Colorado Senate Democrats Roll Out 2022 Agenda to Save Coloradans Money, Create a Safer and Healthier Colorado, and Set Students Up for Success

Landmark “Moving Colorado Forward” agenda includes making housing and health care more affordable, investing in behavioral health and workforce development

DENVER, CO – As the 2022 Colorado General Assembly kicks off, Colorado Senate Democrats today unveiled their sweeping legislative agenda to save Coloradans money, create safer and healthier communities across the state, and set students up for success.

The caucus aims to pass key legislation that will put more money back into people’s wallets by making housing and health care more affordable and reducing fees, better prepare communities to defend against catastrophic wildfires, and improve public safety by tackling the root causes of crime to prevent it from happening in the first place.

“Between the pandemic, historic wildfires, and nationwide inflation, the last two years have been tough,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo). “We know how tough it has been, which is why we are focused on moving Colorado forward and delivering real, transformational change to address the challenges folks are seeing in their everyday lives. We’re going to cut costs across the board and help put more money in people’s wallets, make record investments in our public schools, take historic steps to improve public safety, and create a safer and healthier Colorado so that every family can thrive.”

SAVING PEOPLE MONEY

Colorado Senate Democrats are determined to save people money and make Colorado a more affordable place to live. This year, we are committed to making housing, education and health care more affordable to ensure Coloradans can keep more of their hard-earned paychecks in their wallets. We’re also planning to reduce cut fees for small businesses as well as driver's licenses, vehicle registration, professional licenses for nurses and teachers, and other items. 

CREATING SAFER AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES

Every Coloradan deserves to feel secure in their community, which is why we are working to implement smart, evidence-based solutions to make Colorado communities safer. This session, Colorado Senate Democrats will introduce legislation aimed at increasing support for local law enforcement through officer recruitment and retention programs, cracking down on catalytic converter thefts, and improving public safety design features to create safer streets and neighborhoods.

Thanks to the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Colorado Democrats are also set to invest more than $1 billion this session to tackle the root causes of crime and reduce recidivism. This includes investing $400 million in ARPA funding to get more folks into safe, affordable housing, and more than $450 million to increase access to care and treatment for Coloradans with mental health or substance use disorder conditions. 

SETTING STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS

The past two years have been challenging for Colorado students and teachers, which is why we’re going to make historic investments in K-12 education funding to ensure that every student in every classroom has the resources and support they need to thrive and reach their full potential. 

Colorado Democrats’ increased investment in per-pupil funding will help get more teachers into classrooms and ensure students get more individualized attention, resulting in better outcomes for all. We are also continuing our work to lay the foundation for implementing the voter-backed and voluntary universal preschool program that will save families thousands of dollars and help set students on the path to success.

“Colorado Senate Democrats have a plan to help folks not just get by, but do better,” Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder) said. “We are committed to making sure every Colorado family can afford to live in this beautiful state, and I am excited to roll up our sleeves and get to work fighting to make real, lasting improvements for all Coloradans.”