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< Back March 6, 2024 Judiciary Committee Passes Bills to Boost Legal Aid Funding, Expand Diversion Program Eligibility DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed two bills to boost legal aid funding and expand diversion program eligibility. HB24-1286, sponsored by Representatives Junie Joseph and Mandy Lindsay, would increase access to affordable legal aid. SB24-006, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Regina English, would increase eligibility to diversion programs for people with an intellectual or developmental disability or a mental health or behavioral health issue. “As a family law attorney who does pro bono work, I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be for hardworking Coloradans to access affordable legal representation,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB24-1286. “Economic status should never dictate justice. By creating the Equal Justice Fund Authority, we can ensure that hardworking Coloradans have equitable access to the legal resources they need to get the outcomes they deserve.” “Lack of access to resources while navigating the legal system can have devastating legal and economic consequences,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB24-1286. “Our legislation would boost funding for organizations that provide lower-income Coloradans with legal resources and representation, giving them the tools to best represent their needs in the criminal justice system. Everyone deserves a fair fight, regardless of their income.” HB24-1286 would create the Equal Justice Fund Authority and the Equal Justice Fund to provide financial support to numerous organizations that provide pro bono or low-cost legal services to low-income Coloradans. The bill would add a $20 fee to appeal and civil court filings to fund the Equal Justice Fund Authority. This bill would increase funding for the Equal Justice Fund by $1.1 million in FY 2024-2025 and $2.2 million every year after. The bill passed by a vote of 6-5. 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. SB24-006 expands eligibility and diversion services for individuals to include juveniles and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those with behavioral health issues. SB24-006, also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs, passed by a vote of 10-0. “People with behavioral health issues and intellectual disabilities often become involved in the criminal justice system, and they deserve to be considered for diversion programs that foster rehabilitation outside of jails and prisons,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of SB24-006. “Our legislation would prohibit district attorneys from denying participation in a diversion program based on mental health, behavioral health, or disability, creating a more fair criminal justice system.” Previous Next

< Back May 23, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! MARLO’S LAW: FAMILY AFFIRMATION ACT Legislation will modernize Colorado’s adoption laws for parents who use assisted reproduction PUEBLO, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill to simplify the adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproductive technologies. HB22-1153 , sponsored by House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, Representative Kerry Tipper, Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno and Senator Jeff Bridges, will create an accessible and streamlined adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction. Prior to this new law, some parents who conceive using assisted reproduction, often LGBTQ+ couples, had to go through an expensive and time-consuming stepparent adoption process to be recognized as legal parents of their children. Esgar’s wife, Heather, faced a burdensome adoption process to gain parental rights over their biological daughter. The bill was named “Marlo’s Law” after the couple’s daughter. “Prior to this law, my wife would have needed to go through the expensive and ill-fitting step parent adoption process just to be recognized as the legal mother of our child, even though she is Marlo’s biological parent,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Our story is not unique–many parents who conceive using assisted reproduction have walked in our shoes–and this law will make a meaningful impact on families across our state. Marlo’s Law updates the legal process for modern families in Colorado, and I couldn’t be more proud to champion this bill.” “Nobody should face barriers when it comes to being recognized as the parent of their own child, but before today, that’s what too many Colorado families were confronted with,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “Marlo’s Law streamlines a critical process for establishing parent-child relationships and provides equal rights for all families so that new parents can spend more time with their child and less time filling out paperwork.” “This law eliminates barriers for parents who conceive using assisted reproduction, so these families no longer have to go through a burdensome, expensive, and invasive adoption process to establish the parent-child legal relationship,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood . “We’ve modernized the legal process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction so both parents can receive equal protections and rights.” “New medical technology allows people to create families in ways our current laws never conceived of,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “With this bill, we’ve created an easy and straightforward way for couples who use assisted reproduction to enjoy the same equal rights and protections as every other Colorado family.” The adoption process for couples who use assisted reproduction currently requires home visits, court appearances, criminal record checks and countless complicated forms to confirm the parent-child relationship legally, making parenting exponentially more expensive and time consuming for non-traditional families. The law creates a simplified and more affordable process for these families to establish a legal parent-child relationship that must be recognized nationwide and instructs courts to confirm the adoption within 30 days. Previous Next

< Back June 5, 2023 Colorado to Offer Youth Mental Health Screenings DENVER, CO - Governor Polis today signed legislation into law to continue the successful I Matter program that connects Colorado youth with free counseling sessions by allowing school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools to support student’s access to mental health care. “Improving access to behavioral health care for Colorado kids has been my top priority as a legislator, and I’m excited that Colorado will soon offer free screenings to students to help connect them to free mental health resources,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City . “We’ve successfully connected over 8,500 Colorado kids with free counseling sessions since the implementation of our I Matter program in the fall of 2022. This new law will help the program reach more youth in need of care, preventing youth mental health issues from escalating to the point of requiring more serious treatments or interventions.” “I'm proud that Colorado is a leader when it comes to providing accessible, affordable mental health care for our youth. But our kids are in crisis and we must do more,” Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, said . “This new law will help identify issues early on so kids and families can get the support they need. I’m thrilled to champion additional mental health supports for Colorado’s youth." HB23-1003 allows public schools to participate in a voluntary mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth graders. Schools are required to notify parents of the date and time that the mental health screening is scheduled, the purpose, and information about the mental health screener. Parents will have the option to opt their child out of participating, although students over 12 years old could still decide themselves to participate, due to existing Colorado law . The screening will be conducted via a questionnaire and evaluated by a licensed screener. If a student is at-risk for attempting suicide, physical self-harm, harming others, or is in crisis, the licensed screener will immediately notify the parents as well as the school and the school will react according to school crisis response policy. If the licensed screener finds the student in need of further help, they will contact the parent about additional treatment options, including information or a referral to the I Matter program. The I Matter Program was created with the passage of HB21-1258 , sponsored by Rep. Michaelson Jenet, and expanded by HB22-1243 . The program received $15 million dollars in funding from the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions to provide six free therapy sessions to youth across the state and is available virtually and in person. Since the program started in October 2021, over 8,500 Colorado kids have utilized the free therapy services, with almost 44% attending at least four sessions. The participating students come from 59 of the 64 counties across Colorado. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Barbara McLachlan: Bipartisanship Accomplishments May 13, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in The Pagosa Daily Post. As we hit the 120th day of the 2022 session, I reflect on our accomplishments. After several nights working past midnight, then coming back to work early the next morning, survival right now feels like a major success. Some of our proudest bipartisan accomplishments include: Passing the School Finance Bill. It is a requirement every year, but this one felt great. It decreased the Budget Stabilization Factor by $182 million, which is now at its lowest amount since it started in 2009. Funding was raised on average $545 per student to a $9,559 per pupil total, and we paid our debt to Special Education. We know we have more to do, but we’re happy to keep this priority. Addressing the fentanyl crisis. Democrats and Republicans passed a bill with much tighter restrictions on drug possession. If a person is caught with more than 1 gram, they are now subject to a felony drug charge, but can turn that felony into a misdemeanor if they can prove they did not know any fentanyl existed. We appropriated money for test strips and lifesaving treatments, expanded addiction treatments in jails and added harsher punishment for dealers. The Senate and House agreed in a Conference Committee to pursue this strong, but compassionate language, and avoided unduly burdening the work of prosecutors and law enforcement. Supporting our county employees. Senate Bill 22-230, gives more than 36,000 workers the collective bargaining rights that private-sector and state employees in Colorado already have. Employees now have a seat at the table with Commissioners, and need to agree on their contract, giving them opportunities they did not have before. I ran one amendment exempting counties with populations fewer than 5,000 people, and voted to raise that number to 7,500. Lowering property taxes. With strong support, Senate Bill 22-238 passed, which will lower Colorado property taxes by $700 million over the next two years, saving the average homeowner $274 per year. The bill was crafted in response to several ballot measures which took much larger chunks out of the tax, but would have repercussions for the educators and local government employees who depend on it. Instead, this bill uses money from the general fund and TABOR surplus to save property owners money. Everyone who anticipated running ballot measures had to sign notarized documents saying they were standing down. Paying off a debt. Senate Bill 22-234 uses $600 million in federal pandemic relief funds to repay some of the money borrowed to support the unemployment insurance trust fund during the pandemic. This investment supports workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, saves lives and prevents an increase in fees to save businesses money. This is my last in-session column of the year. I thank our local newspapers for providing the platform to connect with constituents and appreciate the positive feedback I have received. Please keep in touch, as I look forward to our continued conversations and successes. Barbara McLachlan Previous Next

< Back May 27, 2021 HOUSE DEBATES, ADVANCES BILL TO IMPROVE COLORADO ELECTIONS House Republicans debate existence of voter suppression, try to disenfranchise students and eligible voters DENVER, CO– The House today advanced legislation to improve Colorado’s gold standard elections system. “Colorado has the most secure election system in the country, and at the same time, we make it easy to vote, which has led to one of the highest voter turnout rates of any state,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver . “One of the reasons for this is that we are always looking at how we can make our system better, and that’s what this bill does. As Republicans in the legislature try to eliminate our universal vote-by-mail ballot and push dangerous lies about the integrity of our elections, Democrats are committed to strengthening our system and making it easier for voters to navigate and ensure their voice is heard.” “Today, we’re taking action to make Colorado’s gold standard election system even better,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “This bill improves our dropboxes and expands prohibitions on partisan electioneering at our polling stations. It modernizes the voter registration system to make it easier for individuals to register and helps college students learn where and how they can vote. It’s great to see Colorado’s bipartisan county clerks come together to make recommendations for how we can make our elections more secure and more accessible.” SB21-250, sponsored by Representatives Susan Lontine and Yadira Caraveo, stems from the recommendations and findings of Colorado’s sixty-four county clerks, the Secretary of State, and other stakeholders. It makes clarifications, adjustments, and improvements to ensure Colorado’s election system remains the gold standard. The bill will improve access to drop boxes and Voter Service and Polling Centers, streamline Colorado’s voter registration system, and increase transparency in recall elections. Additionally, it clarifies and expands prohibitions on electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place in order to protect against partisan election interference. Specifically, the bill ensures that voters who are in dropbox lines at 7:00 PM are allowed to drop off their ballots, the same way voters who are in line by 7:00 PM at a voter service and polling center are able to cast a ballot. It also allows greater public input into the location of drop boxes. The bill clarifies what constitutes “electioneering” and ensures that voters may not be challenged for frivolous reasons unrelated to their eligibility. The bill modernizes the voter registration system to create a process for voters to register online with the last four digits of their social security numbers should they not have a driver’s license, requiring that information be matched and checked against the social security database in real time before proceeding to register the voter. The bill also requires institutions of higher education to provide information to enrolled students on their eligibility to vote and how to keep their address up to date so fewer ballots will be returned as undeliverable. Previous Next

< Back May 5, 2024 House Passes Bills to Increase Access to Health Care DENVER, CO – The House today passed three pieces of legislation to improve health care access in Colorado. SB24-110 sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Emily Siorta, would save Coloradans money on prescription drugs. SB24-034, sponsored by Representatives Mandy Lindsay and Lorena Garcia, would expand the existing School-Based Health Center Grant Program to include telehealth services and mobile health units. SB24-116, sponsored by Representative Iman Jodeh, would expand health care coverage for low-income patients. “Authorization requirements for antipsychotic medications are forcing patients to ration their prescription or skip doses entirely, which can be challenging for their recovery,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “This bill importantly removes unnecessary authorization requirements for some antipsychotic medications so Coloradans with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and other mental health disorders can receive their medications when they need them.” “Coloradans with a serious mental health condition don’t have access to the prescription medication they need when they need it due to prior authorization requirements,” said Rep. Emily Siorta, D-Denver. “This bill removes access barriers so Coloradans can receive their antipsychotic prescription on time.” SB24-110 , passed the House by a vote of 57 to 5, and would make it easier for patients to access antipsychotic prescription drugs used to treat a mental illness or disorder like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder without needing prior authorization from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. “The School-Based Health Center Grant Program will help provide quality health care services to our youth to meet the needs of students in our state,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora . “Our bill extends this important program to also include telehealth services so every student seeking care receives it in a convenient way that works for them.” “Expanding access to health care is critical, especially for our students and youth,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “This bill expands the School-Based Health Center Grant Program so our students, regardless of their zip code, can receive the medical, behavioral, oral and preventative health care they need.” SB24-034 would expand the successful School-Based Health Center Grant Program to include telehealth services and mobile health units and passed the House by a vote of 45 to 17. School-based health centers are located in schools throughout Colorado and provide primary medical and behavioral health care to children and young adults. Under current law, the School-Based Health Center Grant Program supports the establishment, expansion, and ongoing operations of school-based health centers. If passed, SB24-034 would allow this program to work alongside other school-linked programs, such as telehealth and mobile health units. “We need to ensure every Coloradan has access to the health care they need, when they need it,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “This bill would expand health care coverage for low-income Coloradans by allowing hospitals to make presumptive eligibility determinations. This will help ensure low-income patients can receive the care they need without having to jump through unnecessary hoops.” SB24-116 , sponsored by Representative Jodeh, passed by a vote of 46-16 and would expand health care coverage for low-income Coloradans. Specifically, this bill would modify requirements for the presumptive eligibility program and for indigent patients, receiving discounted care under the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). HCPF and Denver Health are currently the only institutions that can make a presumptive eligibility determination. The bill allows hospitals to make these determinations. Additionally, the bill makes changes to the requirements for indigent patients receiving health care discounts on services not reimbursed through the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) including: requiring a patient to attest to residing in Colorado; placing a price cap on comprehensive bills that aligns with the current caps on individualizes bills; authorizing health-care facilities to deny discounted care to a patient if, during the initial screening, the patient is determined to be presumptively eligible for Medicaid; clarifying that the health professional who provides services is responsible for billing the patient for those services, unless the services are billed on a comprehensive bill; excluding primary care provided in clinics in rural or frontier counties that offer a sliding-fee scale from receiving discounted care. Previous Next

< Back May 26, 2021 BILLS TO INCREASE COVERAGE FOR CRITICAL HEALTH SERVICES ADVANCE DENVER, CO – The House Health and Insurance Committee today advanced two bills that would increase access to critical health services. SB21-009 would create a program to provide a 12-month supply of contraceptives and counseling services, and SB21-016 would require insurance plans to cover health services for sexually transmitted infections. SB21-009 , which is sponsored by Representative Yadira Caraveo, a physician, allows more Colorado families to make their own choices about when to start a family. The bill establishes the Reproductive Health Care Program, which would provide a 12-month supply of contraceptives and counseling services without prior authorization or co-pays to eligible individuals, regardless of citizenship status. Women who receive a year’s supply of oral contraceptive are 30 percent less likely to experience an unintended pregnancy than those who receive one or three-month supplies at a time. “Too many Colorado women, in particular people of color and Latinas, don’t have access to reproductive health care or contraception options,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a physician. “Barriers to accessing contraceptives exacerbate health inequalities by leading to unintended pregnancies, lack of comprehensive sexuality education, higher rates of maternal mortality, and inferior care for chronic illnesses for which contraception is vital. This bill will help provide access to necessary reproductive health care services.” SB21-016 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Kyle Mullica, an ER nurse, requires health plans to cover several critical preventative health services regardless of cost, such as osteoporosis screening, screenings for urinary conditions and sexually transmitted infection (STI) health care services, such as vaccinations for STIs. The bill would require coverage for diagnosis and treatment of STIs and contraceptive and family planning services. Importantly, it would reduce surprise billing for annual wellness visits by ensuring co-pay free coverage for STI testing and prevention, and closing gaps in family planning coverage. “We can’t hide from the facts–Coloradans will have better health outcomes if they have coverage for the critical screenings and treatment they need, and that’s what this bill does,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We’re seeing too many LGBTQ Coloradans face challenges accessing critical health services, screenings or treatments for common conditions. We can do better–this bill ensures that everyone in our state has access to the care they need to live healthy lives.” “Access to preventative health care and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, like cervical cancer, save lives,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, an ER Nurse. “No one should go without a screening that could diagnose a life-threatening condition or forgo treatment for that condition because their health insurance doesn’t cover it.” Previous Next

< Back November 19, 2024 Representative Iman Jodeh and Representative-Elect Yara Zokaie Announce the Launch of the Joint MENASA & Muslim Caucus to Advocate for Middle Eastern, Southwest Asian, North African, South Asian, and Muslim American Communities Denver, CO — November 19, 2024 — Today, a new chapter in community advocacy and political representation begins with the launch of the Joint MENASA & Muslim Caucus. This groundbreaking initiative, led by Colorado state representative Iman Jodeh, the first Muslim and first Palestinian American elected to the Colorado legislature, aims to elevate the voices of Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian (MENASA), and Muslim communities within Colorado and beyond. Representative Jodeh will be joined by Representative-Elect Yara Zokaie, the first Iranian American elected to the Colorado legislature. In its mission, the Joint MENASA & Muslim Caucus is committed to protecting civil rights and combating xenophobia and Islamophobia by advocating for equity through legislation, collective action, public engagement, and amplified representation. They will work to advance interests and address the unique challenges of the diverse heritages and religions within Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and Muslim communities in Colorado, promoting justice and inclusion for all. “This past year and an impending Trump administration has underscored the need to create a united caucus that ensures our community’s representation and presence is elevated and has an uncompromising agency at the Capitol,” said Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora . “We are dedicated to advancing and guaranteeing accurate representation of the diverse MENASA population, including groups beyond Muslims, such as Sikh, Baháʼí, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Catholic minorities. These communities also face anti-Arab and anti-Brown hate crimes, xenophobia, and discrimination. Our region and population are unique because we are forced to identify primarily through religious narratives rather than our unified identities. It is time to challenge this monolithic framing. By amplifying representation and advocating for equity, we aim not only to protect the rights of our communities but also to champion initiatives that foster justice, inclusion, and unity.” Representative Jodeh joined the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus in 2020 when she was elected to her first term. “The Black Caucus has given me a home over the past four years that gave me a sense of belonging when I was the only. My time in the Black caucus has been invaluable and one I will carry with me. I am committed to continue to work closely with them and all allied caucus,” said Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “I brought Iman into the Black Caucus because we were all fighting for our communities, regardless of ethnicity. She brought a wealth of knowledge to the caucus, and I know she will still advocate for the Black community,” said Senator Janet Buckner, ranking member of the Black Caucus . “It has been a pleasure to serve with Rep. Jodeh as a member of the BDLC,” said Representative Jennifer Bacon, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Black Caucus. “She joined us as a place of support as she represents a district (Aurora) and an intersectional community (Muslim and Arab) critical for the Black Caucus to uplift. We hope that we served as a place of learning as we wish her success in creating and sustaining the Joint MENASA and Muslim Caucus.” “Growing up as the daughter of immigrants, I understand firsthand the importance of community support in navigating adversity,” said Representative-elect Yara Zokaie. “Through the caucus, we aim to extend that support and bring meaningful change to our communities. With the approaching Trump presidency, it is more important than ever for our communities to have fierce advocates and mount a proactive and comprehensive defense. Should Trump attempt to reinstate a Muslim ban, we will be ready to put protections in place. We are committed to being a voice for the voiceless and amplifying the perspectives of those who so often go unheard as we fight in solidarity for a more just and equitable society. It’s a privilege to stand alongside Representative Jodeh to make a difference.” “Representative Jodeh has been an incredible advocate for her community and has worked tirelessly to pass critical legislation,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I am excited to see her continue her leadership in the capitol with the creation of this new caucus, and it is a privilege to welcome Representative-elect Zokaie to the House. Our caucus reflects the diversity of our state, and policy making in the legislature is strengthened because of our affinity caucuses. I know the Joint MENASA & Muslim Caucus will be an important resource for lawmakers.” The Joint MENASA & Muslim Caucus has partnered with East Meets West , a non-partisan, non-secular, not-for-profit organization that mobilizes and champions MENASA and SWANASA artists, leaders, and companies. Alongside their partners, they have been an integral part of having MENA included in the upcoming U.S. Census and have built the largest standing Membership Collective and Coalition in history to support MENASA/SWANASA artists, leaders, and companies. East Meets West Senior Advisor Serina Khan expressed their support for this collaboration, saying, “We are so grateful to have partnered with Representative Jodeh and Representative-Elect Zokaie to launch this first-of-its-kind caucus and welcome more communities to join us to support our marginalized and often underrepresented and misrepresented community. Now more than ever, it is time to build new tables with unlimited seating alongside individuals and groups who share our values.” About Iman Jodeh Iman Jodeh, was elected in 2020 as the first Muslim and first Palestinian American. She is a first-generation American and has called Colorado, specifically HD41, her home her entire life. Iman is the first female Spokesperson for the Colorado Muslim Society, the largest and oldest mosque in the Rocky Mountain region, and the founder of Meet the Middle East, a non-profit that fosters relationships between the US and the Middle East through education and immersive travel. She also spent years lecturing about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at the University of Denver Enrichment Program. She has passed legislation like medical debt forgiveness, eviction protections, and access to affordable medications. Notably, she also passed landmark legislation establishing the Office of New Americans in Colorado and the Colorado Option, the largest health insurance bill in Colorado’s history. About Yara Zokaie Representative-Elect Yara Zokaie will soon become the first Iranian American sworn into the Colorado State Legislature. Zokaie is a dedicated public servant and accomplished tax attorney, currently serving as Chief Deputy Assessor for Larimer County. She has consistently advocated for transparency, equity, and economic justice in her work. Notably, she successfully organized a community to help pass a paid family leave program in Colorado. About East Meets West East Meets West is a non-partisan, non-secular, not-for-profit organization founded in October 2023 in response to the rise of anti-Arab, anti-MENASA/SWANASA, islamophobia, anti-semitism, and anti-sikh hate crimes. East Meets West fosters a community that mobilizes, invests, and spotlights Middle Eastern, SouthWest Asian, North African, and South Asian creators, leaders & companies. They have been building the largest Membership Collective and Coalition to lead narrative change and socio-economic empowerment for the MENASA/SWANASA community. Their programming and initiatives include launching safe spaces at major film festivals and business conferences and launching business accelerators and talent pipeline programs across the entertainment, technology, and commerce industry. They have been a vital driver behind MENA being added to the upcoming 2030 U.S. Census. As well as launching MENASA/SWANASA Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at Fortune 500 companies. Previous Next

< Back February 9, 2023 House GOP Tax Plan: Make More, or Pay More GOP bill increases taxes on middle class and low-income families to cut taxes for millionaires DENVER, CO– House Democrats on the State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee today defeated Republican legislation that would have increased taxes on hardworking Coloradans in order to give thousands of dollars in tax cuts to millionaires. “You shouldn’t have to be a millionaire to benefit from our tax code,’” said State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “The message from Republican lawmakers to Coloradans is crystal clear: "trickle down economics works.’ The bill we defeated today would have increased taxes on millions of Coloradans to give millionaires a $24,000 tax cut. With this proposal, a family would need to earn at least $162,000 a year to avoid paying more in taxes.” “Coloradans deserve a tax system that works for hardworking Coloradans, not the wealthiest taxpayers,” said Joint Budget Committee Member Emily Sirota. “We’ve expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit to increase incomes for working families in our state by closing loopholes for the very wealthy and largest corporations. Permanent tax cuts like the one in this bill hurt middle class and lower-income Coloradans in order to cut taxes for the very wealthy. House Democrats will continue advancing legislation to build a fair tax code that works for all Coloradans.” HB23-1063 , sponsored by Representative Scott Bottoms, increases taxes on Coloradans making under $52,000 per year and joint fillers making under $162,000 per year in order to cut taxes for millionaires by tens of thousands of dollars. By reducing state revenues by billions of dollars, the bill would reduce TABOR refunds as a result. For lower-income taxpayers, this reduction would be more than what they would save through the reduced tax rate under the bill. According to research prepared by the nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff (LCS), single filers with incomes below $52,000 will see an $85 benefit from the reduced tax rate while losing $249 of their estimated TABOR refund. Therefore, these filers will “pay a net $164 more in tax under the bill.” Taxpayers making nearly $300,000 per year, however, will see a tax cut of nearly $4,000, and millionaires would see their taxes cut by over $24,000. The table below, prepared by nonpartisan LCS staff, shows the estimated TABOR refunds and taxpayer savings under the legislation for next year. Joint filers need to make over $160,000 to avoid paying more in taxes under this legislation. Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2023 House Boosts Tax Credits and Refunds for Hardworking Coloradans by $150 Million DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Coloradans by expanding the state Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. “This legislation will increase the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits and put $150 million back into the pockets of hardworking people,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Coloradans deserve a tax code that boosts their incomes and helps them build a better future for themselves and their families, and that’s exactly what this legislation does. These tax credits are essential and have lifted Coloradans across the state out of poverty. This bill continues our work to save people money and ensure our tax code works for all Coloradans.” HB23-1112 would expand the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) and return nearly $150 million more to hardworking families. For tax year 2024, the Colorado EITC would increase from 25 percent to 40 percent of the federal EITC, a four fold increase from where it stood in 2020. A refundable tax credit available to certain families with children under the age of 6, the Colorado CTC would increase by 10 percent starting in tax year 2024, with the tax credit ranging from 20 to 70 percent of the federal CTC depending on marital status, number of qualifying children, and federal adjusted gross income. The federal Child Tax Credit has lifted over 57,000 Colorado kids out of poverty and helped over 630,000 families across the state, while the federal Earned Income Tax Credit has helped cut the national poverty rate in half . The bill builds on legislation passed by Colorado Democrats in recent years to make Colorado more affordable for working-class families. The General Assembly passed HB20-1420 and HB21-1311 , which at the time doubled the state's Earned Income Tax Credit and funded the Child Tax Credit, saving hundreds of thousands of Colorado families money. This session, Colorado Democrats passed HB23-1006 to require employers to provide information about federal and state earned income tax credits and child tax credits to their employees, spreading awareness to Colorado families that qualify for these tax credits to save them thousands of dollars. Previous Next

< Back May 1, 2024 Lawmakers Introduce New TABOR Refund Mechanism, Advance Tax Credits for Working Families DENVER, CO – Lawmakers yesterday introduced legislation that will restructure the refund mechanisms for state revenue collected above the TABOR cap. The bipartisan bill will temporarily lower income tax rates and create a new formula to determine future refund amounts through the six-tier refund mechanism and income rate reductions, and sales and use tax reductions in years with higher surpluses. These steps ensure Colorado will meet its commitment to fund critical services and schools during a recession while furthering efforts to reduce child poverty and boost the incomes of hardworking people through the new Family Affordability Tax Credit and expanded Earned Income Tax Credit . “Colorado is facing a choice; we can continue with our tax code that doesn’t benefit the majority of Coloradans, or we can boost the incomes of hardworking people, create a pro-family tax code, and cut child poverty in half,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “This legislation, when combined with our Family Affordability Tax Credit and expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, will make our tax code more fair, boost the incomes of hardworking families and families with children, and cut child poverty in half in Colorado. I’m excited that we have found a way forward with Governor Polis to responsibly create new tax credits that benefit the majority of Coloradans and the people in our state that are feeling the brunt of our affordability crisis.” "Making sure Colorado's tax code works for all Coloradans is one of my top priorities, which is why this bill, combined with our work to bolster critical tax credits that benefit working families, is so important,” Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, said. "Taken together, these measures will put more money into the pockets of working Colorado families, cut child poverty in half, and make it easier to make ends meet." “I appreciate the work of so many organizations, lawmakers, and the governor who came together to create new tax credits that will cut child poverty, boost incomes for lower and middle-income people, and update our tax code so that it works for the majority of Coloradans, not just those at the top,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Colorado’s working families and children are counting on us to deliver meaningful tax relief, and I’m proud that we are going to deliver on this promise. The bill introduced today alongside our package of tax credits will make Colorado more affordable, put money back into the pockets of hardworking people, and help us forge a brighter future for millions of people who call our state home.” “Looking out for Colorado families means making sure they don’t have to choose between putting food on the table and paying rent or affording other necessities,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield. “It’s no understatement to say that this is one of the more impactful pieces of legislation we’re going to see this session. I am extremely pleased to be a part of making this package of tax credits possible, because it will cut child poverty in half while benefiting the majority of Coloradans and making it that much easier for working families to get by in our state.” “Working Coloradans need our support, and I am pleased to say that we have an opportunity to make a real, transformative difference for kids and families,” said Senate President Pro Tempore James Coleman, D-Denver. “This package will provide direct relief for families in our community while making our tax code more equitable, and will help give every Colorado family the resources they need to thrive.” SB24-228 , sponsored by Mullica and Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, and Speaker Pro Tempore deGruy Kennedy and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, will create a new refund mechanism and formula to distribute state revenue collected above the TABOR cap. The legislation is part of an effort from House and Senate Democrats to boost tax credits for hardworking people and families with children. Under these proposals, hundreds of millions in tax credits will go to middle and lower income families and will cut the child poverty rate in half. These proven-anti poverty measures will boost the incomes of the majority of Coloradans. For tax year 2024, income tax rates will be temporarily reduced from 4.40 percent to 4.25 percent. For years 2025 through 2035, the income tax rate cut is activated and will fluctuate based on the amount of state revenues expected to exceed the TABOR cap after accounting for reimbursements to counties for the senior homestead exemption. If the surplus exceeds $1.5 billion after the temporary rate reduction and reimbursements to counties, then a fourth refund mechanism will be activated that will reduce sales and use tax rates by 0.13 percent. Whether the refund mechanisms are triggered and which ones will be triggered will depend on the amount of state revenues in excess of the TABOR cap. If remaining excess state revenues are less than or equal to $300 million, TABOR refunds are distributed only through the tiered or flat sales tax refund mechanism; If remaining excess state revenues are greater than $300 million but less than or equal to $1.5 billion, TABOR refunds are distributed first through the income tax rate reduction and then through the tiered or flat sales tax refund mechanism; And if remaining excess state revenues are greater than $1.5 billion, TABOR refunds are distributed first through the income tax rate reduction, next through the sales and use tax rate reduction, and finally through the tiered or flat sales tax refund mechanism. Previous Next

< Back April 28, 2022 TRANSFORMATIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILLS ADVANCE HOUSE Legislation would fund the responsible gaming program and water preservation efforts DENVER, CO – The House Finance Committee passed Speaker Alec Garnett’s bill today to promote responsible gaming and support Colorado’s watersheds. HB22-1402 would allocate more than $3 million to create a grant program to provide services to Coloradans experiencing problem gaming and boost funding for the Colorado Water Plan. “In the last two years, Colorado’s gaming industry has experienced significant growth and the excitement of sports betting has raised limits and boosted state revenue,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “As Colorado’s gaming industry adapts, it is our responsibility to make sure Coloradans have the recovery and treatment resources they need to combat a gaming problem – this bill does that and more. It takes us one step closer to the original goal of legalizing sports betting in Colorado which is to provide proper funding to the Colorado Water Plan; and thanks to the increase in revenue, we can direct millions toward preserving Colorado’s watersheds and building a safer, healthier Colorado for everyone.” Responsible Gaming Grant Program: HB22-1402 , sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett, passed committee by a vote of 9-2. The introduction of sports betting in Colorado in 2020 has led to major growth in the gaming industry, partly due to higher limits and additional games. This bill provides more funding for the responsible gaming grant program in the Department of Revenue (DOR) to promote responsible gaming and address problem gaming. The grant program will distribute funding to help Coloradans struggling with gaming problems with prevention, recovery and treatment resources. The grant funding can also be used for research purposes to aid the DOR in providing better support for Coloradans recovering from a gaming problem. The bill also allocates more funding for the Colorado Water Plan by limiting the number of free bets that Sports Betting Operators can offer tax-free. Under the bill with fewer tax-free bets, the additional money raised from taxes on gaming will be allocated toward improving Colorado’s watersheds and environment. Previous Next