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< Back January 24, 2020 EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH BILL ADVANCES Legislation would increase the availability of mental health consultants DENVER, CO — Representatives Julie McCluskie and Emily Sirota’s bill to improve statewide mental health services for children through age eight today advanced from the House Committee on Public Health Care and Human Services. The legislation passed 8-4. HB 20-1006 would create a statewide voluntary program of early childhood mental health consultants to increase the number of qualified consultants and improve access to these critical services. Mental health consultants are mental health professionals with experience working with young children and their families in a diversity of early childhood settings. “It’s no secret that Coloradans, especially in rural areas, don’t always have access to the quality mental health care they need,” said Rep. McCluskie (D-Dillion). “We want to invest in the health of future generations by making early childhood mental health services more available and convenient for parents and expectant parents to access, and that’s what this bill would do.” “As a social worker I have seen firsthand the need for mental health care across Colorado,” said Rep. Sirota (D-Denver). “This bill would greatly improve services for children and their families, improving the health and wellbeing of young children across our state. As a mother of two young children, I understand the importance of these critical services.” The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants bill would address the need for additional, trained mental health consultants focused on infants’ and young childrens’ mental health across the state. It would also create a standardized model for the program in consultation with key Colorado local community-based stakeholders and the National Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Under the bill, early childhood mental health specialists would be available for on-site consultations at preschool and elementary schools, in public health and health care settings and other culturally and regionally appropriate early childhood settings. The visits would include support and appropriate methods for caregivers to implement tested, practical mental health care strategies for long-term success. As a part of the program, the standardized model would include job qualifications and expectations of mental health consultants, expected outcomes of the program and appropriate ratios of consultants for the communities that they support. The program will support the ongoing professional development of mental health specialists in the state to increase access to these critical services. Professional development plans for consultants and a certification process will ensure that mental health consultants are appropriately trained as well as well versed in the expectations of the program. Previous Next

On July 1, 2024, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Judy Amabile and Senator Dylan Roberts goes into effect to prevent suicides by regulating sales of sodium nitrite products. < Back June 27, 2024 Amabile, Roberts Suicide Prevention Bill Goes Into Effect DENVER, CO - On July 1, 2024, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Judy Amabile and Senator Dylan Roberts goes into effect to prevent suicides by regulating sales of sodium nitrite products. “Colorado is in a mental health crisis, and the growing frequency of suicide by sodium nitrite products indicates that these products are too easily accessible,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Some private online sellers are marketing concentrated sodium nitrite products as a way to complete suicide, profiting off of the mental health struggles of our loved ones and neighbors. This new law brings much-needed regulation to these products so we can keep it out of the hands of people most vulnerable to it and instead, focus on getting them help.” “Colorado tragically has one of the highest rates of suicide in the country, with a particularly alarming high number of suicide deaths among Colorado’s youth,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Denver. “In recent years, we have seen a disturbing trend where people struggling with suicidal ideation and seeking help online are winding up in a web-based wasteland that offers advice on “how to” take one’s own life. This new law will restrict the availability of the extremely potent sodium nitrite chemical and appropriately highlight its lethality so that we can restrict this means of suicide and save lives.” Sodium nitrite “suicide kits” are easily accessible online and have been reported to be used by Colorado residents, especially youth, in recent years. Websites that sell these kits often have step-by-step instructions on how to use sodium nitrite to complete suicide. HB24-1081 , also sponsored by Representative Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, and Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, prohibits the sale or transfer of products containing 10 percent or greater sodium nitrite to individuals. It can still be sold to businesses, though sellers will now be required to verify that businesses require the product before a transaction can be made, and records of sales or transfers must be kept for three years. Violators will see $10,000 in civil penalties for a first violation, with up to $1 million for a second violation. 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

Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: < Back May 3, 2024 McLachlan and Simpson Joint Statement on CommonSpirit Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Impasse DURANGO, CO - Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: Coloradans in our communities must have access to hospital care and medical services within a reasonable distance from home, and this impasse puts critical care out of reach for consumers in Southwest Colorado. Coloradans in rural communities often have to travel hours for care, but forcing patients to drive to Colorado Springs or Grand Junction to receive treatment is not an appropriate alternative. It’s time for Anthem and CommonSpirit to put patients before profits and come to an agreement that continues in-network coverage for facilities such as Mercy Hospital in our communities. Previous Next

< Back February 2, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES TIPPER & KENNEDY’S BILL ON LOCAL CONTROL FOR SALE OF NICOTINE PRODUCTS Bill will also allow better inspection on retailers that are selling nicotine to minors (Feb. 1) – The House Health and Insurance committee approved a bill sponsored by Representative Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood and Representative Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood to allow local governments to make their own decision regarding the licensing, taxation, and assessing fees of tobacco products. “Local government can’t increase the cigarette tax. If they successfully tax cigarettes or even attempt to tax these items, they lose the shareback,” Rep. Tipper said. “It has a silencing effect. This bill gets rid of that shareback penalty.” Currently, if a local entity chooses to license, assess a fee or tax nicotine products, they forgo their share of the cigarette tax revenue that exists under state law. This penalty is also assessed if a locality simply attempts a cigarette tax. HB19-1033 removes these financial penalties. “The ultimate goal of this bill is allow local governments to license tobacco retailers to ensure they aren’t selling tobacco products to young people,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy. “Retailers need to do a better job of not selling to minors and we need to do a better job of revoking licenses of retailers who do sell to minors. In January of this year, the American Lung Association released the State of Tobacco Control report and gave Colorado an “F” grade for its low taxes on nicotine products. Colorado tobacco taxes are lower than most other states. It also gave a “D” grade for Colorado’s funding for state tobacco prevention programs . The report found the state is spending only half the amount the Center for Disease Control recommends on prevention programs. This bill passed the committee by 7-4 and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed two bills to improve health care in Colorado. < Back February 27, 2024 Bills to Save Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs, Prevent Violence Against Health Care Workers Pass Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed two bills to improve health care in Colorado. HB24-1010 would streamline prescription drug access for Coloradans with chronic, complex, rare, or life-threatening medical conditions and save them money on life-saving prescription drugs. HB24-1066 would help prevent workplace violence against nurses, CNAs and other health care workers. “Health care decisions should be based on the health and safety of a patient, not dictated by profits for health care insurers,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB24-1010. “Doctors are sometimes required to order medications for their patients through specific pharmacies, which leads to delays in care and additional costs. Our legislation saves Coloradans money on these medications and breaks down prescription drug access barriers to ensure that Coloradans can access the medication they need, when they need it.” HB24-1010 , also sponsored by Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, passed by a vote of 9-3. The bill would protect Coloradans’ access to critical provider-administered prescription drugs by breaking down unnecessary barriers, including added fees, that make it difficult for patients to access their life-saving medication. The bill would: Prohibit insurance carriers from requiring certain prescription drugs to be available only by specific pharmacies, or only at in-network pharmacies, Prevent insurance carriers from limiting or excluding provider-administered prescription drugs due to the patient’s choice of preferred pharmacy, or Prohibit insurance carriers from imposing additional fees, copayments, or coinsurance due to the patient’s choice of preferred pharmacy or if the provider-administered drug was not provided by a pharmacy in the carrier’s network. “Violence in the workplace should never be tolerated, and we’re stepping up to help protect our valued health care workers,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, sponsor of HB24-1066. “With verbal and physical aggression against our health care workers on the rise, this bill establishes procedures and protocols to prevent these instances and creates proper channels for reporting. No one should feel unsafe while on the job, and this bill works to protect our health care workers from violence.” “The majority of health care workers are reporting an increase in verbal abuse and physical aggression while they’re on the job,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor HB24-1066. “This bill takes the necessary steps to protect our health care workers from violence by incorporating evidence-based solutions, such as reporting channels and dedicated worker safety plans in facilities, to curb violence. Our health care workers have worked tirelessly the past few years to keep Coloradans safe and healthy, and this legislation is a step in the right direction to keep them safe from violence in the workplace.” HB24-1066 , passed by a vote of 12 to 1 and would work to protect health care staff from violence. This bill would require facilities, such as hospitals, nursing care facilities and assisted living residences, among others to establish a workplace violence prevention committee that documents and reviews violent incidents, develops and implements prevention plans for their employees, offers immediate post-incident services, and submits biannual incident reports to the Department of Public Health and Environment or the Behavioral Health Administration. The bill specifies that facilities must not discourage staff from reporting incidents to law enforcement. It also protects health care workers who choose to either report a workplace violence incident, advise a staff member of the right to report, or choose not to report an incident. HB24-1066 intends to curb the increase in violence against health care workers, including verbal aggression and physical violence . Health care workers are 5-times more likely to experience violence at the workplace compared to other workers. Previous Next

Today, Governor Jared Polis signed two pieces of bipartisan legislation that save Coloradans money on prescription drugs and help fund housing and nutrition services for those on Medicaid. < Back June 3, 2024 Governor Signs Bills to Increase Federal Funds for Nutrition Support, Save Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs DENVER, CO – Today, Governor Jared Polis signed two pieces of bipartisan legislation that save Coloradans money on prescription drugs and help fund housing and nutrition services for those on Medicaid. SB24-110 , sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, and Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, and Representatives Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Emily Sirota, D-Denver, prohibits the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing from requiring prior authorization for an antipsychotic prescription drug used to treat a mental illness or disorder like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. “The two bills signed into law today will make life more affordable for families I represent in Denver,” Rodriguez said. “SB-110 removes barriers to prior authorization requirements so that more Coloradans will be able to access the antipsychotic prescription drugs they need to thrive, while HB-1322 will redirect Medicaid funds to housing and nutrition programs. Together, these laws will support Coloradans – especially those from historically marginalized communities.” “Authorization requirements for antipsychotic medications are forcing patients to ration their prescriptions or skip doses entirely, which can be challenging for their recovery,” said Amabile. “This law removes unnecessary authorization requirements for some antipsychotic medications so Coloradans with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and other mental health disorders can receive their medications when they need them.” “Many Coloradans with a serious mental health condition don’t have access to specific prescription medication when they need it due to prior authorization requirements,” said Sirota. “This law removes barriers and improves access so Coloradans can receive their antipsychotic prescription on time.” HB24-1322 , sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, and also Rodriguez and Kirkmeyer, lays the groundwork for redirecting federal Medicaid funds to help Colorado families access nutritious food options and secure housing. This legislation will create a path to redirect Medicaid funding for services that address health-related social needs of Coloradans who already rely on the federal Medicaid program. “With this law, we’re one step closer to securing additional federal funds to help with rental assistance, pantry stocking, and nutrition support that will strengthen our communities,” said Bird. “Everyone deserves access to healthy, nutritious food and a roof over their heads. This law will help and uplift our most vulnerable neighbors, such as youth transitioning out of foster care or older adults seeking nutrition assistance.” “By leveraging federal funds for nutrition and housing support, Colorado can help meet the diverse needs of families in our state,” said Brown . “This law allows Colorado to access Medicaid funding for housing and nutrition programs for existing Medicaid patients,helping someone afford their rent or put food on the table. This law saves Coloradans money by leveraging federal dollars and ensures our most vulnerable neighbors are set up to thrive.” The new law directs the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing to conduct a feasibility study and pursue a 1115 Waiver so Medicaid can fund housing and nutrition services. The feasibility study determines how Medicaid can pay for specific nutrition-based services such as medically tailored meals and pantry stocking, as well as helping with temporary housing, rent, utility assistance, and eviction prevention and tenant support. Utilizing dollars already spent on housing and nutrition support services through a 1115 Medicaid Waiver would provide Colorado with a federal match and the flexibility to design and improve Medicaid programs to fit the needs of Coloradans. It would also help the state conserve local and state financial resources. This cost-neutral model for redirecting Medicaid funds to housing and nutrition support is successfully used in more than 15 states across the nation, including Arkansas, California, New Jersey and North Carolina. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Tracey Bernett: Building a sustainable, resilient future through better building codes Jul 7, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in The Daily Camera. This past session, as the clock wound down on our time to pass impactful and progressive legislation for the state of Colorado, one of my last bills still on the table was HB22-1362. Despite significant initial opposition, I worked with my fellow lawmakers in the House and Senate and a broad array of community and industry leaders to ensure it made it to the Governor’s desk. I did this because I know that all Coloradans deserve homes and buildings that are efficient, resilient, healthy and ready for the future. While there has been a lot of press about the end of session and the vote on this bill, I wanted to share what the bill does for our communities. HB22-1362 saves residents and businesses money by building right the first time. A home or commercial building is a huge, long-term investment, and building more energy efficient buildings means residents and businesses save money on utility bills and other associated costs over the lifetime of the building or home. By building right the first time, we avoid expensive retrofits for electric vehicle charging, clean heat and solar energy. Especially now when so many car manufacturers, including Ford, will be phasing out production of gas-powered vehicles over the next decade. The cost savings, especially during a time when the cost of fuel is continuing to rise, can be a huge benefit to homeowners and businesses. In addition to saving consumers time and money, this legislation also protects our environment. Buildings are a significant source of pollution, and increasingly we are learning that indoor air pollution can be significant to residents, especially for lower income communities. Brief exposures to these indoor pollutants can trigger asthma attacks and long-term exposure can contribute to development of sustained asthma. Burning fossil fuels indoors will be the “lead paint in buildings” catastrophe in the years to come. By law, it’s the responsibility of local governments to adopt and enforce building energy codes, but the Colorado legislature has the responsibility to set minimum energy efficiency requirements for the local energy codes that apply statewide. Every few years the legislature examines these statewide codes to ensure they meet the modern standard for building quality homes and businesses. In addition to updating the code, HB22-1362 also provides money and resources for local governments to implement the codes. Finally, owners and occupants of existing homes and buildings are not affected until the home or building undergoes a major renovation or addition. I am so proud that several days ago the Governor signed this bill into law. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions about this law, other legislation, or issues you are having in your community. Rep. Tracey Bernett is a Democrat representing District 12, Boulder County Previous Next

< Back June 12, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BILL BANNING GAY AND TRANS PANIC LEGAL DEFENSE DENVER, CO– The House today passed Representatives Brianna Titone and Matt Soper’s bipartisan bill to ban the use of the gay and transgender “panic” defense. The bill passed 63-1. “It’s time for this defense strategy to be abolished,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada . “We cannot say that we value the lives and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ population if we allow legal defense strategies that rely on prejudice to be practiced in our courts. This bill shows that we’re willing to take action and prove that we truly value the LGBTQ+ community, especially the vulnerable lives of black trans women. Everyone deserves a just and fair trial and this will go a long way to show that we are ready and willing to take the safety of the LGBTQ+ community seriously.” SB20-221 would virtually abolish the use of a victim’s gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation as a legal defense in which the perpetrator could use a ‘sudden heat of passion’ as an excuse for criminal wrongdoings. If this bill is signed into law, Colorado would join California, Hawaii, Nevada, Illinois, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington as states that have banned the gay and trans panic defense strategy. Previous Next

< Back June 10, 2020 MORE COVID RESPONSE ON THE WAY: HOUSE PASSES BILLS PROHIBITING SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION AND IMPROVING THE 2-1-1 HOTLINE DENVER, CO – The House passed two bills today to support Colorado as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. The bills include an increase in funding for the 2-1-1 hotline, which has seen a spike in use due to the pandemic, and a bill to prohibit source of income discrimination in housing, which will protect the tens thousands of Coloradans who are newly claiming unemployment benefits. “For many Coloradans, the 2-1-1 hotline was the first place they turned to for support with essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of HB20-1197. “This bipartisan bill will support the hotline through the end of the year to ensure that it can sustain the sharp increase in calls and continue to provide crucial support to Coloradans. ” “With so many Coloradans claiming unemployment benefits after the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to prohibit discrimination based on source of income,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB20-1332 . “A dollar is a dollar, and no tenant should be denied housing for using the resources available to them to put a roof over their heads.” “Well before this pandemic began, I had already heard from far too many Coloradans who faced unjust barriers while looking to rent a place to live,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, sponsor of HB20-1332 . “Now that COVID-19 has forced tens of thousands of Coloradans onto unemployment insurance, it’s more important than ever to pass this bill banning discrimination based on source of income. We need to make sure that Coloradans are protected from this type of discmination while we work to get our state back on track and beyond.” HB20-1197 : Coronavirus Relief Funds for 2-1-1 Information Hotline ( Reps. Marc Snyder and Janice Rich, Sen. Jeff Bridges): 2-1-1, Colorado’s free information hotline, is a critical service for many Coloradans and during the COVID-19 pandemic the line has seen a sharp increase in calls. The bill is will receive $500,000 of CARES Act funding to help expand services through December, including providing information on COVID-19 testing and referrals related to health care or employment discrimination as it relates to the pandemic.. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 47-16. HB20-1332 : Prohibit Housing Discrimination based on Source of Income (Reps. Leslie Herod and Dominique Jackson, Sen. Rhonda Fields): This bill makes discrimination in housing based on a person’s source of income an unfair housing practice. As long as a person’s source of income is lawful and verifiable, including income from any government assistance, grant, or loan program, a landlord cannot refuse to show, rent or lease housing. This is especially important given the sharp increase in the number of Coloradans claiming unemployment benefits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill passed 39-25. Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL EXTEND TEMPORARY ADJOURNMENT 1 WEEK DENVER, CO– Democratic Leadership in the General Assembly today announced that the temporary suspension of the legislature will continue until the week of May 25 to give additional time for preparations including safety protocols, to work through appropriate legislation, and to seek greater clarity on potential Congressional action that could significantly impact our state budget. “When we set out a tentative timeline to reconvene the General Assembly, we did so with the recognition that we faced a lot of uncertainty, and so we built in the flexibility to extend the temporary adjournment if needed,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “As businesses across Colorado also begin the process of reopening, this extension allows the General Assembly additional time to double check our safety protocols, continue conversations on appropriate legislation and seek more information about any Congressional action that may be coming in the weeks ahead. We are hopeful that Congress may provide additional and badly needed aid to help us avoid budget cuts that will devastate our communities.” “Last week our Joint Budget Committee had to begin the heart-wrenching process of rewriting Colorado’s budget after COVID-19 created a more than $3 billion revenue shortfall,” said President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo . “With so much at risk and our desired return date fast approaching, we determined that it would benefit all Coloradans if we gave our budgetary and legislative process a bit more breathing room. Though facing our dire fiscal situation has been a painful task, we are committed to protecting our most critical institutions and vulnerable populations as best as we possibly can. We look forward to continuing to fight for our communities in the Capitol when we all return on May 26.” Previous Next

< Back Rep. Amabile: Filing a wildfire insurance claim shouldn’t be another trauma Mar 23, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in The Colorado Sun. Many Coloradans who lost their homes and all of their personal belongings in fire disasters are living another nightmare as they seek reimbursement from their homeowner’s insurance policies. Most of these folks chose policies based on what their mortgage holder required and insurance agent recommended. They paid their premiums in good faith, some for decades. But many have found the claims process to be an unanticipated and onerous ordeal. We started to hear from constituents after the fires of 2020. One Grand County resident lost her home in the Cameron Peak fire. She had been paying premiums to her insurance company for nearly 35 years. Her personal property was insured for $161,000. Under current law, the insurance company would pay out an automatic 30%, but to get more she would have to complete a contents inventory. So she did. She and her husband, both in their late 60s, worked diligently to remember all of their worldly possessions. They placed a value on each item, recalled when they bought it and who they bought it from, searched for receipts, and declared what condition each item was in. As required, they used the insurance company’s software system to document all of this. Every day for the last year, they have entered items and answered all of these questions. The insurance company contacted them recently to say that the items had been entered into its system incorrectly. They would need to start over. This couple is agonizing over whether to just walk away with 30% or keep fighting for the full value of their policy. Right now, they feel they just can’t fight anymore. We have heard many variations of this story, with seniors and other vulnerable people struggling the most. It’s heartbreaking. Even people who hire attorneys to negotiate on their behalf feel they are on the losing end of what should be a straightforward business transaction. Not all insurance companies operate the same and not all experiences of wildfire victims have been so disturbingly unfair. But based on the stories we’ve heard and the complaints registered with the Commissioner of Insurance, too many are still agonizing over insurance settlements. Although many homeowners may actually have been underuninsured, the process of claims adjustment should be easier for victims of these horrible events. In Grand County, where the East Troublesome fire took 366 homes more than a year ago, many people still have not been paid by their insurance companies. Many of those who have received payments feel they are much too low; not even close to covering what was lost. People are tired, traumatized, and giving up. It’s unfair to the victims and doesn’t speak well for the laws and regulations of our state that support wildfire disaster victims. Unfortunately, we can expect repeats of those horrific events. That’s why we’ve introduced a measure, House Bill 1111, in this year’s General Assembly to address insurance claims in a declared wildfire disaster. The bill requires that insurance companies automatically pay out a higher percentage of the contents coverage residents have insured in their policies without requiring an inventory. From there, claimants can pursue the full amount with an inventory. An analysis by Colorado’s Division of Insurance showed that between 2015 and 2020, the 10 largest insurance companies in the state paid between 37% and 100% of the contents coverage provided for in homeowner insurance policies, averaging 65% across those 10 companies. Two companies paid below 40%. A standard higher payout percentage will move all of the companies to more fair adjustment processes. The bill provides other common-sense protections for people who have experienced a declared wildfire disaster. It gives people the option to use all available policy benefits to replace their homes by rebuilding or by buying in another location. It extends the time people have to rebuild, and the time people can collect additional living expenses. This is critical when the rebuilding process backs up. The House has passed the bill, but it still has a long way to go. We are going to work hard to see it through to the Governor’s desk. Unfortunately, the bill comes too late for Marshall fire victims who collectively lost nearly 1,100 homes in Boulder County. But it will help the Coloradans who most certainly have a major fire disaster in their future. Judy Amabile, of Boulder, represents House District 13, Steve Fenberg, of Boulder, represents Senate District 18, and Bob Rankin, of Carbondale, represents Senate District 8 in the Colorado General Assembly. Previous Next