Buckner’s Bipartisan Bill to Expand Zero-Cost Credentials Clears Committee

HB23-1246 would break down barriers for Coloradans looking to enter the workforce

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, that would break down financial barriers for aspiring professionals looking to enter new, high-demand careers through a zero-cost credentials program cleared the Senate Education Committee today.

Cosponsored by Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle, HB23-1246 would invest $45 million over two years and pave the way for aspiring professionals in high-demand fields to receive free training toward associate degrees and industry certificates in eligible industries. Eligible industries include elementary and early childhood education, firefighting, law enforcement, forest management, short-term nursing programs, and construction trades.

“Colorado continues to struggle with workforce shortages in careers ranging from early childhood education to nursing and firefighting,” Buckner said. “Since 2022, the Care Forward Colorado program has made great progress in connecting students with high demand career pathways, but there is much more we can do. With this important bill, we’re further expanding opportunities for Coloradans to land jobs in critical career fields and lowering the barriers to entry for training and education programs.”

For programs that are already zero-cost to students, such as Registered Apprenticeship Programs, funding will be provided to cover the costs associated with the training, such as instructor time and instructional materials. The funding to assist Registered Apprenticeship Programs in HB23-1246 is projected to train more than 3,000 students in the construction trades.

HB23-1246 builds off the successful Care Forward Colorado program that Democrats launched in 2022 by covering the costs associated with reskilling and upskilling, such as tuition, books, and additional instructional training, and expands the number of eligible career fields to include six foundational areas of the workforce. 

Since its launch in 2022, Care Forward Colorado has successfully trained approximately 1,500 students as certified nursing assistants, emergency services professionals and other high-demand health care careers.

Bucker recently discussed the success of Care Forward Colorado and her new legislation with First Lady Jill Biden.

HB23-1246 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Passes Bill to Prevent Income Discrimination, Protect Renters

Legislation aims to remove barriers to housing stability

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate passed Senators Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Tony Exum Sr.’s, D-Colorado Springs, bill to provide greater access to housing for renters with limited incomes. 

Currently, landlords can require a tenant to earn an annual income that exceeds set “multipliers” of the annual rent, often three to five times as much, limiting those rentals to wealthier individuals. SB23-184 would expand access to housing by limiting any minimum income requirement to two times the cost of the rent.

For prospective tenants with a housing voucher or subsidy, this cap would only apply to their portion of the rent obligation, and landlords wouldn’t be able to inquire about or consider their credit score.

“Over the last decade the cost of housing in Colorado has doubled, forcing folks to spend larger shares of their income on rent,” said Winter. “Our rental market hasn’t adjusted to these challenging economic realities, and many Coloradans – especially those on limited or fixed incomes – are denied housing or face barriers to obtaining housing because of income requirements. It’s time to put in place sensible guardrails to expand housing access for Coloradans of all income levels.”

“Over half of low-income Coloradans spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent,” Exum said. “Burdensome income requirements shut out too many hardworking Coloradans from the market. This bill will help ensure prospective renters aren’t being discriminated against because of their income while improving housing stability across Colorado.” 

Large security deposits can also price renters out of housing. This bill would break down cost-barriers by capping security deposits at two times the monthly rent.

Although Coloradans who experience housing discrimination can sue or file a civil rights complaint, they’re not able to raise discrimination as a defense to an eviction. SB23-184 would further protect tenants from eviction by establishing that a violation of the bill's new prohibitions is an unfair housing practice and clarifying that fair housing violations, including source of income violations, are an affirmative defense to eviction.

SB23-184 now heads to the House for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE. 

Senate Approves Fields & Gonzales’ Bill to Restrict Use of No-Knock Warrants in Colorado

SB23-254 would only allow no-knock warrants if the life of a person is in danger

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, that would place new restrictions on when law enforcement can execute no-knock or knock-and-announce warrants and when they can make warrantless entries into a residence cleared the Senate today.

SB23-254 would establish that courts can only authorize a no-knock warrant if a no-knock entry is necessary because of a credible threat to the life of a person, and place restrictions around when and how no-knock warrants can be executed.

“Executing no-knock or knock-and-announce warrants can be extremely dangerous for both law enforcement and the subject of the warrant, and can lead to serious injury and even death,” Fields said. “This bill will put important guardrails around the use of these tactics, and help ensure avoidable tragedies like the killing of Breonna Taylor never happen in Colorado.”

“Right now, no-knock entries manufacture dangerous, sometimes life-threatening, situations,” said Gonzales. “In mere seconds, no-knock intrusions escalate reactions to levels that put both law enforcement and civilians in danger. With this bill, we’re implementing much-needed safety measures around no-knock and knock-and-announce warrants, helping to prevent avoidable tragedies and rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement.”

SB23-254 would require law enforcement to execute a knock-and-announce warrant between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., unless a judge authorizes a different time, and would require officers to be in uniform or wearing a visible law enforcement badge, and identify themselves as law enforcement while executing the warrant.

The bill also requires law enforcement to wear and activate a body-worn camera, knock and announce their presence and wait a reasonable time before entering the dwelling, and would require them to delay entry if officers believe someone is approaching with the intent to allow the officer to enter.

If during the execution of a knock-and-announce warrant, law enforcement reasonably believes that a no-knock entry or not waiting a reasonable amount of time before entering is necessary because of an emergency threatening the life of or grave injury to someone, then law enforcement would not have to knock or wait before entering.

According to the Washington Post, at least 22 people have been killed since 2015, including Amir Locke and Breonna Taylor, while police carried out no-knock search warrants.

SB23-254 will now move to consideration before the House. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Approves Cutter, Exum Sr. Bill to Better Protect Communities from Wildfires, Establish Wildfire Resiliency Code Board

SB23-166 will protect new construction from wildfires, help local governments keep wildland-urban interface safe 

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Tony Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs, that would better protect communities from wildfires earned approval before the Senate today.

SB23-166 would help communities and Coloradans living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) defend homes and property from catastrophic wildfires by establishing a statewide wildfire resiliency code board charged with establishing proven building codes to better protect structures against increasingly common wildfires. Local governments in the new WUI area would be required to adopt the model code or a code of their own that meets or exceeds minimum standards.

“The risk of wildfires in our state is growing, and we must act now to protect our homes and businesses and create more resilient communities,” Cutter said. “Fires don’t recognize local boundaries, and the impacts of a fire in any part of our state affect all of us, so creating minimum building standards just makes sense. If we ask firefighters to put their lives at risk to keep us safe, we should use every tool possible to protect them and our communities. According to FEMA, adopting and carrying out building codes is the single best way we can defend against wildfires, which is why I’m so proud to sponsor this bill.”

“Wildfires do not respect boundaries, and when it comes to growth in the wildland-urban interface we need a statewide policy that reflects that,” Exum Sr. said. “Our legislation will set smart and flexible standards that protect families, homes, and businesses against increasingly dangerous wildfires. I am proud to champion this important legislation that will defend people and property.”

Cutter and Exum Sr.’s bill would create the Wildfire Resiliency Code board made up of 21 voting members and three non-voting members from local governments, utilities, and other relevant disciplines such as firefighters and building professionals that would work to define and establish minimum standards that better defend areas in the WUI from dangerous wildfires.

The bill also requires the Board to support local governments in conducting inspections and enforcing their local code if they don’t have rules and regulations in place to enforce their code and request the assistance.

Wildfires have grown increasingly destructive in recent years. The Marshall Fire in 2021 burned more than 1,000 homes and over 30 commercial structures, and caused more than $2 billion in damage, while 2020’s East Troublesome Fire destroyed 366 houses, causing $543 million in damage.

SB23-166 will now move to the House for further consideration. More information about the bill is available HERE.

Senate Signs Off on Pair of Bills to Bolster Colorado’s Wildfire Response, Enhance Public Safety

Bills would provide resources to investigate the origins of wildfires, create firefighter workforce development program

DENVER, CO – The Colorado Senate today signed off on a pair of bills that will bolster and improve Colorado’s wildfire response and create a firefighter workforce development program to quickly get more trained firefighters into the field.

SB23-013, sponsored by Senator Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, would create a wildfire investigation fund and provide $3 million to help investigate the causes and origins of wildfires. The bill also requires the Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to report on fire investigations to the Wildfire Matters Review Committee.

“Fire season is no longer confined to a few months – it’s a year-round threat,” Ginal said. “It’s essential that we act now to prepare for and mitigate future wildfire disasters. By creating a new reporting protocol and a wildfire investigation fund, we are providing local fire departments with the tools they need to better understand the origins of fires, which will better protect our communities and enhance public safety across Colorado.”

The Director of DFPC would report annually to the Wildfire Matters Review Committee regarding the current magnitude of the state’s wildfire situation, including the number of wildfire investigations and their statuses, the status of prescribed burns, available resources, and more. 

Additionally, the fire investigation fund would provide support to local fire departments investigating the cause and origin of fires.

SB23-005, sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, would improve Colorado’s forestry workforce by directing the Colorado State Forest Service to develop educational materials on career opportunities in the industry and create a workforce development program in the State Forest Service.

“For the past several years we’ve experienced the devastating impacts of wildfires in our state, impacting our lives, homes, health, watersheds and economy,” Cutter said. “The increase in frequency and intensity is a direct result of escalating climate change. We’ve done good work over the past several years to provide resources for mitigation and suppression, but resources don’t mean much without the workforce to deploy them. This bill will support programs to quickly get a trained workforce in the field.”

“Over the past few years wildfire season has evolved into a year-round threat, but right now we don’t have the workforce needed to keep us safe,” Jaquez Lewis said. “This bill will improve pathways to critical jobs and help Colorado communities stay safe by training more firefighters who will protect our people and our property from increasingly dangerous wildfires.”

The bill will also bolster the state’s wildfire mitigation capacity development fund and create and expand forestry programs at state colleges. Finally, the bill will work to increase the number of qualified educators at colleges that deliver a wildfire prevention and mitigation program or course.

Both SB23-005 and SB23-013 were developed and recommended by the interim Wildfire Matters Review Committee. 

Both bills will now move to consideration before the House. Track SB23-005’s progress HERE, and track SB23-013’s progress HERE.

SIGNED! Bill to Crack Down on Deceptive Practices by Anti-Abortion Centers Becomes Law

New law prohibits deceptive advertising by anti-abortion centers

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation sponsored by Senators Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Representative Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, to protect Coloradans seeking reproductive health care by prohibiting the use of deceptive advertising by anti-abortion centers (AACs).

SB23-190 makes it a deceptive trade practice to share information or advertise providing abortion care, emergency contraceptives or referrals of either of these services when the service is not actually provided. This bill also clarifies it is a deceptive practice to advertise providing a “medication abortion reversal”. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists describes “medication abortion reversal” as “unproven and unethical,” and says that “claims regarding abortion ‘reversal’ treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards'' of care.

“We’ve made tremendous progress in Colorado to protect reproductive rights, but marginalized communities like people of color, low-income folks, young people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and immigrants still struggle to obtain the care they need - and AACs only make matters worse,” said Winter. “AACs use deceptive advertising practices to lure folks in and steer people away from abortions and other time-sensitive care by not providing them with the full, medically accurate spectrum of options. I’m proud of this new law that cracks down on AACs’ deceptive practices and makes reproductive health care more attainable and equitable for all Coloradans.”

"Patients across Colorado deserve access to honest, factual medical information so they can make informed decisions about their own reproductive health care,” said McCormick. “Our law protects patients by putting an end to the deceptive advertising practices used by some anti-abortion centers to lure patients in under the guise that they offer the full range of reproductive health care when they do not. Deceptive practices put Coloradans at risk, limit their access to care and spread misinformation about the so-called ‘medication abortion reversal’ which is medically unethical and unproven.”

“In Colorado and across America, maternal outcomes are declining, and anti-abortion centers that use deceptive advertising to draw in vulnerable people seeking care and misleading them with biased and inaccurate information about abortions and contraceptives are only making the problem worse,” Marchman said. “People who go to these centers looking for help are often misled and stigmatized – the exact opposite of the safe and essential care we are beholden to protect as elected officials. This new law will crack down on deceptive practices used by some of these bad actors, and is a proactive step we can take towards a future where Coloradans’ freedom to access essential and affirming reproductive health care is truly protected.”

In Colorado, AACs outnumber abortion-providing clinics 51 to 20. Further, AACs particularly target locations that may lack a comprehensive clinic, often posting Spanish-language billboards in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations and offering free services to low-income communities.

Anti-abortion centers are the on-the-ground presence of the national anti-abortion movement. Also known as crisis pregnancy centers or anti-abortion counseling centers, AACs pose as comprehensive reproductive health care clinics to intercept patients seeking abortion care, provide false information, and prevent people from seeking abortions.

SIGNED! Bill to Increase Access to Reproductive Health Care, Close Access Gaps

New law makes reproductive health care more accessible and affordable for all

DENVER, CO –  Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Reps. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, that improves access to reproductive health care, including abortion, and makes reproductive health care more equitable was signed into law today.

SB23-189 is part of the Safe Access to Protected Health Care package of legislation, and works in several ways to close gaps in accessing reproductive health care, including abortion.

“Every Coloradan deserves to be able to access the critical care they need, but for too many of our neighbors, barriers still exist that prevent them from accessing that care,” Moreno said. “This new law breaks down those barriers, especially for vulnerable communities, and helps ensure all our neighbors are able to get the life-saving care they need to thrive.”

“Under this law, it will be easier for all Coloradans, regardless of zip code or income level, to access the full spectrum of reproductive health care services,” said Michaelson Jenet. “I was privileged enough to pay for my own abortion out-of-pocket, but accessing the life-saving care you need shouldn’t be financially out of reach for Coloradans. Unlike other states across the nation, Colorado is securing and expanding access to reproductive health care, including abortion and STI treatments, not restricting it."

“Investing in all aspects of sexual and reproductive health care is the right thing to do, both socially and economically,” said Cutter. “It is in our best interest as a society to help prevent unintended pregnancies, improve maternal health and prevent and treat sexually transmitted infections. I am thrilled to champion this new law that will help build a healthier Colorado for everyone."

“Coloradans deserve access to the full range of reproductive health care, but systemic barriers rooted in racism and oppression can stand in the way,” said Garcia. “This law works to break down those accessibility barriers to receiving abortions, STI treatments and other forms of reproductive health care which are disproportionately placed on our most marginalized communities. Securing reproductive justice is vital for Coloradans to lead self-sufficient, prosperous lives and I’m beyond proud to bring us closer to achieving that goal.” 

SB23-189 limits surprise medical billing and removes patient cost sharing for reproductive health care services and treatment, including but not limited to sterilization, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and abortion care. 

This bill expands access to contraception and related information for all Coloradans by modernizing a 1971 law and aligning it with Colorado’s Public Health code, and increasing additional family-planning related services.  

Finally, SB23-189 prioritizes access to life-saving HIV medication by cutting red tape to allow any authorized provider, not only pharmacists, to offer the treatment.

SIGNED! Bill to Protect Reproductive Health Care Patients and Providers, Ensure Access to Critical Care Becomes Law

Legislation shields legally-protected health care providers, patients and helpers

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law legislation sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Reps. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, that establishes protections from criminal prosecutions for receiving, providing, or assisting with legally-protected health care – including abortion and gender-affirming care – ensuring these overreaching interstate actions will not be recognized by the state of Colorado.

SB23-188 also prevents Colorado from recognizing or enforcing civil lawsuits concerning protected health care that are penal in nature or without jurisdiction, and prevents Colorado state employees from participating in or assisting with interstate investigations or divulging information concerning protected health care.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade unleashed a wave of anti-abortion legislation across the country, and it’s putting Coloradans' ability to access critical reproductive and gender-affirming care in jeopardy,” Gonzales said. “Any barrier to health care in our state is unacceptable and puts lives at risk. This new law will protect the people who both seek and provide that care in our state, and will ensure that Coloradans can continue to access the life-saving care they need to thrive.”

“We’ve seen nationwide attacks on our fundamental reproductive freedoms, but here in Colorado, we protect those seeking or performing legal, reproductive health care, including abortion,” said Froelich. “This law codifies important protections for legally protected health care services to make sure our patients, providers, and assistors are shielded from interstate prosecution, retaliation, and imprisonment. We’re making it clear – Colorado will never extradite a provider or patient to another state because Colorado respects bodily autonomy, privacy and the right to make your own medical decisions.” 

"We must do everything we can to protect vital health care professionals in Colorado,” said Jaquez Lewis. “As a pharmacist, if I dispense certain drugs that are considered abortion care medication in repressive states, I could be extradited, charged with homicide and fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am proud to champion this new law that ensures health care experts will feel safe making medically necessary decisions."

“Anti-trans bills in other states and other egregious attempts to limit who we are will not stand in the way of our legal right to access gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Colorado,” said Titone. “Our law not only affirms the right to protected health care, but prevents other states from enforcing their regressive anti-abortion and anti-trans laws on people seeking treatment or living in Colorado. Research proves having access to gender-affirming care is validating and life-saving. I’m proud to champion a law that prioritizes patients and providers, protects our privacy and upholds your fundamental rights to reproductive and gender-affirming health care.”

ICYMI: Senate Committee Advances Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Water Restoration Projects

Legislation would streamline projects that improve the environmental health of water resources

DENVER, CO – Yesterday, the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee approved Senator Dylan Roberts’, D-Avon, bipartisan bill to help restore natural water streams. 

Stream restoration projects are vital in protecting water supplies, restoring habitats, and recovering from drought, fire, and floods. SB23-270, cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, would create a more streamlined process for stream restoration projects to move forward. 

“Healthy stream systems improve wildfire resilience, watershed health, and flood safety, plus support our local economies and farmlands,” said Roberts. “Coloradans want to restore damaged streams in their communities, but too many projects face legal roadblocks and funding challenges that halt these critical projects. This bipartisan bill will simplify the process to complete stream restoration projects, allow access to federal water funding and ultimately, help secure our state’s water future.”

Currently, certain stream restoration projects could be considered an out-of-priority diversion of water, creating an uncertain or impossible path for those projects to proceed. The bill constitutes an important first step by creating a rebuttable presumption that a minor stream restoration project doesn’t impede on downstream water rights – thus allowing smaller projects to move forward without administration by the Division of Water Resources, while the community continues to explore solutions for larger projects. A rebuttable presumption is an assumption made by a court that is taken to be true unless proven otherwise.

The legislation outlines stream restoration projects as those with the purpose of wildfire or flood mitigation; bank stabilization; water quality protection or restoration; habitat, species, or ecosystem restoration; infrastructure protection, and more. 

SB23-270 now heads to the Senate floor. Follow the bill’s progress HERE. 

Bridges’ Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Career Pathways & Help Coloradans Land Jobs Clears Senate

SB23-205 would create a Universal High School Scholarship Program to help students land jobs in high-demand fields

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, to help students afford the training they need to land jobs in high-paying, in-demand fields cleared the Senate today.

Cosponsored by Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, SB23-205 would create a Universal High School Scholarship Program to make it easier and more affordable to access postsecondary education and training opportunities for Colorado students.

“Opportunity is a core Colorado value, and this bill gives high school graduates in our state $1,500 to help them earn a good life,” said Bridges. “There are thousands of job openings in Colorado, but not enough trained workers to fill them. With this bill, we’ll get people the certificates, degrees, and apprenticeships they need, which is good for them, good for employers, and good for our economy.”

The program will provide each student with a $1,500 scholarship to take to any approved training provider in Colorado, from apprenticeship and on-the-job training to trade school, community colleges, and colleges and universities. This transformative financial support has the capacity to serve 15,000 graduating students in the Class of 2024, more than 25 percent of all high school graduates statewide.

Scholarships are available to Colorado residents who graduated from a Colorado high school or earned a high school equivalency credential in the 2023-2024 academic year.

Bridges and Lundeen highlighted SB23-205 at an event recently with First Lady Jill Biden, who praised the innovative legislation that will connect hardworking Coloradans with the skills and training they need to thrive.

SB23-205 will now move to the House for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

ICYMI: Committee Approves Cutter’s Bill to Offer Youth Mental Health Screenings

HB23-1003 would allow school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools, continue I Matter program

DENVER, CO – Senator Lisa Cutter’s, D-Jefferson County, bill to support the mental well-being of Colorado’s students was approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee yesterday.

HB23-1003 would allow school districts to offer mental health screenings in schools to help determine the mental well-being of students and continue the successful I Matter program. The bill would permit public schools to participate in a voluntary mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth graders. The school would be required to notify parents of the date and time that the mental health screening is scheduled, the purpose, and information about the mental health screener. Parents would have the option to opt their child out of participating, although students over 12 years old could still decide themselves to participate, due to existing Colorado law.

“I'm proud that Colorado is a leader when it comes to providing accessible, affordable mental health care for our youth. But our kids are in crisis and we must do more,” Cutter said. “This bill will help identify issues early on so kids and families can get the support they need. I’m thrilled to champion additional mental health supports for Colorado’s youth."

The I Matter program was created with the passage of HB21-1258 and expanded by HB22-1243. The program provides a mental health screening followed by six free therapy sessions to youth across the state and is available virtually and in-person. Students use a screening tool through the program’s website to match them with licensed mental health professionals that best fit their needs, including bilingual services.

HB23-1003 now heads to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Fenberg’s Bill to Increase Transparency, Improve Colorado’s Elections Clears Committee

Fenberg: “This bill will build confidence and ensure Colorado remains at the forefront when it comes to holding free and fair elections”

DENVER, CO – Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg’s, D-Boulder, legislation aimed at increasing transparency and further improving Colorado’s gold standard elections cleared the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today.

SB23-276 will expand and clarify personal financial disclosures for certain candidates and elected officials, improve voter access in tribal communities, and streamline election day results, among other provisions.

“Colorado’s elections are the envy of the country - but there are always adjustments and improvements we can implement to make our election system even better,” Fenberg said. “Whether it’s creating more transparency for candidates and elected officials or improving access for Native American and other underrepresented voters, this bill will build confidence and ensure Colorado remains at the forefront when it comes to holding free and fair elections.”

Increased transparency and ethics in government 
The bill expands what is required to be disclosed in a candidate or elected official’s personal financial disclosure and clarifies enforcement, ensuring the public knows about potential conflicts of interest for a candidate or elected official and ensures there is an enforcement mechanism for if and when a candidate provides false information. Additionally, the bill specifies that the Department of State cannot use public funds for advertising that features candidates for local, state, or federal office. 

Improved voter access on tribal lands 
SB23-276 establishes a process to allow tribal councils in Colorado to submit membership lists for purposes of Colorado’s existing automatic voter registration law. Additionally, the bill guarantees the placement of early voting and Election Day voting sites on tribal lands. 

Increased voter access for underrepresented voters
The bill increases the number of drop boxes and voter service and polling centers for public and private higher education campuses. The bill also clarifies how sheriffs facilitate voter registration and voting to make it easier for inmates in jails to vote.

Bolstered funding for local election administration
The bill increases funding for local county clerks to help facilitate smooth and secure election administration. The current formula hasn’t been updated in more than a decade and yet administering elections has gotten more challenging and expensive. The new formula will ensure a more equitable share of county election budgets are covered by the state.

Streamlined election results 
SB23-276 requires larger counties to begin counting ballots at least four days prior to Election Day, which will result in publishing election results faster on Election Day. The bill also requires that clerks update “cure” data within 24 hours for voters who need to fix a problem with their ballot. 

Modernized ID system
The bill allows the use of digital IDs such as the state of Colorado’s official myColorado app as well as digital copies of already accepted forms of identification in order to confirm their Colorado address when they vote in person. 

General election and campaign finance cleanup
Finally, SB23-276 also makes several changes to Colorado’s Election Code to remove obsolete provisions, update procedures to reflect current practice, and ensure transparency in campaign finance laws. 

SB23-276 now heads to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Committee Approves Bipartisan Bill to Improve Medical Price Transparency

Legislation to bolster consumer protections, increase transparency in health care

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Health & Human Services Committee approved Senator Julie Gonzales’, D-Denver, bipartisan bill to protect consumers and increase the transparency of medical prices.

SB23-252, cosponsored by Senator Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, would require all hospitals to make a public list of the cost of all items and services provided to patients.

“Coloradans deserve to know what their medical bills will look like before going into treatment or surgery,” Gonzales said. “We’ve made great progress in our work to protect consumers and lower the costs of health care, but there’s still more we can do. It’s time to take the next step and increase medical price transparency so Coloradans aren’t blindsided with big bills after receiving care.”

Under this legislation, hospitals are required to maintain a public list of at least 300 shoppable services, which is a service that a patient can schedule in advance. If the hospital does not have 300 shoppable services, they must list all of the services they provide. Violations of SB23-252 would be a deceptive trade practice under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.

This bill builds off of HB22-1285, which prohibits hospitals from pursuing debt collection action against a patient if the hospital failed to comply with federal hospital price transparency laws during the patient’s treatment.

SB23-252 now heads to the Senate floor. Follow the bill’s progress HERE. 

Committee Approves Legislation to Ensure Protections for Native American Children

SB23-211 would protect Native American children in cases of guardianship and adoption if the Supreme Court strikes down all or part of the Indian Child Welfare Act

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, and Senator Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, to ensure protections for Native American children in cases of adoption and guardianship passed the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee today.

The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) is a federal law that governs the removal and placement of American Indian and Alaska Native children as well as parental termination, and delineates the roles of state and tribal governments in child welfare cases. ICWA was enacted to protect the best interests of Native American children and keep them connected to their families and tribes in cases of separation.

ICWA is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court, which could strike down all or part of the law. SB23-211 would adopt ICWA into state law to ensure that Native American children continue to be protected in cases of guardianship and adoption if the law is struck down fully or partially on the federal level.

“For decades, the Indian Child Welfare Act has been recognized as the gold standard in child welfare practice by experts,” said Moreno. “Now that anti-tribal interests who want to undermine tribal sovereignty have made their way to the Supreme Court, it’s vital that we act immediately to protect Indigenous kids on a state level. This bill puts the best interests of Native American children first, and promotes the stability and security of tribes and families.” 

“The Indian Child Welfare Act was created – and is vitally needed – to address longstanding and egregious removal practices targeting Native American children,” Danielson said. “The Supreme Court has already demonstrated that they will overturn decades of legally rock-solid precedent. Not a single Tribal Nation, independent Native organization, or independent child welfare organization supports striking down ICWA. Colorado needs this safety net in place to protect kids from familial and tribal separation in case ICWA falls.”

ICWA was enacted in response to a crisis affecting American Indian and Alaska Native children, families, and tribes. In the 1970’s, studies revealed that 25 to 35 percent of all Native American children were being separated from their parents, extended families, and communities by state child welfare and private adoption agencies.

Of those separated, 85 percent were placed outside of their families and communities into non-Native American households – even when fit and willing relatives were available. Since ICWA’s enactment, the law has been successful in keeping Native American children in their families and communities, and ensuring the children’s rights are protected. 

Colorado is home to two federally recognized Tribes; the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. According to the 2020 US Census, 74,129 Native Americans lived in Colorado, a higher population than the neighboring states of Utah and Idaho.

SB23-211 now heads to the Senate floor. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Hansen’s Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Use of Agrivoltaics Clears Committee

SB23-092 seeks to expand renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions on Colorado farmland

DENVER, CO – Today, Senator Chris Hansen’s, D-Denver, bill to support the use of agrivoltaics through grants from the Colorado Department of Agriculture passed out of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

The bill, cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, seeks to expand access to agrivoltaics, a cutting edge method to generate energy using solar panels over agricultural land without sacrificing significant agriculture production. SB23-092 will also direct the Department of Agriculture to study greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration opportunities in agriculture. 

“Agrivoltaics are an effective way to increase the productivity of our farmland,” said Hansen. “With some crops, shade from solar panels can actually improve growing conditions, save water and increase output. We are helping expand renewable energy options and carbon capture techniques that can benefit our farming community and help us reach our climate goals.”

32 million acres of land are used for agriculture in Colorado, nearly half of the state’s surface area. Methods for carbon reduction on farmland studied by the bill include dry digesters, greenhouse gas credits, and sequestration efforts.

SB23-092 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Approves Danielson, Buckner Bill to Strengthen Equal Pay for Equal Work Act

SB23-105 would further prevent wage discrimination in Colorado

DENVER, CO – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senators Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, that would strengthen Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and ensure all Colorado workers are compensated equally for their labor.

SB23-105 strengthens that law by requiring the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to accept and mediate complaints, provide legal resources concerning alleged wage inequality, and to promulgate rules to further prevent wage discrimination. Previously the department was only authorized to do so; this bill provides a clearer directive and the resources and staffing to back it up.

“Nobody should be paid less than their peers for doing the same work - but for too many women in Colorado that is still the case,” Danielson said. “We fought to address this inequity through the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, and this bill will build on that success. SB 105 is a concrete step we can take, right now, to address the wage gap between men and women, and I am excited to see this bill move forward.”

“The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act has made great strides toward ensuring that every Coloradan is paid equally for their labor,” Buckner said. “But unfortunately we are still seeing women earn less than men for doing the exact same job. It’s unacceptable, and it’s what this bill seeks to address. By requiring the state to investigate and take action when wage discrimination complaints are filed, we can better ensure that every Colorado worker receives the equal pay they’re entitled to.”

Additionally, SB23-105 requires CDLE to investigate complaints or other leads concerning wage inequality, and to address the situation if the complaint is found to be valid. The bill also requires employers to follow specific guidelines for job postings.

SB23-105 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Finalizes State Budget, Sends to Governor’s Desk

Budget includes resources to improve community safety, shore up public health, among other priorities

DENVER, CO – Lawmakers today gave final sign-off to the FY 2023-2024 Long Bill and sent it to Governor Jared Polis’ desk for his signature, following final tweaks made in conference committee.

Lawmakers prioritized amendments to the budget that fund critical programs including hospitals and health care providers, co-responder programs, veterans assistance programs, wildfire mitigation, and more.

“Balancing the state’s budget in a responsible and thoughtful manner is one of our most urgent priorities as a legislature, and I am pleased to say that this year’s budget hits the mark,” said JBC Chair Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “We’re delivering for Colorado families by making record investments in K-12 education, supporting our health care workers, and creating safer communities - all while keeping our state on solid financial footing. We’ve worked hard to create a balanced, thoughtful budget that funds the infrastructure we need to meet our obligations to our families and communities while helping ensure every Coloradan has what they need to thrive.”

“This budget reflects our core Colorado values of opportunity, independence, and responsibility,” said JBC member Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “The investments we’re making today will prepare our students for success, increase our housing supply, respond to workforce needs, and lower the cost of health care for our Colorado families. All in a balanced budget that puts Colorado on a sound and sustainable fiscal path into the future.”

Additional priorities funded in the budget by the conference committee include:

• $75,000 to the Department of Public Health and Environment for suicide prevention by providing mental health first aid training for students

• $4 million in funding for the Community Crime Victims Grant Program in the Department of Public Health and Environment

• $500,000 for family planning

• $8 million for the Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund

• $500,000 for the Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Fund within the Department of Transportation

• $1 million Department of Human Services for outreach related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• $500,000 for the Tony Grampsas Program

• $1 million to supplement funding for Denver Health, and another $1 million for Colorado’s rural hospitals

• $2 million to fund a co-responder program within the Behavioral Health Administration

• $500,000 in funding for the Veterans Assistance Grant Program in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

• $100,000 for the Wildfire Capacity Mitigation Development Fund

• $10 million Reinsurance Program Cash Fund in the Department of Regulatory Agencies

• $18.2 million in funding for additional capital projects across the state

Fields, Hansen Introduce Bill to Prevent Gun Violence, Crack Down on Ghost Guns

SB23-279 will prohibit the possession, sale, or transfer of unserialized firearms, frames, and receivers

DENVER, CO – Colorado Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Chris Hansen, D-Denver, today introduced legislation aimed at preventing further gun violence and cracking down on “ghost guns” in Colorado. Ghost guns are unregulated, untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled at home, often through DIY kits or downloadable blueprints. They are designed to avoid all gun laws, and are available to purchase without a background check, serial number, sale record, or other protections.

SB23-279, will prohibit the possession, sale, or transfer of an unserialized firearm, frame or receiver. It also prohibits manufacturing a firearm, frame or receiver, unless done by a federally licensed firearm manufacturer, including via a 3D printer.

“Ghost guns are untraceable, unserialized weapons that anyone can make or assemble in their own home - and they’re extremely dangerous,” Fields said. “We’ve worked hard this session to make Colorado safer and prevent gun violence, and this bill is a big step towards reaching that goal. I’m proud to champion this legislation that will prevent ghost guns from causing further violence in our communities and create a safe Colorado for us all.”

“Right now it’s far too easy for young people in Colorado and others who shouldn’t possess firearms to access them, and ghost guns are a huge part of that problem,” Hansen said. “Nearly anyone can order the parts or have them 3D printed, and within minutes have access to a fully functional, untraceable firearm. By cracking down on ghost guns, we can get these dangerous weapons out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them, reducing gun violence and increasing safety across our state.”

Under the bill, if an individual has an unserialized firearm, frame or receiver, they have until Jan 1, 2024 to have it serialized. It also prohibits the possession of a “machine gun conversion device”, which turns a firearm into a machine gun and imposes the same penalties as in current law for possessing a machine gun.

SB23-279 will be heard in the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Committee Approves Fields & Gonzales’ Bill to Restrict Use of No-Knock Warrants in Colorado

SB23-254 would only allow no-knock warrants if the life of a person is in imminent danger

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, that would place new restrictions on when law enforcement can execute no-knock or knock-and-announce warrants and when they can make warrantless entries into a residence cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

SB23-254 would establish that courts can only authorize a no-knock warrant if a no-knock entry is necessary because of imminent danger to the life of a person, and place restrictions around when and how no-knock warrants can be executed.

“Executing no-knock or knock-and-announce warrants can be extremely dangerous for both law enforcement and the subject of the warrant, and can lead to serious injury and even death,” Fields said. “This bill will put important guardrails around the use of these tactics, and help ensure avoidable tragedies like the killing of Breonna Taylor never happen in Colorado.”

“Right now, no-knock entries manufacture dangerous, sometimes life-threatening, situations,” said Gonzales. “In mere seconds, no-knock intrusions escalate reactions to levels that put both law enforcement and civilians in danger. With this bill, we’re implementing much-needed safety measures around no-knock and knock-and-announce warrants, helping to prevent avoidable tragedies and rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement.”

SB23-254 would require law enforcement to execute a knock-and-announce warrant between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., unless a judge authorizes a different time, and would require officers to be in uniform or wearing a visible law enforcement badge, and identify themselves as law enforcement while executing the warrant.

The bill also requires law enforcement to wear and activate a body-worn camera, knock and announce their presence and wait a reasonable time before entering the dwelling, and would require them to delay entry if officers believe someone is approaching with the intent to allow the officer to enter.

If during the execution of a knock-and-announce warrant, law enforcement reasonably believes that a no-knock entry or not waiting a reasonable amount of time before entering is necessary because of an emergency threatening the life of or grave injury to someone, then law enforcement would not have to knock or wait before entering.

According to the Washington Post, at least 22 people have been killed since 2015, including Amir Locke and Breonna Taylor, while police carried out no-knock search warrants.

SB23-254 will now move to consideration before the full Senate. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Buckner’s Bipartisan Bill to Boost Early Childhood Care Providers Clears Committee

Legislation would provide a one-time bonus to providers participating in Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Education Committee advanced Senator Janet Buckner’s, D-Aurora, bipartisan bill to support early childhood care providers through one-time bonus payments.

Cosponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, SB23-269 would fund one-time bonus payments for early childhood care providers participating in Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program (UPK). The bonuses must be used to implement the Universal Preschool Program, or to maintain or expand infant and toddler care capacity.

“Access to quality early childhood education not only supports critical early development and future educational outcomes for Colorado kids, but also the very well-being of families across our state,” Buckner said. “These one-time bonuses are a much deserved thank you to the early childhood care providers working to get Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program up and running. I look forward to watching UPK benefit Colorado’s youth this fall and for generations to come.”

Providers may receive an additional bonus payment if they maintain or increase their capacity to serve infants and toddlers between April 1, 2022 and April 1, 2024, or are in low-capacity preschool areas.

The bill would transfer $2.5 million from the General Fund to the Colorado Universal Preschool Program Provider Participation Bonus Program, housed within the Department of Early Childhood.

SB23-269 now heads to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.