Legislative achievements
2023
Real Results for Coloradans
2022
MOVE COLORADO FORWARD
Senate Democrats tackle affordability, crime and education to build a safer, more resilient Colorado for everyone
The last two years have been challenging. Between pandemic-induced inflation, civil unrest, catastrophic wildfires, and the rising cost of living in Colorado, families are feeling squeezed.
That’s why Colorado Democrats worked tirelessly this session to deliver real results for Colorado’s working families. We stayed focused on cutting costs and saving you money, fought to increase per-pupil funding and set our students up for success, worked to combat the fentanyl crisis and create safer communities, and took action to clean up our air and improve health care outcomes to create a healthier future for our families.
Democrats delivered transformational changes this session that position our state well for the future so we can build a stronger, safer and healthier Colorado for us all. Learn more about all that we accomplished together on behalf of Colorado by clicking on the issue areas below:
2021
BUILD BACK STRONGER
Senate Democrats deliver on policies to deliver urgent relief, revitalize the economy, and forge a future where everyone can thrive
In the midst of a global pandemic and a challenging year that has severely impacted the lives of Coloradans, Democrats came together to deliver urgent relief to struggling Coloradans and build our state back stronger. The legislature was able to deliver on promises that were years in the making – passing transformational legislation that will pave the way for a Colorado where everyone can thrive. By putting people over politics and working across the aisle to accomplish great things, 94% of our passed legislation received bipartisan support.
In order to recover faster and build back stronger, lawmakers developed a bipartisan state stimulus package to foster the Colorado Comeback, make monumental investments to strengthen small businesses, support Colorado families, invest in rural Colorado, and develop our workforce. Specifically, lawmakers passed bills to:
Create a $30 million startup loan fund for businesses across the state;
Provide $15 million in grants to small businesses;
Invest $22 million to support artists and arts and-culture organizations;
Provide more than $100 million to increase child care capacity and affordability;
Create a $30 million loan and grant program for Colorado’s agricultural sector;
Add $8 million to rural economic development programs; and
Allocate $75 million in for upskilling and reskilling our state’s workforce.
In addition to passing state stimulus policies, state leaders worked collaboratively to enact Colorado’s roadmap to Building Back Stronger – embarking on a statewide listening tour to gather input on how to allocate nearly $4 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The resulting legislation immediately deployed hundreds of millions of dollars to make housing more affordable, provide emergency behavioral health services and help workers complete degree or skills-training programs. The roadmap also dedicated $1.3 billion in federal funds to protect critical state services in future years and set aside nearly $1.8 billion for future transformational investments in housing, behavioral health, education and workforce development, and economic stimulus and recovery that will be crafted through bipartisan interim processes.
Beyond tackling urgent needs and enacting once-in-a-generation stimulative plans, lawmakers prioritized addressing longstanding issues that have burdened Colorado for decades. One such issue is the inaccessibility and unaffordability of health care. With skyrocketing health care costs and limited affordable options, lawmakers crafted legislation to implement the Colorado Option, a policy that is set to save Coloradans 15 percent on their insurance premiums and create a guaranteed plan for consumers. Lawmakers also passed the Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board, which will reduce the cost of prescription drugs and help protect Coloradans from having to forgo life-saving medications because they’re too expensive.
Another long-standing issue that has held Colorado’s economy back for decades is transportation. After booming population growth yet insufficient funding, Colorado’s infrastructure is in desperate need of repair and modernization. That’s why the 73rd General Assembly prioritized passing a groundbreaking transportation plan – finally ending the gridlock that has plagued our state for years. Supported by a large, bipartisan coalition, this historic legislation will help support a dynamic economy, improve air quality, create jobs, and ensure Colorado is well-positioned to compete with other states.
Sadly, the legislature was also confronted with the all-too-familiar issue of gun violence during the legislative session. After 10 people lost their lives in the Boulder King Soopers shooting, Democratic lawmakers crafted and passed three measures designed to save lives by expanding background checks, creating a resource office for gun violence prevention, and giving local governments the tools they need to craft community-based solutions. In combination with three other measures including safe storage, reporting of lost or stolen weapons, and protecting domestic violence survivors, the legislature passed six critical bills in total this year to curb the epidemic of gun violence.
In 2021, General Assembly Democrats rose to the occasion and championed policies that will not only support people in the aftermath of the pandemic but pave a hopeful path forward by creating a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous Colorado for all.
2020
JOINING TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR EVERY COLORADAN.
Senate Democrats deliver on policies to protect people’s health, support economic recovery, & fight for justice in historic legislative session
The 2020 legislative session was the most unpredictable and unprecedented sessions in recent memory, but we are exceedingly proud of the way we were able to bring people together and make a real difference in the lives of our community members. In fact, of the 335 bills passed, 97% of them had bipartisan support, making this one of the most unifying sessions to date.
Senate Democrats went into the year focused on protecting Colorado’s natural beauty, bringing down the cost of health care, and securing economic opportunity for all.
Then after passing 97 bills and introducing countless others over the first half of session, our nation was hit with a global pandemic – halting our work at the legislature and devastating our state’s budget.
But Democrats rose to the occasion and began crafting legislation to address the ongoing health crisis and to provide economic support for those hit hardest by the shutdown.
In just three short weeks, Senate Democrats were able to deliver policies that help individuals, families, and small businesses get back on their feet – from renter’s assistance to expanding health care access and paid sick leave, we prioritized solutions that ease financial burdens and protect people’s health.
Senate Democrats also took the lead on passing historic police accountability reform measures after the tragic murder of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement. This legislation represents one of the most comprehensive policy changes in the country – banning the use of deadly force on a fleeing felon, outlawing the chokehold, mandating body cameras, and establishing a ‘duty to intervene’ by other officers. This bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and will increase integrity and transparency in police departments across the state.