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< Back May 20, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE, INNOVATIVE HOMES SIGNED INTO LAW Legislation invests $40 million of federal pandemic relief dollars to construct new, affordable, innovative homes that will save people money, increase housing supply and create jobs Grand Junction, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullica and Senator Jeff Bridges that will jumpstart construction of new, affordable homes to save Coloradans money on housing, increase the housing supply and create jobs. HB22-1282 was developed based on recommendations from the state’s Affordable Housing Task Force . “The legislation Governor Polis signed today will make housing more affordable in communities across our state and save people money on housing,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton. “Nearly every community in our state is looking at how to reduce the cost of housing. This $40 million investment will attract and expand businesses that build high quality innovative homes that cost less. This will save families money on new homes, expand our supply of affordable homes, and create jobs all across Colorado.” “Hard working Colorado families deserve to have a home they can afford,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “But too many Coloradans are getting priced out of the neighborhoods where they work and currently live. This new law will create good-paying jobs while quickly increasing our housing stock with quality, affordable homes that will help drive down housing costs and get roofs over heads as quickly as possible. I am proud to champion this critical legislation as we continue fighting to make sure every Colorado family has a place they can afford to call home.” “This session, we made the largest investment in the state’s history to reduce the cost of housing, help develop more homes, and save families money,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, Chair of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force . “I’m proud Governor Polis signed HB22-1282, one of our Task Force recommendations, today to boost the construction of affordable, innovative homes, which will be manufactured right here in Colorado, create jobs, and support rural economies all while significantly increasing our supply of affordable homes.” HB22-1282 deploys $40 million to attract, encourage and support the construction of innovative forms of affordable housing to be built all across Colorado. Examples include modular, pre-fabricated, manufactured and other innovative forms of housing. The funding could be used to build or expand factories, hire additional workers, and expand manufacturers’ ability to produce and construct innovative homes. This will quickly boost the affordable housing stock in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, as well as increase the rate of homeownership in communities that have traditionally lacked access to this important wealth-building tool. The legislation will also create jobs by incentivizing new innovative housing companies to manufacture and place their homes in Colorado. Additionally, HB22-1282 will expand Colorado’s workforce by helping current housing manufacturing companies expand their capacity, operations and number of employees to meet affordable housing demands. Previous Next

HB25-1149 standardizes Black American history taught in Colorado’s public schools < Back June 3, 2025 Signed! New Law Establishes Statewide Black History Education Standards DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law legislation to establish statewide Black history education standards in Colorado’s public K-12 schools. HB25-1149 , sponsored by Representative Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, and Senator Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, requires the Colorado Department of Education to develop a standard K-12 curriculum for Black history and cultural studies with support from a 17-member advisory committee. “Black history is American history, and without a Comprehensive Black history curriculum in our public schools, students aren’t receiving the full scope of achievements and contributions of Black Americans,” said English. “We can help our students achieve a well-rounded education by developing and standardizing a comprehensive Black history curriculum in Colorado’s public schools. From politics to engineering, Black Americans’ contributions to society are vast. Our law helps ensure that students learn about the influential Black leaders who changed the course of history and our nation.” “Here in Colorado, we understand the importance of teaching a full, honest history – one that recognizes the achievements, contributions, and experiences of Black Americans,” said Exum. “Implementing a standardized Black history curriculum in our public schools ensures that students of all races and backgrounds receive a more complete education that prepares them to be informed, engaged citizens and honors the extensive contributions of Black Americans in shaping our state and nation.” Once approved by the Colorado Board of Education, public K-12 schools will have to adopt the new Black history education standards into their curriculum as part of the state’s social studies standards revision cycle, which concludes in 2028. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Representative Javier Mabrey, Majority Leader Monica Duran, and Senators Julie Gonzales and Nick Hinrichsen, that will prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed by outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. < Back April 19, 2024 SIGNED! Gov. Polis Signs Bill to Prevent Evictions, Homelessness DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Representative Javier Mabrey, Majority Leader Monica Duran, and Senators Julie Gonzales and Nick Hinrichsen, that will prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed by outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. “Our ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation clearly defines in state law when and why landlords can evict tenants to prevent discriminatory and retaliatory evictions,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “This new law will create stability for landlords and renters because it does not prevent landlords from evicting tenants who have violated their lease or are behind on their rent, or where a landlord is getting out of the business. With this legislation becoming law, we will save Colorado families money and help keep roofs over their heads and roots in their community.” “Too many families know firsthand the fear and uncertainty that comes with being evicted from their home, as well as all the difficult consequences that arise because of it,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “We must do more to protect vulnerable renters from being evicted without reason. Our new ‘for cause’ eviction law will improve housing stability, prevent displacement, and keep more of our neighbors in their homes, and I am pleased to see it get signed into law.” “Unnecessary and arbitrary evictions have devastating consequences for Coloradans, which is why we passed legislation to clearly outline reasons landlords can file for an eviction,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Evictions make renters more vulnerable to homelessness, and having an eviction on your record can make it nearly impossible to find housing. I’m excited that our legislation to prevent Coloradans from being displaced is now Colorado law so hardworking Coloradans can remain safely housed.” “Imagine being a respectful neighbor, paying your rent on time, and doing everything right. But your roof leaks, your landlord won’t fix it, and you’re struggling to make ends meet. Do you report it to your local housing authority, so there will be accountability on the landlord to fix it? Or do you keep quiet, knowing that, if you do that, your landlord might not renew your lease? This is just one example of the many cases this bill addresses, to ensure that tenants who are doing the right things don’t lose their housing for arbitrary reasons. It creates stability and financial security for good tenants and their families,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. Currently, Colorado law exposes renters to possible arbitrary, retaliatory or discriminatory evictions. The ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation would prevent a landlord from evicting a tenant unless there is cause for eviction. Under HB24-1098 , the reasons a landlord could lawfully evict a tenant include failure to pay rent in a timely manner, destruction of property, interfering with the right to quiet enjoyment, or a substantial violation of the rental agreement. The law also includes allowable reasons for a no-fault lease non-renewal, including substantial repairs or conversion of a residential premises, and selling the property. Some exceptions to the ‘For Cause Eviction’ law include rentals within the landlord’s primary residence, short-term rentals, mobile homes and for employers who provide housing to employees. Evictions threaten the health and safety of Coloradans, with research showing that individuals who experience an eviction are more likely to report poorer physical or mental health outcomes . In 2023, Denver set a new record of annual evictions, reaching nearly 13,000 filings. Previous Next

< Back March 22, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: PRESIDENT FENBERG, REPRESENTATIVES AMABILE, HOOTON AND GRAY COMMEMORATE THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE KING SOOPERS SHOOTING BOULDER, CO – Boulder legislators Senate President Steve Fenberg, Representative Judy Amabile, Representative Edie Hooton, and Representative Matt Gray today released a joint statement commemorating the one year anniversary of the King Soopers shooting: “One year ago, the Boulder community suffered a devastating tragedy when a gunman brutally cut short ten innocent lives. Today, our hearts remain heavy for the families of the victims, and for the entire Boulder community. But faced with tragedy, our community has emerged stronger and more resilient than before. We have been profoundly moved by the myriad ways Boulder County has come together to honor the victims of this tragedy and support their families and one another. As we continue to heal, each of us must recommit ourselves in our service to Boulder and Colorado while continuing our work to protect our neighbors and build a stronger, safer community for us all.” Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2019 SULLIVAN, GARNETT INTRODUCE LIFE-SAVING EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER BILL Bill named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III (Feb 14) – Today, Rep. Tom Sullivan and Majority Leader Alec Garnett were joined by survivors of gun violence, law enforcement officers and state legislators to unveil new legislation to prevent gun violence and protect first responders. “This is why I’m here – I’m here to help save lives and to make sure what happened to my family and my son doesn’t happen to others,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “This Extreme Risk Protection Order bill is about saving lives. I wear my son Alex’s jacket every single day I come to the state capitol. Watching your child’s body drop into the ground is as bad as it gets. And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that none of you have to do that. I don’t care what party you belong to, I’m going to everything I can until this jacket falls off of me.” Rep. Sullivan’s son Alex was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting on his twenty-seventh birthday. “When an individual is in crisis, loved ones and law enforcement are often the first to see signs that they pose a threat to themselves or others. Extreme Risk Protection Orders can save lives by creating a way for family members and law enforcement to act before warning signs escalate into tragedies,” said Rep. Garnett, D-Denver. “This bill has some of the strongest due process provisions of any ERPO bill in the country. Coloradans refuse to maintain the status quo and refuse to simply live with the consequences of doing nothing to address the epidemic of gun violence.” This bill will give law enforcement another tool to help keep our communities safe.Through this bill, family or law enforcement can petition a judge for an Extreme Risk Protection Order for someone who is exhibiting violent or dangerous behavior. If approved, a temporary order would be placed for up to two weeks. After that, family or law enforcement could petition the judge for a full Extreme Risk Protection Order. If the judge determines, by a clear and convincing evidence standard, that the respondent poses a significant risk of causing personal injury to themselves or others, they could approve the protection order for up to 364 days. During this hearing, respondents will be provided legal counsel at no cost. The respondent can also request to have the order terminated at any point during the 364-day time period. The bill, which was introduced during the 2018 legislative session and which passed the House, is once again named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III, who was killed in the line of duty last New Year’s Eve by an individual in the middle of a mental health crisis. Deputy Parrish was just twenty-nine years old. Law enforcement officials, including Deputy Parrish’s sheriff, Tony Spurlock, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, spoke in favor of the bill at a press conference today. Pelle’s son Jeff is a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy who was also seriously injured responding to the same call with Deputy Parrish. Senators Lois Court, D-Denver, and Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, also spoke at today’s press conference, sharing a statement from Deputy Parrish’s parents Zack and Cris Parrish to remind us all of the need for this life-saving legislation: “It is incumbent upon us to support the Zack S. Parrish, III Law, a measure which will limit the accessibility that a mentally and/or emotionally ill person would have to obtain such weaponry. This is not about taking gun rights away from anyone; it is about protecting our first responders, families, and the community at large, thus reducing these tragedies in the future,” the Parrish family urged. Kaylee Tyner, a senior at Columbine High School spoke at the press conference and led a moment of silence in honor of the one year anniversary of the Parkland High School shooting. Thirteen states have enacted bipartisan ERPO laws (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington). At least 29 other states and Washington, D.C. have considered ERPO laws. Jane Dougherty of Littleton whose sister Mary Sherlach was killed in the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Conn. And who has been a leader on gun violence prevention efforts here in Colorado and in the capitol also spoke at today’s press conference. Colorado lost over eleven-hundred people to suicide in 2017. Studies show that access to a gun in a home triples the risk of death by suicide. Indiana’s firearm suicide rate decreased by nearly eight percent in the ten years after their Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) legislation was enacted. The text of HB19-1177 can be found here. Watch Rep. Sullivan’s remarks here. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez into law to make the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program permanent. < Back May 15, 2025 Bipartisan Martinez Bill to Support Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Conservation Becomes Law EMPIRE, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez into law to make the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program permanent. “Habitat Stamps have funded conservation programs across Colorado to protect wildlife, fisheries and critical ecosystems so future generations can hunt, fish and enjoy our beautiful state,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “Whether you’re coming from out-of-state or live right here in Colorado, everyone who hunts and fishes knows we have some of the best wildlife areas in the world, and we’re proud to keep them that way. Wildlife conservation ensures that hunting and angling can contribute to our rural economies for many years to come and protects our way of life.” The Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program offers funding opportunities for landowners, local governments and conservation nonprofits that protect wildlife habitats, provide wildlife-related recreational access or sell their property to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The program, which is funded by hunting and fishing licenses, is currently set to sunset on July 1, 2027. SB25-049 , also sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, continues the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program indefinitely. With support from Great Outdoors Colorado and federal funding, the program has secured over 290,000 acres of conservation easements and over 146,000 acres of public access. Previous Next

< Back June 6, 2020 THREE ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS PASS THE HOUSE Denver, CO– The House today passed three bills to increase fines and penalties to corporate polluters accountable, require public notification and direct outreach when toxic chemicals are released, and set stringent guidelines for the testing and use of PFAS-based AFFF firefighting foam in order to protect firefighters and prevent the chemicals from entering Colorado’s groundwater sources. HB20-1265 , Representatives Adrienne Benavidez and Alex Valdez’s bill would 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. This bill would require 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 passed 39-25. “Those who are most directly affected by toxic emissions are often communities of color, low-income communities, and non-English speaking communities,” said Rep. Benavidez, D-Adams County. “They have a right to know when industry releases dangerous toxic and deadly chemicals into the air their children breathe, and this bill will ensure that’s the case. Reverse 911 is simply notification!” “Knowledge is power, and today we voted to empower communities when their air in their neighborhoods has been poisoned with dangerous levels of toxins,” said Rep. Valdez, D-Denver. “Today we’re standing up for our neighborhoods, our families, and our state.” HB20-1119 , sponsored by Representatives Tony Exum and Lois Landgraf, sets stringent guidelines for the testing and use of PFAS-based AFFF firefighting foam in order to protect firefighters and prevent the chemicals from entering Colorado’s groundwater sources. Training and testing with AFFF fire fighting foam is one of the leading causes of PFAS contamination and exposure. HB20-1119 sets out clear guidelines for when AFFF fire fighting foam (PFAS-based firefighting foam) can be tested, requiring that all AFFF foam be collected and properly disposed of after testing so that it doesn’t enter drinking water sources. The bill also requires the state to certify and register every facility that possesses PFAS fire fighting substances and to create standards for the disposal and capture of these substances when they are used so that they do not contaminate groundwater. The bill passed 61-3. “PFAS chemicals put our firefighters and our communities at risk, and there’s more we can do to ensure that firefighters aren’t exposed to these cancer-causing chemicals and that they don’t end up in our drinking water,” said Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “This bill will help our state identify where PFAS is being tested and ensures that it is collected and disposed of properly so firefighters and our communities aren’t exposed.” Finally, HB20-1143 , sponsored by Reps. Dominique Jackson and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, would hold polluters accountable by increasing criminal penalties for the pollution of state waters and raising the maximum daily fine for civil air and water quality violations. The bill would also give the Attorney General jurisdiction over the aforementioned criminal complaints. The bill passed 40-24. “There’s no excuse for polluting the air we breathe and the water our children drink,” said Rep. Jackson, D-Aurora. “Today we took a bold step forward towards holding big, corporate polluters accountable for infringing on the rights of Coloradans to enjoy clean air and water.” “Holding corporate polluters accountable is not just about protecting our environments, it’s about protecting our neighborhoods and our communities,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “Increasing civil violation fines and criminal violation penalties will not only ensure that those who pollute our air and water pay the right price, it will prevent future violations from happening in the first place.” Previous Next

The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster basic access at places of public accommodations for people with disabilities. < Back April 10, 2023 Ortiz’s Bill to Improve Basic Access for People with Disabilities Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster basic access at places of public accommodations for people with disabilities. “Coloradans living with a disability should be able to visit and enjoy the restaurants, museums and retail stores in their community without having to worry about whether they'll be able to navigate the space,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “This legislation empowers Coloradans living with a disability by allowing them to pursue legal action if a public accommodation space is not accessible. I’m committed to making our public places more accessible and accommodating so they can be enjoyed by everyone.” HB23-1032 ensures that individuals with a disability have legal recourse if they are discriminated against by any place of public accommodation. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network , places of public accommodation include restaurants, theaters, doctors' offices, pharmacies, hotels, retail stores, museums, libraries, amusement parks, private schools and day care centers. HB23-1032 aims to improve accessibility for all Coloradans. Previous Next

< Back June 28, 2021 OVER $100M FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, NEW SUPPORT PROGRAMS SIGNED INTO LAW DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed four bills into law that will infuse $114 million in state and federal funds into the state’s behavioral health system, prevent substance use disorders, create the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline in Colorado and incorporate behavioral health into the state’s response to disasters, such as wildfires, floods or shootings. “As we listened to communities across Colorado about how we could most effectively direct American Rescue Plan Act funds, we consistently heard that we need to fix our state’s behavioral health system,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “SB21-137 sets aside over half a billion dollars to put Colorado on track to make the transformational changes we need to significantly improve access to behavioral health care. At the same time, we’re directing $114 million, right away, to providers, nonprofits and local governments to address Colorado’s behavioral health emergency.” SB21-137 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Chis Kennedy, will immediately deploy $114 million in state and federal stimulus funds to various behavioral health grant programs to assist providers, nonprofits and local governments address substance abuse, maternal and child health, and other behavioral health prevention and treatment programs around the state. To help address Colorado’s youth mental health crisis, the law requires CDHS to develop a program to provide emergency resources to licensed providers who face barriers in providing treatment and services to youth whose behavioral health needs require them to be in a residential facility. The bill creates the behavioral health cash fund and sets aside $450 million to be allocated through an interim process that will gather input from experts and craft recommendations. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated Colorado’s mental health crisis, and we’re seeing far more fatal drug overdoses and significantly increased demand for behavioral health services in our state,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “The bills Governor Polis signed today will immediately boost our state’s mental health system, prevent people from developing a substance use disorder and help Colorado build back stronger through historic investments that will substantially expand our mental health treatment capacity.” “Preventing substance use disorders will save lives and help our communities recover from the pandemic,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This has been a deadly year for drug overdoses in our state. Coloradans need more options to reduce opioid use when other treatments may help. With the governor signing HB21-1276 today, we’ll continue critical efforts to improve benzodiazepine prescribing practices, and insurance plans will have to cover more options for pain treatment that will reduce opioid use and prevent substance use disorders.” Governor Polis also signed HB21-1276 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Leslie Herod, which seeks to prevent substance use disorder by increasing access to non-opioid and atypical opioid treatments. It also continues prescribing limits on opioids and puts in place a process to lower new prescriptions for benzodiazepine. In 2020, fatal drug overdoses increased by 59 percent in Colorado. “Colorado is seeing a rise in suicide deaths, and some parts of our state have the highest youth suicide rates in the country,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “One of my priorities this session was to improve crisis support services in Colorado. The two laws Governor Polis signed today will ensure people can get the support they need in the aftertermath of a disaster or tragedy or when they are in crisis.” SB21-154 , sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Soper, implements the 988 national suicide prevention lifeline network in Colorado. By calling this number, individuals will be provided with crisis outreach, stabilization, and acute care that aims to prevent suicide deaths. The law aims to establish the new hotline by July 2022. HB21-1281 , sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter and Perry Will, creates the Community Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness and Response Program in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The program is intended to enhance, support, and formalize behavioral health disaster preparedness and response activities of community behavioral health organizations. The intent of disaster response is to promote individual, family, and community resilience and it helps affected individuals return to a pre-disaster level of activity as quickly as possible. Disaster response methods include triage, basic support, psychological first aid, and making appropriate professional referrals in the community. Community mental health centers are already operating a number of programs that would fall within the scope of this fund, especially as they relate to COVID-19, but funding for these programs is often fragmented. The bill would provide funding to community behavioral health organizations for the disaster response services they provide. 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 May 10, 2024 Legislation to Save Coloradans Money on Housing by Eliminating Parking Mandates Becomes Law Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Governor Polis today signed into law a bill 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 multi-family developments. "Minimum parking mandates drive up costs by forcing every builder to provide more spaces than the market demands. They can add hundreds of dollars to monthly rents and make many smaller scale developments completely impossible," said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “These mandates, which are being challenged all over the country, have created to an abundance of asphalt, a shortage of housing and transportation choices, and higher greenhouse gas emissions. We have quite literally paved paradise to put up a parking lot. Our new law scales back this onerous regulation, allowing builders to right size parking supply based on the context and unique characteristics of every project.” “Parking mandates drive up housing costs, increase traffic congestion, and make it harder for Colorado to hit its climate goals,” Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, said. “Developers can always choose to include parking, but eliminating minimum requirements will increase the availability of housing, drive down prices, and help ensure more Coloradans have a place to call home.” “The financial burden that comes with parking minimum requirements gets passed onto hardworking Coloradans through higher housing costs,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Each parking space can add tens of thousands of dollars and reduce the number of units that we can build—restricting supply and driving up costs. This law, coupled with the other housing legislation that Colorado Democrats passed this year, will help alleviate our affordability crisis.” “Parking spots cost tens of thousands of dollars each to build - an unacceptable amount at a time when too many Coloradans are struggling to find housing they can afford,” Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, said. “We must do more to encourage the construction of new housing in our state, including for Pueblo which has a large amount of land devoted to parking that could be redeveloped as housing and businesses. I am incredibly proud of our new law that will make it easier to do just that while reducing traffic, bolstering economic development, and freeing up valuable space for our communities while enhancing our downtowns.” HB24-1304 prohibits a county or municipality from enacting or enforcing minimum parking requirements for most multifamily residential properties within a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) that are within a quarter mile of a transit stop or station. The bill still allows a local government to impose a parking minimum of up to one space per unit on proposed housing developments with more than 20 units or that include any units classified as affordable housing. To impose this mandate, they must show that the parking minimum is required to avoid a substantial negative impact. HB24-1304 does not allow a county or municipality to lower protections for people with disabilities and does not prevent a local government from enacting or enforcing a maximum parking requirement or requiring a number of spaces for temporary loading purposes. Lastly, the bill requires the Colorado Department of Transportation and other state agencies to publish technical assistance materials and best practices for optimal parking supply and management policies by the end of 2024. 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. In 2020, each new structured parking space in Denver cost $25,000 each. Since the city of Minneapolis eliminated residential parking minimums in 2021, rents have only increased one percent , while Denver saw an average increase of nearly five 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. Previous Next

< Back May 26, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HOUSING New laws will extend the Colorado Affordable Tax Credit program, help transform our state’s housing infrastructure ARVADA, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a pair of bipartisan bills to save Coloradans money on housing and create, modify and improve housing that families can afford. SB22-159 , sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, and Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Representatives David Ortiz, D-Littleton, and Perry Will, R-New Castle, will invest $150 million to create the Transformational Affordable Housing Revolving Loan Program to develop and integrate housing-related infrastructure, provide gap financing for housing development projects, and preserve and rehabilitate existing affordable housing. “Families are feeling squeezed as housing prices continue to skyrocket across our state, leaving far too many without housing options they can afford,” Bridges said. “With this new law, we’re going to make a historic investment to cut costs and make Colorado a more affordable place to live, work and raise a family. By developing more housing that is affordable to families, we can ensure that more Coloradans have a safe place to call home.” “Today, we’re making the largest investment in affordable housing in Colorado state history – and I couldn’t be more proud of our bipartisan efforts,” Ortiz said. “Thanks to recommendations from the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force, we’re investing $150 million to create, modify and improve Colorado’s affordable housing stock. This once-in-a-generation investment will boost the supply of affordable housing and make an affordable home a reality for so many Coloradans across our state.” “To solve Colorado’s crisis in affordable housing, we must encourage developers and the construction industry to expand our inventory,” Zenzinger said. “The task force made this program a top priority because of the regenerative nature of the funds attached. The availability of affordable housing allows us to make progress on the solution of a myriad other problems in Colorado, and I am pleased to see it signed into law.” SB22-159 is based on recommendations from the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force . Polis also signed HB22-1051 , championed by Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and House Minority Leader Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, and Senators Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Dennis Hisey, R-Fountain, which will save Coloradans money on housing by extending the Colorado Affordable Housing Tax Credit until 2031. “The seven-year extension to the Affordable Housing Tax Credit is critical to its success right now, because everyone involved in the production and allocation of affordable housing is looking for stability in the system,” Zenzinger said. “We can’t allow ourselves to get halfway down the road toward a solution, only to have the rug pulled from under developers, bankers and other stakeholders.” “When it comes to affordable housing in Colorado, demand vastly exceeds supply which is why we’re extending this successful tax credit program to ensure more families have access to quality, affordable housing,” Bird said. “To date, the CHFA tax credit has directly supported the development and preservation of over 8,000 affordable homes across our state and has attracted more than $1.07 billion in private sector equity to support the state’s housing needs. This law extends the tax credit and will make housing more affordable for many more Coloradans.” The new law will extend the tax credit program – set to expire in 2024 – for an additional 7 years, which will continue to help leverage private funds to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing. This simple extension will result in at least $420 million in additional tax credits that can be allocated by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) over the next nine years. According to CHFA , the Colorado Affordable Housing Tax Credit has directly supported the development of 8,294 affordable rental units and allowed CHFA to support 28,267 total units using state and federal funds. Estimates suggest the development of these units generates more than $3.6 billion in economic activity for the state and supports almost 24,000 jobs, while generating more than $1 billion in private sector equity investment in Colorado. The program is an important source of funding for constructing new affordable rental housing in communities across the state. Previous Next

< Back October 6, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: Kolker, Young Attend White House Discussion on Mental Health, Promote Colorado’s Work to Transform State’s Behavioral Health System WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley, recently joined state legislators from across the nation for a White House virtual discussion on state-level efforts to address the mental health crisis and advance access to behavioral health care in recognition of Suicide Awareness Month. In the meeting, Kolker and Young discussed steps Colorado is taking to address the mental health crisis, including funding for “9-8-8” services. Legislators also shared their efforts to address mental health workforce shortages, increase accessibility of in-person and telehealth services, and ensure that individuals in the criminal justice system have access to behavioral health services. “The mental health crisis is impacting communities all across our country, and we’ve worked hard in Colorado to take steps to address it,” said Kolker, a key member of the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force . “I’m grateful to have been invited by the White House to share the progress we’ve made and have the opportunity to talk about the critical 9-8-8 law and other initiatives I’ve championed to combat this crisis. Moving forward, I will continue making it a priority to advocate for policies that will advance access to care, and help Coloradans get the treatment they need when they need it.” "We've worked hard to address the behavioral health crisis that's affecting our kids, families and mental health professionals, and it's an honor to share our state's progress on the national stage set by the White House," said Young. "This year alone, we invested $450 million to improve behavioral health care in our communities so families and youth can access care in their community. I'm proud of the statewide work we've done to combat the behavioral health crisis and I'm ready to take our efforts one step further to reach more Coloradans in need." During the 2021 session, Senator Kolker and Representative Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton, sponsored SB21-154 , which provided funding to implement the federally mandated 9-8-8 hotline. The hotline – created through a rule adopted by the Federal Communications Commission in 2020 – provides essential resources that will help connect Coloradans facing a mental health crisis with critical mental health services. This year, Kolker and Young championed a number of new laws to help transform Colorado’s behavioral health system using $450 million in federal pandemic relief funds. The new laws they championed will help improve access to much-needed behavioral health care services for youth and families, break down barriers that prevent people experiencing a crisis from getting support, and save mental health professionals money on renewing their licenses. Previous Next