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< Back March 31, 2021 BILL ADVANCES TO HIRE FORMER SWIFT CREW MEMBERS DENVER, CO– The House today gave preliminary approval to SB21-012, legislation sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts that would allow the state to hire back former members of Colorado’s State Wildland Inmate Fire Team. “This bill is a win-win for Colorado: it creates jobs and protects our communities from increasingly devastating wildfires that impact my district and communities all across the state,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This bill allows Colorado to hire former inmate wildland firefighters. These SWIFT crew members put everything on the line to protect lives and property, and it just makes common sense to continue to utilize their skills and help them find solid employment.” SB21-012, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, would allow the wildland fire management section in the Department of Public Safety to more easily hire former inmates with wildland firefighting experience. The bill also requires the department to develop materials to increase awareness of wildland firefighting career opportunities for Coloradans who have experience fighting fires through the inmate disaster relief program. 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

< Back May 18, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILLS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SAVE PEOPLE MONEY ON HEALTH CARE Legislation significantly boosts number of inpatient beds for adults and youth, increases access to care for families and saves Coloradans money on prescription drugs DENVER, CO – Two critical bills from the legislature’s behavioral health package were signed into law today. They invest nearly $120 million to increase residential treatment options in Colorado and expand access to behavioral health care for youth and families. Governor Polis also signed legislation that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs and save Coloradans money on health care. Adult Inpatient and Residential Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1303 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Shane Sandridge and Senators Faith Winter and Jim Smallwood, invests $65 million to expand inpatient and residential treatment options. “Colorado needs more residential treatment options to ensure that people have access to the care they need, and that’s what the bill signed into law today will do,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Too many people are waiting for treatment and seeing their conditions worsen because there isn’t a treatment bed available for them. The legislation signed today will fund new beds across the state for people struggling with serious mental illness.” “Far too many of our neighbors are struggling to access the health care they need, and we must increase our capacity to support folks who require urgent, immediate care,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster . “These new laws will provide additional inpatient and residential treatment beds for individuals in need, and help people save money and improve certainty for folks who rely on lifesaving prescription drugs, which will make a world of difference and allow more Coloradans to access the care they desperately need.” Currently, Colorado does not have enough residential treatment beds to treat individuals with serious mental illness, including individuals with co-occuring conditions or in need of civil commitment. The law supports the addition of 16 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan and 125 residential treatment beds across the state. These beds will be available for adults with urgent behavioral health needs who need clinical support to become stabilized. They will provide integrated care to flexibly serve all populations, including individuals involved in the criminal justice system and those awaiting competency restoration services. “The legislation Governor Polis signed today will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies and prescription drug benefit managers to pass on savings from manufacturer rebates to consumers,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “No one should have to choose between life saving medication and paying for everyday necessities. This new law will protect consumers and help ensure that cost isn’t a barrier to the treatment patients need.” Saving Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs: HB22-1370 , sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Iman Jodeh and Senators Faith Winter and Janet Buckner, makes prescription drugs and health care more affordable and dependable. The bill ensures doctors are in charge of a patient’s treatment instead of insurance companies by limiting when a patient has to try and fail a treatment that their insurance company prefers before they can get what their doctor recommends. The bill ensures that patients know what they’ll be expected to pay for prescription drugs by requiring that 25 percent of health plans have a set dollar amount for co-pays instead of unpredictable percentage-based coinsurance. “This legislation prevents people from seeing their health coverage change when they are in the middle of lifesaving treatment and will help ensure patients have access to the medications they need,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We’ve taken historic action in recent years to bring down the cost of health insurance and save people money on health care, and I’m proud to see us take this important step forward today to save people even more on their prescription drugs.” The bill will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies to pass along the savings from manufacturers’ rebates. The bill also bans health insurance companies from raising the out-of-pocket costs of someone’s prescription medications in the middle of their coverage and prohibits companies from dropping coverage of a medication a patient needs midway through the patients’ coverage. “Kids and families all across Colorado deserve access to quality behavioral health care, but our current system isn’t getting them the care they need,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “I am proud to champion these bills that will improve access to behavioral health care for youth in Colorado, lower the cost and improve access to lifesaving prescription drugs, and help make sure that every family in our state is able to receive the vital care they need to thrive.” Youth and Family Residential Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1283 sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Mary Bradfield and Senators Janet Buckner and Kevin Priola, will make it easier for families and youth to access residential and outpatient care in Colorado. “Colorado is facing a youth mental health crisis; we made expanding access to care for youth and families one of the major focuses of our behavioral health package this year,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Too many families can’t find options for treatment in Colorado so they are forced to send their kids out of state. I’m proud Colorado is making a historic investment to substantially increase our ability to care for our kids and provide the care they need to thrive.” Right now, Colorado does not have adequate capacity to serve children and youth with complex behavioral health needs. As a result, too many children are sent out-of-state to access treatment, far away from their families and support network. This bill will invest $54M to support intensive youth and family residential and outpatient care, ensuring that children, youth, and families can access behavioral health treatment and services they need right here in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back September 16, 2021 JOINT RELEASE: AURORA DELEGATION REACTS TO AG REPORT ON AURORA POLICE PRACTICES The Attorney General’s Office released the findings of a patterns and practices investigation into the Aurora Police Department launched following protests surrounding Elijah McClain’s death in 2019 DENVER, CO – Today, members of the Aurora delegation in the Colorado state legislature, including Senators Rhonda Fields and Janet Buckner as well as Representatives Dominique Jackson, Naquetta Ricks, Iman Jodeh, Mike Weissman and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, released the subsequent joint statement in response to Attorney General Phil Weiser’s patterns and practices investigative report released today, which found that the Aurora Police Department consistently breaks the law through racially-biased policing and excessive force: “Today’s report is a glaring picture of how the Aurora Police Department operates, and gives us a full understanding of the gaps that must be filled in order to protect vulnerable families from racist, violent and inhumane police practices within the Department. Thanks to our efforts in 2020 to pass a landmark police reform bill here in Colorado, instances of police violence, prejudice and bad behavior can no longer be swept under the rug. We will no longer tolerate bad actors going unchecked and this report, though disturbing, serves as a path toward dismantling systemic racism and bias within an institution that has lost the trust of our communities. We are incredibly grateful for Attorney General Weiser’s commitment to addressing this ongoing issue in our state and commend him for the work he and his team have put in to come to this conclusion. We remain committed to our collective goal of reforming the way we police in Colorado, advancing racial justice within our communities and working toward a system that is fair and just, one that truly values Black and Brown lives – and having the attorney general and Aurora enter a consent decree agreement is another step toward that goal.” Previous Next

The House today passed Representative Ruby Dickson’s bill on a preliminary vote to accelerate Colorado's clean energy transition. < Back April 21, 2023 Dickson Bill to Reduce Carbon Pollution Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed Representative Ruby Dickson’s bill on a preliminary vote to accelerate Colorado's clean energy transition. HB23-1210 is part of a broader package unveiled by Colorado Democrats to meet our state’s climate goals. “We need innovation and entrepreneurship to reach our climate goals, and this bill is a great step toward combating climate change and boosting our state’s economy," said Rep. Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial . “This legislation helps us develop a strategic plan surrounding the emerging technologies for carbon capture, removal, utilization, and storage. We are strategically positioning Colorado to be a national leader in carbon management, attracting new companies and innovative solutions to save consumers money and reduce carbon emissions and pollution.” HB23-1210 would direct the Colorado Energy Office to develop a carbon management roadmap and help Colorado companies successfully undertake carbon management projects. Using public input, the roadmap will also identify early investment opportunities to minimize community risks associated with projects that hold the promise of reducing emissions from sectors of the economy that are hardest to decarbonize. Previous Next

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

< Back February 16, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO BOOST TEACHER WORKFORCE PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to address the teacher workforce shortage and prepare Colorado students for success. HB22-1057, sponsored by Representatives, Barabra McLauchlan and Mary Bradfield, would waive limitations on the number of days retired teachers can work as substitute teachers when there is a critical substitute teacher shortage. The bill passed by a vote of 63 to 1. “The passage of this bill means we’re one step closer to addressing the critical substitute teacher storage and preparing our students for success,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan D-Durango. “Pandemic pressures have been incredibly tough on teachers in our rural and underserved communities, this bipartisan legislation would temporarily waive PERA limitations on qualified, retired teachers and allow them to return to the classroom without fear of losing their benefits. We’re serious about using every tool at our disposal to prepare our students for success and move Colorado forward.” If passed, HB22-1057 would temporarily waive the limitations set by the public employees' retirement association (PERA) regarding the number of days qualified service retirees can substitute teach. Under current limitations, if retired teachers work over the number of allotted days, their PERA benefits are reduced. The bill temporarily lifts the waiver until July 1st, 2025. Additionally, qualified service retirees can teach in any school district while there is a critical substitute teacher shortage in Colorado. Colorado is facing a significant teacher shortage. During the 2020-2021 school year nearly 13% of teacher positions were filled through a shortage mechanism and more than 200 positions went completely unfilled statewide. This bill aims to incentivize retired teachers to help with shortages by making it possible for them to substitute teach without the fear of losing their PERA benefits. Previous Next

< Back January 24, 2019 ROBERTS’ BIPARTISAN PUBLIC HEALTH CARE OPTION BILL PASSES COMMITTEE The House Health and Insurance Committee approved a bipartisan bill by Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon and Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose to create a new affordable and competitive health option in the state of Colorado that will be available to families and individuals when purchasing health insurance. Currently, there are 14 counties in our state with only one option on the individual market and many counties are left with a small number of options for health insurance. This bill will increase competition in the market. “This bipartisan bill is a uniquely Colorado solution to a big problem we have in our state,” said Rep. Roberts. “Too many Coloradans, especially in rural Colorado, are paying too much for health insurance.” HB19-1004 represents significant progress towards developing a publicly supported health insurance option on the market that leverages the efficiencies of our current state infrastructure. This public option will help put affordable health insurance in reach for many hardworking families across our state. “Families are deciding whether to pay out of control health insurance costs each month or forgo coverage for themselves and their kids,” Roberts continued. “Providing families and individuals an affordable option will make a difference in their lives and help keep them in our rural communities. This bill is part of the puzzle, it’s done in a responsible way to create a new health insurance option in Colorado.” Eagle County has some of the highest cost of health care premiums in the country. The bill directs experts at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and the Division of Insurance to create a proposal for implementing a public option that leverages already-existing state infrastructure. That proposal must be presented to the Joint Budget Committee, House Public Health and Human Services Committee; House Health and Insurance Committee, Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Joint committees during SMART Act hearings later this year. When exploring the creation of public option, the departments must consider affordability to the consumer, administrative and financial consideration for the state, ease of implementation and impacts to the market as a whole. The bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 9-2 and now goes to the House Appropriations Committee. The Health and Insurance Committee also approved Rep. Roberts’ bill to authorize a pharmacist to dispense a chronic maintenance drug to a patient without a current prescription in emergency circumstances. The bill was approved unanimously. HB19-1077 now goes to the House floor. Previous Next

Democratic Leadership and Joint Budget Committee members today responded to the Trump Administration’s immediate freeze of federal funding. < Back January 28, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Democratic Leadership, JBC Members Release Statement on Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze DENVER, CO – Democratic Leadership and Joint Budget Committee members today responded to the Trump Administration’s immediate freeze of federal funding. Statement from Speaker Julie McCluskie, President James Coleman, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senators Jeff Bridges and Judy Amabile, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Emily Sirota: “Today’s freeze on federal funding is a reckless decision that is already causing immediate and far reaching harm to Coloradans across the state. We are still working to understand the breadth of the impacts, but we know that critical food, housing, health and behavioral health care, child care, and anti-poverty services are currently in limbo, causing chaos and uncertainty for Coloradans, safety net service providers, and state and local governments, including law enforcement. Republicans and Democrats must be clear-eyed in this moment that this funding freeze is a brazen abuse of power that will likely have significant economic impacts and cause irreparable harm to Colorado kids, families, seniors, and everyone who calls our state home. We are proud that Colorado will be joining states from across the nation in a lawsuit that will attempt to blunt the impact of this funding freeze on people’s lives. We stand ready to assist in any way we can to prevent further harm.” Previous Next

HB23-1071 would allow psychologists to prescribe limited mental health medications < Back February 27, 2023 Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Treatment Heads to Governor Polis HB23-1071 would allow psychologists to prescribe limited mental health medications DENVER, CO – The House today approved Senate changes to HB23-1071, sending the bill to Governor Polis for his signature. This bill, sponsored by Representative Amabile, would allow psychologists to prescribe limited mental health medications after receiving additional education and training. “Colorado is experiencing a mental health crisis, and many patients across our state are waiting weeks or months for their appointment with a licensed prescriber,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder . “This bill will give prescribing authority to psychologists who receive additional training and education so Coloradans can get the mental health treatment they need, when they need it. We know psychologists often have well-established relationships with their patients and a deep understanding of how to treat mental illness. This bill bridges a gap in mental health care access by helping Coloradans receive treatment faster.” HB23-1071 , also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, establishes rigorous standards and education requirements that a psychologist must undertake before being able to prescribe medication to treat mental health illnesses. The House repassed the amended version of HB23-1071 by a vote of 57 to 5. Only licensed Ph.D. psychologists who receive an additional master’s degree in psychopharmacology, pass a national board exam, complete a preceptorship for up to two years, 750 hours of practicum work, and spend two additional years prescribing under the supervision of trained licensed prescribing clinicians or specialty provider if wanting to work with the pediatric or geriatric population will be able to prescribe. Once licensed, psychologists would work in conjunction with the patient’s primary care provider or general practitioner team to ensure that any prescribed medication is being monitored and working effectively for whole care health. Under this bill, these licensed psychologists will not be authorized to prescribe narcotic drugs. Currently, if medication is part of the patient’s care plan, the patient must meet with a doctor or psychiatrist to have the prescription issued. Few of the only 800 psychiatrists throughout Colorado accept Medicaid. Patients often struggle to find an available psychiatrist within their insurance network, forcing them to choose between large out-of-pocket costs or waiting months for the medication they need. Allowing psychologists limited prescribing authority to provide immediate access to medication can save the patient time and money. Psychologists work closely with their patients to determine how to best address their mental health needs. When patients meet with a doctor or psychiatrist, it’s often their first time discussing their mental health issues and telehealth appointments can make it difficult to accurately assess the patient’s condition. Allowing licensed psychologists who often meet monthly or even more frequently with patients and are more familiar with their mental health condition to prescribe medication, streamlines access to effective health care and leads to more appropriate care. Previous Next

< Back May 19, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM SERVICES, PROGRAMS TO PREVENT IDENTITY-BASED VIOLENCE SIGNED INTO LAW LAKEWOOD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will provide $48 million to crime victims services programs and create a grant program to prevent and address identity-based violence. SB22-183 , sponsored by Senators Faith Winter and Bob Gardner and Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Weissman, provides $48 million to fill a revenue gap in federal funding and expand programs for crime victims to continue providing lifesaving resources for child and adult victims of crime. “During the pandemic we saw an alarming rise in cases of domestic violence,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “With this investment of American Rescue Plan funding, we will better support victims of domestic violence and ensure Coloradans in need never see an interruption in the essential care and services they rely on. I’m pleased to see this bill get signed into law, and I know it will go a long way in providing victims of crime and domestic violence with the services they need.” “The pandemic has led to an increase in domestic violence and other crimes, making the services these programs offer more critical than ever,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “As a survivor of domestic violence myself, I’m dedicated to making sure survivors of crime receive the support and resources they need to get back on their feet, and this major $48 million investment will make a huge difference for victims across the state.” “Colorado is stepping up to fund programs that provide critical services to victims of crime so that no one is left behind in the worst moments of their lives,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “The legislation Governor Polis signed today will help some of the most vulnerable people in Colorado move forward, and it will fund critical outreach efforts to help survivors get the assistance they need and prevent domestic violence.” The law invests $41 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds into programs assisting crime victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, including $6 million according to recommendations from the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. SB22-183 additionally invests $7 million in General Fund dollars to two programs providing services to crime victims. These investments will ensure essential services for victims can continue for the next four years. HB22-1234 , sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Senator Robert Rodriguez, creates a grant program in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety to prevent identity-based violence. “Communities of color and religious minorities are far too often the targets of terrorism and violence, and threats are only increasing,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The tragedy in Buffalo shows just how dangerous these racist ideologies are and the pressing need to do more to make our communities safer. This new legislation creates a grant program to help prevent acts of identity-based violence, and will bring people together to protect communities from bias-motivated crimes and build a safer Colorado.” “We’ve seen a growing number of threats and violence targeted at specific communities across our state, and it must come to an end,” said Senator Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “I am proud to have championed this new law that will give communities, nonprofits, and law enforcement the tools they need to prevent these types of crimes, and help ensure that everyone feels safe and secure in their community.” “With antisemitism on the rise and identity-motivated crimes increasing, we must redouble our efforts to ensure the safety of every community in Colorado,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “This new grant program will fund proven strategies and bring people together to prevent and solve the serious crimes that reverberate throughout our communities and disrupt our safety.” The grants will focus on building strong communities and preventing acts of violence that target a specific population of people, and on building awareness of these crimes to prevent them from happening in the first place. The law positions law enforcement to develop the strategies needed to solve serious crimes that have widespread ramifications on a community’s sense of safety. This includes projects that strengthen local collaboration and capabilities to prevent and intervene in identity-based violence. The law is supported by the Department of Public Safety, One Colorado, the Anti-Defamation League of the Mountain States, Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab, the Center on Colfax, Out Boulder County and other organizations. Previous Next

State-driven tax cuts have wildly different impacts on Colorado communities, so let’s leave it to local governments to make adjustments < Back Rep. deGruy Kennedy: After Colorado legislature’s latest special session is finished, we must restore local control over property taxes Aug 20, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Colorado Sun here . Over my eight years representing Jefferson County in the state House, I’ve learned that good policy is about thoughtful stakeholding, delicate balancing, and, ultimately, hard choices. As the state embarks on yet another special legislative session on property taxes, those shaping this round of policy solutions should keep in mind the lessons we’ve already learned. Those are: All voices — including those not in the room — need to be considered, not just those with the resources to make their voices the loudest. Despite posturing to the contrary, proponents of the extreme, badly crafted measures are seeing the writing on the wall and are eager for a deal. And, state-driven policy on issues that are inherently local is fraught with problems. It needs to stop. Let’s start with the consensus-driven process that created Senate Bill 233 , the bipartisan property tax legislation we passed this year that will lower property taxes by $1 billion. Even as I struggled with some of the sacrifices we had to make to maintain strong support from across the aisle, the bill provides meaningful property tax cuts and a cap on future growth without undermining K-12 funding, which is still well below the national average. And it delivers more property tax relief to regular folks and small businesses without giving exorbitant tax breaks to the wealthiest homeowners and largest corporations. Importantly, it was the result of countless hours of public discussion. Fairness and inclusion should continue to be the guideposts for any new policy emerging from the special session. Lawmakers should not feel as though they need to put the interests of everyday Coloradans on the back burner in order to kowtow to whomever is bankrolling Initiatives 50 and 108 , the chaotic conservative measures that would create a fiscal trainwreck at the state and local levels. While it’s understandable that many stakeholders are afraid of the possibility that these measures might pass in November, polling shows they are headed toward defeat. I think proponents of 50 and 108 know that too. Otherwise, why would they express an openness to relatively small cuts in exchange for pulling down their ballot measures? I’ve always thought that the classic negotiation strategy of staking out an extreme position and wiggling back toward a middle ground was silly. Shouldn’t grown-ups just be able to sit down, put their cards on table, discuss their differences, and let the democratically elected representatives cast their votes? But that’s never what happens, because that’s not what serves the special interests. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a corporate lobbyist bluff their way through a negotiation. They come in hot, suggesting they have the upper hand and convincing legislators that the only way to get the votes for a bill is to cut a deal. Are the proponents of 50 and 108 bluffing? I don’t know. Maybe they’re willing to bankrupt state and local governments to prove a point. But I think they very much want a deal so they can claim victory for cutting taxes without having to spend millions of dollars on a campaign that may or may not succeed. The third lesson we should take from the thoughtful deliberations that went into crafting Senate Bill 233 centers on local control. What we need is stable state policy, restoring true local control to our duly-elected city councilors, county commissioners and district board members. They have the tools to engage with their voters and balance the impact of taxes with the needs of public services. And these communities are all different. Some have more residential while some have more commercial properties. Many rural counties didn’t see significant home value growth, and the property tax cuts hurt their ability to provide services when their constituents did not experience the same property tax increases seen elsewhere. Many local governments had passed voter-approved revenue changes in previous years. But many other local governments had never passed revenue increases, meaning their constituents were paying lower taxes to begin with. The 2023 value increases finally caught them up with their neighbors and allowed for investments that had been deferred for years, if not decades. Additional state-driven property tax cuts will have wildly different impacts across our state, and they will be permanent. That means that economic downturns could have serious consequences in communities. Our local leaders, on the other hand, have the tools to temporarily lower their mill levies in times like these. And they have the ability to focus on the needs of their own communities, allowing them to find the sweet spot between additional tax relief and funding their unmet needs. So, if the state is going to have one last hurrah in property tax policy, then fine. We’re well positioned to get a good deal that prioritizes regular folks and carefully balances statewide priorities like K-12 and higher education funding. But this should be the very last time. After that, we must restore local control over property taxes. Chris deGruy Kennedy of Lakewood was one of the prime sponsors of Senate Bill 233 and outgoing Colorado House Speaker Pro Tem; he is now the president and CEO of the Bell Policy Center. Previous Next