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Representative Tammy Story today highlighted the success of the Capital Development Committee (CDC) as it begins charting state investments for the new fiscal year. < Back July 16, 2024 Rep. Story Highlights Capital Development Committee Meeting DENVER, CO - Representative Tammy Story today highlighted the success of the Capital Development Committee (CDC) as it begins charting state investments for the new fiscal year. This joint legislative committee reviews funding requests for capital projects from all state agencies. Vice Chair Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer: “From higher education and youth services within the Department of Corrections to behavioral health facilities and state parks, the Capital Development Committee works to effectively support the capital construction needs of the state so services are delivered more effectively to communities. As a member of this committee since 2019, I know that when we support our neighbors, invest in education and prioritize accessible health care and behavioral health — Coloradans thrive. “On the higher education front, this committee has championed support for Colorado's public universities and colleges in all areas of the state: in the Four Corners area, the San Luis Valley, the Front Range, the western slope and the eastern plains, and everywhere in between. In recent years , the CDC has also invested in various improvements to better serve our at-risk, highest-need youth at the Mount View and Lookout Mountain youth services centers. “Our meeting today allowed us to tour current projects underway in the Capitol complex. Next month, we will tour the southwest quadrant to dive deeper and work towards an effective plan that will form the basis of our recommendations to the Joint Budget Committee.” Previous Next

< Back April 4, 2022 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO MAKE JUNETEENTH A COLORADO STATE HOLIDAY DENVER, CO – The House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation to make Juneteenth a Colorado state holiday. SB22-139, championed by Representative Leslie Herod and members of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado , commemorates the day when enslaved Black people were freed after Union Soldiers arrived in Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and the effect of the Emancipation Proclamation. “It’s time we make Juneteenth a state holiday in Colorado,” said Chairwoman of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado, Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver). “This significant Emancipation Day has been celebrated by the Black community for generations and deserves statewide recognition, celebration and reflection. I’m proud to champion this important legislation that not only educates Coloradans on the atrocities of slavery, but makes way for voices of the Black community. The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times.” SB22-139 passed commitee by a vote of 10 to 1 and would make Juneteenth an official state holiday. Juneteenth National Independence Day commemorates June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger and Union Soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and declare the freedom of more than 250,000 enslaved Black people. Juneteenth is also known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day. This significant day in history became the 11th federal holiday in June 2021 and is also known as the country’s second Independence Day. Previous Next

< Back June 29, 2020 BILLS TO PROTECT FIREFIGHTERS AND HELP EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL BECOME LAW Laws will protect water sources and firefighters from PFAS chemicals and provide benefits to Wildland firefighters and emergency response personnel COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — At Fire Station 8 in Colorado Springs this morning, Governor Jared Polis signed five bills that will better protect firefighters and Colorado communities from PFAS exposure, extend workers compensation benefits to first responders who experience audible trauma and provide critical health benefits to wildland firefighters. HB20-1119 , sponsored by Representatives Tony Exum and Lois Landgraf, sets stringent guidelines for the testing and use of PFAS-based firefighting foam in order to protect firefighters and prevent the chemicals from entering Colorado’s groundwater sources. The bill also requires the state to certify and register every facility that possesses, tests or uses PFAS fire fighting substances. SB20-181 , sponsored by Representatives Jonathan Singer and Hugh McKean creates a grant program to protect communities from PFAS contamination. “Our firefighters and crisis response professionals always put our communities first and are often exposed to dangerous or traumatic situations,” said Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “The legislation the governor signed today will protect our firefighters and our groundwater from toxic PFAS chemicals and provide important benefits to our 9-11 dispatchers, social workers and so many other Coloradans who respond to dangerous situations.” SB20-026 , sponsored by Representatives Jonathan Singer and Tony Exum, extends workers’ compensation benefits to crisis response professionals who audibly witnesses death or serious bodily injury, or the immediate aftermath of these events while on the job. Prior to this new law, those diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of audible trauma were not eligible. “This bill guarantees that when any of us is at our worst, that our first responders will be at their best,” said Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont. “Coronavirus has forced many Coloradans into crisis, and this bill guarantees whether or not our first responders hear or see the worst things imaginable, that the state of Colorado will have their back.” SB20-057 , sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Lisa Cutter, provides wildland firefighters benefits for circulatory conditions in connection with a stressful or strenuous activity that took place while responding to an emergency. It also provides benefits for certain kinds of cancers to employees of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, who respond to wildfires in Colorado. “With the governor signing this bill today, our wildland firefighters, who confront enormous danger and face deadly health conditions as a result, will now have access to the critical health benefits they need,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “Every year, Colorado’s wildland firefighters step up to protect our communities and deploy around the world to fight some of the largest fires,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “They can face severe health conditions as a result of their services, and we owe it to them to provide health insurance that covers the care they need.” Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation to expand language accessibility for emergency and public safety alerts. The bill passed by a vote of 59-5. < Back April 13, 2023 Velasco Bill to Expand Language Accessibility for Emergency Alerts Passes in the House DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation to expand language accessibility for emergency and public safety alerts. The bill passed by a vote of 59-5. “From wildfires to avalanches, rural and urban Coloradans are reliant on emergency alerts to notify them of potential dangers to themselves or their property,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Limiting notifications to just English leaves non-English speakers without the resources or information they need to react to life-threatening dangers. Our bill will help identify ways to best communicate emergency information to non-English speakers and people with disabilities so everyone has a fair chance to protect themselves and their families.” HB23-1237 , also sponsored by Republican Senator Perry Will, would direct the University of Colorado’s Natural Hazards Center, in consultation with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, to conduct a study to identify how municipalities, sheriff's offices, counties, fire districts, and local 911 agencies can best provide emergency alerts in a non-English language and implement live interpretation during a 911 call. The study would identify essential components of a multi-hazard early warning system needed to successfully reach residents and visitors and would include recommendations for how to better reach at-risk communities that may have difficulties accessing English language text alerts. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed Representative Vigil’s legislation to require county coroners to have certain qualifications and training. < Back February 13, 2024 Corner Qualifications Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed Representative Vigil’s legislation to require county coroners to have certain qualifications and training. HB24-1100 passed by a vote of 9-2 and aims to ensure high standards of Colorado’s death investigators. “This important legislation will ensure that coroners in large counties are well-equipped to continue providing the critical regional service that we all depend on,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs . “County coroners' findings have major implications for public health and safety, criminal justice proceedings, and in providing closure for surviving loved ones of the deceased. This bill, which was brought to me by the El Paso County Coroner, is about upholding the integrity of this essential public service." HB24-1100 would require a county coroner in a county with a population over 150,000 to either be a death investigator certified by and in good standing with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, or be a forensic pathologist certified by and in good standing with the American Board of Forensic Pathologists. County coroner is an elected position and under current law, county coroners only need to be residents of the county they serve and have a high school diploma or college degree. This bill helps ensure that those who run for a county coroner position are properly trained and certified by national organizations. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Parenti and Jennifer Bacon to protect homeowners from construction defects that are covered under warranty. The bill passed by a vote of 35-27. < Back April 4, 2024 Bill to Increase Homeowner Protections Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Parenti and Jennifer Bacon to protect homeowners from construction defects that are covered under warranty. The bill passed by a vote of 35-27. "Buying a home is the biggest investment that most Coloradans will make, and there needs to be protections for homeowners when there are significant problems with how their homes were built,” said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie. “Homeowners shouldn’t have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket to fix builders' mistakes or obtain legal representation just to make their home a safe place to live. Our bill brings more accountability to homebuilders who refuse to honor their warranties and gives Colorado homeowners more tools and leverage when negotiating with their builder on defect claims.” “Communities across our state are building new, affordable housing quickly to combat the housing crisis, but the quality of these homes should not be compromised just to provide more housing,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Coloradans buy homes to build equity and generational wealth, and they typically don’t have the disposable income on hand to pay for large and unexpected repairs caused by faulty construction. Our bill is crucial in allowing homeowners to pursue legal avenues to remedy construction defect issues.” HB24-1230 would improve protections for homeowners in construction defect lawsuits by: Increasing the statutory limitation period for construction defect actions from six years to ten years, Allowing a claim for relief to arise at the time that either the physical occurrence of the defect or the cause of the defect is discovered, Voiding any contractual provision that limits a property owner’s right to bring or join a legal action against a construction professional, Voiding any HOA governing document that conflicts with the bill’s provisions, and Requiring a residential property owner to include specific disclosures related to protections and claims in a contract for the sale of property. Colorado has some of the weakest homeowner protections in the country, with only four states having a shorter statute of limitations for construction defects. Previous Next

SB25-038 would keep personal information confidential after filing a wildlife damage compensation claim < Back February 24, 2025 House Ag Committee Passes Bipartisan Bill to Address Issues with Wolf Reintroduction DENVER, CO – The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources today passed bipartisan legislation to protect Coloradans from having their private information shared after a wildlife incident on their property. “In support of our agricultural communities, who are dealing with the consequences of wolf reintroduction on the Western Slope, we’re championing bipartisan legislation to protect their personal information when filing a claim for compensation following depredation,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This bill ensures that the cell phone numbers, addresses, or any other personal information of those filing a wildlife damage compensation claim is kept confidential. Given the political landscape surrounding wolf reintroduction in our state, we must ensure Coloradans can file wildlife compensation claims without fear of retaliation or trespassing on their property.” SB25-038 passed committee by a vote of 13-0. This bill would require that personal information be kept confidential after an individual files a wildlife damage compensation claim with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). When individuals file wildlife compensation claims with the CPW, their personal information, including cell phone number, name and address, is currently subject to the "Colorado Open Records Act". This bill would not disclose personal information to keep Coloradans safe and offer privacy to filing individuals. Previous Next

< Back February 5, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO HELP RENTERS Titone and Gonzales-Gutierrez’s commonsense bill could help ease housing crunch (Feb. 5) – The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee voted in favor of a bill this morning that would protect renters from unnecessarily high rental application fees. “The high cost of unchecked rental application fees has played a role in exacerbating the affordable housing crisis,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “The goal of this bill is to ease the housing crunch, increase transparency in the rental application process and ensure bad actors aren’t harming Coloradans seeking a home for themselves and their families. Under current state law, there are no limits on what landlords can charge for a rental application fee, and there are no safeguards to ensure the fee aligns with the actual costs of screening a prospective tenant. “Rental application fees should actually be used to conduct a consumer credit or reference check, not increase a landlord’s profit,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “Our bill aims to provide some relief to individuals or families searching for housing across our state by putting in place a key consumer protection safeguard in the rental process.” More than a dozen states have enacted policies that set reasonable terms for the collection and retention of rental application fees. For hardworking individuals or families struggling to find housing, the high cost of non-refundable application fees can easily exhaust their limited financial resources, sometimes making it impossible for them to pay a security deposit or the first month’s rent. HB19-1106 puts in place commonsense limits on the application fees that renters face as they search for their next rental home. The bill keeps application fees to the price of what is necessary to screen residents—such as credit reports, reference checks or tenant screening reports—and ensures the fee is refunded if the applicant is never screened. The bill was approved on a vote of 7-4 and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2022 JUST TRANSITION FUNDING MOVES FORWARD Legislation from Roberts and Esgar directs $15 million to create jobs and help communities transitioning from coal-based economies DENVER, CO – The House Transportation and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to create jobs, support workers, and boost communities transitioning from coal-based economies. The bill passed 12-1. “The Office of Just Transition has widespread bipartisan support because of the critical work it is doing to boost workers and communities that are transitioning away from coal-based economies,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “This year, we are going to direct significant state funding to these critical efforts to ensure that no one is left behind. This funding will go directly to workers and will help build vibrant and resilient economies in parts of our state that are struggling as our nation moves away from coal.” “Communities in my district and across the state are doing their best to transition their workforce and economies, but they cannot do it alone and they deserve resources from the state to make their transition plans a reality,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts D-Avon. “I am so proud to represent towns in Northwest Colorado like Hayden and Oak Creek who will be able to use the funding to provide workers job retraining and placement services and invest in projects that will create jobs and diversify their economy. This is the large investment in rural Colorado that our transitioning communities deserve, and I am thrilled this bill is moving forward with strong bipartisan support.” HB22-1394, sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Dylan Roberts, would fund the Office of Just Transition, which is working to boost communities and workers transitioning from coal-based economies. The bill supports coal workers to help them provide for themselves and their families, and access innovative education and training opportunities. It also distributes grants to communities to help them create vibrant, resilient and sustainable local economies. $5 million will go to support economic development and assistance to local businesses, and $10 million will go directly to workers and their families. Previous Next

< Back May 1, 2019 COLORADO LEADING ON CLIMATE ACTION: HOUSE INITIALLY APPROVES BILL TO COLLECT LONG-TERM CLIMATE CHANGE DATA (May 1) – The House preliminarily passed a bill by Rep. Chris Hansen to collect long-term climate change data. “Colorado’s way of life is being threatened by climate change and carbon pollution emissions, and we need a data driven approach to protect it. But we are falling short on reducing carbon emissions because we are not collecting adequate information. This bill will lay a strong foundation of data that we can build upon to evaluate emissions,” said Rep. Hansen, D-Denver. Due to a lack of leadership in Washington, states must lead on climate action. Recent reports show that President Trump’s misguided federal budget would cut climate programs. For example, under the Trump budget, funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s air and energy research program, which is tasked with climate change research, would have been slashed by two-thirds. Under SB19-096, the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) would be required to collect carbon emissions data across Colorado. This commission would then produce a report and forecast future emissions, as well as propose the most cost-effective way for Colorado to meet our carbon emissions reduction goals. The AQCC, which is part of the Department of Public Health and Environment, must complete all legislative requirements by July 1, 2020. The Senate co-prime sponsor of the bill is Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. This bill was approved on a voice-vote. A final vote will take place at a later date. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2024 Bill to Ban Assault Weapons Transfer and Purchase Sees Initial Approval in House Legislation would ban weapons of war to save lives in Colorado DENVER, CO - The House today gave preliminary approval to gun violence prevention legislation sponsored by Representatives Tim Hernández and Elisabeth Epps to prohibit the manufacture, import, purchase, or sale of assault weapons and rapid-fire trigger activators. “Columbine High School, Aurora movie theater, Club Q, and the Boulder King Soopers shooting – Our state has endured too many tragedies that we can easily name that have been carried out with assault weapons,” said Rep. Tim Hernández, D-Denver. “As the youngest member of the Colorado General Assembly and a teacher, I feared every day that my school could end up in the news from a deadly attack. This legislation is one step we can take in the legislature to protect our communities, especially our students and educators, and save Colorado lives.” “The proliferation of weapons of war has wreaked havoc on our communities. This uniquely American epidemic requires bold solutions and state-level action," said Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver. "Policy choices created an environment where the real and present threat of a public mass shooting pervades every element of our lives. And it is making better policy choices—like banning the sale of assault weapons—that will help save Coloradans from preventable gun violence.” Beginning July 1, 2024, HB24-1292 would prohibit the manufacture, import, purchase, or sale of assault weapons and rapid-fire trigger activators. A violator who does not have a permit to sell shall be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $750 if attempting to make a private sale. A licensed gun dealer who violates this law shall be reported to the Department of Revenue where appropriate action may be taken as required by law. Exceptions include: U.S. military members, peace officers, or other government officers or agents, The manufacture, sale, or transfer of an assault weapon from a licensed firearms manufacturer to the U.S. military or entity that employs peace officers, Transfer of an assault weapon to a licensed firearms dealer or gunsmith for temporary maintenance, repair, modification, storage, or permanent disposal. Any federal, state, or local historical society, museum, or institutional collection that is open to the public, as long as the assault weapon is securely housed and unloaded A forensic laboratory or an agent or employee of the laboratory while on duty Armored vehicle entities and their employees, or A licensed gun dealer who has a remaining inventory of assault weapons as of August 1, 2024, and sells or transfers the remaining inventory only to a non-Colorado resident and the sale or transfer takes place out of the state. A study found that over 60 percent of Americans support an assault weapons ban. From 2010-2019, assault weapons were used in 34 percent of mass public shootings. Since 2020, that number has increased to 60 percent . Assault weapons have been used in numerous mass shootings including the Uvalde shooting, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, and the Pulse nightclub shooting. The gunman in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, had multiple guns in his hotel room, including semi-automatic firearms with bump stocks that converted the weapon into a fully automatic firearm. He was able to fire between 400-800 rounds per minute , killing 59 people and wounding hundreds. An AR-15 assault rifle was used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, killing 20 students and six staff members. There, the shooter fired 154 bullets in less than four minutes . In the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs, a semi-automatic rifle was used to kill five people and injure 19 others. If signed into law, Colorado will join California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington in passing an assault weapons ban. Previous Next

Legislation would incentivize housing near transit options, and create tax credit to support affordable housing construction and an infrastructure development fund < Back February 20, 2024 House Democrats Unveil Bill to Incentivize Housing Near Transit Legislation would incentivize housing near transit options, and create tax credit to support affordable housing construction and an infrastructure development fund DENVER, CO - House Democrats today unveiled legislation to save people money on housing by building more housing near public transit, cycling and walking corridors, places of employment, and other centers of community. It would also provide financial support to cities, counties, and municipalities that meet their housing goals. “Ninety-five percent of Coloradans agree: The rent (and housing costs) are too damn high,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “We have to take action now to save people money on housing so that our loved ones and neighbors can continue to call Colorado home. By removing red tape, this legislation will allow communities to strategically increase housing options near transit hubs and job centers to address our housing shortage while reducing emissions, air pollution, traffic and vehicle miles traveled.” "Low-density housing creates sprawl, forcing Coloradans to live farther from their jobs, grocery stores, and schools,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “It doesn’t have to be this way. We can change the status quo to create a more affordable Colorado that works for its people. Our bill would increase housing options near transit centers to save Coloradans money on housing and transportation while reducing traffic congestion and improving our air quality.” HB24-1313 would increase affordable housing options and help prevent Coloradans from being displaced from their communities by encouraging strategic housing development near transit and job centers. The bill empowers local governments to address Colorado’s housing needs and incentivizes them to build more housing by providing financial assistance when they meet their housing goals. It also aims to conserve our natural resources and improve our air quality to protect vulnerable communities from pollution-related health issues. The bill would establish Housing Opportunity Goals to identify areas close to transit services and shopping districts where qualifying cities and municipalities could build more affordable housing. Cities and municipalities would have the flexibility to decide where it makes sense to build more housing to ensure they are meeting the diverse needs of their communities. Municipalities could meet the Housing Opportunity Goals a number of different ways including increasing the height of multi-family and mixed-use zones, or allowing multi-family residences in commercial-only or single-family zones. Communities that meet their Housing Opportunity Goals would benefit from a new Affordable Housing Tax Credit and the Transit-Oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund to support their efforts in increasing housing opportunities near public transit, employment centers, safe biking and walking corridors. HB24-1313 applies to cities only if they are in Metropolitan Planning Organizations, have a population over 4,000, and have more than 75 acres of Transit Areas. Of the approximately 30 jurisdictions that would qualify under this bill, most are along the I-25 corridor. A recent poll found that 95 percent of Coloradans say the cost of renting or buying a home is a problem, with 70 percent saying that local governments aren’t doing enough to address this issue. Nearly 70 percent of Colorado voters also support a state law, like HB24-1313, to require cities and counties to allow more housing to be built near public transit and businesses and shopping areas while providing financial assistance for these projects. Previous Next