Cutter’s Bipartisan Bill to Cut Red Tape, Support Veterans with Disabilities Passes Senate

SB23-036 streamlines the property tax exemption application process for veterans with disabilities

DENVER, CO – Today, Senator Lisa Cutter’s, D-Jefferson County, bipartisan bill to streamline the property tax exemption application process for veterans with disabilities passed the Senate.

Cosponsored by Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, SB23-036 will cut red tape and make it easier for veterans with disabilities to receive the benefits they’ve earned.

Currently, veterans with disabilities must first submit their application for property tax exemption to the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs (DVA) before applying to their county assessor, who is responsible for approving the application. This bill removes that first step, reducing the burden on veterans and helping them receive their benefits faster.

“We have worked hard to ease the burdens that veterans with disabilities face when returning to life at home, but there is always more we can do,” said Cutter. “Eliminating the first step of the property tax exemption application process will simplify and accelerate those requests, ensuring veterans with disabilities are able to receive the benefits they’ve earned in a timely manner.”

The bill also changes the term “disabled veteran” to “veteran with a disability” to comply with statutory requirements that “people first language” be used, and was developed in collaboration with the DVA.

SB23-036 now heads to the House for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Moreno’s Bill to Add Student Representation During Creation of K-12 Education Standards Clears Senate

SB23-008 was developed in partnership with the Colorado Youth Advisory Council

DENVER, CO – Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno’s, D-Commerce City, bill to uplift student voices during the development of K-12 education standards cleared the Senate today, earning bipartisan support.

SB23-008, developed based on recommendations made by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC), adds student representation to decision-making processes regarding K-12 education standards, regional educator meetings, and local review of education standards.

“When the state's education standards are up for review, Colorado students deserve to have a say in what their education looks like,” Moreno said. "SB8 amplifies the voices of Colorado's students by creating several opportunities for young people to be involved in the existing review processes. I am excited to sponsor SB8 to involve students more in the process, and am proud to see this bill pass the Senate.”

“Students can offer unique, firsthand experience when it comes to deciding what’s being taught in the classroom,” said Siddharth Nareddy, COYAC representative for Senate District 24. “As someone on the receiving end of education standards, there is so much value in having students provide their input and perspective on what gets covered. I’m grateful to Majority Leader Moreno’s ongoing work to support COYAC and our goal of bringing youth voices to the table, and I’m excited to see this bill continue to move forward in the legislative process.”

In 2008, lawmakers established COYAC to give Colorado’s youth a voice in the lawmaking process. Since its creation, COYAC members have worked to develop policy recommendations on issues of youth concern and promote civic engagement amongst Colorado’s youth.

SB23-008 now heads to the House for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Gonzales’ Bipartisan Bill to Expand Post-Conviction DNA Testing Clears Senate, Heads to Governor’s Desk

Developed in partnership with the Korey Wise Innocence Project, legislation would help end wrongful convictions by expanding the use of post-conviction DNA testing

DENVER, CO – Senator Julie Gonzales’, D-Denver, bipartisan bill to expand the eligibility for incarcerated people to access DNA testing after being convicted of a felony today cleared the Senate.

Currently, an incarcerated person can motion the court for post-conviction DNA testing to prove the person's innocence only if DNA testing was not available at the time of the person's prosecution. HB23-1034, cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, expands the population to include those on felony parole, registered sex offenders, those charged with a felony but not convicted by reason of insanity and those who have completed their felony prison sentence.

"Wrongful convictions are a problem in Colorado, just as they are across this country," said Gonzales. "By improving our statute and bringing it in line with other statutes around the country, we can enable petitioners to access post-conviction DNA testing to prove their innocence, identify the actual perpetrators of the offenses, and reclaim their freedom."

The bill was developed in partnership with the Korey Wise Innocence Project, a law clinic at the University of Colorado Law School that provides free investigative and legal services to people serving time in Colorado prisons for crimes they did not commit.

Post-conviction DNA testing in Colorado was established in state statute in 2003 and has not been updated since. In the 20 years following its creation, only three people in Colorado have been exonerated for DNA-related reasons.

HB23-1034 now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Fenberg’s Bipartisan Bill to Save Small Businesses Money Clears Committee

SB23-143 would exempt small businesses from paying retail delivery fees and allow businesses to pay delivery fees on behalf of consumers 

DENVER, CO – Senate President Steve Fenberg’s, D-Boulder, bill to save small businesses money by exempting them from paying retail delivery fees (RDF) cleared the Senate Finance committee today with unanimous support.

Cosponsored by Senator Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, SB23-143 would exempt small businesses making $500,000 or less in retail sales during the prior year from collecting RDFs. The exemption applies retroactively to July 1, 2022, when RDFs were initially implemented.

Established by SB21-260, a RDF is a $.27 fee that a business must collect from a customer for an item that was delivered to the customer.

“Small businesses bring valuable goods and services to our communities, create good jobs across the state, and contribute to Colorado's strong economy,” said Fenberg. “Senate Bill 143 is a win-win for small businesses and consumers alike. It helps Colorado’s small businesses continue to thrive, simplifies the delivery fee collection processes, and eases the fee burden on consumers.”

The bill also allows businesses, regardless of sales revenue, to pay RDFs on behalf of the consumer, creating a more streamlined, cost-efficient model for businesses and consumers.

SB23-143 now heads to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

President Fenberg, Speaker McCluskie Convene Joint Select Committee to Investigate Rising Utility Rates

DENVER, CO - Senate President Steve Fenberg and House Speaker Julie McCluskie announced today that they are forming a Joint Select Committee to investigate the causes of Coloradans’ rising utility rates and explore potential actions to prevent future price hikes, saving Colorado’s working families money on their energy bills.

The Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates will seek expert testimony from utility companies, relevant agency staff, regulators, consumer advocates, and policy experts in order to better understand issues such as the impact of volatility in natural gas markets, the frequency and justification for rate increases sought by utilities, and other relevant factors. 

“The recent spikes in energy prices have sent Coloradans’ utility bills through the roof, and it’s costing too many working Colorado families an arm and a leg just to heat their homes,” Fenberg said. “Democrats are committed to making Colorado a more affordable place to live, which is why we’re convening this critical committee so we can uncover the root cause behind high prices and hopefully find solutions that will better protect consumers, improve stability, and save people money on their energy bills.”

"Shockingly high utility bills have left Coloradans from Denver to Dillon struggling to heat their homes during the coldest time of the year," said Speaker McCluskie, D-Dillon. "We need to get to the bottom of what's sticking hardworking families with unpredictable and far too expensive utility bills. We’re creating a bipartisan committee to dig into utility bill increases and target solutions that make our state more affordable."

The Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates will meet at least three times, and will include lawmakers from both chambers and both sides of the aisle. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Committee may suggest legislative avenues for the General Assembly to consider. 

Hinrichsen’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Employee Leave for Colorado National Guard Service Wins Committee Approval

HB23-1045 clarifies that members of the Colorado National Guard are entitled to the equivalent of three weeks leave for military training or active service

DENVER, CO – Today, Senator Nick Hinrichsen’s, D-Pueblo, bipartisan bill to guarantee the equivalent of three weeks of leave for National Guard service or training passed the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee with unanimous support.

Cosponsored by Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, HB23-1045 modifies existing laws surrounding leave for Colorado National Guard service from 15 days to the equivalent of three weeks to better accommodate individuals who work non-traditional schedules. Affected individuals will be allowed to use paid time off or to receive leave without pay for their obligations.

“Members of the Colorado National Guard make great sacrifices to protect our country and keep us safe, and they deserve to be accommodated for their service to our state,” said Hinrichsen. “I am proud to have worked with members of both parties to create a system of leave that works for all employee schedules so that members of Colorado’s military community are adequately compensated for their service.”

HB23-1045 will now move to consideration on the Senate floor. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Marchman and Jaquez Lewis’ Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Professionals in Schools Passes Senate

SB23-004 would aid the youth mental health crisis by allowing licensed mental health professionals to work in schools

DENVER, CO – Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis’, D-Longmont, bill to increase mental health professionals in schools passed the Senate today.

Under current law, a mental health professional must be licensed by the Department of Education in order to work in a school – a process that has proven time-consuming and complex. SB23-004 would allow school districts to employ mental health professionals who hold a Colorado license but don’t have a license from the Department of Education, streamlining the hiring process and expanding access to mental health resources in schools.

“Schools are an essential part of supporting the health and well-being of our students,” said Marchman. “By allowing qualified school-based therapists to work alongside our mental health special service providers in schools, we can improve access to mental health resources and ensure that students in crisis can get the help they need.”

“The youth mental health crisis was prevalent before the pandemic, and has only grown in recent years,” Jaquez Lewis said. “In order to best help our students, we need to expand access to mental health professionals in schools. This bill will make it easier for kids to seek care in a place they feel comfortable and safe.”

In 2021, Children’s Hospital Colorado declared a youth mental health emergency, and the following year stated that conditions had worsened. Furthermore, in 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a survey showing that 44 percent of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless during the past year. 

SB23-004 now heads to the House of Representatives. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Fenberg’s Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Life-Saving Medications Clears Committee

HB23-1071 would allow psychologists who hold a prescription certificate to prescribe certain mental health medications

DENVER, CO – Senate President Steve Fenberg’s, D-Boulder, bill to grant mental health professionals the ability to safely prescribe life-saving mental health medication cleared the Senate Health and Human Services committee today with unanimous support.

Cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, HB23-1071 would establish rigorous standards and education requirements to give specially trained psychologists prescriptive authority, addressing burdensome wait times and delays. 

“Across the state, we are seeing a prolonged mental health crisis, particularly among our youth,” said Fenberg. “Every day, Coloradans battling mental health struggles face prohibitively long wait times to receive help and a lack of providers who can prescribe them with medication they need, only worsening our crisis. Expanding prescriptive authority to specially trained psychologists will help Coloradans access the life-saving medications that they need on a timeline that makes sense.”

The bill would allow psychologists who have obtained a Ph.D in psychology or Psy.D, completed a master of science program in clinical psychopharmacology, passed the psychopharmacology examination, undergone an independent peer review process, and completed hundreds of hours in diverse clinical settings to prescribe mental health medications, not including narcotic drugs. 

Psychologists seeking prescriptive authority would also be required to complete an additional, individual prescriptive license application. Once licensed, psychologists must maintain an ongoing, collaborative relationship with their patients’ primary care doctor and complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years.

HB23-1071 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Gonzales’ Bipartisan Bill to Expand Post-Conviction DNA Testing Clears Committee

Developed in partnership with the Korey Wise Innocence Project, legislation would help end wrongful convictions by expanding the use of post-conviction DNA testing

DENVER, CO – Today, Senator Julie Gonzales’, D-Denver, bipartisan bill to expand the eligibility for incarcerated people to access DNA testing after being convicted of a felony cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee with unanimous support.

Currently, an incarcerated person can motion the court for post-conviction DNA testing to prove the person's innocence only if DNA testing was not available at the time of the person's prosecution. HB23-1034, cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, expands the population to include those on felony parole, registered sex offenders, those charged with a felony but not convicted by reason of insanity and those who have completed their felony prison sentence.

"Wrongful convictions are a problem in Colorado, just as they are across this country," said Gonzales. "By improving our statute and bringing it in line with other statutes around the country, we can enable petitioners to access post-conviction DNA testing to prove their innocence, identify the actual perpetrators of the offenses, and reclaim their freedom."

The bill was developed in partnership with the Korey Wise Innocence Project, a law clinic at the University of Colorado Law School, Boulder that provides free investigative and legal services to people serving time in Colorado prisons for crimes they did not commit.

Post-conviction DNA testing in Colorado was established in state statute in 2003 and has not been updated since. In the 20 years following its creation, only three people in Colorado have been exonerated for DNA-related reasons.

HB23-1034 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Hinrichsen’s Bill to Protect Coloradans from Predatory Contracts, Bad Actors Earns Committee Approval

SB23-077 responds to an emerging type of predatory real estate contract targeted at vulnerable Coloradans

DENVER, CO – Senator Nick Hinrichsen’s, D-Pueblo, bill to prohibit predatory practices in real estate contracts cleared the Local Government Committee yestersday.

SB23-077 would prohibit certain terms in residential real estate contracts that unknowingly lock in buyers long-term and amount to predatory loans. The bill establishes that these contracts cannot be bound to future owners, and cannot create a lien against the home – a practice that has resulted in Coloradans paying companies thousands of dollars to lift the lien. The bill aims to protect Colorado homeowners and buyers from exploitative real estate practices.

“It’s indefensible that bad actors are operating in Colorado and deceiving vulnerable folks into contracts they don’t understand and can’t get out of,” Hinrichsen said. “I’m proud to champion this bill that protects Coloradans from this scheme and stops predatory companies from doing business in our state.” 

The bill responds to an emerging type of predatory real estate contract that targets seniors and financially vulnerable homeowners. The bad actors deceptively lock homeowners into right-to-sell contracts and mortgage liens as long as 40 years, often without the victims’ knowledge.

The contracts, which are tied to the land, are passed on to the heir of the property in the event that the owner passes away before the home is sold. Victims are trapped, and forced to pay thousands of dollars to exit the contract. Attorneys General in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania recently took legal action against these companies for their predatory business models.

SB23-077 now heads to the Senate floor. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.
 

Marchman and Gonzales’ Bill to Support Adjunct Faculty Clears Senate

SB23-084 would help adjunct professors qualify for federal loan forgiveness

DENVER, CO – The Senate today advanced Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Julie Gonzales’, D-Denver, bill to improve support for adjunct faculty by increasing access to federal student loan debt relief programs.

SB23-084 implements a multiplier on adjunct faculty members’ instruction hours to more accurately reflect their full-time work, allowing them to qualify for the federal Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Adjuncts, who make up 37 percent of Colorado higher education faculty, are currently considered part-time employees because they are only paid for the time they spend inside the classroom. The bill requires that every hour of direct instruction is multiplied by 4.35.

“Even though adjunct faculty members perform largely the same work as their full-time peers – grading, planning lessons, and meeting with students – right now they are only paid for the time they spend inside the classroom,” Marchman said. “Senate Bill 84 makes a simple change to make sure all of the hard work done by adjunct faculty members is accurately accounted for. I’m proud to champion this legislation to ease the burden on adjunct faculty and ensure they can qualify for the benefits they have earned.”

“I am proud to represent the three higher education institutions that make up the Auraria Campus, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard adjunct faculty members work, both inside and outside of the classroom to support their students,” said Gonzales. “By implementing a multiplier on their instruction hours, we’re ensuring adjuncts are able to access well-earned federal student loan forgiveness, just like other hardworking public employees.”

PSLF is a federal program that qualifies full-time public and nonprofit employees for federal loan forgiveness after ten years of making payments. To qualify, public workers need to work at least 30 hours per week for eight months out of the year or be full-time. 

The bill would also require higher education institutions to give employees enrolled in the PSLF program an annual notice of renewal and a copy of the employment certification form required by the Department of Education.

SB23-084 now heads to the House for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Cutter, Jaquez Lewis Join Attorney General Weiser, Consumer Advocates to Announce Legislation to Protect Consumers from Harmful Medical Billing Practices

SB23-093 will cap interest rate on medical debt and provide critical protections for Coloradans

DENVER, CO – Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, today joined Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, Attorney General Phil Weiser, and consumer health advocates to announce their legislation that would provide Coloradans with additional consumer protections from high interest rates for medical debt and confusing debt collection practices that lead to long-lasting debt and financial instability.

Debt incurred from medical costs can be financially devastating for patients. When combined with high interest rates and complicated collections practices, consumers may never be able to pay off their medical debt. According to a 2022 report from the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Coloradans overall held more than $1.3 billion in medical debt and over 12 percent of Coloradans have medical debt in collections. 

“Medical debt is crushing hardworking Colorado families and limiting their ability to live the American Dream,” Cutter said. “Folks dealing with illnesses or injuries should be focused on getting better instead of worrying about how their treatment will affect their credit score. Our new legislation creates critical new consumer protections that will put a cap on interest rates, improve accountability for providers and debt collectors, and prevent thousands of Coloradans from falling into a tangled web of medical debt.” 

“Every day, Coloradans are forced to choose between paying for necessities like food, heat, or rent and life-saving medical care,” said Jaquez Lewis. “Increasing transparency, capping interest rates, and cracking down on deceptive trade practices will be a game changer for patients seeking life-saving health care. I’m so proud to sponsor Senate Bill 93 and fight on behalf of the people of Colorado to bring down health care costs and ease the burden for those facing medically-incurred debt.”

“Consumers are often surprised by the costs of health care services and incur medical debt as a result,” Weiser said. “It’s important we create protections and ensure that health care providers and debt collectors operate fairly and responsibly. The negative impact on consumers is felt for years, creating trauma, and often leading to a painful cycle of debt. We will remain focused on this issue and continue to stand up for and protect consumers.”

SB23-093 establishes new protections for Colorado consumers burdened with medical debt by:

• Capping the medical debt interest rate at three percent to keep debt from spiraling to levels where a patient is unable to pay it off.  

• Pausing collections on medical debt as patients appeal their coverage and prohibiting reporting the debt to a consumer reporting agency until a certain amount of time after an individual fails to fulfill the terms of a payment plan.  

• Requiring medical debt creditors or debt collectors to verify total debt owed upon request by a patient and to provide a copy of a payment plan, thereby helping consumers know just how much to properly budget for debt payments. 

• Requiring a health care provider or health care facility to provide, upon request, an estimate of the total cost of medical services to a person who intends to self-pay for the service, helping these consumers better understand the cost of services. 

• Reinstating the attorney general’s authority to protect consumers from deceptive trade practices related to billing practices and surprise billing.

SB23-093 will be heard in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. You can track the bill’s progress HERE.

Buckner’s Bill to Reduce Family Separation for Incarcerated Parents and their Children Clears Committee

SB23-039 would provide meaningful, in-person family time between an incarcerated parent and their child, signaling Colorado Democrats’ ongoing efforts to make Colorado a better, more equitable place for all

DENVER, CO – Senator Janet Buckner’s, D-Aurora, bill to reduce the separation between incarcerated parents and their children cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday.

SB23-039 would require the Department of Human Services to facilitate communication and family-time between children and their incarcerated parents, and ensure that incarcerated parents can participate in critical court proceedings regarding their parental rights. The bill aims to support safe and meaningful incarcerated parent-child relationships, aid healthy child development, and reduce recidivism and intergenerational incarceration. 

“Families are the building blocks of society, and it’s time we provide opportunities to foster healthy, quality relationships between incarcerated parents and their children,” Buckner said. “This bill will help reduce the trauma of family separation caused by detention and promote strong family relationships for the benefit of children, their parents, and our state.” 

At least seven percent of Colorado children at some time during their childhood have a parent who was or is incarcerated. Parental incarceration disproportionately affects children of color and exacerbates the number of children living in poverty. 

Additionally, research shows that having an incarcerated parent hinders a child’s academic achievement, including a higher risk of dropping out of school. By preserving incarcerated parent-child relationships, the bill intends to better children’s mental health, and enable successful returns to our communities.

SB23-039 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Marchman and Jaquez Lewis’ Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Professionals in Schools Clears Committee

SB23-004 would aid the youth mental health crisis by allowing licensed mental health professionals to work in schools

DENVER, CO – Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis’, D-Longmont, bill to increase mental health professionals in schools cleared the Health and Human Services Committee yesterday.

Under current law, a mental health professional must be licensed by the Department of Education in order to work in a school – a process that has proven time-consuming and complex. SB23-004 would allow school districts to employ mental health professionals who hold a Colorado license but don’t have a license from the Department of Education, streamlining the hiring process and expanding access to mental health resources in schools.

“Schools are an essential part of supporting the health and well-being of our students,” said Marchman. “By allowing qualified school-based therapists to work alongside our mental health special service providers in schools, we can improve access to mental health resources and ensure that students in crisis can get the help they need.”

“The youth mental health crisis was prevalent before the pandemic, and has only grown in recent years,” Jaquez Lewis said. “In order to best help our students, we need to expand access to mental health professionals in schools. This bill will make it easier for kids to seek care in a place they feel comfortable and safe.”

In 2021, Children’s Hospital Colorado declared a youth mental health emergency, and the following year stated that conditions had worsened. Furthermore, in 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a survey showing that 44 percent of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless during the past year. 

SB23-004 now heads to the Senate floor. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Zenzinger’s Bipartisan Bill to Help Former Foster Youth Find Housing Clears Committee

SB23-082 will provide housing vouchers and case management services to individuals who were part of the foster or kinship care system and are at risk of homelessness

DENVER, CO –  Senator Rachel Zenzinger’s, D-Arvada, bipartisan bill to establish the Colorado Fostering Success voucher program passed the Senate Health and Human Services committee today with unanimous support.

Cosponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, SB23-082 will create housing vouchers for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are ages 18 to 26 and have aged out of the foster or kinship care system. Recipients of vouchers will be required to contribute to their cost of housing, but that amount must not exceed 30 percent of the total cost.

"Young adults who have aged out of the foster care system face extraordinary obstacles and often experience higher rates of housing insecurity than their peers," said Zenzinger. "This voucher program will help these Coloradans avoid homelessness and help them be successful, self-reliant adults.”

Additionally, the bill includes case management services for individuals in the Colorado Fostering Success voucher program. It is expected to alleviate housing security concerns for 100 individuals.

SB23-082 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Advances FY 2022-2023 Supplemental Budget Package to Mitigate Wildfires, Bolster Aid for Renters

Package also includes measures to enable local economic development for chip manufacturing, improve behavioral health care for children and provide urgently-needed support to Denver Health

DENVER, CO – The Colorado Senate today voted to advance the FY 2022-2023 Budget Supplemental Package. The suite of bills includes measures to mitigate wildfires in Colorado, bolster emergency aid for renters, improve behavioral health care and nutritional assistance for children, provide urgently-needed support for Denver Health, and spur economic development and local chip manufacturing.

“Colorado communities face challenges both big and small, and we’ve worked hard to address those issues and provide critical support to our state through this supplemental budget package,” said JBC Chair Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Among other priorities these bills will help mitigate and defend against increasingly destructive wildfires, provide urgently-needed support for our health care system, and boost our economy so that Colorado students, families, and communities can continue to thrive.”

“The budget is a moral document, and we work hard at the JBC to craft a bipartisan budget that reflects Colorado’s values,” said JBC member Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “Today, with the passage of this year’s supplemental budget package, we’re making important investments in education, healthcare, and jobs.”

SB23-126 COSWAP Fire Mitigation
Colorado Democrats are committed to reducing the frequency of devastating wildfires and protecting people, homes, and property. This bill will allow for further wildfire mitigation work through the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Plan (COSWAP) and appropriates $10 million to the Wildfire Mitigation Capacity Development Fund to boost our capabilities and mitigate increasingly dangerous wildfires. 

SB23-124 Emergency Rental Assistance Funding
Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. Lingering effects of the pandemic and rising rents have caused eviction filings to climb above pre-pandemic levels. As part of an effort to provide ongoing support to Coloradans facing eviction, this bill provides $8 million to the Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance Program to provide immediate relief.

SB23-115 Healthy Meals for All Public School Students 
No student should be hungry at school. This bill appropriates nearly $200,000 to help jumpstart implementation of the voter-approved Colorado Proposition FF by funding staffing for the Department of Education to develop program rules and processes, provide outreach and training, and make related changes to IT systems.

SB23-138 Financing for Denver Health 
Denver Health is a critical part of our health care system and is facing unique financial challenges. This bill provides $5 million in addition to $1.4 million appropriated through SB23-117 for a total of $6.4 million in support for Denver Health, which as a safety net provider serves a higher share of Medicaid and uninsured patients than any other urban hospital and is critical in maintaining the health and wellbeing of Coloradans.

SB23-116 Support for Local Manufacturing and Economic Development
Colorado is rapidly emerging as one of the country’s top tech hubs. This $5 million investment will ensure the state remains competitive in drawing down its share of funding available to states through the federal CHIPS and Science Act, helping cement Colorado’s place as a leader in the semiconductor industry. Funding will be used to support and invest in the growth of institutions, manufacturers and their supply chains within the semiconductor industry currently based in or looking to operate in Colorado, with a particular focus on rural, underserved, and non-Denver metro communities.

SB23-119 Children’s Behavioral Health Services
Colorado Democrats have fought tirelessly to increase access to behavioral health care for all Coloradans. The bill includes $3 million for the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act (CYMHTA) to combat the program’s growing caseload. CYMHTA allows families to access mental health treatment services for their children and acts as an alternative to child welfare involvement when a dependency and neglect action isn't warranted.

Pair of Bills to Support Adjunct Faculty, Get More Teachers Into Classrooms Clear Committee

Legislation would help adjunct professors qualify for loan forgiveness and create apprenticeship programs to help address Colorado’s teacher shortage

DENVER, CO – The Senate Education Committee today signed off on a pair of bills to improve education and support teachers in Colorado.

SB23-084, sponsored by Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, would improve support for adjunct faculty by increasing access to federal student loan debt relief programs.

The bill implements a multiplier on adjunct faculty members’ instruction hours to more accurately reflect their full-time work, allowing them to qualify for the federal Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Adjuncts, who make up 37 percent of Colorado higher education faculty, are currently considered part-time employees because they are only paid for the time they spend inside the classroom. The bill requires that every hour of direct instruction is multiplied by 4.35.

“I am proud to represent the three higher education institutions that make up Auraria Campus, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard adjunct faculty members work, both inside and outside of the classroom to support their students,” said Gonzales. “By implementing a multiplier on their instruction hours, we’re ensuring adjuncts are able to access well-earned federal student loan forgiveness, just like other hardworking public employees.”

“Even though adjunct faculty members perform largely the same work as their full-time peers – grading, planning lessons, and meeting with students – right now they are only paid for the time they spend inside the classroom,” Marchman said. “Senate Bill 84 makes a simple change to make sure all of the hard work done by adjunct faculty members is accurately accounted for. I’m proud to champion this legislation to ease the burden on adjunct faculty and ensure they can qualify for the benefits they have earned.”

PSLF is a federal program that qualifies full-time public and nonprofit employees for federal loan forgiveness after ten years of making payments. To qualify, public workers need to work at least 30 hours per week for eight months out of the year to be full-time. 

The bill would also require higher education institutions to give employees enrolled in the PSLF program an annual notice of renewal and a copy of the employment certification form required by the Department of Education.

The Senate Education Committee also approved Marchman’s bipartisan SB23-087, which aims to get more teachers into classrooms by creating a teacher apprenticeship program.

Cosponsored by Sen. Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, the bill would allow the Department of Education (DOE) to create an apprenticeship program that builds on elements of existing alternative teacher licensure programs and would include a bachelor's degree requirement, training programs approved by DOE, and structured on-the-job training.

“As a middle school math teacher, I know how critical a quality education is for our kids – but right now there aren’t enough teachers to meet demand, and students and families are suffering as a result,” Marchman said. “This bill will help address those shortages and will provide hardworking Colorado school staff the hands-on training and experience they need to step into teaching jobs and provide our kids with the quality public education they deserve.”

According to the Colorado Education Association, teacher and staff shortages remain a huge problem in Colorado’s schools, with 85 percent of educators saying that the teacher shortage is significantly or somewhat worse than previous school years.

SB23-084 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee and SB23-087 will move to the Senate floor for further consideration. You can follow their progress HERE and HERE, respectively.

Ginal’s Bipartisan Bill to Improve Medical Care Clears Senate

SB23-041 formally authorizes medical professionals to prescribe drugs approved by the FDA for off-label use

DENVER, CO – Senator Joann Ginal’s, D-Fort Collins, bipartisan bill to improve medical care for Coloradans cleared the Senate today.

Cosponsored by Senator Jim Smallwood, R-Parker, SB23-041 would formally authorize medical professionals to prescribe drugs approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for off-label use. Off-label use refers to the practice of prescribing a drug for a different purpose than what the FDA initially approved.

“Off-label prescribing of medicines is a common health care practice. It allows for patients to receive personalized medical treatment that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to access,” Ginal said. “Every Coloradan deserves the best when it comes to health care, and this legislation will protect providers and pharmacists so they can provide the best possible treatment for their patients.”

The off-label prescribing of drugs is commonly used in cancer treatments, where the usual care for a specific type or stage of cancer includes the off-label use of one or more drugs. For example, research shows that many cancer drugs, such as chemotherapy, are effective against multiple types of cancer in addition to the one it was approved for.

SB23-041 will now move to the House of Representatives. You can follow the bill’s progress here.

Marchman’s Bipartisan Bill to Implement CPR Training for High Schools Passes Senate

SB23-023 would encourage CPR and AED instruction in high school curriculum, signaling Colorado Democrats’ ongoing efforts to improve health and safety

DENVER, CO –  Senator Janice Marchman’s, D-Loveland, bipartisan bill to implement high school cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) curriculum passed the senate unanimously.

SB23-023, co-sponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, would require the Colorado Department of Education to update the Colorado Comprehensive Health Education program to include CPR and AED training. The instruction would be taught in ninth through 12th grade.

“This session, we’re committed to improving all aspects of health for Coloradans, from mental to behavioral to physical,” Marchman said. “With Damar Hamlin’s recent cardiac arrest, the nation witnessed just how important it is to have critical, life saving skills in times of emergency. By equipping our high school students with comprehensive CPR training, we can improve the health and safety of Coloradans and save lives.” 

School districts would be strongly encouraged to adopt the new curriculum as it fits within their budget. Grants would be available to assist schools with funding through the Comprehensive Health Education grant program. 

SB23-023 now heads to the House of Representatives. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Moreno’s Bill to Add Student Representation During Creation of K-12 Education Standards Clears Committee

SB23-008 was developed in partnership with the Colorado Youth Advisory Council

DENVER, CO – Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno’s, D-Commerce City, bill to uplift student voices during the development of K-12 education standards cleared the Senate Education committee today.

SB23-008, developed based on recommendations made by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC), adds student representation to decision-making processes regarding K-12 education standards, regional educator meetings, and local review of education standards.

“When the state's education standards are up for review, Colorado students deserve to have a say in what their education looks like,” Moreno said. "SB8 amplifies the voices of Colorado's students by creating several opportunities for young people to be involved in the existing review processes. I am excited to sponsor SB8 to involve students more in the process, and am proud to see this bill pass through its first committee hearing.”

“Students can offer unique, firsthand experience when it comes to deciding what’s being taught in the classroom,” said Siddharth Nareddy, COYAC representative for Senate District 24. “As someone on the receiving end of education standards, there is so much value in having students provide their input and perspective on what gets covered. I’m grateful to Majority Leader Moreno’s ongoing work to support COYAC and our goal of bringing youth voices to the table, and I’m excited to see this bill move forward in the legislative process.”

In 2008, lawmakers established COYAC to give Colorado’s youth a voice in the lawmaking process. Since its creation, COYAC members have worked to develop policy recommendations on issues of youth concern and promote civic engagement amongst Colorado’s youth.

SB23-008 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.