Search Results

Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, today released the following statements on Governor Polis’ FY 2024-2025 budget proposal: < Back November 1, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Democratic Leadership on Governor’s Budget Proposal DENVER, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, today released the following statements on Governor Polis’ FY 2024-2025 budget proposal: Statement from Speaker McCluskie: “After years of delivering historic increases in public school funding and making steady progress, the General Assembly this year is poised to eliminate the public school funding deficit (the Budget Stabilization Factor) in Colorado for the first time since 2009. This is the moment that parents, students and teachers have been waiting for, and I’m proud that our responsible budgets and consistent investment in our students have paved the way to make it a reality. The Governor’s budget proposal will build on our collaborative efforts with the JBC and Education Committee Chair Rep. McLachlan to boost per pupil funding to record levels, increase teacher pay, and reduce class sizes to set up our students to thrive. I appreciate Governor Polis’ budget proposal, and I look forward to working with him and the JBC to improve education, support working families and make Colorado a more affordable place to live.” Statement from President Fenberg: “Making sure our kids get the best education possible is one of the most important jobs we have, which is why I am thrilled to see Governor Polis’ budget request put such a strong emphasis on fully funding our schools and eliminating the Budget Stabilization Factor once and for all. Governor Polis’ budget request represents a thoughtful, responsible approach that will also save Colorado families money on urgent priorities like housing and health care, while providing badly-needed resources to help achieve our shared goal of making Colorado communities safer. I look forward to working closely with Governor Polis next session as we fight to create a healthier, safer, and stronger Colorado for us all.” Previous Next

< Back June 1, 2021 HOUSE INVESTS IN RURAL ECONOMIES, COLORADO PROUD PRODUCTS DENVER, CO — The House today passed three bipartisan bills to invest in rural economies and communities and promote Colorado’s agriculture products. These bills are a part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bills passed on Third Reading. “By investing in the Colorado proud program, we’re ensuring that Colorado’s economic recovery extends to our farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and other agricultural producers,” said Rep Donald Valdez, D- La Jara, sponsor of SB21-203. “This bill provides rural colorado and our agriculture sector with a much-needed boost. Colorado’s agricultural products are made with the highest standards, and the Colorado Proud seal will soon be a symbol of quality across the country and around the globe.” Colorado’s robust agricultural sector has been the backbone of our economy for decades, and the pandemic has burdened the industry with unique challenges that require additional resources to overcome. To accelerate the economic recovery of our agricultural and rural communities, SB21-203 , which is also sponsored by Representative Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, provides $2.5 million to the Department of Agriculture for the Colorado Proud program. Colorado Proud provides new opportunities for Colorado’s food and agricultural producers to increase sales globally and helps support the growth and resiliency of Colorado food systems. The bill passed by a vote of 55-8. “The REDI program is uniquely poised to provide the shot in the arm that rural Colorado needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of SB21-204. “With the help of the funding provided by this bill, the REDI program will be able to continue its critical work of revitalizing rural economies across the state. It’s time to build rural Colorado back stronger.” In an effort to help rural communities strengthen their local economies, SB21-204 transfers $5 million to the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Grant Program to be used for projects that create diversity and resiliency in the local economies of rural communities. The bill is also sponsored by Rep.Tanya Van Beber, R-Weld County. Over the past several years, REDI grants have funded improvements to historic buildings, investments in business centers, economic action plans, revitalization of infrastructure, and other economic development initiatives that create and retain jobs and build capacity in rural communities around the state. The bill passed by a vote of 52-11. “Colorado’s Rural Jump Start program is a proven initiative that supports small businesses and creates jobs in rural, economically distressed areas and communities transitioning away from coal based economies,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of SB21-229. “Businesses that open or hire new employees in rural jump-start zones will be eligible for thousands of dollars of financial incentives for each new job they create. By boosting this program with state stimulus funds, we will help rural Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. ” SB21-229 , also sponsored by Minority Leader Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, invests $3 million in the Rural Jump Start Grant Program, which helps economically distressed communities – particularly communities that will be affected by the market transition away from coal to more renewable energy sources – attract new businesses and jobs. Of the grants available, new businesses can receive up to $20,000 for establishing operations in rural jump-start zones and up to $2,500 for each new job they create. While businesses establishing operations in coal transition communities (as identified in the Office of Just Transition Action Plan ) can receive up to $40,000 as well as up to $5,000 for each new job they create. The bill passed by a vote of 51-12. Previous Next

The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado to 21 years old. < Back March 27, 2023 House Advances Bill to Raise Minimum Purchase Age of Firearms DENVER, CO - The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado to 21 years old. “As someone who has lived under the threat of gun violence, I want to do everything I can to prevent other people from experiencing the trauma that I’ve had to endure,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “By raising the legal age to purchase a firearm to 21, we can save the lives of our children, friends and neighbors from preventable firearm-related injuries or death. This is a crucial step to reduce suicide rates that are far too high and prevent gun violence in our communities.” “As a teacher of over 30 years, I’ve experienced countless lockdowns and wondered how I could protect every single one of my students from an active shooter on my own,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial . “Developing brains are not fully ready to evaluate risks, regulate emotion or implement self-control, which means youth access to firearms is more likely to lead to violence. Our students, educators and school personnel deserve to be safe. While no single piece of legislation will end gun violence, this bill will make our schools and communities safer for us all.” Currently, individuals must be 21 years old to purchase a handgun, but only 18 years old to purchase long guns. SB23-169 would raise the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21. The bill includes exceptions for 18-21 year olds to purchase a firearm who are on-duty peace officers or active military members. According to Everytown for Gun Safety , firearms are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased a staggering 61 percent in the last decade. Previous Next

< Back April 22, 2019 HOUSE GIVES UNANIMOUS APPROVAL TO MCLACHLAN’S BIPARTISAN WILDFIRE MITIGATION BILL Wildfires continue to threaten homes across Colorado (Apr. 22) – The House gave unanimous approval to Rep. Barbara McLachlan’s bipartisan bill to mitigate the impacts of wildfires on Colorado’s mountain communities. “This bill will help address a need that encompasses our entire state. It’s no longer a question of ‘if’ wildfires will happen, it’s a matter of when they will happen,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango. “We have small businesses, homes and hardworking people who depend on having healthy forests. It’s clearly important to fight wildfires and it is also important to take steps to mitigate the scope and severity of wildfires.” Rep. Barbara McLachlan is Chair of the House Education Committee and is a member of the House Rural Affairs and Agriculture committee. HB19-1006 creates a grant program to help with wildfire mitigation efforts in high-risk areas across the state where residential areas are approaching forest land, known as wildland-urban interface areas (WUIs). Colorado has the third highest percentage of households deemed high or extreme risk from wildfires in the entire country. The bill was approved unanimously by the House. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

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

Representatives Tammy Story and Judy Amabile today released the following statements on the wildfires burning along Colorado’s Front Range: < Back August 1, 2024 Story and Amabile Statements on Frontrange Wildfires CONIFER, CO – Representatives Tammy Story and Judy Amabile today released the following statements on the wildfires burning along Colorado’s Front Range: Statement from Rep. Story, D-Conifer: “There is almost no mutual aid system in the country as well organized and effective as the state of Colorado. We have done this before and we are in good care. Yesterday I visited an evacuation center in Dakota Ridge organized due to the Quarry Fire. I spoke to authorities on the ground and those who had been evacuated from their homes, and the message I received was a reminder that our community is fearless, strong, and endlessly resistant. I want to personally thank Sheriff Reggie Marinelli for working around the clock to protect our neighbors, as well as the firefighters, first responders, pilots, and support staff working to mitigate the impact this wildfire has on our communities– they have my full confidence. The seriousness of the situation can not be understated. Please sign up for Lookout Alerts and remain vigilant to emergency orders. I urge everyone near the Quarry Fire to follow directions from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.” Statement from Rep. Amabile, D-Boulder: “I am deeply concerned by the ongoing wildfires in our communities. My thoughts are with everyone who has been evacuated, the Coloradans who have lost their homes, and all those who are bravely battling the fires in extreme heat and difficult terrain. I am in close contact with fire response officials, and I am closely monitoring the situation. The Boulder Office of Disaster Management has set up a donation process to assist those in need, and I encourage everyone who can help to do what they can.” To access the Boulder Office of Disaster Management donation form, click here . Previous Next

< Back July 16, 2020 BECKER, GARNETT: MASK UP, COLORADO! House Dem leadership supports Governor Polis’s executive order on masks Denver, CO — House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, and House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver, today released the following statements encouraging Coloradans to wear a mask following Governor Jared Polis’s announcement of a statewide order on face coverings and recent trends in hospitalization and infection rates. “Getting through this pandemic is a team effort,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Wearing a mask is a tool to help us return to a more normal life, keep businesses open and avoid the devastating impacts that would come from having to close down again. Our economy, our health, and so much of what we love and enjoy about our state depends on us coming together and taking this step. I support the governor for his actions today to save lives.” “Whenever we’re around other people, we need to wear a mask–it’s just that simple,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “To stay on the right track and recover from this pandemic, we need to be smart and put on our masks. It helps our small businesses stay open, protects riders on public transit, and reduces your risk of contracting COVID-19 by 65 percent. This order is the right decision for Colorado, and I’m grateful for the leadership of so many counties, local officials and Governor Polis to encourage Coloradans to do their part. Mask up, Colorado!” Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to improve health outcomes for those living with sickle cell disease. < Back May 3, 2024 Bill to Support Coloradans with Sickle Cell Disease Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to improve health outcomes for those living with sickle cell disease. SB24-042 , sponsored by Representative Regina English and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, would provide outreach and support to individuals living with sickle cell disease. “This bill would establish the Arie P. Taylor Sickle Cell Disease Outreach Program, to provide critical outreach and support to Coloradans living with sickle cell disease,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “ Sickle cell disease disproportionately impacts Black communities and can cause joint pain, prolonged fatigue and reduce oxygen flow. With this bill, we can make it easier for people to access critical health care as we work toward closing the gap to accessing health care experienced by marginalized communities.” “Long-standing inequities in our health care system have left many Black Coloradans without access to the care they need, let alone specialized care,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Our bill would establish the Arie P. Taylor Sickle Cell Disease Outreach Program to connect Coloradans living with sickle cell disease with health care resources and support. Sickle cell disease is genetic, impacting Black communities at a higher rate with prolonged fatigue and pain. Named after Colorado’s first Black female legislator and one of my predecessors in the House, the new program honors Ms. Taylor’s legacy by providing individualized support to our community and works to bridge the health care gap, especially for those who have been underserved for far too long.” SB24-042 , passed the House by a vote of 61 to 3, would work to improve health outcomes for Coloradans living with sickle cell disease. This bill would create the Arie P. Taylor Sickle Cell Disease Outreach Program within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to provide support to individuals living with sickle cell disease. Outreach and support services would be administered by a nonprofit organization contracted through CDPHE. Sickle cell disease is an inherited red blood cell disorder that causes red blood cells that carry oxygen to stick together after the oxygen is released, causing blockages in the small blood vessels, anemia, and severe pain. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sickle cell disease occurs among about 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births and occurs among about 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births. 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

< Back March 12, 2019 HOUSE PASSES REP. VALDEZ’S BILL TO ADDRESS ANIMAL CRUELTY (Mar 12) – The House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, that seeks to provide more mental health treatment for people convicted of animal cruelty and also bar people convicted of certain kinds of animal cruelty from possession of a pet animal for a period of time while they receive treatment. “The goals of this bill are to remove animals from abusive situations and to identify behaviors that could lead to worse crimes,” said Rep. Valdez. “We should help offenders get the treatment they need so they can re-emerge as productive members of society.” Through HB19-1092, the judge can order the animal cruelty offender to complete a mental health treatment program. “There is absolutely a correlation between crimes against animals and violent crimes such as mass shootings or domestic terrorism,” said Rep. Valdez. A 2014 study of mass school shootings found that 43 percent of shooters had a history of animal abuse. This bill aims to find the underlying causes of the acts of animal cruelty and treat those issues. The bill passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 55-7. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

Legislation creates a bipartisan commission to identify long-term solutions to rising property taxes < Back November 28, 2023 SIGNED! Bill to Develop Long-Term Property Tax Solutions DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, that creates a bipartisan commission to develop long-term solutions to rising property taxes in Colorado. HB23B-1003 creates the Commission on Property Tax to outline plans for long and short-term property tax relief and to evaluate property tax ballot initiatives filings for the 2024 election. The bipartisan Commission includes legislators, county commissioners from across the state, a property tax administrator and different local government, business, and community leaders representing constituencies impacted by property tax revenue. The goal of HB23B-1003 is to map out potential long-term solutions to property taxes that have been rising since Coloradans voted to repeal the Gallagher Amendment in 2020. “Steep property tax increases over the past several years have hit Colorado homeowners hard, especially economically vulnerable folks like seniors and those on fixed incomes,” Fenberg said. “The legislation we passed during the special session delivers meaningful short-term relief, but this is not a short-term problem. We’re committed to working in a bipartisan way to find long-term, comprehensive solutions to address property taxes in Colorado, and this task force ensures we’ll do so hand in hand with partners across the state.” “I’m proud of the responsible property tax relief we delivered for Coloradans this special session and look forward to more long-term solutions that will make our state more affordable,” said Snyder. “The task force, outlined in my legislation, will be composed of bipartisan local and statewide leaders and will develop ongoing short-term and long-term solutions to rising property taxes. Everyone deserves to thrive in their communities, and this law is an important step forward in our mission to create a Colorado everyone can afford.” “Democrats have worked hard to meet the moment and answer the Governor’s special session call by delivering short-term property tax relief to Coloradans,” said Mullica. “Steep property tax increases have stretched families’ budgets for several years now, and if we don’t find a long-term solution it’s only going to get worse. That’s why I’m working on legislation that will convene a bipartisan Commission made up of balanced representation to develop long-term, transformational solutions to rising property taxes that will make Colorado more affordable in the years to come.” Under HB23B-1003, the Commission will convene by the week of December 18, 2023, and deliver an initial report to the General Assembly and Governor by March 15, 2024. Previous Next

< Back April 24, 2019 EFFORT TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING PASSES HOUSE EFFORT TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING PASSES HOUSE Around $150 billion is wagered illegally on sports every year in the U.S. (Apr. 24) – The House passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Majority Leader Alec Garnett that would legalize sports betting in Colorado. This bill would require voter approval if passed by the General Assembly. “Coloradans should have the option of betting on the Nuggets in the playoffs or the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup. This funding will go toward our most precious resource – our water and this is something everyone can get behind,” said Majority Leader Garnett, D-Denver. “It is our hope that this measure will help stamp out black market sports betting.” HB19-1327 would provide a master license to local casinos who can then contract with brick and mortar and/or internet sports betting operators to provide sports betting in Colorado. A 10 percent tax on net sports betting proceeds will be placed in a Sports Betting Fund. That fund will go towards the Water Implementation Cash Fund to support Colorado Water Plan projects that will keep our drinking water safe, our farms and ranches thriving, and keep our rivers healthy. If approved, the measure would go to on the 2019 November ballot. The Colorado Water Conservation Board will govern the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund. Some of the eligible projects for these funds are water storage and supply projects, conversation and land use projects, engagement and innovation activities, agricultural projects and environmental and recreation projects. Organizations in support of this measure are the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Colorado Municipal League, the Colorado River District, the Environmental Defense Action Fund, Western Resource Advocates, and Denver Water. The bill is sponsored by Minority Leader Patrick Neville. The Senate sponsors are Sen. Kerry Donovan and Sen. John Cooke. HB19-1327 passed out of House Finance committee with a bipartisan vote of 9-1. The House approved it on a vote of 58-6. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next