2021 Colorado Senate Democrats Accomplishments
Overview
As 2021 comes to a close, the Colorado Senate Democrats are looking back at a year filled with accomplishments on behalf of the Centennial State. 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.
From cutting costs for hardworking families and increasing access to safe, affordable housing to combating the pandemic and spurring economic recovery, to directing an unprecedented amount of federal government spending towards transformational change across our state, Colorado Senate Democrats have been laser focused on addressing the growing needs and complex challenges facing the Centennial State.
Below is a recap of the progress Colorado Senate Democrats made in 2021 to move Colorado forward.
By The Numbers
$5.4 billion - Colorado set aside $5.4 billion over the next ten years to fix our crumbling and outdated transportation system by improving Colorado roads and bridges, investing in the future of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and expanding transit options to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and get folks where they need to go.
$3.8 billion - COVID has continued to challenge our state. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, Colorado Democrats are working with experts and local leaders to spend $3.8 billion to address fallout from the pandemic and make transformational change in affordable housing, behavioral health, economic recovery, and workforce development.
300,000+ Coloradans - The estimated number of Coloradans newly affected by the tax fairness plan that increases the earned income tax credit and funds the state’s child tax credit.
508 bills - Total number of bills passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Polis in 2021.
94 percent - Coloradans expect their leaders to work together, and 94 percent of bills passed by the Colorado Senate received bipartisan support.
15 percent - Increasing access to quality, affordable health care is one of our top priorities, and health insurance premiums will decrease by 15 percent over the next three years thanks to the Colorado Option.
Key Legislative Accomplishments
Colorado Senate Democrats passed multiple landmark pieces of legislation in 2021 aimed at creating jobs and growing the economy, tackling traffic and reducing air pollution, increasing access to affordable health care, improving public safety, getting more qualified teachers into schools, supporting Colorado farmers and ranchers, and much more:
Saving Coloradans Money and Growing Our Economy
2021 Colorado Comeback Stimulus Plan
In order to recover faster and build back stronger, lawmakers developed a bipartisan state stimulus package to foster the Colorado Comeback by making monumental investments to strengthen small businesses, supporting Colorado families, investing in rural Colorado, and developing our workforce.
American Rescue Plan Act Funding
During the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers worked collaboratively with Governor Polis to develop and advance the Colorado Comeback Roadmap to Building Back Stronger, which will invest billions in American Rescue Plan Act funds to make housing more affordable, spur economic growth, improve Colorado’s behavioral health system, and develop our workforce.
Colorado’s hardworking families and small businesses are struggling to climb the economic ladder, put food on their tables, pay for housing, and afford higher education – while high-powered corporate interests protect an outdated tax system that gives handouts to those who’ve already reached the top.
HB21-1311 takes a critical look at the tax code to modify or eliminate provisions that have objectively failed their intended purpose or are broadly disadvantageous to local small businesses and working families, while HB21-1312 seeks to adjust other state tax expenditures to prevent exploitation and ensure consistent application of tax laws. Specifically, the bill modifies ineffective tax subsidies for the largest businesses by eliminating property tax loopholes as well as other excessive write-offs.
Preparing Students and Families for Success
Universal Early Childhood Education
Quality education is a key to success, and the earlier kids start learning, the better they'll do down the road. This bill expands access to high-quality, affordable early childhood educational opportunities by implementing universal pre-k, supporting parents in accessing programs and services, and coordinating the availability of those services.
Supporting Educator Workforce In Colorado
This bill seeks to address the teacher shortage in Colorado by elevating the teaching profession, empowering local leaders to recruit subject matter experts into the educator workforce, developing a workforce that more closely reflects the diversity of students, and expanding pathways into teaching.
Addressing the Climate Crisis
Environmental Justice For Disproportionately Impacted Communities
This critical legislation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance environmental justice in disadvantaged communities, and set Colorado on a pathway to meeting the climate targets established in HB19-1261 by directing resources to communities transitioning away from fossil fuels, increasing the focus on disproportionately impacted populations, setting firm enforcement mechanisms for the electricity, oil and gas, and industrial and manufacturing sectors, and advancing environmental justice in executive branch rulemaking.
Sustainability Of The Transportation System
Historic legislation that created a 21st century transportation system that will drive Colorado’s economic comeback, establish a sustainable funding source to improve Colorado roads, invest in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and expand multi-modal and transit options to reduce congestion and improve air quality.
Improving Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care
This landmark bill will significantly lower health insurance premiums on the individual and small group markets and create a new option for consumers that will save Coloradans money and increase access to health care.
Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board
As prescription drug costs continue to skyrocket nationwide, this bill establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board, which convenes a panel of experts to investigate prescription drug cost increases, and sets guardrails on cost increases for the most expensive prescription drugs in the state.
Health Care Access In Cases Of Rape Or Incest
Current law only allows public funding to be used to pay for reproductive care in certain health care facilities – generally hospitals – and requires that abortion services only be performed by a physician despite the fact that safe abortion care is offered in several out-patient care facilities across the state. This bill expands coverage to Medicaid recipients across the state, and allows survivors of sexual violence to seek the care they need closer to home.
Expand Canadian Rx Import Program
It is no secret that prescription drugs in this country are overpriced and financially untenable for too many. In fact, Coloradans pay 60 to 85 percent more than people living in other countries for the same prescription drugs. In 2019, the General Assembly made Colorado a leader as one of the first states to adopt a Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program. This law builds on that progress by extending the program to nations other than just Canada, so that every Coloradan has access to affordable life-saving prescription drugs.
Improving Public Safety
Promoting Responsible Gun Ownership
Sadly, the legislature also confronted the all-too-familiar issue of gun violence during the 2021 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.
Standing Up for Rural Colorado
Loan Program For Colorado Agriculture
Agriculture creates thousands of jobs and contributes millions of dollars to our economy, but the pandemic has dramatically reduced this growth. As part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus package, SB21-248 allocates $30 million to create and implement the Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program which will provide low-interest loans to beginning farmers and ranchers as well as farm-to-market infrastructure loans for businesses, putting Colorado’s agriculture industry on a pathway toward a sustainable and prosperous future.
Getting Veterans the Benefits They’ve Earned
Anyone who serves our country should get the support and resources they need to improve and enhance their lives after service when they get home. However, due to a legal flaw, LGBT+ veterans may not have been discharged honorably from the military due their sexual orientation or gender identity, and thus have not had access to the same benefits as their peers. This is unacceptable. This law establishes the status of “discharged LGBT veteran” for the purposes of Colorado law, which will ensure that no veteran is denied benefits unjustly.
More information about key legislation is available HERE.
Momentum Heading into 2022
After a successful 2021, Colorado Senate Democrats are geared up and ready to head into next year’s General Assembly with the wind at their backs.
There is still much more work to be done to move Colorado forward, and Senate Democrats have a plan to save people money, increase access to safe, affordable housing, improve public safety, set students up for success, and make sure every Coloradan has the support and resources they need to thrive.