Coleman’s Bill to Examine Impacts of Systemic Racial Inequities Earns Committee Support

Coleman: “This is an important opportunity for our state, and I am looking forward to continuing this conversation so we can begin to repair the damage and create a better and more equitable future for all Black Coloradans.”

DENVER, CO – The Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem James Coleman, D-Denver, that would create a study to examine racial disparities and the impact of systemic racism on Black Coloradans.

SB24-053 would establish a commission to oversee the study with History Colorado conducting historical research across areas like economic mobility, housing, education, health care and the criminal justice system. 

“Black Coloradans have been living with the impacts of systemic and historic racism – and the structural inequities that have resulted from it – for decades,” Coleman said. “Studying that painful legacy is the first step towards addressing it, and would give us a deeper understanding of the impacts of past and current racial discrimination and policies on our community. This is an important opportunity for our state, and I am looking forward to continuing this conversation so we can begin to repair the damage and create a better and more equitable future for all Black Coloradans.”

The study would also include an economic impact analysis of the racial discrimination determined by the study. 

SB24-053 will now move to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.