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< Back May 23, 2019 KRAFT-THARP’S BIPARTISAN SALES AND USE TAX BILL SIGNED INTO LAW (May 23) – Gov. Polis signed Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp’s bill to update the way the state collects sales taxes to comply with the South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision “This new law will help small businesses and our economy stay on the path to success,” said Rep. Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada. “I will continue working help simplify our tax system and am thankful to all of the stakeholders involved in getting this bill signed into law.” Rep. Kraft-Tharp has been a staunch advocate for tax reform at the legislature. Kraft-Tharp is chair of the Business and Labor Affairs Committee and chair of the Sales and Use Tax Simplification Task Force Interim Committee. HB19-1240 codifies the Colorado Department of Revenue rule applying destination-based sourcing to all retailers. Online retailers will now be required to collect taxes based on the buyer’s address, and marketplace facilitators, such as Amazon and Etsy, are required to collect and remit sales taxes for the sellers on the platform. Smaller retailers would be able to continue to calculate sales taxes based on their business location until an online system is available to calculate tax rates for addresses. The bill is a result of the 2018 United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v.Wayfair, which expanded the ability of states to collect sales taxes on online purchases. Previously, the standard was that a business had to have a physical presence in a locality in order to pay local sales taxes there. Rep. Kraft-Tharp is also the co-prime sponsor of SB19-006 which requires the development of an electronic sales and use tax simplification system. This new system will help address the patchwork of sales and use tax across the state and help small businesses thrive. This law will require the Office of Information Technology to develop the electronic sales and use tax simplification system following a stakeholder process conducted with the Department of Revenue. It then authorizes the Department of Revenue to accept any returns processed through the new system and also provides a dedicated funding stream to fund and maintain the system. SB19-006 was signed into law this April. HB19-1240 was signed in the Governor’s office today. Previous Next

< Back March 10, 2021 HOUSE ED ADVANCES SCHOOL FUNDING FIX Bill would help ensure fair and sufficient public school funding in every Colorado community DENVER, CO — The House Education Committee today passed HB21-1164, sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar and Speaker Garnett, which would correct an error in Colorado’s property tax system to help ensure fair, equitable and sufficient public school funding across the state. “This is the year we start to correct our broken education funding system to ensure that every child in our state has access to the education they need to thrive,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “All Colorado students and taxpayers deserve a fair and sufficient share of our public education budget. By passing this bill, we can correct an error that reversed the will of voters and which led to enormous inequities in how we fund public schools. This bill sets us on a long overdue path to ensure that every school district has the resources they need to offer the quality education every student deserves.” “It’s past time to fix some of the structural inequities in Colorado’s K-12 school finance system,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Our current school district mill levies were misapplied and don’t comply with the will of the voters to invest in their local schools. Year after year, this error has forced the state to backfill disproportionately more funding to our wealthiest districts while many districts struggle to appropriately fund education. By fixing this mistake, we can slowly make school district funding more fair and bring it in line with what voters have approved.” HB21-1164 forms the basis of a constitutional question to be sent to the Colorado Supreme Court as an interrogatory. The purpose is to align Colorado’s property tax system with original voter intent in local school districts’ “de-Brucing” elections. Between 1994-2002, taxpayers across the state voted to get out from under TABOR imposed caps on school district revenue. Despite the will of the voters to support their local schools, the Colorado Department of Education incorrectly interpreted TABOR and artificially required school districts to collect less revenue. In fact, in 2009, the Colorado Supreme Court held that these mandated reductions were erroneous in its ruling in Mesa Board of County Commissioners v. State . The result has been escalating inequities in school funding across the state, and precious state dollars used to backfill wealthy districts while the system overall is severely underfunded. The 2020 School Finance Act (SFA) took the first step to correct this error. The 2020 SFA aligned statute with the Mesa ruling, treating past tax rate reductions as a mistake if they were enacted to comply with the TABOR limit after local voters had waived that limit. This action reset all district total program mill levies to the rate in place at the time of the successful de-Brucing election, while enacting mill levy “credits” at 100 percent of the difference between the old levy and the corrected levy in order to negate potential impacts to taxpayers during the COVID pandemic. HB21-1164 directs CDE to implement a correction plan for the erroneous reductions in total program mill levies by beginning to incrementally phase out mill levy credits starting in FY 2021-22. This timeline was chosen intentionally to ensure no district has to phase out credits faster than 1 mill per year. Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist to save Coloradans money on health care. < Back January 29, 2025 Legislation to Save Coloradans Money on Mental Health Care Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist to save Coloradans money on health care. The bill would reduce health care costs for families by standardizing insurance coverage determinations to ensure that mental health care is based on clinical evidence, not profit margins. HB25-1002 passed by a vote of 13-0. “Coloradans, especially our youth, struggle to access mental health care, and it’s crucial that we increase access to evidence-based mental health care so people can receive the care and treatment they need,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Colorado Democrats have worked hard to improve access to mental health care that Coloradans can afford. This bill will make sure Colorado families get the health care they pay for.” “Inconsistent mental health care coverage leads to delays, denials and treatments being cut short – this bill aims to bridge the gap so Coloradans can receive the care they need when they need it,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “Coloradans are nine times as likely to be forced to seek care from an out-of-network provider for mental health care than for primary care – which drives up costs for Coloradans and undermines the importance of mental health care. Our bill standardizes insurance coverage surrounding mental health care, saves Coloradans money and will improve the overall quality of life of those impacted.” HB25-1002 would make sure that insurance companies use transparent, evidence-based criteria when deciding whether mental health care should be covered under an insurance plan. This bill would also codify the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act into state law, requiring mental health services to see the same amount of coverage as physical health services. The goal of HB24-1002 is to ensure that insurance providers are covering mental health care and to limit gaps in insurance coverage for Coloradans. The bill also clarifies state law around mental health parity and requires the use of clinical standards from select national organizations to ensure parity. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Meghan Lukens: Supporting students and schools in our communities Feb 25, 2025 See more This story was originally published in the Vail Daily here . As chair of the House Education Committee and your representative for House District 26, I am excited to share updates on legislation that will directly impact our students, teachers, and schools. This year, I am championing several education bills that address key priorities: improving classroom learning environments, enhancing school safety, maximizing school resources, and preparing students for future careers. Each of these initiatives responds to specific needs I have heard from educators, parents, and students across Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties. Addressing the cell phone challenge In my years as a teacher, I experienced firsthand how technology, particularly cell phones, can impact student learning. After hearing from countless educators and parents across Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties, they consistently identified cell phones as one of their most significant challenges in the classroom. Studies increasingly show these devices can significantly impact both academic performance and mental health. In response, I have introduced HB25-1135, which empowers school districts to develop policies regarding cell phones during school hours. Unlike approaches that dictate specific rules from the state level, this legislation recognizes that each school district may have different needs. This bipartisan bill, strongly supported by Colorado Attorney General Phil Wieser, acknowledges local expertise while providing a framework to help students focus on learning and meaningful connections. Innovative solutions for school resources I am very excited about HB25-1006 , which has already passed the House with bipartisan support and moved on to the Senate. This bill removes the current 10-year restriction on school districts leasing unused land for affordable housing, solar fields, and energy storage systems. The idea came directly from Eagle County School District, which had a specific parcel of land that was largely unusable and draining resources. Now, they will be able to lease that land for solar energy production — generating revenue while contributing to our clean energy goals. This is precisely the kind of creative, practical solution our Western Slope communities need. Improving education accountability By refining how we measure student success and providing the right support, we can create an education system that works better for students, educators, and schools. This is why I am proud to co-sponsor HB25-1278 , which implements recommendations from the Accountability, Accreditation, Student Performance, and Resource Inequity Task Force. This bipartisan bill modernizes Colorado’s education accountability system to better meet the needs of students and schools. The legislation makes assessments more accessible by dividing them into shorter sections with age-appropriate time frames and developing versions in additional languages. It improves how we identify schools needing support by implementing early warning systems and providing targeted assistance before problems escalate. The legislation also creates a more transparent accountability dashboard for families and communities. Supporting students at every level Nothing is more important than keeping our students safe. HB25-1173 is a bipartisan bill that expands the role of the school safety advisory board in recommending policy to the School Safety Resource Center and Office of School Safety. I am committed to supporting measures that protect our children and create secure learning environments. At the same time, every student deserves equal access to educational technology. That is why I am sponsoring HB25-1152 , which requires school technology contractors to meet accessibility standards for students with disabilities and accept liability for non-compliance. I am proud to share that this bipartisan bill passed its third reading in the House and will soon be heard in the Senate Education Committee. By ensuring all students can access digital learning tools, we are removing barriers to education for our most vulnerable learners. Looking toward the future, education must extend beyond traditional classrooms. HB25-1186 would create a pilot program giving higher education students hands-on work experience that complements their academic learning. This program will help students develop practical skills for their future careers while completing their studies — bridging the gap between education and employment that many young people face after graduation. Building education progress together These education initiatives address specific challenges our schools and communities face while paying careful attention to our state’s fiscal realities. Each bill responds directly to feedback from educators, parents, and students across House District 26, focusing on practical solutions from technology accessibility to work-based learning opportunities. I believe we make the best policy when we listen to those closest to the issues. If you have insights about education in our communities or thoughts on any of these bills, please share them with me. You can reach me at meghan.lukens.house@coleg.gov or attend one of my upcoming town halls. For more frequent updates throughout the legislative session, I invite you to join my newsletter by sending me an email. Let’s keep in touch and keep making a difference in House District 26. Onward! Meghan Lukens of Steamboat Springs is the representative for Colorado’s House District 26, which encompasses Moffat, Rio Blanco, Eagle, and Routt counties. Previous Next

The House today passed SB25-010 to modernize health care communications. SB25-010 passed the House by a vote of 64-0. < Back February 18, 2025 House Passes Bill to Modernize Health Care Communications DENVER, CO – The House today passed SB25-010 to modernize health care communications. SB25-010 passed the House by a vote of 64-0. “Many consumers prefer electronic communications from banks and utility companies, why not make it more widespread for health insurance communications,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “With this bill, we’re helping provide timely health insurance information to patients, while keeping their personal data safe and protected. Our goal is to reduce administrative costs and improve Coloradan’s access to their health care information.” SB25-010 would allow consumers to opt in to receive and respond to electronic communications from health insurance providers. Additionally, the bill would allow employers providing insurance coverage to opt their employees in to receive electronic communications, in which case employees would be given an opportunity to opt out. Under the bill, carriers would still be required to send paper communications to any individuals that do not have access to the internet, and consumers could elect to receive paper communications. Previous Next

Legislation would require responsible business practices to sell firearms to help prevent gun violence, reduce crime and crack down on the illegal sale of guns and firearm components like high-capacity magazines < Back April 21, 2024 House Passes Bill to Require Permit to Sell a Firearm Legislation would require responsible business practices to sell firearms to help prevent gun violence, reduce crime and crack down on the illegal sale of guns and firearm components like high-capacity magazines DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to reduce gun violence, crack down on illegal firearm sales, and prevent crime by requiring firearm dealers to hold a state license. HB24-1353 passed by a vote of 40-21. “From hairdressers and auto dealers to liquor store owners and many other professions, state licenses are required to conduct business, and we believe that people who sell firearms should be held to the same standard,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Our bill would establish a state permitting system for firearm dealers, require dealers and employees to undergo training to better identify suspicious activity, and ensure compliance with business standards to prevent illegal firearm sales. Dealers who violate state laws could lose their permit to sell firearms, preventing illegal guns and components from being circulated in our communities. This bill sets firearm dealers up for success to help us reduce gun violence and crime in our communities.” "A statewide permitting process for firearm sales allows the state to thoroughly vet and inspect firearm dealers, ensuring they have taken necessary steps to reduce crime and prevent gun violence," said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. "Training requirements for the proper storage of firearms, background checks, and identifying potentially dangerous behavior will help keep guns out of the hands of people who may otherwise harm themselves or someone else. This is an important gun violence prevention bill that will equip Colorado firearm dealers and their employees with safety training and protocols that can save lives.” Starting July 1, 2025, HB24-1353 would require firearm dealers in Colorado to hold a state firearms dealer permit in order to sell guns in Colorado. Operating without this permit would be an unclassified felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000. Firearm dealers would apply through the Department of Revenue and must hold a valid federal firearm license to be eligible for a state firearms dealer permit. Additionally, applicants will not be eligible for the permit if they have an adverse licensing action taken for good cause by the federal government or any state within three years of applying. They will also be ineligible if they have been convicted of a violation of any state or federal law regarding the possession or sale of firearms. Other requirements for receiving a state firearms dealer permit include: Finger-printed background checks for employees every 3 years, Training on how to prevent theft and identify straw purchasers, fraudulent activities, and people at risk of self-harm. An exam on this training would also be required before an applicant is granted a permit, Random and regular inspections to ensure firearms dealers are complying with state and federal law, Firearm sales to only occur during business hours, except during a gun show, and Contacting law enforcement to report a suspicious person who tried to unlawfully purchase a firearm within 48 hours of the incident. Studies show that policies regulating firearm dealer licensing can lead to significant reductions in gun violence, including gun homicides and suicides. After Connecticut passed a similar law, its firearm homicide rate fell by 28 percent and firearm suicide rate decreased by 33 percent . Previous Next

< Back June 4, 2021 COMMITTEE STANDS UP FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS House State Affairs Committee passes bill to strengthen protections for agricultural workers DENVER, CO– The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed Representatives Karen McCormick and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to advance the basic rights of Colorado’s agricultural workers and modernize the agriculture industry. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “Harvesting crops and helping to keep Colorado’s farms and ranches running is backbreaking work, work that my family members have done for years,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “Workers in these jobs should have the same protections and opportunities as others in Colorado, like being able to join a union, having their health and safety protected and earning a fair wage for a hard day’s work. Our bill takes a long overdue step forward toward improving conditions for agricultural workers and correcting a historical injustice. I’m proud to see it move forward today.” “Colorado’s agriculture industry contributes so much to our communities and our economy, and it’s time we extended basic protections to the workers who do so much to help put food on our tables,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “This bill will ensure that the human rights of workers in Colorado are respected while modernizing our agriculture industry and helping to keep Colorado’s agricultural workforce competitive as other states adopt these types of reforms. I want Colorado’s agricultural workers to have the same protections and supports that the folks I employ in my clinic do, and that’s exactly what this bill accomplishes.” 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 bill 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 bill 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 bill 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

GOP bill will cut food assistance and kick Coloradans off their health care < Back May 29, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: General Assembly Dems Oppose GOP Bill to Strip Health Care from Coloradans and Raise Costs DENVER, CO - General Assembly Democrats today sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation, calling on them to oppose President Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ plan to kick Coloradans off their health care and cut food assistance to provide tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. In the letter, the General Assembly Democrats wrote: We strongly oppose President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy that will kick Coloradans off Medicaid and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The legislation threatens the Colorado way of life by making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table and access medical care. Under the ruse of “cutting waste, fraud and abuse,” the bill is nothing more than tax cuts and deregulation for the richest people in our nation at the expense of those most in need. To our Democratic Senators and Representatives, we are proud that you strongly oppose this cruel legislation that will kick Coloradans off their health care and increase costs and hardship for everyone except the ultra wealthy. If the Senate passes this bill, we hope Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert do what is right for Colorado, vote no when it returns to the House, and use their power to protect health care for Coloradans instead of taking it away. The full text of the letter is below: Dear Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Diana DeGette, Rep. Joe Neguse, Rep. Jeff Hurd, Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Jeff Crank, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Brittany Pettersen and Rep. Gabe Evans: We strongly oppose President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy that will kick Coloradans off Medicaid and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The legislation threatens the Colorado way of life by making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table and access medical care. Under the ruse of “cutting waste, fraud and abuse,” the bill is nothing more than tax cuts and deregulation for the richest people in our nation at the expense of those most in need. Colorado is a donor state, which means we pay more in federal taxes than we receive back in federal funding. As state lawmakers tasked with fighting for Colorado, we are taking a stand. Coloradans want their federal dollars working for them in our clinics, hospitals, and food pantries – not frozen by Washington bureaucrats or lining the pockets of billionaires. Kicking qualified Coloradans off Medicaid The Republicans’ plan will have devastating effects on every sector of Colorado’s health care system. Colorado hospitals, clinics, and other providers could lose up to $990 million in annual federal Medicaid funding. We made responsible choices in a tight budget year to protect Medicaid coverage for our most vulnerable community members and to provide emergency financial support to safety net providers, but this level of cost shifting will be too much for the state budget to bear. Proposed cuts to Medicaid will result in an estimated 140,000-230,000 Coloradans suddenly losing health care coverage (11-18 percent of current Medicaid participants). Preventive health care coverage provided through Medicaid saves Coloradans money and leads to better health outcomes. The burdensome administrative barriers proposed in this bill, such as more frequent redeterminations and increased paperwork, will mean that Coloradans who are qualified for Medicaid coverage will have a difficult time receiving it or affording it. The Republicans’ budget also requires new copays for low-income Coloradans, increasing medical costs for families with incomes as low as $22,000 per year. This will force hardworking Coloradans to delay necessary procedures or care and ultimately rely more on emergency room care, straining rural and other hospitals that are already near the breaking point. If this bill passes, critical health care facilities will close their doors, and it will jeopardize access to life-saving care for everyone. The bill prohibits federal reimbursements to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive care like screenings and tests, which will disproportionately impact lower-income women and people of color. By placing restrictions on premium tax credits, this bill will also increase insurance costs for Coloradans and undermine insurance coverage for life-saving reproductive health care, including abortion. Choosing billionaires over hungry kids and hardworking families A drastic and unnecessary overhaul of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Program (SNAP) will drive up state and county costs in Colorado by approximately $260 million annually. The Republican’s bill also creates higher eligibility requirements for food assistance programs, making it harder for Coloradans over 55 and families with children between 8 and 18 years old to receive the support they need. The Biden administration increased SNAP benefits by 21 percent in 2021, which kept 3 million people out of poverty . The Republicans’ bill blocks that administrative power altogether. To our Democratic Senators and Representatives, we are proud that you strongly oppose this cruel legislation that will kick Coloradans off their health care and increase costs and hardship for everyone except the ultra wealthy. If the Senate passes this bill, we hope Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert do what is right for Colorado, vote no when it returns to the House, and use their power to protect health care for Coloradans instead of taking it away. Signed, Colorado State Senators and Representatives House Speaker Julie McCluskie, House District 13 Senate President James Coleman, Senate District 33 House Majority Leader Monica Duran, House District 23 Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senate District 32 Senator Judy Amabile, Senate District 18 Senator Matt Ball, Senate District 31 Senator Jeff Bridges, Senate District 26 Senator Lisa Cutter, Senate District 20 Senator Jessie Danielson, Senate District 22 Senator Lindsey Daugherty, Senate District 19 Senator Tony Exum, Sr., Senate District 11 Senator Julie Gonzales, Senate District 34 Senator Nick Hinrichsen, Senate District 3 Senator Iman Jodeh, Senate District 29 Senator Cathy Kipp, Senate District 14 Senator Chris Kolker, Senate District 16 Senator Janice Marchman, Senate District 15 Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Senate District 21 Senator Kyle Mullica, Senate District 24 Senator Dylan Roberts, Senate District 8 Senator Marc Snyder, Senate District 12 Senator Tom Sullivan, Senate District 27 Senator Katie Wallace, Senate District 17 Senator Mike Weissman, Senate District 28 Senator Faith Winter, Senate District 25 Representative Shannon Bird, House District 29 Representative Andrew Boesenecker, House District 53 Representative Kyle Brown, House District 12 Representative Sean Camacho, House District 6 Representative Chad Clifford, House District 37 Representative Regina English, House District 17 Representative Cecelia Espenoza, House District 4 Representative Lorena Garcia, House District 35 Representative Lindsay Gilchrist, House District 8 Representative Eliza Hamrick, House District 61 Representative Jamie Jackson, House District 41 Representative Junie Joseph, House District 10 Representative Sheila Lieder, House District 28 Representative Mandy Lindsay, House District 42 Representative William Lindstedt, House District 33 Representative Meghan Lukens, House District 26 Representative Javier Mabrey, House District 1 Representative Matthew Martinez, House District 62 Representative Tisha Mauro, House District 46 Representative Karen McCormick, House District 11 Representative Amy Paschal, House District 18 Representative Jacque Phillips, House District 31 Representative Naquetta Ricks, House District 40 Representative Manny Rutinel, House District 32 Representative Gretchen Rydin, House District 38 Representative Emily Sirota, House District 9 Representative Lesley Smith, House District 49 Representative Katie Stewart, House District 59 Representative Rebekah Stewart, House District 30 Representative Tammy Story, House District 25 Representative Brianna Titone, House District 27 Representative Alex Valdez, House District 5 Representative Elizabeth Velasco, House District 57 Representative Jenny Willford, House District 34 Representative Steven Woodrow, House District 2 Representative Yara Zokaie, House District 52 Previous Next

Legislation would promote responsible gun ownership, safe storage of firearms in vehicles < Back March 22, 2024 House Advances Legislation to Reduce Gun Thefts from Vehicles Legislation would promote responsible gun ownership, safe storage of firearms in vehicles DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation in a preliminary vote to help prevent firearms from being stolen in vehicles by requiring them to be secured while unattended in a vehicle. “As a Western Slope legislator, I know how important responsible and safe gun ownership is for our rural communities and our way of life," said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. "This commonsense legislation helps reduce gun thefts from vehicles and reduces gun violence while respecting the 2nd Amendment rights of gun owners across the state.” “When someone steals a firearm, they bypass the protections we’ve put in place that consider factors like mental health struggles and a history of domestic violence before they’re handed a gun," said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. "Gun thefts from vehicles are on the rise, putting our communities at risk of preventable gun crimes. By requiring guns to be securely stored in vehicles when they are unattended, we’re preventing gun owners from losing their weapons and keeping guns out of the hands of the wrong people.” HB24-1348 would require firearms in unattended vehicles to be stored in locked containers that are out of plain view to help prevent them from being stolen. The bill would also require the Office of Suicide Prevention to include information for vehicle safe storage on its website and include vehicle safe storage information that must be displayed at gun stores. There are exclusions such as antique firearms, peace officers, military service members, and people engaged in hunting. Recreational vehicles and non-handgun firearms in a vehicle on a person’s private farm or ranch are also exempt. According to the Denver Police Department, 846 of the 1,221 guns that were reported as being stolen were stolen from vehicles in 2023. Of those stolen firearms, 61% were stolen without stealing the vehicle itself. Data from 2020 found that Grand Junction, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs had the highest rates of gun thefts from cars in Colorado. Colorado Democrats passed a 2021 law that promotes responsible gun ownership by requiring gun owners to properly store their firearms when they are not in use, especially when children are present. The law also requires licensed firearms dealers to provide a locking device at the time of sale or transfer of all firearms. Federal law already requires that handguns sold by licensed dealers be sold with locking devices. Finally, the law created the charge “unlawful storage of a firearm” when a firearm is not stored safely and a juvenile or someone who is ineligible to possess a firearm is present, making it a class 2 misdemeanor. Previous Next

< Back July 13, 2020 BILL TO IMPROVE COLORADO’S RECYCLING RATES SIGNED INTO LAW Governor signs Reps. Lisa Cutter and Jeni Arndt’s bill to improve Colorado’s low recycling rates DENVER, CO– During a virtual bill signing today, Governor Polis signed SB20-055 , Representative Jeni Arndt and Lisa Cutter’s bill to improve Colorado’s recycling rates by directing the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to begin creating the structure for a recycling market development center, providing property tax reimbursements to small businesses that recycle and laying the framework for a statewide education campaign to further inform Colorado residents about recycling. “Coloradans care deeply about protecting the environment,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Morrison. “Improving Colorado’s recycling rates is as good for the economy as it is good for the planet. Through tax breaks for businesses that recycle, educational campaigns and more, this new law will help boost our state’s low recycling rates and make sure we’re doing the most that we can do to protect our environment and the Colorado Way of Life we all know and love.” “This new law is a long time coming,” said Rep. Arndt, D-Fort Collins. “Colorado’s recycling rates have been a concern of ours for a very long time, and this bill takes several important steps towards improving them. I’m proud of the work we did on the Zero Waste Legislative Interim Committee and throughout this legislative session to protect our environment while supporting responsible business practices.” In 2018, Colorado generated 8.8 million tons of landfill, while the state’s recycling was 17.2 percent, well below the national average of 34 percent. Only half of Colorado counties have recycling available for residents and are collecting data to report recycling rates. SB20-055 was developed by the members of the Zero Waste Interim Committee. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed into law bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez and Senator Dylan Roberts that creates a refundable state income tax credit for a farm or ranch that uses certain stewardship practices that benefit the environment, such as improving soil health and water efficiency. < Back May 24, 2024 Signed! Bipartisan Bill to Support Farmers and Ranchers Becomes Law ALAMOSA, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed into law bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Matthew Martinez and Senator Dylan Roberts that creates a refundable state income tax credit for a farm or ranch that uses certain stewardship practices that benefit the environment, such as improving soil health and water efficiency. “With the help of this law, we are ensuring that our farmers and ranchers are recognized and benefit from the work that they do to keep our lands thriving and conserving water as they utilize practices that improve soil health,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “This tax credit will benefit our agriculture producers who invest in stewardship practices on their lands, saving them money while they produce and support agricultural systems for our state.” “As Colorado continues to face drought, we must ensure we’re balancing the needs of our agricultural industry with stewardship practices that benefit the environment,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “This new law creates tax credits that will help improve soil health and water efficiency while supporting Colorado’s family farms and ranches. I’m proud to see this bipartisan policy – one of many we passed this year to support rural Colorado and our agriculture industry – signed into law today.” HB24-1249 , also sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, and Senator Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, creates a new refundable income tax credit from 2026 through 2030 for farms and ranches that engage in agricultural stewardship practices. These stewardship practices can include rotational grazing, reductions in tilling soil, compost application and other practices that increase soil health, improve water efficiency, or create more diverse and thriving ecosystems while maintaining the productivity of the farm or ranch. Under this law, farmers and ranchers are eligible for a refundable income tax credit determined by the number of stewardship practices that the farm or ranch uses. The tax credit amounts are: Up to $75 per acre for one stewardship practice, with a maximum yearly credit of $150,000, Up to $100 per acre for two stewardship practices, with a maximum yearly credit of $200,000, and Up to $150 per acre for three or more stewardship practices, with a maximum yearly credit of $300,000. Previous Next

< Back May 27, 2022 ESGAR’S STATE FAIR BILL SIGNED INTO LAW Governor also signs Esgar’s bill to create the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology at Colorado State University – Pueblo DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed Majority Leader Esgar’s bills to increase funding for the Colorado State Fair to implement the 2021 State Fair Master Plan and create the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology at CSU-Pueblo. “What an exciting day for Pueblo and Southern Colorado!” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Today Governor Polis signed two of my bills into law to boost funding for the State Fair and create the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology at CSU-Pueblo. The State Fair supports our agriculture industry and is an economic driver for the entire state, and CSU-Pueblo is a critical part of our community. I’m proud to have sponsored these important bills for Southern Colorado that will boost our economy, help secure the long-term future and success of the State Fair, and make CSU-Pueblo a leader in transportation safety and innovation.” SB22-134 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Don Coram, would provide the state fair with $4 million to implement the master plan. The fairgrounds are currently facing many challenges common to fairs across the country, including older facilities, limited funding, competing venues, and a backlog of building deficiencies. The Colorado state fair authority board created a master plan that details the solutions to these challenges. HB22-1365 , sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar and Senator Hinrichsen, creates a new institute at CSU-Pueblo to research safety, security, and innovation of railroad, ground, and intermodal transportation and general issues related to surface transportation problems in the state. The institute will also offer funding to small businesses that are developing and testing surface transportation technologies. Previous Next