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The House today passed a bipartisan bill on a vote of 51-9 to expand property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers such as community land trusts to build up Colorado’s affordable housing stock. < Back April 11, 2023 House Advances Property Tax Exemptions for Affordable Housing DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bipartisan bill on a vote of 51-9 to expand property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers such as community land trusts to build up Colorado’s affordable housing stock. “With land prices becoming increasingly expensive, it becomes more and more difficult for housing developers to buy land and build housing that is affordable for Coloradans,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield . “By expanding property tax exemptions for nonprofit affordable housing developers we can make it easier to build homes so our health care workers, teachers, and child care providers can afford to stay in their communities.” HB23-1184 , also sponsored by Representative Lisa Frizell, expands property tax exemptions to include more nonprofit organizations that build and sell affordable housing and increases the Area Median Income to qualify for this housing from 80% to 100%. It also extends the exemption period from five years to 10 years to better reflect the development timeline for larger affordable housing projects. The bill would create a new property tax exemption for land owned by community land trusts and other nonprofit affordable homeownership providers that develop permanently affordable for-sale homes. This exemption only applies to the land and not the home. The National Low Income Housing Coalition ranked Colorado as the 8th least affordable state in 2022 and stated that the average renter needed to work 2.3 full-time jobs at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom rental. Data from the American Community Survey demonstrates the racial inequality when it comes to homeownership with 71 percent of non-Hispanic White Coloradans owning their home compared to only 51 percent of Hispanic and 43 percent of Black Coloradans. Previous Next

< Back June 11, 2020 CHEERS! HOUSE COMMITTEE DELIVERS ON ALCOHOL TO-GO BILL DENVER, CO– The House Committee of Public Services today passed a bill that will allow restaurants, breweries, clubs, hotels and more, to deliver and offer takeout of alcoholic beverages. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Colin Larson. The bipartisan bill passed by a vote of 9-0. “Restaurants have been hit hard by the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 but the ability to sell to-go and delivery alcohol has been one crucial tool that has helped many of our favorite restaurants whether this storm,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “This bill will give these owners the fortitude to keep running even though times are tough. Restaurants have used this creative solution well, and I’m glad we were able to support them in formalizing and extending their ability to generate this additional revenue.” SB20-113 allows licensed alcohol dealers to deliver alcohol to customers or to provide takeout for customers who prefer to drink their beverage in a sanctioned space. Consumers must be at least 21 years old when they pick up alcohol from a licensed establishment. The order cannot have more than 750ML of spirits and no more than 72 fluid ounces of malt liquors, including hard cider. Deliveries must be made by a person who is 21 or older. Several states have made the shift to allow customers to get alcohol delivered or ordering alcoholic beverages with takeout. Texas, New York, New Hampshire, California, California, Nebraska, Colorado, Vermont and Kentucky. SB20-113 will support small businesses while providing Coloradans with access to a service that has been limited by the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2019 GOVERNOR SIGNS BILLS TO IMPROVE WOMEN’S HEALTH Preventative care could help lower cost of health care (May 16) – Two bills to improve women’s access to health care services were signed this afternoon by Gov. Jared Polis. A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, looks to address the increasing rate of maternal deaths. This bill will allow the Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) to review cases of maternal deaths in a timely manner to then work on ways to lower these deaths. “Colorado’s maternal mortality rate has doubled since 2008. That’s unacceptable so we took action.” said Rep. Buckner. “ This new law will work to stop what is preventable and help save the lives of mothers.” HB19-1122 also imposes diversity requirements for the committee as the maternal mortality rate is higher among African-American women and women in urban areas. 80 percent of maternal deaths in Colorado could have been prevented with proper access to services. The new law also funds Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to complete regular reports to the legislature on ways to prevent maternal mortality based on the findings of the MMRC. The bill was signed at the Center for African American Health in Denver this afternoon. Earlier today, Gov. Polis signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Rep. Buckner to require that women’s preventative health, which is already required to be covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), include follow-up diagnostic procedures for women with increased risk factors for contracting breast cancer without any additional costs or co-pays by the patient. “Early detection saved my life. We know that early detection is key to both saving women’s lives and lowering the cost of health care, ” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet. “ This law will provide coverage for women on these exams so they no longer have to decide between the cost of their screening and the cost of their life. We are being proactive rather than reactive.” HB19-1301 would require health insurance providers to cover any breast imaging performed after a breast cancer screening study comes back and requires additional testing within the same calendar year. This can be based on factors including a high lifetime risk or an individual’s healthcare provider indicating that further imaging is necessary. “When women are given the resources to detect early signs of breast cancer, lives will be saved,” said Rep. Buckner. “This law will help patients take the proper steps to get healthy and avoid costly procedures to treat their cancer.” The law was signed at the Cancer Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The 2010 federal Affordable Care Act defined benefits for individually purchased health insurance. It included covering one breast exam screening per year, but did not extend to covering a breast exam if further analysis or tests are needed. Previous Next

< Back November 15, 2019 REP. FROELICH PRAISES GOV. POLIS’S COLORADO RECYCLES WEEK PROCLAMATION DENVER, CO– Representative Meg Froelich today released the following statement after Governor Jared Polis issued a proclamation marking Colorado Recycles Week: “We can help address our climate crisis and put less trash in landfills by increasing our recycling rate, which is well below the national average,” said Zero Waste and Recycling Committee member Rep. Meg Froelich (D-Englewood). “I’m excited to get to work next session on our interim committee bills to improve Colorado’s recycling end markets and infrastructure. I am grateful for Governor Polis’s proclamation today and his efforts to tackle this important challenge.” With the state’s population increasing and Coloradans producing more waste than before, the Zero Waste and Recycling Interim Committee heard testimony, conducted research and traveled to innovative recycling facilities in order to develop a path forward to improve Colorado’s recycling rate. In October, the committee advanced two bills. The first bill creates a stakeholder group to study how to establish a recycling market development center. The center would support the development of businesses that process recyclable materials or reuse them in their products sold to consumers. The bill also requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to administer a statewide recycling education campaign to increase residential recycling across the state. The second bill would establish a statewide organics management plan. This can help agriculture producers improve soil health, leading to enhanced crop value and production. The CDPHE will consult with stakeholders and submit the management plan by February 1, 2023 to the House Energy and Environment Committee, House Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. Previous Next

< Back April 9, 2019 FROELICH’S BILL TO INCREASE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION BENEFITS AT CSU-GLOBAL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY Since 2018, CSU-Global has graduated over 18,000 students (Apr. 9) – Rep. Meg Froelich’s bipartisan bill to allow Colorado State University’s Global Campus to offer students who are National Guard Members tuition benefits unanimously passed in the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee. Currently, CSU-Global students cannot seek financial aid or receive tuition benefits through the National Guard’s state statute as an institution for which the National Guard members can utilize their tuition benefits. “CSU-Global is a really good fit for National Guard members because CSU-Global is designed to serve non-traditional students. Many of our National Guard members travel outside of the country to keep us all secured and safe,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Giving our troops the ability to utilize their tuition benefits at CSU-Global will allow them to serve while also working to complete their higher education.” Nearly 40 percent of CSU-Global students are Colorado residents who reside in 63 out of the 64 counties in the state. Roughly 15 percent of those students are military affiliated. “I have a CSU-Global campus in my district and I want to help those students be successful on their path to higher education while they continue serving our great state,” Rep. Froelich added. SB19-194 unanimously passed in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back April 17, 2019 HOUSE PASSES HEROD-BECKER BIPARTISAN BILL TO PUT COLORADO KIDS ON PATH TO SUCCESS Children with college savings accounts are three times more likely to enroll in college (Apr. 17) — The House passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Speaker KC Becker and Rep. Leslie Herod with bipartisan support that would create a new strategy to incentivize and streamline the college savings process for every child born in Colorado. “Kids of color and low income families are less likely to consider going to college because they don’t think they can afford it,” said Representative Herod, D-Denver . “College Kickstarter Programs help address the economic and racial barriers to building wealth in this country, incentivizing savings and encouraging a families to invest in education at zero cost to the taxpayers. It’s time we push this forward.” Children with college savings accounts are twice as likely to go to college. With HB19-1280, a program will be created to help and encourage Colorado parents to open a College Savings Account (CSA) for their children. Beginning in 2020, $100 of seed money will be contributed to the CSA if an account is opened within the first five years of the child’s life. “The College Kickstarter program will create funding for a college savings account for every child born in Colorado,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “This will help give Colorado’s kids a running start and help us invest in our future. Ensuring hardworking families and individuals save for higher-ed is a win-win for our students and our state.” Research has shown that even having $50 in a college savings account has many long-term benefits related to educational and financial success. A 2018 report found that 35 percent of US parents aren’t saving for college for their children. Kids with CSAs are three times more likely to enroll in college and four times more likely to graduate. CSAs also help reduce student loans. One study found that college graduates whose parents had a college savings account borrowed $3,209 less on average in student loans. The bill passed the floor with a bipartisan vote of 42-20.Three Republicans, Rep. Janice Rich, Rep. Susan Beckman, and Rep. Shane Sandridge, supported the bill in committee but not on the House floor. The bill was unanimously approved out of the House Finance committee. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law to help identify individuals who are trying to sell a firearm that has been reported lost or stolen or involved in a criminal investigation. < Back June 2, 2025 New Law Helps Identify and Prevent the Sale of Stolen Firearms DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law to help identify individuals who are trying to sell a firearm that has been reported lost or stolen or involved in a criminal investigation. “This law allows federally licensed firearm dealers to request verification that they are not buying lost or stolen weapons,” said Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver. “We’re establishing a procedure and expediting serial number checks so firearm dealers have better tools to help keep our communities safe by identifying guns that have been stolen or involved in an unsolved crime.” “SB25-205 comes from concerns raised by firearm dealers in my district, and is a win for both public safety and responsible small businesses,” said Sen. Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “It ensures that when someone wants to trade in or sell a used firearm, dealers have a clear process and safeguards while they check if a gun is lost or stolen. By guaranteeing timely law enforcement checks, we keep firearm transactions aboveboard and help people buy and sell through safe, legitimate channels. This law also protects dealers from making costly, unintentional purchases that could hurt their business.” “We’ve created this law for the firearm dealers throughout Colorado who want to do their part to keep illegal guns off our streets,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield. “Running serial number checks alerts firearm dealers when they come across lost, stolen or crime-involved firearms that they wouldn’t be able to sell anyway. This law helps firearm dealers protect themselves from bad purchases while making their communities safer from gun crimes.” SB25-205 establishes a procedure to allow a federal firearms licensee to request a firearm serial number check before purchasing a firearm from an individual. Under the law, local county sheriff’s offices must complete the serial number check within three business days of the request. If a licensee has a reason to believe that a person sold or attempted to sell a firearm that is stolen, lost, or involved in an open criminal investigation, they will be required to report the information to law enforcement within 48 hours. Colorado Democrats have passed numerous laws to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, including laws to require gun owners to report when their firearm has been lost or stolen and properly store their firearms when not in use, including in their vehicles . The legislature also cracked down on “ghost guns” to keep unregulated, untraceable firearms out of our communities. Previous Next

< Back February 19, 2020 BILL TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN EDUCATOR WORKFORCE PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO — The House today passed Representative Bri Buentello and James Coleman’s bill to foster a more diverse educator workforce on third reading. The bill was approved by a vote of 50-13. “As a Latina and a former special ed teacher, I know first hand how crucial it can be for students to have educators who reflect their identities and life experiences,” said Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo. “I’m always looking for ways to support teachers and improve our educator workforce, and I’m proud that the House voted to do just that today.” “Study after study has shown that students of color do much better in school when they have teachers with backgrounds and identities similar to their own,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver. “I know from my own experience that having a teacher who looked like me made all the difference in my education and upbringing. Today, we’re hoping to make a difference for students of color everywhere in Colorado.” Under HB20-1007 , the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Education would create a workgroup on diversity in the educator workforce. The workgroup would investigate barriers to a diverse educator pool and recommend strategies to increase recruitment and retention of a diverse educator workforce to serve Colorado students. The bill passed on Third Reading this morning; the bill will now move onto the Senate. In Colorado, 76 percent of teachers are women and 67 percent of teachers identify as white women. Furthermore, only 46 percent of elementary school teachers pass the certification exams the first time despite graduating from accredited teacher preparation programs; only 38 percent of black teaching candidates, 45 percent of Hispanic candidates and 75 percent of white candidates pass the licensing test. Previous Next

< Back Karen McCormick Chair of the Ag., Water & Natural Res. Committee Representative Karen McCormick is the Chair of the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee, member of the House Health & Human Services and House Appropriations committees and represents House District 11 which includes most of the city of Longmont. Rep. McCormick, a practicing veterinarian for over 34 years, advocates for families, health care, education, LGBTQ+ protections, reproductive rights, economic opportunity and the future of our planet. Rep. McCormick has championed important legislation to protect Colorado’s watersheds, preserve ecosystems, improve access to veterinary care, facilitate the move to renewable energy, expand access to health care and more. Her dog Pippin comes to the capitol to intern regularly!

< Back June 7, 2020 EDUCATION COMMITTEE PASSES SCHOOL FINANCE ACT AND BILL TO TEMPORARILY WAIVE STANDARDIZED TESTING REQUIREMENTS DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Education today passed HB20-1418 , the School Finance Act, sponsored by Speaker KC Becker. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 9-4. “This is not the School Finance Act that I wish I could sponsor,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “In one of the most dire budget years in our state’s history, we did what we could to prioritize K-12 amidst major cuts across the rest of the budget, as well as reprioritizing various grant programs towards core education funding and using federal dollars to help schools with costs due to the pandemic. But we are still facing major shortfalls in education funding. We will need to use every tool in the toolbox to protect K-12 this year and next.” HB20-1418 is the annual School Finance Act, which sets funding levels for all of Colorado’s school districts and charter schools. This year’s proposal shields K-12 from the worst of budget cuts, reducing funding for all districts by $378.6 million from the prior year amidst a $3 billion revenue shortfall. However, with $510 million in federal CARES Act funding and $37 million in additional federal funding for at-risk students intended to help address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, total school funding increases by at least $168 million overall. While the federal funds are not an offset for cuts due to the revenue shortfall, they go a long way to help schools minimize impacts during this unprecedented situation. The School Finance Act pulls funds from marijuana taxes, school capital construction, and various grant programs and cash funds in order to put dollars where they are most needed – core education funding. The bill also makes various changes to reflect COVID-19’s impacts to the school system. It delays the timeline for school districts to adopt their budgets, since the Long Bill was delayed. It also codifies the suspension of various accountability-related provisions to reflect the Governor’s executive orders and directs the Department of Education to convene a stakeholder group to assess the impact of the COVID pandemic on the 19-20 school year and whether additional changes to accountability systems are needed for the 20-21 school year. Another major provision in this year’s School Finance Act corrects an issue with how local school funding levels are set, which has contributed to the underfunding of our schools over the last 25 years. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in Mesa v. State that local school funding is set incorrectly in many districts and violates our own statutes, due to districts lowering their mill levies contrary to voter approval. This School Finance Act corrects this violation without impacting anyone’s property taxes by restoring the mill levy in each district to the rate that was adopted by voters or up to a certain limit, and requires credits to offset any increases to property owners. The committee also passed Rep. Cathy Kipp’s bill, HB20-1407 , which would respond to the challenges presented by COVID19 by temporarily giving publicly funded colleges and universities the option to waive standardized testing as a requirement for admission for high school students graduating in 2021. The bill passed the committee unanimously. “COVID19 has presented unique and complex challenges to our students and educational institutions,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Many Colorado students lost the opportunity to take their standardized tests as scheduled during the height of the pandemic. This bill will level the playing field for them by allowing publicly funded institutions of higher education to consider their other academic credentials, like GPA and leadership positions, when making admissions decisions. This is a win-win for students and universities alike.” Previous Next

HB25-1320 will drive $256 million more to Colorado’s K-12 public schools for the 2025-2026 school year < Back May 23, 2025 SIGNED! 2025 School Finance Act HB25-1320 will drive $256 million more to Colorado’s K-12 public schools for the 2025-2026 school year WESTMINSTER, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to implement the new school funding formula and sustainably drive more funding to Colorado’s K-12 public schools. “It’s a great day for students, teachers and schools in Colorado! The bipartisan 2025 School Finance Act boosts funding by $256 million and turns on the new school finance formula that will drive more resources to the students who need them the most,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Despite nearly universal declining enrollment, the 2025 School Finance Act ensures that no district drops below the funding amount they received this school year. We’re deeply committed to investing in our K-12 public schools, and this year’s School Finance Act supports rural schools and our most vulnerable students while creating a sustainable pathway to significantly increase school funding.” “This is the first time since the 1990s that we’ve instituted a new funding formula for our schools,” said Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. “From boosting per-pupil funding to supporting underserved districts and at-risk students who need a helping hand, this year’s School Finance Act is good for families, teachers, and most importantly, students. It’s a strong investment in Colorado’s kids and public schools and ultimately, a strong investment in Colorado’s future.” “As a teacher, I know how important adequate funding is to create an environment where students can succeed,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “The 2025 School Finance Act invests $256 million more in our public schools this year, meaning funding will rise by over $410 per student on average. The law implements the new school funding formula to better support every student in our public schools. Our law drives funding to our K-12 schools equitably and sustainably, so our students can maximize their learning potential.” Colorado lawmakers have worked diligently to drive record-breaking funding to Colorado’s K-12 public schools. Since 2019, when voters gave Democrats the trifecta, total funding for schools has increased by over $3 billion, while Colorado schools have lost tens of thousands of students. Since the 2018-2019 school year, average per-pupil funding has increased from $8,123 to $11,852 next year. The 2025 School Finance Act will drive $256.7 million more to Colorado’s public schools than last school year, bringing the 2025-2026 school funding total to a record $10.035 billion despite Colorado facing a declining student enrollment environment. Also sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, HB25-1320 acknowledges unique challenges for rural and remote districts, increases education funding to keep up with inflation, and prioritizes sustainable funding for years to come. In last year’s School Finance Act, lawmakers delivered on their promise to pay off the Budget Stabilization Factor. At the same time, HB24-1448 modernized the school funding formula used to determine the total program funding for Colorado’s K-12 public school districts for the first time in 30 years. This legislation created a more student-centered formula designed to drive more resources to rural and underserved districts, as well as students living with a disability, at-risk students and English Language Learners. For the 2025-2026 school year, HB25-1320 will: Provide $83.2 million more for public schools next year than the old school finance formula Increase average per-pupil funding by $412, bringing the total per-pupil funding to $11,863, and Ensure that 157 of 178 districts will see an average 2.9 percent increase in funding, while the remaining 21 districts with significantly declining enrollment are held harmless. HB25-1320 implements the new school funding formula at 15 percent per year for six years, and then 10 percent for the final seventh year of implementation, while still maintaining the four-year averaging model for the 2025-26 school year. This new law also creates the “Kids Matter Fund” within the State Education Fund. Beginning July 1, 2026, the state treasurer will be required to transfer into the account 0.00065 percent of existing state revenue collected from federal taxable income each year. For the 2026-2027 school year, revenue will amount to an estimated $230 million for schools. The account will be used to protect per pupil funding and funding for programs, including special education. HB25-1320 is designed to give the legislature the flexibility to continue increasing school funding while adapting to changing budget realities. To maintain the financial health of the State Education Fund (SEF), HB25-1320 provides the flexibility to adjust the percentage of the formula implemented each year or the averaging components of the formula to ensure a healthy reserve in the fund’s balance. Previous Next

The Transportation Legislation Review Committee today advanced legislation to update fleet vehicles to zero- or low-emission vehicles and ease the car buying and selling process by allowing digital titles to be used. < Back October 21, 2025 Transportation Interim Committee Advances Two Bills DENVER, CO – The Transportation Legislation Review Committee today advanced legislation to update fleet vehicles to zero- or low-emission vehicles and ease the car buying and selling process by allowing digital titles to be used. “Keeping Colorado’s air and water clean well into the future is only possible with collaboration and drive between the public and private sectors,” said Sen. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, sponsor of Bill 3 . “This bipartisan bill will strengthen that collaboration and empower the Clean Fleet Enterprise to get cleaner, safer trucks on the streets and tangibly improve air quality for generations of Coloradans to come.” “We’re making electric and low-emission fleet vehicles more accessible to improve Colorado’s air,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of Bill 3. “Fleet vehicles help companies run their business throughout the state, but they often have terrible gas mileage that worsens our air and pumps CO2 into the atmosphere. Our bipartisan legislation would save businesses money on replacing these gas-guzzling vehicles with zero- or low-emission fleets, reducing our state’s carbon emissions and promoting healthier air for all Coloradans.” Bill 3 , sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa and Reps. Amy Paschal and Carlos Barron, R-Fort Lupton, would expand the authority of the Clean Fleet Enterprise (enterprise) and repeal funding restrictions to better support fleet operators with clean vehicle updates. The bill would direct funding to organizations that replace diesel trucks with new heavy-duty trucks that meet all state and federal emissions standards. The bill would sunset after five years. The Clean Fleet Enterprise was created by Colorado Democrats in 2021 to incentivize and support the adoption of electric vehicles and other low- or zero-emission fleet vehicles to help meet the state’s climate goals and save businesses money. Since the launch of the enterprise’s grant program, nearly $35 million in awards have been approved for private and public organizations. Currently, Colorado law allows electronic certificates of title to be used in nearly all vehicle transactions, only excluding those in which a party is located outside of Colorado or the purchaser buys a vehicle entirely with cash. “Electronic documentation is easier to access and keep track of than physical paperwork, which is why we’re passing this bill to allow electronic records during vehicle transactions,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of Bill 2. “By updating the options that we have, more Coloradans will have an easier time buying and selling vehicles.” “This legislation would help transfer ownership of cars by allowing the use of electronic records for all transactions,” continued Paschal, sponsor of Bill 2. “It’s 2025, and we should utilize the technology we have to make life easier for everyone. This bill would allow Coloradans to use digital titles to reduce barriers to the vehicle buying and selling process.” Bill 2 , sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, Rep. Amy Paschal and Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, would allow electronic certificates of title to be used in all vehicle transactions. The bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2026 session, interim bills will follow the standard legislative process. Previous Next