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< Back May 2, 2022 PFAS, FORESTRY AND WATER BILLS PASS THE HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation that will help address PFAS contamination, direct funding to the Colorado Water Plan and plant more trees in Colorado forests. “Communities in every part of our state are dealing with PFAS contamination because these dangerous chemicals don’t break down in the natural environment,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, sponsor of HB22-1345. “Even the smallest doses of PFAS have been linked to adverse health impacts, including cancer and damage to critical organs. The legislation we passed today is a monumental step forward to remove these dangerous products from Colorado and stop the contamination that is threatening the health of our communities.” “With Colorado’s forests seeing increasing devastation from wildfires, insect outbreaks, drought and deforestation, we are going to increase the capacity of our state nursery to provide a large-scale, diverse and reliable stock of seedling trees to help rebuild our forests,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “Healthy forests will reduce the risk of wildfires, improve our groundwater quality and remove carbon and pollution from the atmosphere.” Addressing PFAS Contamination: HB22-1345 , sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Mary Bradfield, passed by a vote of 43-22. The bill will curb PFAS contamination and protect consumers by restricting the sale of products that contain these harmful chemicals. PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down, are toxic chemicals added to everyday consumer products and linked to cancer, hormone disruption, organ damage and reproductive health problems. The bill immediately protects consumers from PFAS in products such as cosmetics, carpets, food packaging, baby products, textile furnishings, upholstered furniture, and fluids used in oil and gas production. The bill also requires product labels be added to other items, like cookware, that will better inform consumers of the risks. Promoting Healthy, Diverse Forests: HB22-1323 , sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Meg Froelich, passed by a vote of 57-7. The bill directs $5 million to the state nursery to significantly increase its capacity to help plant new trees in damaged forests to prevent natural disasters and future wildfires. This effort will repair some of the damage from devastating wildfires, insect outbreaks, drought and deforestation. “Healthy trees and forests remove carbon from the atmosphere, mitigate the risk of wildfire, protect our groundwater and watersheds, and make our state the incredible outdoor adventure we love,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of HB22-1323. “By expanding capacity at our state nursery, we’ll ensure that Colorado has the healthy seedlings and baby saplings we need to replenish our forests and conserve the incredible outdoors that defines our beautiful state.” Directing Additional Resources to Water Plan and Addressing Problem Gambling: HB22-1402, sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett, passed by a vote of 53-12. The bill will increase funding for the Colorado Water Plan by over $7 million the next two years, and even more after that, by directing more of the revenues from sports betting to the state’s water plan. The introduction of sports betting in Colorado in 2020 has led to major growth in the gaming industry, partly due to higher limits and additional games. This bill provides more funding for the responsible gaming grant program in the Department of Revenue to promote responsible gaming and address problem gaming. “Coloradans are betting on sports and driving new revenues to our water plan,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “With this legislation, we’re directing additional funding from sports betting revenues to help Coloradans with problem gaming and sending even more money to the Colorado Water Plan, which helps ensure we have the water resources we need for our growing state.” Previous Next

Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution < Back February 15, 2024 Joint Release: Colorado Democrats Unveil Bill to Reduce the Cost of Housing Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution DENVER, CO - Colorado Democrats today introduced legislation to make housing in Colorado more affordable and reduce traffic congestion by eliminating parking mandates that drive up the cost of building new housing, especially multifamily developments. “Requiring more parking spots than the market demands drives up the cost of construction, makes housing more expensive in Colorado, and puts more and more distance between homes and destinations," said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “We have quite literally paved paradise to put up a parking lot. With each new off-street parking spot adding potentially tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new building, the evidence is overwhelming that eliminating minimum parking mandates will allow for more diverse housing stock, free up space for more transportation choices, and improve air quality. It's time for us to put people over parking, and ensure Coloradans can live, work, and play affordably throughout our great state.” “Addressing Colorado’s housing crisis requires an all-of-the-above approach - and with parking mandates eating up more and more space and money, it’s long past time we act to eliminate them,” Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, said. “Parking minimums stifle housing development and act as barriers to building the new housing we need to bring down prices and get folks housed. This bill will make it easier to increase Colorado’s housing supply, and encourage practices that will reduce emissions and help us reach our climate goals.” “The research is clear, the actions we’re taking will keep rents from rising, reduce the cost of building new apartments, homes and condos, and will save people money on housing,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “There are eight parking spaces for every vehicle on the road, and most municipalities require up to three parking spaces per unit, which can add millions to the cost of building new multifamily housing. This common sense reform empowers consumers to choose the housing options that work best for them instead of continuing to force higher costs on builders, renters and homeowners for parking spaces they don’t need or want.” “This year we’re taking a multifaceted approach to combating the housing crisis in Colorado, and removing parking mandates that drive up housing costs is a key part of our agenda,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “Studies have shown time and again that mandated parking minimums negatively impact health outcomes and the environment while slowing housing development and raising prices. I look forward to working on this commonsense solution that can improve affordability for the hardworking folks of Pueblo.” Beginning January 1, 2025, HB24-1304 would prohibit counties or municipalities from establishing or enforcing minimum parking requirements for residential or commercial properties within a metropolitan planning organization. Parking minimums increase home prices and rents by requiring developers to use valuable space for cars that may not be fully utilized and could instead be dedicated to more housing units. With new structured parking spaces costing $25,000 each in the Denver Metro in 2020, developers are disincentivized from building new residential projects or must reduce the number of units that are developed. Since the city of Minneapolis eliminated residential parking minimums in 2021, rents have only increased 1 percent , while Denver saw an average increase of nearly 5 percent in just the last two years. Research attributes the significant expansion of the housing supply in Minneapolis to the elimination of parking minimums. The oversupply of parking is also directly linked to higher vehicle miles traveled. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in Colorado, with cars contributing nearly 60 percent of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified Denver and the Northern Front Range as having unhealthy levels of ground level ozone, which can lead to negative health impacts like asthma and bronchitis, especially for vulnerable Coloradans. Additionally, replacing wildlife habitat to build massive surface lots for parking harms the environment by increasing soil and water pollution, flooding, and the heat island effect. The bill does not impact parking spaces required for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to expand access to contraception, improve consumer protections for Colorado patients, protect hospitals and health care providers from instability in the health care market. < Back April 29, 2023 Bills to Expand Access to Contraception, Secure Health Insurance Coverage Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to expand access to contraception, improve consumer protections for Colorado patients, protect hospitals and health care providers from instability in the health care market. SB23-284, sponsored by Representatives Iman Jodeh and Ron Weinberg, passed the House by a vote of 58 to 5. HB23-1303, sponsored by Representative Kyle Brown and Speaker Julie McCluskie, passed the House by a vote of 52 to 9. “Coloradans should be able to access their twelve month prescribed contraceptive medication at once, but insurers are making it more difficult,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB23-284. “This bill enforces the law that has been in statute since 2017. Allowing access to a twelve month supply of contraceptives at once ensures that Coloradans don’t face additional barriers to accessing their medication, such as not living close to a pharmacy, lacking reliable transportation or many other reasons. Under this legislation, insurance companies and PBM will now be required to comply with the law that they have managed to skirt since 2017.” SB23-284 would require both insurance plans and pharmacy benefit management companies (PBMs) to cover a year's supply of contraception, which can be dispensed at one time or in smaller amounts if requested. SB23-284 builds off HB17-1186 , a bipartisan bill that allowed Coloradans to access 12 months of birth control. However, legal loopholes have allowed insurers and PBMs to not comply with the law. SB23-284 ties up loose ends, and makes sure Colordans can easily access twelve month supply of contraceptives using their medical insurance. Research shows that dispensing one to three months of birth control at a time increases the likelihood of contraceptive discontinuation and makes it harder for people to plan their pregnancies. Additionally, access to 12 months of birth control can prevent unplanned pregnancies. “Coloradans should be able to trust that their health insurance will be there when they get sick or injured,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of HB23-1303. “Patients and providers shouldn't be asked to pick up the tab when health insurers go out of business. This bill makes sure that if a health insurer can't pay its bills, patients, doctors, and hospitals won't be stuck with exorbitant costs from unpaid claims for care that's already been provided. It helps protect Coloradans from these insurance company insolvencies so that families can continue to access the care they need.” “When a health insurance company fails, rural communities like mine are especially vulnerable because of the limited choices that rural Coloradans have when it comes to where they can receive care and who their insurer is,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB23-1303. “This legislation brings more insurers into our public safety net, the Colorado Life & Health Guaranty Association, to protect hospitals, health care providers and patients in the event of a failure in the health insurance market. By protecting our rural hospitals and health care providers, we are ensuring that rural communities will continue to have access to the quality care they need.” HB23-1303 would make the distribution of insurance claims a class 1 distribution priority in the case of an insurer’s liquidation, preventing other insurers from becoming impaired or insolvent due to another’s failure. This prioritization adjustment would be repealed on July 1, 2026. The bill also amends the “Life and Health Insurance Protection Association Act” by: Adding health maintenance organizations (HMOs) as members of the Colorado Life and Health Insurance Protection Association, bringing HMOs into this public safety net, and subjects HMOs to assessments, Allocating responsibility for long-term care insurance assessments between health and life insurance association members, and Specifying that the Act does not provide coverage to a person that acquires rights to receive, or to a payee or beneficiary that transfers its rights in, a structured settlement factoring transaction, as defined in federal law, regardless of when the transaction occurred. Previous Next

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

< Back June 5, 2020 BILLS TO HELP COLORADANS MAKE ENDS MEET ADVANCE Committee passes legislation to provide, housing, utility, and behavioral health assistance; protect consumers from outrageous price gouging DENVER, CO — The House Committee on State, Veterans and Military Affairs today advanced four bills to provide direct assistance to hardworking families and improve access to essential needs, such as housing, utilities and behavioral health care. “Coloradans expect their leaders to deliver results, and that’s why I’m fighting to provide direct assistance to hardworking families to help them make ends meet,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “With COVID-19 upending the lives of Coloradans all across our state, we’re channeling $20 million directly to families to help them afford to stay in their homes.” “Workers are footing the bill for essential protective equipment while some companies continue to charge exorbitant prices for masks and other necessary items without justification,” said Brianna Rep. Titone, D-Arvada. “Coloradans are trying to rebuild their lives and can’t afford to pay outrageous prices for essential goods and services. It’s time to give our state the tools we need to crack down on these deceptive and unfair practices that hurt Coloradans.” “Too many hardworking families are struggling to pay their bills and make ends meet, which is why we’re directing $10 million in federal funding to lower utility bills and help Coloradans get through this crisis,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “We’re focused on how we can make a real impact and help our state get back on its feet.” “These are challenging times, and we’re seeing an enormous increase in the demand for mental health and substance abuse treatment services,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “I am grateful we will be able to use federal CARES Act funding to bolster our state’s behavioral health capacity so that more Coloradans can access the care they need.” HB20-1410: Coronavirus Relief Funds for Housing Cash Assistance ( Reps. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Tony Exum, Sens. Julie Gonzales and Rachel Zenzinger): Housing security for both renters and homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to preserving the health and economic security of Colorado families. The bill provides $20 million in direct rental and mortgage assistance to Coloradans experiencing a financial need during these turbulent times, including $350,000 for legal aid for renters at risk of eviction. Passed 6-3 HB20-1411: Coronavirus Relief Funds for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment ( Reps. Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Tracy Kraft-Tharp, Sens. Brittany Pettersen and Rhonda Fields): The need for behavioral health services are compounded by the challenges associated with COVID-19 and the more than half a million individuals who have filed for unemployment in Colorado. Young people have been especially impacted–teachers are reporting an increased need for mental health support for students struggling with schooling at home. The bill allocates $15 million to critical mental health programs and substance abuse treatment within the Colorado Department of Human Services and Department of Public Health and Environment. Passed 8-1. HB20-1412: Coronavirus Relief Funds for Utilities ( Reps. Chris Kennedy and Lisa Cutter, Sens. Tammy Story and Rachel Zenzinger): While most utilities have implemented a moratorium on utility disconnections, the moratoriums do not address the difficulty that a household facing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will have paying its utility bill once a utility’s disconnection moratorium is lifted. The bill allocates $10 million to the Energy Outreach Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, which helps low-income Coloradans who are at risk of having their service shut off. Passed 6-3. HB20-1414: Protections Against Price Gouging ( Reps. Mike Weissman and Brianna Titone, Senators Brittany Pettersen and Mike Foote): Unfortunately, during times of emergency unscrupulous individuals sometimes try to take advantage of scarcity to raise prices on necessary goods to exorbitant levels. This bill establishes that a person engages in an unfair or unconscionable act or practice if they increase the cost of certain necessary goods or services an excessive amount, and empowers the Attorney General or local District Attorneys to enforce these consumer protections. Passed 6-3. Previous Next

Bill would reinstate and expand critical wetlands protections jeopardized by the Sackett v. EPA decision < Back April 29, 2024 Legislation to Protect Streams, Rivers and Wetlands Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to restore critical protections for Colorado’s streams, rivers and wetlands. “After the Supreme Court removed important protections and left our waterways in jeopardy, we knew we must take action now to secure Colorado’s water future,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “With the passage of this bill, we’re one step closer to a Colorado-specific approach to protecting our streams, rivers and wetlands. From brewing beer to sustaining our livestock and crops – fresh, clean water is at the core of nearly every industry in Colorado. This bill protects our state’s water supply now and into the future so generations to come can experience the Colorado way of life we all hold dear.” “Protecting our freshwater resources now means future generations can thrive in Colorado knowing they have clean and accessible water,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “A 2023 Supreme Court decision rolled back crucial water protections and we need legislation that helps effectively manage and protect our wetlands, rivers and streams. Our bill would outline regulatory certainty for our businesses, landowners and agriculture industry when it comes to Colorado’s water. Colorado’s water is a steady and vital resource that must be conserved and protected for generations to come, and this bill protects what we all find essential.” The Clean Water Act authorizes the EPA to define “Waters of the United States” and the Army Corps of Engineers to regulate discharges from dredge and fill activities into waters that meet that definition. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA in 2023 redefined what constitutes waters subject to federal regulation and placed an estimated 60 percent of Colorado wetlands at risk of losing protections. The impacted wetlands and seasonal streams in need of protection work to ensure adequate water supply, aid groundwater recharge, and provide for wildlife habitat in Colorado. HB24-1379 , passed the Hous e by a vote of 43 to 20 and works to protect Colorado waters that are no longer federally protected. The bill would create a permitting program within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for dredge and fill activities impacting state waters. The permitting framework is based on well-established approaches already used by the Army Corps of Engineers and will provide clarity and certainty on when a permit is needed for dredge and fill activities. Normal farming, ranching, and agricultural activities, such as plowing, farm road construction, ditch maintenance, and erosion control practices would not require a permit. Until the recent decision in Sackett v. EPA , the Army Corps’ permitting program safeguarded the vast majority of Colorado’s state waters from pollution caused by dredge and fill activities. Dredge and fill activities involve digging up or placing dirt and other fill material into wetlands or surface waters as part of construction projects. These operations are necessary in many infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, housing developments, flood mitigation, and utility pipelines. This legislation provides a way for these projects to move forward while protecting Colorado’s water resources. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Manny Rutinel that would continue the first-of-its-kind I Matter youth mental health program. SB24-001 passed by a vote of 50 to 13, with the majority of Republicans voting against the bill. < Back April 26, 2024 House Passes Bill to Extend the Successful I Matter Program DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Manny Rutinel that would continue the first-of-its-kind I Matter youth mental health program. SB24-001 passed by a vote o f 50 to 13, with the majority of Republicans voting against the bill. “We’re one step closer to extending the successful I Matter Program in our state, which means our youth can continue to have access to no-cost therapy when they need it,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Over the years, the I Matter Program has connected over 11,000 kids to therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and other mental health challenges. Programs like I Matter remove barriers to access and help our youth receive the behavioral and mental care they need.” “By extending the I Matter Program, we’re doubling down on our commitment to ensure our youth can receive the behavioral and mental health care they need,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City. “No-cost therapy breaks down access barriers for youth and their families. Since its introduction, the I Matter Program has provided more than 50,000 essential therapy sessions – this bill continues this successful, important program to ensure we’re addressing the needs of our youth.” The popular I Matter connects youth with a licensed mental health therapist for up to six free virtual counseling sessions, but the program is currently set to repeal on June 30th, 2024. SB24-001 would continue the I Matter program until June 30, 2034, ensuring Colorado students can continue receiving quality mental health care at no-cost to them or their families. The I Matter program was established in the 2021 legislative session and expanded by HB22-1243 . The legislature also passed a law in 2023 allowing school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools to support student’s access to mental health care. I Matter has served over 11,000 Colorado youth since 2021 and provided over 50,000 sessions. According to the Colorado 2023 Kids Count report , youth suicide in 2023 decreased 30 percent from the year before. Previous Next

SB23-189 works to make reproductive health care more accessible and affordable < Back March 28, 2023 House Committee Passes Legislation to Increase Access to Reproductive Health Care SB23-189 works to make reproductive health care more accessible and affordable DENVER, CO – The House Health & Insurance Committee today passed legislation to make reproductive health care, including abortion, more equitable and accessible. SB23-189 is part of the Safe Access to Protected Health Care legislative package and works to increase insurance coverage and close accessibility gaps for reproductive health care. “The last thing on anyone’s mind when receiving life-saving care, including an abortion, should be – can I afford this? However, financial barriers keep that question top of mind for too many Coloradans,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City . “This bill will increase access to reproductive health care by reducing surprise billing and filling gaps in insurance coverage. I was privileged enough to pay for my own abortion out-of-pocket, but you shouldn’t have to be in my shoes to receive the health care you need. Our bill ensures that all Coloradans, regardless of income level or zip code, are supported in accessing reproductive health care and STI treatments.” “Inequity in health care access is a systemic problem, which is why we’re committed to breaking down barriers and making it possible for all Coloradans to receive the reproductive health care they need,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County . “Our bill makes accessing reproductive health care, including abortion and STI treatment, more equitable and affordable. To achieve reproductive freedom for all, we need to prioritize health care access for underserved communities and communities of color, and uproot the barriers that hold people back from receiving the care they need.” Increasing Access To Reproductive Health Care : SB23-189 passed committee by a vote of 8 to 3. This bill would limit surprise medical billing and remove patient cost sharing for reproductive health care services and treatment, including but not limited to sterilization, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and abortion care. This bill expands access to contraception and related information for all Coloradans, specifically for minors, by modernizing a 1971 law currently in place and aligning it with Colorado’s Public Health code. Additionally, this bill expands family-planning related services and treatment for routine visits. Through the Family Planning Access Collaborative created in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the department would work to examine issues related to access to family planning services, gaps in coverage, and confidentiality of services. SB23-189 additiontally prioritizes access to life-saving HIV medication by including coverage for the treatment and prevention of HIV by health benefit plans. Previous Next