Governor Polis Signs Several Legislative Priorities into Law

Colorado now has stronger gun safety and anti-discrimination laws thanks to Senate Democrats

DENVER, CO - This afternoon, Governor Polis and Senate Democrats hosted bill signing ceremonies for priority legislation, including policies to combat the public health crisis of gun violence, as well as LGBTQ discrimination. 

SB21-078: Lost or Stolen Firearms, sponsored by Senators Jaquez Lewis & Danielson and Representatives Sullivan & Herod.

• Between 2015-2019, the FBI estimates that more than 30,000 guns – worth $13.5+ million – were stolen in Colorado. Lost and stolen guns are responsible for increasing numbers of crimes, both within and outside of Colorado, and the lack of a reporting regulation opens up a loophole for those who have been prohibited from owning a gun to obtain one. SB21-078 will rectify this situation by enacting a reporting requirement for gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement, who is then tasked with notifying the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the National Crime Information Database.  

“When someone’s car is stolen, they report it to the authorities immediately – so why wouldn’t we do the same with firearms?” said Senator Jessie Danielson (D-Wheat Ridge). “This common-sense legislation will help reduce gun trafficking and the violent crimes in which they are used.”

“Responsible gun ownership starts with knowing where your guns are,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D-Boulder County). “This bill will require that lost or stolen firearms are reported quickly and efficiently to law enforcement, so they can track down and prevent illegally obtained guns from being trafficked and causing subsequent harm.”

HB21-1106: Safe Storage of Firearms, sponsored by Senators Bridges & Hansen and Representatives Duran & Mullica.

• Every year, thousands of gun deaths nationwide and hundreds of gun deaths in Colorado occur because of improperly and unsafely stored firearms. Additionally, people who live in homes with guns stored in an unsafe manner are more likely to commit suicide. This bill will reduce gun deaths by requiring that firearms be securely stored when not in use, and requiring licensed gun dealers to provide a storage device with the purchase of firearms.

“This bill is about keeping children safe and saving lives,” said Senator Chris Hansen (D-Denver). “Comprehensive child access prevention laws, like this one, have been associated with reducing unintentional firearm fatalities by nearly 60%. This bill will ensure that weapons are stored properly in Colorado homes so that we can prevent needless tragedies from occurring in the future.”

“Responsibility is a core Colorado value. That’s all this bill says, be responsible,” said Senator Jeff Bridges (D-Arapahoe County). "Colorado has one of the highest teen suicide rates in the country, and nearly half of those deaths involve a firearm. It’s not every day you get to pass a bill you know for sure will save lives. This bill means fewer families losing kids to gun-related accidents and suicide, thanks to the use of eight dollar trigger or cable lock any family can afford. It’s a simple, effective, and evidence-based solution to keep our kids safe.”

SB21-026: Restoration of Honor Act, sponsored by Senator Moreno and Representative Ortiz.

• Anyone who serves this country should be able to return home and be provided with all the resources we can muster to improve and enhance their lives after service. However, due to a legal flaw, LGBT+ veterans may not have been discharged honorably from the US Military due their sexual orientation or gender identity, and thus have not had access to the same benefits as their peers. This is unacceptable. This bill establishes the status of “discharged LGBT veteran” for the purposes of Colorado law, which will ensure that no veteran is denied benefits unjustly.

“Serving our nation in the armed forces is one of the most selfless and honorable acts someone can undertake,” said Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “I’m proud that this law will ensure LGBT+ Colorado veterans will not be discriminated against and can receive all of the state benefits they are entitled to.” 

In addition to these three bills, HB21-1072: Equal Access Services For Out-of-home Placements, sponsored by Senators Fields & Jaquez Lewis, and HB21-1076: Carpooling Service Internet Application Register Colorado Department Of Transportation, sponsored by Senators Donovan & Hisey, were signed at the 2:30 PM signing ceremony.

To rewatch the bill signings, visit the Governor Polis' Facebook page. 

As Earth Day Nears and the Calendar Grows, Senate Democrats' Legislative Priorities Blossom

Bills on tenancy protections, student loans, media literacy, ballot access, gender expression, as well as stimulus bills on agricultural efficiency and childcare capacity head to committees this week

DENVER, CO - As the legislative workload increases, Senate Democrats hope their legislative priorities this week will plant seeds to cultivate a brighter future. 

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

SB21-235: Stimulus Funding Department Of Agriculture Efficiency Programs, sponsored by Senator Jaquez Lewis.

• 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 agriculture producers and processors 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 allocates $3 million to ACRE3 to support energy efficiency programs and $2 million to the conservation services division to implement voluntary soil health programs.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee upon adjournment of morning floor work on Wednesday, April 21st in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

SB21-236: Increase Capacity Early Childhood Care & Education, sponsored by Senators Story & Sonnenberg.

• Early childhood care and education are not only important for a child’s preparation for K-12 school, they are also crucial for helping formulate critical thinking skills, cognitive abilities, social skills, and the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. Accordingly, early childhood caretakers and educators are some of the most valuable and impressionable figures in children’s lives. Over the last year, the pandemic has disrupted both educators’ ability to teach and children’s ability to learn – making the re-ignition of early childhood care and education an integral component of our recovery. This bill establishes three new grant programs to increase capacity and works to improve recruitment, retention, and compensation for educators. Additionally, the bill allocates $8.8 million in state funds and $4.2 million in federal funds to help get these programs up and running.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 1:30 PM on Thursday, April 22nd in Senate Committee Room 357.

SB21-203: Funding For Colorado Proud, sponsored by Senators Bridges & Simpson.

• Colorado’s robust agricultural sector has been the backbone of our economy for decades, and the pandemic has burdened the industry with unique challenges that will require additional resources to overcome. To accelerate the economic recovery of our agricultural and rural communities, this bill gives $2.5 million to the Department of Agriculture for use in the Colorado Proud program, which provides new opportunities for Colorado's food and agricultural producers to increase sales globally and helps support the growth and resiliency of Colorado food systems.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee at 1:30 PM on Thursday, April 22nd in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

Other legislative priorities headed to committee this week include:

HB21-1011: Multilingual Ballot Access For Voters, sponsored by Senators Gonzales & Moreno.

• There are over 80,000 eligible voters in Colorado who do not speak English and are effectively denied access to the ballot because they live in counties where election materials are only provided in English. This bill acknowledges the need for improvement and expansion in supporting Colorado citizens who do not speak or read English by requiring the Secretary of State and county clerks and recorders of certain counties to provide multilingual ballot access. Additionally, the bill tasks the Secretary of State with creating a multilingual ballot hotline that provides translators and interpreters, intended to apply to all general elections beginning for the November 2022 election and for every state-wide odd-year election.

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 20th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1121: Residential Tenancy Procedures, sponsored by Senator Gonzales.

• Almost 25% of Colorado renters have slight or no confidence they can make rent without aid. Even before the pandemic, renters typically faced lease-breaking fees, high late fees, and were considerably disadvantaged in eviction court. This bill seeks to transfer power from landlords back to renters. Specifically, the bill 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.

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 20th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1108: Gender Identity Expression Anti-discrimination, sponsored by Senator Moreno.

• The language we use matters. Current Colorado law already protects individuals from discrimination based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and religion. This bill simply modernizes that law to ensure protections are extended to an individual’s gender expression and gender identity. By making this change, this bill recognizes that an individual's gender identity and gender expression are different than their sexual orientation.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee upon adjournment of morning floor work on Wednesday, April 21st in Senate Committee Room 352.

SB21-057: Private Lenders Of Student Loans Acts And Practices, sponsored by Senators Winter & Gonzales.

• Statewide, Colorado borrowers currently owe $9.1 billion in private student loan debt and that number is growing as the private student loan market climbs. High rates of debt accumulation, especially as the cost of college has risen, widens an already large intergenerational debt and wealth gap between families of color and white families. Black and Latinx borrowers and low-income borrowers use private student loans less, compared to white and higher-income borrowers, but frequently face higher levels of challenges in repayment. This bill seeks to provide protections---similar to the protections granted for federal loans---to students who take out private loans to be used for postsecondary education.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Finance Committee at 1:30PM on Wednesday, April 21st in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1103: Media Literacy Implementation, sponsored by Senators Pettersen & Coram.

• With the accelerated growth of social media and its integration into the media diet of Coloradans, dissemination of misinformation has become all too common. To help reduce the spread of falsities, we must equip young Coloradans with the critical thinking skills necessary to analyze the information, claims, and sources presented to them through the media in an effort to empower them to make more informed decisions and strengthen our democracy. This bill requires the Department of Education to create and maintain a bank of media literacy resources and for the State Board of Education to bring a renewed focus on media literacy by integrating it into K-12 curriculums.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 1:30PM on Thursday, April 22nd 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

Colorado Comeback Bill to Improve Air Quality in Schools Clears Committee!

Bill allocates $10 million to fund public school air quality improvement projects

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Education Committee unanimously approved bipartisan legislation that would support air quality improvement projects in Colorado schools. 

SB21-202, sponsored by Senator Dominick Moreno, is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus, a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger.

“As we work to recover from the pandemic and build back stronger, we need to ensure that our students can learn in classrooms that are safe and healthy,” said Senator Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “We know from research that when students are uncomfortable in their environment, it impacts their ability to learn and perform well. This bill will support air quality improvement projects throughout the state to create healthier classrooms for students, improving their health and well-being while enhancing their school performance."

Kids learn better in environments that are safe, clean, and healthy. Over the years, however, the need for maintenance, repairs and upgrades to Colorado’s school facilities has grown – particularly in rural areas. 

This bill allocates $10 million for Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Act grants to fund much-needed school projects to improve air quality in as many school facilities as possible.

SB21-202 now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here. 

Bill to Address Maternal Mortality Crisis, Enhance Health Equity Clears Committee!

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved legislation sponsored by Senator Janet Buckner that seeks to address the maternal mortality crisis and enhance health equity among marginalized communities. 

“Everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care. But, ongoing health disparities amplified by racial inequities keep that from being a reality for too many mothers in Colorado,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “Maternal mortality is on the rise, particularly for communities of color. This bill will help address underlying issues associated with this crisis, improve maternal health outcomes for those most marginalized, and combat the racial injustices that have allowed these inequities to persist.”

Despite vast improvements in healthcare over the last few decades, the United States still ranks 56th worldwide in maternal mortality. To help begin addressing the root causes of maternal mortality in Colorado, SB21-194 would require insurance carriers offering a health benefit plan in Colorado as well as the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to reimburse healthcare providers that provide healthcare services related to labor and delivery.

The legislation aims to promote high-quality, cost-effective care, prevent risk in subsequent pregnancy, and does not discriminate based on the type of provider or facility. Additionally, the bill seeks to provide 12 months of postpartum medical benefits to people who received these benefits during their pregnancies.

SB21-194 now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

Colorado Comeback Legislation Clears Another Hurdle

Bill to support displaced workers by increasing investments in reskilling and credential attainment passes committee unanimously

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bipartisan bill to invest in displaced workers and get Coloradans back on the job. SB21-232, sponsored by Senator Rachel Zenzinger, is a part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus, a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger.

“The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Displaced Worker Grant Program provides critical wrap-around support services and scholarships for Colorado students who lost their jobs as a result of this devastating pandemic,” said Senator Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Rather than dropping out, these grants will allow students the opportunity to complete their educational goals, upskill and reskill, so that they may reenter the workforce in positions that align with high-impact programs and Colorado’s Top Jobs program. It’s a win-win for everybody!”

In Spring of 2020, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) quickly responded to the needs of the coronavirus pandemic by expanding its scholarship and support program to create a Displaced Workers grant as part of existing Community Partner Program investments. The program focuses on workers displaced by the pandemic and supporting Coloradans with some college but no degree.

COSI has already committed $900k over the next two years in collaborative grants to institutions of higher education, community partners, and workforce centers. The Displaced Workers program focuses on certification and degree programs that align with Colorado Top Jobs, from the Talent Pipeline Report, so that individuals can complete their credential within the next two years. 

The $15 million in funding, earmarked in the Colorado Recovery Plan, specifically would provide critical wrap-around support services and scholarships to support 3,300 completions. This uses COSI’s proven model that boasts up to 94% retention rates when scholarships and supports are offered together. The program also invests up to $1.35 million to scale high-impact programs at community and technical colleges.

SB21-232 will now head to Senate Appropriations before being heard by the Committee of the Whole. To find updates regarding the bills’ passage, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-232.

Slate of Stimulus Bills Advance in the Senate!

Stimulus bills to support rural economic development, invest in clean energy & lift up low-income Coloradans move forward

DENVER, CO -- Today, Senate committees approved a package of priority stimulus bills that will help Colorado become more resilient as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and build back stronger. 

These bills, which are part of the Colorado Recovery Plan, include the following: 

SB21-204: Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant Program Funding, sponsored by Senators Donovan & Rankin.

• In an effort to help rural communities diversify their local economies, this bill transfers $5 million to the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Grant Program to be used for projects that support resiliency in rural communities. 

“Last year we strengthened the REDI program by writing it into law. This year, I’m proud to sponsor a bill that will make sure we are supporting investments and job creation in Colorado’s rural communities as they work to recover quickly from this challenging time,” said Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. 

Having passed the Senate Local Government Committee, the bill now moves to Senate Appropriations for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here. 

SB21-230: Transfer To Colorado Energy Office Energy Fund, sponsored by Senators Hansen & Winter.

• This bill allocates $40 million to the Colorado Energy Office for several clean energy finance initiatives. The majority of these funds will be directed to the Colorado Clean Energy Fund and the remaining funds will be spent between programs that support clean energy retrofits, energy-efficient new construction, clean energy lending and funding for the installation of EV charging stations at facilities across the state.

“If we truly want to meet our clean energy goals as a state and protect our environment, we need funding to help us get there,” said Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “This bill includes substantial resources that will accelerate Colorado’s clean energy transition, create thousands of jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help us build a more sustainable future for our kids and grandkids.”

“In Colorado, we take the threat of global warming very seriously and are determined to create a cleaner and greener state for everyone,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “Building back stronger means creating  a resilient environment that supports the health and well-being of all Coloradans, and this vital funding will help us do that.”

Having passed the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee, the bill now moves to Appropriations for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here. 

SB21-231: Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Grants, sponsored by Senators Story & Hisey. 

• This bill will provide $3 million to fund grants in the Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides funding to low-income residents across the state to fund weatherization upgrades in their homes.

“It is our collective duty to do everything we can to assist the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Senator Tammy Story, D-Evergreen. “Every Coloradan deserves to feel safe and comfortable, regardless of their socioeconomic status. This bill will help low-income Coloradans afford necessary weatherization upgrades to their homes, ensuring their well-being and safety, saving them more money, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by making their homes more energy-efficient.” 

Having passed the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee unanimously, the bill now moves to Appropriations for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

JOINT RELEASE: Another Round of Colorado Stimulus Legislation Introduced

DENVER, CO – Today, the General Assembly introduced another round of stimulus bills in the House and Senate. These policies build on previously introduced stimulus legislation and help Colorado’s recovery package continue to take shape.

“Building back stronger means ensuring that every Coloradan is given the support and assistance they need to fully recover,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo. “Too often in the rebuilding process, things fall through the cracks and communities are left behind. But as state leaders we are committed to serving the underserved and centering the marginalized. The bills we are working on this week work to propel Colorado’s recovery in a thoughtful, equitable way – supporting rural areas, bolstering mental health access, and addressing homelessness.” 

“From the day we announced our state stimulus, we've been clear about our goal to help Colorado recover faster and build back stronger,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “The bills introduced this week meet this mark by addressing long-term challenges like creating more affordable places to live and giving workers the tools they need to reenter the workforce more prepared than ever. We’re getting Colorado back on track to thrive.”

The six bills address a number of issues, such as watershed restoration, accelerating small business growth, increasing access to behavioral health services, and assisting people experiencing homelessness. The bills include:

SB21-240: Watershed Restoration Grant Program Stimulus, sponsored by Senators Danielson & Simpson and Representatives Kipp & Catlin

• Last year was the worst wildfire season in Colorado state history. As we work to rebuild and revitalize our economy, we must also focus on restoring and strengthening our watersheds and our natural environment to withstand wildfire impacts in the future. This bill transfers $15 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board to help watersheds recover from the impacts of wildlifes.. Additionally 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.

SB21-239: 2-1-1 Statewide Human Services Referral System, sponsored by Senators Kolker & Zenzinger and Representatives Amabile & Van Beber.

• The pandemic has taken a severe toll on our collective mental health, as our lives have been disrupted, many have faced economic uncertainty, and businesses and schools have closed. This bill transfers $1 million to the Department of Human Services to expand the Colorado 2-1-1 collaborative to include necessary referrals for behavioral health services and other resources in the state for Coloradans, particularly for individuals who are unemployed, regardless of whether they receive benefits.

SB21-241: Small Business Accelerated Growth Program, sponsored by Senator Fields and Representatives Ricks & Daugherty.

• Colorado businesses have been impacted heavily by the pandemic, many of them shutting their doors and severely limiting their long-term growth potential. This bill 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.

SB21-242: Housing Development Grants Hotels Tenancy Support Program, sponsored by Senators Gonzales & Pettersen, and Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez & Woodrow.

• In Colorado, an average of 1 out of every 588 citizens find themselves unhoused. Due to the pandemic and subsequent economic recession, this number will continue to increase unless action is taken. This bill transfers $15 million to the Division of Housing to administer a grant program for local governments and local non-profit partners to rent, purchase, or renovate underutilized hotels and motels to house individuals experiencing homelessness.

HB21-1270: Employment Support and Retention Services for SNAP Recipients, sponsored by Representatives Exum & Caraveo and Senator Fields

• 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. 

HB21-1271: Affordable Housing Incentives for Local Governments, sponsored by Representatives McCluskie & Jodeh and Senator Gonzales

• Local governments are on the forefront of building affordable housing, but often lack the tools and resources to increase the available housing stock. The bill provides $13 million in incentives and technical assistance to local governments to provide for the rapid deployment of affordable housing projects and to also ensure local communities have the tools and resources they need to help them identify and meet their unique housing needs. 

These bills will begin to make their way through the legislative process beginning with committees of reference.

Senate Passes Bill to Protect Children & Prevent Tragic Firearm Deaths

Legislation promotes responsible gun ownership by requiring Coloradans to safely store their guns when children or other ineligible people are present

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senator Chris Hansen and Senator Jeff Bridges that would promote responsible gun ownership in Colorado. HB21-1106 would help reduce gun deaths by requiring that firearms are safely stored and out of children’s reach.  

“Responsibility is a core Colorado value. That’s all this bill says, be responsible,” said Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. "Colorado has one of the highest teen suicide rates in the country, and nearly half of those deaths involve a firearm. It’s not every day you get to pass a bill you know for sure will save lives. This bill means fewer families losing kids to gun-related accidents and suicide, thanks to the use of eight dollar trigger or cable locks any family can afford. It’s a simple, effective, and evidence-based solution to keep our kids safe.”

Every day, eight children are unintentionally shot by a gun – a statistic that is 85% less likely for households that properly lock their firearm and ammunition. Moreover, having access to a gun increases the risk of injury and death three times over, a statistic that is affecting children more and more. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for American children and teens, with one child dying every week in Colorado due to guns. New studies have found that the catalyst for these self-induced fatalities are largely due to firearm access in the home, or at the home of a friend or relative.

“This bill is about keeping children safe and saving lives,” said Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “Far too many children have accidentally harmed themselves due to negligent storage of firearms in the home, and it’s well beyond time for that to change. This bill will ensure that weapons are stored properly in Colorado homes so that we can prevent needless tragedies from occurring in the future.” 

HB21-1106 aims to address these heartbreaking statistics by mandating that guns be properly stored specifically when a juvenile or someone who is ineligible to possess a firearm is present. The bill also requires that licensed gun dealers provide a locking device at the time of sale or transfer. Finally, it creates an educational campaign that will encourage gun owners to adopt responsible practices when storing their firearms.

The legislation now heads to the Governor for final approval. Information and updates regarding the bill can be found at leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1106.

Denver is the New Home to an All-Star Line-Up of Legislative Proposals at the State Capitol This Week

Bills on maternal health care and reducing recidivism, and stimulus bills on rural economic development, clean energy finance, and displaced workers all head to committees this week

DENVER, CO - After knocking the state budget out of the park last week, Senate Democrats hope to hit more home runs with their legislative proposals this week. 

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

SB21-204: Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant Program Funding, sponsored by Senators Donovan & Rankin.

• In an effort to help rural communities diversify their local economies, this bill transfers $5 million to the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Grant Program to be used for projects that create diversity and resiliency in the local economies of rural communities. Over the past several years, REDI grants have funded improvements to historic buildings, investments in business centers, economic action plans, revitalization of infrastructure, and other economic development initiatives in rural communities around the state.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Local Government Committee at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 13th in Senate Committee Room 352.

SB21-230: Transfer To Colorado Energy Office Energy Fund, sponsored by Senators Hansen & Winter.

• As Colorado works to transition our energy sector and meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals, there are many opportunities to invest in clean energy projects and help accelerate this transition. This bill allocates $40 million to the Colorado Energy Office for several clean energy finance initiatives. The majority of these funds will be directed to the Colorado Clean Energy Fund, which acts as Colorado’s “Green Bank” with the purpose of financing clean energy projects and bridging gaps between clean energy projects and private capital providers. The remaining funds will be spent between programs that support clean energy retrofits, energy-efficient new construction, clean energy lending and funding for the installation of EV charging stations at facilities across the state.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 13th in Senate Committee Room 357.

SB21-232: Displaced Workers Grant, sponsored by Senators Zenzinger & Kirkmeyer.

• One of the top priorities of this stimulus package is getting Coloradans back to work, and one of the most efficient ways to do that is by investing in displaced workers. Increasing investments in these workers will provide them with the skills, supports and credentials necessary to secure good jobs. This bill appropriates $15 million for the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative's Displaced Workers Grant, which is estimated to serve at least 3,000 displaced Colorado workers across the state, as well as help institutions of higher education scale high-demand programs.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Education Committee upon adjournment of morning floor work on Wednesday, April 14th in Senate Committee Room 357.

Other legislative priorities headed to committee this week include:

SB21-194: Maternal Health Providers, sponsored by Senator Buckner.

• Despite vast improvements in health care over the last few decades, the United States still ranks 56th worldwide in maternal mortality. To help begin addressing the root issues of maternal mortality in Colorado, this bill requires insurance carriers offering a health benefit plan in Colorado, and the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing to reimburse healthcare providers that provide healthcare services related to labor and delivery in a way that promotes high-quality, cost-effective care, prevents risk in subsequent pregnancies, and does not discriminate based on the type of provider or facility. Additionally, the bill seeks to amend the State Medicaid Plan to provide 12 months of postpartum medical benefits to people who received these benefits during their pregnancies.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, April 14th in Senate Committee Room 357.

SB21-146: Improve Prison Release Outcomes, sponsored by Senator Lee.

• In Colorado, we must do a better job of providing former inmates with the tools necessary to reintegrate back into normal life and find pathways to seek education, employment, and ultimately, success. SB21-146 will help provide those pathways. This bill will require 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 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.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30 PM on Thursday, April 15th in Senate Committee Room 352.

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

Garcia Champions Front Range Rail Initiative, Making Colorado More Connected Than Ever Before

Legislation outlines plans to construct a passenger rail line from the New Mexico to Wyoming border

DENVER, CO - Today, Senate President Leroy Garcia introduced his bipartisan legislation to implement one of the most expansive public transportation plans in Colorado history. SB21-238 would lay the groundwork for an interconnected, high-speed passenger rail system spanning from Trinidad to the Wyoming border – allowing residents all along the Front Range to travel more efficiently and effectively. 

“Front Range Rail has been a top priority of mine since coming to the legislature,” said President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo. “For too long Colorado’s transportation system has been underfunded and overburdened, leading to crumbling roads and horrible traffic congestion. We need a long-term solution that will address our growing population needs while ensuring people can get to where they need to go safely and efficiently. High-speed trains connecting our state from top to bottom will allow for more residential movement and increased economic growth. I am overwhelming proud to finally see this project get off the ground and in turn shape the future of our state for generations to come.” 

This bill is being co-sponsored by a host of legislators from both sides of the aisle including Republican Senators Kevin Priola from Adams County and Cleave Simpson from Alamosa: 

“I am excited to co-sponsor legislation creating the Front Range Passenger Rail District,” said Senator Simpson, R-Alamosa. “The creation of the District moves Colorado one step closer to the realization of a safe, efficient and reliable transportation alternative along the Front Range, from Wyoming to New Mexico. The potential operation of new passenger rail service within the District would be a monumental benefit to Colorado generally and to southern Colorado in particular."

In 2019 polling,  over 85% of respondents supported the creation of a “Front Range Passenger Rail Service” with 92% expressing interest in utilizing the system if it were available and 95% believing it would help address transportation needs and traffic congestion along the Front Range. 

For decades Colorado’s transportation infrastructure has been notably underfunded, an issue that has only intensified with the massive population increase over recent years. Some experts believe that the over-used and subsequent deterioration of Colorado’s roads and bridges have also led to depressed economic growth. 

“The population in Colorado is estimated to grow by 2 million by 2030,” said supporter of the bill and Trinidad Mayor Phil Rico. “The majority of new residents will settle along the front range – severely impacting our roads even further. In order to move people efficiently on a daily basis along the Front Range from Fort Collins to Trinidad, we need another mode of transportation that will reduce emissions, help to meet the Governor’s climate action goals and provide a safe means of transportation. Passenger rail can be a solution to this dilemma that we are facing and allow Colorado to plan for our future transportation needs.” 

The bill proposes creating a Front Range Passenger Rail Board to research, develop, construct, operate, and maintain the rail system and instructs them to work collaboratively with RTD as well as Amtrak to ensure interconnectedness and compatibility with existing services and projects. SB21-238 also outlines different modes of funding including sales and use tax increases for rail districts (subject to voter approval) and federal investment.

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee. Track the progress of the bill here.

FY 2021-22 State Budget PASSES the Senate

The final Long Bill reflects community priorities by massively investing in public schools, health services, and infrastructure projects

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate passed this year’s ‘Long Bill’ as well as a series of companion bills that comprise the totality of Colorado’s state budget. After a tumultuous economic year, the 2021-2022 state budget reflects Colorado’s continued fiscal improvement as well as the legislature’s commitment to build back stronger.  

“Budgets are more than just line items in a spreadsheet, they are principled documents that reflect what we care about as a community,” said Senate President Garcia, D-Pueblo. “The responsibility of crafting such meaningful legislation is something we do not take lightly. This year’s budget is the result of five months of tireless, bipartisan work to revitalize the state after a devastating pandemic. I am grateful for the way in which we have worked across the aisle to invest critical funds into Colorado’s public school, healthcare services, and state infrastructure – putting our state on track to not only recover but build back stronger.”  

“I am incredibly proud to see this session’s budget pass through with such strong bipartisan collaboration and support," said Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “After an incredibly difficult year, we were able to come together and invest in rebuilding our economy all the while ensuring an equitable recovery. We are not out of the woods yet, and there are many challenges we have still to overcome, but I believe that we are well on our way towards a stronger, more resilient Colorado.” 

Overall, Colorado’s $34.6 billion budget includes funding for day-to-day operations of state government, the majority of which is allocated to six departments, known as the ‘Big Six’ – the Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing, the Dept. Education, the Dept. of Higher Education, the Dept. of Human Services, the Dept. of Corrections, and the Judicial Dept – which together receive approximately 80% of total state funding.

Last year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic recession, the state budget was forced to absorb a near $4 billion reduction in financial resources. Fortunately, as the state economy continues to improve, this year’s state budget is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.

During the crafting of this year’s budget, JBC leaders articulated three overarching goals: restore funding to critical programs and services, support our most marginalized and underserved Coloradans, and invest in Colorado’s future to make our state more financially resourceful and resilient.

Highlights of restored funding include:

• $480.3 million to reduce the budget stabilization factor – bolstering school funding levels for the next two years. 

• $473 million for state institutions of higher education. 

• $380 million for future Public Employees’ Retirement Association Direct Distribution payments.

• $124 million for 2021 transportation legislation. 

• $100 million to the State Education Fund. 

Highlights of investments made in the most vulnerable Coloradans include:

• $707.5 million for medical and long-term services and supports provided through Medicaid. 

• $87 million for county administration of SNAP benefits. 

• $48.2 million for hospitals that serve a disproportionate share of low-income patients.

• $6.5 million to the Rural Connectivity project. 

• $5.9 million to address health care disparities. 

• $1.9 million to support Colorado’s implementation of the National School Lunch Program.

• $910,000 for behavioral health services for children in crisis. 

Highlights of investments made to enhance Colorado’s resiliency include:

• $327.1 million for state infrastructure and information technology projects. 

• $201 million to fund the State Emergency Reserve. 

• $50 million to fund 2021 legislative proposals including policies to combat climate change, spur job creation, and reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

• $100 million to the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Fund. 

• $13.2 million for the Wildfire Stimulus Package. 

• $208,273 for the Just Transition Office. 
   

The budget also sets aside $800 million for the legislative stimulus package, which includes appropriations to support agricultural communities, infrastructure, rural economic development, school investment, and job creation.

The Long Bill will now move to the House for consideration. To read the full narrative of the state budget, visit: http://leg.colorado.gov/publications/fy-2021-22-budget-package-and-long-bill-narrative.

Bill to Establish Suicide Prevention Hotline Clears Committee!

Legislation would designate 988 as the official number for crisis response services in Colorado

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Senator Chris Kolker that would provide a lifeline for Coloradans experiencing a mental health crisis.

In October 2020, Congress passed the "National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020," designating 988 as the 3-digit number for the national suicide prevention lifeline created to provide rapid access to mental health support services for individuals in need. SB21-154 would implement 988 as the 3-digit number for crisis response services in Colorado – ensuring a simple, memorable access point for critical care.

“The mental health crisis was prevalent far before the pandemic, but has worsened as suicide rates continue to skyrocket,” said Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial. “We are in incredibly trying times and I can wholeheartedly resonate with the many Coloradans whose mental health has suffered as a result, but thankfully there are things we can do right now to help people and save lives. Creating a memorable, 3-digit crisis response number  is a transformative step that will put mental health on par with other emergency services – getting people the help they need when they need it most.” 

Colorado has the fifth-highest rate of suicide in the nation, making it the second leading cause of death for Coloradans between the ages 15 and 44. This issue is compounded further by the fact that according to federal guidelines, 68% of communities do not have enough mental health providers to properly serve their residents. 

In the midst of the pandemic, calls to crisis centers have only increased, but 10% of them have been related to mental health. SB21-154 would streamline mental health crisis calls to a direct line so that Coloradans in need of immediate assistance can get help from a mental health professional as soon as possible. 

SB21-154 now moves to the Finance Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

Round 2! Colorado Comeback Marches On

DENVER, CO – House and Senate leadership today introduced eight state stimulus bills to support the restaurant and events industries, provide youth mental health screenings, assist child care businesses and boost Colorado agriculture. The bills are part of the legislature’s Colorado Recovery Plan.

“The Colorado Comeback is crafted to reach every corner and every industry in our state,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “From tax relief for restaurants and bars to assistance for our State Fair in Pueblo, help is on the way. This package boosts our event industry, which fills up hotel rooms and restaurant tables across the state, and it will help workers develop the tools they need to thrive. I’m proud of the bipartisan work that’s gone into crafting the Colorado Recovery Plan, and I’m excited to see it move forward.”

“This next round of stimulus bills will speed up Colorado’s recovery and lay the groundwork for a stronger future,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “One of our goals in this round of stimulus is to directly invest in Colorado families by channeling resources towards childcare shortages as well as our youth mental health crisis. Our state’s future success will be in the hands of our children, and it’s critical that we do a better job of meeting their needs and providing them the support they need to thrive.”

HB21-1265: Restaurant Sales Tax Relief, sponsored by Representatives Mullica & Van Winkle and 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 or pay their workers. 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.

HB21-1263: Incentives for Conferences and Events, sponsored by Representatives Roberts & Soper and Senators Rodriguez & Hisey.
Colorado has a robust tourism and conference industry, and with the vaccine becoming more widely available, it’s time to bring people back for weddings, vacations, conferences and so much more. The bill creates a program to provide organizations and businesses rebates of up to 10% of the hard costs of holding an event in the state to incentivize more tourism and business to come to the state. The program also offers rebates of up to 25% of hard costs of complying with COVID-19 associated public health orders for the event.

HB21-1258: Mental Health Sessions for Youth, sponsored by Representatives Michaelson Jenet & Van Winkle and Senators Buckner & Woodward.
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 create a website to serve as a portal for youth and providers to be able to navigate the program.

HB21-1262: Support for Colorado Stock Show, State Fair, and Agriculture Events, sponsored by Representatives Lontine & Lynch and Senators Garcia & Sonnenberg.
The Colorado Stock Show and State Fair are vital economic drivers for the agriculture industry in Colorado. With this stimulus, the state will help bring them back stronger than before. The bill provides $3.5 million to the Colorado Stock Show--a staple to the state’s agricultural economy and Denver’s economy--as well as $3.5 million for the State Fair, and $2 million to agricultural events organizations across the state.

HB21-1264: Workforce Centers and Training Awards, sponsored by Representatives Sullivan & Young and Senators Kolker & Hisey.
Building back stronger means making sure that Colorado’s workers have the tools they need to thrive. This bill invests $25 million to create an initiative within the state Workforce Development Council to reskill, upskill, and “next-skill” workers during periods of substantial unemployment.

HB21-1260: Support for State Water Plan, sponsored by Representatives Garnett & Catlin and Senators Donovan & Simpson.
Ensuring that Colorado can meet its future water needs is critical in maintaining our state as a competitive place to work, play, and live. The bill provides $20 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board to implement the Colorado Water Plan.

SB21-234: Agriculture & Drought Resiliency, sponsored by Senators Jaquez Lewis & Sonnenberg and Representatives Cutter & Holtorf.
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. To help plan for and mitigate future droughts, this bill establishes the Agriculture & Drought Resilience Fund in the Department of Agriculture and allocates $3 million to engage in activities that promote the ability of the state to anticipate, mitigate, or respond to droughts.

SB21-235: Funding for ACRE3, sponsored by Senator Jaquez Lewis and Representatives Bernett & McCormick.
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 agriculture producers and processors 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. To expand and enhance these programs, this bill allocates $3 million to ACRE3 to support energy efficiency programs and $2 million to the conservation services division to implement voluntary soil health programs.

SB21-236: Childcare Business Support, sponsored by Senators Story & Sonnenberg and Representatives Tipper & Van Beber.
Early childhood care and education are not only important for a child’s preparation for K-12 school, they are also crucial for helping formulate critical thinking skills, cognitive abilities, social skills, and the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. Accordingly, early childhood caretakers and educators are some of the most valuable and impressionable figures in children’s lives. Over the last year, the pandemic has disrupted both educators’ ability to teach and children’s ability to learn – making the re-ignition of early childhood care and education an integral component of our recovery. This bill establishes three new grant programs to increase capacity, and works to improve recruitment, retention, and compensation for educators. Additionally, the bill allocates $8.8 million in state funds and $4.2 million in federal funds to help get these programs up and running.

FY 2021-22 State Budget Introduced in the Senate

After receiving final approval from the Joint Budget Committee last week, the Long Bill has begun making its way through the state legislature

DENVER, CO - This morning, the ‘Long Bill’ as well as a series of companion bills that comprise the totality of Colorado’s state budget were introduced in the Senate. After a tumultuous economic year, the 2021-2022 state budget reflects Colorado’s continued fiscal improvement as well as the legislature’s commitment to build back stronger.  

“After months of uncertainty, I am exceedingly proud to introduce a budget that not only restores the heartbreaking cuts we were forced to make last year but uplifts hard-hit Coloradans and boldly invests in our state’s future," said Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “Colorado, like the rest of the world, has been through so much during this pandemic, so it is a relief to finally see the storm breaking.  I’m confident that the funding package we put together this year will ensure Colorado has an equitable recovery and a resilient foundation.”

“Budgets are moral documents – they show what we as a community value and prioritize – and this year, Colorado’s budget underscores not only the adversity we have overcome as a state but the ongoing commitment we have to build back stronger,” said Joint Budget Committee member Senator Chris Hansen (D-Denver). “From education to critical infrastructure, this year’s budget has made massive strides in responding to urgent needs of Colorado as well as promoting a rapid recovery. Overall I am excited about what we have been able to accomplish and look forward to Colorado’s long-awaited comeback.”  

Overall, Colorado’s $34.6 billion budget includes funding for day-to-day operations of state government, the majority of which is allocated to six departments, known as the ‘Big Six’ – the Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing, the Dept. Education, the Dept. of Higher Education, the Dept. of Human Services, the Dept. of Corrections, and the Judicial Dept –  which together receive approximately 80% of total state funding.

Last year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic recession, the state budget was forced to absorb a near $4 billion reduction in financial resources. Fortunately, as the state economy continues to improve, this year’s state budget is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.

Highlights of restored funding include:

• $480.3 million to reduce the budget stabilization factor – bolstering school funding levels for the next two years. The “negative factor” gap in K-12 education funding is the amount by which state spending on schools falls short of the Amendment 23 formula – a persistent issue for Colorado due to TABOR restraints. 

• $473 million for state institutions of higher education. This will restore cuts made last year for students attending state institutions, stipends for qualified low-income students attending private institutions, and grants that support public institutions of higher education.

• $380 million for future Public Employees’ Retirement Association Direct Distribution payments. This additional funding will ensure valued public servants like public school teachers, state troopers, university professors, and other employees have a pathway toward a comfortable retirement.

• $124 million for 2021 transportation legislation. This allocation will help address Colorado’s growing transportation needs by restoring funds that were unavailable in 2020 due to more pressing fiscal needs arising from the pandemic.  

• $100 million to the State Education Fund. The State Education Fund is the primary funding source for teacher recruitment, full-day kindergarten, early literacy programs, and financing K-12 schools across the state.

Highlights of investments made in support of the most vulnerable Coloradans include:

• $707.5 million for medical and long-term services and supports provided through Medicaid. This additional funding will go toward both critical care services (e.g. physician visits, prescription drugs, hospitalization) and long-term care services (e.g. nursing home care and community-based services).

• $87 million for county administration of SNAP benefits. These funds will support the administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as well as a variety of smaller programs, including child support enforcement services and the Low-income  Energy Assistance Program. 

• $48.2 million for disproportionate share hospitals. This funding will provide additional support for hospitals that serve a disproportionate share of low-income patients.

• $6.5 million to the Governor's Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI) for their Rural Connectivity project. This project will increase rural health providers' access to health information, analytics, and technical support to improve the health and safety of rural communities.

• $5.9 million to address health care disparities. These funds will go towards mitigating racial and ethnic health disparities present in Colorado.

• $1.9 million to support Colorado’s implementation of the National School Lunch Program. The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritious, low-cost or free lunches to students each day.

• $910,000 for behavioral health services for children in crisis. These funds support improved hotline, walk-in, and mobile crisis services for children and youth.

Highlights of investments made to enhance Colorado’s resiliency include:

• $327.1 million for state infrastructure and information technology projects. These projects will create new, good-paying jobs and revitalize communities around the state. Projects include the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, the Community College of Denver's Classroom and Conference Room Technology project, various highway construction projects, and Department of Natural Resources property acquisitions and improvements.

• $201 million to fund the State Emergency Reserve. This newly created reserve fund will act as the State’s ‘rainy day fund’ to help provide a safety net and ensure resiliency for future declared states of emergency.

• $50 million to fund 2021 legislative proposals. Current legislative priorities include transportation & infrastructure funding, policies to combat climate change, workforce development & job creation strategies, reducing the cost of healthcare premiums & prescription drugs, housing support, and initiatives to address teacher shortages.

• $100 million to the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Fund. The BEST fund is the vehicle for competitive grants to schools for the construction of new facilities as well as general maintenance and renovation of existing school systems and structures.

• $13.2 million for the Wildfire Stimulus Package. These funds will serve as the continuation of extended contracts for firefighting aircraft, additional personnel, and state assistance for local capacity.

• $208,273 for the Just Transition Office. These additional funds will enable the Just  Transition Office to work with coal workers and communities across the state that are affected by the transition from coal-based power production.

Additionally, the Long Bill sets aside $800 million for the legislative stimulus package, which includes appropriations to support agricultural communities, infrastructure, rural economic development, school investment, utility aid, and job creation.

The Long Bill will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow morning before being heard by the full Senate on Thursday. To read the full narrative of the state budget, visit: http://leg.colorado.gov/publications/fy-2021-22-budget-package-and-long-bill-narrative.

JOINT RELEASE: Slate of Colorado Stimulus Legislation Introduced

Bills aim to uplift Colorado's economy, support our schools, & create jobs 

DENVER, CO – This afternoon, the General Assembly introduced one of their first rounds of stimulus bills in the House and Senate. These are the first of many policies aimed at Colorado’s recovery, focusing on school investment, rural support, utility aid and job creation. 

“Our goal with this stimulus package is to get funds out the door as quickly and efficiently as possible. Coloradans have been struggling under the weight of this pandemic for more than a year now, so it’s exciting to say that additional relief is finally on the way, ” said Senate President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo). “These bills will accelerate Colorado’s recovery and help our state build back stronger by invigorating local economies and bolstering hard-hit communities. I’m proud of our bipartisan work thus far and look forward to continued collaboration on behalf of Coloradans everywhere.”

“With all adults in Colorado becoming eligible to receive the vaccine starting tomorrow, we’re closer than we’ve ever been to putting the pandemic behind us -- now it’s time to usher in the Colorado Comeback,” said House Speaker Alec Garnett, (D-Denver). “Our stimulus plan will make bold, needed investments in families, small businesses and infrastructure projects to build Colorado back stronger as our economy safely reopens. By investing in shovel-ready renewable energy projects, the bill introduced with Rep. Froelich and Gray will create jobs across the state while preparing our economy for sustainable success.”

The eight bills address a range of issues, including infrastructure, rural economic development, agriculture and workforce development, and nearly all have bipartisan support. The bills include:

SB21-232: COSI Displaced Workers, sponsored by Senators Zenzinger & Kirkmeyer and Representatives Bird & Kipp.

• One of the top priorities of this stimulus package is getting Coloradans back to work, and one of the most efficient ways to do that is by investing in displaced workers. Increasing investments in these workers will provide them with the skills, supports and credentials necessary to secure good jobs. This bill appropriates $15 million for the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative's Displaced Workers Grant, which is estimated to serve at least 3,000 displaced Colorado workers across the state, as well as help institutions of higher education scale high-demand programs.

SB21-229: Rural Jump Start, sponsored by Senators Danielson & Story and Representatives Amabile & McKean.

• As we work to help rural Colorado recover, we are providing additional targeted relief for small communities, communities with particularly low unemployment or income levels, as well as fossil fuel communities in transition. This bill 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.

SB21-230: Clean Energy Finance, sponsored by Senators Hansen & Winter, and Representatives A. Valdez & Bernett.

• As Colorado works to transition our energy sector and meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals, there are many opportunities to invest in clean energy projects and help accelerate this transition. This bill allocates $40 million to the Colorado Energy Office for several clean energy finance initiatives. The majority of these funds will be directed to the Colorado Clean Energy Fund, which acts as Colorado’s “Green Bank” with the purpose of financing clean energy projects and bridging gaps between clean energy projects and private capital providers. The remaining funds will be spent between programs that support clean energy retrofits, energy-efficient new construction, clean energy lending and funding for the installation of EV charging stations at facilities across the state.

SB21-204: REDI Grants, sponsored by Senators Donovan & Rankin, and Representatives Young & Van Beber.

• In an effort to help rural communities diversify their local economies, this bill transfers $5 million to the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Grant Program to be used for projects that create diversity and resiliency in the local economies of rural communities. Over the past several years, REDI grants have funded improvements to historic buildings, investments in business centers, economic action plans, revitalization of infrastructure, and other economic development initiatives in rural communities around the state.

SB21-231: Weatherization & Resiliency Grants, sponsored by Senators Story & Hisey, and Representatives Hooton & Weissman.

• On average, low-income households pay over four times as much of their household income on energy costs and are sometimes forced to cut back on healthcare, childcare, groceries, and other expenses just to keep the bills paid. Weatherization can significantly alleviate these costs, as well as improve the lives and well-being of residents. This bill will provide $3 million to fund grants in the Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides funding to low-income residents across the state to fund weatherization upgrades in their homes.

SB21-202: BEST, sponsored by Senators Moreno & Lundeen, and Representatives Sirota & Larson.

• Kids learn better in environments that are safe, clean, and healthy. Unfortunately, over the years, Colorado’s deferred maintenance of school facilities has grown, particularly in rural areas. This bill allocates $10 million for Building Excellent Schools Today Act grants to fund much-needed public school air quality improvement projects to improve air quality in as many public and charter school facilities as possible.

SB21-203: Funding For Colorado Proud, sponsored by Senators Bridges & Simpson, and Representatives D. Valdez & Pelton.

• Colorado’s robust agricultural sector has been the backbone of our economy for decades, and the pandemic has burdened the industry with unique challenges that will require additional resources to overcome. To accelerate the economic recovery of our agricultural and rural communities, this bill gives $2.5 million to the Department of Agriculture for use in the Colorado Proud program, which provides new opportunities for Colorado's food and agricultural producers to increase sales globally and helps support the growth and resiliency of Colorado food systems.

HB21-1253: Renewable & Clean Energy Project Grants, sponsored by Representatives Froelich & Gray and Senator Winter

• 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. 

These bills will begin to make their way through the legislative process beginning with committees of reference before heading to Appropriations. The next round of stimulus bills will likely be introduced sometime early next week.

Bill to Address Health Disparities, Enhance Equity Advances with Bipartisan Support!

Legislation would establish program to impact social determinants of health among marginalized communities

Denver, CO – Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved legislation sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields that seeks to address health disparities and enhance equity in underrepresented communities across Colorado. 

“Marginalized communities are disproportionately impacted by health issues. From lack of access to care to overexposure to toxins, low-income families and people of color face tremendous burdens when it comes to their health, ” said Senator Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora), Senate Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee. “In order to achieve health equity in our communities, we need to take steps to create social and physical environments that promote the health and well-being of all, no matter their socioeconomic status.” 

SB21-181 would establish the Health Disparities and Community Grant Program, which will award money for the purposes of positively affecting social determinants of health to reduce the risk of future disease and health conditions in underrepresented populations.

The bill would also require the Office of Health Equity to work with state agencies on a plan to address social determinants of health in each agency's respective area. The Office would then author a report every 2 years, outlining their finding and strategies for improvement. 

Having passed the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, the bill now moves to the Appropriations Committee for consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

Bill to Support Colorado’s Educator Workforce Clears Committee!

Zenzinger receives bipartisan support for legislation that will work to recruit and retain quality teachers

DENVER, CO - Today, a bill sponsored by Senator Rachel Zenzinger was approved with bipartisan support from the Senate Education Committee. SB21-185 would help reduce the teacher shortage in Colorado by empowering local leaders to recruit subject matter experts into the educator workforce, supporting the development of a workforce that more closely reflects the diversity of Colorado’s students, and expanding pathways into the profession.

“We need to support our students by recruiting and retaining more quality teachers, teachers that will reinvigorate our schools as bright, inspiring leaders for our kids to look up to,” said Senator Zenzinger (D-Arvada). “This bill will work to attract talented educators into the profession by bringing people in from multiple entry points, including young students, new graduates, career changers, veterans, and content experts – ensuring all students have access to great teachers and role models.” 

Colorado has suffered from ongoing teacher shortages for a matter of years – seeing a 17 percent decrease in teacher preparation program enrollment over the last decade. The state also has poor diversity in its teacher workforce, with only 9 percent of teachers being people of color while 46 percent of students identify as being from BIPOC communities. Such shortages have a particularly detrimental effect on rural schools, which face even tougher challenges in recruiting and keeping teachers.

In an effort to address this ongoing challenge, the Keystone Policy Center and the Public Education & Business Coalition worked with leaders to form the Education System Resiliency and Innovation Initiative (ESRII), a broad coalition and research initiative focused on strengthening the teacher workforce, improving educator supports for teacher practice and instructional delivery, and identifying additional systemic shifts that could build off of learning from the current disruption. 

From June 2020 - January 2021, more than 80 stakeholders from across Colorado’s education ecosystem and private sector met to identify opportunities to learn from the challenges presented by COVID and innovations developed by leaders across the state responding to their local communities’ needs. In February of 2021, the group published Rebuilding Stronger which consists16 recommendations for action at the state and local levels.

SB 21-185 draws on several recommendations from this collective work as well as the previous work of the legislature, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), and the state’s broad education ecosystem.

Specifically, the bill will:

• Allow a school district or charter school to employ a person who holds an adjunct instructor authorization to teach in all content areas in order to address recruiting challenges and establish a diverse workforce.

• Create the educator recruitment and retention program (ERR) in CDE to provide support to members of the armed forces, nonmilitary-affiliated educator candidates and local education providers to recruit, select, train, and retain highly qualified educators across the state. Eligible ERR program participants may receive up to $10,000 for the tuition cost of participating in an educator preparation program.

• Create the teacher recruitment education and preparation program (TREP) program with the aim of increasing the number of students entering the teaching profession and creating a more diverse teacher workforce to reflect the ethnic diversity of the state. 

• Require the state board for community colleges and occupational education, the department of higher education, and the deans of the schools of education in Colorado institutions of higher education, to collaborate and design a teaching career pathway for individuals to enter the teaching profession.

The legislation now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Information and updates regarding the bill can be found at leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-185.

Senate Expands Access to Reproductive Healthcare

Bill to repeal restrictions on abortion care for the most vulnerable Coloradans passes upper chamber

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate passed SB21-142, a bill sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen and Kerry Donovan that would allow sexual violence survivors on Medicaid to access all reproductive care options closer to home by removing restrictions on the types of buildings where care is covered as well as physician requirement barriers.

“Under current law, victims of sexual violence are forced to travel long distances in order to receive abortion care,” said Senator Pettersen (D-Lakewood). “But this bill ensures that survivors of rape and incest have access to the health services they need in Colorado, no matter their income level or where they live.”

“If you become pregnant as a result of sexual violence, you should not have to travel across the entire state to just one specific location in Denver to receive medical care. Rural sexual violence survivors are entitled to the same care and access as victims in the metro area,” said Senator Donovan (D-Vail). "This bill ensures that in the most traumatizing of times, women are supported rather than burdened."

Current law only allows public funding to be used to pay for abortion care in certain health care facilities – generally hospitals – and requires that they only be performed by a physician – despite the fact that safe abortion care is offered in several out-patient care facilities across the state, including primary care offices, OBGYN offices, abortion clinics, etc. and are routinely performed by other kinds of certified healthcare providers like nurse practitioners.

These restrictions solely and exclusively impact Medicaid-eligible sexual violence survivors because people with private insurance are not subject to facility or physician-only restrictions when seeking abortion care. As a result, sexual violence survivors on Medicaid have no options for care outside the Denver metro area. By repealing this restriction, this bill would expand this coverage to Medicaid recipients across the state, and allow survivors of sexual violence to seek the care they need closer to home.

The legislation now moves to the House for further consideration. Information and updates regarding the bill can be found at leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-142.

With a Large Roster of Bills in Play, the State Legislature Marches Toward Another Busy Week

Bills on greenhouse gas reductions, building the educator workforce, behavioral health, cultural equity, and reducing recidivism all head to committees this week

DENVER, CO - As the legislative season continues, there are many priority bills that are hoping to score in committee this week. Highlights include:

SB21-185: Supporting Educator Workforce In Colorado, sponsored by Senators Zenzinger & Rankin.

• Colorado is facing a teacher shortage. Additionally, shortages of school psychologists, school physical therapists, school social workers and school speech-language pathologists are all too common across the state. This bill seeks to address the teacher shortage in Colorado, empower local leaders in recruiting subject matter experts into the educator workforce, develop a workforce that more closely reflects the diversity of Colorado’s students, elevate the teaching profession, expand pathways into the profession and raise the profile of all pathways into the education workforce.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Education Committee upon adjournment of morning floor work on Wednesday, March 31st in Senate Committee Room 357.

SB21-137: Behavioral Health Recovery Act, sponsored by Senator Pettersen.

• The pandemic has exacerbated many issues, but particularly behavioral health problems, as both our minds and bodies have been significantly burdened over the last year. Overdose deaths and suicides have skyrocketed because of the lack of access to services and a disconnection to people. This bill seeks to rectify these issues by creating various behavioral health grant programs to assist local governments and rural municipalities address substance abuse, maternal & child health, & other behavioral health prevention and treatment programs around the state.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee at 1:30PM on Wednesday, March 31st in Senate Committee Room 352.

SB21-116: Prohibit American Indian Mascots, sponsored by Senator Danielson.

• Though we have made great strides in equity, diversity, and inclusion, we still have a long way to go. This bill is a common sense proposal that prohibits the use of Native Americans as mascots--because no one’s culture or ancestral history should be a tokenized costume.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Education Committee at 1:30PM on Thursday, April 1st in Senate Committee Room 357.

SB21-146: Improve Prison Release Outcomes, sponsored by Senator Lee.

• In Colorado we must do a better job of providing former inmates with the tools necessary to reintegrate back into normal life and find pathways to seek education, employment, and ultimately, success. SB21-146 will help provide those pathways. This bill will require 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 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.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30PM on Thursday, April 1st in Senate Committee Room 352.

HB21-1106: Safe Storage Of Firearms, sponsored by Senators Bridges & Hansen.

• Every year, thousands of gun deaths nationwide and hundreds of gun deaths in Colorado occur because of improperly and unsafely stored firearms. Additionally, people who live in homes with guns stored in an unsafe manner are more likely to commit suicide. This bill seeks to reduce gun deaths by requiring that firearms be securely stored when not in use, and requiring licensed gun dealers to provide a storage device with the purchase of firearms.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30PM on Thursday, April 1st in Senate Committee Room 352.

In addition to the bills above, SB21:176: Protecting Opportunities And Workers' Rights Act & SB21-181: Equity Strategic Plan Address Health Disparities, which were originally on the calendar last week have been rescheduled for committees this week.

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 Approves Bills to Address COVID-related Learning Loss, Improve Juvenile Justice​

Denver, CO -- Today, the Senate approved two pieces of legislation that would direct the Department of Education to prioritize filling in student learning gaps caused by the pandemic as well as make necessary improvements to Colorado’s juvenile detention system.

SB21-013, sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields, requires CDE to identify and create a resource bank of educational products, strategies, and services that have demonstrated effectiveness in reversing student learning loss. CDE must also provide info about nonprofit entities that school districts, boards, and charter schools can work with to improve student outcomes following the pandemic.

“With the chaos of this past year, public schools have tirelessly navigated the ever-changing needs of students and teachers – redesigning methods of instruction, dealing with ongoing health risks, and providing comprehensive community support,” said Senator Fields (D-Aurora). “But despite their best efforts, our K-12 students are now months and months behind, with low-income kids and students of color struggling even more. This bill will help fill in these gaps and make sure no student is left behind.”

SB21-066, sponsored by Senator Pete Lee will instruct the Division of Criminal Justice to instill a greater focus and emphasis on diversion programs that give troubled youth a pathway to find help, rather than just pushing them into the detention system.

“For many Coloradans, a life in and out of the criminal justice system begins as a child,” said Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs), Judiciary Committee Chair. “Unfortunately in this state, we do not provide our youth with adequate support services they need to improve their lives and avoid the revolving door of jail. This bill would provide juveniles with opportunities for education, reconciliation and -- ultimately -- reformation, so that they can successfully reintegrate back into their community.”