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< Back April 23, 2022 HOUSE ADVANCES COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO PREVENT FENTANYL DEATHS Legislation significantly increases penalties on dealers and invests in proven public health solutions DENVER, CO – The House today advanced comprehensive legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Rep. Mike Lynch on a preliminary vote to combat the fentanyl crisis and save lives. “This comprehensive legislation will crack down on fentanyl dealers and deploys a robust public health strategy to get this deadly poison off our streets and save lives,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Far too many Colorado families have experienced the devastating pain of losing a loved one to fentanyl. Under this legislation, people spreading this deadly drug in our communities will have severe consequences, and if someone distributes fentanyl that leads to death, they will face even harsher penalties. This is an aggressive response that acknowledges the deadliness of this drug and invests in proven public health approaches that will expand access to treatment, make Narcan and test strips widely available, and create a robust education and awareness campaign to save lives.” “We are seeing unprecedented numbers of overdose deaths in Colorado. The fentanyl crisis demands an aggressive response that will hold dealers accountable and remove this deadly drug from our streets, and that’s what this comprehensive fentanyl legislation will do,” said Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein. “This solution will save lives by giving prosecutors the tools we need to put dealers in prison and protect our communities. This legislation will allow us to respond aggressively to dealers who take Coloradans’ lives when distributing this drug, and I encourage lawmakers to pass this bill.” “This legislation will give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on fentanyl dealers to get this dangerous drug off our streets,” said Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington. “Fentanyl doesn’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat; people are dying in every community in our state. This bill is a comprehensive solution that will save lives and prevent fentanyl deaths.” HB22-1326 is a comprehensive approach that includes both proven public health solutions and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers to save lives and get fentanyl off Colorado streets. The bill will strengthen criminal penalties on any individual distributing fentanyl. In line with other models for substance use convictions, the bill will also integrate mandatory SUD assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing to ensure people get the treatment they need. The bill focuses on compound fentanyl, which is fentanyl mixed with other drugs or substances, and will provide law enforcement with additional tools to go after dealers while providing treatment options to individuals with an SUD. Individuals who are dealing fentanyl will face increased felony charges, and if the defendant has distributed any amount of fentanyl and it leads to someone’s death, they can be charged with a level one drug felony and face the drug code’s strongest penalties. The bill gives law enforcement tools to require treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. Defendants in possession of any amount of fentanyl compound will be assessed for a substance use disorder and required to complete an education program developed by the Office of Behavioral Health in CDPHE. Individuals assessed as having a substance use disorder will have to complete mandatory treatment. HB22-1326 would make it a felony to knowingly possess more than one gram of fentanyl compound/mixture. Additionally, once Colorado’s labs have the ability to test for the percentage of fentanyl within a compound, this bill turns on a no tolerance policy for the possession of pure fentanyl. The bill was amended in the Appropriations Committee to repeal the new felony on June 30, 2025 and to include what is known as a “wobbler” provision that allows individuals who complete treatment to have the felony moved down to a misdemeanor. Amendments adopted on the floor include creating a grant fund for law enforcement agencies to pursue investigations of fentanyl poisonings, providing additional funding to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program and crisis stabilization centers and detoxification centers, and expanding Medication-Assisted Treatment in jails . This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will address root causes and keep people alive. Colorado will save lives by investing in effective public health and substance use prevention and treatment strategies and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves from this more deadly drug. The legislation directs $29 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to implement recommendations from the Behavioral Health Task Force on effective harm reduction strategies and increased access to substance use disorder treatment in the criminal justice system. While public awareness of fentanyl has risen, education campaigns that promote effective overdose prevention tools will save lives. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will develop, implement and maintain an ongoing statewide prevention and education campaign to address fentanyl education needs in the state, including the message that no amount of fentanyl is safe. The bill will also provide grants to develop and implement community-focused education campaigns on the dangers of fentanyl. The proposal also makes opiate antagonists more widespread, which will help save lives by preventing overdoses. Previous Next

House Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks to open the First Session of the 75th General Assembly. < Back January 8, 2025 Speaker Delivers Opening Day Remarks DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie today delivered remarks to open the First Session of the 75th General Assembly. Speaker’s Opening Day Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: Good morning! It is my great privilege to welcome you all to the opening day of the 75th General Assembly! A special welcome to our newly elected members, the fresh faced stars on the House stage. New members, please rise and give a wave! I would also like to welcome the former Speakers of the House: The honorables Alec Garnett, KC Becker, Crisanta Duran, Mark Ferrandino, Terrance Carroll, Frank McNulty, and Russ George. We are so grateful for your public service and leadership, both back then (and for some of you, way back then!) and now. I am pleased to recognize State Treasurer Dave Young! Thank you for your dedication and service to our state. And my deepest love and appreciation to my family - my husband Jamie, my children Ian and Cait, my parents Bob and Etta, Sister Susan, Brother and Sister in law David and Vicki, and their daughter Jaclynn. Members, let’s all thank our families who have been integral to our journeys in public service. I also want to thank our sensational team who work their magic behind the scenes - our clerks, sergeants, custodial staff. To our nonpartisan and partisan staff, including our legislative aides, thank you all so much for your dedication and commitment to the institution. This session is also the first for our new Chief Clerk, Vanessa Reilly! Please give her a warm welcome to this new role. There’s also a new President over in that lower chamber - if you see President Coleman today, make sure you give him a big High Five and a “Let’s Do This!” Now let us pause and give honor to our veterans - for everyone with us today, members and guests alike, please rise or give a wave if you are currently serving in the military or are a veteran of the US Armed forces. We are forever in your debt. Finally, I am proud of the experience and dedication of our majority and minority leadership teams. Will the leadership teams from both sides of the aisle please stand and be recognized. It is truly an honor to serve with all of you. And I am especially grateful to Majority Leader Duran. I know members appreciate your partnership & leadership. Happiest of Birthdays, Majority Leader, this must be the best and craziest birthday party ever. With campaigns in the rear view mirror, election 2024 behind us, our responsibility to govern is now front and center. Good governance calls us all to listen to one another, hear the stories of our constituents and work together to craft lasting policy that meets the demands of the moment. On policies big and small, I know Democrats and Republicans will work together, as we have so many times before. Just look at school finance formula reform, property tax cuts, higher education investments, workforce initiatives, and of course, uncertified potatoes. (While some say the idea for that policy was only half BAKED, eventually you all HASHED it out and it was a SMASHING success. ) With each new session, we have an opportunity to start fresh, and that includes how we manage debate. When relevant to the topic at hand, chairs will uphold members’ rights to free speech. At times, this will be uncomfortable for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The right to free speech coexists alongside our obligation not to spread hatred. I know with the work that lies ahead, Colorado will lead the way. The national spotlight is on us. This is our moment to demonstrate what good, responsive governance and leadership looks like for our country. But folks, our work this year will not be easy. We will need to trim nearly $1 billion from our state budget in a way that ensures strong safety net services for the most vulnerable among us and protects our bipartisan investments in early childhood, schools, colleges and universities. As a result, there may be some unpopular decisions ahead - choices that put truly deserving efforts and priorities in competition with each other for funding. The Joint Budget Committee has a track record of working across party lines to deliver a balanced budget, and it is now more important than ever to continue in this tradition. My thanks to Representatives Bird, Sirota and Taggart in advance for your hard work and those enduring sleepless nights. Even though our budget situation is challenging, I know this body remains committed to investing in our public schools. We will not bring back the budget stabilization factor, and we will implement the new, equitable school finance formula on time that our kids deserve. Thank you Governor Polis for your strong commitment to public education investing in our children year over year . Like too many special education students in Colorado, Jeremiah, who is twelve, needed additional learning supports in school. Not every public school has the resources they need to adequately teach students with Down syndrome. But when his parents found a special education program designed for his abilities, Jeremiah excelled. His academic achievement improved, as did his self-esteem. He found his calling. If you haven’t heard of him yet, you soon will. His calling, it turns out, is acting, and he’s very good at it. Jeremiah is the star of the film “Color Book,” which tells the story of a single father raising his young son with Down syndrome. The power of Jeremiah’s personal story, and his magnificent portrayal of Mason, help shape our understanding of the challenges we see in gaining access to a high quality education and safety net services in our communities. Exciting news! He has been nominated for the NAACP’s outstanding youth performance in a motion picture award. I’m overjoyed that Jeremiah and his family are here with us today. Please give him a round of applause. My goal this session is to protect the progress we’ve made for students like Jeremiah, by increasing funding for special education, at-risk students, English language learners, and rural schools. The hard truth is that we will need to grapple with declining student enrollment. We will navigate this issue carefully while listening to our partners in public education. Our guiding principle must be to keep equity for our students at the heart of our decision making. We wouldn’t be Colorado without our beautiful mountains, brilliant forests, and clean air. Let’s take our water for example. Water is a part of our Western identity, essential to our nearly $50 billion agricultural economy, as well as Colorado’s iconic outdoor recreation and tourism industries. I took a five day ride down the Yampa River this past spring. What a thrill! And I learned one important lesson - that’s how to play defense against those roaring rapids. There’s a saying in the rafting business, “Be sure you Rig to Flip”. That means making sure everything stays secure when your raft guide flips the boat and you’re taken for a swim - it’s all about being ruthlessly prepared, so you protect the people and things you love most. This year, I expect we will continue to face threats to our water resources, and we may have to play defense. But, thanks to leaders from both parties, we have already taken significant steps to protect our state’s most precious resource - yes folks, we are prepared and we are “rigged to flip.” We should be particularly thankful to the many farmers and ranchers doing everything they can to reduce their water use, embrace innovative technologies and help lead us through this drought. Colorado Agriculture truly makes us proud. I also want to mention that soon, we will be creating a new bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Caucus that will put Western Voices at the table on the issues that impact the economies of our communities. We are equally committed to protecting Colorado’s pristine environment, reaching our climate goals and making energy costs more affordable. We’ve made important progress funding transit, front range and mountain rail, and eliminating dangerous pollution. We are so grateful for the work of Representatives Willford and Bacon and all the lawmakers who have prioritized improving our air quality. Like many of you, when I visit my district, the stories I hear most often at town halls, in the grocery store or at neighborhood gatherings continue to be about how hard it is to get ahead. That’s why, this session, we will redouble our efforts to make Colorado more affordable. Inflation is down. Unemployment is low. Home prices and rents are leveling off, and we are starting to see signs that our aggressive multi-year agenda to lower costs for families is bearing fruit. Reinsurance and the Colorado Option are saving Coloradans nearly half a billion dollars this year on health insurance premiums. We cut property taxes for businesses and homeowners, and we cut taxes for middle and lower-income families. Thanks to last year’s refundable tax credit initiative, the cost of tuition and fees at community colleges is now covered for the vast majority of students. Universal preschool, full day kindergarten, and investments in child care are saving families money. Because of our work, Coloradans trust elected officials to GET THINGS DONE. Other states are watching us - they are seeing what’s possible when governors and legislatures do big things together. For example, housing. We've cracked the land use code and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in affordable housing projects and ending homelessness. This year, we will: resolve the stalemate on construction defects reform, tackle algorithms that drive up rent, Ease red tape for religious institutions to build on their own land, incentivize modular home construction, and bring forward creative new approaches to driving down property insurance costs. Let’s foster an even stronger economy in this state by lowering costs for businesses and working families, and finding fair opportunity for all. Let’s do this by taking steps to eliminate wage theft, strengthen worker’s voices, and create low-cost pathways to college credentials, in the big blur between high school college career. And just as we did last year with the quantum technology industry, we will seize opportunities to support innovative economic development, like (capturing the attention of the) Sundance Film Festival and driving millions of tourism dollars into local communities and businesses. But folks, a less expensive Colorado is not our Colorado if we fail to protect our rights and freedoms. When the Dobbs decision came down and the threat to overturn Roe v. Wade was clear, we responded by protecting abortion access in statute. This past November, the voters went one step further and protected that right in our state’s constitution. Similarly, we heard the stories of concern from families in our state and referred a measure to the ballot safeguarding the freedom to marry. And again, voters overwhelmingly approved it. This is leadership. This is Colorado. We don’t know exactly what we will face from this new administration, but they have published their playbook and we are watching. We will be ready to do what is best for the people of this state because we’ve been here before. No matter where we come from, all Coloradans want the same things: to put a roof over our family’s heads, put food on the table, and pursue the American Dream. Throughout our nation’s history, immigrants have been used as a political scapegoat to divide us and distract us from real challenges. Immigrants are an integral part of Colorado’s diverse and thriving communities. Immigrants power our economy and make up 30 percent of our construction workforce, 12 percent of entrepreneurs, 11 percent of STEM workers, and eight percent of nurses in the state. Coloradans do not support mass deportations, separating families, or detaining parents at their children’s schools. In addition to the devastating human cost, mass deportations will cause significant labor shocks and drive up the cost of health care, food, and housing. Democrats and Republicans alike oppose deporting our friends and neighbors who have been here since childhood, built their lives here and are making our communities better places to live. My thanks to the many organizations supporting Colorado’s hard working immigrant families, like the Mountain Dreamers. Mountain Dreamers in Frisco, Colorado work to support immigrants and make the Colorado Dream a reality for more people in our High Country communities. I want to especially thank their team with us today - Peter, Javier, Yerania, and Miriam. Representative Velasco, who was born in Mexico and grew up in mobile home communities in the Vail Valley, and the Latino Caucus are leading our work on this issue, alongside the Aurora delegation, including Representative Ricks - the first African immigrant legislator - and we are so grateful to have their expertise and lived experience in the General Assembly. Colorado will remain a safe haven from attacks on reproductive rights, voting rights, workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, personal liberty, and civil rights. It doesn’t seem all that long ago that Coloradans sent the first transgender lawmaker to the capitol. Now entering her final term, Representative Titone has served with grace and true leadership. I am thankful that Rep. Titone, along with Assistant Majority Leader Bacon, Representative Froelich, and Representative Garcia are ready to step up once again to protect Coloradans’ rights and freedoms. Colorado is primed to lead. Where there is despair, we will light the way and offer hope. We may face challenges from Washington, budget constraints, and distractions right and left, but I continue to find immense joy in doing the people’s work. I know you all do as well. So … Share YOUR story, listen to the STORIES of your colleagues and constituents, and let the stories move you, keep your word, be open with your colleagues, fight for what you believe in, be kind to all, and above all else, hold space for defying gravity. It is my privilege to open the People’s House and welcome you all to the 75th General Assembly. Previous Next

< Back June 7, 2021 GARNETT STATEMENT ON SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT BOARD SUNSET REVIEW DENVER– House Speaker Alec Garnett released the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee voted to amend HB21-1320 , the Sex Offender Management Board sunset review bill, to extend the continuation of the board for another two years without making any changes, giving the legislature more time to work through the necessary reforms that the board requires. “While there’s been a great deal of disagreement around the Sex Offender Management Board, the one thing that has become absolutely clear after four separate reviews is that the board and our sex offender management processes are in dire need of reform,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “I am grateful to Representatives Tipper and Benavidez for their work on this critical issue and remain frustrated that certain key stakeholders in this process, particularly the District Attorneys, chose to obstruct collaborative reforms instead of coming to the table to help find a solution that works for Colorado. I sincerely hope that as these discussions continue into next year, District Attorneys and other interested parties will have an active seat at the table and bring a commitment to work with us on constructive solutions.” Previous Next

Policies would increase prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the opioid crisis < Back October 30, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Opioid Committee Advances Bills to Save Lives and Prevent Overdose Deaths Policies would increase prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the opioid crisis DENVER, CO - The Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee today advanced four bills to bolster prevention efforts, improve treatment programs, promote harm reduction strategies, and support Coloradans in recovery to prevent overdose deaths and save lives. “Too many Coloradans are struggling with substance use disorders, and in many cases, dying of preventable overdoses,” said Chair Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, sponsor of Bills 2, 3, and 4 . “Colorado has made remarkable progress on building a comprehensive response since this committee was established in 2017. I am proud that we have again risen to the challenge, engaging stakeholders over an intensive process to identify the next set of policy changes that are needed to turn the tide on this crisis and build a healthier, safer Colorado.” "More than 1,500 of our neighbors died from a drug overdose here in Colorado last year, a heartbreaking number we must do more to reduce," said Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, sponsor of Bill 2. "We've worked hard this interim to develop a menu of options for tackling this crisis, including legislation I am sponsoring that will expand treatment options for folks struggling with substance use disorders. I am proud of the work we've done, and I look forward to helping more Coloradans get the help and support they need to get their lives back on track." Bill 2 , sponsored by Representatives Chris deGruy Kennedy and Ryan Armagost and Senators Kyle Mullica and Perry Will would expand treatment options for Coloradans with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The bill: Directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to apply for Medicaid waivers to cover health care services for people in jail or prison and to cover a partial-hospitalization level of care in our communities; Reduces insurance barriers to accessing substance use disorder treatment, Expands the treatment workforce by increasing training opportunities for addiction counselors under qualified licensed professional counselors and licenses clinical social workers; Authorizes pharmacists to diagnose opioid use disorders, prescribe medications, and make referrals to comprehensive treatment programs, creating new access points, especially in rural Colorado; Supports rural treatment providers by creating a shared infrastructure for administrative functions and allowing them to compare their reimbursements with metro area providers and negotiate better contracts; Creates a contingency management grant program, funding the best evidence-based practices to help people with stimulant use disorders stay sober; Invests in criminal justice diversion programs to provide individuals charged with a minor offense a substance use treatment option; and Studies additional barriers to treatment access, including inadequate insurance networks and federal regulations around methadone services. "Addressing the overdose and substance use disorder crisis that impacts many Coloradans and their families requires us to dig deep and consider many approaches, especially data driven initiatives, and this prevention bill starts with doing a better job on the front end by preventing folks from getting hooked at all,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, sponsor of Bill 1. “These resources will empower community organizations and folks on the ground as they work to prevent substance use and abuse while connecting folks who are struggling with the treatment and support they need." “The best way to protect Coloradans from developing substance use disorders is to promote proven prevention methods to stop people from using dangerous substances in the first place,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of Bill 1. “Our bill takes a multi-pronged approach at substance use prevention by funding grant programs that connect residents to community-based resources and establishing screening and treatment referrals within our schools and pediatric settings.” Bill 1 , sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Kevin Priola and Representatives Mary Young and Elisabeth Epps, would boost SUD prevention efforts. The bill: Updates Colorado’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to improve data collection and access, support safer prescribing, and reduce misuse of prescription medication; Funds community-based organizations to provide prevention services for youth, families, and communities; Establishes a grant program for substance use screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) to help identify youth who may need to seek treatment or resources; Continues the statewide perinatal substance use data linkage project for experts to develop legislative recommendations on improving outcomes for families impacted by substance use during pregnancy; and Launches a new data linkage project for opioid use disorders to better target investments to parts of Colorado with the greatest needs. “Preventable overdoses are rising across our state; we need to take action now to save lives,” said Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, sponsor of Bills 1 and 3 . “Prevention and harm reduction efforts like those included in these bills are proven to reduce overdose deaths and improve public health. We’re working to fund community-based prevention organizations, interrupt the spread of communicable disease, improve community safety, and protect all our neighbors—including the front line direct services workers who provide support and care as they prevent and reverse drug overdoses.” “We have lost far too many Coloradans to accidental overdoses and substance use disorders. Something has to change,” said Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, sponsor of Bills 1, 3 and 4. “We have worked hard to develop legislation that will result in meaningful harm reduction for people using substances, protect Coloradans stepping in to help those in crisis, and cultivate more supportive recovery programs to help Coloradans thrive. The bills we’re advancing today will save lives, and I’m optimistic about the progress we’ll make next session.” Bill 3 , sponsored by Representatives Chris deGruy Kennedy and Elisabeth Epps, and Senator Priola, focuses on harm reduction strategies. It would support efforts by local public health agencies to prevent the spread of disease by offering clean equipment, expand protections for Coloradans acting in good faith to administer an opioid antagonist, ensure that drug users know they can go to the hospital without fear of arrest, and broaden existing drug testing grant programs to get ahead of the next black market substances hitting Colorado like xylazine, or “tranq”. Bill 4 , sponsored by Senator Kevin Priola, Representative Chris deGruy Kennedy, and House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, would foster more recovery-friendly workplaces, clear barriers for sober living residences, and urge grocery stores to avoid in-your-face alcohol advertizing that makes it harder for people in recovery to simply buy food for their families. The four bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2024 session, interim bills will follow the legislative process in the same manner as all other bills. Previous Next

< Back March 7, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE CLEARS BIPARTISAN BILL TO HELP ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS House Democrats Kennedy, Singer focused on solutions to the opioid crisis (Mar. 6) – The House Public Health Care and Human Services committee approved a bill to help address the opioid crisis today. The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont. “Today we took a bipartisan step forward to address the opioid crisis by giving more support to people in recovery,” said Rep. Kennedy. “Substance use disorder is a disease, and when people reach out for help in putting their lives back together, stable housing can mean the difference between relapse and recovery.” “We are focused on finding solutions to the opioid crisis in Boulder County and across our state,” said Rep. Singer, who chairs the House Public Health Care & Human Services committee. “This bill will halt the revolving door and get people into desperately needed treatment and recovery.” Both Reps. Kennedy and Singer have served on the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee, which has worked for the last few years to come up with bipartisan solutions to address the opioid crisis. Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than a car accident. HB19-1009 improves support for individuals recovering from substance use disorders by expanding housing assistance for people transitioning out of treatment; increasing oversight of recovery residences to ensure high quality care; and investing in recovery services for people who have sought care and treatment. The bill was approved on a bipartisan vote of 8-3. Rep. Lois Landgraf joined Democrats on the committee in support of the bill. HB19-1009 now goes to the Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BECKER-CARAVEO BILL TO PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF COLORADANS & GIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES A VOICE (Mar. 19) – The House Energy and Environment committee approved SB19-181 tonight. The bill will update Colorado’s antiquated oil and gas laws to protect families and individuals from residential drilling by putting health and safety first, empowering local communities, and protecting Colorado’s clean air and clean water. “I’m proud of this bill and the stakeholder work that went into it. It proposes commonsense updates and modernization of our oil and gas laws that are more appropriate for the time and place that we are in now,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Oil and gas drilling is taking place at unprecedented levels in neighborhoods and the industry must be more accountable to the communities where they operate. This bill will put health and safety first and protect our air, water and unique quality of life.” Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, the legislature’s only doctor and the co-prime sponsor of the bill, urged the committee to protect the health of the next generation of Coloradans by passing this bill. “As a pediatrician and legislator, I support this bill because we should be ensuring the health and safety of the children I care for in my clinic every day,” said Rep. Caraveo. “We should be balancing our economic growth with the actual growth of children who go to school and live around oil and gas operations. Additionally, given how localized the health effects of these operations are, we should give more tools to our local governments to decide what is the right balance between responsible resource extraction and the health of Coloradans in their communities.” Erin Martinez, a survivor of a tragic gas explosion in Firestone that killed her husband and brother, urged for stronger protections and spoke at length with members of the committee about the struggles she and her family have endured since that fateful day. Mrs. Martinez stated that had the protections outlined in SB19-181 been in place in 2017, her brother and husband might still be alive today. Martinez urged the committee to support the bill and said she believes the industry can put health and safety first and continue to thrive at the same time. “Erin Martinez shared powerful testimony with the people of our state and our committee today about a heartbreaking tragedy that could have been prevented. We need to put health and safety first in our state and that’s what this bill does,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, chair of the Energy and Environment committee. The bill directs the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to regulate oil and gas development to protect public welfare, and clarifies that local governments have the same authority to regulate the oil and gas industry as they have with every other industry in Colorado – including the mining industry. The bill also removes the prohibition against local governments requiring oil and gas companies to cover the direct costs of regulating, monitoring and permitting the sites in their communities. The bill addresses emissions and air quality by requiring increased monitoring and implementing a rule-making process to reduce emissions to better meet federal regulations. This month, a “brown cloud” returned to Denver and reports showed that the air quality was worse than that of Beijing. The bill would also ensure that taxpayers are not footing the bill for cleaning up orphan oil and gas wells that have been abandoned but not adequately plugged. Current bonding requirements are often found to be inadequate to cover the cost of clean-up when a company abandons a well. Clean-up costs for just one abandoned well costs an average of $82,000. Currently, there are more than 260 known orphan wells and 365 associated known orphan well sites in 31 Colorado counties. Finally, SB19-181 also provides increased protections for property owners with regard to forced pooling. Under current law, just one mineral rights owner can start the process of “force pooling” other mineral interest owners and require development of those resources – against the will of the majority of the owners. This bill would raise the threshold and put more transparency and guardrails on the process. The arguments peddled by the oil and gas industry are misleading. The sponsors and proponents of the bill made clear during the hearing that this bill is not a reiteration of Proposition 112, nor is it a moratorium or a ban on drilling. SB19-181 passed on a vote of 7-4 and now goes to the House Finance committee. Previous Next

< Back March 25, 2021 MCLACHLAN BILL KICKS OFF COLORADO COMEBACK Proposal would save thousands of Colorado educators money in license fee renewals DENVER, CO– The House Education Committee today unanimously advanced Representative Barbara McLachlan’s bipartisan bill to extend the duration for professional educator licenses from five to seven years, to include current five-year licenses that are partially completed. The bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $700 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. It is the first bill from the package to be considered in the House. “By extending the license renewal period, we’re ensuring that nearly 40,000 educators across the state don’t have to worry about license fees while they have so much else on their plate,” said House Education Chair Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Colorado’s educators have been through the wringer this past year, and as a former teacher myself I know how far a few extra dollars can go during difficult times. Easing some of the many burdens on our educators is a simple way to help build back a stronger Colorado.” HB21-1104 would extend the renewal period for professional educator licenses from five to seven years, without lowering the standards or requirements for licensure. This includes teacher, special services educator, principal, and administrator licenses. The bill would apply to educators who are partially through their current five-year licensing cycle and ensure that those teachers who are approaching the end of the renewal cycle will not have to worry about renewing their license for another two years. Rep. McLachlan’s bill passed the committee by a vote of 9-0. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2022 HOUSE ADVANCES SCHOOL SAFETY AND STUDENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILLS DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills on a preliminary vote to boost school safety and improve student access to behavioral health services. “Improving school safety and expanding access to behavioral health services are important for preparing our students for success,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of HB22-1243. “Our bipartisan legislation provides public schools with the funding they need to protect school grounds and build safer school environments for students, teachers and staff. In addition, this bill extends the I Matter program, which provides free mental health counseling sessions to Colorado’s youth.” “In order to make our schools safer, we need to continue investing in our student’s behavioral health,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City), former chair of the 2019 School Safety Interim Committee. “By extending the highly successful I Matter program we started last year, we can reach more youth across Colorado and provide them with free, professional counseling sessions. Taking steps to improve your behavioral health is tough, and I’m extremely proud of the hundreds of young people across 48 different counties who have already taken advantage of the I Matter program.” HB22-1243 , sponsored by Representatives Tony Exum and Kevin Van Winkle, would invest $14 million toward improving the security and safety of public schools and is part of Colorado Democrats’ Public Safety Package. Based on recommendations of the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force, it puts $2 million in federal funding toward the behavioral health care professional matching grant program and $6 million towards extending the popular I Matter program beyond its scheduled repeal in June 2022. This investment will pave the way to serve youth with free counseling sessions for another two years. The bill also allocates $6 million to the School Security Disbursement Program over two years, which will be reauthorized by HB22-1120. HB22-1120 , sponsored by Representatives Kevin Van Winkle and Patrick Neville, would reauthorize and make updates to the School Security Disbursement Program, which provides grants for schools to install monitoring equipment and security systems at school entrances and exits. Grants can also be used for school emergency response training and student threat assessment training for all school staff. Previous Next

GOP bill will cut food assistance and kick Coloradans off their health care < Back May 29, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: General Assembly Dems Oppose GOP Bill to Strip Health Care from Coloradans and Raise Costs DENVER, CO - General Assembly Democrats today sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation, calling on them to oppose President Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ plan to kick Coloradans off their health care and cut food assistance to provide tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. In the letter, the General Assembly Democrats wrote: We strongly oppose President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy that will kick Coloradans off Medicaid and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The legislation threatens the Colorado way of life by making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table and access medical care. Under the ruse of “cutting waste, fraud and abuse,” the bill is nothing more than tax cuts and deregulation for the richest people in our nation at the expense of those most in need. To our Democratic Senators and Representatives, we are proud that you strongly oppose this cruel legislation that will kick Coloradans off their health care and increase costs and hardship for everyone except the ultra wealthy. If the Senate passes this bill, we hope Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert do what is right for Colorado, vote no when it returns to the House, and use their power to protect health care for Coloradans instead of taking it away. The full text of the letter is below: Dear Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Diana DeGette, Rep. Joe Neguse, Rep. Jeff Hurd, Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Jeff Crank, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Brittany Pettersen and Rep. Gabe Evans: We strongly oppose President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy that will kick Coloradans off Medicaid and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The legislation threatens the Colorado way of life by making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table and access medical care. Under the ruse of “cutting waste, fraud and abuse,” the bill is nothing more than tax cuts and deregulation for the richest people in our nation at the expense of those most in need. Colorado is a donor state, which means we pay more in federal taxes than we receive back in federal funding. As state lawmakers tasked with fighting for Colorado, we are taking a stand. Coloradans want their federal dollars working for them in our clinics, hospitals, and food pantries – not frozen by Washington bureaucrats or lining the pockets of billionaires. Kicking qualified Coloradans off Medicaid The Republicans’ plan will have devastating effects on every sector of Colorado’s health care system. Colorado hospitals, clinics, and other providers could lose up to $990 million in annual federal Medicaid funding. We made responsible choices in a tight budget year to protect Medicaid coverage for our most vulnerable community members and to provide emergency financial support to safety net providers, but this level of cost shifting will be too much for the state budget to bear. Proposed cuts to Medicaid will result in an estimated 140,000-230,000 Coloradans suddenly losing health care coverage (11-18 percent of current Medicaid participants). Preventive health care coverage provided through Medicaid saves Coloradans money and leads to better health outcomes. The burdensome administrative barriers proposed in this bill, such as more frequent redeterminations and increased paperwork, will mean that Coloradans who are qualified for Medicaid coverage will have a difficult time receiving it or affording it. The Republicans’ budget also requires new copays for low-income Coloradans, increasing medical costs for families with incomes as low as $22,000 per year. This will force hardworking Coloradans to delay necessary procedures or care and ultimately rely more on emergency room care, straining rural and other hospitals that are already near the breaking point. If this bill passes, critical health care facilities will close their doors, and it will jeopardize access to life-saving care for everyone. The bill prohibits federal reimbursements to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive care like screenings and tests, which will disproportionately impact lower-income women and people of color. By placing restrictions on premium tax credits, this bill will also increase insurance costs for Coloradans and undermine insurance coverage for life-saving reproductive health care, including abortion. Choosing billionaires over hungry kids and hardworking families A drastic and unnecessary overhaul of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Program (SNAP) will drive up state and county costs in Colorado by approximately $260 million annually. The Republican’s bill also creates higher eligibility requirements for food assistance programs, making it harder for Coloradans over 55 and families with children between 8 and 18 years old to receive the support they need. The Biden administration increased SNAP benefits by 21 percent in 2021, which kept 3 million people out of poverty . The Republicans’ bill blocks that administrative power altogether. To our Democratic Senators and Representatives, we are proud that you strongly oppose this cruel legislation that will kick Coloradans off their health care and increase costs and hardship for everyone except the ultra wealthy. If the Senate passes this bill, we hope Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert do what is right for Colorado, vote no when it returns to the House, and use their power to protect health care for Coloradans instead of taking it away. Signed, Colorado State Senators and Representatives House Speaker Julie McCluskie, House District 13 Senate President James Coleman, Senate District 33 House Majority Leader Monica Duran, House District 23 Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senate District 32 Senator Judy Amabile, Senate District 18 Senator Matt Ball, Senate District 31 Senator Jeff Bridges, Senate District 26 Senator Lisa Cutter, Senate District 20 Senator Jessie Danielson, Senate District 22 Senator Lindsey Daugherty, Senate District 19 Senator Tony Exum, Sr., Senate District 11 Senator Julie Gonzales, Senate District 34 Senator Nick Hinrichsen, Senate District 3 Senator Iman Jodeh, Senate District 29 Senator Cathy Kipp, Senate District 14 Senator Chris Kolker, Senate District 16 Senator Janice Marchman, Senate District 15 Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Senate District 21 Senator Kyle Mullica, Senate District 24 Senator Dylan Roberts, Senate District 8 Senator Marc Snyder, Senate District 12 Senator Tom Sullivan, Senate District 27 Senator Katie Wallace, Senate District 17 Senator Mike Weissman, Senate District 28 Senator Faith Winter, Senate District 25 Representative Shannon Bird, House District 29 Representative Andrew Boesenecker, House District 53 Representative Kyle Brown, House District 12 Representative Sean Camacho, House District 6 Representative Chad Clifford, House District 37 Representative Regina English, House District 17 Representative Cecelia Espenoza, House District 4 Representative Lorena Garcia, House District 35 Representative Lindsay Gilchrist, House District 8 Representative Eliza Hamrick, House District 61 Representative Jamie Jackson, House District 41 Representative Junie Joseph, House District 10 Representative Sheila Lieder, House District 28 Representative Mandy Lindsay, House District 42 Representative William Lindstedt, House District 33 Representative Meghan Lukens, House District 26 Representative Javier Mabrey, House District 1 Representative Matthew Martinez, House District 62 Representative Tisha Mauro, House District 46 Representative Karen McCormick, House District 11 Representative Amy Paschal, House District 18 Representative Jacque Phillips, House District 31 Representative Naquetta Ricks, House District 40 Representative Manny Rutinel, House District 32 Representative Gretchen Rydin, House District 38 Representative Emily Sirota, House District 9 Representative Lesley Smith, House District 49 Representative Katie Stewart, House District 59 Representative Rebekah Stewart, House District 30 Representative Tammy Story, House District 25 Representative Brianna Titone, House District 27 Representative Alex Valdez, House District 5 Representative Elizabeth Velasco, House District 57 Representative Jenny Willford, House District 34 Representative Steven Woodrow, House District 2 Representative Yara Zokaie, House District 52 Previous Next

< Back May 15, 2020 REPS. EXUM, SNYDER, PRAISE U.S. SPACE COMMAND ANNOUNCEMENT Representatives welcome the announcement that Space Force will call Colorado Home for the foreseeable future DENVER, CO– Representatives Tony Exum, Sr. and Marc Snyder celebrated an announcement today that Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs will be the provisional headquarters of the U.S. Space Command for the next six years. “Colorado Springs has always attracted talented men and women from around the country looking to serve their country,” said Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs . “It just makes sense that the fine servicemen and women in the U.S. Space Command will call the Springs home too. I welcome this news and look forward to doing what I can to make sure that Peterson Air Force Base becomes the permanent home of this next generation program.” “Colorado has the industry, the talent, and the dedication to service that is required to host the U.S. Space Command,” said Rep. Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “I hope and expect that the Space Command will set down roots in Colorado and continue its operations from our state for years to come.” Previous Next

< Back November 4, 2020 DEMS SECURE HOUSE MAJORITY DENVER, CO — Coloradans voted tonight in favor of continued Democratic leadership of the Colorado House. With ballots still being counted, results indicate that House Democrats will have a strong majority, winning at least 41 seats, with additional races still too close to call. “I’d like to thank the people of Colorado for continuing to put your trust in us and for the clear message you sent tonight about how we can continue moving the state forward for all Coloradans,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Now, we must all work together to help our nation heal, to take control of this pandemic, and to build back a better, stronger Colorado than the one we had before COVID hit.” “From lowering the cost of healthcare to protecting our communities from oil and gas drilling, our Democratic Majority made important progress over the past two years on issues that are important to families across our state,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “We governed responsibly through the pandemic, passing an ambitious COVID relief package to help Coloradans make ends meet and get through this crisis. Tonight, it’s clear Coloradans support what we’ve accomplished and want to see our work continue.” Colorado Democrats strengthened their majority in the Colorado House of Representatives, with David Ortiz victorious in HD-38 , a seat that had previously been held by a Republican. During a victory celebration over Zoom, Majority Leader Garnett sent a clear message about the future Coloradans deserve: “For far too many, and especially for our communities of color, the American Dream is broken, with only flat wages and mounting debt in its wake. Together, we can forge an economic recovery that renews the fundamental promise of America – that if you get a good education, work hard, and play by the rules, you can have a fair shot at success. “To every Coloradan whose support we didn’t earn this time around, we’ll be working for you and your family too. Together we can build back a better Colorado for all.” Election night results as of 9:50 showed Coloradans had definitively re-elected at least 41 House Democrats: Susan Lontine (HD-01) of Denver and Jefferson Counties Alec Garnett (HD-02), Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (HD-04) Alex Valdez (HD-05), Steven Woodrow (HD-06), Leslie Herod (HD-08), and Emily Sirota (HD-09) of Denver County Edie Hooton (HD-10) of Boulder County Tony Exum, Sr. (HD-17) and Marc Snyder (HD-18) of El Paso County Chris Kennedy (HD-23), Monica Duran (HD-24), Lisa Cutter (HD-25), , Brianna Titone (HD-27), and Kerry Tipper (HD-28) of Jefferson County Dylan Roberts (HD-26), Eagle and Routt Counties Dafna Michaelson Jenet (HD-30), Yadira Caraveo (HD-31), Adrienne Benavidez (HD-32), Kyle Mullica (HD-34), and Shannon Bird (HD-35) of Adams County Matt Gray (HD-33) of Boulder and Broomfield Counties Meg Froelich (HD-03), Mike Weissman (HD-36), Tom Sullivan (HD-37), and Dominique Jackson (HD-42) of Arapahoe County Daneya Esgar (HD-46) of Pueblo County Mary Young (HD-50) of Weld County Cathy Kipp (HD-52) and Jeni James Arndt (HD-53) of Larimer County Barbara McLachlan (HD-59) of Archuleta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Ouray, and San Juan Counties Julie McCluskie (HD-61) of Delta, Gunnison, Lake, Pitkin, and Summit Counties Donald Valdez (HD-62) of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Mineral, Pueblo, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties. With thousands of ballots yet to be counted, HD-47 where Bri Buentello is seeking reelection is too close to call. Joining the House Democratic Caucus for the first time in January 2021: Jennifer Bacon (HD-7) of Denver County fills the seat previously held by James Coleman, now the Senator-elect for SD-33 Karen McCormick (HD-11) and Tracey Bernett (HD-12) of Boulder County fill the seats held by Jonathan Singer, who is term limited, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, now Senator-elect for SD-17 Judy Amabile (HD-13) of Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, and Jackson Counties fills the seat held by Speaker KC Becker Lindsey Daugherty (HD-29) of Jefferson County fills the seat held by Tracy Kraft-Tharp, now Commissioner-elect for Jefferson County Naquetta Ricks (HD-40) and Iman Jodeh (HD-41) of Arapahoe County fill the seats held by Janet Buckner, now Senator-elect for SD-28, and Jovan Melton, who is term limited. Races have not been called in: Jennifer Mitkowski (HD-43) Mary Parker (HD-22) Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO ADDRESS DISRUPTED LEARNING FROM COVID-19 DENVER, CO– The House today passed two bills to address disrupted learning from the COVID-19 pandemic. HB21-1259 would make it easier for students to access critical extended learning opportunities, and SB21-013 would identify and collect resources and best practices for districts to deploy to address disrupted learning. “Disrupted learning could become one of the long-lasting impacts of this pandemic if we don’t act quickly and decisively to provide Colorado students with the resources they need,” said Denver Public Schools Director Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “These bills will help school districts in every corner of the state access additional tools and resources faster to help address students’ specific learning needs. The bills ensure that the best practices districts learn and uncover are reported and shared with all districts and families so we all have the tools we need to help students. We’re doing everything we can to put students, teachers and parents first as we recover from this pandemic and build back stronger.” HB21-1259, which passed by a vote of 53-1, is sponsored by Representative Baco. It streamlines the application process and reporting requirements for school districts seeking to access stimulus funding to provide students with extended learning opportunities. By making it easier to access these funds, more Colorado students will have access to these critical learning opportunities that will be utilized to address COVID-19-related disruptions to learning. “School districts across Colorado have deployed a range of tools and strategies to address disrupted learning from COVID-19, and now we’re creating a tool to facilitate access and share these best practices,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “We’re committed to helping school districts and teachers have the tools they need to work with students and reverse the impacts of learning disruptions related to COVID-19.” SB21-013, which passed by a vote of 42-21, is sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Meg Froelich. It directs the Department of Education to identify and collect resources to help school districts address learning disruptions. It will include products, strategies, and services that have been demonstrated to identify and address learning disruption experienced as a result of disruptions to learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also directs local education providers to expand students’ access to online courses currently provided on the Colorado Digital Learning Solutions platform, and to communicate the availability of these learning recovery opportunities to students’ families. The Colorado Department of Education is expected to receive $1.2 billion in federal stimulus money from the American Rescue Plan, about $1 billion of which will go directly to school districts. Of the $120 million kept by CDE, approximately $58 million must be used on evidence-based interventions to address the impacts of COVID-19, $12 million for after school programming, and $12 million for summer programming. Previous Next