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< Back June 25, 2021 NEW LAW PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed Representatives Karen McCormick and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to advance the basic rights of Colorado’s agricultural workers and modernize the agriculture industry. “Farmworkers contribute immensely to our agricultural economy and help put Colorado food on tables across the country and the world. It’s due time we support them,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “The fight to win better working conditions for farmworkers in America has always been an uphill struggle, but in the words of bill supporter and labor icon Dolores Huerta, si se puede!, yes we can.” “Every worker in Colorado, regardless of the industry they labor in, should expect humane treatment and a fair wage,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “Improving conditions for farmworkers will modernize our state’s agriculture industry and ensure a sustainable future for it in Colorado. As an employer, I know first hand that treating employees fairly and paying well are some of the best investments a business owner can make. Colorado’s agriculture industry has never been afraid to lead the way, and with these new measures Colorado will be a leader in the agricultural labor market.” SB21-087 takes several steps to bring Colorado’s agricultural workers under the same labor standards that other workers in the state have and takes other steps to keep Colorado’s agriculture workforce competitive. Among other provisions, the law would: allow workers to form and join unions to bargain for better pay and increased benefits, remove the exemption that allows certain workers to make less than the minimum wage, provide protections from retaliation and set more humane standards around break times and working in extreme weather conditions. Importantly the new law limits the continuous operation of physically demanding tools that lead to chronic health problems–tools that have been banned in other states for decades. The law also ensures workers are provided transportation to critical services and access to healthcare providers while creating a pathway for aggrieved workers to seek remedies available to workers in other industries. Previous Next

< Back March 2, 2021 HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES BILL TO PREVENT EXTORTION, PROTECT IMMIGRANTS, WORKERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS DENVER, CO– The House today passed a bipartisan bill to prevent the extortion of undocumented immigrants by closing a gap in current statute. The bill was passed by a vote of 64-0. “This simple bill will ensure that everyone in our communities, regardless of citizenship status, is protected from extortion by our laws,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “The current gap in statutes has left immigrants, especially workers and victims of domestic and sexual violence, vulnerable. By expanding the definition of extortion in our laws, we’re giving prosecutors a crucial tool to make our communities safer.” “While this bill specifically protects immigrants from extortion, advancing the cause of justice and public safety is a goal we should all work towards together,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “The bill we passed today will give prosecutors like me the tools we need to protect vulnerable members of our communities from extortion and hopefully prevent some of these crimes from happening in the first place. I’m proud of the step we took to make our communities safer.” The current definition of criminal extortion already includes the practice of threatening to disclose a person’s immigration status to law enforcement in order to force them to give up something of value. HB21-1057 expands this definition to include coercing another person to either engage in or refrain from engaging in what would otherwise be a legal act. This expanded definition would address instances of wage theft, domestic violence and other instances where a person’s immigration status is used to deny them what is lawfully theirs. Previous Next

Governor Polis today signed a bipartisan bill to expand the Employee Ownership Tax Credit to strengthen incentives for businesses transitioning to an employee-owned business model. < Back May 23, 2023 Gov. Polis Signs Bipartisan Bill to Expand Employee-Owned Businesses DENVER, CO - Governor Polis today signed a bipartisan bill to expand the Employee Ownership Tax Credit to strengthen incentives for businesses transitioning to an employee-owned business model. “With the expansion of Colorado’s Employee Ownership Tax Credit, local businesses can continue to increase wages, improve job security, and offer better benefit options for hardworking Coloradans,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield. “Employee-owned business models make succession planning easier for business owners while keeping businesses within their community. With this bill being signed into law today, Colorado business owners will now have additional tools to sell or retire and employees will have more opportunities to own the business they work for.” In 2021, Colorado Democrats created a first-in-the-nation refundable income tax credit that incentivizes business owners to move towards employee-owned business models. It allows business owners who are looking to move on from the company to pass the business on to their employees, allowing the business to stay within the community and giving hard-working Coloradans a stake in the company. HB23-1081 , also sponsored by Republican Representative Rick Taggart, expands on the Employee Ownership Tax Credit by: Making partially employee-owned businesses eligible to help cover the costs associated with expanding employee ownership; Expanding methods that businesses are using to transfer equity to employees; and Strengthening incentives for eligible businesses that are transitioning to employee ownership with existing resources. Previous Next

< Back February 16, 2022 BILL TO END TRANSCRIPT WITHHOLDING PASSES HOUSE ED COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Naquetta Ricks to prohibit post-secondary institutions from withholding transcripts because a student owes a debt to the institution today passed the House Education Committee by a vote of 6 to 3. “Transcript withholding should never be used as a debt collection tool,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver . “This tactic disproportionately impacts students of color and those eligible for federal Pell Grants and makes it harder for graduates to use the skills they’ve learned to thrive in the workforce, enlist in the military or enroll in nursing courses. Our legislation would stop post-secondary institutions from using unpaid parking tickets, library fines, and other unpaid debts as a reason to withhold a student’s transcript. We're working hard to break down credit ransom barriers for students so they can succeed after graduation and move Colorado forward." “When a transcript is withheld, it makes it harder for that student to enter the workforce, creating a cycle of unpaid debt that can have lasting impacts on students,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “Students trying to move forward with their lives instead face challenging new barriers because of small unpaid debts like late library book fees or unpaid parking tickets. This hurts our economy and our workforce. We aren’t preparing students for success when institutions teach the skills they’ll need but then withhold their transcripts and diplomas.” HB22-1049 would protect students from transcript withholding when students owe an unpaid debt. It would also prohibit institutions from charging a higher fee or providing less favorable treatment in response to a transcript or diploma request because a student owes a debt. Debts protected by the bill range from unpaid fees to parking tickets, library fees, and other costs students may not realize they owe. Across the country, students owe approximately $15 million in unpaid balances, impacting over 6.6 million students. Previous Next

< Back May 13, 2019 BUCKNER, LONTINE FIGHTING FOR EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS Bills signed into law today (May 13) – Gov. Polis signed two bills sponsored by House Democrats today at the Hope Center in Denver. First on the docket was Rep. Janet Buckner’s bill, HB19-1005, which creates a tax credit for early childhood educators. “This new law will address two major challenges facing hardworking families and early childhood educators: quality and stability,” said Rep. Buckner, D-Aurora. “Our educators need to be paid more and that includes those who care for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers.” This tax credit was endorsed by the Colorado’s Teacher Shortage Report and encourages child care professionals to improve their skills as educators to better support the development of young students. Next was Rep. Susan Lontine’s bipartisan bill, HB19-1194. This bill reduces 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. “This law is truly about addressing a civil rights issue for Colorado’s youngest learners. Suspensions and expulsions disproportionately impact children of color and children with disabilities and this will help put that to an end,” said Rep. Lontine, D-Denver. “This new law will help reduce the likelihood of dropouts, academic failure and an increased likelihood of entry into the criminal justice system.” 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. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to prevent and mitigate wildfire destruction in Colorado < Back February 7, 2025 House Passes Bill to Combat Wildfires DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to prevent and mitigate wildfire destruction in Colorado. HB25-1009, sponsored by Representative Tisha Mauro and Junie Joesph, would encourage local governments to reduce dead vegetation that often fuels wildfires. “Taking steps now to mitigate the risk of destructive wildfires will keep our communities safer,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo. “This bill encourages property owners to reduce dead vegetation around their property, which can often accelerate wildfires. Wildfire season in Colorado is now year-round, and property owners play and important role in limiting the risk of wildfire destruction.” “Our bill takes a proactive approach to combat destructive wildfires and keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “We know that wildfires can spread quickly and this bill empowers local communities to reduce dead vegetation that can act as an accelerator to wildfires. Keeping our communities safe is a top priority, and this legislation proactively mitigates wildfire risks to protect our businesses and homes.” HB25-1009 , passed the Hous e of 42-20 and wo uld give fire protection and metropolitan districts the tools to mitigate fire risks locally, improving community safety. Specifically, the bill would encourage local governments to create programs to help property owners reduce dead or dry vegetation around their property. Dead plant materials, such as leaves, grass, shrubs, dead leaves, and fallen pine needles, can accelerate wildfires. This bill aims to empower communities to reduce dry vegetation to keep neighborhoods, businesses and homes safer from destructive wildfires. On Thursday, February 6, the House passed another bill sponsored by Representative Mauro to keep Coloradans safe. HB25-1039 , also sponsored by Representative Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, will extend legal immunity to property owners when first responders access their property during an emergency. HB25-1039 passed the House on Thursday by a vote of 64-0 and aims to protect property owners from civil liability during an emergency, only if it is unrelated to their negligence or misconduct. Previous Next

< Back July 8, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: GOV. SIGNS HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES BILL DENVER, CO– Today, at Jewish Colorado in Denver, Governor Jared Polis signed into law HB20-1336 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Emily Sirota and Senators Steve Fenberg and Dennis Hisey. The bill, which passed unanimously in both the Colorado House and Senate, requires high school seniors in public schools to learn about genocide and the Holocaust as a requirement for graduation. “All Colorado students should graduate with an understanding of the darkest parts of our history so we can work together to stop racism and hatred and ensure that atrocities like the Holocaust never happen again,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “We’ve seen a rise in anti-semitism and racist and bigoted language during this pandemic, and it’s important for all our children to learn how hatred and discrimination can lead quickly to genocide.” “By requiring Holocaust and genocide studies be taught in public schools, Colorado has taken a critical step to ensure future generations understand the importance of tolerance and inclusivity,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “At a time when these principles are most needed, this new law will provide students with opportunities to recognize signs of hate, and ensure that the voices of the survivors of these horrific tragedies are never forgotten.” “Teaching Holocaust and genocide education is a necessary and difficult conversation that we need to have with our students,” said Rep. Sirota, D-Denver. “Learning about the mass atrocities of the past will help us stop future horrors and injustice and help our high school graduates identify the warning signs that tell us when history is repeating.” HB20-1336 requires the State Board of Education to adopt standards related to Holocaust and genocide studies. Specifically, it requires that by the 2023-24 school year, local school district boards of education and public charter schools incorporate a Holocaust and genocide studies component into an existing course that is required for graduation. The bill would also create, by 2021, a publicly available educational materials resource bank. The bank will include sample academic content, instruction programs, learning resources, professional educator development materials and case studies related to Holocaust and genocide studies, including but not limited to first-person testimony and materials about the Armenian genocide. Both the standards and resource bank must be developed in accordance with best practices and with input from experts. Previous Next

Today Governor Jared Polis signed a pair of bills to make near-term progress on air quality, ozone, and climate goals while focusing on an economy-wide transition that will support Colorado’s future for generations to come. < Back May 16, 2024 Governor Signs Landmark Package of Bills to Improve Colorado’s Air Quality and Boost Transit WESTMINSTER, CO – Today Governor Jared Polis signed a pair of bills to make near-term progress on air quality, ozone, and climate goals while focusing on an economy-wide transition that will support Colorado’s future for generations to come. SB24-229 , sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, and Representative Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, establishes more permitting and enforcement authority for the state to lower emissions, improve air quality and reduce pollution in Colorado communities. The law: Requires the latest strategies to minimize pollution to be incorporated in newly permitted oil and gas locations. Expands enforcement actions and develops new approaches to prevent repeat violations and preempt future violations. Establishes additional transparency around complaints and enforcement actions by the Air Pollution Control Division, including establishing an annual report and opt-in distribution list to provide the public with information about investigations and enforcement actions. Codifies the Governor’s directive to reduce ozone-causing NOx from oil and gas operations by 50 percent by 2030, which will be achieved through methods established in Air Quality Control Commission rules promulgated by August 31, 2026. Provides additional protections for Disproportionately Impacted Communities (DICs), including expanding the mission of the orphaned wells mitigation enterprise to also include marginal wells, focusing funding on plugging marginal wells in DICs and near population centers, and establishing new dedicated community liaisons at the Energy and Carbon Management Commission. “Exposure to dangerously unhealthy ozone levels is an unfortunately common occurrence in our state, and it's impacting far too many Coloradans' health, leading to higher risk of shortness of breath, asthma attacks, increased risk for respiratory diseases, and lower birth weights for children born in high-ozone areas," said Winter. “While Colorado has worked hard to address the ozone problem, we need to do even more to reduce harmful emissions and keep our communities safe. This law is a great first step, and is particularly exciting because of how it came together: through real, honest discussion towards a shared goal. It’ll help get our air quality crisis under control, and create a healthier future for our kids and our grandkids." “Breathing shouldn’t be dangerous, yet the air quality in many Colorado neighborhoods triggers asthma attacks and nosebleeds,” Bacon said. “We need to act now to clean up Colorado’s air quality that for more than a decade has disproportionately impacted low-income communities and people of color. After years of conversations with industry, environmental organizations and state agencies – our plan will improve air quality by having stricter permitting guidelines, increased accountability for bad emitters, plugging wells, and investing in transportation efficiencies.” “Communities across our state, and especially like those I represent on the Front Range, have been forced to bear the consequences of unhealthy ozone levels for far too long, which is why I am so excited to be a part of this landmark policy,” said Priola. “We must take action now to improve our air quality and mitigate the harmful impacts of ozone on our communities. This law is a critical step towards reducing emissions and air pollution that puts Colorado on a path to securing a healthier future for us all." “Colorado’s poor air quality is leading to long-term health risks for our community – we need to take steps now to reduce air pollution and keep our neighbors safe,” Willford said. “This landmark law enables us to crack down on repeat violators, improve our air quality and establish important timelines for new pollution reduction measures. To achieve our climate goals, we need to reduce emissions and this law helps us get there.” Governor Polis also signed SB24-230 , sponsored by Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Representative Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, which generates significant new funding for transit and rail, as well as land and wildlife habitat conservation and restoration, with modest fees on oil and gas production in Colorado. Oil and gas development is among the largest contributors in Colorado to both greenhouse gas emissions and ozone pollution. Reducing vehicle trips by supporting reliable transit and rail service statewide can offset these impacts by lowering ozone-forming and greenhouse gas vehicle emissions while improving quality of life, supporting the construction of new housing, and alleviating traffic. "Forging consensus on an issue like this is hard, which is what makes these new laws all the more exciting," said Fenberg. “It's taken a lot of hard work to get to this point, and I am grateful to everyone, especially the members of my caucus who have come to the table willing to work and, more importantly, listen to each other in the pursuit of policy we can all get behind. I am incredibly excited to see the benefits these laws will bring to our air quality, our transit system, and our public lands for generations to come." “With this legislative package, we’ve achieved an agreement that puts Colorado’s land, water, and air first,” McCluskie said. “I’d like to thank the Governor, bill sponsors and all the groups that worked together to reach an agreement that will increase transit options for everyone in the state, including our rural and mountain communities. Taking steps now to improve our air quality, restore our lands, and boost transportation options will preserve the Colorado way of life for generations to come.” “Our geography in Colorado – and especially along the Front Range – makes us uniquely susceptible to unhealthy ozone levels and poor air quality,” said Cutter. “This results in short and long term health impacts that affect entire communities. We’ve worked hard on policies to improve our air quality, especially during months where ozone levels are the worst. These laws give us the opportunity to take significant action that will reduce air pollution, protect Colorado’s environment, and build a healthier Colorado.” “Destructive wildfires, floods and other extreme climate events are disproportionately impacting communities like mine, which is why we need policy changes that protect our environment,” Velasco said. “We’ve made important progress over the years to clean up our air and the harmful effects of oil and gas production has been consequential on my community. However, this law is a monumental agreement that will increase transit options, advance conservation efforts, and reduce harmful pollution that threatens our Colorado way of life.” The law creates a new fee tied to oil and gas production with 80 percent of the revenues dedicated to transit and administered by the Clean Transit Enterprise and 20 percent to natural lands and wildlife conservation. Of the 80 percent dedicated to transit, the majority will bolster local transit operations while 20 percent is dedicated to the expansion of passenger and commuter rail in Colorado. These funds will support RTD in providing new services including the Northwest and North rail lines. To address impacts on wildlife from oil and gas production, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will provide remediation services by conducting a range of badly needed conservation work, including restoring lands and improving ecosystem health, improving wildlife connectivity, and even creating new state parks and wildlife areas, with a focus on supporting native biodiversity impacted by oil and gas operations. Previous Next

< Back March 3, 2020 COMMITTEE VOTES TO BAN THE GAY AND TRANS PANIC DEFENSE The House Judiciary Committee today passed Representatives Leslie Herod and Matt Soper’s bipartisan bill to ban the use of the gay and trans panic defense. The committee vote was 6-2. “Telling a crime victim that their sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the violence perpetrated against them is wrong and cruel,” said Rep. Herod , D-Denver . “The gay and trans panic defense should never hold up in court. This defense harms the already vulnerable LGBTQ+ community and holds Colorado back. It’s time to ban this antiquated and discriminatory practice.” The gay and trans panic defense is a legal tactic that has been used to strengthen a legal defense by playing on the prejudice of jurors. HB20-1307 states that evidence about a defendant’s knowledge or discovery of a victim’s gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation cannot be asserted as a legal defense constituting ‘sudden heat of passion’ in a criminal case. If this bill is signed into law, Colorado would join California, Nevada, Illinois, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Jersey as states that have banned the gay and trans panic defense strategy. In 2018, Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and House Representative Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA) introduced legislation to ban the gay and trans panic defense at the federal level. According to the FBI’s 2018 hate crime statistics , 1,404 hate crimes perpetrated in 2018 were based on sexual orientation. Of these offenses, 59.8 percent were classified as anti-gay male and 25 percent were classified as anti LGBTQ bias. According to this FBI data , in Colorado in 2018, there were 123 hate crimes reported and of those 24 were related to sexual orientation and three of them were related to gender identity. Previous Next

House Speaker Julie McCluskie today announced she has appointed Representative Andy Boesenecker as Speaker Pro Tempore of the 75th General Assembly. < Back December 9, 2024 Speaker McCluskie Appoints Rep. Boesenecker Speaker Pro Tempore DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie today announced she has appointed Representative Andy Boesenecker as Speaker Pro Tempore of the 75th General Assembly. “I’m honored to take on the role of Speaker Pro Tempore, and I am excited to serve the chamber in this new capacity,” said Speaker Pro-Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “By working together, we will make important progress to protect and build on our accomplishments, which Coloradans overwhelmingly support. When called upon to preside over the House, I’m committed to doing so fairly and with respect for every member. Coloradans are counting on us to govern responsibly with limited state resources and deliver results– and I know we will.” “I’m excited to appoint Rep. Boesenecker as Speaker Pro Tempore, and I look forward to working with him to make Colorado more affordable and protect our rights and freedoms,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “He is deeply respected in the chamber, works openly and honestly with colleagues, and has been a leader on groundbreaking laws to reduce the cost of housing, protect renters and address gun violence. We have important work ahead, and it is a privilege to lead the House alongside House Democrats’ diverse leadership team.” The Speaker Pro Tempore presides over the House as the Speaker’s proxy and serves on the Majority Leadership team. Representative Boesenecker has passed legislation to protect mobile homeowners , increase consumer protections for towed vehicles , and preserve affordable housing . He has also sponsored to create a firearm dealer permit to better enforce state laws and protect communities from gun violence. Previous Next