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Legislation would improve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal transfers, ghost guns, and investigations on tip line requests < Back April 10, 2024 Bill to Improve Investigations of Illegal Firearm Activity Passes Committee Legislation would improve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal transfers, ghost guns, and investigations on tip line requests DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed gun violence prevention legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Meg Froelich that would improve investigations of illegal firearm activity. SB24-003 passed by a vote of 8-3, with all Republicans on the committee voting against more resources to crack down on illegal activity. “Colorado Democrats should be proud of what we have accomplished on Gun Violence Prevention, including magazine limits, safe storage, and prohibitions on unregistered “ghost” guns,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “But we must ensure that our law enforcement officials are able to investigate illegal firearm crimes. This bill gives CBI the authority and the resources to act on the investigations with local law enforcement.” “One of my top priorities as a legislator is making our communities safer, which is why I’m proud to carry this bill to help the Colorado Bureau of Investigations prevent gun crimes,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill creates a framework for CBI to identify and prevent illegal firearm transfers and ghost guns, as well as investigations from a tip line, to give them more tools to improve safety in every corner of Colorado.” SB24-003 would give the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the ability to investigate illegal activity involving firearms. It would appropriate $1.7 million to the Department of Public Safety to create a team that investigates individuals convicted of felonies who are attempting to illegally purchase a firearm, and other illegal firearm crimes such as possession of a ghost gun. Previous Next

Legislation would require jails to follow standards adopted by the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards < Back November 28, 2023 Interim Committee Approves Bill to Implement Statewide Jail Standards Legislation would require jails to follow standards adopted by the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards DENVER, CO – Today, the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards (Committee) voted to advance a bill that would help ensure individuals housed in jails across the state have a basic set of rights. Sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, Senator James Coleman, D-Denver, Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Representative Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, Bill 1 would require jails to follow standards adopted today by the Committee that address and improve the rights of people incarcerated in jails, including access to health care, visitation, housing, discipline, and more. “In order to reduce recidivism and improve safety in our communities, certain quality standards must be met in Colorado’s jails,” said Fields. “With this bill, we are taking the first step towards implementing statewide jail standards and bolstering access to services that can better outcomes for incarcerated individuals. By involving a broad coalition on the Jail Standards Advisory Committee, we will develop a rounded approach to the continued improvement of incarcerated Coloradans’ rights.” “The conditions that incarcerated Coloradans experience in jail play a role in reducing recidivism and our overall public safety,” said Amabile. “Our 2022 legislation created an oversight committee to study possible changes we could make to standards in Colorado jails. The bill we advanced today extends the oversight committee’s role in continuing to revise jail standards and involving behavioral health professionals, law enforcement agencies, and county representatives to implement these new standards.” “Too often differences in Colorado jail standards result in a lack of appropriate care,” said Coleman. “By requiring jails to comply with statewide standards established by the Legislative Oversight Committee, we can better ensure that individuals' needs are being met and we can improve outcomes for those incarcerated in Colorado jails. I look forward to the work ahead to implement statewide standards and build on our progress of creating a more just criminal justice system.” “Coloradans who are in custody should not be subject to unsafe conditions,” said Garcia. “The Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards recommends new jail standards based on data and insight from criminal justice professionals to ensure that basic needs are met and dignity preserved. Our bill facilitates the implementation of these changes, creating a safer environment in jails and better outcomes for incarcerated Coloradans that reduce recidivism and cycles of incarceration.” The bill creates a Jail Standards Advisory Committee composed of sheriffs, county commissioners, the state public defender, and advocates. The Advisory Committee would be charged with conducting jail assessments to ensure compliance with the standards, establishing assessment standards and procedures, and submitting an annual report and recommendations to the Legislative Oversight Committee. The Attorney General’s office would conduct jail assessments in partnership with the Advisory Committee, and could conduct investigations regarding potential violations of the standards. Under the bill, the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety is required to create a list of funding assistance and resources for jails to offset the costs of complying with the new standards. Previous Next

< Back June 22, 2021 TITONE, DAUGHERTY STATEMENT ON ARVADA SHOOTING, DEATH OF OFFICER GORDON BEESLEY Arvada lawmakers mourn loss of 19-year veteran of the Arvada Police Department DENVER, CO — Representatives Brianna Titone and Lindsey Daugherty (D-Arvada) today released the following statement in response to the shooting that took the life of Arvada Police Department Officer Gordon Beesley and a still-unnamed civilian. “Our peaceful community is reeling from what has become a tragically familiar incident of gun violence, this time taking the life of Officer Gordon Beesley and another innocent person enjoying an afternoon in Old Towne Arvada. By all accounts, Officer Beesley was a kind, generous individual who served his community with dignity and passion. He worked with high school students and developed close personal bonds with them, demonstrating his commitments to the Arvada community. Today, we mourn this untimely passing and send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims.” Previous Next

< Back June 11, 2020 PAID SICK LEAVE AND TELEHEALTH EXPANSION ADVANCE DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Health and Insurance today advanced bills to provide paid sick leave and expand access to telehealth. “We’re working to help Coloradans safely get back to work, and that means allowing workers to stay home if they are sick so that they don’t hurt their colleagues or customers,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “As a mother of two young boys, I know how important this policy is for working parents. No one should be forced to choose between earning a paycheck and going to the doctor or caring for a sick child.” “If Coloradans return to work while they are sick, then we may see a second wave of the virus,” said Rep. Caraveo, D- Thornton. “We need to stop incentivising people to go to work sick. As a pediatrician, I know that paid sick leave is essential for a healthy workforce that can stay on the job and help keep our businesses open.” SB20-205 , sponsored by Speaker KC Becker and Representative Yadira Caraveo, passed 6-4 and would allow workers to earn paid sick leave. The bill allows Colorado workers, including part-time workers, to earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours of work, up to 6 days per year. Sick leave is earned, job-protected time off that workers can use to care for their own health needs or those of a family member. The bill also provides leave during a public health emergency like COVID-19, employees that work 40 or more hours a week will receive at least 80 hours of additional paid sick leave. “Telehealth has allowed Coloradans across the state to get the care they need during this pandemic,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “If we don’t act, then access to these critical services could expire, so we are advancing legislation to extend and protect Coloradans ability to use telehealth and get the care they need.” SB20-212 , sponsored by Representatives Susan Lontine and Matt Soper, R-Delta, protects access to physical and mental health care via telehealth by continuing policies implemented during the pandemic to expand reimbursement for telehealth services. The bill requires that insurers, including Indian Health Services and Medicaid, continue to reimburse providers for telehealth services. Telehealth coverage helps Coloradans in rural and mountain communities access care without traveling long distances and provides access to care for people served by federally qualified health centers. Previous Next

< Back May 7, 2023 House Passes Colorado River Drought Task Force DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie to identify steps the state can take to protect the Colorado River and all who rely on its water. “On the Western Slope, the Colorado River speaks to the very spirit of our Colorado way of life,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “This bipartisan legislation brings every voice to the table, uplifts the needs of Coloradans from around the state and ensures collaboration between the state and local voices to find solutions to the devastating impacts of a hotter, drier climate. Troubling drought conditions have put the water we use for agriculture, outdoor recreation and drinking in jeopardy and threatens our economic future. This bill will help us craft a robust plan to ensure our water future.” SB23-295 , also sponsored by Representative Marc Catlin, passed the House by a vote of 63 to 2. This bill creates the Colorado River Drought Task Force that would include representatives from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, regional water conservation districts, local governmental officials, agricultural producers, environmental non-profit organizations, and others that have diverse experiences with complex water issues. By December of 2023, after an extensive stakeholding process open to public comment, the task force would make policy recommendations to the General Assembly to: Proactively address the impact of droughts on the Colorado River and its tributaries, Avoid disproportionate economic and environmental impacts to any one region of the state, Ensure that any program related to the acquisition of agricultural water rights is voluntary, temporary, and compensated, Assure meaningful collaboration among the Colorado River District, Southwestern Water Conservation District, and the State of Colorado in the design and implementation of drought security programs, and Evaluate sources of revenue for the acquisition of program water. A sub-task force consisting of representatives from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Department of Natural Resources would also be established to provide policy recommendations to the General Assembly to address tribal needs. These recommendations would consider the unique nature of tribal water rights and tribal water use. The Colorado River provides water to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Mexico. Over 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for their water supply, and record-breaking heatwaves and droughts in the Southwestern US have only exacerbated water conservation issues. SB23-295 will rely on water experts and relevant stakeholders to provide effective solutions to the General Assembly so our state can protect the Colorado River and its tributaries through meaningful collaboration with local voices and without disproportionate impacts on certain regions of the state. Previous Next

After a long-fought scrimmage that embroiled lawmakers, their states, and two Presidential Administrations, the US Air Force will permanently base Space Command in Colorado Springs. The reversal of former President Donald Trump’s decision to move Space Command out of our state speaks to Senator John Hickenlooper’s leadership throughout the basing decision process and, ultimately, the current Administration’s decision to put national security before politics. < Back Rep. Marc Snyder: Keeping Space Command in Colorado Good for National Security Nov 1, 2023 See more This op-ed was originally posted in the Gazette After a long-fought scrimmage that embroiled lawmakers, their states, and two Presidential Administrations, the US Air Force will permanently base Space Command in Colorado Springs. The reversal of former President Donald Trump’s decision to move Space Command out of our state speaks to Senator John Hickenlooper’s leadership throughout the basing decision process and, ultimately, the current Administration’s decision to put national security before politics. In early 2021, the Trump administration announced Space Command would be re-headquartered thousands of miles away from its preliminary headquarters in Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. Proponents of keeping Space Command in Colorado have argued that the move of a defense base of this gravity would have taken over a decade to complete and shipped off thousands of high-ranking military officials and jobs. It also cast doubt on the integrity of the Pentagon’s basing process and jeopardized our military readiness at a time when space is increasingly important to our national security. Senator Hickenlooper has long emphasized that the basing decision should center on operational readiness, not politics. Yet despite clear evidence that keeping the base in Colorado would help us reach readiness quicker, partisan politics got in the way, and their indifference to choosing the best option for our country was on full display. This is precisely what Alabama lawmakers did when one blocked the Department of Defense from routinely reallocating funds as a part of a political battle to secure a favorable outcome for Alabama. Senator Hickenlooper rightly highlighted this misuse of political power to regulate defense spending, stating that this action penalized troops for political interests. He also called out the lawmakers for intertwining special interests and blowing smoke to force a decision. In the end, President Biden ultimately sided with the evidence and decided that the Peterson Space Force in Colorado Springs was the best location for Space Command. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the objective analysis from General James Dickinson, who argued that moving the headquarters would threaten our military readiness, which would far outweigh any minor benefits of moving to Alabama. Although this decision was made based on preparedness, not political gains, one would be remiss to overlook the economic benefits of keeping Space Command in Colorado Springs. The governor’s office estimated that over 274,000 people in Colorado are employed in national security aerospace, and the state leads the nation in private aerospace employment per capita. This decision preserves the nearly 1,400 jobs and $1 billion annual economic impact reliant directly on Space Command’s base in Colorado Springs. That’s a huge impact on our city’s and our state’s economy. Leaders in the business community have applauded the decision, stating that keeping the headquarters in our state will protect our jobs, continue to boost the economy, and not displace Space Command’s military and civilian workforce and their families. During a fraught geopolitical moment in history – one in which China and Russia have proven their aerospace capabilities – our lawmakers should know better than to pit party politics against national security decisions. Using political tools to control national defense spending to further political interests is not how lawmakers should legislate nor how government should be run. Thankfully, Colorado’s senators recognize that their job is to always put the well-being and safety of the general public first, and they fought hard to ensure US Space Command kept its home in our state. Previous Next

< Back March 12, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES JACKSON-GALINDO BILL TO HELP RENTERS Colorado ranks among lowest when it comes to renters rights (Mar. 11) – The House gave preliminary approval to Rep. Dominique Jackson and Rep. Rochelle Galindo’s bill to allow sufficient time for tenants to remedy a lease violation before getting evicted. “This bill will give hardworking people additional time to find the resources they need to stay in their homes, and that helps the renter as well as the landlord and could help prevent homelessness,” said Rep. Jackson, D-Aurora. “Rental assistance is available, but people need more time to get that assistance. Homelessness is already a problem. Let’s help keep people housed.” Current state law does not allow sufficient time for tenants to remedy a late rental payment or minor lease violation. Right now, Coloradans can have an eviction filed against them within three days of missing a payment. Three days is not enough time to find a new place to stay, to move out, or to find pro-bono legal resources to help postpone an eviction and leads to instability and homelessness or even job loss. Forced moves or evictions have a domino effect in communities across Colorado leading to homelessness, poverty and job loss. Housing instability benefits no one and often destabilizes families, children’s education and local communities. “Hardworking families and individuals struggling to get ahead are being evicted from their homes for owing as little as $40. This bill ensures a tenant has sufficient time to make their rent payment,” said Rep. Galindo, D-Greeley. “ This bill will help prevent the downward spiral into poverty that is so often associated with an eviction.” Under HB19-1118, tenants will now receive 10 days to pay their rent or address a minor lease issue before an eviction is filed against them, up from three days. House Republicans offered many amendments to gut the bill and perpetuate the cycle of evictions that is plaguing so many Coloradans and their families. They frequently sided with those landlords that look to make a profit rather than ethically housing people. Having an eviction record can make it close to impossible for an individual or family to secure housing in the future. Twenty-eight states give more notice before eviction than Colorado in the case of unpaid rent and 36 states provide more notice in the case of other lease violations. The bill passed by a voice vote. It still requires a final vote in the House before going to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! LEGISLATION TO PRESERVE VOTING OPTIONS FOR COLORADANS DISPLACED BY MARSHALL FIRE New law preserves voting access for both renters and property owners displaced by the fire DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law that will allow Coloradans impacted by the Marshall Fire to use their home address on their voter registration if their home was destroyed. “The Marshall Fire forced thousands of Coloradans out of permanent residences and into temporary housing. Knowing that the rebuilding and recovery process will take months and even years, we need to be thinking ahead to make sure voter registration options are preserved,” said Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “Every Coloradan deserves to cast a safe, secure vote in every election, and this law will ensure that we’re protecting the sacred right to vote for those impacted by the Marshall Fire, while establishing a clear process to abide by in the event of future disasters.” “With Colorado’s primaries just around the corner, this law assures voters displaced by the Marshall Fire that they’ll be able to vote in their communities, regardless of if they owned a home or rented before being forced to evacuate,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “This law will preserve access to Colorado’s gold standard elections for every voter displaced by the Marshall Fire and ensures they have a voice in who represents them.” “This important bill will provide Colorado voters who are temporarily displaced by natural disasters like the Marshall Fire the certainty they need to continue using their home address to vote,” said Secretary of State Jena Griswold. “No person should have to worry about accessing the ballot box during such an incredibly difficult time, and these voters should be able to cast a ballot on the issues and candidates for the community that they truly call home.” “Part of what makes the Colorado system of voting a national gold standard is its flexibility and ease of receiving and returning a mail ballot,” Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County said. “This law will ensure those impacted by the Marshall Fire have the flexibility they need to continue voting easily where they always have. This bill represents one of the many ways the legislature is providing support to impacted Boulder County residents and is an important piece of short term recovery. I’m grateful to have partnered with Clerk Fitzpatrick to quickly bring this bill to fruition.” “My heart still breaks for the Coloradans who are struggling to rebuild their lives after losing everything they had,” said Rep. Tracey Bernett, D-Louisville. “ This law offers voters displaced by the fire the peace of mind that they will still be able to easily cast their ballot in their communities.” SB22-152 , allows registered Colorado voters displaced by the Marshall Fire and temporarily living at another location to use their home address on their voter registration if their home was destroyed or unfit to live in. To receive their ballot, voters can update their voter registration with the Colorado Secretary of State using an alternative mailing address and leave their residential address untouched. The law preserves voting options for both renters and homeowners. This law will also solidify a standard practice commonly used by county clerks following natural disasters. SB22-152 passed committee unanimously and will extend voter protections to Colorado voters displaced from natural disasters including floods, fires and tornadoes. More than 900 homes were destroyed in Louisville and Superior during the Marshall Fire in December 2021, resulting in the displacement of thousands of Coloradans. Previous Next

The House Judiciary Committee today passed two commonsense gun violence prevention bills to strengthen Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law and create new avenues for gun violence victims to pursue justice. < Back March 23, 2023 Bills Advance to Expand Red Flag Law, Allow Victims of Gun Violence to Seek Justice DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed two commonsense gun violence prevention bills to strengthen Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law and create new avenues for gun violence victims to pursue justice. “The data is clear; Red Flag laws are effective in saving lives and preventing gun violence,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, sponsor of SB23-170 . “Colorado’s Red Flag law currently allows family members, roommates, or law enforcement officers to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order. Our bill expands the law so district attorneys, other law enforcement agents, licensed health care providers, mental health professionals, and educators can file an order to keep our communities safe and remove firearms from dangerous individuals.” “Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law has shown to be a successful tool in preventing guns from ending up in the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves and others,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of SB23-170 . “Expanding the types of professionals who can file a petition will further reduce suicides and homicides throughout the state. Allowing more qualified individuals to file a petition for removal will increase use of this effective tool to keep our communities safe from gun violence.” Originally passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Polis in 2019, the Zackari Parrish III Violence Prevention Act is a tool used to temporarily remove firearms from a person who a judge determines is a threat to themselves or others. Currently, a petition for removal can only be filed by a family member or a law enforcement officer. SB23-170 will expand the list of individuals eligible to file an ERPO to include district attorneys and other law enforcement officials, licensed health care providers, mental health professionals, and educators. The bill passed by a vote of 9-4 . According to the Associated Press , Colorado has one of the lowest use rates of its Red Flag law. Colorado issued only 3.3 protection orders per 100,000 adult residents through 2021, ranking the sixth lowest among 19 states that have Red Flag laws. In comparison, Florida issues 33.6 protection orders per 100,000 adult residents. Researchers have found that for every 10 to 20 protection orders, one suicide might be averted. With SB23-170 expanding eligible individuals that can file a petition for removal, more lives can be saved by gun violence. “Current Colorado law gives gun sellers and manufacturers legal immunity that far exceeds what is reasonable and just,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, sponsor of SB23-168 . “By removing Colorado's extreme gun industry immunity law, gun violence victims’ will be able to pursue accountability for the pain and suffering they experienced due to the gun industry’s firearm law violations. Colorado gun violence survivors deserve their day in court.” "I believe deeply in the idea that we are all responsible for our behavior and may be held accountable when our actions cause harm to others, " said Rep. Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie, sponsor of SB23-168. "Currently under Colorado law, the gun industry benefits from excessive legal protections that other businesses in other industries do not enjoy. This legislation ensures that Coloradans who are harmed by any irresponsible or dangerous business practice may seek redress in our state courts and will encourage actors in the industry to follow the laws that keep us safe." Right now, gun sellers and manufacturers enjoy broad protections under federal law from most types of civil lawsuits - and Colorado law goes even further by including a punitive provision that makes victims of gun violence who sue the gun industry pay the company’s legal fees in dismissed cases. SB23-168 would remove Colorado’s overly-broad immunity protections for gun sellers and manufacturers and allow legitimate lawsuits against the gun industry to move forward. The bill passed by a vote of 9-4. After their daughter was killed in the Aurora theater shooting, Sandy and Lonnie Phillips sued four online retailers that irresponsibly sold magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and body armor to the murderer. Under Colorado’s immunity law, they were forced to pay around $200,000 in legal fees to bulk ammunition sellers. They ended up selling their house and declared bankruptcy. Civil liability plays an important role in promoting consumer safety, and lawsuits can help incentivize industries to take reasonable steps to prevent their products or business practices from causing foreseeable risks to human life and wellbeing. Removing Colorado’s gun industry shielded liability will allow survivors like the Phillips and countless others to seek appropriate justice and fair remedies via civil actions, and will give survivors the legal opportunity to hold gun sellers and manufacturers accountable for their actions. Previous Next

< Back May 28, 2021 IT’S THE COLORADO COMEBACK, FOR KIDS! House advances bills to invest in early childhood education and care and provide schools with funding to make air quality improvements DENVER, CO– The House today passed two state stimulus bills to fund air quality improvement projects in public and charter schools and channel state and federal funds to support Colorado’s families by investing in our early childhood education and care providers. These bills are a part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bills passed the House on Second Reading. “As we work to ensure our students and educators have the resources they need to close the COVID learning gap, we have to make sure that their learning environments are adequate, comfortable, and safe,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, sponsor of SB21-202. “Investing in the quality of the air our children breathe while they learn should be a basic priority, and I’m proud that we were able to provide this funding today.” “The COVID-19 pandemic forced far too many working parents, especially working moms, out of the workforce,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, sponsor of SB21-236. “This is a once in a generation investment in child care and early childhood education, and it’s just one of the many ways the legislature is working to offset the disparate impact that this economic downturn has had on women. I’m committed to providing young Colorado families with the support they need to help their children learn and grow in the critical early childhood years, all while continuing to pursue their professional goals and contribute to our economy.” SB21-202 , also sponsored by Rep. Colin Larson, would allocate $10 million for Building Excellent Schools Today grants to fund much-needed public school air quality improvement projects to improve air quality in as many public and charter school facilities as possible. Kids learn better in environments that are safe, clean, and healthy. Unfortunately, over the years, Colorado’s deferred maintenance of school facilities has grown, particularly in rural areas. These construction and capital projects will create good jobs, make long-term improvements to Colorado schools’ infrastructures, and provide safer, more constructive learning environments for students. SB21-236 , also sponsored by Rep. Tonya Van Beber, takes several steps to support child care providers and young families in Colorado. First, it creates the new innovative Employer-based Child Care Facility Grant Program and funds it with Colorado Comeback state stimulus dollars. The program would award matching grants to nonprofit, private, and government employers to retrofit and develop new, on-site or near-site, licensed child care facilities. These grants are meant to ensure that Coloradans have access to high-quality child care at their places of work as we come out of the pandemic, and would prioritize employers whose workforce earns below the area median income. The bill also sets up a framework to ensure hundreds of millions of federal dollars directed to the Child Care and Development (CCDF) fund can be spent effectively and efficiently by the Department of Human Services. These funds have already been disbursed by the federal government but require state approval to be properly implemented. SB21-236 sets up several new programs and adequately funds several others to ensure Colorado’s youngest kids, as well as their parents and early childhood professionals, can thrive. The seven programs in this category, as outlined in the bill’s fiscal note , include The Child Care Sustainability Grant Program, created in last year’s special session to provide financial support to licensed child care providers and neighborhood youth organizations that were at risk of closing their doors due to the pandemic. The bill also creates and funds several programs to foster innovation, recruit and retain educators, and support mental health wellness in the early childhood education and care sector. Previous Next

The second regular session of the 74th General Assembly concludes today, with Democratic lawmakers securing breakthrough victories on the issues that matter most to Colorado families: saving people money on housing, increasing education funding to historic levels by eliminating the budget stabilization factor, and addressing the climate crisis and boosting transit options. < Back May 9, 2024 Sine Die! General Assembly Democrats Conclude Breakthrough Session by Delivering Major Wins for Colorado Communities DENVER, CO – The second regular session of the 74th General Assembly concludes today, with Democratic lawmakers securing breakthrough victories on the issues that matter most to Colorado families: saving people money on housing, increasing education funding to historic levels by eliminating the budget stabilization factor, and addressing the climate crisis and boosting transit options. “This legislative session has been nothing short of transformational for our families and communities,” said Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “Coloradans demanded that we take bold action to address the issues that matter most to them, and I am pleased to say we delivered. Democrats passed legislation that will boost Colorado’s transit system and protect our clean air and water, make housing more affordable, and finally fully fund our schools for the first time in over a decade. I am proud of all we’ve accomplished together.” “This was a breakthrough session on affordability, housing, transit, water, education, transit and so much more,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I’m so proud of our bipartisan efforts to increase funding for Colorado public schools by over $500 million and modernize the school finance formula for the first time in a generation to better support vulnerable students and rural schools. New laws will save Coloradans money on housing and property taxes, better protect renters and slash childhood poverty by increasing tax credits for hardworking people and families. From protecting our rivers, streams and wetlands to boosting rural economies and Colorado agriculture, we came together the Colorado way to deliver lasting results for every community in our state.” “This year we set out to make Colorado a more affordable place to live, work and raise a family,” Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “Today, I’m proud to say that the legislation we passed this year achieves that goal and then some. From passing transformational tax credits that deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in relief to low and middle income families to implementing new protections for gig workers to boosting our workforce across industries, I’m extremely proud of the work that Democrats put in over the last 120 days to build on our progress and set Colorado on a path to a more prosperous future.” “This session was huge. On issue after issue, lawmakers came together and passed policies that were years in the making,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “From preventing gun violence and protecting workers to boosting the incomes of hardworking people and preventing evictions, we made Colorado safer and more affordable for all. I’m particularly proud of the work of our Black and Latino Caucuses who passed critical legislation to support vulnerable people, improve maternal health and make Colorado a welcoming place for everyone who calls our state home.” This year, lawmakers passed bills to save people money on housing and protect renters, increase access to health care and behavioral health care, invest in our students and our schools, expand Colorado’s workforce and improve access to higher education, protect our clean air and water, reduce gun violence, and cut poverty while boosting incomes for hardworking Colorado families. Previous Next

< Back November 12, 2019 REP. ESGAR TAKES HELM OF JBC DENVER, CO– Representative Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo) today took the gavel of the Joint Budget Committee after serving as the committee’s vice-chair during the last legislative session. The JBC is responsible for authoring the Long Bill, which sets the state’s annual budget and departments’ spending priorities. “I’m honored to have the privilege to lead the Joint Budget Committee as we work to craft a budget that balances our state’s many competing priorities,” said JBC Chair Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo). “I’m committed to working with Governor Polis and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to write a balanced budget that invests in our state’s future, strengthens our economy so that it works for everyone and protects our Colorado way of life.” “Representative Esgar is a respected voice on budget issues in the legislature and is well known in Southern Colorado for fighting for her constituents and standing up for their priorities,” said Colorado House Speaker KC Becker (D-Boulder). “She will be an excellent JBC chair this session, and I know she will continue to produce results for Coloradans in all parts of our state.” The JBC is meeting this week to receive testimony on state departments’ budget requests. Tomorrow, Governor Polis will present his budget to the committee. The committee will continue to hold hearings and craft the state’s budget as the legislative session convenes in January. Rep. Esgar represents parts of Pueblo, Pueblo West, Beulah, Rye and Colorado City. The granddaughter of steelworkers, she was born and raised in Pueblo. Rep. Esgar is a graduate of Pueblo City Schools and Colorado State University-Pueblo. She has worked as a television news producer and a community organizer focusing on poverty and communities of color in Pueblo. Rep. Esgar is known for her work on issues of equality, education, justice, and poverty. She lives with her wife, Heather Palm, in Pueblo. Previous Next