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< Back June 25, 2020 AURORA HOUSE DEMOCRATS REACT TO ELIJAH MCCLAIN SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCEMENT DENVER, CO — Members of the House Aurora Delegation today released the following statement after Governor Polis announced he would direct Attorney General Phil Weiser to act as Special Prosecutor in an investigation into the death of Elijah McClain at the hands of Aurora Police officers: “The death of Elijah McClain at the hands of police is a tragedy, and far too many questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered. We’re heartened and grateful to see Governor Polis exercising his authority to appoint Attorney General Phil Weiser to conduct an investigation. High profile tragedies like this one shed light on the larger, systemic issues of police brutality that the legislature began to address this year by passing SB20-217. It is vitally important – for the McClain family, the Aurora community, and everyone in our state – that law enforcement responses resulting in death or potentially involving excessive use of force are investigated fully and fairly. We are confident that Attorney General Weiser will undertake a rigorous inquiry and are hopeful that the process will provide transparency and justice for the family of Elijah McClain.” The House Aurora Delegation includes Representatives Dominique Jackson, Mike Weissman, Janet Buckner, Jovan Melton, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet. Previous Next

< Back February 20, 2020 LEGISLATION TO COMBAT OPIOID CRISIS PASSES HEALTH AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE Legislation bolsters prevention efforts and would help reduce the rate of opioid deaths. DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Health and Insurance today advanced two bills that will help prevent more Coloradans from developing an opioid use disorder and reduce the rate of opioid overdose deaths. “We can lower the rate of opioid overdose deaths, slow the spread of communicable diseases and prevent more Coloradans from developing a substance use disorder, but we have to adopt best practices for prevention and provide better access to alternative pain therapies,” said Rep. Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “These bills will help keep Coloradans from developing a substance misuse disorder or dying of an overdose,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “Across our state, communities are being devastated by substance misuse disorder, and we need to act now to turn the tide in this deadly crisis. These bills will improve prevention efforts and help keep more Coloradans alive.” HB20-1085 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Leslie Herod focuses on prevention efforts. The bill would encourage best practices to prevent opioid misuse, increase access to alternatives to opioids for pain relief, expand continuing education for opioid prescribers and support the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to work with community partners such as local public health agencies in a variety of prevention efforts. It would also establish screening and brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) as a health care standard. Furthermore, it requires health plans to cover a minimum number of physical therapy, occupational therapy and acupuncture visits per year as alternative pain treatment and would require insurance companies to make opioid alternatives available at the lowest cost-sharing tier applicable. HB20-1085 passed the committee 10-0. HB20-1065 , which is also sponsored by Representatives Kennedy and Herod, aims to lower the rate of opioid overdoses and related deaths and better prevent the spread of communicable diseases that can be associated with the injection of illicit opioids. It would protect people who act in good faith to respond to overdoses by administering an opiate antagonist, such as naloxone, that has expired. The bill would also require insurance plans to reimburse hospitals that provide opiate antagonists to counteract overdoses that often occur upon discharge. To help prevent communicable diseases, the bill would allow pharmacists to provide clean syringes and removes a regulatory barrier to operating syringe exchange programs. HB20-1065 passed the committee 6-4. Opioid use disorder is impacting communities across Colorado. The state recorded 543 opioid overdose deaths in 2018. Data tracking the number of pills dispensed per person shows that some Colorado counties have rates that are higher or at the same level as some of the hardest-hit states, such as West Virginia and Kentucky. A 2018 estimate from the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that the opioid epidemic has cost the US $2.5 trillion from 2015 to 2018. Previous Next

< Back March 15, 2019 EDUCATION COMMITTEE APPROVES BIPARTISAN LONTINE BILL TO REDUCE SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS (Mar. 14) – The House Education committee voted in favor of Rep. Susan Lontine’s bipartisan bill to reduce preschool and early elementary out-of-school suspensions and expulsions. In Colorado and across the country, young children are being removed from pre-school and early elementary grades at alarming rates “Suspensions and expulsions disproportionately impact children of color and children with disabilities,” said Rep. Lontine, D-Denver. “This bill addresses a civil rights issue for our youngest learners.” Suspensions and expulsions result in the loss of valuable learning and enrichment time for Colorado’s kids. Young students, when they return to school, are often behind their classmates and more likely to be disruptive. In 2014 the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released data showing that black students are suspended and expelled at three times the rate of white students. That year, the Obama administration issued discipline guidelines aimed at reducing school suspensions of students of color. In 2018, the Trump administration and Sec. Betsy DeVos rescinded those guidelines. Suspensions and expulsions of students increase the likelihood of dropouts, academic failure and an increased likelihood of entry into the criminal justice system. The bill is aligned with national recommendations that seek to limit school removal for young children while promoting thoughtful exceptions that ensure school safety. The bill is supported by a number of stakeholders, including the Arc of Colorado, Colorado Children’s Campaign, Padres Jovenes Unidos, Colorado PTA and Colorado Education Association. HB19-1194 was approved on a bipartisan vote of 11-2 and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

Governor Polis today signed a bipartisan bill to support workforce development in Colorado. HB24-1365, sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens, and Senator Jeff Bridges would help communities address workforce shortages and create connections for Coloradans seeking high-paying, skilled careers. < Back June 7, 2024 SIGNED! Bipartisan Bill to Support Colorado's Workforce Becomes Law GRAND JUNCTION, CO – Governor Polis today signed a bipartisan bill to support workforce development in Colorado. HB24-1365 , sponsored by Representative Meghan Lukens, and Senator Jeff Bridges would help communities address workforce shortages and create connections for Coloradans seeking high-paying, skilled careers. “Over the years, Opportunity Now grants have sparked job growth and supported rural and mountain communities like in Northwestern Colorado,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “As we build new roads, bridges, businesses, and affordable housing – the demand for highly-skilled construction only increases. This bipartisan law outlines the final round of grant funding while addressing the need in the construction and building trades as they strengthen our communities. Our new law will save Coloradans money as they pursue good-paying jobs in the construction industry and fill critical workforce shortages.” “Opportunity is a core Colorado value, and every Coloradan should have the opportunity to earn a good life," said Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. "That opportunity often starts with a good education, one that's aligned with good-paying jobs in a person's community. Making sure what schools teach matches what businesses need is exactly what the Opportunity Now grant does, leading to better wages for workers, a well-trained workforce for our employers, and a stronger Colorado economy for everyone." HB24-1365 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle, supports the fourth and final round of the successful Opportunity Now Colorado grants. The goal of this law is to connect more Coloradans with in-demand, high-wage careers, specifically in the construction, infrastructure and building trades. This law also creates the Regional Talent Summit Grant Program that connects Coloradans to in-demand careers in their communities and offers a workforce shortage tax credit to upgrade training facilities and equipment. By leveraging federal investments outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and othe rs, it provides the opportunity to train workers in new, emerging fields. The Opportun ity Now grant program has awarded $27 million to 46 grantees representing 145 businesses and 78 education partners in 38 different industries. Previous Next

SB25-200 will require universal dyslexia screening for early elementary students in Colorado < Back May 23, 2025 Bill to Support and Identify Elementary Students with Dyslexia Signed Into Law SB25-200 will require universal dyslexia screening for early elementary students in Colorado WESTMINSTER, CO – The Governor today signed into law bipartisan legislation to jumpstart early identification, support, and clear communication with parents or guardians for elementary school students with dyslexia SB25-200 is sponsored by Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representatives Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, and Matt Soper, R-Delta. This new law will require schools to either adopt a universal dyslexia screening tool or develop a process to identify students in early elementary grades who exhibit characteristics of dyslexia, adding to existing reading interventions in the Colorado READ Act . “Supporting students with dyslexia requires a different approach than supporting those with general reading challenges – they need specific tools to succeed,” said Kolker. “The vast majority of other states already require universal dyslexia screenings, and with this law, Colorado is stepping up. Early intervention is everything, and every child deserves the opportunity to succeed with the right information and support.” “Dyslexia is the most commonly diagnosed learning disability, yet Colorado schools do not have a universal screening process,” said Hamrick. “As a former teacher, I know early intervention is key to setting our students on a pathway to success. Our new, bipartisan law will require Colorado schools to implement a universal dyslexia screening to ensure our elementary students receive the support, resources and tools they need to thrive.” “My ‘why’ for this bill is my amazing daughter, who has dyslexia,” said Mullica. “Even as a family actively involved in her education, we struggled to get her the support she needed to thrive. The screenings schools currently use for reading challenges don’t go far enough, and one-size-fits-all interventions simply don’t work. By implementing universal, early dyslexia screenings through this law, we can ensure that no child – regardless of their background or circumstance – falls through the cracks.” According to the Colorado Department of Education, dyslexia affects about 15 to 20 percent of the population, making it the most commonly diagnosed learning disability. Early intervention for dyslexia significantly improves educational outcomes. Before this law, Colorado was one of only seven states that did not mandate screenings for dyslexia. Previous Next

< Back May 31, 2019 POLIS SIGNS BILLS TO STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT STUDENTS’ RIGHT TO EDUCATION (May 31) – Today, Governor Polis signed a package of bills that strengthen teachers in schools, create resources to better help students with dyslexia, and create better protections to prevent sexual misconduct at higher education campuses. Rep. Barbara McLachlan’s bipartisan bill will create a pilot program that provides professional development training for school principals to build strong leadership in our education system and provide better support for educators and students. “We must ensure teachers in every district–including our rural districts–have the support they deserve in our classrooms,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Teachers must have access to the leadership support they need. When teachers are at their best, our students receive the best education.” Rep. McLachlan is the chair of the House Education Committee and is a former public school teacher in Durango. HB19-1002 represents the latest effort by Colorado lawmakers to implement the state’s blueprint to reducing Colorado’s teacher shortage. It builds upon a McLachlan-led bill, HB17-1003, which required the Departments of Higher Education (DHE) and Education (DOE) to put forth relevant policy recommendations to address the teacher shortage. The pilot program will provide preliminary analysis on the efficacy of providing professional leadership and development training to Colorado principals, an effort supported by strong academic and statistical research. Because it is a pilot program, lawmakers in both chambers will have the opportunity to review the pilot’s results and make a decision for how to move forward following its conclusion. Polis later signed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, that directs the commissioner of education to convene a working group to analyze state and national data and practices concerning identification and support of students with dyslexia and to recommend dyslexia screening tools and processes. “Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities affecting children. However, our public school system does not have a unified way of diagnosing dyslexia,” said Rep. Buckner. “This law will implement an in-depth process to enact the most effective program for dyslexia students here in Colorado.” Finally, Gov. Polis signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Janet Buckner and Rep. Barbara McLachlan that would add more guidelines and protections around sexual misconduct and violence in higher education institutes in Colorado. “Our current policy has a problem when we are seeing studies that one in five women and one in 16 men experience sexual assault during college. And what’s even more troubling is that only about 12 percent of victims actually report their assault,” said Rep. Janet Buckner.. “Sexual misconduct poses a serious threat to the safety of our students and interferes with our students’ ability to learn. This law ensures a fair and consistent response to sexual misconduct in higher education settings and creates equal rights for reporting and responding to parties in an incident.” SB19-007 creates a fair and consistent response to sexual misconduct in higher education settings to ensure that all students know how to report abuse and know that the administrative process will be fair for both parties. It requires institutions of higher learning to adopt policies that clearly outline the process for survivors of sexual misconduct, to provide support services for survivors and to distribute information across campus to inform students of the institution’s policies and procedures. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Higher Education to convene a biennial working group that will study best practices in order to prevent and raise awareness surrounding sexual misconduct. “This law will help get rid of sexual violence and abuse on campus. While we are waiting for the federal government to adopt and clarify the law, we are making sure our state laws are ready to follow and maintain protections for survivors,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan. “This is not a one-size-fits-all law but rather puts minimum requirements for policies regarding reporting and procedures for investigations for all higher education institutions.” In 2017, the Trump administration rescinded guidance for institutions of higher education on how they should address sexual assault under the federal law, Title IX. The lack of federal direction means that states like Colorado have to step up to develop policies that promote and ensure the safety of students on campuses around the state or risk losing important protections. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed into law three bills to help Colorado communities prepare for and mitigate wildfires. < Back May 12, 2023 Signed! New Laws to Protect Colorado Communities from Wildfires MORRISON, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law three bills to help Colorado communities prepare for and mitigate wildfires. SB23-166 , sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Tony Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs, and Reps. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, and Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, will help communities and Coloradans living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) defend homes and property from catastrophic wildfires by establishing a statewide wildfire resiliency code board charged with establishing proven building codes to better protect structures against increasingly common wildfires. Local governments in the new WUI area will be required to adopt the model code or a code of their own that meets or exceeds minimum standards. “An increasing number of wildfires that burn hotter and move faster are our new reality, so we must act now to protect our homes and businesses and create more resilient communities,” said Cutter, sponsor of SB23-166, SB23-013, and SB23-005. “Fires anywhere in Colorado affect all of us -- our water, air, economy and recreation. Creating minimum building standards and working to better understand the origins of fires just makes sense. These new laws will help us provide the tools and workforce necessary to better defend our communities against wildfires, and I'm thrilled to see them signed into law.” “We’re building smart to protect Coloradans who live in the wildland-urban interface from catastrophic wildfires,” said Froelich. “Wildfires do not recognize local boundaries, which is why our law will develop evidence-based minimum building standards to protect our homes and businesses. Smart and flexible building standards will fortify our neighborhoods and reduce wildfire destruction." “Wildfires do not respect boundaries, and when it comes to growth in the wildland-urban interface we need a statewide policy that reflects that,” Exum Sr. said. “Our legislation will set smart and flexible standards that protect families, homes, and businesses against increasingly dangerous wildfires. I am proud to champion this important new law that will defend people and property.” “With destructive wildfires repeatedly devastating Western Slope communities, it’s important that we build strong, resilient structures to safeguard our neighborhoods and livelihoods,” said Velasco. “This law establishes a plan to implement wildfire-resilient building codes across local governments to ensure we’re reducing the risk of wildfire displacement and destruction. We’re taking an important step forward protecting our communities now against the threat of wildfire.” SB23-166 creates the Wildfire Resiliency Code board made up of 21 voting members and three non-voting members representing local governments, utilities, insurers, and other relevant disciplines such as fire and building professionals that would work to define the WUI and establish minimum standards that better defend those areas from dangerous wildfires. The bill also requires the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to support local governments in conducting inspections and enforcing their local code if they don’t have rules and regulations in place to enforce their code and request the assistance. SB23-013 , sponsored by Senators Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, and Cutter, and Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer, creates a fire investigation fund and provides nearly $3 million to help investigate the causes and origins of fires, including wildfires. The new law also requires the Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to report on fire investigations to the Wildfire Matters Review Committee. “Fire season is no longer confined to a few months,” Ginal said. “It’s essential that we act now to prepare for and mitigate future wildfire disasters. By creating a new reporting protocol and a wildfire investigation fund, we are providing local fire departments with the tools they need to better understand the origins of fires, which will better protect our communities and enhance public safety across Colorado.” “Colorado has a devastating history of wildfires that have wiped out entire neighborhoods,” said Story. “Currently, Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control only has the resources to staff one full-time fire investigator to dig into the cause and origin of fires across the state, making it difficult to mitigate future wildfires. This law creates a wildfire investigation fund to better understand how fires are started so we can better prevent them and respond to them in the future.” The Director of DFPC will report annually to the Wildfire Matters Review Committee regarding the current magnitude of the state’s wildfire situation, including the number of wildfire investigations and their statuses, the status of prescribed burns, available resources, and more. Additionally, the fire investigation fund will provide support to local fire departments investigating the cause and origin of fires. SB23-005 , sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, and Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, will improve Colorado’s forestry workforce by directing the Colorado State Forest Service to develop educational materials on career opportunities in the industry and create a workforce development program in the State Forest Service. “Over the past few years wildfire season has evolved into a year-round threat, but right now we don’t have the workforce needed to keep us safe,” Jaquez Lewis said. “This new law will improve pathways to critical jobs and help Colorado communities stay safe by training more firefighters who will protect our people and our property from increasingly dangerous wildfires.” “Colorado’s state forest service plays an important role in helping mitigate wildfires by maintaining healthy forests,” said Snyder. “From cutting down dead trees to removing excess brush, the state forest service steps up to provide the year-round mitigation efforts we need to keep our communities safe from wildfires. This law ramps up workforce development and recruitment within the state forest service so we can continue these important wildfire prevention efforts.” SB23-005 also bolsters the state’s wildfire mitigation capacity development fund and creates and expands forestry programs at state colleges. Finally, the new law will work to increase the number of qualified educators at colleges that deliver a wildfire prevention and mitigation program or course. SB23-005 and SB23-013 were developed and recommended by the interim Wildfire Matters Review Committee . Previous Next

< Back February 8, 2023 House Advances Bill to Streamline Mental Health Treatment DENVER, CO - The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote allowing psychologists to prescribe limited mental health medications after receiving additional education and training. “If medication is part of a mental health treatment plan, patients often wait months or pay large out-of-pocket costs to find a licensed prescriber to write their prescription,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “This bill will improve access to the medication patients need by creating a path for psychologists to prescribe mental health treatment. Psychologists have a close relationship with their patients and a thorough understanding of how to treat mental illness, offering them important insight when it comes to the appropriate treatment.” HB23-1071 establishes rigorous standards and education requirements that a psychologist must undertake before being able to prescribe medication to treat mental health illnesses. Only licensed Ph.D. psychologists who receive an additional master’s degree in psychopharmacology, pass a national board exam, complete a preceptorship for up to two years, 750 hours of practicum work, and spend two additional years prescribing under the supervision of trained licensed prescribing clinicians or specialty provider if wanting to work with the pediatric or geriatric population. Once licensed, psychologists would work in conjunction with the patient’s primary care provider or general practitioner team to ensure that any prescribed medication is being monitored and working effectively for whole care health. Under this bill, these licensed psychologists will not be authorized to prescribe narcotic drugs. Currently, if medication is part of the patient’s care plan, the patient must meet with a doctor or psychiatrist to have the prescription issued. Few of the only 800 psychiatrists throughout Colorado accept Medicaid. Patients often struggle to find an available psychiatrist within their insurance network, forcing them to choose between large out-of-pocket costs or waiting months for the medication they need. Allowing psychologists limited prescribing authority to provide immediate access to medication can save the patient time and money. Psychologists work closely with their patients to determine how to best address their mental health needs. When patients meet with a doctor or psychiatrist, it’s often their first time discussing their mental health issues and telehealth appointments can make it difficult to accurately assess the patient’s condition. Allowing licensed psychologists who often meet monthly or even more frequently with patients and are more familiar with their condition to prescribe medication, streamlines access to effective health care and leads to more appropriate care. Previous Next

< Back July 29, 2024 McCluskie, Lukens Tour Behavioral Health Care Facility EDWARDS, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie, Representative Meghan Lukens and Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, today visited the Wiegers Mental Health Clinic. Lawmakers toured the youth and adult facility inpatient construction project and discussed workforce and affordable housing needs. “Expanding access to high-quality behavioral and mental health care in the high country is vital,” said Speaker McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The demand for more inpatient and outpatient facilities is not slowing – and it’s heartening to see our local facilities continue to expand to meet the needs of our community, especially our youth. From lowering the cost of prescription drugs and prioritizing care in rural, underserved areas, improving access to mental and behavioral health care is always top of mind for us.” “No matter where you live, you deserve to have access to mental and behavioral health care resources in your community,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “As we work toward a future of accessible, affordable health care for everyone, especially our youth, it’s exciting to see local behavioral health care facilities expand so our neighbors can access care that’s close to them. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to not only prioritize mental and behavioral health care in our state, but make it more accessible for families and youth.” In 2023, Vail Health Behavioral Health opened the Wiegers Mental Health Clinic to meet the growing demand for outpatient care in Eagle County. In recent years, lawmakers have championed behavioral health care legislation to expand care in rural and agricultural communities, allow youth to receive free therapy sessions , and expand the health care workforce . Previous Next

< Back Bob Marshall Bob Marshall was elected in the 2022 election to serve as the Colorado state representative from Highlands Ranch. He serves on both the Finance and Business Affairs & Labor committees. Born and raised in Colorado, Bob attended Georgetown University and then joined the Marine Corps. After six years on active duty, the Marine Corps sent Bob to Cornell Law School where he graduated with a J.D. and LL.M. in International Law. Following service overseas as a Senior Defense Counsel and SJA, Bob left the Corps to clerk for the Honorable Judge Siler on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and returned to Colorado to practice law. The Marine Corps mobilized Bob for duty in Iraq as a Police Transition Team leader and for service in Afghanistan. After Afghanistan, Bob served at Wounded Warrior Battalion, practicing disability law for service-members while earning a Tax LL.M. from the University of San Diego. He then began working for the tax litigation division of the IRS. When the COVID pandemic began, Bob returned to Colorado and became increasingly involved in the community, ultimately leading to his election as the first Democratic Representative from Douglas County since 1966. Bob’s wife of 29 years works at an Alzheimer’s facility while his daughter continues the multi-generational family tradition of military service as a nuclear submarine officer.

Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill aimed at building strong career pathways for students. < Back May 23, 2024 Bill to Create Strong Career Pathways for Students Signed into Law ENGLEWOOD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill aimed at building strong career pathways for students. HB24-1364, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, will streamline career pathways for high school graduates. “With this law, we’re strengthening career pathways that will make it easier for Coloradans to secure good-paying jobs in communities they love,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This law improves student access to high school programs that offer college credits, college credits, industry credentials, or quality work-based learning experiences. Together, we’re investing in our workforce, boosting local economies, and making it easier for our learners to find and succeed in a career that will help them not just get by, but thrive in a well-paying job.” “To meet Colorado’s workforce and education demands, we need to make it easier for our learners to plan and succeed for their next career steps,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver . “This law creates a data system that will make it easier for Colorado learners, school districts and higher education to connect to college credit, apprenticeship and other work-based learning programs. Our law invests in learners by connecting them to careers that have significant growth and earning potential.” HB24-1364 will implement recommendations from the 1215 Task Force to help meet workforce demands and foster career pathways for Coloradans. HB24-1364 will create a detailed study to uncover the cost benefits of streamlining the administration and financing of postsecondary workforce readiness programs to state and local education providers. This law also lays the foundation of a data system to measure the impact and outcomes of education and workforce programs. The data collected by this program will be more accessible to learners, families, and other decision-makers when it comes to choosing a career pathway. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to make gun violence prevention and public safety efforts more accessible to parents and legal guardians of students. < Back March 19, 2025 House Passes Bill to Improve Public Safety, Reduce Youth Violence DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to make gun violence prevention and public safety efforts more accessible to parents and legal guardians of students. HB25-1250 aims to keep Colorado youth and our communities safe . “As a gun violence prevention advocate and a former teacher, I know our students are counting on us to boost access to the tools that help mitigate youth violence and senseless gun deaths,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “Our student-supported bill works to increase community awareness and provides parents and guardians with the safe storage resources to communicate with their children about gun violence. Together, we’re taking a public health approach to connect our communities with resources to create a safer, more supportive space for our youth.” “Between raising the minimum age to purchase firearms to improve safe storage, we’re taking a multi-prong approach to addressing gun violence in our communities and schools,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill boosts awareness for parents and guardians by providing them with resources, specifically prevention or intervention services, to help them better communicate with their children about gun violence. Building upon my safe storage legislation from 2021, this bill works to spread awareness, making sure firearms are properly stored to keep our communities safe.” HB25-1250 passed the House by a vote of 43 to 21. The bill would increase education on gun violence prevention and public safety efforts by requiring the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to accessibly list gun violence prevention materials on their website. Specifically, these materials would be posted or linked online so school districts, charter schools, facility schools, a board of cooperative services, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind could distribute these materials at the beginning of each school year to each parent, guardian, and legal custodian of an enrolled student. Under the bill, materials could be provided in written or electronic format, and local education providers would be required to also post the materials to their websites. Denver has worked closely with CU Boulder and Denver Health to use evidence-based approaches to addressing youth violence in Colorado. A Public Health Institute report outlined helpful public health focused strategies to combat youth violence, including the importance of identifying risk factors, intervening before violence can occur, and increasing awareness of this topic as a deterrent of gun violence. In 2023, Rep. Hamrick also sponsored a law to combat youth gun violence by raising the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21. That same year, a bipartisan group of legislators created the Office of School Safety which provides rapid response grants to support safety efforts in public schools, public charter schools, community-based organizations, and cities and counties. Previous Next