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HB24-1175 gives local governments the right of first refusal to buy existing affordable housing when a building or complex is up for sale < Back May 30, 2024 New Law Will Preserve Housing Coloradans Can Afford HB24-1175 gives local governments the right of first refusal to buy existing affordable housing when a building or complex is up for sale BROOMFIELD, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law to give local governments the right of first refusal to purchase existing subsidized housing and preserve Colorado’s limited affordable housing stock. “With rising rents pricing Coloradans out of their communities, local governments need additional tools to help them preserve existing affordable housing options that work for everyday Coloradans,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Our new law will allow local governments to purchase and preserve affordable housing properties that were made possible by the investment of public dollars. With this legislation, we can maintain and expand affordable housing options in our communities and ease Colorado’s housing crisis.” “Whether it’s Broomfield or Berthoud, housing is a top concern for Coloradans,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield. “This year, we’re tackling Colorado’s housing crisis from all angles. By giving local governments an additional tool to preserve affordable housing stock, Coloradans will be better positioned to find housing options that fit their budget.” “Our law is one of many steps that Colorado Democrats are taking to combat housing instability and displacement,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We need a multi-faceted approach to address our affordable housing shortage, which is why we passed legislation to create new tools for local governments that keep existing affordable housing properties in the rental market.” “Colorado is in the midst of a housing crisis and we must do everything we can to help renters and homeowners,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont. “By giving local governments the chance to make the first offer and create new affordable housing stock, we can ensure more Coloradans – especially lower income families – have an affordable place they can call home.” Many affordable housing buildings are sold and converted to higher priced market-rate units once the affordability restrictions expire. The right of first refusal gives local governments the right to purchase an existing affordable multi-family residential or mixed-use rental property with at least five units if they match any offers that the seller receives and continue to use the property for long-term affordable housing. Under HB24-1175 , owners would be required to notify local governments two years before affordability restrictions expire to allow time for governments to plan in case that property hits the market. For non-subsidized multifamily properties, the law gives local governments the right of first offer before the property is listed for sale. This applies to buildings more than 30 years old with 15 to 100 units. If interested, the local government must respond within seven days and may request additional information, with the seller having five days to comply and the local government another 14 days to make an offer. Accepted offers would lead to a 30-day negotiation period and a 60-day closing period. Previous Next

< Back March 13, 2020 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO PROVIDE POLITICAL PARTIES FLEXIBILITY ON TIMING DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB20-1359, sponsored by Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver, and Minority Leader Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock, in order to provide political parties flexibility to safely continue the primary process during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation is part of several steps the General Assembly is taking to prepare for a potential recess in the session. “While we work to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Colorado, our democratic process needs to be able to continue in the safest way possible,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett,D-Denver. “This bill takes into consideration that large groups of delegates would have to meet in public gatherings and that many of these delegates are members of high-risk populations that are vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. Please follow the advice of medical and public health experts who have urged us all to take simple precautions.” With county assemblies beginning as early as this weekend, legislation is needed urgently to allow parties the flexibility to ensure that the process can continue without requiring a high number of at-risk individuals to meet in large public gatherings, often held in schools. HB20-1359 extends various deadlines related to ballot access requirements in 2020. It allows political parties to amend their bylaws as needed during 2020 to allow remote participation in assemblies and conventions and to fill vacancies. Delegates to assemblies may participate remotely if allowed by the party, and parties may reduce or waive any quorum requirements to allow assemblies to proceed. The modifications are repealed effective December 31, 2020 Previous Next

< Back Rep. Lukens: Breakthrough legislative session Jun 12, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Craig Daily Press here . Two years ago, you elected me to serve in the Colorado State House and stand up for Northwest Colorado. From Vail to Rangely, Oak Creek to Maybell, I continue to keep my commitment to the people of House District 26 to deliver on the three Es: education, the environment and the economy. I continued my work from last year to accomplish these goals and delivered real results for Colorado this 2024 Legislative Session. Investing in our schools As a social studies teacher, it is critical that we give every student the resources they need to succeed. One of the reasons I ran for the Colorado House of Representatives was to eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor, and I am proud to say that this legislative session, we successfully eliminated the BSF. This commitment to our students and their future means that starting next year, our schools will have an additional $560 million to provide students individualized attention with smaller class sizes, pay our hardworking teachers what they deserve, and ensure that everyone is given the resources they need for the best learning environment. This commitment continues to our rural schools. For the first time, we created an ongoing rural school funding stream through a new “Rural Factor” within the School Finance Act . This adds almost $36 million for rural students’ success. In 2025, the State is committing an additional $225 million to the over 132,000 rural and remote students in Colorado, who will now have the adequate resources they deserve. I also supported landmark legislation that will make it easier and more affordable for students to attend college. Students and families making under $90,000 will soon be eligible for a tax credit that will cover the full cost of community college, or two years of a four-year degree. We also capped tuition increases at state universities to save families money. Protecting our vital water resources On the Western Slope, we know how vital our water is to survival. I am proud to report that legislators are serious about protecting this precious resource. As the snow melts and the water flows, we passed HB24-1379 , which restores critical protections for Colorado’s streams, rivers and wetlands. The State House and Senate unanimously passed SB24-197 , Water Conservation Measures, which will implement recommendations from the Colorado River Drought Task Force to protect Colorado’s water supply. In order to maximize the water flowing through our homes, I sponsored HB24-1362 , a bipartisan bill to promote conserving graywater through water reuse in residential buildings. Economic prosperity Our working families are the backbone of the Western Slope from our teachers to our agricultural small business owners. This legislative session, there was strong bipartisan support to uplift the economy and support our families. I am proud that all of my bills boosting rural prosperity passed both the House and Senate and have been signed into law by Governor Polis. These bills boost our rural and agriculture economies, making it easier for folks to enter fast growing industries, and helping parents access affordable childcare. We also worked hard to make it more affordable to live in Colorado. We passed bipartisan legislation to reduce property taxes for homeowners and businesses. We also made the senior homestead property tax exemption portable so older Coloradans can downsize and save money if they want to without losing this tax break. Finally we extended tax breaks for senior housing costs, cut income taxes, and boosted tax credits for agriculture and businesses that hire in rural areas. I was proud to sponsor legislation that will create jobs and boost businesses along rail lines in formerly coal-dependent communities in our district. These business incentives will foster new development along the rail line between Craig and Steamboat to keep up investment on these tracks with the goal of establishing passenger rail service that will boost housing options, new industries, and jobs in our region. Uplifting our ranchers Our rancher and agricultural producers are the lifeline of Colorado and it is critical that we support them in all aspects of their business and health. This year, I sponsored SB24-055, a bipartisan bill that will create the Agricultural Liaison role within the Behavioral Health Administration to guarantee that farmers, ranchers, and other industry workers are not forgotten by the broader mental health industry. SB24-126, will provide additional state incentives to support conservation easements. By extending access to conservation easements, this bipartisan bill helps Colorado property owners sustainably manage their land. House District 26 Representing House District 26 – Eagle, Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties — truly is an honor. Taking your insights back to the State Capitol to help make our communities stronger is the greatest privilege I have ever had. None of this work would be possible without your support and engagement, so thank you for the thousands of emails, many phone calls, visits to the State Capitol, conversations on aisle four of the grocery store, questions during town halls, selfies at events and coffee meetings at our local coffee shops. I am excited to hear more of your insights in June at our upcoming Town Halls. Rep. Meghan Lukens represents District 26, which includes Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Eagle counties, in the Colorado House. Previous Next

Laws include consumer medical debt protections and increased transparency of hospital community benefits < Back August 3, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: New Health Care Laws Go Into Effect Laws include consumer medical debt protections and increased transparency of hospital community benefits DENVER, CO - On August 7, two new health care laws go into effect in Colorado to limit the negative impacts of medical debt on patients’ credit reports or credit score and increase transparency of hospital community benefits. “After life-saving medical care, patients are often blindsided by medical debt that they can’t keep up with, making it more difficult to qualify for housing, employment, or affordable interest rates,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1126 . “Because of HB23-1126, Coloradans’ credit scores and credit reports will no longer be impacted by outstanding medical debt. I’m proud to have carried this law to protect Colorado patients from having their whole life being negatively impacted by outstanding health care costs.” “Medical debt, which is often unexpected and accrues rapidly, can have impacts on credit scores and reports even if the debt has been settled with creditors,” said Senator Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of HB23-1126. “This creates barriers for folks trying to access necessities like housing, utilities, and loans, and it needs to change. With our new law, we’re putting in place new consumer protections that will help ensure Coloradans’ financial futures are not unduly impacted by their medical debt.” Often medical expenses come as a surprise to many patients, leaving people unable to plan for expensive bills. Currently, when someone can’t afford a medical expense, the bill is sent to collections, and that information is shared with consumer reporting agencies that generate consumer reports and credit scores that are used by banks, landlords, employers, and insurance and utility companies. Medical debt affects people of all ages and incomes, but it disproportionately impacts those with a chronic illness or medical condition who rely on continual medical care to maintain their quality of life. HB23-1126 , also sponsored by Representative Ron Weinberg (R-Loveland), adds medical debt to the list of information that consumer reporting agencies are not allowed to include in a credit report, updates exemptions to expand consumer privacy protections, and requires collectors and collecting agencies to notify Coloradans that medical debt will no longer be included in credit reports. These changes will take effect on August 7, 2023. “We’re making sure that large non-profit hospital systems actually invest in community-based programs that strengthen the services Coloradans need and want,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB23-1243. “This law improves accountability surrounding how tax exempt hospitals spend resources in the community, so we can ensure Coloradans can access critical services that reduce their health care costs and help them lead healthier lives.” “Non-profit hospitals have the opportunity to provide much needed benefits back to their community,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, sponsor of HB23-1243. “House Bill 1243 works to ensure the public’s concerns are heard when hospitals are determining what benefits to provide to their community. This new law requires greater transparency from hospitals about what benefits are being funded and how community feedback is being implemented, ensuring Coloradans have access to the unique services they need.” Beginning on August 7, HB23-1243 centers on increasing the transparency of nonprofit hospitals’ community benefit spending through incorporating community feedback into the community benefit implementation plan. The law also requires each reporting hospital to seek feedback and engagement from a diverse range of community members during its annual proposed community benefit implementation plan, submit a detailed report about any discussions or decisions at the annual meeting, make the report public, and execute a community benefit plan that addresses the needs of the community as discussed in the annual meeting to better understand the impact community benefit spending has on the health of Coloradans and what the greatest needs are. Previous Next

< Back June 3, 2020 REP. MCLACHLAN’S COLLEGE CREDIT FOR WORK EXPERIENCE BILL PASSES Bipartisan legislation would allow college students to obtain academic credit for work experience DENVER, CO — The House today passed Representative Barbara McLachlan’s bipartisan bill to make it easier to obtain academic credit for work-related experiences across all state institutions. The vote was 62-3. “As we take the necessary steps to get our state back to work responsibly, it is critical that we do everything we can to make it easier for Colorado’s students to compete in a 21st century economy,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango). “As a former teacher, I know that some of the most important education a student can receive happens outside of the classroom. This bill would allow students who have had formative educational experiences in the workplace to get the academic credits they need to complete their degrees in a more affordable and expedited way.” HB20-1002, which advanced from the Making Higher Education Attainable Interim Committee, and was approved by the House Education Committee earlier this year, would require the Commission on Higher Education to create a model to award academic credit for work-related experiences. The credits would be acceptable and transferable across all state institutions, improving access and affordability for non-traditional students. The bill also includes a provision that will require state institutions to develop a mechanism through which students can test out of any undergraduate class through an individual assessment or other testing means. Previous Next

< Back June 7, 2021 HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN HOUSING PASSES THE HOUSE Budget integrity and economic relief and resilience bills move forward DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation to allocate federal stimulus funds to fortify Colorado’s budget and ensure the state’s long-term economic resilience. “By setting aside over $1 billion to fortify future budgets, Colorado will be positioned to grow and sustain funding for critical state services such as K-12 education, health care and agriculture programs,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “We’ve made a lot of progress to make our budget more equitable, and by creating this fund, we’ll be able to protect that progress and ensure we continue to make investments that help small businesses, workers, students and all Coloradans thrive.” “We have a responsibility to use some of the federal funds Colorado is receiving to ensure our budget can continue to fund the services Coloradans rely on,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “The $1 billion we’re setting aside will help buy down future obligations to ensure Colorado can make necessary investments in education, health care and housing programs that Coloradans need.” SB21-289 , which is sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Shannon Bird and passed 41-23, creates the Revenue Loss Restoration Cash Fund, which will hold $1 billion of the federal funds to fortify the state budget and maintain fiscal integrity as Colorado bounces back. The funds will be deployed in future budget years to support critical priorities, such as K-12 education, housing, seniors, state parks and agriculture programs. The funds essentially buy down future obligations now to bolster the long-term health of Colorado’s state budget. “We are grateful for the significant federal relief that has helped so many small businesses stay open through the pandemic, but we know many Colorado businesses are still struggling to recover,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “ The legislature is setting aside $848 million in federal funds for future economic stimulus that will help sustain our recovery. The bill we passed today invests $40 million now to attract new businesses while allowing us to take the next six to eight months to see where there are gaps in the existing relief and craft policies that will help as many businesses and workers as possible.” SB21-291 , which is sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Kevin Van Winkle and passed 53-11, creates the Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund to respond to the economic impacts of the pandemic. It allocates $848 million for economic stimulus and relief initiatives that will be recommended through a robust interim committee process involving a diverse set of stakeholders from across the state. Additionally, it directs $40 million to the Strategic Fund in the Office of Economic Development and International Trade in order to incentivize companies to create jobs in Colorado and small businesses to relocate to rural Colorado. Previous Next

Fully funding Colorado schools for the first time since 2009, fulfilling promise to voters while supporting Colorado students and teachers < Back February 29, 2024 Governor Polis, State Legislators & Educators Celebrate Historic Education Funding DENVER - Today, Governor Polis, Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senate President Steve Fenberg, Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Barbara McLachlan, and Senators Rachel Zenzinger and Janet Buckner, joined educators and students to celebrate this year’s historic proposal to fully fund Colorado schools and eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor. In November 2023, Governor Polis unveiled a budget that fully funds Colorado schools for the first time since 2009, providing teachers with the resources they need to ensure student success. “Supporting students by ensuring educators have the resources they need to succeed in helping every child get a world-class education strengthens Colorado’s future and creates more economic opportunities for all Coloradans. This year's historic education funding marks the beginning of a new era of education funding in Colorado and I thank the General Assembly for its partnership in this important effort. I am proud to deliver for our students and our educators,” said Governor Polis. The Governor’s budget proposal, currently before the Joint Budget Committee for approval, fully funds the school finance formula through a K-12 program increase of $520.7 Million dollars, an average of $729 more per student or $16,000 for a classroom of 22 kids. This funding builds on the previous year's budget increase of $1,073 per student, totaling $11,399 per student for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. "I am proud to witness Colorado take this most vital step forward towards fully funding public education in our state,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and President of the Colorado Education Association. “This crucial investment is a step toward ensuring our educators have the resources and supports they need to provide students with the high-quality public education they deserve.” “Today is an extraordinary milestone for Colorado’s public schools; we’re paying off the budget stabilization factor!,” said Speaker McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This massive accomplishment is a direct result of years of strategic, thoughtful governing and our unwavering commitment to fully funding our K-12 public schools. Paying off the budget stabilization factor means school districts across Colorado can continue to boost teacher pay, reduce classroom sizes and address the unique needs of our rural schools.” "For too many years we have been shortchanging our kids and our schools, which is why I am thrilled to be a part of the team that is finally going to eliminate the BS factor once and for all," President Fenberg said. "Fully funding Colorado's schools will put us on a path towards paying teachers what their profession deserves, and will allow us to provide the much-needed classroom resources our students need to thrive." “The students hit hardest by budget stabilization factor underfunding have been students of color and students in the districts that serve greater numbers of vulnerable students,” said House Assistant Majority Leader Bacon, D-Denver. “Throughout my legislative career, we’ve taken significant steps to pay off large portions of the budget stabilization factor, and now it is time to fully pay it off. While this is a monumental accomplishment, we’re also laying the groundwork now to drive funding toward our schools so that every student has the support, education and resources they need to thrive.” “Buying down the budget stabilization factor honors our financial commitment to schools, teachers and students,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “While there is still progress that must be made to address the unique educational challenges of our K-12 public schools; buying down the budget stabilization factor is a huge accomplishment. We’re committed to championing future legislation that will continue to support our schools.” "Fully funding our schools and eliminating the BS factor is one of the main reasons I chose to run for the state senate, and every year I’ve been here I’ve fought tooth and nail to make it happen," Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, said. "But I think we all know that today is really just the start. We’ve got so much more to do to truly fully fund our schools–not just meeting the bare minimum, but exceeding it, so we can invest more critical resources that will help reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay, and provide a world class education for our children and youth." “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,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “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.” “Our teachers and students today, including my own child, only know underfunded schools; and one of the main reasons I ran for office was my passion for eliminating the budget stabilization factor in Colorado,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “This monumental achievement brings us up-to-date with our constitutional requirements for school funding, and sets us on a path forward to help reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay, and support our students with diverse needs.” Governor Polis and the General Assembly have consistently worked together to increase funding and expand access to educational opportunities. From increasing per-pupil funding by $3,276 per student since Governor Polis took office to providing free full-day kindergarten and free Universal Preschool, Governor Polis and the General Assembly have saved Colorado families money while giving Colorado’s students and teachers the tools and resources they need to thrive. Previous Next

< Back Lesley Smith Representative Smith was elected to represent House District 49, which spans western Boulder and Larimer Counties plus Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties. She is a member of the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources and the Energy & Environment committees. Smith had a thirty-year career as a research scientist and a science outreach specialist at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her research focused on the biogeochemistry of wetlands of large river systems, such as the Amazon, Orinoco and MacKenzie Rivers, as well as small alpine ecosystems in Colorado. She focused the latter part of her career on professional development of educators, graduate students and community college students all funded by the National Science Foundation. Smith was the first woman aquanaut to live and work in Aquarius, NOAA’s underwater research habitat. Smith has been a public servant for nearly twenty-years. She served eight years on the Boulder Valley School District, weathering the 2008 recession. She was appointed to the city of Boulder Water Resources Advisory Committee after the great flood of 2013. Additionally, she served as the University of Colorado Regent At-Large. Through her efforts, sustainability was added to the first-ever system-wide strategic plan, and she was a strong advocate for the state to allow out- of-state Native American students with tribal ties to Colorado to receive in-state tuition at all institutions of higher education. She will champion issues related to climate change, the environment and public education.

The House today passed the “Freedom to Read Act” by a vote of 42-22. < Back April 14, 2025 House Passes “Freedom to Read Act” DENVER, CO – The House today passed the “Freedom to Read Act” by a vote of 42-22. SB25-063 would create safeguards against book bans in public school libraries. “Knowledge is power, and our bill preserves access to age-appropriate literature in Colorado public schools,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “This legislation creates a standard process to evaluate a book’s inclusion or removal from a library – further shielding our public school libraries from D.C. culture wars and political fights. Schools are for learning, and our students deserve access to age-appropriate books that encourage them to think more broadly and critically about the world.” “Free societies don’t ban books. This bill maintains access to a wide range of literature, including books that share the experiences and voices of marginalized communities,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Books offer a window to the world where students can explore new places, discover different cultures and dive deep into a new experience. The freedom to read is a cornerstone to a strong democracy, and we’re making sure our students have access to age-appropriate literature.” SB25-063 would create safeguards against book bans in public schools by requiring local school boards to establish a standard policy on the acquisition, use and removal of library resources. The policy would ensure that any removal or restriction of a library resource follows a clear, fair and consistent process. Without a policy in place, a local school board or the Charter School Institute could not remove a library resource from its collection. SB25-063 would also prevent discriminatory policies and protect librarians from retaliation. Previous Next

< Back January 12, 2022 SPEAKER GARNETT: LET’S MOVE COLORADO FORWARD, TOGETHER Speaker Delivers Opening Day Speech as House Convenes for Second Session of 73rd General Assembly DENVER, CO– House Speaker Alec Garnett today delivered his Opening Day speech and outlined his vision for the 2022 legislative session and how the House can help save people money and move Colorado forward, saying: “For far too many families across our state, the going has gotten tougher and tougher in the last few years. Despite the incredible work we’ve done to make health care more affordable, create a more fair tax code, and support small businesses during their times of need, life in Colorado has gotten more and more expensive. That’s why my number one priority this session is to bring down the cost of living in Colorado and make life more affordable for families in our state.” In his speech, Speaker Garnett also outlined his plans to focus on more than just saving people money, explaining what it means to move Colorado forward: “We all know what drives Colorado forward: good jobs, healthy and safe communities, successful small businesses, well-funded schools and a thriving workforce. This session, we will deliver transformational changes that position Colorado for that future. Together, we’re going to build a safer, more affordable and healthier Colorado for all.”. Speaker Garnett made his commitment to public education plain and vowed to make the largest investment in K-12 in the state’s history: “I want to take a moment to acknowledge the dedication of every educator in the state who has bent over backwards to ensure that our students can continue their education despite the turmoil. Recognizing their heroic efforts and sacrifices, I vow to fight tooth and nail to ensure that we don’t divert a single dime away from public education. In fact, I’m proud to say that this session we are planning the largest investment in K-12 education in the state’s history.” The Speaker laid out the challenges facing Colorado and vowed to protect Coloradans’ democracy and fundamental rights, saying: “We cannot stand idly by while extremism threatens our liberty, our fundamental rights, and our democracy. As some continue to deny that the 2020 election was free, fair and decisive, we in Colorado will keep holding up our state-of-the-art elections system as a model for the rest of the country to increase voter participation while guaranteeing electoral integrity. As states across the country outlaw abortion, threaten reproductive rights and criminalize doctors who only seek to do right by their patients, we in Colorado will work overtime to ensure that the right to access a full range of reproductive health care, including abortion, is never infringed upon.” Tomorrow, the House and Senate will meet in a joint session to hear the governor’s State of the State address. ### The speaker’s full remarks are below: Opening Day Speech 2022 As prepared for delivery by Speaker Alec Garnett You know, it’s a bittersweet feeling, looking out on all of you today. Daneya, Patrick, Susan, Terri, Kevin, Kim: Today marks our last first day of session. Congratulations to all of you for serving your full 8 years, it’s certainly been an honor for me. We’ve come a long way since we were baby legislators. I’ve added a few grey hairs, a few pounds, and a few kids. All in all, I’m blessed to have served with each one of you and love you dearly. As Speaker, I am humbled by the opportunities we have this session to govern on behalf of every Coloradan. From the very beginning, our tenure has been shaped by the hands of history. Who would have guessed something as microscopic as a virus could hold the planet, and our fate, in a vice grip, shaping the way we govern. In a way, the challenge of this virus is fitting. As many of you know, viruses are ultimately determined by a term that is now firmly in our daily conversations: DNA. The structure, known as the double helix, is what we are used to seeing: two strands, intertwined, working together. I might offer, we across both parties, are the DNA of this building. Let us work together, to find solutions, to make progress, to deliver results People need and deserve a government that listens to them and makes their lives easier when they confront unforeseen challenges as individuals, families and businesses. The problems Coloradans are facing are dynamic. They are moving fast and changing quickly, so we as a government have to respond in kind. The unique situation we find ourselves in, not only because of COVID but also because of issues like the constant threats against our democracy, the rapidly changing economic landscape that has put enormous pressure on Colorado families, and the creeping menace of climate change, are a true test of all of us. Of how well our government can run when the going really gets tough. The issues we face are always in flux but the one constant that remains is this institution. I challenge each of you to put this institution first, like the thousands of legislators who served before us. In doing so, we’ll set an example for the thousands that will come after us. Speaking of those who have served in this chamber before our time, I’d like to take a moment to recognize the loss of former representative Mike McLachlan, a dear friend and a giant of Southern Colorado who dedicated his entire life to making our state and his home a better place for all. Barbara, we love you and we’re all here for you. There’s a lot we can learn from the legacy of Mike McLachlan. Despite serving in a fiercely competitive district, he was always willing to work across the aisle and collaborate with anyone on a good idea. This year, I’m proud to announce that I will once again appoint Marc Caitlin as Vice Chair of the Agriculture, Livestock and Water committee. To me, this is common sense: we all know Rep. Caitlin as an expert on these policy issues. But it’s more than that to me. The appointment is also symbolic. It’s a clear and resounding representation of my belief that in this building we work best when we work together. For far too many families across our state, the going has gotten tougher and tougher in the last few years. Despite the incredible work we’ve done to make health care more affordable, create a more fair tax code, and support small businesses during their times of need, life in Colorado has gotten more and more expensive. That’s why my number one priority this session is to bring down the cost of living in Colorado and make life more affordable for families in our state. As your Speaker, this will be the lens through which I will evaluate legislation: will this bill make life in Colorado more affordable or more expensive? How will this proposal improve life for everyday families struggling to make ends meet? With these questions as our north star, I’m confident we can move Colorado forward. Thankfully, we will not be starting from scratch. Far from it. For years now, this body has been hard at work ensuring that the future of Colorado is affordable. Our historic investments in education and the workforce development programs we instituted will ensure that Coloradans are ready to fill the high-paying jobs we’ve attracted to forge our state’s future. The early childhood education agency we created last year will get us closer to universal pre-K and, coupled with our work to provide full day Kindergarten across the state, we’re already helping young parents to save money on child care at a time when, on average, childcare costs almost as much as college. Our work to guarantee an affordable health insurance option in every county of the state means Coloradans will be better cared for and will keep more money in their pocket to spend when times are tough. The prescription drug affordability board we set up last year will help rein in the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs and prevent Coloradans from having to decide between buying life saving medication and putting food on the table. As a firm believer in government’s ability to get good work done despite the political muck, it brings me great satisfaction to know that many of these laws and programs were created in a cooperative and bipartisan way. I’m grateful to each of you, on both sides of the aisle, for the great effort you’ve made. But this year, as high costs of living continue to tighten their grip on the budgets of families in Alamosa, Denver, and Larimer County alike, it won’t be enough to cooperate on just ‘some’ of these solutions. So what more perfect time to come together than now? Coloradans need everyone in this chamber coming together to move Colorado forward. We all know what drives Colorado forward: good jobs, healthy and safe communities, successful small businesses, well-funded schools and a thriving workforce. This session, we will deliver transformational changes that position Colorado for that future. Together, we’re going to build a safer, more affordable and healthier Colorado for all. As I mentioned earlier, my top priority is to save Coloradans money. The people of Colorado deserve to do more than just get by. That’s why we have a plan for them to do better. Our investment of federal dollars will save Coloradans money by directing nearly $500 million into innovative affordable housing solutions. With your help and hard work, we’re going to create a Revolving Loan Fund to leverage private and local dollars to rapidly finance the development of affordable housing units. We’re going to deploy thousands of ready-to-go affordable homes quickly, especially in more rural parts of our state. And because housing costs are far from the only concern weighing on Coloradans’ minds, we’re going to keep working to lower prescription drug costs, ensuring that drug rebates are passed along to consumers, saving people money on health care. We’re going to save people money on child care by expanding universal preschool. We’re going to reduce fees associated with starting a business, or obtaining a professional license for nursing and other front line jobs. All of these innovative ideas will mean more money in Coloradans pockets, but they also mean a stronger, more resilient economy. Of course, this session will be as long as any other, so we’ll work on more than just saving people money. We are going to make smart public safety investments to prevent crime and reduce recidivism to make our communities safer. We want to stop crime before it happens, and will continue fighting to ensure that every Coloradan can feel safe in their community. We want to stop people, especially young people, from entering the system in the first place, and to provide those who do with the tools they need to turn their lives around. This means pursuing community-based solutions to homelessness and substance use disorders, working with local governments to address and prevent pandemic-induced crime, and investing in resources to break up crime rings. We will not go back to the failed policies of the past that overpopulated our prisons, wasted taxpayer dollars, and left us with high recidivism and not nearly enough rehabilitation. Instead, it’s time to make Colorado safer and forge a more compassionate, more effective criminal justice system. As events over the last year laid bare, climate change is an urgent, immediate threat to our state, and our communities. We’ve taken steps to significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and position our state toward a cleaner, greener future. But as last year’s ozone pollution days showed us, we have more to do. So we are going to better invest in our air and water by cracking down on polluters, improving our permitting and monitoring systems and reducing emissions on high ozone days like the ones we all suffered through last summer. We’re going to invest in cleaning our air now. COVID has been hard on all of us and we’ve all had to make enormous adjustments and sacrifices in the past couple of years. But few Coloradans have been tested and pushed to the brink the way that our educators have. Across the state, the job of educators has gone from tough to damn-near impossible. Classrooms have gone virtual, lesson plans have gone out the window, the mental health of our children has suffered, and teachers have been left to pick up the pieces while earning half of what they deserve. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the dedication of every educator in the state who has bent over backwards to ensure that our students can continue their education despite the turmoil. Recognizing their heroic efforts and sacrifices, I vow to fight tooth and nail to ensure that we don’t divert a single dime away from public education. In fact, I’m proud to say that this session we are planning the largest investment in K-12 education in the state’s history. Health care and public health will continue to guide many of the decisions we make in this building. Despite our exhaustion and fatigue, COVID has not relented yet. The Omicron variant is spreading through Colorado and our hospitals and their staff are still feeling the pressure. While vaccines are working and keeping those who have gotten the shot out of the hospital, the situation in Colorado and around the country remains dire. I’d like to take this moment to thank the frontline health workers, like our own Representatives Caraveo and Mullica, who have not rested to ensure the health and wellbeing of their fellow Coloradans. The best way to show our gratitude to these brave Coloradans is to keep doing our part. Get your booster shot, keep wearing masks, and look out for one another. When speaking of the duties of a citizen in a democratic Republic, Teddy Roosevelt said more than one hundred years ago that, in the long run, the success or failure of said nation would depend on the way in which the average man or woman does their duty, first in the ordinary, every-day affairs of life, and next in what he dubbed those great occasional cries which call for heroic virtues. This is one such moment. Colorado needs the heroism of every man and woman who wishes to see our state succeed. In the past few weeks, I have personally been reminded of the strength and resiliency of the people of Colorado. As we prepared to enter the new year, thousands of our friends and neighbors in Boulder county were displaced by the Marshall fire. I know the thoughts and prayers of everyone in this room remain with all those affected by the fire. Seeing people from every corner of the state step up to offer places to stay, items and funds to donate, reminded me of how tough every day Coloradans are. Of course, some take this a bit further and have made being “Colorado tough” a part of their job description. I’m talking about every single first responder who helped out that day, in particular Sheriff Joe Pelle and his team, whose ability to quickly execute the evacuation orders saved lives. It’s up to us to do our part to support first responders by continuing to tackle climate change head-on. There is no doubt that the severity and the devastation of the Marshall fire were intensified by our changing climate. Last year’s low precipitation, coupled with hurricane level winds, made for a perfect firestorm. What began as a suburban grass fire that would have raised little concern a decade ago ended as a destructive inferno and a reminder that climate change is a clear and present danger. We cannot let up our fight. Threats to our Colorado way of life are not only coming in the form of fires and pandemics. We cannot stand idly by while extremism threatens our liberty, our fundamental rights, and our democracy. As some continue to deny that the 2020 election was free, fair and decisive, we in Colorado will keep holding up our state-of-the-art elections system as a model for the rest of the country to increase voter participation while guaranteeing electoral integrity. As states across the country outlaw abortion, threaten reproductive rights and criminalize doctors who only seek to do right by their patients, we in Colorado will work overtime to ensure that the right to access a full range of reproductive health care, including abortion, is never infringed upon. Government works best when we look ahead and anticipate the problems of tomorrow. That’s why I’m so proud of this body, of each and every one of you, for the forward-thinking policymaking that we’ve done since the beginning of the pandemic. After we acted swiftly in 2020 during the special session to send relief to families and businesses, we pivoted in the middle of session to focus on allocating the federal relief dollars. We shored up our state’s reserves and we set aside hundreds of millions of dollars to make lasting, transformational change in the areas where help was needed most. Those areas for transformational change: affordable housing, workforce, mental and behavioral health and economic recovery are more important now than they were a year ago. Throughout our legislative interim, members have been working diligently in those areas to come up with legislative solutions to the second wave of pressing needs brought on by COVID. The bills that will come out of the interim task force processes won’t solve these problems overnight. But I am confident – as you all should be – that making historic investments in our state’s affordable housing, and mental and behavioral health infrastructure will address the root causes of crime, homelessness, and high costs of living in Colorado. If we do our jobs as well as I know we can, then we will be treating the underlying causes of the afflictions that face our state, not just managing the symptoms. Every year since I’ve been in this building, we sit here on Day One and lay out a laundry list of goals for ourselves. The task at hand seems monumental, even impossible at times, especially when you consider that the 120 day countdown has already begun. Yet, somehow, through many long nights, many challenging committee hearings, many heated debates, we always find a way to get things done. I’d like to take a moment here to talk about how I believe we should go about getting this done. Politics, as we all know, has always been a rough business. But we cannot allow ourselves to use any of this as an excuse to act in a way that is disrespectful or that dishonors this institution and the people who sent us here to govern. Don’t put your ambition before the decorum of this institution. Don’t use the well of this chamber as your twitter handle. Park your politics outside these hallowed doors. Being elected to this office is a tremendous responsibility, I don’t have to tell you that. That responsibility includes acting with respect, practicing compassion, and extending understanding to all of our fellow representatives. It’s impossible to know what each of your colleagues is going through, but I personally know of several members in this chamber who will be showing up to work this session while facing challenging and tragic situations in their personal lives. In times as tough as these, we must be graceful, kind, and dignified as we work with each other. I talk about respect for the institution and the importance of upholding decorum a lot. Some of you may be tired of hearing it from me, but the longer you spend in this building the more respect you have for the institution. It’s important to clarify that a failure in decorum is not you failing me. It’s you failing the people of Colorado. If you are not engaged in working on policy solutions, you are wasting the people’s time. We were not elected to bicker or squabble. We were elected to govern and lead. It’s up to us to restore people’s faith in government. As I mentioned when I began, governing through a pandemic has changed the way I think about our responsibilities as lawmakers. When we campaign, we all come in knowing what we want to focus on during our time in the legislature. We pull from our experiences, examine our own problems and aspirations, and decide the areas of public life we want to improve. Hopefully, when we are elected, we also know a little bit about what our constituents would like us to focus on. We have deep roots in our communities and spend time going door to door, hearing what people want and need from their government. What we don’t know is what hand we’ll be dealt while we’re in office. Societal unrest, global pandemics, economic downturns – as we all know, the focus of a legislative body can change in an instant. So our duty as Representatives is to do the best we can with the trust we’ve been given. It is to listen and problem solve. To work together and find nimble fixes to thorny problems. We owe it to our constituents, to this institution, and to ourselves to stay humble, stay flexible, and stay steadfast in our commitment to making life in this state a little bit better every single day. Let’s move Colorado forward, together. 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< Back June 19, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: BUDGET OUTLOOK STILL BLEAK, ECONOMY SLOWLY STARTING TO REBOUND AS CO SAFELY REOPENS DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee today released the following statements after the Legislative Council and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the June quarterly economic forecasts, both of which project slightly higher General Fund revenue compared to earlier estimates in May. “We’re seeing that as we work to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, our economy is slowly beginning to rebound,” said JBC Chair Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We had to pass a balanced budget with an over $3 billion shortfall, and we worked as hard as we could to mitigate the harm to our most vulnerable. We prioritized our students and teachers and the services hardworking Coloradans need the most right now. The truth is, there’s still a lot of uncertainty with how the virus will progress in the coming months and how that will impact our economy and our budget.” “As Colorado begins to open up and recover, we’re seeing our revenue forecast gradually improve as well,” said JBC Vice-Chair Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “But we are not out of the woods yet. COVID-19 remains a real threat to our communities and the economic impacts of the shutdown will have dire consequences for years to come. We need the federal government to step up and provide states with flexible funding while we continue to weather the storm, or there will be irreversible damage Colorado’s infrastructure.” “In the budget the General Assembly just passed, we prioritized education and our most vulnerable as we responsibly balanced the budget with hard choices and cuts that no one wanted to make,” said JBC Member Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “We closed special interest tax loopholes and put that money toward education and toward boosting incomes for hardworking Coloradans. That’s had a positive impact on our budget, and while revenues may increase a little next year, we’ll have fewer resources and face an even worse budget crisis if Congress doesn’t provide states with additional and flexible funding to protect our schools and core services.” “Facing an unprecedented blow to our state’s budget, I am incredibly proud of the way we were able to protect the priorities that matter most to Coloradans, including K-12 education and critical human services,” said JBC Member Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Unfortunately, despite modest improvements in our economy, our state revenue is set to see even bigger losses next year. We need to continue coming together to find creative solutions that help us navigate these difficult times, which is exactly what we are committed to doing.” The updated June forecast from Legislative Council staff (LCS) estimates that revenues will fall by 12.3 percent in FY 2020-2021 from the projected revenues for the current fiscal year. General Fund revenues are now expected to be $320.9 million more in FY 2019-2020 and $526.1 million more in FY 2020-2021 than anticipated in the May revenue forecast, due in part to tax policy changes enacted by the General Assembly in the 2020 legislative session and higher economic expectations. LCS anticipates lawmakers will have $10.8 billion available for the General Fund in FY 2020-2021, a 10 percent drop from anticipated revenue for FY 2019-2020. The June forecast from the governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting anticipates General Fund revenues will fall by 12.7 percent in FY 2020-2021 from projected revenues for the current fiscal year. General Fund revenue forecasts relative to the May estimate are up by $311.2 million for FY 2019-2020, and down by $82.3 million in FY 2020-2021. The OSPB estimates that $11.8 billion will be available for the General Fund next year, $1.6 billion less than what is projected for FY 2019-2020. The LCS estimate indicates there is downside risk to the forecast from a prolonged economic recovery or a double-dip recession due to the resurgence of COVID-19 this fall or “vicious cycle.” There is upside risk to the estimate from a faster economic recovery. Previous Next

Representative Mary Young today moderated a roundtable discussion at Greeley Central High School with Greeley-Evans School District 6 leaders on recent legislative efforts to increase public school funding and drive more resources to Greeley schools.  < Back August 7, 2024 Rep. Young, Greeley-Evans School District 6 Leaders Host Roundtable Discussion on New Education Funding GREELEY, CO – Representative Mary Young today moderated a roundtable discussion at Greeley Central High School with Greeley-Evans School District 6 leaders on recent legislative efforts to increase public school funding and drive more resources to Greeley schools. Panelists discussed the positive local impact of HB24-1448 , the new public school finance formula, which will increase funding for rural and underfunded districts and SB24-188 , the 2024 School Finance Act, which boosts funding for schools by eliminating the budget stabilization factor (BSF). “Increasing funding for public schools has been one of my top priorities, and I’m so proud that Greeley schools will soon see significantly more state resources because of recent legislation I supported,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “This roundtable discussion allowed us to dive deeper into our recent efforts to modernize Colorado’s school finance formula to better support our students. I’m extremely proud of our law to pay off the budget stabilization factor and invest more than ever in public education because our students and teachers deserve it.” “I’d like to thank Rep. Young for bringing us all together to discuss some of the positive legislative efforts to uplift and invest in our state’s public schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch . “The new school finance formula will directly impact our students with the greatest needs and direct more funding to Greeley-Evans School District 6 to help make up for the shortfalls we have seen in past years due to the Budget Stabilization Factor. We know modernizing the school finance formula didn’t happen overnight and this is a great first step. This formula will better support our students, teachers, and families.” “When it comes to education funding, HB24-1448 took a students-first approach, which meets our students where they are in Greeley 6,” said Chief Financial Officer Meggan Sponsler . “This roundtable discussion offered some insight into the new funding plan, which benefits districts like ours by allowing us to direct resources to our most impacted students and provide additional learning opportunities for all. I’m proud of our lawmakers’ efforts to not only invest in public education, but to ensure those investments prioritized students first.” “Education funding should be top of mind for our elected officials and this year’s impressive legislative efforts directly and positively impact Greeley-Evans School District 6,” said School Board President Michael Matthews . “The new funding formula will allow our district to enhance wrap-around services to students and their families, provide more learning opportunities for our students and support the social and emotional needs of the students we serve.” Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Greeley-Evans School District 6 will receive nearly $3.2 million more per year or $19.1 million more once the new formula is fully implemented after six years. Additionally, this district will receive a 1.2 percent increase in per pupil funding, bringing the average to $11,894 per pupil and a 72.1 percent increase in English Language Learner, at-risk, and special education funding. Representative Young has championed additional education legislation in 2024 including laws to create a new medical school in Northern Colorado, remove barriers for school psychologists to work in Colorado schools, ensure students with disabilities receive a full day of instruction, and combat the overdose epidemic in Colorado schools. Previous Next