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< Back Sheila Lieder Representative Sheila Lieder is the Vice-Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee and a member of the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee. She represents House District 28, which includes parts of Littleton, Lakewood, and Morrison in Jefferson County. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2022 and re-elected in 2024, Rep Lieder's career reflects a strong commitment to fairness, dignity, and opportunity for all working families. At the Capitol, Rep. Lieder supports accessible and affordable healthcare, improving Colorado’s public schools, expanding workers’ rights, ensuring that seniors can afford their needs, and both veterans and active-duty service members. She also aims to prepare the next generation for success by creating pathways to good-paying jobs and opportunities for students entering the workforce. During her time as a state representative, Rep. Lieder has contributed to Colorado’s economic growth. She led efforts to create new job opportunities in the rapidly growing field of thermal technology, helping Colorado become a leader in this area. She has also expanded apprenticeship programs that connect Coloradans to in-demand careers. Recently, she has worked to ensure every public school has heating and air conditioning, addressing the impact of automation and Artificial intelligence on sectors like trucking, and increased protections for minor workers on the job. Rep. Lieder continues to bring the values of hard work, fairness, and community to the legislature. She advocates for policies that support working families and strengthen opportunities across Colorado.

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Jenny Willford and Lorena Garcia that would improve price transparency and allow Colorado families to request refunds on waitlist fees, application fees, and deposits if they don’t enroll their child in a child care center < Back March 11, 2025 Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Child Care Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Jenny Willford and Lorena Garcia that would improve price transparency and allow Colorado families to request refunds on waitlist fees, application fees, and deposits if they don’t enroll their child in a child care center. SB25-004 passed by a vote of 9-4. “Child care waitlist fees and deposits can cost families thousands of dollars, and if a family is not offered admission to a child care center, they should get their money back,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Parents and guardians want the best for their children, and sometimes that means paying waitlist fees for multiple child care centers. As a mom, I know how quickly these child care fees can add up, and the legislation we’re bringing today makes it easier for Colorado families to shop around without losing out on thousands of hard-earned dollars.” “Child care is necessary for parents who want to reenter the workforce, and they deserve transparency in the process of finding the child care center that best fits their needs,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “There are many reasons why parents would want to join multiple waitlists, and they deserve to know what the true costs they can expect when determining where to enroll their child. Colorado families already face many barriers to affordable child care, and improving price transparency and requiring waitlist and deposit refunds from child care centers that their child did not end up attending will reduce the cost of enrolling in child care for hardworking Colorado parents.” SB25-004 would require child care centers to provide a transparent fee schedule upon registration, when joining a waitlist, or at the request of a family. The bill would also require application fees, waitlist fees, or deposits to be refundable after six months if a child is not admitted and remains on the waitlist. A center may charge a deposit, but if admitted, the deposit must go towards the tuition of child care. Previous Next

New legislation to support Colorado seniors will take effect on August 6, 2025. < Back July 28, 2025 Bipartisan Law to Support Seniors Goes Into Effect DENVER, CO — New legislation to support Colorado seniors will take effect on August 6, 2025. HB25-1184 will allow certain senior living facilities to offer community-based care to seniors awaiting admission. “Demand for senior living facilities is only increasing, and this new law expands opportunities for older Coloradans to access programs and services offered by life care institutions,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs. “From accessible transportation and nutrition support to socialization opportunities, community-based services are incredibly beneficial to older Coloradans. Soon, older Coloradans will have more opportunities to take advantage of community-based services that help them lead healthier, fuller lives.” “The in-between time from knowing senior care is necessary and actually being admitted to care programs can be long and very difficult,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “Increasing opportunities for older Coloradans to socialize, access nutrition support and transportation while waiting for admission to a life care institution will help ease their transition and support their overall well-being.” HB25-1184 , also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, and Senator John Carson, R-Douglas County, allows for the expansion of community-based care services offered by life care institutions to older Coloradans waiting to be admitted to these facilities. These institutions can now offer some services in a community setting or private residence with clear contracting requirements. Colorado has a handful of life care institutions, sometimes located in smaller or rural communities, that are supportive living facilities for seniors who pay a one-time admission fee. Waitlists for life care institutions can be long, especially in rural or underserved areas. This legislation supports the well-being of those waiting to be admitted by expanding access to care services like transportation, social programs, and health support. Previous Next

New law passed by Colorado Democrats helped prevent nearly 100,000 Coloradans from losing their health care plan in 2025 < Back September 10, 2025 Lawmakers Celebrate Law that Protects Access to Health Care for Nearly 100,000 Coloradans, Urge Congress to Extend Tax Credits New law passed by Colorado Democrats helped prevent nearly 100,000 Coloradans from losing their health care plan in 2025 DENVER, CO – Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist and Speaker Julie McCluskie today released the following statements after Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem’s HMO Colorado withdrew the discontinuances of health care plans that they filed in August. Colorado Democrats passed HB25B-1006 to help blunt health insurance rate increases and significantly reduce the number of Coloradans who could lose their health insurance coverage due to Congress’s refusal to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. “While I am relieved to hear that Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem will continue to offer health care coverage for Coloradans, Congress must act now to continue the enhanced premium tax credits to prevent massive increases in health care costs,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Thanks to our new law, over 96,000 Coloradans will stay insured on their health care plan, but Congress’s inaction will still cause health care costs to skyrocket for hardworking Coloradans and small businesses. I strongly urge Republicans in Congress to step up to the plate and prevent these life-threatening price increases.” “Colorado Democrats passed legislation that is already preventing people from losing their health care coverage, but only Congress can prevent premium increases from jumping thousands of dollars,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “Every Coloradan deserves access to affordable, quality health care. When people skip doctor’s visits due to high cost or lack of coverage, it leads to worse health outcomes. Plus, the bill for these costly and preventable treatments gets passed onto everyone else, increasing costs for businesses and people with every type of health insurance. For many Coloradans, Congress’s failure to act before the end of the month could be life or death.” “Colorado Democrats have continued to demonstrate our commitment to making health care more affordable for all Coloradans, but if Congressional Republicans do not act soon, Coloradans on average can expect a 20-percent increase on their health care premiums,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The law we passed this special session is the reason that insurers are no longer pulling out of counties across Colorado, which will protect access to health care for almost 100,000 Coloradans. I strongly urge Congress to do what is right for the people in our state and prevent unsustainable premium increases by extending tax credits for people who purchase their own health insurance.” In August, Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem’s HMO Colorado filed to discontinue multiple health insurance plans in the individual market due to the failure of Congressional Republicans to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. This would have caused 96,000 Coloradans to lose their health insurance coverage , impacting Coloradans from the Denver Metro Area and the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains. Last month, the Colorado General Assembly returned to the Capitol to combat some of the harm caused by Trump’s tax bill and Congress’s failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits for people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Colorado Democrats passed HB25B-1006 to blunt serious increases in insurance premiums and protect health care coverage for Coloradans by helping the reinsurance program buy down premiums and cover the most expensive health care for patients. With Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, average statewide premiums were projected to increase by 28-percent. In the Eastern Plains, premiums are expected to rise more than 33-percent. The Western Slope will see premium increases of about 38-percent. Passing HB25-1006 is projected to keep premium increases to a statewide average of only 20-percent. Previous Next

< Back June 22, 2021 THREE NEW LAWS SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed three new laws that will help keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, fund victims services programs and ensure that court personnel have the training they need to best support victims and survivors of domestic violence. “One of my top priorities when I came to the legislature was to make sure we were doing everything possible to support victims and survivors of domestic violence like me,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, sponsor of HB21-1255 and SB21-292. “For far too many, the COVID-19 pandemic made unsafe domestic violence situations even more dangerous, and I’m so proud of the work we’ve done this year to address this urgent need. The bills signed today will help keep firearms out of the hands of abusers and ensure that the organizations doing phenomenal work for survivors across the state have the funding they need.” SB21-292 , also sponsored by Rep. Terri Carver, R-Colorado Springs, allocates $15 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to several different victims services programs that assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Among these programs are the Domestic Abuse Program in the Department of Human Services, the Forensic Nurse Examiner Telehealth Program in the Department of Public Safety, and the Victims and Witnesses Assistance and Law Enforcement Fund, which sends resources to each judicial district. These programs help survivors hold property while keeping their addresses confidential and their homes secure, promote rapid rehousing so survivors can pay for the costs associated with moving, and provide flexible financial assistance for a variety of basic needs. Funds also pay for attorney fees in domestic violence court cases, and are channeled to anti-sexual assault and gender-based violence organizations across the state to provide community-based crisis intervention services and counseling. “As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen first hand how our current laws can fail domestic violence victims when abusers avoid relinquishing their weapons. That ends now,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, sponsor of HB21-1255. “The new law signed today will strengthen the processes by which these firearms are relinquished and help us save lives.” HB21-1255 will strengthen and streamline procedures for the relinquishment of firearms by someone who has a domestic violence-related protection order issued against them. Current law already requires domestic violence offenders who are subject to a protection order stemming from an act of domestic or intimate partner violence to forfeit their firearms and refrain from possessing or purchasing firearms for the duration of the order. This bill simply clarifies the way in which defendants must comply with this requirement, and how courts must carry it out. A recent analysis of 749 mass shootings committed over the past six years found that about 60 percent of them were either domestic violence attacks or committed by men with histories of domestic violence. In Colorado, 60 incidents of domestic violence led to 70 deaths in 2019, a 62 percent increase from the prior year, according to the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review board’s annual report. “Domestic violence isn’t always easy to identify and understand, but with the right training, our court personnel will be much better prepared to support victims in the courtroom,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of HB21-1228 . “Giving court employees who deal with custody disputes and other domestic matters these crucial trainings will help them carry out their jobs in a more effective way and hopefully save lives. I am grateful to the many families who lent their support and shared their stories throughout this process. This is a big victory for Colorado.” HB21-1228 will clarify and increase domestic violence training requirements for court personnel who frequently deal with cases related to domestic matters, such as custody disputes. Training for all personnel includes both an initial training as well as an ongoing annual continuing education. The training would encompass domestic violence and its traumatic effects on children, adults and families. Previous Next

< Back March 15, 2019 REP. COLEMAN: COLORADO CAN’T AFFORD TO RANK AT BOTTOM FOR FAFSA COMPLETION Coleman’s bill would help Colorado students receive federal aid for a postsecondary degree (Mar. 14) – The House Education committee passed Rep. James Coleman’s bill to help increase federal financial aid application completion rates. Colorado students missed out on as much as $50 million in financial aid last year due to students failing to complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. “We are letting our hard earned tax payer dollars go to other states because our students are not filling out their FAFSA forms,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver. “This bill will help Colorado get a huge return on our investment in our students, ensure more students have the tools they need to succeed and make our higher-ed institutions stronger.” Completing a FAFSA form increases the odds that Colorado’s high school students – particularly low income students and students of color – will attain a postsecondary degree, increasing their future earnings and success. Studies show that 90 percent of high school seniors who complete FAFSA attend college directly after high school. Boosting Colorado’s FAFSA completion rate will boost our state’s college and postsecondary institution enrollment rate. If passed, the program would begin in 2019. HB19-1187 was approved by the House Education committee unanimously and now goes to the House Appropriations committee. The state board of education will distribute funding to education providers that receive a grant under the School Counselor Corps Grant Program, for the purpose of educating and supporting students and families with the completion and submission of the free application for federal student aid or applications for state student aid. Previous Next

< Back June 7, 2020 COMMITTEE PASSES BILL TO BOOST LOWEST IN THE NATION IMMUNIZATION RATES FOR CHILDREN DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Health and Insurance today passed SB20-163, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullcia, D-Northglenn, and Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, to boost Colorado’s childhood immunization rates. The vote was 7-4. “Colorado’s kids are more vulnerable to a massive outbreak of highly infectious disease than children in almost any other state in the country, and that keeps me up at night,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “As a nurse, I know that boosting our immunization rates is the best way to stop preventable diseases like whooping cough and measles from spreading, and nearly 90 percent of Coloradans agree. Today we’re taking steps to protect our children, our communities, and our health care system from diseases that can spread faster and more viciously even than COVID19.” SB20-163 is designed to get more children fully vaccinated by the time they start kindergarten by encouraging those who do not vaccinate, but who have no objections to vaccinations, to immunize their children. The percentage of Colorado kindergartners vaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella is the lowest rate in the country at 87 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This low rate makes our state particularly vulnerable to a measles outbreak. SB20-163 requires parents who choose not to vaccinate their children to present a standardized exemption form signed by an immunization provider or submit a confirmation form that they took a short online class about vaccinations before they send their children to school. The bill also streamlines the immunization exemptions categories by dividing them into medical and nonmedical exemptions, but makes no changes to who can choose to exempt their children or for what reasons. Lastly, SB20-163 would require all immunizing health care providers to use the state’s Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) data system, though providers wouldn’t be subject to a regulatory sanction for noncompliance. Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2021 CÁMARA DE REPRESENTANTES APRUEBA PROPUESTA PARA EXPANDIR EL ACCESO AL VOTo La propuesta legislativa crearía una línea de ayuda para traducir las boletas electorales y requeriría que ciertos condados impriman boletas en idiomas aparte del inglés fue aprobada por la Cámara de Representantes DENVER, CO– La Cámara de Representantes hoy aprobó una propuesta legislativa de la Representante Yadira Caraveo para expandir el acceso al voto y mejorar la participación electoral al expandir el acceso a las boletas electorales multilingües. La propuesta fue aprobada con un voto de 40-23. “Asegurarnos de que más votantes elegibles entiendan bien sus boletas y puedan emitir su voto libremente es bueno para nuestra democracia y bueno para Colorado”, dijo la representante Yadira Caraveo (D-Thornton). “El sistema electoral de Colorado es de los mejores del país y del mundo porque facilita la participación de los votantes en el proceso democrático y a la vez garantiza la integridad de nuestras elecciones. Hoy mejoramos nuestro gran sistema al asegurarnos que los votantes elegibles en Colorado que no hablan muy bien inglés pero quieren hacer oír su voz tengan la oportunidad de hacerlo.” HB21-1011 le daría a todos los votantes acceso a una línea de ayuda que proporcionaría traducción de boletas electorales en los idiomas principales del Censo. Además, requeriría que los condados en donde un idioma minoritario sea hablado por al menos 2,000 votantes elegibles o el 2.5% de los votantes elegibles impriman boletas electorales en ese idioma, ya sea en copias físicas o electrónicamente. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation that would prevent excessive increases in rent in the wake of a disaster. HB24-1259 passed by a vote of 43-18. < Back March 11, 2024 House Passes Bill to Prevent Price Gouging on Rent After a Disaster DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation that would prevent excessive increases in rent in the wake of a disaster. HB24-1259 passed by a vote of 43-18. “Many Coloradans saw rents skyrocket after the Marshall Fire, and those who had lost their homes were forced to juggle exorbitant rents while they tried to rebuild their lives,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Disasters, like wildfires, cause financial and emotional trauma, and no one deserves to be taken advantage of while they try to piece their life back together. This legislation adds essential protections for Coloradans so they don’t experience excessive rent increases in the aftermath of a disaster.” “After the Marshall Fire, hundreds of families suddenly had to find housing overnight because they lost everything they had, only to experience huge increases in rent because of the influx of renters in the market,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Disasters devastate communities and have a ripple effect on neighboring communities that now must house Coloradans post-disaster. This consumer protection legislation reigns in price-gouging of rent for a two-year period after a declared disaster, preventing disaster survivors from being taken advantage of." HB24-1259 would help protect Coloradans who have lost their home in a natural disaster from being taken advantage of by price gouging in rent. After a Governor- or Presidential-declared disaster that reduces the availability of housing, rent increases would be capped at the greater of 10% or the percentage rent increase in the previous year within the declared area for two years. The bill would make it a deceptive trade practice to price gouge when providing rental housing during this two-year period, allowing the Attorney General or a district attorney to pursue enforcement actions, including civil penalties, under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. Affected tenants would also be able to pursue civil action for violations. Previous Next

The POWR Act protects workers from workplace harassment and discrimination < Back April 26, 2023 Bill to Combat Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Moves Forward The POWR Act protects workers from workplace harassment and discrimination DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to improve safety and equity in the workplace by implementing critical anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. The Protecting Opportunity & Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act, sponsored by Representative Mike Weissman and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, combats workplace harassment and discrimination while prioritizing employees. “No one should face workplace harassment or discrimination at work, which is why we are revising Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws to protect our workers,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora . "In 2023, it's time that we say that people should not have to suffer workplace harassment that can go without a remedy as long as it's not "severe" or "pervasive" under a nearly 40-year old legal standard. The POWR Act holds wrongdoers accountable for workplace harassment and creates safer, more productive workplaces in the process. Every Coloradan deserves to earn a living in a workspace free of harassment or discrimination, and this legislation puts policies in place to do that.” “To protect Coloradans who have faced workplace harassment and discrimination, our laws need to be on their side,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The POWR Act provides some long overdue modifications to Colorado’s law that will improve accountability measures and create safer workspaces. We need to do everything we can to make it easier for Coloradans to earn a living and excel in their career. Our legislation gives power and protection to the worker, paving the way for Coloradans to thrive in their workplace.” POWR Act: SB23-172 would update the definition of harassment and specify that harassment does not need to be “severe or pervasive” to constitute a discriminatory or unfair practice. The bill also deters future harassment by modernizing language around non-disclosure agreements, expanding protections for people with disabilities, and adding marital status as a protected class. Eliminating the excessive “severe or pervasive'' hostile work environment requirements and replacing them with clear standards for “harass” and “harassment” considers the totality of the circumstances, and will allow survivors of discrimination and harassment to better pursue justice. The POWR Act also removes the language in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) that permits employers to discriminate against people with disabilities or refuse to accommodate them if “the disability has a significant impact on the job.” The bill also adds marital status as a protected class under these conditions. Additionally, the bill establishes an affirmative defense for an employer if the employer meets certain requirements, including establishing a harassment prevention program, taking prompt action in response to a complaint, and keeping records of any complaints. Previous Next

Legislation will create more opportunities for Colorado voters to participate in vacancy elections < Back May 12, 2025 SIGNED! Bipartisan Legislative Vacancy Reform Bill Legislation will create more opportunities for Colorado voters to participate in vacancy elections DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation to reform Colorado’s vacancy process, which is used to replace a senator or representative if they leave office before their term ends. “In a bipartisan way, we’re modernizing Colorado’s vacancy committee process to boost voter participation while filling vacancies efficiently,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We heard the concerns surrounding our current vacancy process, and our law limits the amount of time someone can serve before facing an election and subjects vacancy candidates to campaign finance laws. Lawmakers resign for many reasons, and this law is the right balance between creating more opportunities for voters to weigh in and ensuring communities aren’t without representation during the legislative session.” "Increasing strains on legislators leading to more frequent resignations have illustrated the need and opportunity to modernize the vacancy process for the Colorado General Assembly," said Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. "This policy represents a bipartisan way forward that is consistent with Colorado constitutional requirements, allows more input from voters, and does not excessively burden county clerks responsible for conducting elections. Critically, it will also capture raising and spending of campaign funds by candidates who seek vacancy appointments and run in vacancy elections so that voters can understand what influences may be operating in vacancy situations." HB25-1315 is cosponsored by Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs and Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County. This law will increase transparency in the vacancy committee process and broaden voter participation when a legislative vacancy occurs. Under current law, vacancies in the General Assembly are filled by vacancy committee selection until the next general election. Colorado’s approach offers voters more opportunities to participate in the vacancy process than many other states, where governors or small commissions make the appointments. The legislative session begins no later than the second Wednesday of January and wraps up 120 days later. HB25-1315 will affect vacancies in the General Assembly in the following ways: If a lawmaker resigns during session or by July 31 in an even-year, the new vacancy committee process will take place, and then the selected candidate would run in the normally scheduled general election that November. If a lawmaker resigns after July 31 in an even-year, the vacancy would be filled first by the new vacancy committee process, and then there would be a new vacancy election in the following odd-year November election. If the seat was already on cycle for that even-year, the general election held in November of that year would continue as normal. If a lawmaker resigns during session or by July 31 in an odd-year, the new vacancy committee process would fill the seat until a new vacancy election can occur in November of that year. If a lawmaker resigns after July 31 in an odd-year, the new vacancy committee process would take place and fill the seat until the next general election in the even-year. In any scenario, lawmakers would only be able to serve one year before having to run in an election. To run for the vacancy, candidates could qualify by collecting signatures from 30 percent of the vacancy committee members or at least 200 same-party voters in their district. This process aims to improve ballot access for candidates. Unaffiliated voters and voters of the same party would be allowed to participate in the vacancy election. Vacancy candidates running in both the new vacancy committee process and the subsequent vacancy elections in November will be subject to campaign contribution limits and disclosure laws. Currently, candidates participating in the vacancy process are not subject to campaign finance laws. Under the law, the number of precinct organizers serving on the vacancy committee would double and automatically include any county commissioners who are members of the same political party and reside within the district. If a precinct committee person is appointed to fill an open position on the selection committee, they cannot participate in the process until 91 days after their appointment. Previous Next