legislation to streamline and centralize the credentialing of individuals licensed in another state. The law applies to professions ranging from doctors and veterinarians to electricians and barbers. Previous Next

< Back August 29, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: STORY, CUTTER & TITONE JOIN LOCAL LEADERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR TOWN HALL ON ELECTION INTEGRITY Lawmakers tout Colorado Election Security Act championed by Colorado Democrats EVERGREEN, CO – State lawmakers, including Senator Tammy Story, D-Conifer, Representative Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton, and Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, recently held a town hall and community discussion on election integrity at the Evergreen Fire Rescue. The event was also attended by Commissioners Lesley Dahlkemper and Andy Kerr as well as Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder George Stern. Colorado is known for its free and fair gold standard election system, yet Republican-driven election conspiracies in recent years continue to threaten and undermine our democracy. The town hall discussion served as an opportunity for community members to raise their concerns about the impact of these misconceptions as well as learn about the work the state legislature is doing to ensure our elections remain free and fair while continuing to strengthen our democracy. “As state legislators, we must do everything in our power to strengthen our democracy and make sure our elections remain free and fair,” said Story. “Colorado leads the nation in election security, and with the Colorado Election Security Act signed into law this year, we made sure our gold standard election system is even stronger. Every Coloradan should feel comfortable knowing their vote counts and their vote matters. The actions we took this session and the actions we will take going forward will ensure that.” “Our democratic process has been dangerously damaged by lies, and it is more important than ever to stand firm for the truth,” said Cutter. “The truth is that elections in Colorado are amongst the most secure in the nation, and we acted this year to further strengthen our system. Public trust is imperative for a high functioning democracy, so we will continue to pursue commonsense policy solutions so all Coloradans have access to voting and can exercise that right without fear.” "When we passed the Colorado Election Security Act, we took critical steps to defend our elections from those using their positions to undermine and dismantle our free and fair election system," said Titone. "Colorado's voter access and election security are top-tier, and we're pleased to say people who tamper with election equipment or break the laws surrounding elections will be held accountable for their undemocratic actions." This year, Colorado Democrats passed the Colorado Election Security Act , which improves 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. The Colorado Election Security Act further secures 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 law 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 Colorado 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

< Back May 19, 2021 HOUSE BILL BOOSTS VETERAN EMPLOYMENT DENVER, CO– The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote that would encourage private employers to hire veterans by establishing a veterans hiring preference. “We have an all volunteer fighting force, and to keep it that way, we need to ensure that veterans have the opportunity to thrive after leaving military service,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “Veterans, especially from our recent military engagements, face higher rates of unemployment, which can lead to challenges reentering civilian life. We can ensure that more veterans find good jobs and smoothly transition out of the armed forces by encouraging private employers to hire more veterans, which is a policy already in place in the public sector.” Under HB21-1065 , which is sponsored by Rep. David Ortriz, a private employer can give a preference to a veteran or the spouse of a veteran when hiring a new employee as long as the veterans or spouse is qualified. To address higher rates of unemployment among post-9/11 veterans, the bill allows an employer’s policy to include the preferential hiring of veterans who have been discharged in the last 10 years. Establishing a veterans hiring preference policy would be optional for employers. The bill includes safeguards against discrimination by still allowing a job applicant who is in a protected class to file a discrimination claim. This ensures that the bill will encourage the hiring of veterans without having unintended discriminatory impacts against women and people of color. Furthermore, the bill would offer businesses creating the hiring preference educational tools to help them navigate anti-discrimination laws so they can implement the policy fairly. Previous Next

< Back May 23, 2019 KRAFT-THARP’S BIPARTISAN SALES AND USE TAX BILL SIGNED INTO LAW (May 23) – Gov. Polis signed Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp’s bill to update the way the state collects sales taxes to comply with the South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision “This new law will help small businesses and our economy stay on the path to success,” said Rep. Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada. “I will continue working help simplify our tax system and am thankful to all of the stakeholders involved in getting this bill signed into law.” Rep. Kraft-Tharp has been a staunch advocate for tax reform at the legislature. Kraft-Tharp is chair of the Business and Labor Affairs Committee and chair of the Sales and Use Tax Simplification Task Force Interim Committee. HB19-1240 codifies the Colorado Department of Revenue rule applying destination-based sourcing to all retailers. Online retailers will now be required to collect taxes based on the buyer’s address, and marketplace facilitators, such as Amazon and Etsy, are required to collect and remit sales taxes for the sellers on the platform. Smaller retailers would be able to continue to calculate sales taxes based on their business location until an online system is available to calculate tax rates for addresses. The bill is a result of the 2018 United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v.Wayfair, which expanded the ability of states to collect sales taxes on online purchases. Previously, the standard was that a business had to have a physical presence in a locality in order to pay local sales taxes there. Rep. Kraft-Tharp is also the co-prime sponsor of SB19-006 which requires the development of an electronic sales and use tax simplification system. This new system will help address the patchwork of sales and use tax across the state and help small businesses thrive. This law will require the Office of Information Technology to develop the electronic sales and use tax simplification system following a stakeholder process conducted with the Department of Revenue. It then authorizes the Department of Revenue to accept any returns processed through the new system and also provides a dedicated funding stream to fund and maintain the system. SB19-006 was signed into law this April. HB19-1240 was signed in the Governor’s office today. Previous Next

< Back February 7, 2020 ENHANCEMENTS TO SAFE2TELL PASS HOUSE COMMITTEE The House Committee on Education today passed HB20-1005 , bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Kevin Van Winkle, by a vote of 13-0. The bill would enhance Colorado’s Safe2Tell program. “The Safe2Tell program saves lives and is a critical resource for Colorado youth,” said School Safety Committee Chair Rep. Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City). “This bill would ensure that when a student reaches out for help, that the person who answers the line is equipped to address either the student’s mental or physical health concerns. I’m proud of the legislation we’ve drafted to improve school safety, and I’m pleased to see these bills begin to move forward.” Safe2Tell, developed in Colorado after the Columbine tragedy, provides students a confidential way to report and talk with someone about behavioral health issues and has become a national model. Other states have taken Colorado’s lead, adapting the now 20-year-old program for new technologies and best practices developed in recent years. The Safe2Tell enhancements would include aligning the Safe2Tell program and the crisis hotline more closely to ensure that individuals in crisis can rapidly access crisis counseling. It would also align the processes for all types of incoming tips and adjust the annual advertising campaign to most efficiently raise awareness about the program and reduce its misuse. Finally, it would enhance law enforcement’s ability to prevent imminent physical harm. Today, the Senate Committee on Education also passed SB20-001, sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields and Representatives Emily Sirota and Van Winkle, which would expand access to behavioral health training for educators so that more students can get the behavioral health care they need. Previous Next

< Back May 1, 2019 MCLACHLAN’S BIPARTISAN BILL ON FULL-DAY FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN HEADED TO GOVERNOR’S DESK McLachlan-Wilson bill will help invest in Colorado’s future (Apr. 30) – A bipartisan bill by Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Rep Jim Wilson, R-Salida, to fund full-day kindergarten is heading to the Governor’s desk. The upcoming state budget proposes funding full-day kindergarten in a responsible, sustainable manner. “This bill is about setting our kids up for success－the kids who live in rural, urban, and suburban areas, on the Western Slope, on the Eastern Plains and in every corner of our state,” said Rep. McLachlan, chair of the House Education committee. “Access to early childhood education is the best gift we can give to young learners. This is a historic moment and I am proud that we were able to get full-day kindergarten to the governor for his signature. Full-day K will provide terrific benefits for the hardworking families of our state for many years to come.” Many young students lack access to full-day kindergarten, despite research showing they will benefit significantly from this learning experience. While a large number of Colorado schools have increased access to full day kindergarten over time despite inadequate funding, there are still 14,000 children without access to this important educational resource. Those who lack access often face some of the steepest obstacles to affording the tuition that is charged in many districts or live in communities that cannot afford to cut resources from other parts of the K-12 budget to offer a free full-day experience. Increased state funding would help open doors to a research-proven strategy to improve children’s academic and life success. An added benefit of funding full-day kindergarten is the complementary freeing up of more than 5,000 Early Childhood At-Risk Enhancement (ECARE) slots in the Colorado Preschool Program for young learners. HB19-1262 was approved in the House with a bipartisan vote of 54-11. It was approved unanimously in the Senate. The text of HB19-1262 can be found here . Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to allow Coloradans to participate remotely in eviction proceedings. < Back March 20, 2023 House Passes Bill to Allow Remote Participation in Eviction Proceedings DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to allow Coloradans to participate remotely in eviction proceedings. This bill, sponsored by Representatives Mandy Lindsay and Iman Jodeh, would help ensure fewer Coloradans receive a default judgment simply because they cannot attend their eviction hearing in person. “We’re working to break down barriers and keep more Coloradans housed,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. “Right now, if you don’t show up to your eviction proceeding in person, you automatically receive a default eviction judgment on your record, and this limits your opportunities to find future housing. This bill would allow all Coloradans to participate in their eviction proceeding remotely, making it easier for working families and those without reliable transportation to attend their hearings.” “Our bill works to remove barriers for Coloradans facing eviction to attend their court hearing by allowing remote participation,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “Whether lack of child care or inability to take time off of work, there are many reasons why someone might not be able to attend their eviction hearing in person. Our legislation allows Coloradans to pre-arrange remote participation which will reduce no-show rates, prevent automatic default judgment, and improve accessibility in Colorado’s court system.” HB23-1186 , which passed by a vote of 44 to 18, would allow individuals in residential eviction cases to participate in county court proceedings remotely. Under this bill, individuals must communicate with the courts if they would like to participate in their hearing remotely or in-person 48-hours before their hearing. HB23-1186 aims to improve accessibility for attending eviction proceedings especially for those living in rural areas, Coloradans with disabilities and additional circumstances that make it difficult to take time off work. Data collected from courts in other states shows that by expanding ways to participate in eviction cases reduces “no-show” rates and improves court procedures. HB23-1186 is expected to decrease the number of Coloradans with a no-show, default eviction by over 7,800. HB23-1186 is supported by ACLU of Colorado, Colorado Poverty Law Project, 9to5 Colorado, Boulder County, AFDC Coalition, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, Community Economic Defense Project, and others. Previous Next