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The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed Representative Stephanie Vigil’s bill to bring life-saving information on suicide prevention to workplaces. < Back January 31, 2024 Vigil’s Workplace Suicide Prevention Education Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed Representative Stephanie Vigil’s bill to bring life-saving information on suicide prevention to workplaces. HB24-1015 passed committee unanimously. “Suicide deaths are preventable, and anyone can save a life. This is a public health crisis that requires a community response, and we can save lives by equipping more people with the skills and knowledge to do effective suicide prevention,” said Representative Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “Workplaces are an excellent venue for this, a source of continuing education for many working people, and a place where they regularly see others who aren’t their family or household members.” HB24-1015 would require the Office of Suicide Prevention in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to create suicide prevention education posters and notices to make them available to employers. Posters would include an overview of suicide prevention training programs, information on reducing access to means of self-harm, including firearms, and information on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It would also require the department to post a link to the landing page for workplace suicide prevention information on its official website. Under this bill, employers would be required to display posters in their workplaces beginning on July 1, 2025. There is no cost to Colorado employers to create or obtain the posters. Previous Next

< Back May 16, 2022 BILLS SIGNED TO SAVE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES MONEY DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law that will save Coloradans money on housing and gas and allow small retailers to keep more of the sales tax they collect, saving businesses money as well. “The legislation signed today will save Coloradans money on housing and put more money back into the pockets of small retail businesses,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of SB22-146 and SB22-006. “This investment will help build more homes and increase the supply of affordable housing that our communities and businesses need to thrive. I’m also excited that small businesses are going to be able to keep nearly $6 million that they can reinvest in their businesses, employees, and other needs.” Saving Coloradans Money on Housing: SB22-146 , sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Marc Catlin will expand critical middle-income housing so that more Coloradans and communities have access to affordable housing where it’s needed most. The legislation provides $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s Middle-Income Access Program, which serves middle income families and individuals with incomes too high to qualify for low income housing tax credits. Typically, the “missing middle” is made up of renters whose income is between 80 percent and 120 percent of area median income, which in the Denver area is $55k-88k per year, increasing with family size. To date, the Middle Income Access Program has leveraged $14 million in CHFA-invested funds to support developments comprising over 600 units across the state. Developments leverage significant private sector investment and have brought much needed housing to communities such as Denver, Estes Park, Keystone, Steamboat Springs and Gypsum. Saving Businesses Money: SB22-006 , sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Marc Snyder, allows retailers with taxable sales under $100,000 per filing period to retain 5.3 percent of the sales tax they collect. Retailers are currently permitted to retain 4 percent of the vendor fee to compensate them for the cost of collecting and remitting sales tax. This new law increases the amount that small retailers can retain, saving retailers $5.9 million over the next two years. “Saving Coloradans money was our top priority this session, and we looked at every way possible, big and small, to put more money back into people’s pockets,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango , sponsor of SB22-006 and HB22-1351. “The bills the governor signed into law today will save Coloradans money at the pump and save small retail businesses nearly $6 million by allowing them to keep more of the sales tax they collect.” “In the last few months, gas prices have been driven up by national and global influences, so at a state level we acted to make sure Coloradans weren’t hit with further price increases,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, sponsor of HB22-1351. “The bill the governor signed today will help Coloradans keep some money in their pockets when they register their cars this year and when they fill up their tanks, all while keeping our state on track to fix our roads.” Saving Coloradans Money at the Pump: HB22-1351 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Barbara McLachlan, will save Coloradans money by lowering vehicle registration costs and delaying the anticipated road usage fees, a two-cent per gallon gasoline fee slated to go into effect in July. This law invests one-time recovery funds to save Coloradans nearly $80 million on transportation costs. Specifically, this will save Coloradans $45 million at the gas pump and nearly $34 million in vehicle registration costs. Previous Next

< Back April 19, 2019 BIPARTISAN BILL TO ‘BAN THE BOX’ ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS PASSES HOUSE Approximately 70 percent of college applications ask for information on prior convictions (Apr. 19) – The House approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, that would prohibit questions regarding criminal history on an initial college application. “Two out of three people who start a college application and select yes to the question regarding criminal history do not finish the application,” said Rep. Herod. “Banning the Box will give students a chance to tell their own story and will help those with a criminal record get a college degree, a critical achievement for success in today’s job market.” The bill would not prohibit questions regarding criminal history on college housing applications. Educational programming reduces recidivism by 40 percent and provides opportunities for employment and positive support that decrease the likelihood of committing future crimes. There is no evidence to suggest that criminal history considerations have any impact on campus safety. The bill passed with a bipartisan vote of 43-21, with Rep. Kevin Van Winkle and Rep. Jim Wilson joining Democrats and the bill sponsors in supporting the bill. SB19-170 now heads to the Governor’s desk. Rep. Herod also sponsored a bill, HB19-1025 , that restricts employers from asking an applicant about their criminal history on the initial application, but allows them to inquire at any other stage of the hiring process. That bill is on its way to the Governor’s desk. Previous Next

< Back November 11, 2022 House Democrats Elect Monica Duran Majority Leader, Jennifer Bacon as Assistant Majority Leader For the first time in the state’s history, the Speaker, Majority Leader and Assistant Majority Leader will all be women in the upcoming 74th General Assembly Rep. Titone, elected Caucus Co-Chair, will be the first transgender lawmaker in a caucus leadership position in the country DENVER, CO – House Democrats today elected the leadership team for the 74th General Assembly. After electing Representative Julie McCluskie as the Speaker-designate, the caucus chose Representative Monica Duran as the next Majority Leader and Representative Jennifer Bacon as the next Assistant Majority Leader. “I’m humbled to serve our state as the House Majority Leader, and I’m excited to get to work to move our Colorado forward and protect our Colorado way of life,” said House Majority Leader-elect Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “From reducing the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs to protecting our environment and a woman’s right to choose, House Democrats have been laser focused on the most pressing issues in our state. With 46 Democrats and all women at the top of the leadership team, our caucus brings a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives to the important work of lawmaking. We are united in our optimism for our future, our shared values and our determination to deliver results for the great people of our state.” “Our caucus is dedicated to listening to our communities and doing everything we can to make life better in Colorado,” said Assistant Majority Leader-elect Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Improving our poor air quality and cracking down on pollution, which disproportionately impacts people of color, children and lower-income families, will be one of my top priorities. We will protect our rights to our own bodily autonomy and advance justice in our communities to ensure that every Coloradan can feel safe in their own neighborhoods. We will continue to invest in our schools because every child in our state deserves a good education and the opportunity to thrive. I look forward to delivering results for every community in every corner of our state and building on the important progress we’ve made.” The following members were also elected to caucus leadership positions: Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, Majority Co-Whip Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, Majority Co-Whip Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora Majority Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, Majority Caucus Co-Chair House Democrats will have 46 seats in the 74th General Assembly. The caucus is one of the largest and most diverse ever elected in Colorado. Over 70 percent of the incoming Democratic lawmakers are women, nearly 40 percent are people of color, and 13 percent are LGBTQ+. Majority Leader-elect Duran represents House District 23 in Jefferson County and was first elected in 2018. She has sponsored legislation to prevent gun violence, reduce domestic violence and improve services for survivors of crime, and protect Colorado’s furry friends and future pets. She previously served as Caucus Co-Whip. Assistant Minority Leader-elect Bacon was first elected in 2020 and represents House District 7 in Denver. Representative Bacon’s policy priorities are education, social justice and a thriving middle class. As an educator, school administrator, lawyer, and community organizer, Rep. Bacon has committed her career to advancing opportunities through education. From a young age, her family instilled in her the belief that education is freedom, and set her on a path to earn a JD from the College of William & Mary, a Master’s in Education from Florida International University, and Bachelor’s in Business Management from Tulane University. Rep. Bacon has passed legislation to improve Colorado’s air quality, prepare Colorado’s students to thrive, and increase access to financial services for hardworking families. Previous Next

The House today passed Rep. Michael Carter’s bipartisan bill to protect the biometric data of students and staff collected by schools. < Back April 3, 2025 Carter’s Facial Recognition Protections Bill Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed Rep. Michael Carter’s bipartisan bill to protect the biometric data of students and staff collected by schools. “Technology is advancing quickly, and it’s important that we uphold the privacy of our students and staff,” said Rep. Michael Carter, D-Aurora. “While facial recognition technology can be helpful for schools in certain safety scenarios, such as locating a missing student, any biometric data that is collected must be stored securely. The passage of this bipartisan bill helps protect our students and staff, making sure their biometric data is not shared freely.” SB25-143 , also sponsored by Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, passed the House by a vote of 63-2. This bill extends biometric data protections for students and staff. Without SB25-143, schools would be permitted to use facial recognition software freely beginning in July 2025. This bill reaffirms guardrails already in place to protect the biometric data schools obtain regarding students and staff. The goal of SB25-143 is to maintain student privacy in an era where technology continues to advance, while permitting facial recognition software in limited school safety scenarios. Under the bill, schools are allowed to use facial recognition technology for a limited scope of school safety. This could include using it for locating a missing student or identifying a person of interest. SB25-143 would create an opt-in program for school districts and charter schools. Previous Next

The House today passed bills in a preliminary vote to expand reverse mortgage protections and improve local governments’ ability to hold short-term rentals to local rules and regulations. < Back April 15, 2023 Housing Protections for Victims of Natural Disasters, Local Gov Oversight on Short Term Rentals Advance DENVER, CO - The House today passed bills in a preliminary vote to expand reverse mortgage protections and improve local governments’ ability to hold short-term rentals to local rules and regulations. “After the Marshall Fire, homeowners were saddled with unnecessary burdens that prevented them from putting their lives back together,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of HB23-1266 . “With this bill, homeowners with reverse mortgages won’t have their loan foreclosed upon just because they lost their home in a disaster. Homeowners deserve grace after devastation due to a wildfire or flood.” “Reverse mortgages require a homeowner to live in their home in order to draw money from their equity, which is an impossible ask for people that have lost their home due to a natural disaster,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1266. “Many senior homeowners already have to take advantage of reverse mortgage income just to afford daily expenses like groceries and health care and can’t afford to build back on their own after an environmental disaster. Our bill helps vulnerable communities so they have one less burden after devastation.” Reverse mortgages allow older homeowners to borrow from the equity of their home. Under current law, reverse mortgages may become due and payable if the homeowner does not reside in the home they are borrowing money from as a principal residence, with an exception for temporary absences up to one year. HB23-1266 would create another exception to the residency requirement for homeowners when their property is uninhabitable due to a natural disaster or another major incident outside the control of the homeowner. This exception would allow a homeowner who is engaged in repairing the home and plans on reoccupying, listing for sale, or selling the house to live elsewhere for up to five years. “Short term rentals are important to Colorado mountain communities like mine for tourism, but without local governments’ ability to properly regulate these properties, short-term rentals are impacting the livability of our communities,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB23-1287 . “When bad actors in the short-term market create challenging situations for their neighbors, like drying up wells or overflowing septic systems, we have to do more to stick up for those who call our towns home year round. By creating pathways for our counties to collaborate with digital platforms, where short-term rentals are listed, we can increase transparency and create a housing environment that works for everyone in the community.” “Living in a rural resort community, I’ve witnessed the increased popularity of short-term rentals, and short-term rentals play an important role in our local economy,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, sponsor of HB23-1287 . “Our legislation allows counties to partner with digital platforms that host units, and gives counties the ability to remove a listing if the owners’ license is suspended or revoked, protecting owners, renters, and local communities from violations of local rules and regulations.” A board of county commissioners already has the authority to regulate units that are rented or used for short-term stays. HB23-1287 clarifies the definition of a short-term rental and provides counties with the authority to work with digital platforms to accurately list compliant short-term rentals. HB23-1287 gives counties the ability to require an owner of a property, or the owner’s agent, to include a rental license or permit in any listing for a short-term rental unit on a digital platform. If a county has regulations on short-term rentals, the county would be able to require a digital platform to remove any rental listing if the owner of the listing: Has their local short-term rental license or permit suspended or revoked, Has received a notice violation, or a similar legal process, for not holding a valid local short-term rental license or permit, or Is not allowed to list their unit as a short-term rental due to county rules. Previous Next

< Back April 20, 2021 HOUSE LEADERS REACT TO CHAUVIN VERDICT DENVER, CO– Speaker Alec Garnett, Black Democratic Legislative Caucus Chair Leslie Herod and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar today released the following statements after a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts. “Today George Floyd’s family, the Black community, and the nation as a whole were offered an important measure of closure as a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts of murdering George Floyd,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This is the right verdict – the only viable outcome of such a tragic and heartless injustice. Colorado has led the way on police accountability and integrity, and we still have work to do to ensure justice for every community in our state.” “This verdict represents accountability. It is not justice. True justice would mean George Floyd was still with us today,” said Black Caucus Chair Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “That he could hold his loved ones and that the world never had to learn his name. True justice will come when we don’t have to hesitate every time we turn on the news in case another video of state sanctioned murder should flash upon our screen. I am Today, we stand together and say ‘no more’. We will bring change. We will advance justice. And we will not rest until we end the police brutality that is taking innocent Black and Brown lives in our communities and across our country.” “Last year, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Colorado led the nation in passing a bold, sweeping police accountability bill that moved us closer to justice in our communities,” said Representative Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Today, as we breathe a collective sigh of relief after the guilty verdict, we recommit ourselves to continuing to advance the cause of justice. We know that we have a great deal of work left to do, and I’m committed to ensuring that Colorado continues to lead the way.” Previous Next

On July 1, 2025, legislation goes into effect to improve concealed carry permit training to encourage responsible gun ownership, reduce gun violence and keep Coloradans safe. < Back June 25, 2025 Law to Improve Concealed Carry Training Takes Effect DENVER, CO – On July 1, 2025, legislation goes into effect to improve concealed carry permit training to encourage responsible gun ownership, reduce gun violence and keep Coloradans safe. “The data is clear - live-fire gun training can save lives,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. "States that have eliminated their live-fire training requirements to receive a concealed carry permit saw a 32 percent increase in gun assaults. With this lifesaving law going into effect, we’re ensuring that Coloradans with concealed carry permits are properly trained and educated on current laws, like Colorado's safe storage requirements, before they bring their firearm into their communities.” “Responsible gun ownership takes work,” said Sen. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton. “Creating minimum training requirements for safe handling of firearms, shooting fundamentals and more ensures we’re treating concealed carry permits with the seriousness they deserve. I’m proud to see this law go into effect to advance gun safety and help prevent gun violence.” “When I received my concealed carry permit years ago, I was surprised to learn that Colorado law did not require live-fire training, a necessary skill to have before carrying a gun in public spaces," said Sen. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “This law creates a minimum requirement for concealed carry permit holders, including in-person live-fire training with a certified firearms instructor, to ensure that concealed carry permits are issued with appropriate training. Many dedicated and qualified firearm instructors already exceed these minimum requirements, and this law will close that gap to ensure that everyone with a concealed carry permit has the proper training and qualifications.” HB24-1174 , sponsored by House Majority Leader Duran and Senators Snyder and Mullica, aims to reduce gun violence by improving concealed carry permit training requirements. On August 7, 2024, portions of the law went into effect to set guidelines for handgun training, instructor qualifications and judicial review for the denial, suspension or revocation of instructor verification. This includes requiring handgun training classes to contain at least eight hours of instruction, including a live-fire exercise and a written exam with a minimum passing score. The law makes it a deceptive trade practice for a person to claim to be a verified firearms safety instructor unless they have been verified by a county sheriff. Under the law, handgun training classes must be held in-person and include training on the safe handling of firearms and ammunition, safe storage of firearms and child safety, safe firearms shooting fundamentals, federal and state firearm laws, state laws related to the use of deadly force for self-defense, interacting with law enforcement who are responding to emergencies, and techniques for conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force. Beginning July 1, 2025, portions of HB24-1174 go into effect that prohibit a person from being issued a permit if they have been convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses within five years of submitting a concealed carry permit application. Updates to the concealed carry permit renewal process also go into effect to ensure that current permit holders also meet the new training requirements under Colorado law. HB24-1174 protects law enforcement officers and agencies, medical staff and firearm instructors from liability for damages related to the issuance or denial of a permit. Previous Next

Legislation would stand up health care programs at higher education institutions in Greeley, Fort Collins, Denver and Trinidad < Back February 28, 2024 Bill to Create Northern Colorado Medical School and to Boost Health Care Training Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation to help create a new medical college at University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and support health care and veterinary care at various higher education institutions across the state. HB24-1231, sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Lindsey Daugherty, would help address health care workforce shortages in Colorado. “This monumental legislation will help fund and facilitate a new college of osteopathic medicine at UNC, which is key to addressing Colorado’s shortage of primary care physicians in our rural and underserved communities” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “We’ve been hard at work to tackle our state’s health care workforce shortage and this landmark legislation jumpstarts the creation of a new medical school in Greeley, a Veterinary Health Education Complex in Fort Collins and two other health care programs at MSU Denver and Trinidad State College.” “From nurses to veterinarians, Colorado is experiencing a critical health care workforce shortage that’s affecting the health and well-being of Coloradans,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty. “This groundbreaking bill helps Colorado train and educate future doctors, veterinarians and other health care providers in Colorado. I’m proud to champion this bill that will increase access to high-quality health care in communities across the state and help Coloradans and their animals lead safe, healthy lives.” HB24-1231 , which passed committee by a vote of 12-1, would stand up four projects related to health sciences education programs for medical professions. Specifically, the legislation would fund the: Construction of a new College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Construction of the Health Institute Tower at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) Construction of the Veterinary Health Education Complex at Colorado State University (CSU) Renovation of the Valley Campus Main Building at Trinidad State College This legislation will jumpstart a second-of-its-kind medical program at UNC, which will help streamline 150 new osteopathic doctors into the workforce each year and help address primary health care needs of Coloradans. The UNC College of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to generate $1.4 billion over the next 20 years in economic impact, with an estimated $500 million of economic impact to remain in Weld County. The legislation will also provide funding to help higher education institutions train more nurses, veterinarians and other mid-level health care professionals. Colorado is facing a significant health care provider shortage that is causing lapses in care, longer wait times, and limited critical-care services in both rural and urban communities. HB24-1231 is the state’s largest higher education investment aimed at bolstering the state’s health care workforce so Coloradans can receive the health care they need, when they need it. Previous Next

Speaker Julie McCluskie and Senator Dylan Roberts today presented to the Frisco Town Council and highlighted recent legislation to make Colorado more affordable. < Back July 23, 2024 McCluskie Highlights Affordability Measures at Frisco Town Meeting FRISCO, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie and Senator Dylan Roberts today presented to the Frisco Town Council and highlighted recent legislation to make Colorado more affordable. “Everyone in the high country should be able to live, work and learn in the places they love, but the cost of living in our communities is way too high,” said Speaker McCluskie, D-Dillon. “We have focused on making housing, health care and child care more affordable. I’m proud that the successful reinsurance program I helped create has saved Coloradans over $2 billion on health insurance, and this year, we delivered bipartisan property tax relief that will lower taxes for families and small businesses.” Speaker McCluskie sponsored the bipartisan property package that will permanently reduce property taxes for families and small businesses. She also sponsored the legislation to create the successful reinsurance program, which is saving people money on health insurance and has had a drastic impact on lowering costs in the high country. McCluskie has also sponsored legislation to responsibly encourage more housing to reduce the cost of living in resort communities, authored successful laws to boost child care affordability , and referred a measure to voters to establish Colorado’s free universal preschool program. She also sponsored the new public school finance formula, which will result in a projected 12 percent increase for Summit County schools, over the next six years. Previous Next

< Back January 17, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES RENEWABLE ENERGY & WATER CONSERVATION BILLS (Jan. 17) – The House Energy and Environment Committee approved two renewable energy and water conservation related bills today, the first step in the House Democrats’ commitment to protecting our unique quality of life. “Deploying more renewable energy in Colorado is good for our economy and good for our planet,” said Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “It will put more money back into the pockets of Coloradans and ensure we protect our unique environment and quality of life.” HB19-1003 will expand access to renewable energy for communities and individuals across Colorado. It will update Colorado’s community solar statute to allow customers to benefit from clean, low-cost energy even if they don’t have a rooftop solar option. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 7-3 and now heads to Appropriations Committee. The committee also approved Rep. Brianna Titone’s first bill this session on water conservation. HB19-1050 will help promote water-efficient landscaping on property subject to management by local supervisory entities. “In many homeowners associations, water is about a third of their budget,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “It is very important that we are being responsible with the usage of our water, especially on the Front Range and in our rural communities who have been hit hard by the ongoing drought.” Even as Colorado and other western states suffer from drought and severe water shortages, members of homeowners associations as well as residents of some metropolitan special districts often pay exorbitant water bills to satisfy requirements in their by-laws. By-laws can be written in a way that makes changing them time-consuming, burdensome, and cost prohibitive for an association or district. Allowing homeowner associations and special district boards to modify their master landscaping plans, will save water and lower costs. HB19-1050 passed by a bipartisan vote of 8-2. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration. Previous Next