Colorado Comeback Bill to Support Creative Arts Industries Clears Committee!

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Local Government Committee approved a bill sponsored by Senator Janet Buckner and Senator Sonya Jaquez-Lewis that seeks to support creative arts industries throughout Colorado following the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation is part of the Colorado Recovery Plan. 

“This pandemic has taken a huge toll on our creative industries – forcing them to navigate both an economic recession and shifting capacity restrictions for more than a year,” said Senator Buckner, D-Aurora. “Not only will this bill provide relief for the industry as a whole, but it will target direct assistance to cultural facilities that focus on programming for historically marginalized and under-resourced communities to ensure our recovery is equitable.”

HB21-1285 provides $10M to support artists and cultural organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19 throughout the state. This includes funding for the performance-based film incentive, cultural facilities and the CO Creative Industries grant program set up during the 2020 special session.

“Venues, artists, and other creative industries are the heart of Colorado’s economy and they have faced immeasurable challenges over the last year,” said Senator Jaquez-Lewis, D-Boulder County. “As we work to build back stronger, we need to ensure that we uplift the vibrant art and cultural facilities that make our state so unique. This funding will help these indispensable organizations get back on their feet and ensure their longevity as Coloradans start returning to our beloved concert halls, museums, and movie theaters.” 

This bill now moves to Senate Appropriations for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

Colorado Comeback Bills to Expand Broadband Access, Help Communities Transition Approved With Strong Bipartisan Support

DENVER, CO – Today, Senate committees gave broad bipartisan approval to two pieces of legislation that will increase broadband access for Coloradans as well as assist communities transitioning from coal. These bills are part of the Colorado Recovery Plan. 

HB21-1289: Expanding Access to Broadband, sponsored by Senator Jeff Bridges. Colorado has an opportunity to help bridge the digital divide exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing broadband access for our students, communities and businesses. This bill provides $75M to increase internet access across Colorado through the deployment of devices as well as the development of middle and last mile infrastructure to support services that have become a necessity during the pandemic, like telehealth. It specifically includes $20M for the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes. 

“Going to school these days requires books, backpacks, and broadband,” said Senator Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “Especially after this last year, more and more of our economy is online, and we have an obligation to make sure every Coloradan can participate in that economy. Connecting unserved and underserved communities to high-speed reliable internet creates more opportunity for everyone, and increases statewide equity and prosperity for all of our families.”

HB21-1290: Funding Just Transition Office, sponsored by Majority Leader Steve Fenberg. In 2019, Democrats in the legislature created the Office of Just Transition to guide communities transitioning from coal toward economic resilience. This bill provides $15 million in funding for workforce programs, local capacity grants, transition-related economic development grants, and critical infrastructure investments to boost economies that have been dependent on coal. 

“Allocating additional funding to the Office of Just Transition is a critical way for us to make sure workers in coal-dependent communities are adequately prepared for Colorado’s transition to clean energy,” said Majority Leader Fenberg, D-Boulder. “As our state adopts new clean energy projects in these communities, it’s on us to make sure that no one gets left behind. This funding demonstrates our commitment to providing support and assistance to the workers who are helping pave the way towards Colorado’s future.”

Both bills now move to Senate Appropriations for further consideration. Track the progress of the legislation by visiting leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Passes a Pair of Agricultural Stimulus Bills with Strong Bipartisan Support

Stimulus bills providing financial support for agricultural resiliency and efficiency programs receive final approval from the full Senate

DENVER, CO - Today, the State Senate passed two agricultural stimulus bills that are a part of Colorado’s recovery package, advancing them to the House for final consideration.

SB21-234, sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis & Jerry Sonnenberg, allocates $3 million to the Department of Agriculture to increase the state’s ability to anticipate, mitigate, or respond to droughts. In 2020, each of the 64 Colorado counties were experiencing a drought. Major drivers were an absent monsoon season, increased soil moisture deficits, record-high temperatures, and extreme evaporative demands from winds and low humidity. This drought exacerbated many of the financial impacts on the agriculture sector, and as climate change worsens, drought could cost Colorado an additional $511 million dollars in expected annual damages to agriculture. This bill will help the state plan for and mitigate future droughts and climate disturbances. SB21-234 passed through the Senate with unanimous support.

“Climate change has caused the worst drought for farmers in their planting season in 20 years,” said Senator Jaquez-Lewis, D-Boulder County. “This legislation will provide funding for drought mitigation and wildfire prevention techniques. As a San Luis rancher's granddaughter, I am proud to support our agricultural families across the state.”

SB21-235, also sponsored by Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, allocates another $5 million to the Department of Agriculture, with at least $3 million going to the ACRE3 energy efficiency program and at least $1 million going to conservation districts to implement voluntary soil health programs. Over the next decade, Colorado’s agricultural sector must comprehensively reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also increasing energy efficiency and cutting costs. ACRE3 is Colorado’s premier state-level program for agricultural energy management and provides financial aid, technical assistance, and education to help the agriculture industry cut energy costs and develop their own energy resources. To further increase the sustainability of the ag industry, producers can invest in healthy soil management, nutrient cycling, and erosion prevention strategies which will increase yields and resilience to extreme weather events. This bill was passed by a vote of 28-7, demonstrating strong bipartisan support.

“Agricultural businesses and working families depend on keeping costs low,” said Senator Jaquez-Lewis. “This legislation funds energy-efficient techniques like improving soil health and Agrivoltaics, which combines solar energy creation over croplands. Farmers and Ranchers will have another way to improve their crop production." 

Both bills now head to the House for further consideration. To read the bills and find updates regarding their status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Democratic Legislative Leadership Applaud Supreme Court Decision Allowing Colorado to Address Fault in School Funding Formula

With this ruling Colorado will be able to address long-standing inequities, bolstering K-12 funding

DENVER, CO - Today, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the state legislature may allow school districts to recover millions of dollars in lost revenue due to erroneous guidance regarding Colorado’s property tax system. This ruling is in direct response to HB21-1164, a bill sponsored by Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, Education Committee Chair Rachel Zenzinger, House Speaker Alec Garnett, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, that seeks to rectify incorrect guidance from CDE and bring districts’ mill levy rates in line with what their voters have approved in order to fund their local schools. The bill passed its final hurdle in the Senate this morning on a bipartisan vote of 23-12 after the Supreme Court issued the favorable ruling.

“Education funding in our state has long been an issue, and has been complicated by the entanglement of numerous property tax provisions,” said Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Today’s decision moves us significantly closer to resolving the structural inequity in Colorado’s property tax system that must be fixed to ensure our schools have the funding they desperately need.”

“Today’s groundbreaking announcement from the Supreme Court represents a monumental step toward repairing our state’s broken education funding system,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Fixing the inequities in our education system has been a top priority of mine for years. The decision handed down today will help us start to make up for years of deeply inequitable funding processes that have hamstrung certain districts like mine in Pueblo and held our schools back. It’s long past time to make fair and robust investments in our children and the future of Colorado.”

“I’m thrilled to see that the Supreme Court has affirmed the legislature’s fix to our unequal, unfair school funding structure,” said Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “Today’s decision will have profound impacts on our education system, finally giving Colorado the opportunity to build an equitable revenue system that can provide adequate funding for all students - no matter where they live.”

“Colorado’s students, educators and parents won today,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “With today’s Supreme Court decision, we’ll be able to make major progress towards correcting the inequities that pervade our school funding system and providing our kids and our schools with the fair and sufficient funding they need to thrive. I’m glad the Supreme Court reaffirmed the will of the voters today.”

In Colorado, K-12 education funding consists of a mixture of local and state dollars and is constitutionally directed to be “thorough and uniform.” In 1988, the legislature set a uniform school district mill levy – a property tax applied based on the assessed value of the property – so that theoretically, each district’s taxpayers would contribute the same proportion of local property taxes to school funding. 

While TABOR imposes a cap on school district tax revenue, between 1994 and 2002, voters in 174 of 178 school districts in Colorado chose to permanently waive TABOR’s revenue limitations (“De-Bruce”) in order to fill in the gaps caused by its arbitrary restrictions on public school funding. However, contrary to this voter approval, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) issued guidance directing school districts to continue to reduce their tax rates (total program mill levy) to remain under TABOR’s revenue limits – despite the fact that voters had indicated clear intent for districts to no longer be subject to those limits. 

Due to this error, some property owners pay tax rates that are 16 times higher than those of taxpayers in neighboring school districts on properties of the same value, which forces the state to send disproportionately high state funding to our wealthiest districts, subtracting from what would otherwise be distributed to all districts.

HB21-1164 directs CDE to implement a correction plan for the erroneous reductions in total program mill levies by incrementally phasing out mill levy credits starting in FY 2021-22. This timeline was chosen intentionally to ensure no district is forced to phase out credits faster than 1 mill per year.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Colorado state Senate took up HB21-1164 on Third Reading and final passage – clearing the bill over its final hurdle before heading to the Governor’s desk for signature. To track the progress of the legislation click here.

Following the Avalanche Sweep, Senate Democrats Skate to the Puck & Push Legislative Priorities Forward As Sine Die Nears

Bills support foster youth, domestic abuse victims, firearm safety & education, and police reform, while stimulus bills bolster creative industries, coal communities, & broadband deployment

DENVER, CO - This week, Senate Democrats are cool as ice as many of their legislative priorities get their shot in committee this week.

Three of the bills being heard are a part of Colorado’s recovery package:

HB21-1290: Funding Just Transition Office, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Fenberg & Senator Rankin.

• In 2019, Democrats in the legislature created the Office of Just Transition to guide communities transitioning from coal toward economic resilience. This bill provides $15 million in funding for workforce programs, local capacity grants, transition-related economic development grants, and critical infrastructure investments to boost economies that have been dependent on coal. 

This bill will be heard by the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee at 1:30PM today, May 24th in Senate Committee Room 352.

HB21-1289: Expanding Access to Broadband, sponsored by Senators Bridges and Priola.

• Colorado has an opportunity to help bridge the digital divide exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing broadband access for our students, communities and businesses. This bill provides $75M to increase internet access across Colorado through the deployment of devices, and the development of middle and last mile infrastructure to support services that have become a necessity during the pandemic, like telehealth. It specifically includes $20M for the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes. 

This bill will be heard by the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee at 1:30PM today, May 24th in Senate Committee Room 352.

HB21-1285: Funding To Support Creative Arts Industries, sponsored by Senators Buckner & Jaquez Lewis.

• Venues, artists, and so many other culturally vital organizations have struggled to make it through the last year. This bill provides $10M to support artists and cultural organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19 throughout the state. This includes funding for the performance based film incentive, cultural facilities and the CO Creative Industries grant program set up during the 2020 special session.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Local Government Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in Senate Committee Room 352.

Other legislative priorities headed to committee this week include:

HB21-1094: Foster Youth In Transition Program, sponsored by Senators Zenzinger & Rankin.

• As foster children transition to adulthood and out of the foster care system, they face a steep cliff where they no longer have adequate resources and support that they had for the first several years of their lives. This bill acknowledges the challenges of the 200+ youths who exit the Colorado foster system by creating a new program called Foster Youth in Transition which allows discharged youths to reenter the foster system in order to receive training and support as they transition into adulthood. The program is implemented through county health or social services departments throughout the state, and seeks to extend client-directed and developmentally appropriate services to foster youth who were in foster care or who were adjudicated dependent and neglected after their 14th birthday and who voluntarily choose to receive certain child welfare services through their 21st birthday.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee at 1:30PM today, Monday May 24th in Senate Committee Room 357.

HB21-1299: Office Of Gun Violence Prevention, sponsored by Senators Hansen & Fields.

• True gun violence prevention requires that we start thinking bigger and more holistically. Making top-down regulations without investing in grassroots education will only limit our policies’ effectiveness. We need to build broad public awareness that empowers communities to take action – protecting their loved ones in moments of crisis and implementing evidence-based initiatives that will interrupt cycles of violence and trauma. To help educate and build awareness, this bill establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention under the Department of Public Health and Environment. The Office would be responsible for conducting public awareness campaigns about gun violence prevention. It would educate the public about existing state resources and laws, including how to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order, how to access mental health resources, and how to store firearms securely.

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1255: Protection Order Issued Against Domestic Abuser, sponsored by Senators Pettersen & Jaquez Lewis.

• Current law already requires domestic violence offenders who are subject to a protection order stemming from an act of domestic or intimate partner violence to forfeit their firearms and refrain from possessing or purchasing firearms for the duration of the order. HB21-1255 would strengthen and streamline procedures for the relinquishment of firearms by someone who has a domestic violence-related protection order issued against them. This bill simply clarifies the way in which defendants must comply with this requirement, and establishes requirements for courts.

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1298: Expand Firearm Transfer Background Check Requirements, sponsored by Senators Gonzales & Pettersen.

• Background checks are one of the most effective tools we have to keep deadly weapons out of dangerous hands. By ensuring that those who have committed violent offenses are unable to purchase a firearm, we will undoubtedly save lives. This bill prohibits a person who has been convicted of specific violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for 5 years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault, and third degree assault. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. 

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1250: Measures to Address Law Enforcement Accountability, sponsored by Senator Fields.

• In 2020, Senate Democrats passed one of the most progressive law enforcement reform bills in the nation, SB20-217, which was a historic step toward ensuring transparency, integrity and accountability for Colorado’s law enforcement. However, since it’s passage, conversations around the state have continued on the law’s implementation and there are opportunities to clarify language to ensure it is meeting the intended goals. HB21-1250 clarifies requirements related to the instances when body-worn cameras must be operating to include welfare checks. It directs the Division of Criminal Justice to create a single form to streamline the reporting requirements for peace officers, which will now include whether an ambulance was called to the scene of an incident, whether there was a forcible entry into a residence, and the number of officer-involved civilian deaths.

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

To listen to committee hearings, visit leg.colorado.gov/watch-listen. The full Senate calendar for the week can be found at http://leg.colorado.gov/session-schedule?type=senate.

President Garcia Appoints & Senate Overwhelming Approves Former-Representative Cole Wist to the Independent Ethics Commission

Wist will succeed Commissioner William Leone as the Senate appointee to the Commission for a four-year term, beginning in July 2021

DENVER, CO - Today, Senate President Leroy Garcia introduced Senate Resolution 21-006 to formally appoint Cole Wist to the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission, a constitutionally created independent commission charged with upholding ethics in Colorado government. The Senate voted 34-1 to approve the President's appointment. 

“Though Representative Wist and I come from different political parties, I have always known him to be an honest, principled man with integrity,” said President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo). “I have no doubt that Cole Wist’s exemplary character and experience will make him an extremely valuable member of the Independent Ethics Commission.”

Wist is a former state legislator, and former House Assistant Minority Leader, who represented House District 37 in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2016-2018. Throughout his short but exemplary legislative career, Representative Wist quickly earned a reputation as being an ethical and principled legislator, a creative problem solver, a civil justice reform advocate, and a productive bipartisan lawmaker who demonstrated experienced and reasoned leadership.

Representative Wist was a legislator to whom members from both sides of the aisle turned for guidance and balanced advice and who was admired by his legislative colleagues for his intelligence, fairness, civility, and grace. 

In addition to his legislative career, Wist is a well-respected and experienced attorney, of counsel with the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs in Denver, where he engages in a national legal practice representing employers in complex labor and employment matters and focusing on workplace safety and health and crisis risk management. Over his decades-long legal career, Wist has earned the respect of and been recognized by his peers in the legal community for his outstanding professional achievements.

On the basis of his dedicated public service as a respected member of the Colorado House of Representatives, his extensive career as a highly regarded and well-respected attorney for over thirty years, and his outstanding qualifications and reputation in the community as an individual of integrity and the highest ethical standards, Cole Wist has demonstrated the temperament and personal qualities that will enable him to serve as a respected member of the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission.

For Senate appointments to be confirmed, resolutions must pass through the full Senate with at least a two-thirds vote. To read the resolution in its entirety, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sr21-006.

Governor Polis, Legislators Unveil American Rescue Plan State Funds Package to Power Colorado Comeback

DENVER - Today, Governor Jared Polis joined legislative leadership, members of the Joint Budget Committee, and members of Colorado’s federal delegation and State Treasurer Dave Young to announce how the state will use federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to power the Colorado Comeback. 

“We must seize this once in a generation opportunity to use state stimulus funds to invigorate our economy and help our state recover faster and stronger, while at the same time making critical investments that will better our state for future generations of Coloradans,” said Governor Jared Polis. “And now, we have an opportunity to build on those investments with federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. This package is the product of a truly collaborative effort from the federal to the state and local levels, and will power the Colorado comeback.”

“This is an important step to helping those Coloradans who have been hardest hit over the last year, including those who have suffered with mental, substance use disorders, and behavioral health challenges worsened by the pandemic. These funds will be critical to providing much needed services, to help Coloradans and our communities build back stronger,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. 

“With thousands of people across our state still out of work, and many more families still struggling to make ends meet, the help that’s coming our way as a result of the American Rescue Plan couldn’t come soon enough,” said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). “This funding will help families and businesses alike. It will put money in people’s pockets and shots in their arms. And it will keep people in their homes, get them back to work, and help us build a foundation to build back even better than we were before.”

“The American Rescue Plan delivered exactly what our country needed and will help ensure a strong and successful recovery for all Coloradans. Like much of the COVID response, much of our recovery will take place at the local and state level, and I applaud Governor Polis’ and the Legislature for their leadership in ensuring the American Rescue Plan funding is put to good use to help communities across our state recover and build back better,” said U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated families, workers, and small businesses across Colorado in so many different ways,” said Congressman Jason Crow. “With President Biden’s leadership, we fought hard to pass the American Rescue Plan and bring home billions in aid for Colorado. We’re already seeing the benefits of this investment with shots in arms and money in Americans’ pockets. I’m proud to work with Governor Polis and our statehouse partners as we build back an even stronger Colorado.”

“With passage of the American Rescue Plan help is here, for Colorado families and communities, for workers and small business owners. Families across our state have already received relief checks, small business owners are finding support through grants and loans, and many more are seeing help through direct housing assistance and nutrition assistance. After our successful efforts to secure direct local and state funding in this plan, our communities will now see even more direct support. I am so grateful for the work of our Mayors, the work of Governor Polis and our state legislature to ensure we get these funds into the hands of Coloradans who need it most. We know our communities have faced unprecedented challenges over the last 15 months, asking Colorado families to weather this moment alone was simply never an option,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. 

“Today, state and federal lawmakers joined Governor Polis to outline a responsible framework to spend American Rescue Plan Act dollars in a way that is as precise and effective as possible,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “We listened to the ideas community leaders shared during the statewide listening tour, which has led us to a multi-pronged approach. We’ll use some of the relief funds this legislative session to fortify our state budget, and this summer, we’ll set up a bipartisan process to really dive in and craft bold ideas that will power the Colorado Comeback and help our state build back stronger.” 

“Even though Colorado’s economy is rebounding, too many of our neighbors across the state are still struggling to fix what the pandemic has broken. Thanks to unprecedented funds coming to Colorado from the American Rescue Plan, we can make historic investments in the communities hit the hardest,” said President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo. “By taking the ideas we learned during our statewide listening tour and using an interim committee to give us the strongest recommendations, we can ensure that the remainder of Colorado’s ARPA dollars are available to help the small businesses, industries, and families who have been hit the hardest by COVID-19.” 

“Thanks to President Biden and our federal delegation, we have a tremendous opportunity to build back stronger and make truly transformative, once in a generation change for the people of Colorado,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “The investments we plan to make in workforce development and skills training will connect students with new options for postsecondary education and increase funding for effective programs that provide workers with the tools they need to thrive and fill good jobs. By making strategic investments in hardworking Coloradans, we will put these federal stimulus funds to use to boost our economy and ensure every part of our state is set up for success.”

“After COVID laid bare the fragility of access and availability in our housing market, we knew we needed to do more to get struggling Coloradans into supportive, affordable homes,” said Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “With this once-in-a-lifetime federal stimulus funding we are in a position to make historic investments in equitable housing – providing opportunities for all Coloradans to establish intergenerational wealth and long term prosperity.”

“Today is truly a day of celebration. After more than a year of hardship and struggle, we are entering a new chapter of recovery and growth” said JBC Chair, Senator Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “With these once-in-a-generation funds, we will revitalize our community pillars and recharge our economy – laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient Colorado.“

“Today is an exciting and historic day for Colorado,” said JBC Vice Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “With these federal funds, we’ll not only be able to invest in stimulative projects that help our economy bounce back stronger, but we’ll also put about a billion dollars into fortifying our budget to guarantee years of stability and fiscal integrity. As our state recovers, this funding will ensure we have the resources we need to avoid cuts to critical state services that Coloradans in every corner of our state need.”

“One year ago, we were learning just how deep and devastating the economic recession from COVID-19 would be, and today, I am so hopeful for the future of this state,“ said JBC member Chris Hansen, D-Denver. ”These funds are going to accelerate Colorado’s economic recovery, and this carefully crafted plan based on months of stakeholder work will ensure the relief is targeted and as effective as possible.”

“This framework makes historic investments in mental health, provides businesses the relief they need to grow and create jobs, and stabilizes our budget to bolster the critical services people rely on,” said JBC Member Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “American Rescue Plan dollars will help to usher in a more equitable recovery where those who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic share in the comeback and economic growth.”

“These funds create opportunities and move Colorado forward,” said Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young. “They offer Coloradans an unprecedented opportunity to address acute needs in the areas of affordable housing and mental health, to strengthen and protect our state budget for the long haul, and to focus on critical needs related to economic justice. They’ll enable us to protect long term budget priorities and lift up working families across Colorado.”

With the $3.8 billion of state aid provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (Fiscal Recovery Funds), the Governor and Colorado legislature are rolling out the roadmap of investments designed to power the Colorado Comeback. 

A top priority for the state aid provided by the American Rescue Plan Act will be to shore up the state budget for the near term through a series of budget integrity measures, so as the Coloradans are recovering from this global pandemic, the state can avoid cuts to critical state services such as funding for K-12 schools, higher education, existing mental and behavioral and physical health programs, and the ongoing public health response to COVID-19. That’s why a full third or $1.3 billion of the federal relief funds will be invested in ensuring budget integrity for the next several years.

Of the $3.8 billion in federal funds:

• $1 billion will go toward fortifying the state budget and maintaining fiscal integrity

• $300 million will go towards Colorado’s ongoing response to the COVID pandemic

• Between $400-$550 million will go towards affordable housing and homeownership efforts

• Between $400-$550 million towards mental and behavioral health programs 

• Approximately $200 million towards workforce development and education 

• Approximately $817 million will be for economic recovery and relief

• $404- $414 million for transportation and infrastructure, and parks and agriculture 

Colorado expects to spend $2 billion of the state’s total $3.8 billion in federal funds this legislative session. An estimated $1.8 billion in federal funds will remain for deployment at the beginning of the next legislative session following an Interim stakeholder process, enabling resources to be targeted to changing needs in the economy that may evolve in the coming months.

These federal funds will further strengthen Colorado’s work to make the state’s economy even stronger post pandemic. Through the Colorado Recovery Plan unveiled in March, the state has already invested roughly $800 million of state funds to help Coloradans recover faster. State stimulus funds are already focused on strengthening small businesses, revitalizing Colorado’s infrastructure, supporting families, investing in rural communities, and developing the state’s workforce. 

To view the roadmap, click here. 

Senate Votes to Increase Tenant Rights, Address Homelessness, Improve Broadband Access & More!

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate approved several priority bills that would improve tenant rights, expand affordable housing development, support community revitalization, and enhance broadband access. 

HB21-1121 prohibits landlords from increasing rent more than once in a 12-month period, extends eviction notices from 21 to 60 days for tenancies between 1 - 6 months long, and strengthens legal proceedings to give tenants more support in eviction court.

“Colorado is one of the worst states in the nation for housing – ranking 43rd for access and affordability. It’s time we protect tenants from predatory behavior and ensure Coloradans can remain in their homes,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “This bill will make our state more tenant-friendly by limiting the power landlords have to drive up rent and push residents – particularly low-income folks – out of their communities.”

SB21-242 creates a $15 million grant program for local governments, municipalities, and nonprofits to rent, acquire, or restore underutilized hotels or motels to provide immediate housing for people experiencing homelessness. This bill is a part of Colorado’s Recovery Package.

“It’s heartbreaking to see so many people on our streets without safe shelter,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood. “We have a moral obligation to lift up those in our community who are struggling and need our support, and that is what we are seeking to do with this bill. By fully utilizing hotels, motels and other establishments to house the most vulnerable among us, we can put Colorado on a successful pathway towards ending the homelessness crisis once and for all.”

SB21-252 creates the Community Revitalization Grant Program to issue grants intended to support creative projects in commercial centers that would combine revitalized or newly constructed commercial spaces with public or community spaces. This bill is also a part of Colorado’s Recovery Package. 

“Creative community spaces are critical to the vibrancy of our state, but in the wake of the pandemic, many of these projects have flatlined,” said Senator Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “With this funding, our commercial centers can jump-start creative revitalization efforts that will uplift local communities and help Colorado build back stronger.” 

HB21-1109 seeks to extend broadband services to critically unserved communities in the state and ensure that everyone can get connected to the internet. Specifically, the bill adds a new definition of “critically unserved” to better categorize the needs of Coloradans that don’t have adequate broadband connections. It also requires the Broadband Deployment Board to ensure limited state dollars for broadband investments are targeted to areas of Colorado that lack access in a timely and efficient manner. 

“Going to school these days requires books, backpacks, and broadband,” said Senator Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “Especially after this last year, more and more of our economy is online, and we have an obligation to make sure every Coloradan can participate in that economy. Connecting unserved and underserved communities to high-speed reliable internet creates more opportunity for everyone, and increases statewide equity and prosperity for all of our families.” 

These bills now head to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the legislation by visiting leg.colorado.gov.

Committee Approves Bill Aimed at Curbing the Criminalization of Poverty & Over-Policing!

SB21-273 works to dismantle long-entrenched policing and jailing practices that lead to racial discrimination, unjust detainment, & the destabilization of vulnerable communities

DENVER, CO - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to promote liberty and equal justice under the law by enacting pretrial reform. SB21-273, sponsored by Senators Pete Lee and Dominick Moreno, works to curb detainment for low-level offenses – addressing perpetual cycles of abuse and mistreatment of vulnerable populations.   

“Justice and freedom are the cornerstones of American values. But since our founding, these values have been applied inequitably. For people of color, the poor, and socially marginalized justice is a rarity rather than a right,” said Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs). “One of the biggest culprits of this toxicity is reflected in jailing and arrest practices, where people’s freedom and even lives are taken away with a devastating level of frequency. It’s time to completely rethink how police interact with our communities and recalibrate the role money has in our justice system. Because access to funds shouldn’t determine a person’s right to freedom and non-violent, low-level offenses shouldn’t elicit an arrest.”

“Ability to pay should never determine a person’s freedom, however, we continually criminalize poverty when it comes to our justice system. The majority of people in our pre-trial detention system have not even been convicted of a crime, yet they sit in our jail cells simply because they cannot afford bail,” said Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “We cannot allow this unfair, discriminatory system to endure. This bill is a harm-reducing, common-sense policy that will make an enormous difference in holding people accountable, keeping communities safe, and promoting liberty and equal justice for all.” 

Colorado’s jail population has grown 800% in the last 50 years, largely comprising of low-level, non-violent detainees who simply can’t afford cash bonds. Black people have been disproportionately affected by this trend – being 8X more likely to be arrested than white people for lower-level offenses and 4X more likely to be killed in police custody. This has perpetuated cycles of instability among vulnerable communities and deteriorated society’s relationship with law enforcement. 

SB21-273 prohibits a court from issuing a monetary bond for a misdemeanor offense; municipal offense; class 4, 5, or 6 felonies; or a drug felony unless the court finds the defendant will flee prosecution or threaten the safety of another. The bill also requires peace officers to prioritize the issuance of a summons for low-level, non-violent misdemeanors. Finally, SB21-273 establishes a Community Response Working Group to study and recommend safe, effective alternatives to law enforcement responses including incorporating mental health professionals and social workers.   

The bill will now head to Senate Finance for further consideration. To read the bill and find updates regarding its status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Democrats Champion Legislation to Extend Long Sought After Labor Rights to Agricultural Workers

SB21-087 would expand labor protections, allow workers to form unions, and guarantee minimum wages for agricultural workers across the state

DENVER, CO - Today, the State Senate gave final approval to a groundbreaking agricultural workers’ rights bill that will modernize the industry, promote equity, and establish fair treatment standards by extending basic labor rights to agricultural workers.

SB21-087, sponsored by Senators Jessie Danielson & Dominick Moreno, establishes an ‘Agricultural Workers’ Bill of Rights’ that guarantees break times, meal times, safe and comfortable working conditions, safe housing, overtime pay, clean water, and health protections for agricultural workers. Additionally, the bill prohibits the   use of the short-handled hoe – a practice that has already been outlawed in Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

“For generations, our agricultural workers have been exploited for profit in Colorado, and it’s well beyond time for us to stand up for them,” said Senator Jessie Danielson (D-Wheatridge). “Under this critical legislation, Coloradans who work on farms, ranches and other agricultural establishments across our state will earn a living wage, get overtime pay, have access to water and rest breaks, and be protected from retaliation. Our ag workers should have the same protections as other workers. This bill ensures that.”

“Colorado lags far behind other states when it comes to affording basic human rights to agricultural workers,” said Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “These workers are often exploited for cheap labor and they can’t even discuss workplace conditions with their colleagues without fear of retaliation. Our bill will ensure basic protections for ag workers that already apply to every other worker across our state.”

Specifically, the bill tasks the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics in the Department of Labor and Employment to promulgate rules to establish the overtime pay of agricultural employees, and removes the exemption of agricultural labor from state and local minimum wage laws. To continue to look ahead, the bill also creates the Agricultural Work Advisory Committee to study and analyze agricultural wages and working conditions. Lastly, the bill creates rights, remedies, and enforcement actions for aggrieved agricultural employees, whistleblowers, and key service providers so they can seek justice and promote transparency without fear of retaliation.

SB21-087 will now head to the House for consideration. To read the bill and find updates regarding its status, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-087.

Senate Committee Approves Historic Legislation to Reduce Health Insurance Premiums by 18%

Senator Donovan’s landmark bill to lower health insurance premiums, improve health equity, and increase accessible care clears its first Senate committee with strong support

DENVER, CO - This evening, the Senate Health & Human Services Committee passed HB21-1232 with strong support after hours of testimony. The bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Temp Kerry Donovan, seeks to make health insurance coverage more affordable and more accessible, provide relief for small businesses, improve health equity, and maintain protections for rural & critical access hospitals.

“For decades the price of health care in Colorado has been on the rise. For the one-in-five of us who struggle to pay for health care, or make the impossible choice to go without care entirely, the current system isn’t working,” said Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. “We refused to accept that there was nothing that could be done to change the status quo, and set out to make that change by inviting a diverse coalition of stakeholders to the table. This bill is a result of that collaborative process and we’ll move forward together in ensuring that all Coloradans have access to high-quality, affordable health care."

Specifically, the bill requires health insurance carriers to reduce premiums by at least 18% over the next three years. If carriers fail to meet premium reduction targets, the state may set rates on a limited basis to meet consumer savings targets. Additionally, the state will create a standardized benefit plan, available on the individual and small group market through private insurance carriers in every county in the state. 

The development of the standardized plan will undergo diverse stakeholder engagement and solicit oversight from people of color and Coloradans who live in both rural and urban areas of the state. This is designed to improve racial health equity and decrease racial health disparities.

Overall, HB21-1232 will simultaneously lower out-of-pocket costs for people, families, and businesses across the state, extend coverage to immigrant families and individuals – regardless of documentation status, and insert accountability into the health insurance industry through several transparency mechanisms.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. To read the bill and find updates regarding the status, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1232.

Quartet of Colorado Comeback Legislation Passes the Senate with Strong Bipartisan Support

Stimulus bills providing financial support for rural economic development, watershed protection, small business recovery, and the agricultural industry receive final approval from the full Senate

DENVER, CO - Today, the State Senate passed four stimulus bills with broad bipartisan support that are a part of Colorado’s recovery package, advancing them to the House for final consideration.

SB21-229, a bill sponsored by Senators Danielson & Story, directs $3 million to the Rural Jump Start Grant Program, which helps economically distressed communities – particularly communities that will be affected by the energy market’s transition away from coal to more renewable energy sources – attract new businesses and jobs. Of the grants available, new businesses can receive up to $20,000 for establishing operations in rural jump-start zones and up to $2,500 for each new job they create. While businesses establishing operations in coal transition communities (as identified in the Office of Just Transition Action Plan) can receive up to $40,000 as well as up to $5,000 for each new job they create.

“As we work to help Colorado recover, we must prioritize directing targeted relief to parts of our state that are too often left behind: small communities, places with particularly low unemployment or income levels, and fossil fuel areas in transition,” said Senator Story (D-Jefferson County). “This bill will help ignite local economies from the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains, and will ensure that Colorado’s economic recovery is both equitable and sustainable.”

SB21-240, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Danielson & Simpson, transfers $15 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board to help watersheds recover from the impacts of wildfire. In addition to direct funding for watershed restoration, the bill sets aside funds to conduct a statewide watershed analysis that investigates the susceptibility of life, safety, infrastructure, and water supplies to wildfire impacts.

“In 2020, Colorado endured the worst wildfire season in state history – devastating countless homes and thousands of acres of forest land. This has severely impacted our watersheds in the state and only increased the adverse effects of Colorado drought conditions” said Senator Danielson (D-Wheatridge). “As a part of our economic recovery, we are working to restore and strengthen our natural environment so that it can better withstand wildfire impacts and save our state painful costs in the future.” 

SB21-241, sponsored by Senators Fields and Bridges, creates the Small Business Accelerated Growth Program to provide small businesses with tools and resources that foster the growth of existing companies that have moved from the start-up stage into the second stage or are on the verge of rapid growth. This program will ensure that these businesses, post-pandemic, will be able to build back stronger.

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on small businesses, particularly those owned by women and racial minorities,” said Senator Fields (D-Aurora). “We need to reinvest in these critical community pillars by making resources available that will foster their growth and set them up for success. Because the essence of economic ingenuity and creativity resides in the entrepreneurial minds of our small business owners, who dare to think out of the box and pave their own path.” 

"Innovative, growth-oriented small businesses are critical to our Colorado comeback,” said Senator Bridges (D-Greenwood Village). “Through their perseverance and innovation, small businesses are the economic engine of our economy. This bill makes sure they have the expertise and support they need to thrive here in Colorado, creating jobs and opportunities throughout our state.”

SB21-248, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senate President Pro Temp Donovan and Senator Simpson, allocates $30 million to create and implement the Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program. This program will provide low-interest loans to beginning farmers and ranchers as well as farm-to-market infrastructure loans for businesses – putting Colorado on a pathway toward a sustainable and prosperous future for the agriculture industry. Although Colorado’s vibrant agricultural sector has served as the backbone of the state’s economy for decades, the industry must navigate a tumultuous future in which an estimated 64% of Colorado producers will exit farming, and over 20 million acres of Colorado’s agricultural land will need a new farmer. This bill will negotiate these challenges, invest in the future of Colorado agriculture, and provide incentives to build capacity for beginning farmers and ranchers.

“The most pressing challenges that lie ahead for Colorado - COVID-19, water and drought, wildfires, and labor shortages - all have a major impact on the agriculture industry,” said Senator Kerry Donovan (D-Vail). “By transferring this $30 million into the Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program we invest not only in the present recovery of the industry but in the long-term success of agriculture in our state. The program will empower and support a new generation of farmers and ranchers in Colorado who will shepherd the industry forward.”

All three bills now head to the House for further consideration. To read the bills and find updates regarding their status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Votes to Reduce Recidivism, Increase Successful Reintegration

Legislation would provide former inmates with resources to reintegrate back into society

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate passed SB21-146 with broad bipartisan support – a bill sponsored by Senator Pete Lee that will help former inmates reintegrate back into normal life by providing them with the resources necessary to find education and employment opportunities after serving their sentence. 

“Our prison system is failing. Rather than focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration, our addiction to punitive incarceration has led to high rates of recidivism, ” said Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “This vicious cycle is counterproductive, harmful and costly. But by providing former inmates with the resources they need to attain their education and gain employment, we can make a real difference in Colorado – giving people a chance to succeed.” 

SB21-146 requires the Colorado Department of Corrections to develop a recommended parole plan for every inmate prior to release from prison, as well as procedures for special needs parole – a more carefully crafted parole plan with additional support and resources for inmates with severe physical, mental, or behavioral health issues. 

This legislation will not only decrease the likelihood of recidivism but will help continue the work on the long road ahead of untangling mental health support systems and correctional facilities.

SB21-146 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

Senate Approves Gun Safety Bill, Empowering Local Governments & Municipalities

Bill would repeal the state preemption barring local governments from enacting their own gun laws

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate approved landmark gun legislation that will help address the epidemic of gun violence by empowering local governments to enact their own gun laws to enhance public safety and save lives. SB21-256 declares that the regulation of firearms is a matter of state and local concern and repeals the state-level preemption that currently prohibits said jurisdiction.

The legislation, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg and Senator Dominick Moreno, was introduced in response to the Boulder King Soopers tragedy, where courts struck down Boulder’s locally enacted safety measures just ten days before the shooting. The bill allows local governments to implement gun ownership laws that are stricter than state statutes – granting municipalities the right to decide regulations most suitable for their community.

“Colorado is a state with a long history of trusting local governments to do right by their communities' unique needs,” said Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “Repealing the state preemption on local regulation of firearms will allow communities to respond to the particular issues that their communities face, and that their people demand. This is an essential step forward in continuing the tradition of local control over issues that look different from town to town and county to county.”

Gun violence is concerning at the state and local level, and this bill will allow for a local government to enact an ordinance or regulation regarding the sale, purchase, or possession of a firearm, firearm accessory, and ammunition. Local regulations cannot be less restrictive than state law, and there is no obligation to pass any ordinances as a result of this legislation. The bill also gives the authority to public universities and colleges, as well as special districts, to ban concealed carry on their premises.

“Each city and town in Colorado has different needs and should be able to determine how to best keep their community safe,” said Senator Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “We need to ensure that local governments have the ability to implement the gun safety measures that are needed in their jurisdiction. This bill will empower local officials to enact their own laws to reduce violence and enhance public safety.”

Colorado will be able to continue the longstanding tradition of home rule and local authority because each town, county, and community has different needs and should be able to determine what is best for their own community. Accordingly, the bill preserves state authority in areas where statewide uniformity is desirable, including the responsibility for issuing concealed carry permits while allowing local governments to determine where firearms may be carried. Additionally, the bill preserves a uniform state law that allows people to travel freely throughout the state with firearms inside their vehicles.

The bill now heads to the House for further consideration. To read the bill and find updates regarding its status, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-256.

Colorado Comeback Bills Clear Committee Unanimously!

Legislation works to expand mental health support for kids & aid the restaurant industry

DENVER, CO – Today, Senate committees unanimously approved legislation that will improve access to mental health services for Colorado youth as well as provide support for the restaurant industry as Colorado recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bills are part of the legislature’s Colorado Recovery Plan. 

HB21-1258: Mental Health Sessions for Youth, sponsored by Senator Janet Buckner: Our state’s youth mental health crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill creates a program in the Office of Behavioral Health to reimburse providers for up to three mental health sessions with a young person. The office will also create a website to serve as a portal for youth and providers to be able to navigate the program easier. 

“The pandemic has resulted in increased mental health needs for so many Coloradans, but especially for our young people, whose lives and learning have been severely disrupted over the last year,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “In order to provide relief for our kids, we need to expand access to mental health support. This bill will help break the stigma around mental health by making it easier for kids to seek out care in Colorado.” 

HB21-1265: Restaurant Sales Tax Relief, sponsored by Senator Brittany Pettersen: Colorado restaurants and bars have faced some of the toughest challenges of this pandemic, with many closing and others struggling to stay open. This bill continues the successful sales tax assistance effort passed during the 2020 special session. It allows restaurants, bars, caterers, and food service contractors to deduct up to $70,000 in net taxable sales from their monthly state sales tax return and retain the resulting sales tax revenue during the months of June, July, and August 2021.

“Our local businesses have shouldered tremendous burdens over the past year. Now it’s our job to lift them up, help them recover, and ensure their longevity moving forward,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood. “This bill will provide the critical relief to local bars and eateries that have been struggling to survive – granting them some necessary breathing room while they get back on their feet.” 

Both bills now move to Senate Appropriations for further consideration. Track the progress of the legislation by visiting leg.colorado.gov/.

Senate Democrats Go All In On Stimulus This Busy Legislative Week

Stimulus bills to invest in restaurants, youth mental health, wildfire mitigation, creative industries, clean energy, and workforce development, other priority bills tackle health benefits, prescription drug monitoring, behavioral health, and immigration resources

DENVER, CO - This week, Senate Democrats double down on Colorado’s recovery as the legislative calendar enters its final weeks.

Five of the bills being heard are a part of Colorado’s recovery package:

HB21-1265: Restaurant Sales Tax Relief, sponsored by Senators Pettersen & Woodward.

• Colorado restaurants and bars have faced some of the toughest challenges of this pandemic, with many closing and others struggling to stay open. This bill continues the successful sales tax assistance effort passed during the 2020 special session. It allows restaurants, bars, caterers, and food service contractors (such as airline food service contractors and food concession contractors at sporting events) to deduct up to $70,000 in net taxable sales from their monthly state sales tax return and retain the resulting sales tax revenue during the months of June, July, and August 2021.

This bill is being heard by the Senate Finance Committee today, Monday May 17th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

SB21-258: Wildfire Risk Mitigation, sponsored by Senators Ginal & Rankin.

• The impacts of global warming have been devastating for Colorado. With mass wildfires only continuing to worsen, we have all watched in horror as natural habitats get destroyed, wildlife are displaced, and toxic pollution clouds our state. This bill creates the Wildfire Mitigation Capacity Development Fund in the Department of Natural Resources to support wildfire mitigation workforce development, coordinate cross-boundary wildfire mitigation efforts, facilitate engagement, and connect priority wildfire mitigation projects with available resources. Additionally, the bill creates the Hazard Mitigation Fund to assist local jurisdictions in obtaining the matching funds required for certain federal hazard mitigation grants. Finally, the bill dedicates almost $30 million across various wildfire mitigation and response funds to help the state bolster wildfire prevention, detection, and response

This bill will be heard by the Senate Local Government Committee at 2:00PM on Tuesday May 18th in Senate Committee Room 352.

HB21-1285: Funding To Support Creative Arts Industries, sponsored by Senators Jaquez Lewis & Buckner.

• Venues, artists, and so many other culturally vital organizations have struggled to make it through the last year. This bill provides $10 million to support artists and cultural organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19 throughout the state. This includes funding for the performance-based film incentive, cultural facilities and the CO Creative Industries grant program set up during the 2020 special session.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Local Government Committee at 2:00PM on Tuesday May 18th in Senate Committee Room 352.

HB21-1253: Renewable & Clean Energy Project Grants, sponsored by Senators Winter & Rankin.

• Market forces, consumer choices, and environmental consciousness have moved Colorado’s economy toward a sustainable clean energy future. This bill will invest $5 million into local government grants for shovel-ready, job-creating projects in the renewable energy sector. The grants are intended to be allocated by August 15, 2021, or as soon as possible thereafter. The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) is tasked with distributing the grants and will report to the General Assembly regarding the grants during its 2022 annual "SMART Act" presentation to legislative committees of reference.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee at 2:00PM on Tuesday May 18th in Senate Committee Room 357.

HB21-1270: Appropriation To Department Of Human Services For Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program sponsored by Senators Fields & Kirkmeyer.

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment First initiative has successfully helped Coloradans who receive SNAP benefits obtain new skills to thrive and reenter the workforce. This bill, which was introduced last week on April 9, leverages $3 million in state funds to draw down an additional $3 million in federal funds to provide a total of $6 million for jobs and skills training services to SNAP recipients. The funds may also be used to support work based learning opportunities and expanding 3rd party partnerships to expand the SNAP employment and training program's reach. 

This bill will be heard by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee at 1:30PM on Wednesday May 19th in Senate Committee Room 357.

Other legislative priorities headed to committee this week include:

HB21-1232: Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option, sponsored by Senator Donovan.

• For far too long, Coloradans have struggled to pay for the healthcare that they need. Though it may seem unattainable, easy access to high-quality, affordable care for everyone can be a reality in Colorado, and this legislation will help us get there. The revised version of the bill requires the Commissioner of Insurance to establish a standardized health benefit plan that will be offered by health insurance carriers in the individual and small group markets. In addition, over the next three years, carriers would be required to reduce premiums by 20%. Access to health insurance coverage is proven to have a positive impact on health outcomes and financial security and well-being.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee at 1:30PM today, Monday May 17th in Senate Committee Room 357.

HB21-1012: Expand Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, sponsored by Senators Pettersen & Coram.

• The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program provides a state database to track all controlled substances that are dispensed in Colorado. The database allows prescribers to monitor their patients’ use of controlled substances, with the goal of mitigating the misuse of prescription drugs. However, the program only applies to controlled substances prescribed in Colorado. This bipartisan bill would expand the program to all prescription drugs prescribed in the state, which will increase transparency and accountability, and help facilitate data-driven, evidence-based policies to reduce substance abuse.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Finance Committee at 1:30PM today, Monday May 17th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1150: Create The Colorado Office Of New Americans, sponsored by Senator Gonzales.

• Colorado is home to more than half a million immigrants, including refugees, who make up 10% of the state's population and play a vital role in our state's cultural fabric and shared prosperity. To help organize a structure for state agencies and immigrant communities to partner in order to enhance integration across the state, this bill establishes the creation of the Colorado Office of New Americans. This will provide immigrant communities the means to address any concerns and obstacles they encounter when accessing state services.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Finance Committee at 1:30PM on Wednesday May 19th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1166: Behavioral Health Crisis Response Training, sponsored by Senator Ginal.

• Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health diagnoses have limited access to appropriate treatment, including crisis intervention, stabilization, and prevention. Additionally, individuals who live in rural areas of Colorado are particularly impacted by this limited access to appropriate treatment. To focus more attention to this gap in resources, this bill directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to provide a comprehensive care coordination and treatment training model for people who work with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring behavioral health needs, which will provide more tools to case management agencies, mental health centers, and other programs across the state.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee at 1:30PM on Wednesday May 19th in Senate Committee Room 357.

To listen to committee hearings, visit leg.colorado.gov/watch-listen. The full Senate calendar for the week can be found at http://leg.colorado.gov/session-schedule?type=senate.

Senate Passes Historic Transportation Funding Legislation with Bipartisan Support

Legislation would future-proof Colorado’s transportation system by providing sustainable funding mechanisms, investing historic amounts in electric vehicle infrastructure, and centering equity

DENVER, CO  – Today, the State Senate gave bipartisan approval to a landmark transportation bill that will create a dynamic, 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.

SB21-260, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Fenberg and Senator Winter, was introduced after decades of work and over a year of intense stakeholder work across the state. The bill will save Coloradans money and time spent on roads by reducing congestion, creating new transportation options, and balancing the needs of every Colorado community.

“Whether or not we realize it, we all use our transportation system every single day. Transportation gets our kids to school, delivers groceries and essential goods directly to our homes, and opens up access to every corner of our great state,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder). “This plan makes meaningful progress towards a future that can keep up with Colorado’s rapidly growing population and demand for a sustainable transportation system.”

The proposal will provide $5.268 billion in transportation funding to fix roads and bridges, improve transit options, meet Colorado’s climate goals, and future proof the state’s transportation system. The funding will come from a fair and responsible mix of state, federal, and user revenue that fairly reflects all of the uses of our transportation system.

“After months of community planning and more than 130 stakeholder meetings, we have come together with a solution that will creatively and equitably address Colorado’s biggest transportation challenges,” said Senator Winter (D-Westminster). “I am incredibly proud of the balance that this bill strikes as well as the urgency with which it acts because Coloradans can’t afford to wait one more minute as our roads crumble, traffic grinds to a halt, and toxic emissions pollute the air we breathe. This bill represents the future of transportation in our state, and it’s a future we can all be proud of.”

Over the course of the eleven-year plan set forth in the bill, nearly $3.8 billion will be generated through new user revenue, and the bill will leverage nearly $1.5 billion in state general fund revenue and stimulus dollars. This will provide long-overdue funds after years of failed legislative attempts and ballot measures to support our statewide transportation system, as well as create good-paying jobs that will continue to exist for decades to come.

In addition to bipartisan legislative support, the proposal has garnered endorsements from local leaders and organizations across the state, including: Governor Polis, Mayor Hancock of Denver, Mayor Arnt of Fort Collins, Chair of the Metro Mayors Caucus Mayor Jackie Millet, Mayor Suthers of Colorado Springs, Mayor Weaver of Boulder, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber John Tayer, A Way Forward chair and president and CEO of Colorado Concern Mike Kopp, Adams County Commissioner Eva Henry, SMART Union, Action 22, SWEEP, Lyft, Pipefitters Local 208, Colorado Competitive Council, Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Mike Ferrufino, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President Kelly Brough, Grand Junction Economic Partnership Executive Director Robin Brown, Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Executive Vice President Dave Davia, Former Colorado Speaker of the House Dickey Lee Hullinhorst, Routt County Commissioner Beth Melton, Chaffee County Commissioner Keith Baker, Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue, Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy, Grand County Commissioner Rich Cimino, La Plata County Commissioner Clyde Church, Eagle County Commissioner Matt Scherr, Larimer County Commissioner Kristin Stephens, Adams County Commissioner Emma Pinter, and Clear Creek County Commissioner Randall Wheelock.

The bill will now head to the House for consideration. To read the bill and find updates regarding its status, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-260.

Senate Passes Public School Finance Act Unanimously!

Bill restores cuts to vital programs; provides additional support for low-income students, English-language learners

DENVER, CO – The Colorado Senate today unanimously passed SB21-268, a bill that would reverse major cuts to education funding made last year due to the COVID-19 public health crisis and restore critical funding to a variety of educational programs. The bill, sponsored by Senator Rachel Zenzinger, also includes an additional $77 million to help Colorado students most affected by the pandemic. 

“Our students have experienced one of the most difficult periods of their lives over the last year as their school work has been disrupted and they have had to transition to remote forms of learning,” said Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada), who also chairs the Senate Education Committee. “As we rebuild in a way that makes our school system stronger, we need to focus on lifting up our students, especially those most vulnerable. This year’s School Finance Act restores cuts made last year due to the pandemic, and it distributes additional money to provide students with the best educational experience in this environment.” 

The Legislature has already passed a $34.1 billion state budget with $7.8 billion in spending on K-12 education, which represents an 8.7% increase over the 2020-21 school year. The School Finance Act is a separate piece of legislation that explains how the money for education in the state budget will be distributed to schools, among many other provisions. 

The school finance formula starts with a base of $7,225 per student for next year, which represents a 2% increase. The average per-pupil spending for the 2021-22 budget, however, will be closer to $8,857, which is a 9.7% increase, due to the additional increase of funding included for at-risk students. 

Applying funding to reduce the budget stabilization factor is currently the most equitable way to help steer resources toward students in every classroom. Last year, lawmakers increased the budget stabilization factor by $601.1 million from $572.4 million, taking us up to a record $1.7 billion. Senate Bill 21-268 will restore the budget stabilization factor to pre-pandemic levels. 

In addition, the bill restores funding to a variety of grant programs that were cut last year due to the pandemic, such as money for dropout prevention programs and others that help increase enrollment in advanced coursework. The bill also increases funding for the Charter School Equalization Fund, the Local Accountability System Grant program, and the Counselor Corps Grant Program. 

SB21-268 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

Bill Aimed at Curbing the Criminalization of Poverty & Over-Policing Introduced!

SB21-273 works to dismantle long-entrenched policing and jailing practices that lead to racial discrimination, unjust detainment, & the destabilization of vulnerable communities

DENVER, CO - Today, Senators Pete Lee and Dominick Moreno introduced their bill to promote liberty and equal justice under the law by enacting pretrial reform. SB21-273 works to curb detainment for low-level offenses – addressing perpetual cycles of abuse and mistreatment of vulnerable populations.   

“Justice and freedom are the cornerstones of American values. But since our founding, these values have been applied inequitably. For people of color, the poor, and socially marginalized justice is a rarity rather than a right,” said Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs). “One of the biggest culprits of this toxicity is reflected in jailing and arrest practices, where people’s freedom and even lives are taken away with a devastating level of frequency. It’s time to completely rethink how police interact with our communities and recalibrate the role money has in our justice system. Because access to funds shouldn’t determine a person’s right to freedom and non-violent, low-level offenses shouldn’t elicit an arrest.”

“Ability to pay should never determine a person’s freedom, however, we continually criminalize poverty when it comes to our justice system. The majority of people in our pre-trial detention system have not even been convicted of a crime, yet they sit in our jail cells simply because they cannot afford bail,” said Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “We cannot allow this unfair, discriminatory system to endure. This bill is a harm-reducing, common-sense policy that will make an enormous difference in holding people accountable, keeping communities safe, and promoting liberty and equal justice for all.” 

Colorado’s jail population has grown 800% in the last 50 years, largely comprising of low-level, non-violent detainees who simply can’t afford cash bonds. Black people have been disproportionately affected by this trend – being 8X more likely to be arrested than white people for lower-level offenses and 4X more likely to be killed in police custody. This has perpetuated cycles of instability among vulnerable communities and deteriorated society’s relationship with law enforcement. 

SB21-273 prohibits a court from issuing a monetary bond for a misdemeanor offense; municipal offense; class 4, 5, or 6 felonies; or a drug felony unless the court finds the defendant will flee prosecution or threaten the safety of another. The bill also requires peace officers to prioritize the issuance of a summons for low-level, non-violent misdemeanors. Finally, SB21-273 establishes a Community Response Working Group to study and recommend safe, effective alternatives to law enforcement responses including incorporating mental health professionals and social workers.   

The bill was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. To read the bill and find updates regarding its status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Another Day, Another Leap Forward for Colorado Comeback Legislation

Bills targeting relief for agricultural efficiency programs, drought resiliency, and community revitalization all advance through committees

DENVER, CO - Today, two senate committees advanced several stimulus bills that are a part of Colorado’s recovery package, all with strong bipartisan support.

SB21-252, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg and Minority Leader Chris Holbert, creates the Community Revitalization Grant Program to issue grants intended to support creative projects in commercial centers that would combine revitalized or newly constructed commercial spaces with public or community spaces. Projects could include flexible live-work or vendor spaces for entrepreneurs, performance spaces, child care centers, meeting spaces for community events, and other projects that renovate vacant property for creative industries, economic development, or historic preservation purposes. The bill passed out of the Senate Local Government Committee with unanimous support.

“The Community Revitalization Grant Program will help breathe life back into Colorado’s main streets that have been hit hard by the pandemic,” said Majority Leader Fenberg (D-Boulder). “Creative centers and community spaces are anchors of culture and identity in our rural communities and are the very places that make our small towns so unique. This is an incredible opportunity to invest in the diversity and longevity of Colorado’s cities and towns.”

SB21-234, sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis & Jerry Sonnenberg, allocates $3 million to the Department of Agriculture to increase the state’s ability to anticipate, mitigate, or respond to droughts. In 2020, each of the 64 Colorado counties were experiencing a drought. Major drivers were an absent monsoon season, increased soil moisture deficits, record-high temperatures, and extreme evaporative demands from winds and low humidity. This drought exacerbated many of the financial impacts on the agriculture sector, and as climate change worsens, drought could cost Colorado an additional $511 million dollars in expected annual damages to agriculture. This bill will help the state plan for and mitigate future droughts and climate disturbances. This bill passed out of the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support.

"Climate change has caused the worst drought for farmers in their planting season in 20 years,” said Senator Jaquez Lewis (D-Lafayette). “This legislation will provide funding for drought mitigation and wildfire prevention techniques. As a San Luis rancher's granddaughter, I am proud to support our agricultural families across the state"

SB21-235, also sponsored by Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, allocates another $5 million to the Department of Agriculture, with at least $3 million going to the ACRE3 energy efficiency program and at least $1 million going to conservation districts to implement voluntary soil health programs. Over the next decade, Colorado’s agricultural sector must comprehensively reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also increasing energy efficiency and cutting costs. ACRE3 is Colorado’s premier state-level program for agricultural energy management and provides financial aid, technical assistance, and education to help the agriculture industry cut energy costs and develop their own energy resources. To further increase the sustainability of the ag industry, producers can invest in healthy soil management, nutrient cycling, and erosion prevention strategies which will increase yields and resilience to extreme weather events. This bill also passed out of the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support.

"Agricultural businesses and working families depend on keeping costs low,” said Senator Jaquez Lewis (D-Lafayette). “This legislation funds energy-efficient techniques like improving soil health and Agrivoltaics, which combines solar energy creation over croplands. Farmers and Ranchers will have another way to improve their crop production. 

All three bills now head to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. To read the bills and find updates regarding their status, visit leg.colorado.gov.