2023 COLORADO SENATE DEMOCRATS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Overview

This year, Senate Democrats built on former progress and passed legislation focusing on the issues that matter for Coloradans: making housing more affordable, reducing health care costs, advancing affordable clean energy, preventing gun violence, increasing access to protected health care, improving public education, and boosting Colorado’s workforce.

In addition to the regular legislative session, Senate Democrats returned to the Capitol in November for a special session to address steep property tax increases and the rising cost of living for Coloradans. The legislation passed during the special session provides short-term relief to those most vulnerable to rising costs – like working families, renters, and those on fixed incomes – while protecting funding for critical services that our communities rely on, like schools and fire districts.

By the Numbers

$800 The amount of TABOR refund that every Colorado taxpayer will receive when they file their 2023 taxes. During the special legislative session, Democrats passed legislation to distribute identical refund payments regardless of income level, making our tax code more equitable and providing enhanced support for working families. Joint filers will receive a refund of $1,600.

$10,614 The new statewide average for per-pupil funding in Colorado public schools. As part of a continued commitment to a well-funded and resourced school system, Democrats passed legislation to boost public school funding by $660 million this year, including a $30 million one-time appropriation to rural schools.

+$1 billion The amount of property tax savings passed on to Coloradans for tax years 2023 and 2024. Democrats secured $434 million in property tax relief during this November’s special session. Combined with legislation from 2022, total property tax savings exceeded $1 billion over two years.

88% The percentage of bills passed in 2023 with bipartisan support.

480 The number of bills passed and signed into law by the Governor. This includes 473 bills from the regular legislative session, plus 7 bills from the special legislative session.

$65 million The amount of rental assistance Democrats allocated to existing programs that help prevent evictions and keep Coloradans housed, which includes $35 million from previously allocated federal funds.

$352.5 million The total increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit for the 2023 and 2024 tax years, which puts millions of dollars back into the pockets of working families to help them afford necessities like food and rent.

3 days The minimum length of the mandatory waiting period to purchase a firearm in Colorado. This year, Democrats passed a comprehensive package of gun violence prevention bills that included: implementing a waiting period for firearm purchases, removing overly broad legal protections for gun manufacturers, cracking down on so-called ‘ghost guns,’ increasing the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21, and an expansion of the preexisting ‘Red Flag’ law.

Key Legislative Achievements

The following is a selection of laws Colorado Senate Democrats are most proud of from this year, but it does not include all of our many achievements – for a more complete list of legislation we passed during the 2023 legislative session, please visit senatedems.co/legislative-achievements.

Making Colorado More Affordable

In both the regular and special sessions, Democrats prioritized delivering economic relief to those who need it most. Dramatic property tax increases have hit Coloradans hard – especially seniors and folks living on fixed incomes – which is why Democrats passed legislation to provide $434 million in property tax relief. Additionally, Democrats passed legislation to deliver targeted relief by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, funding rental assistance programs, and increasing TABOR refunds for the majority of filers and by hundreds of dollars for lower-income Coloradans.

Democrats also prioritized affordability with legislation to lower utility bills by preventing unpredictable rate spikes, fund free transit during ozone season, and expand tax incentives for electric vehicles and clean energy.

Reducing Housing Costs

Reducing the cost of housing and increasing supply continues to be a top priority for Democrats. This year, Democrats created new incentives for affordable housing construction, eliminated arbitrary local caps on new housing that restrict supply and drive up costs, and passed legislation to prevent evictions and protect renters’ rights.

Saving People Money on Health Care

As part of an ongoing commitment to reducing the cost of health care, Democrats passed legislation to bolster medical consumer protections, improve access to behavioral health for Colorado kids, increase access to medication like EpiPens, and lower the cost of lifesaving prescription drugs.

Investing in Education and Workforce

This year, Democrats invested in Colorado’s future by increasing per pupil funding to $10,614, reducing the Budget Stabilization Factor and committing to fully eliminating it in 2024, increasing special education funding, and allocating $30 million to rural schools.

Additionally, Democrats bolstered Colorado’s workforce by expanding loan forgiveness opportunities, strengthening pathways to in-demand jobs, increasing apprenticeship and licensure opportunities for teachers, and providing additional funding to adult education providers.
    
Preventing Gun Violence

This year, Democrats passed simple, commonsense measures that protect families, keep our public spaces like schools and grocery stores safe, and reduce the threat of violence across Colorado. New laws include: expanding and improving Colorado’s ‘Red Flag’ law, implementing a minimum three day waiting period for firearm purchases, repealing Colorado’s overly-broad immunity law that protects gun manufacturers, increasing the firearm purchase age to 21, and cracking down on unserialized, untraceable ‘ghost guns’.

Protecting Our Environment and Communities from Wildfires

From incentivizing clean energy projects to funding improvements for air and water quality, Democrats took bold action to protect our environment. This year, Democrats incentivized electric vehicles, e-bikes, invested in clean energy and industrial emissions reductions, passed legislation to reduce the time and cost of residential solar installation and permitting, and required oil and gas operators to reduce, reuse, and recycle water in their drilling operations. Democrats also increased the 2050 greenhouse gas reduction goal from 90 percent of 2005 levels to 100 percent. 

Additionally, Democrats passed legislation to address the threat of wildfires including: supporting local governments in preparing for and preventing wildfires, and investing in Colorado’s forestry and wildfire mitigation workforce. New legislation will also help to restore natural stream systems and freshwater resources to mitigate floods and wildfires, and secure a second Firehawk helicopter, the most technologically advanced firefighting aircraft available.

Protecting Freedoms and Access to Reproductive Health Care

In light of the Dobbs decision and the threats to safe and accessible reproductive health care that have followed, Democrats continued to solidify Colorado as a safe haven for abortion care, reproductive health care, and gender affirming care. The Safe Access to Protected Health Care Package protects the rights of patients, providers, and future health care professionals, prohibits deliberate misinformation in our communities, and makes care more affordable and accessible by closing gaps in insurance coverage.

Democrats in District

Throughout the year Senate Democrats got out of the Capitol and into their communities to engage with Coloradans. A few of this year’s highlights:

• Senator Tony Exum helped celebrate the groundbreaking of a new affordable housing development for low-income seniors in Colorado Springs.

• The Transportation Legislation Review Committee toured sites across the Front Range and Western Slope to learn more about multiple projects underway to improve safety and reduce emissions on Colorado’s roads.

• Senators Rhonda Fields and Janet Buckner convened a summit of stakeholders, national and local experts, and community members to discuss maternal mortality in Colorado and to seek solutions to reduce and prevent pregnancy-related deaths.

• Senator Lisa Cutter rafted the Colorado River with activists to demonstrate the river’s close ties to local economies and recreation, and its value as a natural resource.

Looking Ahead to 2024

There is so much more work to do to position Colorado well for the future and build a stronger, safer, and healthier Colorado for all. In the 2024 session, Democrats will build on their work to reduce the cost of living, support Colorado students and teachers, and make Colorado a safer state.