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< Back December 20, 2023 New Laws Making Colorado Safer Go Into Effect DENVER, CO - A pair of new laws that will make life safer for Coloradans will go into effect on January 1, 2024. HB23-1222 , sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Senators Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, creates new requirements for domestic violence cases in municipal courts to provide protections for victims. The law ensures provisions of the Victims’ Rights Act are applied in municipal courts, instructs judges to check a defendant for prior charges before issuing a verdict, and ensures all cases in municipal courts have the same resources and safety precautions available that they would in a county court, among other requirements. “As a survivor of domestic violence, I know how hard it is to seek accountability in court which is why support and protections for victims is so important,” said Duran. “Holding municipal courts to the same standard for domestic violence cases as county courts ensures that victims receive identical treatment in the court system. With the implementation of our new law, we can create a safer environment for victims to hold their abuser accountable, no matter where they live.” “I was proud to be a part of multiple pieces of transformative legislation to strengthen autonomy and control for survivors of intimate violence last session,” said Winter. “No survivor should ever have to pay a bill for their forensic exam, or feel unsafe during their court proceedings. This new law signals our commitment to furthering support for survivors of domestic violence in Colorado.” "This law will better support survivors of domestic violence by guaranteeing all Coloradans protections under the Victims Rights Amendment, no matter which court handles their case," said Weissman. "It is crucial for survivors to have support to ensure their well-being and safety. This law requires all courts to provide the same sentencing requirements and victim protections for domestic violence cases so all Coloradans can receive equal treatment." “Keeping Colorado families and communities safe is a top priority of mine,” said Roberts, sponsor of HB23-1222 and HB23-1267. “Previously, county and municipal courts weren’t held to the same procedural standards for domestic violence cases, which is why we passed HB23-1222 to improve the way municipal courts handle domestic violence cases and ensure survivors are given the protections they deserve. HB23-1267 meanwhile will help improve safety on our roads, especially dangerous mountain routes. These are common sense bills that will create a safer state for us all.” HB23-1267 , sponsored by Roberts and House Speaker Julie McCluske, D-Dillon, will make mountain roadways safer by allowing the Department of Transportation to establish enhanced speeding fines on highways where the downhill grade is 5 percent or greater and where there are safety concerns related to commercial motor vehicle drivers exceeding the posted speed limits. “Our Colorado mountain roads can be dangerous, especially in the I-70 corridor that is frequented by commercial drivers who might not have mountain driving experience,” said McCluskie. “This law doubles speeding fines for trucks driving down steep grades, which will help prevent unnecessary accidents, improve traffic and make our roads safer.” Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2023 House Advances Bill to Protect Consumers from Predatory Financial Products DENVER, CO – The House passed a bill today on a preliminary vote to protect consumers from excessive fees on small loans. “Colorado has made great progress when it comes to cracking down on high-interest lending, specifically with payday loans, but we must do more to protect consumers,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Our legislation saves consumers money by tackling a lternative charge loans, a workaround utilized by lenders to assess high fees on hardworking Coloradans who need to borrow smaller amounts of money. We’re doing everything we can to save consumers money, cut back on problematic lending practices and protect Coloradans.” “Alternative charge loans are rebranded payday loans, except lenders can charge sky high fees amounting to steep effective APRs – our bill puts an end to that,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “When voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 111 to tighten regulations on payday loans, the industry adapted and now Coloradans seeking loans of up to $1,000 are stuck in the same harmful cycle of debt. Our legislation reduces borrowing costs for consumers by limiting fees for alternative charge loans.” HB23-1229 would protect consumers by limiting lender fees on alternative charge loans, which are short-term loans capped at $1,000. The bill would also increase the minimum term of an alternative charge loan from 90 days to 6 months, allowing more time for repayment. Separately, it would also ensure that out-of-state, state-chartered banks are subject to applicable Colorado lending laws when lending to Coloradans to protect borrowers and create uniformity within the state. In 2018, Colorado voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 111 to crack down on predatory payday loans with high annual percentage rates (APRs). Since then, some Colorado lenders have replaced their payday loans with alternative charge loans which are not required subject to the same consumer protections. This bill would close that workaround to prevent lenders from overcharging Coloradans for credit that is often sought by borrowers already in duress. Previous Next

< Back April 22, 2024 McCluskie’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Colorado Water, Combat Drought Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to protect Colorado’s water supply. Sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie, SB24-197 would implement several recommendations made by the Colorado River Drought Task Force, including tactics to address the worsening drought conditions on the Colorado River. “Securing Colorado's water future is paramount. This bill strategically implements recommendations from the Colorado River Drought Task Force to protect the Colorado way of life,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “Drought conditions have jeopardized Colorado’s water future, and this bipartisan legislation works to address some of the challenges facing our water supply while preserving it for our state’s agriculture, outdoor recreation and household needs. I’m committed to tackling Colorado’s water supply challenges head-on, while working alongside our agriculture and coal-transition communities, to protect our water for generations to come.” SB24-197 , also sponsored by Representative Marc Caitlin, R-Montrose, passed committee by a unanimous vote of 10-0. This bill would implement some recommendations made by the Colorado River Drought Task Force including: Expansion of the Environmental Instream Flow Temporary Loan Program to allow the owner of a decreed storage water right to loan water to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to preserve or improve the natural environment. Expansion of Colorado’s Agricultural Water Rights Protection Program which creates opportunities for agricultural water rights holders to make water temporarily available for other uses while maintaining water in agriculture. Protection of Industrial Water Rights for Hayden & Craig’s Power Generation Systems through 2050, which will allow the electric utilities or another entity to look into the viability of future energy generation technologies that could advance Colorado’s clean energy and greenhouse gas emission goals while keeping energy-producing jobs in the region. Improved access to Water Plan Implementation Grants for Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Nations which would allow the CWCB to waive or reduce matching fund requirements for grants to Tribal Nations and enterprises. The Colorado River is in the midst of a three-decade drought, the worst in over 1,200 years, and water supplies are decreasing across the state as a result. These diminishing supplies are threatening resources for drinking water, agricultural uses, and environmental and recreational opportunities. In response, lawmakers passed SB23-295 , which created the Colorado River Drought Task Force . Last summer, the task force worked to develop water policy recommendations to be a guideline for new legislation, including SB24-197. Previous Next

< Back May 24, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO CREATE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDU DEPARTMENT DENVER, CO– The House today passed HB21-1304 , sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett and Representative Emily Sirota by a vote of 44-20. The bill creates a new, cabinet-level state agency focused on early childhood education and care, setting up the framework for universal pre-K in Colorado. “Every parent knows child care in Colorado is far too expensive, and every early childhood advocate knows our current system is fractured and doesn’t meet every family’s needs,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “The bill we passed today sets up a system that will allow us to tackle both of these issues at once, streamlining the early childhood system and putting us on track to guarantee the option of universal pre-K for every family in the state.” “We know that early childhood years are the most crucial in a child’s cognitive development, but this time in a family’s life is often when they have the least support,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Child care and early childhood education is getting more and more expensive and harder to access for the families that need it. By creating a state department for early childhood education, we will lay the groundwork for universal pre-K and ensure that early childhood providers have the resources and funding necessary to ensure our youngest Coloradans succeed.” Based on the recommendations of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission, HB21-1304 creates the Department of Early Childhood as a new, cabinet-level state agency with a mission to expand access to high-quality, voluntary, affordable early childhood opportunities, support parents in accessing programs and services, promote equitable delivery of resources, and unify the fragmented administration of early childhood services to reduce duplicative oversight and administrative burden on families, providers, and educators. The bill also requires the creation of a plan to implement voluntary universal preschool statewide in alignment with Proposition EE, and streamlines existing and new funding sources for early childhood education and care programs. Under this legislation, the Governor would submit the community-informed transition plan to the Joint Budget Committee in November as part of his 2022 budget request, to be considered for further legislative action by the General Assembly in the 2022 session. Previous Next

< Back March 16, 2022 HOUSE ED COMMITTEE PASSES TWO BILLS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee passed two bills that will prepare students for success. HB22-1248 passed by a vote of 6 to 3 and would extend the School Leadership Pilot Program indefinitely. HB22-1255, passed unanimously and would require higher education institutions to provide better support for students with disabilities. “We’re making sure some of the best educators in Colorado get the chance to impact students beyond their school district,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This bill continues a great program that identifies top-of-the-line principals in Colorado for mentorship programs with other principals and school districts. The results of this program have been great for boosting school culture and teacher collaboration and I’m very happy to continue such a popular program that has worked to prepare our students for success.” HB22-1248 , sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan and David Ortiz, would make permanent the School Leadership Pilot Program in the Department of Education. This popular program identifies dedicated and knowledgeable school principals as mentors and provides the opportunity for other principals to learn, observe and interact with those mentors to improve their leadership skills. This bill aims to continue the program because it successfully increases teacher collaboration, improves school culture and better prepares students for success. The first pilot program was implemented for two cohorts and served principals in more than 50 Colorado school districts. “There is no doubt that great principals equipped with leadership skills empower educators and improve learning outcomes for our students,” said David Ortiz D-Littleton . “Continuing the School Leadership Pilot Program is the right move for Colorado because more school districts and students will benefit from excellent leadership. We’re also focused on making it easier for all students, including students with a disability, to succeed in higher education. A new bill would allow experts in disability services in education to provide recommendations for real and impactful change for students with disabilities. Higher education needs to be more accessible and accommodating to everyone, and this bill points Colorado in the right direction.” HB22-1255 , sponsored by Representative David Ortiz, would create an advisory committee in the Department of Education that will develop a report with recommendations to improve outcomes for students with disabilities attending state institutions. The goal of this report is the develop a blueprint for making real and meaningful changes to better prepare students with disabilities for success, both in the classroom and after graduation. A 2019 study from the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 19.4% of undergraduate students have a disability. Also, higher education completion rates for students with a reported disability are significantly lower than students without reported disabilities. This bill aims to level the playing field to make it easier for students to succeed. Previous Next

< Back October 24, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Interim Committee Bills to Improve Mental Health and Substance Use Resources Advance Colorado Democrats Advance Bills to Boost Community-Based Treatment and Resources to Prevent Crime and Reduce Recidivism DENVER, CO - The Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems interim committee today advanced five bills to improve access to court diversion programs, increase funding for Colorado’s 911 Resource Center, dispatch community-based mental health professionals to youth and families experiencing a behavioral health crisis, clarify the process for defendants who are found by a court to be incompetent to stand trial, and ensure that individuals are not held in jails if they haven’t committed a crime. Bill 2 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Regina English and Senator Rhonda Fields, would remove jails as an option for substance use disorder commitments when no crime has been committed. Under the bill, local law enforcement agencies would submit a quarterly report to the Behavioral Health Administration regarding how many people have been taken into protective custody, how long they were in treatment, where they were treated, and other data. “Correctional facilities shouldn’t be the largest provider of mental health treatment in our state,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of Bills 2, 3, and 5. “Our bills will remove jails as treatment providers when no crime has been committed, boost funding and resources for judicial districts to alleviate pressure on our jail systems, and keep individuals in their community while they work through a behavioral or mental health treatment plan created by a licensed mental health professional. These changes will help drive down recidivism, get people the treatment services they need, and more quickly bring justice to victims of crimes.” “Coloradans seeking help deserve to be met with well-resourced, comprehensive services and reliable responses,” said Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, sponsor of all five bills. “The legislation I am bringing forward next session will boost resources across a variety of services to ensure that crisis responders and judicial employees are operating efficiently and that Coloradans can continue to rely on these essential community services. I look forward to carrying these bills to guarantee that Coloradans can receive help whenever, wherever, and however they need it.“ Bill 3 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Mary Bradfield and Senator Rhonda Fields, would help address our competency backlog by allowing us to get defendants who are not able to be restored to competency into appropriate treatment more quickly. “Increasing treatment services for substance abuse disorders in our criminal justice system will reduce recidivism rates and offer the tools people need to successfully reenter society,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of Bills 2, 4, and 6. “By offering these services, we can address the root causes of crime and give Coloradans a better chance at a thriving future. We’re also allocating money to help Colorado’s 911 Resource Center properly staff their workplaces and give workers the information and training they need to respond to calls more effectively.” Colorado’s 911 Resource Center supports first responders across the state. Public safety answering points, commonly known as call centers, play an important role by gathering important information for law enforcement, fire departments, and EMS during a call and providing critical de-escalation services before first responders show up on the scene. Bill 4 , sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields and Representative Regina English, would fund the Colorado 911 Resource Center so it can continue to provide services and training to public safety answering points. Bill 5 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Mary Bradfield and Senators Rhonda Fields and Rod Pelton, would codify and expand the Crisis Resolution Team program to provide mobile crisis responses for youth and their families, using community-based services to de-escalate and stabilize Colorado youth during a behavioral health crisis. Additional services would include counseling or therapy, case management to help meet treatment plans, peer support or family skills coaching, medication management, and care coordination. The committee also advanced Bill 6 , sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez and Senator Rhonda Fields and Representatives Regina English and Mary Bradfield. Currently, district attorneys can use an assessment tool to identify individuals who are eligible to be diverted away from the juvenile or criminal justice system and into appropriate services. This bill expands eligible individuals to include juveniles and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those with behavioral health issues, and adds behavioral health services and services for adults and juveniles with developmental disabilities to the list of available diversion services. “Young people and adults who struggle with developmental disabilities or behavioral health issues too often become involved in the juvenile or criminal justice system,” Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, sponsor of Bill 6 said. “This bill will require DAs to consider a young person's mental or behavioral health status when determining if they are eligible for diversion services.” The five bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2024 session, interim bills will follow the legislative process in the same manner as all other bills. Previous Next

< 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 12, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: LEGISLATURE TACKLES AFFORDABILITY, CRIME, AND EDUCATION Democrats faced Republican obstruction to laws that protect abortion rights and defend Colorado’s democracy DENVER, CO – The Second Session of the 73rd General Assembly adjourned today with lawmakers passing legislation to save people and businesses money, build a safer and healthier Colorado, and prepare students for success. Democrats codified abortion rights and passed critical legislation to protect Colorado’s election systems from insider threats. The legislature also passed bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to combat the fentanyl crisis and save lives. Of the bills passed this session, 93 percent received bipartisan support on final passage. “We came into this session focused on saving people money, improving public safety and preparing our students for success, and that’s exactly what we did,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “We put money back into people’s pockets with early refund checks of at least $500 and $1000, established free universal preschool that will save families thousands, and we made transformational investments to build more homes and save people money on housing. Addressing one of the most pressing challenges our communities face, we passed bipartisan, comprehensive legislation on fentanyl that will deploy proven public health strategies and crack down on dealers to get this deadly poison off our streets and save lives. I am very proud of all we have accomplished for the people of Colorado.” “Our work over the past 120 days has culminated in transformational progress for Colorado. In addition to making historic investments in Colorado’s behavioral health system and addressing the affordable housing crisis, we also tackled the existential problems facing our state,” said President Steve Fenberg D-Boulder. “We passed critical legislation to bolster wildfire mitigation and prevention efforts ahead of what could be the most dangerous wildfire season we’ve ever seen. Additionally, we are bringing down transportation and industrial emissions, cleaning up our air, and building a healthier and safer Colorado for all.” “From saving people money on property taxes to creating affordable pathways for students to earn degrees, I’m so proud of what we were able to accomplish this session for Southern Colorado and communities across our state. We significantly increased funding for K-12 public schools that districts can use to raise teacher pay, reduce class sizes, and improve education outcomes for students,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We went into this session knowing we had to protect the right to an abortion, and with the Supreme Court on the cusp of ripping away rights we’ve had for over 50 years, I’m proud that we passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act to ensure abortion remains safe and legal in Colorado.” “We started this legislative session with a once in a lifetime chance to transform the lives of Coloradans and meet the needs of our growing state,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D–Commerce City. “This session, we passed policies to help Colorado recover from the pandemic and uplift our economy, support our working families, and help folks save money on everyday essentials like gas and groceries. We also made important strides to fix our broken behavioral health system to ensure Coloradans can access the care they need and deserve. I’m incredibly proud of the work we did this session to move our state forward and create lasting change that will benefit Colorado families for generations to come.” Saving People Money Tax Relief and Cashback for Individuals and Families: Democrats passed legislation to save the average homeowner $274 on their property taxes ( SB22-238 ); provide advanced tax refunds this summer to every Colorado resident ( SB22-233 ); help families and workers take advantage of tax reforms to save $180 million this year through the expanded earned income tax credit and child tax credit ( SB22-182 ); and save homeowners money on wildfire mitigation ( HB22-1007 ). Tax Relief for Businesses: Democrats are providing $700 million in property tax relief over the next two years for businesses and homeowners ( SB22-238 ); eliminating fees to start your own business ( HB22-1001 ); allowing restaurants to keep $40 million of the sales tax they collect ( HB22-1406 ); making sales tax filing easier ( SB22-006 ); and replenishing the unemployment insurance trust fund to save businesses money and protect this important assistance for workers ( SB22-234 ). Saving People Money on Housing: Democrats are saving Coloradans money on housing by investing $428 million in pandemic relief funds to preserve and construct new affordable housing. This funding will go toward loans to leverage private and local dollars to construct affordable homes; direct grants to nonprofits and local governments to build affordable homes; investments in middle-income housing; and innovative housing solutions such as modular homes. ( HB22-1304 , SB22-159 , SB22-160 , SB22-146 , HB22-1282 ). Additionally, Democrats extended the Colorado Affordable Housing Tax Credit for an additional 7 years, providing $420 million in additional tax credits over the next decade ( HB22-1051 ), fostered economic mobility among mobile home park residents ( HB22-1287 ), and protected veterans and active military members from housing discrimination ( HB22-1102 ). Increasing Behavioral Health Care Access: Democrats passed legislation to expand access to behavioral health care and save people money on the treatment they need to support their health and well-being. This $450 million package expands access to critical services for adults, youth, and families; increases access to substance use disorder treatment; bolsters the behavioral health workforce; and adds desperately needed residential treatment beds. ( HB22-1281 , HB22-1303 , HB22-1283 , SB22-196 , HB22-1302 , SB22-147 , SB22-148 , SB22-181 , SB22-177 ). Democrats also passed a landmark bill ( HB22-1278 ) to streamline and improve access to Colorado’s behavioral health system. Child Care and Free Universal Preschool: Democrats passed legislation this session to help child care providers save money and stay open ( HB22-1006 , SB22-213 ) and create free universal preschool for every Colorado family that will help parents get back to work and save families thousands of dollars ( HB22-1295 ). Democrats saved people money everywhere we could, including on: gas and car registrations ( HB22-1351 , HB22-1254 ): groceries ( HB22-1380 ): hygiene products and diapers ( HB22-1055 ): drivers license renewals ( HB22-1004 ): professional fees and licensure renewals ( HB22-1298 , HB22-1299 , HB22-1005 ): college tuition and apprenticeships ( HB22-1350 , HB22-1155 , SB22-192 , SB22-226 , SB22-003 ): and student loan forgiveness for educators and behavioral health care professionals ( SB22-181 , HB22-1220 ). Improving Public Safety and Preventing Crime Community Safety Investment Act and Safer Streets Act: The Community Safety Investment Act ( SB22-145 ) invests $30 million to implement proven public safety strategies like co-responder models, violence interrupter programs, and support for recruiting and training law enforcement who reflect the communities they serve. The Safer Streets Act ( SB22-001 ) helps communities make critical improvements to cut down on crime and improve public safety through neighborhood upgrades, such as better lighting to increase visibility and improved design of shared community spaces. HB22-1003 invests $2 million in projects that demonstrate an evidence- and community-based response to reducing youth involvement in the juvenile justice system. Preventing Catalytic Converter Theft: SB22-009 cuts down on catalytic converter thefts by giving state regulators more oversight of aftermarket sales of catalytic converters and making it easier to prosecute those selling stolen ones. SB22-179 adds civil penalties for offenses related to catalytic converter theft, while HB22-1217 creates a grant program to increase public awareness around catalytic converter theft and provide financial assistance to victims. Supporting Victims and Preventing Identity-Based Violence: HB22-1234 creates a grant program to prevent and respond to identity-based violence; SB22-049 updates the Victim Rights Act to make it easier for victims to navigate the criminal justice system and bring perpetrators to justice; and HB22-1243 invests $14 million to improve school security and increase student access to behavioral health care in public schools. Preparing Students for Success Major Increase in K-12 Education Funding: The 2022 School Finance Act increases funding for K-12 public schools by nearly $550 per student on average to put more resources directly into classrooms that school districts can use to increase teacher pay, reduce class sizes and ensure students have what they need to thrive. State support for K-12 education will increase by $431 million to $8.4 billion, reducing the Budget Stabilization Factor to the lowest level since it was created. Boosting Funding for Higher Education: The 2022 state budget increases funding for institutions of higher education. As tuition rises across the country, the budget saves students money by investing state dollars to keep tuition down. With an investment of $129 million, we are boosting financial aid and tuition assistance to save Colorado students and families money on their degrees. Creating More Affordable Pathways to Degrees, Certificates and Successful Careers: Democrats passed legislation to to invest $91 million in regional talent development initiatives to better align postsecondary credential programs to help workers fill good jobs in growing industries ( HB22-1350 ); and expand stackable credential pathways to help Coloradans seeking to further their education or switch careers get the affordable training and credentials they need to land jobs in high-demand industries ( SB22-192 ). Combating the Fentanyl Crisis and Saving Lives The legislature passed HB22-1326 , the Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Act, a comprehensive approach to combat the fentanyl crisis. The bill deploys both proven public health-focused strategies and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers to keep fentanyl off Colorado streets and save lives. The bill strengthens criminal penalties on any individual distributing fentanyl, directs $29 million in federal pandemic relief funds to expand access to proven public health tools like the life-saving opioid antagonist Narcan as well as fentanyl test strips, and integrates mandatory substance use disorder (SUD) assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing process to get people into treatment and recovery services. Protecting Abortion Rights and Access As reproductive rights face imminent threats at the Supreme Court and across the country, Colorado took bold action to pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act ( HB22-1279 ),protecting reproductive rights and establishing a fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy and give birth, or to have an abortion. Improving Air Quality and Addressing the Climate Crisis Historic Air Quality Investments: Democrats made a record $111million investment to improve Colorado’s air quality through immediate emission reduction strategies and air quality monitoring ( HB22-1362 ), deploy clean transportation initiatives such as electric-powered school buses and e-bike sharing programs, and incentivize the reduction of emissions ( SB22-193 ). Protections From Air Toxics: Toxic air pollution leads to poor health and higher risks for disease and cancer. Democrats passed legislation to reduce toxic pollution from harmful chemicals by establishing health-based air quality standards for hazardous air pollutants ( HB22-1244 ). Seasonal Free Public Transit: Democrats invested $10 million in the Revitalizing Main Streets grant program for communities to provide free transit rides during ozone season, which will improve air quality through increased use of public transit ( SB22-180 ). Preventing and Responding to Wildfires Wildfire Mitigation Resources for Homeowners, Local Governments and Volunteer Firefighters: Democrats passed legislation to invest $10 million in a matching grant program to help local governments fund sustainable forest management and wildfire mitigation efforts ( HB22-1011 ); extend a current income tax deduction and create a new state income tax credit for wildfire mitigation expenses up to $625 per year ( HB22-1007 ); allocate $7.2 million into wildfire mitigation grant programs ( HB22-1012 ); and expand wildfire mitigation outreach and awareness campaigns ( SB22-007 ). Another $5 million investment ensures local volunteer fire departments have the resources to purchase necessary equipment, provide training and behavioral health care services to firefighters and respond safely to wildfires ( SB22-002) . Disaster Preparedness & Recovery and Insurance Coverage for Fire Disasters: The legislature invested $35 million to help individuals, businesses, and governments rebuild after disaster emergencies; allocated $15.5 million for improved wildfire fighting aviation resources and maintenance of a statewide fire dispatch center; and created the Office of Climate Preparedness in Colorado to better prepare for and respond to future disasters ( SB22-206 ). Democrats also passed legislation to ensure that homeowners displaced by declared wildfire disasters receive a fair payout from their insurance companies ( HB22-1111 ). Defending Colorado’s Gold Standard Elections Colorado Election Security Act: Colorado sets the national standard when it comes to holding free, fair, and secure elections. Democrats passed SB22-153 to further improve internal election security by prohibiting anyone from serving as an election official if they have been convicted of any election offense or any offense or conspiracy to commit sedition, insurrection, treason, or conspiracy to overthrow the government, among other measures. SB22-153 also prohibits election officials or candidates from physically tampering with voting equipment, and from having access to or being present in a room with voting equipment without being accompanied by one or more persons with authorized access. Addressing Homelessness Transformational Statewide Grant Program: This $105 million grant program directs flexible funding to local governments and nonprofits that are pursuing innovative measures to address the needs of individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Those initiatives may include wraparound supportive services, care coordination, emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and property conversion ( HB22-1377 ). Denver-Metro Residential Services Campus and Ridge View Supportive Community Campus: These bills allocated $50 million for partnerships between the state, local governments and nonprofits in the Denver-Metro area to build or acquire and manage a regional campus to comprehensively respond to and prevent homelessness. ( HB22-1378 ). SB22-211 repurposes Ridge View, a currently unused, state-owned facility, into a recovery-oriented community to help individuals without stable housing access services for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. ( SB22-211 ). Empowering Colorado’s County Workers Landmark Bill to Expand Collective Bargaining Rights: SB22-230 builds upon the state workers bill from 2020 to extend collective bargaining rights to county workers. This bill gives public service workers who choose to form a union a seat at the table to collectively bargain on issues like working conditions, job safety, pay and benefits, and to collaborate with management to address shared challenges like staff shortages, retention issues, and improving public services. Previous Next

< Back November 12, 2020 MULLICA ACCEPTS HEALTH EQUITY HERO AWARD–SELECTS SENIOR HUB AND RALSTON HOUSE TO RECEIVE CONTRIBUTION Recognizing Mullica’s work caring for patients in the Cook County Jail, Dentaquest will provide a $5,000 contribution to The Senior Hub and Ralston House of Northglenn in his name DENVER, CO — Representative Kyle Mullica today received the Dataquest Health Equity Hero Award, a national award that recognizes individuals for working to expand access to health care, especially in underserved communities. Rep. Mullica, an ER nurse, was honored for his work in the Cook County Jail, where he cared for patients during a critical COVID-19 outbreak in April and May. “I am honored to select Ralston House and Senior Hub to receive these contributions,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “These charities are doing essential work to protect and support at-risk seniors and youth. So many Coloradans rely on Ralston House and Senior Hub for access to health care, critical services, nutritional meals and so much more. I could not be more grateful for their dedication to serving our community.” “Ralston House is honored to be chosen by Representative Mullica as a recipient of this donation,” said Ralston House Executive Director Don Moseley. “Ralston House provides forensic interviews, medical examinations, and victim advocacy for children who are suspected of being sexually or physically abused or have witnessed a violent crime. This donation will go directly to funding these services in a year where the impact of COVID 19 has limited the fundraising efforts of Ralston House and other nonprofits. We are grateful to Representative Mullica for his donation and for the work he did to earn this award.” According to their website: the DentaQuest Health Equity Hero awards program celebrates and promotes individuals who are going above and beyond to expand access to equitable oral care and health care — especially in underserved communities. These community leaders are inspiring collective action on behalf of our neighbors with the greatest needs and the fewest resources. In addition to celebrating and promoting the contributions of the 2020 Health Equity Heroes, DentaQuest provides a $5,000 charitable contribution in the name of each hero to a nonprofit committed to promoting health equity. Rep. Mullica was selected because: “[As a] husband, father and ER nurse, [he] left home and family after the Colorado General Assembly suspended its session to work in the Cooke County Jail in Chicago during one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the city. Mullica spent five weeks at the jail, working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week." The Senior Hub is a nonprofit agency that provides services and support to assist aging adults to remain in their homes, as long as possible. The agency serves older adults in Arapahoe and Adams county through a variety of programs and initiatives including Meals on Wheels, home care services, adult day services, and a food pantry. Ralston House is a not-for-profit agency that provides a friendly and safe place for child and teen survivors of abuse to tell their stories and begin the healing process. Founded in 1990, Ralston House receives referrals from law enforcement, social services and the district attorney’s office, and works in conjunction with these entities to provide specialized forensic interviews and medical examinations. Previous Next

< Back November 20, 2023 House Passes Bill to Combat Child Hunger, Support Working Families DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to combat child hunger by taking advantage of the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program and providing students with nutrition assistance during summer break. SB23B-002 passed by a vote of 44-16. “For many children in Colorado, school is the only place they receive consistent meals which means they often face hunger during the summer months,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “This legislation takes full advantage of an expansion of a federal program to keep our kids fed year-round. No kid should go hungry, and we’re working together to combat child hunger and make purchasing nutritious, healthy food more affordable for families.” “Having access to food is not a reality for all kids living in Colorado, in fact one in nine kids face hunger,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County . “Child hunger gets worse during the summer months, and our important legislation utilizes federal funding to help hard working families put food on the table. Many families see their grocery bill skyrocket during the summer, and by leveraging federal funds we can combat child hunger so every kid has the chance to be their best.” SB23B-002 would allocate an estimated $35 million to expand EBT benefits, which would help families purchase groceries from SNAP retailers during the summer months when child hunger is most severe. Families with children eligible for the national free and reduced-price school meals program will receive $40 a month per eligible child for the summer benefit in 2024, to be adjusted for inflation in following years. The Summer EBT Program was established in December 2022 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, with the program beginning in the summer of 2024. By taking action now, Colorado is a national leader on this issue. Ten other states indicated to the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they intend to do so next year, which would postpone their program’s start until 2025. Previous Next

< Back January 11, 2023 MCLACHLAN STATEMENT ON THE FIRST ANNUAL TRIBAL COUNCIL ADDRESS DENVER, CO – Representative Barbara McLachlan today released the following statement on the first annual Tribal Council address to the General Assembly. Last session, Rep. McLachlan sponsored SB22-105 to invite representatives from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian to share their priorities and voices with the general assembly. Statement from Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango: “It is a true honor to welcome the Chairmen of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe to the Colorado State Capitol for the first ever annual address to a joint session of the General Assembly. “This land has been home to generations of Ute who lived here long before the state of Colorado and the federal government forced them to give up their land. As Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Chairman Manuel Heart said in his remarks, “Just as a blanket is made, our history of the Ute people should be woven into the history of Colorado.” “It was a privilege today to hear the concerns of the Chairmen and the issues facing their communities. We cherish the government-to-government relationships we have with the Tribes in our state because the policies we pass are better when everyone has a seat at the table. “Tribal leaders outlined their priorities, including but not limited to, land and water preservation, improving health care access and educational opportunities for their communities, economic development and cultural preservation. “Today’s first annual remarks offer an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to continued collaborative efforts with Colorado’s sovereign Tribal governments.” Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO PROTECT LGBTQ VETERANS Bill to restore benefits for LGBTQ veterans who were wrongly dishonorably discharged passes House on third reading. DENVER, CO– The House today passed Representative David Ortiz’s bill to ensure that LGBTQ veterans who received a dishonorable discharge from the military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity can access the veterans benefits they have earned. The bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 47-16. “No one who is willing to put their life at risk to serve our country should be prevented from accessing the benefits they earned because of who they love or how they identify,” said Rep. Ortiz, D-Littleton. “Coming home and reintegrating into your community after military service is hard enough without facing the additional stigma of being unjustly discharged. I’m proud that we were able to deliver some relief for my brothers and sisters in the armed forces today.” Before the repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t tell”, countless servicemembers were discharged other than honorably due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. This prevented many LGBTQ+ veterans in Colorado from qualifying for the same state programs and benefits that their peers have access to. SB21-026 , the Restoration of Honor Act, will create the “discharged LGBT veteran” status and allow Coloradans who fall under this category to access existing state programs available to honorably discharged veterans. Previous Next