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< Back March 9, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS PACKAGE House passes three bills to enhance the Safe2Tell program, allow behavioral analysts in public schools and excuse absences for behavioral health issues DENVER, CO– The House today passed a package of bills, sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich, Dafna Michaelson Jenet, and Lisa Cutter, to improve the state of behavioral health in public schools and support students with behavioral health issues. All three bills passed with broad bipartisan support. HB20-1005 , sponsored by Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet would make enhancements to Colorado’s Safe2Tell program , including aligning the Safe2Tell program and the crisis hotline more closely to ensure that individuals in crisis can rapidly access crisis counseling. This bipartisan legislation also sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van Winkle came out of the School Safety Interim Committee. The bill was passed by a vote of 60-4. “Improving our Safe2Tell program will ensure that it can continue to save lives and provide a critical resource for our youth,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Making the changes necessary to address our youth behavioral health epidemic is like solving a complex puzzle. The bills we passed today to enhance Safe2Tell and ensure that public schools allow excused behavioral health absences to reduce stigma are important pieces of the puzzle, and I’m glad we were able to advance these common sense policies today.” HB20-1058 , sponsored by Rep. Froelich, would require local school boards and other education service providers to adopt a policy that will allow behavior health analysts to provide medically necessary services to students in public schools by July, 2021. The bill was passed by a vote of 64-0. “This bill is the culmination of a great deal of passionate advocacy from concerned parents across the state,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “We took an important step forward today and cleared a path towards improving educational and behavioral health outcomes for all of Colorado’s students.” SB20-014 , Sponsored by Reps. Michaelson Jenet and Cutter, would require schools to excuse absences for behavioral health concerns in their attendance policies. This bill came out of the School Safety Interim Committee and passed the Senate and House Education Committee unanimously. The bill was passed by a vote of 64-0.. “It’s time to end the stigma around behavioral health and tackle our state’s mental health crisis head-on.” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “Allowing behavioral health absences will begin to normalize the practice of caring for one’s mental health among our youth and hopefully make a real impact on our soaring rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.” Previous Next

Two new laws will prevent false electors, add protections against deepfake media < Back June 27, 2024 New Election Protection Laws By Colorado Democrats Go Into Effect Two new laws will prevent false electors, add protections against deepfake media DENVER, CO - On July 1, 2024, legislation will go into effect to protect Colorado’s elections by punishing future attempts at “fake elector” schemes and adding protections against deepfake media that falsely depicts political candidates. “In 2020, our country experienced an attack on democracy when the former president and his supporters tried to overturn the election results,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor of HB24-1150. "Donald Trump organized an effort to replace the electoral college voters with imposter electors who would cast their vote for him instead of Biden, the actual winner. This scheme ultimately failed, but we must be firm that these efforts can never materialize again. Our law is a proactive step to protect democracy in Colorado.” “When I served in the Army I took an oath to defend our freedom and our democracy,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, sponsor of HB24-1150. “‘Fake elector’ schemes and other attempts to overturn our free and fair elections aim to undermine our democracy, and are an insult to that oath and the millions of brave men and women like me who have fought on behalf of our country. This law will ensure that future efforts to create false slates of electors in an attempt to overturn a free and fair election will be punished, creating critical guardrails and protecting the integrity of Colorado’s votes.” "Our nation has survived for centuries based on the people's faith in our democracy. I took my first oath to protect and defend that democracy when I was 17 years old and I continue to honor that oath today," said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie, sponsor of HB24-1150. “Schemes to undermine our presidential elections are a direct attack on that democracy and the values upon which our nation was founded. This law clarifies that those who participate in or conspire to create a false slate of electors are committing forgery and perjury and are therefore subject to prosecution under Colorado law. The legislature has a duty to the people of Colorado to send a strong message that elections matter and we will do everything in our power to protect the integrity of their votes.” HB24-1150 makes it a crime of perjury and forgery to create, serve, or conspire to create or serve in a false slate of presidential electors. Each crime is punishable by up to a $10,000 fine. A person who is convicted of these crimes will be disqualified from serving in the Colorado General Assembly or other public offices. After the 2020 election, former President Trump and his Republican allies attempted to recruit fake electors in key swing states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, and New Mexico, in an attempt to overturn President Biden’s victory. John Eastman, an attorney and advisor to Trump, was one of 18 people indicted with the former president for their alleged efforts to overturn Georgia’s election results in 2020. He is accused of attempting to pressure former Vice President Mike Pence to either delay Congress’ certification of electoral votes on January 6, 2021 or reject some states’ slate of electors to allow alternate electors who would support Trump. HB24-1147 creates new regulations for people who use artificial intelligence and deepfake-generated content that includes candidates for elected office. Deepfake media that includes a candidate for elected office will be required to include a disclaimer that the content is not real or truthful. “Deepfakes of candidates for elected office are created to spread misinformation and disrupt our fair election process,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB24-1147. "Coloradans deserve to know if the videos they are watching are fake so they can make accurate, informed decisions. Artificial intelligence poses a real threat to our elections, and our new law is crucial in protecting our democratic process.” “Deepfake technology is a direct threat to our democracy, and I am proud to be focused on defending transparency in our elections,” said Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, sponsor of HB24-1147. “Voters deserve to know which media they consume is real and which is manipulated so they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. These guardrails are essential to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure fair races for both candidates and voters.” “Deepfakes can have a harmful effect on the election process and are a real threat to our democracy,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, sponsor of HB24-1147. "Our legislation safeguards our elections by requiring AI-generated deepfake content to include a disclaimer and establishing legal avenues for candidates who have been negatively impacted by deepfake technology. Colorado voters should know what candidates actually say and not be deceived by depictions of things they did not.” “AI is already affecting our electoral process, and it is vital we add protections in time for upcoming elections,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB24-1147. “This law safeguards our elections by requiring a disclaimer on artificially altered media, so Coloradans can know what's true and not be deceived by bad actors.” Under the law, a candidate who is the subject of an undisclosed deepfake communication can pursue civil action and file a complaint with the office of the Secretary of State. In February 2024, deepfake audio of President Biden was sent via robocall in New Hampshire to discourage voters from participating in the primary election. Previous Next

< Back May 12, 2021 HOUSE BILL WOULD BOOST WILDFIRE AND DISASTER MITIGATION DENVER, CO– The House today advanced HB21-1208 , legislation that would help Colorado communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change and related natural disasters. “As the changing climate threatens structures, livestock, and Coloradans across our state, we have to take action now to help build more resilient communities,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “This bill will help local governments and communities draw down significant federal resources to protect against natural disasters like wildfires and droughts that are devastating our state, forcing Coloradans from their homes, and harming industries that create jobs. Our local communities desperately need a consistent, ongoing source of revenue to fund mitigation resources to fund mitigation projects so they can be better prepared to weather increasingly severe droughts, fires, and record temperatures.” “By investing in natural disaster and wildfire mitigation, we can prevent some of the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in damages and losses consumers and property owners face each year in Colorado,” said Rep Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “Climate change is making natural disasters worse and worse each year, burning people’s homes and threatening job creating industries that rely on our beautiful environment.” HB21-1208, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Gray, would create a natural disaster enterprise to draw down federal funds to help Colorado communities mitigate the impact and reduce the threat of climate-related natural disasters, such as wildfires. The bill establishes a small $2 per year flat fee on some disaster related insurance policies that will be leveraged for three times as much federal funding. The funding will be used to finance disaster mitigation projects in communities that are actively working to increase their resiliency.. The grant program will also provide technical assistance to local governments to help them address and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Previous Next

SB25-004 improves transparency in application and waitlist fees for private child care centers < Back March 27, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Signed! New Law Will Address High Cost of Child Care SB25-004 improves transparency in application and waitlist fees for private child care centers DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Representatives Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County, to address the high cost of child care was recently signed into law. SB25-004 requires private child care centers to provide a transparent fee schedule upon registration, when joining a waitlist, or at the request of the family. The law also requires application or waitlist fees to be refundable after six months if the child is not admitted and remains on the waitlist. “The rising cost of child care is a significant hurdle for countless families across Colorado,” said Marchman. “By establishing clear guidelines for application and wait list fees as well as deposits, we can provide tangible relief to working families. With application fees often exceeding $175 per child, these costs add up quickly and put unnecessary pressure on household budgets. This new law will ensure child care becomes more affordable and accessible, empowering more families to find the care they need without financial hardship.” “It’s expensive to raise children in 2025, and families shouldn’t have to shell out thousands of dollars on waitlist fees and deposits for child care centers that don’t even offer their child a spot,” said Willford. “This bill allows families to recover some of the fees associated with the application and waitlist processes to save hardworking families money on child care. Colorado Democrats are committed to making our state a more affordable place to live, and this legislation is one of the many steps we’re taking to save Coloradans money.” “The lack of transparency on child care fees burdens families with unexpected expenses,” said Winter. “I hear from so many parents in my community that they are struggling to find child care. Limiting waitlist fees and adding transparency to application fees on child care center websites and forms reduces financial uncertainty and helps parents make informed decisions about what’s best for them.” “Families shouldn’t have to budget for thousands of dollars worth of child care deposit and waitlist fees,” said García. “It can be difficult to clear a child care waitlist, which is why some families are spending thousands of dollars on numerous child care deposits and waitlists despite the uncertainty of whether or not their application will be accepted. Our legislation allows families to receive a refund for fees and deposits if they are not offered enrollment within six months, allowing families to save their hard-earned money.” These requirements apply to private child care programs outside the Universal Preschool Program, Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, and Head Start. A center may charge a deposit, but if admitted, the deposit must go towards tuition of child care. Previous Next

< Back May 2, 2019 BILL TO ADDRESS CAMPUS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT HEADS TO GOVERNOR’S DESK One in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college (May 2) – The House approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Janet Buckner and Rep. Barbara McLachlan that would add more guidelines and protections around sexual misconduct and violence in higher education institutes in Colorado. “Our current policy has a problem when we are seeing studies that one in five women and one in 16 men experience sexual assault during college. And what’s even more troubling is that only about 12 percent of victims actually report their assault,” said Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “Sexual misconduct poses a serious threat to the safety of our students and interferes with our students’ ability to learn. This bill ensures a fair and consistent response to sexual misconduct in higher education settings and creates equal rights for reporting and responding to parties in an incident.” SB19-007 creates a fair and consistent response to sexual misconduct in higher education settings to ensure that all students know how to report abuse and know that the administrative process will be fair for both parties. It requires institutions of higher learning to adopt policies that clearly outline the process for survivors of sexual misconduct, to provide support services for survivors and to distribute information across campus to inform students of the institution’s policies and procedures. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Higher Education to convene a biennial working group that will study best practices in order to prevent and raise awareness surrounding sexual misconduct. “This bill will help get rid of sexual violence and abuse on campus. While we are waiting for the federal government to adopt and clarify the law, we are making sure our state laws are ready to follow and maintain protections for survivors,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This is not a one-size-fits-all bill but rather puts minimum requirements for policies regarding reporting and procedures for investigations for all higher education institutions.” In 2017, the Trump administration rescinded guidance for institutions of higher education on how they should address sexual assault under the federal law, Title IX. The lack of federal direction means that states like Colorado have to step up to develop policies that promote and ensure the safety of students on campuses around the state or risk losing important protections. SB19-007 passed by a bipartisan vote of 54-9. It passed unanimously out of the House Education committee. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk. Previous Next

Democrats in the General Assembly today condemned the recent rise in antisemitism in Colorado and across the country. < Back October 24, 2025 General Assembly Democrats Condemn Rising Antisemitism DENVER, CO - Democrats in the General Assembly today condemned the recent rise in antisemitism in Colorado and across the country. In an open letter, the General Assembly Democrats wrote: We are deeply concerned by the rising prevalence of antisemitism and hatred toward Jews in Colorado and nationally. From the streets of Boulder and the side of a mountain in Jefferson County to private group texts and AI chatbots, attacks on Jews are becoming far too common. We condemn this increase in antisemitism, and we must all do more to stop it. These incidents are all part of a disturbing trend that cannot be brushed off or ignored. As elected officials, we have a responsibility to unequivocally condemn this rise in antisemitism. We are proud that Colorado was recently recognized by the Anti-Defamation League for being a policy leader in combating antisemitism. We must continue this work, and we are committed to doing more to protect all communities in our state. We stand united against hate. The full text of the letter is below: To Our Communities: We are deeply concerned by the rising prevalence of antisemitism and hatred toward Jews in Colorado and nationally. From the streets of Boulder and the side of a mountain in Jefferson County to private group texts and AI chatbots, attacks on Jews are becoming far too common. We condemn this increase in antisemitism, and we must all do more to stop it. Earlier this year, an assailant murdered a woman and injured fifteen people in an anti-Jewish firebombing attack in Boulder during a march calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas. This month, a giant swastika was displayed on the side of a mountain along I-70 for thousands of people to see. Since January alone, there have been several acts of antisemitic vandalism where people either drew or displayed swastikas in public spaces, including in Denver, Jefferson County and Elizabeth. In July, the Anti-Defamation League flagged a social media account to the FBI due to concerns about comments that mimicked neo-Nazi extremist groups. Two months later, the teenager behind those posts opened fire at Evergreen High School and injured two of his classmates before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In a private Young Republicans group chat, elected officials made racist comments and sent antisemitic messages that included pro-Hitler statements and “jokes” about putting opponents in gas chambers. Instead of speaking out against this, Vice President JD Vance downplayed it. A Colorado Libertarian Party leader and candidate for Secretary of State baselessly accused Israel of assassinating Charlie Kirk and President Kennedy and created an antisemitic website and social media account. One of President Trump’s nominees sent several racist texts and bragged that, “I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time.” These incidents are all part of a disturbing trend that cannot be brushed off or ignored. As elected officials, we have a responsibility to unequivocally condemn this rise in antisemitism. We are proud that Colorado was recently recognized by the Anti-Defamation League for being a policy leader in combating antisemitism. We must continue this work, and we are committed to doing more to protect all communities in our state. We stand united against hate. Sincerely, Representative Emily Sirota Representative Steven Woodrow Senate President Pro Tempore Dafna Michaelson Jenet Senator Matt Ball Senator Mike Weissman Speaker Julie McCluskie President James Coleman House Majority Leader Monica Duran Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter Senator Judy Amabile Senator Jeff Bridges Senator Jessie Danielson Senator Lindsey Daugherty Senator Tony Exum, Sr. Senator Julie Gonzales Senator Nick Hinrichsen Senator Cathy Kipp Senator Chris Kolker Senator Iman Jodeh Senator Janice Marchman Senator Kyle Mullica Senator Dylan Roberts Senator Marc Snyder Senator Tom Sullivan Senator Katie Wallace Senator Faith Winter Representative Shannon Bird Representative Kyle Brown Representative Sean Camacho Representative Michael Carter Representative Chad Clifford Representative Cecelia Espenoza Representative Lisa Feret Representative Meg Froelich Representative Lorena Garcia Representative Lindsay Gilchrist Representative Eliza Hamrick Representative Jamie Jackson Representative Junie Joseph Representative Sheila Lieder Representative Mandy Lindsay Representative William Lindstedt Representative Meghan Lukens Representative Javier Mabrey Representative Bob Marshall Representative Matthew Martinez Representative Tisha Mauro Representative Karen McCormick Representative Amy Paschal Representative Jacque Phillips Representative Manny Rutinel Representative Gretchen Rydin Representative Lesley Smith Representative Katie Stewart Representative Rebekah Stewart Representative Tammy Story Representative Brianna Titone Representative Elizabeth Velasco Representative Jenny Willford Representative Yara Zokaie Previous Next

School Finance Act will increase average per pupil funding by $780 < Back May 23, 2024 SIGNED! 2024 School Finance Act to Pay Off Budget Stabilization Factor, Increase Education Funding to Historic Levels AURORA, CO – Today Governor Jared Polis signed the 2024 School Finance Act, which sets funding levels for Colorado’s public school districts. Sponsored by Senators Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Representatives Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, SB24-188 raises the base level of per-pupil funding by $780 to $11,450 per-pupil on average. This year’s School Finance Act increases total funding for public schools by more than $500 million to $9.7 billion and completely buys down the Budget Stabilization Factor, a longstanding goal that helps ensure Colorado students get the quality education they deserve. "Fully funding our schools is one of the main reasons I ran for the state senate, and I am absolutely thrilled that the 2024 School Finance Act will make it happen,” Zenzinger said. “All our students deserve a quality education that meets their needs and prepares them for success. While we have much more to do to truly fully fund our schools, this year’s School Finance Act represents a great start, and will help reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay, and provide a world class education for our children and youth." “After years of strategic budgeting and planning, the 2024 School Finance Act finally pays off the budget stabilization factor which means schools can increase teacher pay, reduce classroom sizes and better support our students living with disabilities,” said Bird. “This is a record-breaking increase of $780 per-pupil funding which brings the total per-pupil funding to more than $11,450 on average. My passion for public service began with the drive to fully fund our K-12 public schools and support our hardworking educators – this bill fulfills that promise and more to support each and every student in Colorado.” “As Chair of the Senate Education Committee and a former educator, ensuring our schools and students have the resources they need is personal to me, and this year’s School Finance Act will do just that,” said Buckner. “By eliminating the Budget Stabilization Factor and fully funding K-12 education, we’re opening the door to so many more opportunities to improve our schools, support our teachers, and make Colorado the best state in the nation to learn and grow.” “This year’s School Finance Act is historic because it fully eliminates the budget stabilization factor, increases per-pupil funding by nearly $780 on average and supports our rural school districts directly,” said McLachlan. “Our commitment to improving educational outcomes for each and every student is unwavering, and this year we’re stepping up to help recruit, retain, and support the educators who make all the difference in the education our kids receive. I’m beyond proud of our legislative efforts to drive resources to small rural schools and those who serve students with the greatest needs.” Increased Funding for Rural Schools: Colorado’s small and large rural school districts often have a difficult time recruiting and maintaining a high-quality workforce needed to support Colorado students and school functions. In conjunction with legislation passed this year to update Colorado’s school funding formula, the 2024 School Finance Act eliminates rural school districts’ reliance on one-time funding, which makes it difficult for districts to plan ahead using multi-year budgets. Ninth Grade Success Program: This important program helps ninth grade students with the skills they need to successfully reach tenth grade on-track, on-time and with their peers. This year’s School Finance Act increases funding for this program to support our students’ growth and educational trajectory. Support for Students Living with a Disability: The 2024 School Finance Act amends the definition of “concurrent enrollment” to include students in special education. This means students living with a disability and those who receive transition services on their Individualized Education Program can access college-level courses for credit as well as some credential and apprenticeship programs to create stronger workforce pathways and opportunities. Previous Next

< Back March 11, 2021 BILL TO EXPAND ACCESS TO THE BALLOT MOVES FORWARD Legislation would create a multilingual ballot hotline and require certain counties to print ballots in languages other than English DENVER, CO– The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed HB21-1011, a bill to increase voter turnout and access by expanding access to multilingual ballots. The bill advanced by a vote of 6-3. “Tens of thousands of eligible voters in Colorado are effectively denied access to the ballot because they do not speak English very well and live in counties where election materials are only provided in English,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Thornton) . “I’m committed to ensuring that our gold-standard electoral system is even more accessible to eligible voters of all stripes, and this bill takes an important step towards guaranteeing that.” HB21-1011 would give all voters access to a hotline that would provide over-the-phone ballot translation in the top languages in which the census was offered. In addition, it would require that counties where a minority language is spoken by either 2,000 eligible voters or 2.5% of those eligible print ballots in that language, either on paper or electronically. Previous Next

The House today passed two bills on a preliminary vote to improve the safety of natural gas pipelines and make it faster, easier and less expensive for local governments to approve solar installation projects. < Back April 11, 2023 House Advances Bills to Improve Gas Pipeline Safety and Expand EV Charging DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills on a preliminary vote to improve the safety of natural gas pipelines and make it faster, easier and less expensive for local governments to approve solar installation projects. “Many homes in Colorado rely upon natural gas, and this legislation works to improve safety and close gaps in maintenance requirements,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer, sponsor of HB23-1216. “Establishing maintenance responsibility and requiring documentation of inspections are just a few of the ways we can improve the safety of natural gas pipelines that service our homes and businesses. This bill protects Coloradans by ensuring regular inspections and creating a baseline for safely maintaining natural gas pipelines regularly.” "We're taking steps to ensure that natural gas pipelines are well maintained and regularly inspected to keep Coloradans safe," said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, sponsor of HB23-1216. "This legislation will establish maintenance expectations, communications and documentation for pipelines so Coloradans have accurate and up-to-date information about the pipelines that service their homes, businesses and communities Safety is a priority and closing these gaps in maintenance requirements and upkeep is an important step that protects Coloradans." HB23-1216 , sponsored by Representative Tammy Story, would address the gaps in maintenance and inspections of natural gas pipelines to ensure public safety. This bill would direct the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules requiring a combination of inspections, maintenance responsibilities and written notice from a pipeline’s owner or operator to a natural gas consumer before March 1, 2024 to bolster accountability. Specifically, HB23-1216 would require inspections of gas meters and service regulators every 36 months, documentation of inspections and ensure specific placement of natural gas vents to ensure gas can properly escape. Additionally, this bill would establish an improved process to determine who is responsible for maintenance and repairs of existing service lines as well as clear written notice to consumers regarding future service line installation, maintenance and repair. “Many Coloradans are interested in owning an EV, however it can be difficult to secure charging locations near their home or even in their communities,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo, sponsor of HB23-1233. “This bill will expand EV charging infrastructure to accommodate new and future EV owners. By making EV use and ownership more accessible, we’re reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs and saving Coloradans money.” “With more EVs on the road than ever before, it’s vital we invest in EV-specific infrastructure now to meet growing demand,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, sponsor of HB23-1233. “By expanding charging stations, we can break down accessibility barriers in our communities and across the state that hold people back from owning EVs. Our legislation sets in motion a plan to expand EV charging, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and save Coloradans’ money in the long term.” HB23-1233 , sponsored by Representatives Tisha Mauro and Alex Valdez, would remove barriers to EV ownership by ensuring Coloradans have access to EV charging, especially renters or those living in multifamily housing. Specifically, HB23-1233 would expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new construction to accommodate new and current EV owners. The bill would update electric code requirements, remove burdensome parking restrictions for EVs, and provide property tax relief to Coloradans for EV charging stations. HB23-1233 is part of a broader legislative package to incentivize the advancement and adoption of clean energy technologies, accelerate the clean energy transition and make Colorado a leader in budding clean energy technologies. Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2021 HOUSE APPROVES RANKED CHOICE VOTING FRAMEWORK DENVER, CO– The House today passed Rep. Chris Kennedy’s bill to create a statewide framework for ranked choice voting in municipal elections. Specifically, the bill allows towns and cities to run ranked-choice elections through a county coordinated election, and would ask the Secretary of State’s office to promulgate statewide rules regarding voting systems and auditing practices for towns or cities that opt in. The bill passed by a vote of 40-23. “Local governments across Colorado are looking to ranked choice voting as an innovative tool to ensure the candidate with the most support wins the election. Today we voted to provide a framework to ensure these elections are working as they should,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Providing guidelines and safeguards for novel ideas meant to increase voter participation and improve our elections is how we ensure Colorado’s electoral system remains the gold standard. Safe and secure elections that expand voter access – that’s the Colorado way.” HB21-1071 allows municipalities located in a single county to use ranked choice voting during coordinated elections starting in 2023, and municipalities located in multiple counties to implement it starting in 2025. The bill calls on the Secretary of State’s (SOS) office to promulgate statewide rules for the implementation and certification of this system, to establish an audit process for it, and to secure a software provider to be available for use by counties. If a municipality that has opted in to the ranked choice voting system is located in more than one county, counties are directed to work together to establish guidelines for the election, including the maximum number of candidates that voters will be allowed to rank on their ballots. Previous Next

< Back April 5, 2022 BILLS TO ADDRESS COLORADO’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS WIN COMMITTEE APPROVAL Legislation includes more than $140 million to expand access to behavioral health care for Colorado youth and adults DENVER, CO – The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today unanimously passed two bills to expand access to behavioral health services for adults and youth. These bills were developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force and will invest $140 million to build a healthier Colorado. “We’ve made it a top priority to expand access to behavioral health care, and that’s what this transformational bill will do,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales Gutierrez, D-Denver. “With these federal funds, we have a once-in a generation opportunity to significantly expand behavioral heath care and address the cries our state is facing. This legislation provides $90 million directly to local governments, nonprofits and community-based programs to expand access to behavioral health care and fill critical gaps across the state so that more Coloradans can seek the care they need to thrive.” “This transformational $90 million investment will lay the foundation for a more accessible, affordable, and inclusive system of behavioral health care in our state,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “Our behavioral health care crisis will not be solved overnight, but with these funds, we have a unique opportunity to address some of the most pressing concerns in our state. Every community is different and has different circumstances and different needs. This bill encourages collaboration, uplifts local solutions, and ensures that funding reaches every corner of Colorado and that no community is left behind.” Community Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Gap Grants: HB22-1281 sponsored by Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Naquetta Ricks, will ensure Coloradans across the state — including children, youth and families — have access to the behavioral health care they need. This bill will invest $90 million in grant funds for local governments and nonprofit organizations to implement innovative, community-based programs with the goal of filling regional gaps across the continuum of care and transforming behavioral health outcomes for families, children and youth living in Colorado. The bill passed unanimously. Previous Next