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< Back February 10, 2022 ROBERTS’ BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS RETAIL CRIME AND THEFT PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – A bill to address the rise in retail crime and protect Coloradans from fraudulent online marketplace sellers passed the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today unanimously. HB22-1099 would require online marketplaces to verify personal seller information and allow buyers to report suspicious activity. “With this bill, we’re taking steps towards reducing retail theft and building a safer Colorado by making it harder for thieves to resell stolen goods online,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts D-Avon . “This is a common-sense, smart-on-crime bill that we need to pass immediately. We’ve listened to Colorado businesses owners that have suffered losses from theft and vandalism. This bill will add barriers for suspicious online sellers to not only protect Colorado consumers, but cut down on retail theft by making it harder to offload stolen goods online.” If passed HB22-1099 would require online marketplaces to verify the bank account information, tax identification number, and contact information from high-volume third-party sellers. This bill would also require sellers to disclose personal contact information to buyers, such as their name and address to assist in the authentication process for purchasing goods online. Representative Dylan Roberts also sponsored two additional bipartisan bills that advanced committee today. HB22-1073 would allow the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to conduct inspections of funeral homes and crematories. Under current law, DORA has no authority to inspect funeral homes or crematories without the consent of the business owner. This bill is a direct response to preventing horrendous funeral home malpractice. This bill passed the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee by a vote of 11-1. HB22-1117 would expand the usage of Lodging Tax revenue beyond destination marketing and promotion to include workforce and economic development. Mountain communities often generate strong revenue from tourism but are limited in how they spend this money. HB22-1117 would allow revenue generated from tourism to be used in workforce recruitment, management, and development to support the tourism workforce through more affordable housing. This bill passed the House Finance Committee by a vote of 9-1. Previous Next

< Back March 5, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES ROBERT’S BILL TO UPDATE WINTER MOUNTAIN DRIVING REQUIREMENTS (Mar 5) – The House Transportation and Local Government committee gave approval today to a bill sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts to increase safety and efficiency on our roads by updating and revising language in statutes for motor vehicles driving the I-70 mountain corridor. “Many drivers are not prepared for the winter driving conditions on I-70 and that leads to crashes, spin-outs, and closures along the I-70 mountain corridor,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “Closures on I-70 have dramatic impacts to traffic and the economy on the Western Slope and across Colorado.” HB19-1207 updates current statutes to reflect modern traction technology and traction options. It sets minimum standards for tires being used in the winter in the mountain corridor. It also defines the I-70 mountain corridor by mileposts and sets out clear standards for the timeframe for traction equipments requirements. The heightened traction standards would be in effect from September 1 through May 31 of each year and apply to travel between milepost 133 (Dotsero) and milepost 259 (Morrison). HB19-1207 passed through committee with a bipartisan vote of 9-2 and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back January 20, 2021 GARNETT, ESGAR STATEMENTS ON BIDEN INAUGURATION DENVER, CO — Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo today released the following statements on the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Vice President Kamala D. Harris. “Today, America turned a page and put a dark chapter of our history behind us,” said House Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “I’m confident that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the right people to lead our country at this crucial time, and I’m hopeful that together we’ll be able to craft a strong economic recovery that leaves no person behind. It’s time to put aside the vitriol that has characterized the last four years and instead work together to build back our country even stronger than it was before. President Biden has said on many occasions that he hopes to be a President for all Americans, whether they voted for him or not. As Speaker of the House here in Colorado, I strive to lead in the same way.” “Congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Harris-we finally have the first woman vice president, and I couldn’t be more excited!” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “I look forward to working alongside the new administration to help Colorado recover from this pandemic as quickly as we can and build back stronger. Hope is on the horizon. In the legislature, we’re always working to make our state a better place to live for Colorado families. It’s exciting for us to have a ture partner now in the Biden Administration that is also focused on creating jobs, improving access to affordable health care, and protecting our planet and Colorado way of life for future generations. Previous Next

< Back June 9, 2020 MCLACHLAN AND BUENTELLO’S RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT IMPROVEMENTS BILL PASSES THE HOUSE! DENVER, CO– The House today voted to pass Representative Barbara McLachlan and Representative Bri Buentello’s bill to strengthen the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Grant program. The REDI program provides grants that strengthen and diversify rural economies and create new jobs. The vote was 49-14. “My district and other rural communities across Colorado need a lifeline, and that’s exactly what this program provides,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Given the unique economic challenges presented by COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to ensure that rural communities aren’t left out. Today we’re prioritizing rural economies by providing needed support to hardworking Coloradans and small businesses.” ‘“The REDI program has a proven track record of providing direct support for economic development in rural communities,” said Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo. “As a rural legislator, I know the impact that this investment has on the lives and economies of hardworking people in places like my Southern Colorado district. This bill is a big win for rural Colorado, and I’m proud to have played a part.” SB20-002 would codify and strengthen a successful existing program, REDI, in the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), to be administered in collaboration with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). The bill will ensure that the program continues to work and that certain improvements are made in order to ensure that rural economies are more successfully bolstered. In addition to formalizing the program in statute, SB20-002 would require that DOLA adopt rules for application procedures and timelines, criteria for a matching funds requirement, and performance and reporting requirements related to REDI. The bill would also require that DOLA report on the use of the REDI funds. Previous Next

< Back August 4, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Laws to Improve Accountability & Transparency for Utilities, Increase Adoption of Clean Energy Resources to Take Effect DENVER, CO – New laws to save Coloradans money on their energy bills, improve pricing stability, and improve pathways for thermal energy adoption will take effect on August 7. SB23-291 , sponsored by Democratic members of the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Representatives Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, presents a package of reforms to lower utility bills now and in the future. The law rebalances the kind of expenses paid by utility shareholders versus ratepayers and levels the playing field at Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proceedings, where costly infrastructure plans are proposed and approved. “Colorado families were hit hard last winter by unexpected and severe price shocks, which is why we convened the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates to investigate the causes and find solutions,” Joint Select Committee Chair Fenberg said. “Our legislation improves transparency and holds utilities more accountable to the ratepayers they serve while better aligning utility companies’ and Coloradans’ interests and expectations about their energy service. I’m excited to see this new law help save Coloradans money on their energy bills and make much needed improvements to the way utilities are regulated in Colorado.” “Ahead of the winter season, I’m proud to say cost-saving solutions to protect Coloradans from rate spikes will soon go into effect,” said Joint Select Committee Vice Chair deGruy Kennedy. “During the legislative session, we worked hard to pass legislation that increases transparency and accountability surrounding utility pricing because many Coloradans were stuck with high, unpredictable energy bills. This law rebalances the relationship between ratepayers and utility companies so families can be spared from erratic utility costs, especially during the colder months.” “This session we convened the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates to search for answers to exorbitant utility rate increases and find ways to save people money on their energy bills,” said Cutter. "It quickly became clear that Coloradans have been bearing the brunt of volatile rate increases while utility companies are allowed to set their own rules. This important legislation will help level the playing field at the PUC, creating a more fair utility rate setting process that will impact Coloradans today and into the future.” “During the legislative session, we worked tirelessly with consumer advocates, policy experts, utility companies and everyday Coloradans to find solutions to rising, unpredictable energy costs,” Martinez said. “Many Coloradans were hit hard by high utility costs and we passed a new solution that will improve utility transparency and accountability and rebalance the relationship between ratepayers and the utility companies they rely upon. We’re hopeful these cost-saving solutions will protect Coloradans from future drastic price hikes this winter.” Starting August 7, SB23-291 limits the ability of utility companies to recover certain expenses from ratepayers, such as lobbying and advertising, which are more appropriately paid by company shareholders and prohibits a disconnection fee when customers choose to terminate their gas service. Other provisions of the law that will take effect at a later date include directing the PUC to establish a cost-sharing mechanism to incentivize utilities to save their customers money on fuel costs, and allowing the PUC to set a maximum monthly fuel cost to smooth out monthly bills and avoid sudden sharp increases. In addition, the law will eliminate subsidies for gas line connections for new construction that are paid by existing customers. Also taking effect on August 7, HB23-1252 , which continues Colorado’s work to reduce emissions from gas utilities by providing a pathway for wider adoption of thermal energy as a clean heat resource. Sponsored by Sens. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, and Reps. Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood, and Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, this law assists in the transition away from expensive fuel commodities like natural gas and will lead to more stable utility costs for Coloradans. “As the effects of climate change become more and more pronounced, it is obvious we must implement bold policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts on our climate and our environment,” said Hansen. “Coloradans are demanding action. With these new laws, we are tackling this challenge head on by reducing emissions through innovative technology and setting reasonable and achievable goals. I’m proud of our work that puts our state on a path to climate sustainability for generations to come.” “Thermal energy heating and cooling systems are saving companies money across the state, and this law creates a stronger pathway for Coloradans and businesses to take advantage of this new technology,” Lieder said. “Our law now makes it easier to expand and implement clean, reliable thermal energy technology which creates good paying jobs in emerging fields and necessary trades, including pipefitting.” “Adopting new clean energy technologies like thermal energy will help create jobs while lowering overall emissions,” said Exum. “Natural gas is driving up utility costs and putting the squeeze on Coloradans' budgets. We have an opportunity this year to continue moving away from polluting energy sources and instead adopt cleaner technology to move Colorado’s economy and climate goals forward.” “Thermal energy is the heat beneath our feet. This law makes it easier for businesses and Coloradans to implement this clean and sustainable technology,” Kipp said. “Encouraging and adopting clean technologies, such as thermal energy, is key to helping Colorado reach its climate goals, cut our reliance on fossil fuels and save people money.” Thermal energy systems heat and cool buildings by circulating non-combustible fluids through a pipe network. Defining thermal energy as a clean heat resource allows the state to expand its usage, create new job opportunities, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and save Coloradans money on their utility bills. Large gas utilities will be required to propose at least one pilot program with the PUC by September 1, 2024 to provide thermal energy service to their customers, with at least one project serving a disproportionately impacted community. Previous Next

< Back June 24, 2021 POLIS SIGNS LEGISLATION TO CURB YOUTH ACCESS TO HIGH POTENCY MARIJUANA New law advances research, addresses diversion and helps educate consumers DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Representative Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician, that seeks to address youth access to high-potency cannabis products. “Working with patients, doctors, parents, students, teachers and the marijuana industry, Colorado is leading the way in addressing youth access to high potency cannabis,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “The reality is that it’s too easy for Colorado’s youth to access high potency mairjuana when they shouldn’t be able to, and we don’t have the full picture of how these products impact the developing brain. With Governor Polis’ signature today, it will be harder to divert products from the medical marketplace into the hands of our youth. This law will help educate consumers about high potency cannabis, and it will advance critical research that will give us a better understanding of how high potency products impact developing brains.” “Doctors like myself, school-based providers and parents have all seen firsthand how some of our younger Coloradans have experienced health issues after consuming high-potency marijuana products,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician. “I’m proud that Governor Polis signed this critical law today, which will make a big difference by strengthening the doctor-patient relationship, cracking down on looping and diversion, advancing critical new research and better educating consumers on high-potency products while ensuring we protect patients’ access to medical marijuana.” The law will advance research into the impact of high potency marijuana on the developing brain, address diversion of cannabis concentrates purchased in the medical marijuana marketplace and educate consumers about concentrates through visual representations of a recommended serving size and public awareness campaigns. Advances Research: The law funds and advances critical research into the impact of high-potency cannabis concentrate products on the developing brain and on physical and mental health. It requires the Colorado School of Public Health to conduct a systematic review of the current scientific research into the effects of high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates and identify gaps in order to conduct new research. Under the law, a new scientific review council of doctors and experts will review the report and make recommendations to the General Assembly on appropriate evidence-based regulatory changes and the funding of additional necessary evidence-based research. Addresses Diversion of High-Potency Products: The law cracks down on “looping” and diversion by reducing the amount of medical concentrates someone can purchase in a day and requiring the Marijuana Enforcement Division’s seed-to-sale tracking database, METRC, to update at the point of sale, instead of at the end of each business day. The data collected is confidential and cannot be shared with anyone except when necessary to complete a sale. Enhanced Doctor-Patient Relationship: The law adjusts medical marijuana recommending practices by requiring doctors to specify a daily quantity authorization if it is above the maximum allowed for the patient’s age and to consider a patient’s mental health history when making a cannabis recommendation. For patients ages 18-20, the law requires two physicians from different medical practices to diagnose the patient as having a debilitating or disabling medical condition after an in-person consultation, and the patient must attend a follow-up appointment every six months after the initial visit unless that patient is homebound. Real-Time Medical Marijuana Purchase Reporting: Through a practice known as “looping,” consumers can purchase the daily limit at multiple dispensaries, circumventing the limits and increasing youth access to high-potency cannabis products. The law will crack down on “looping” in the medical marketplace by requiring medical marijuana stores to immediately record transactions in the seed-to-sale inventory tracking system. This will allow the system to identify discrepancies with daily purchase limits, access and retrieve real-time sales data and alert medical mariuana stores if a sale to a patient has exceeded their daily purchase limit for that business day. Reduced Daily Purchase Amounts: The law will limit daily medical marijuana concentrate purchases to eight grams for patients 21 years and older and to two grams for patients between the age of 18 and 20. Patients who had a medical marijuana card before the age of 18, patients who are homebound, for whom a physician has recommended a higher daily authorization, or for patients for whom going to a medical marijuana store on a daily basis presents significant physical or geographical hardship are exempt from these new limits. Consumer Education and Protection: The law will help better educate consumers about high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates by tasking the Colorado School of Public Health with developing a public education campaign, requiring MED to create a tangible education resource on the potential risks of concentrates and that shows visual representations of a recommended serving size be included with every sale and by prohibiting advertisements targeted toward Colorado youth. Previous Next

< Back January 14, 2021 SEVENTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY KICKS OFF; URGENT LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO — Today, on the first legislative day of the Seventy-Third General Assembly, the Colorado House of Representatives met to address pressing business and to swear in new members. At the end of this week, the General Assembly will go into a temporary adjournment, with the aim of returning to the Capitol tentatively on February 16. After floor debate, House Committees met to consider four urgently needed pieces of legislation. The following bills were heard and passed out of the House State Affairs Committee: HB21-1001 : Ensures the smooth continuation of our democracy by giving leeway to members of a party central committee or vacancy committee to participate in a committee meeting remotely, including by casting the member’s vote by email, mail, telephone, or through an internet-based application if allowed by the party’s rules, through the end of 2021. The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole by a vote of 10-1. HB21-1003: Protects public health by allowing members of the General Assembly to safely participate in legislative proceedings remotely during a declared disaster emergency. The bill also permits joint committees of reference to hold SMART Act hearings remotely any time after the General Assembly convenes, allowing legislative oversight to continue during the temporary adjournment between now and February. The bill was moved to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation by a vote of 7-4. The following bills were heard and passed out of the House Finance Committee: HB21-1002: Clarifies the original intent of HB20-1420 to address unintended consequences impacting business and independent tax filers. HB20-1420 aimed to decouple Colorado from federal tax changes in the CARES act, leaving taxpayers no better nor worse off than prior to the passage of CARES. Since the passage of HB20-1420, the bill has been misinterpreted to disallow taxpayers the ability to carry forward various tax benefits over the annual allowable limit to future tax filing years. This bill affirms taxpayers ability to carry forward specified amounts. The bill also allows ITIN filers to claim the Earned Income Tax credit beginning in the 2020 tax year. The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 8-3. HB21-1004: Protects public health by enacting the “Colorado Uniform Electronic Wills Act,” which ensures that Coloradans can settle their affairs remotely, without putting their health or the health of their loved ones at risk. The bill permits the execution of wills using online platforms designed for the remote notarization of electronic documents. The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole by a unanimous vote. Previous Next

< Back March 21, 2023 Bill to Support Nursing Facilities, Update Reimbursement Rates Passes Committee HB23-1228 allocates more than $62 million toward nursing facilities and updates Medicaid reimbursement rates DENVER, CO – The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation to increase annual funding for nursing facilities and prioritize reimbursement for facilities that serve a higher rate of Medicaid patients. “We need to ensure Colorado’s nursing facilities are properly funded so they can provide world-class care to our grandparents, parents, and neighbors,” said Speaker McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Colorado has hit a breaking point–if nursing facilities don’t have the funding they need, they’ll be forced to close their doors and residents who need their care will be forced to find it elsewhere. This legislation boosts funding for nursing facilities so they have the resources they need to stay open and provide essential care to Coloradans. We’re working to help identify an innovative long term solution to nursing facility funding, so facilities are no longer reliant on additional federal and state funds to keep providing critical care to patients.” “Nursing facilities in Colorado play a vital role in caring for our loved ones, but they’re in desperate need of funding to continue meeting the needs of their residents,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Our bill outlines stronger financial transparency to ensure nursing facilities and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing are working in tandem to properly allocate funding. Streamlining this funding to nursing facilities ensures they’re able to keep the doors open, accept new residents and provide them all with critical care, treatment and services.” HB23-1228 , sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Representative Jenny Willford, passed committee unanimously. This bill would make several changes to the Medicaid nursing facility reimbursement rates to ensure Colorado’s nursing facilities are getting the proper funding to care for high-need residents, accept new residents and maintain their operation. Specifically, this bill repeals the standard core per diem rate of 3-percent annually and increases it to 10-percent next fiscal year, 3-percent in fiscal year 2024-25, 1.5-percent in 2025-2026 and then a rate to be determined by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) in the following years. Targeted funding will supplement the needs of facilities that serve residents with severe mental health conditions, severe dementia and brain injuries. Increasing the core per diem rate combined with a new supplemental payment for facilities with disproportionately high Medicaid utilization, facilities that are geographically critical to ensuring access to care, and facilities that admit compassion release individuals will result in HCPF receiving more than $62 million this year to support Colorado’s nursing facilities. To ensure and increase financial transparency, nursing facilities will be required to submit audited financial statements to HCPF. Currently, Colorado’s nursing home facilities can report costs that have already been reimbursed by Medicare for Medicaid reimbursement, but due to complications from funding sources, nursing facilities are not currently being reimbursed for their full costs. HB23-1228 changes this Medicaid reimbursement structure by directing HCPF to undertake a three-year stakeholding process to create a more sustainable, flexible, and innovative reimbursement structure so nursing facilities are getting the full reimbursement they deserve. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES ‘CONVERSION THERAPY’ BAN ON MINORS (Feb. 15) — A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo banning the harmful and widely discredited practice of ‘conversion therapy’ on young people had final passage on the House floor today. “We are talking about the lives of kids. This is a ‘therapy’ that has been proven to be dangerous and harmful. We have to start supporting our kids regardless of their sexuality or gender identity. They deserve so much better than this,” said Rep. Daneya Esgar, co-chair of the LGBTQ caucus. The bill protects our LGBTQ youth in Colorado from a dangerous and discredited practice that is aimed at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity. “This bill is about allowing Coloradans to be their authentic selves. This dangerous practice harms children and falsely makes them believe that something is wrong with them through the use of shame, rejection and psychological abuse,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet. “We need to put an end to a practice that makes these youths six times more likely to have depression and eight times more likely to attempt suicide.” HB19-1129 includes disciplinary actions for any licensees with their licensing board if conversion therapy is practiced on young person. The bill is aimed at state-licensed medical and mental health practitioners who falsely claim that being gay, bisexual or transgender is a mental illness. The American Psychological Association found that the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy on young people makes them three times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, six times more likely to fall into depression, and eight times more likely to attempt suicide. This is the fifth time this bill is being introduced at the legislature and Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s second time bringing it forward. If passed, this bill would make Colorado the 16th state to pass a conversion therapy ban on minors. The bipartisan bill passed with a vote of 42-20 and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back April 16, 2020 REP. MCCLUSKIE NAMED APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR DENVER, CO — Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, today announced that she has appointed Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, as Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations. Traditionally the second-ranking member of the Joint Budget Committee in each chamber serves as Appropriations Chair. “I am honored to have the confidence of Speaker Becker and JBC Chair Esgar, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Joint Budget Committee and the House Appropriations Committee as we craft this year’s budget and look closely at how we can help our state, businesses and Coloradans recover from this pandemic,” said Rep. McCluskie, D-Dillon. “When we come back into session, we’re going to have to make a lot of difficult decisions about how we spend our state’s precious resources,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Rep. McCluskie has earned the trust of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle with her deep understanding of state’s budget and fiscal issues, and I know she will do an excellent job leading the House Appropriations Committee as it works on legislation that impacts the state’s budget.” The House Committee on Appropriations considers bills that impact state spending and revenues and authorizes appropriations (state spending) on legislation. Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo, will take on the role of Vice-Chair, as is customary for the ranking member of the Joint Budget Committee. Previous Next

< Back May 12, 2023 Signed! New Laws to Protect Colorado Communities from Wildfires MORRISON, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law three bills to help Colorado communities prepare for and mitigate wildfires. SB23-166 , sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Tony Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs, and Reps. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, and Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, will help communities and Coloradans living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) defend homes and property from catastrophic wildfires by establishing a statewide wildfire resiliency code board charged with establishing proven building codes to better protect structures against increasingly common wildfires. Local governments in the new WUI area will be required to adopt the model code or a code of their own that meets or exceeds minimum standards. “An increasing number of wildfires that burn hotter and move faster are our new reality, so we must act now to protect our homes and businesses and create more resilient communities,” said Cutter, sponsor of SB23-166, SB23-013, and SB23-005. “Fires anywhere in Colorado affect all of us -- our water, air, economy and recreation. Creating minimum building standards and working to better understand the origins of fires just makes sense. These new laws will help us provide the tools and workforce necessary to better defend our communities against wildfires, and I'm thrilled to see them signed into law.” “We’re building smart to protect Coloradans who live in the wildland-urban interface from catastrophic wildfires,” said Froelich. “Wildfires do not recognize local boundaries, which is why our law will develop evidence-based minimum building standards to protect our homes and businesses. Smart and flexible building standards will fortify our neighborhoods and reduce wildfire destruction." “Wildfires do not respect boundaries, and when it comes to growth in the wildland-urban interface we need a statewide policy that reflects that,” Exum Sr. said. “Our legislation will set smart and flexible standards that protect families, homes, and businesses against increasingly dangerous wildfires. I am proud to champion this important new law that will defend people and property.” “With destructive wildfires repeatedly devastating Western Slope communities, it’s important that we build strong, resilient structures to safeguard our neighborhoods and livelihoods,” said Velasco. “This law establishes a plan to implement wildfire-resilient building codes across local governments to ensure we’re reducing the risk of wildfire displacement and destruction. We’re taking an important step forward protecting our communities now against the threat of wildfire.” SB23-166 creates the Wildfire Resiliency Code board made up of 21 voting members and three non-voting members representing local governments, utilities, insurers, and other relevant disciplines such as fire and building professionals that would work to define the WUI and establish minimum standards that better defend those areas from dangerous wildfires. The bill also requires the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to support local governments in conducting inspections and enforcing their local code if they don’t have rules and regulations in place to enforce their code and request the assistance. SB23-013 , sponsored by Senators Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, and Cutter, and Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer, creates a fire investigation fund and provides nearly $3 million to help investigate the causes and origins of fires, including wildfires. The new law also requires the Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to report on fire investigations to the Wildfire Matters Review Committee. “Fire season is no longer confined to a few months,” Ginal said. “It’s essential that we act now to prepare for and mitigate future wildfire disasters. By creating a new reporting protocol and a wildfire investigation fund, we are providing local fire departments with the tools they need to better understand the origins of fires, which will better protect our communities and enhance public safety across Colorado.” “Colorado has a devastating history of wildfires that have wiped out entire neighborhoods,” said Story. “Currently, Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control only has the resources to staff one full-time fire investigator to dig into the cause and origin of fires across the state, making it difficult to mitigate future wildfires. This law creates a wildfire investigation fund to better understand how fires are started so we can better prevent them and respond to them in the future.” The Director of DFPC will report annually to the Wildfire Matters Review Committee regarding the current magnitude of the state’s wildfire situation, including the number of wildfire investigations and their statuses, the status of prescribed burns, available resources, and more. Additionally, the fire investigation fund will provide support to local fire departments investigating the cause and origin of fires. SB23-005 , sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, and Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, will improve Colorado’s forestry workforce by directing the Colorado State Forest Service to develop educational materials on career opportunities in the industry and create a workforce development program in the State Forest Service. “Over the past few years wildfire season has evolved into a year-round threat, but right now we don’t have the workforce needed to keep us safe,” Jaquez Lewis said. “This new law will improve pathways to critical jobs and help Colorado communities stay safe by training more firefighters who will protect our people and our property from increasingly dangerous wildfires.” “Colorado’s state forest service plays an important role in helping mitigate wildfires by maintaining healthy forests,” said Snyder. “From cutting down dead trees to removing excess brush, the state forest service steps up to provide the year-round mitigation efforts we need to keep our communities safe from wildfires. This law ramps up workforce development and recruitment within the state forest service so we can continue these important wildfire prevention efforts.” SB23-005 also bolsters the state’s wildfire mitigation capacity development fund and creates and expands forestry programs at state colleges. Finally, the new law will work to increase the number of qualified educators at colleges that deliver a wildfire prevention and mitigation program or course. SB23-005 and SB23-013 were developed and recommended by the interim Wildfire Matters Review Committee . Previous Next

< Back February 23, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Boost Affordable Workforce Housing Advances Legislation would allow counties to boost access to housing, child care, and behavioral health DENVER, CO - The House today advanced bipartisan legislation to grant local governments the authority to create property tax rebate programs to address areas of specific local concern, including affordable housing development. “There has been a significant rise in the cost of housing, especially in the Western Slope, forcing Coloradans to spend more of their money on housing and less on other necessary costs, like health care and groceries,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. "Our bipartisan legislation would allow local governments to address the unique challenges that their communities face, like shortages in workforce housing, childcare, mental health care services, and much more.” SB24-002 , also sponsored by Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, would allow local governments to establish property tax incentive programs to address critical issues related to housing, child care, behavioral health, and economic development. This could include programs that address affordable housing needs, the availability of in-home daycares, economic revitalization, and the creation of stronger social resources and services for working families. Under the bill, a municipality would be able to authorize tax credits or rebates that incentivize property owners to convert rental properties from short-term to long-term, boosting the availability of workforce and more permanent housing. The bill allows a local government to renew a tax rebate or incentive program for up to one year if they find that it has effectively addressed the area of specific local concern. Previous Next