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< Back January 30, 2023 Workforce Bills Pass Committee DENVER, CO – Two workforce bills to support Colorado workers today passed House committees. HB23-1094, sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens, would boost the agriculture workforce, and HB23-1072, sponsored by Representative Elizabeth Velasco, would ensure disaster emergency response workers are compensated for time working a disaster. “Colorado’s agriculture industry is critical to our state’s economy,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “Our bipartisan bill works to train, educate and uplift the next generation of agricultural workers through hands-on internships and training. Colorado’s future in agriculture is strong, and by ensuring a pipeline toward careers in farming and ranching, we will support our farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses by helping them fill critical open positions in their operations while creating new opportunities for people who want a career in agriculture.” “When disasters strike, local community members are the first on the scene to provide services and support,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “This bill makes sure disaster emergency first responders, volunteers and organizers are compensated for their work. These civil defense workers are ready at a moment's notice to provide assistance to their community during a wildfire or flood and they should be paid for their time on the job.” HB23-1094 passed the House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources committee by a vote of 12-1 and would modify the Agricultural Workforce Development Program which provides financial incentives to farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses to hire interns and provide them with hands-on training and the experience needed to pursue a career in agriculture. This bill aims to jumpstart a lifelong career in agriculture and deepen the workforce pool by increasing the duration of paid internships to up to one year instead of six months. HB23-1072 passed the House State Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs committee unanimously and would change the legal definition of “civil defense worker” so those assisting in the local response to disaster emergencies can be paid for their work. In Colorado, civil defense workers respond to disaster emergencies, including wildfires, floods and severe weather in addition to man-made disasters. Workers that are registered with the Office of Emergency Management or local response units are not currently eligible for compensation from their employers when they directly respond to a disaster. This bill allows civil defense workers, often registered crisis response volunteers, to receive pay from their employers when they respond to future disasters. Previous Next

< Back May 5, 2021 HOUSE RESOLUTION SEEKS TO RESOLVE QUESTIONS ON REDISTRICTING DENVER, CO– The House today passed a resolution to send an interrogatory to the Colorado Supreme Court regarding changes to redistricting procedures made in SB21-247. “Colorado voters were clear in passing Amendments Y and Z that they want to see an independent redistricting process without partisan gerrymandering,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “ While no one could have predicted that a public health crisis would throw a wrench into our carefully crafted process, we have to do everything we can to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible. That’s why we’re engaged in a bipartisan effort with the Colorado Supreme Court to guarantee fair and balanced maps are delivered on time and with full public participation and input.” Amendments Y and Z established a clear timeline for Colorado’s electoral redistricting efforts. These dates, mandated in the constitution, require the Commissions to use “necessary census data” to accurately draw electoral districts for the state. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a delay in the ability of the United States Census Bureau to deliver to the state the population and demographic data necessary to redraw election districts. This delay prevents both the independent redistricting commissions (both Congressional and legislative) from completing their work by the deadlines in the constitution. The resolution, HR21-XXXX, asks the Colorado Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of two provisions of SB21-247: 1) the use of preliminary, non-final census data for the drafting of preliminary plans, and 2) the provision of SB21-247 that directs the Court to apply a standard of substantial compliance with only the technical requirements of the redistricting process as created in Amendments Y and Z. Final passage of SB21-247 is dependent on the Court’s response on these matters. SB21-247 , an Executive Committee bill sponsored by Minority and Majority Leaders in both the House and Senate, is intended to give the Commission the flexibility it needs to draw fair electoral maps in the face of these delays. Only as it applies to the current redistricting cycle, the bill amends the definition of “necessary census data” to allow the preliminary plans to be developed using state apportionment data that was released on April 26, and other population and demographic data from federal or state sources that are approved by the commissions. The three staff plans to be drafted by nonpartisan staff, one of which will be submitted to the Supreme Court for approval, have to be drawn using final census data. The bill also requires a public hearing on maps being drawn with final census data once it is made available. It also establishes a substantial compliance standard for any legal challenge that may arise concerning compliance with the technical requirements of Amendments Y and Z—not the substantial requirements on the process, such as the criteria in which the districts have to be drawn. Previous Next

< Back May 29, 2019 GOV SIGNS MULLICA’S BIPARTISAN PACKAGE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE (May 29) – Earlier today, Gov. Polis signed two bills that will improve safety at freestanding emergency room departments and increase health care access in rural schools across the state. “This bipartisan new law is about ensuring the safety of patients and that emergency departments in rural, urban and suburban communities offer the best services available,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. HB19-1010 will bring freestanding emergency departments under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional hospital emergency rooms to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. This will ultimately improve the quality of care for patients and increase health care affordability. This new law will create a new license for Freestanding Emergency Departments (FSEDs) through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). It also requires FSEDs to medically screen every patient seeking care as well as prohibit them from delaying a medical examination in order to inquire about the patient’s ability to pay for the care or their insurance status. Rep. Mullica is an emergency room nurse by profession. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain. HB19-1010 passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 54-9 earlier this year. Gov. Polis also signed Rep. Mullica’s bill to hire more school nurses in schools across Colorado, especially schools in rural areas and in disadvantaged communities. “As a nurse, I see first hand how untrained school staff are administering medication to students with chronic illnesses. This can be dangerous for the staff and especially for the students,” said Rep. Mullica. “This bill would ensure Colorado’s kids have access to health care professionals in their schools. School nurses provide a range of health care services to our students while also handling medical emergencies during the school day.” HB19-1203 would provide grants to improve the ratio of school nurses to students while also prioritizing nurses in rural areas and lower-income communities. This bill also allows school nurses to partner with local public health agencies so that nurse practitioners can also serve in schools. Currently, there are 632 nurses that serve 910,000 school-aged students. That’s roughly one nurse for every 1,500 to 1,700 students. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation to prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed, outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. < Back February 16, 2024 House Advances Bill to Prevent Evictions, Homelessness DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation to prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed, outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. “Despite always paying our rent on time and following our lease agreement, my son and I were evicted after escaping my abuser, and our lives were turned upside down,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Current Colorado law leaves renters vulnerable to homelessness and an eviction on their record that can make it nearly impossible to find housing. This legislation will reduce evictions and offer a greater sense of community that hardworking Colorado families and renters deserve while ensuring that landlords can still file for evictions when appropriate.” “Nearly 13,000 evictions were filed in Denver last year, having a devastating impact on Colorado renters and leaving many homeless,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “These aren’t just numbers, these are real people who deserve a safe place to call home. This ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation strengthens protections for renters and provides stability for landlords by clearly outlining the reasons why an eviction can be filed. Our bill is essential in preventing the displacement of renters and protecting vulnerable Coloradans from facing unnecessary evictions.” 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 bill 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’ bill 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 April 11, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES EXUM’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROTECT HEALTH OF FIREFIGHTERS AND COLORADANS (Apr. 11) – The House Energy and Environment committee approved Rep. Tony Exum’s bipartisan bill to protect firefighters from the dangerous impacts of the manmade Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFA) which they use on a daily basis. “As a former battalion chief, I saw not only how often we used this material during training but also the health damage it caused to our firefighters,” said Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “When we used this material, it would frequently contaminate our drinking water. It’s past-time we do something to protect our courageous firefighters and protect the health of people in our communities.” PFA substances are used to battle high-heat fires. The EPA has deemed this material toxic as it stays in the body for two to seven years upon exposure. HB19-1279 would prohibit the use of PFA during firefighting training exercises and includes a fine for compliance failure. The money collected from these fines would go to the Local Firefighters Safety and Disease Prevention Fund. Finally, it also created the Firefighters Foams and Personal Protection Equipment Act which prohibits the use of PFAs, requires companies to inform consumers if their equipment has been treated with this hazardous material, and requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) to conduct surveys to learn if any stations are using this material. HB19-1279 passed with a bipartisan vote of 8-2 and now heads to the House Appropriations Committee. Previous Next

< Back April 14, 2022 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO BOOST COLORADO’S EMERGENCY STOCKPILE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DENVER, CO – The House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee passed a bill, sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullica, that would require the State of Colorado to maintain a stockpile of essential materials, including personal protective equipment (PPE). “Colorado is preparing now so we’re not caught flat-footed during the next national emergency or pandemic,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Federal Heights. “This bill boosts Colorado’s stockpile of essential materials and personal protective equipment so our state is prepared to keep Coloradans safe, healthy and protected. With this legislation, we’re taking steps to ensure our healthcare professionals haves the masks, gloves and other medical grade PPE they need when they’re caring for Coloradans.” HB22-1352 passed committee by a vote of 8-3. This bill would require the State of Colorado to maintain a stockpile of essential materials and PPE to be available for distribution after the governor has declared a disaster emergency. Facial masks, medical gloves, eye protection and other PPE worn by health care professionals are necessary for treating patients and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. This bill will invest nearly $2 million to stockpile medical-grade PPE in Colorado so hospitals, vaccine clinics and other medical sites can have access to the protective equipment to keep them safe. Schools, community centers and other organizations can also receive stockpiled PPE which will be distributed via state agencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was charged with maintaining the state’s emergency stockpile of PPE and associated warehouses. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has since maintained a 60-day stockpile of five key PPE product categories to dispatch to state agencies as needed. This bill ensures Colorado has adequate PPE supplies for the next pandemic or declared national disaster. Previous Next

HB23B-1001 will provide $30 million in additional funding to existing rental assistance programs < Back November 28, 2023 SIGNED! Bill to Support Renters and Reduce Evictions Becomes Law DENVER, CO – Legislation that will boost rental assistance and prevent evictions for Coloradans was signed into law today. Sponsored by Reps. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, and Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, HB23B-1001 allocates $30 million for rental assistance through the existing Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) administered by the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), increasing the statewide assistance to a total of $65 million, which includes $35 million from previously allocated federal funds. The program will serve individuals who are residential tenants living in Colorado, have a household income less than 80 percent of Area Median Income and are at risk of eviction or displacement. “Rental assistance keeps Coloradans housed, landlords paid, and helps combat cycles of poverty, homelessness and family disruption,” said Herod. “Coloradans need help now, and I’m beyond proud of this legislation that will prevent thousands of evictions across our state. This law invests an additional $30 million in emergency rental assistance, bringing the statewide total to $65 million to keep renters housed. We’re doing more to protect our most vulnerable families as we work toward more long-term affordability solutions.” “The housing crisis is impacting us all, and we must utilize every opportunity to help out hardworking renters," said Gonzales. “We hear Coloradans loud and clear: we love our state, but the rising cost of living and housing is making it hard for working folks to get by — both for homeowners and renters. I am proud to see my bill to direct $30 million in rental assistance to keep Coloradans housed and provide responsible relief to support Coloradans who need it most get signed into law.” “Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home, and this law will help thousands of renters avoid eviction and get back on their feet,” said Lindsay. “The need for rental assistance is clear as evictions rise in our state. This law takes action today to provide an additional $30 million total emergency rental assistance, bringing the statewide total to $65 million. More than 34-percent of those living in our state are renters, and this law steps in to provide assistance and keep Coloradans housed in the communities where they live, play and work.” “Renters in my district are struggling to keep up with the high cost of living and continual rent increases,” Buckner said. “Allocating additional funding for proven successful rental assistance programs means more Coloradans will stay housed. While we continue to work on long term solutions to lower housing costs and reduce evictions, this is a critical way we can get immediate relief directly to the families that need it most.” Evictions are on the rise in Colorado. This year alone, 43,899 evictions have been filed according to state courts and Denver County court filing data, threatening the housing of more than 100,000 people across the state. Under ERAP, tenants who apply through DOLA are then connected to a nonprofit partner within their area that can provide direct assistance. Rental assistance dollars may be used to pay for: overdue past rent, rent presently owed, up to two months of future rent, utility bills, late fees, costs associated with preventing an eviction such as court costs and reasonable attorney fees, and relocation costs like security deposits if a tenant has already been evicted. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to protect electric vehicle (EV) drivers by improving charging infrastructure and oversight. < Back April 21, 2025 House Passes Bill to Protect Consumers, Improve EV Charging Oversight DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to protect electric vehicle (EV) drivers by improving charging infrastructure and oversight. HB25-1267 passed by a vote of 40-23. “EVs are incredibly popular in Colorado, and our EV charging stations need to be reliable and accurate,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs . “Consumer protections are already in place for Coloradans who drive gas-powered vehicles to ensure they’re getting what they pay for at the pump; this bill extends similar protections to EV drivers. The demand for EVs is only growing in Colorado, and this bill ensures divers receive the electricity they pay for.” “We’re taking steps now to make sure Colorado’s charging station infrastructure can meet the growing demand for EVs and help us reach our climate goals,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “Colorado’s EV market share is number one in the country, and this bill makes sure EV charging stations are reliable and accurate. Gas pumps are regularly inspected to ensure drivers get what they pay for, and this bill does the same for EV drivers.” HB25-1267 aims to improve oversight of retail EV charging stations to ensure consumers receive the energy they pay for. To accomplish this, the bill creates a new statewide retail EV charging station oversight program to establish and oversee minimum standards for charging stations. The state already monitors gas pumps to ensure consumers receive the amount of gas they are paying for; this bill extends the same consumer protection protocols for EV drivers The popularity of EVs in Colorado continues to grow. Colorado recently became number one in the country regarding market share of new EVs, surpassing California. This legislation also aims to help Colorado meet current and future EV infrastructure demand by modifying the EV grant fund. This includes updated policies, procedures and utility oversight of public charging stations. In 2023, Colorado Democrats championed an expansive tax credit package that included incentives for EV buyers to reach our state’s climate goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030. Previous Next

The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado to 21 years old. < Back March 27, 2023 House Advances Bill to Raise Minimum Purchase Age of Firearms DENVER, CO - The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado to 21 years old. “As someone who has lived under the threat of gun violence, I want to do everything I can to prevent other people from experiencing the trauma that I’ve had to endure,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “By raising the legal age to purchase a firearm to 21, we can save the lives of our children, friends and neighbors from preventable firearm-related injuries or death. This is a crucial step to reduce suicide rates that are far too high and prevent gun violence in our communities.” “As a teacher of over 30 years, I’ve experienced countless lockdowns and wondered how I could protect every single one of my students from an active shooter on my own,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial . “Developing brains are not fully ready to evaluate risks, regulate emotion or implement self-control, which means youth access to firearms is more likely to lead to violence. Our students, educators and school personnel deserve to be safe. While no single piece of legislation will end gun violence, this bill will make our schools and communities safer for us all.” Currently, individuals must be 21 years old to purchase a handgun, but only 18 years old to purchase long guns. SB23-169 would raise the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21. The bill includes exceptions for 18-21 year olds to purchase a firearm who are on-duty peace officers or active military members. According to Everytown for Gun Safety , firearms are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased a staggering 61 percent in the last decade. Previous Next

< Back February 1, 2023 Bill to Bolster Tax Credit Outreach Advances in the House DENVER, CO - Today, the House advanced legislation that would require employers to share tax benefit information to working families. “The Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit can boost workers’ incomes by thousands of dollars, putting more money back into their pockets to help pay for rent, groceries, and other essentials,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley/Evans. “We passed significant tax reforms that have expanded economic assistance for working families by closing tax loopholes that only benefited the very wealthy. When families thrive, our small businesses and local economies do too. Not only will this legislation help more families benefit from the tax credits we’ve expanded, but it will also lead to additional investment in our local businesses.” “We’re improving tax credit accessibility so hard working families know that these savings are available to them,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “Under this bill, employers will be equipped with detailed tax credit information to provide with their employees. This will help workers know these credits are available to them in a manner that is easy for employers to share.” HB23-1006 instructs employers to provide information about federal and state earned income tax credits and child tax credits to their employees. The notice must be provided at least once a year in English or any other language used to communicate with the employee. The bill must still pass a final vote in the House before moving to the Senate. This bill builds on legislation passed by the General Assembly in recent years to make Colorado more affordable for working-class families. Representatives Mary Young and Lindsey Daugherty previously passed SB22-182 to help Coloradans file for and receive their earned income tax credits and child tax credits. Colorado Democrats passed HB20-1420 and HB21-1311 , which doubled the state's Earned Income Tax Credit and funded the Child Tax Credit, saving hundreds of thousands of Colorado families money. Previous Next

< Back May 28, 2021 IT’S ELECTRIC! BILL TO SAVE CONSUMERS ON UTILITY COSTS ADVANCES DENVER, CO– The House Energy and Environment Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Alex Valdez and Meg Foelich that would promote the use of energy efficient electric equipment. “Technological advances are constantly producing more energy efficient equipment that can save consumers money on their electric bills,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D- Denver. “Every dollar saved by investing in efficiency measures, is a dollar that can directly help working Coloradans. By incentivising consumers to adopt energy efficient technologies, like electric water heaters and furnaces, we are going to create good jobs, emit less dirty greenhouse gases into our environment, and improve indoor air quality in homes and businesses across the state.” “Colorado can meet our climate goals, create jobs, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and improve both our indoor and outdoor air quality by embracing energy efficiency equipment,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D- Englewood. “The bill we advanced today would ask utility companies to create plans that encourage their customers voluntarily to adopt more energy efficient technologies that will save everyone money and help protect Colorado’s beautiful environment for everyone to enjoy.” SB21-246 directs the Public Utilities Commission to set longer-term energy savings targets for utility beneficial electrification programs and approve plans from investor-owned utilities that would use incentives to promote the use and installation of energy efficient electric equipment. Transitioning to clean electric homes and businesses will improve public health, save energy, create jobs, and help Colorado meet its climate goals by reducing the use of fossil fuels. Under the bill, utilities will develop plans to help their customers replace costly natural gas and propane fueled appliances with high efficiency electric equipment, and utilities must include programs targeted to lower-income households in their plans. Clean heat from appliances such as electric heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and induction stoves will help Colorado reduce greenhouse gas pollution and has potential to help improve indoor air quality and health and safety in buildings. Improving indoor air quality is especially beneficial to families with children, older Coloradans, or who have household members with respiratory issues. Businesses that sell and install energy efficient technologies will see increased demand and growth through greater adoption of more efficient equipment. The legislation explicitly clarifies that beneficial electrification projects be implemented voluntarily without any coercion or discriminatory treatment to customers that decline any incentives that may be offered to them. Previous Next

Increase would have been much higher without Colorado Democrats special session legislation which preserved coverage for nearly 30,000 Coloradans < Back October 28, 2025 GOP Congress Causes Health Premiums to Double, 75,000 Could Lose Coverage Increase would have been much higher without Colorado Democrats special session legislation which preserved coverage for nearly 30,000 Coloradans DENVER, CO – Representative Kyle Brown and Senator Kyle Mullica, chairs of the House and Senate Health & Human Services committees, today released the following statements after the Division of Insurance announced that 2026 health care premium rates will increase by 101-percent due to Congress’s failure to continue the enhanced premium tax credits. “Congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend the enhanced premium tax credits is doubling health insurance costs for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, Chair of the House Health & Human Services Committee. “Costs are rising for everyone, and 75,000 Coloradans will lose their health care coverage because Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert failed to act. Our legislation during the special session is helping to blunt these rate hikes and prevent tens of thousands of Coloradans from losing their health care, but Congress must act now to extend the tax credits or hardworking families will pay thousands of dollars more for health care next year.” “Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend enhanced premium tax credits means everyday Coloradans will pay the price,” said Sen. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, Chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. “Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans will soon be forced to spend more of their paycheck on essential health care, with thousands expected to lose their coverage altogether. Earlier this year, Colorado lawmakers acted swiftly to shield families from the worst of the unaffordable premium increases, but it is not enough to cover the Division of Insurance’s projected 101 percent rate increase. I renew my call for Congress to act now to prevent these massive price increases and protect coverage for Coloradans.” Statewide health care rates for individuals who purchase their own insurance are expected to increase by 101-percent due to Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend the tax credits. Open enrollment begins this Saturday, and Coloradans who want coverage in 2026 must choose their plan before December 15. If Congressional Republicans don’t act now, a family of four in the Denver metro area with an annual income of around $128,000 will see their health insurance premiums increase by approximately $14,000. If that family lives on the Western Slope, in southwest Colorado, in the San Luis Valley or on the Eastern Plains, their premium bill will increase by $16,000-$21,000. Democrats have repeatedly urged Congress to extend the tax credits, which help make health care more affordable for around 225,000 Coloradans. The expiration of these tax credits on December 31 will lead to fewer people having health insurance and higher health insurance costs for everyone, including small businesses and Coloradans with employer-sponsored health insurance. If Congress extended the enhanced premium tax credits, the average premium increase would be 16-percent, instead of 101-percent, and some Coloradans would see no increase. In August, General Assembly Democrats sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation urging them to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that were intentionally omitted from the GOP’s H.R. 1. Colorado Democrats have significantly lowered health care costs with the state’s reinsurance program, which has saved consumers over $2 billion, and Colorado Option health care plan, which offers the lowest or second lowest cost plan in 90-percent of Colorado counties. A recent study by Brown University found that the Colorado Option reduced monthly premiums by $101, even for non-Colorado Option plans. Earlier this year, the Colorado General Assembly returned to the Capitol to combat some of the harm caused by Trump’s Megabill and Congress’s failure to extend the ePTCs. Colorado Democrats passed a law that will invest in Colorado’s reinsurance program and blunt some of the most severe cost increases from the expiring tax credits. This law reduces the statewide average premium increase from 174-percent to 101-percent, saving Coloradans $220 million on health care next year and preventing 28,000 Coloradans from being kicked off their health coverage. The law also stabilizes Colorado’s reinsurance program, resulting in over 21-percent in premium savings, with reductions up to nearly 40-percent on the Western Slope. Previous Next