Health Committee Votes to Advance Jaquez Lewis & Buckner’s Bill To Lower Prescription Drug Costs

HB23-1225 would increase PDAB’s impact and lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Janet Buckner’s, D-Aurora, bill to increase the effectiveness of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to help lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Coloradans.

HB23-1225 would allow PDAB to increase the limit on setting Upper Payment Limits (ULPs) to 18 per year if the board reaches the current annual cap of 12 ULPs and demonstrates a need for additional ULPs. Additionally, the bill would improve the criteria for selecting drugs for an affordability review.

“Over the past few years we have worked hard to save Coloradans money on life-saving prescription drugs,” said Jaquez Lewis. “Still, too many families’ budgets are squeezed by high costs of medication. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board is an essential tool to keep Colorado prescription drug prices affordable, and these changes will make the Board even more effective at saving families money on their life saving medications.”

“House Bill 1225 makes important changes that will increase the impact of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board,” Buckner said. “Too many Colorado families are forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying for life-saving medication, and that has to change. I’m proud to be a part of the effort to continue saving Coloradans money on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.”

In 2021, lawmakers created the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to evaluate and place upper price limits on the highest cost prescription drugs. 

HB23-1225 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Committee Approves Bill to Expand Access to Reproductive Health Care

SB23-284 would ensure coverage for 12 months of contraception

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, and Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, to expand access to contraception cleared the Health and Human Services Committee today with bipartisan support. 

SB23-284 would require both insurance plans and pharmacy benefit management companies (PBMs) to cover a year's supply of contraception, which can be dispensed at one time or in smaller amounts if requested. 

SB23-284 builds off HB17-1186, a bipartisan bill that ensured Coloradans can access 12 months of birth control. However, HB17-1186 hasn’t been complied with and many Coloradans can only access three months of birth control at a time. SB23-284 closes loopholes and helps ensure that both insurers and PBMs are complying with the requirement, and makes it easier for patients to obtain a year’s supply of birth control. 

"No one should have to ask for permission every month from their insurance company to not get pregnant," said Bridges. "I spoke with a woman during the election who spends more than an hour on the phone every month just getting her birth control prescription refilled. That's absurd. Today's bill protects the freedom of Coloradans to make health care choices on their own timeline."

“Whether folks live in rural areas or work odd hours, trips to the pharmacy can be inconvenient and difficult to make,” Danielson said. “With SB23-284, we’re tightening up restrictions so insurance companies and PBMs can’t skirt our laws, and ensuring patients can access 12 months of birth control. This bill will expand and improve access to reproductive health care across Colorado.” 

Data shows that dispensing one to three months of birth control at a time increases the likelihood of contraceptive discontinuation and makes it harder for folks to plan their pregnancies. Additionally, access to 12 months of birth control can prevent unplanned pregnancies.

SB23-284 now heads to the Senate floor. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Exum Sr., Jaquez Lewis’ Bill to Allow Remote Participation in Eviction Proceedings Clears Senate

HB23-1186 would help more renters stay in their homes

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Tony Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, that would allow renters to participate in eviction proceedings remotely cleared the Senate today.

HB23-1186 would allow individuals in residential eviction cases to participate in court proceedings remotely, making it easier for folks facing eviction to defend themselves and ensuring fewer Coloradans receive a default judgment simply because they cannot attend their eviction hearing in person.

“We’re working hard to make sure more Coloradans can find and stay in homes, and this bill to provide improved protections for folks facing evictions is a big step towards that goal,” Exum, Sr. said. “Breaking down barriers to participation in eviction proceedings will make it easier for Coloradans to defend themselves and avoid being evicted simply for not being able to attend a hearing.”

“Colorado is in the midst of a housing crisis, and it’s critical we do everything we can to alleviate it and keep folks housed,” said Jaquez Lewis. “There are lots of reasons someone may be forced to miss their eviction proceedings, including lack of transportation or child care or a sudden emergency - but that doesn’t mean they should be evicted. Our bill will prevent no-shows, improve accessibility, and keep more Coloradans housed.”

Data collected from courts in other states shows that expanding access to participation in eviction cases reduces “no-show” rates and improves court procedures. HB23-1186 is expected to decrease the number of Coloradans with a no-show, default eviction by over 7,800.

HB23-1186 will now move to the Governor's desk. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Approves Bipartisan Bill to Improve Medical Price Transparency

Legislation to bolster consumer protections, increase transparency in health care

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate passed 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 House for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE. 

Joint Select Committee Democrats Introduce Bill to Improve Accountability & Transparency for Utilities, Save People Money on Energy Bills

Legislation will implement savings for ratepayers, level playing field at the PUC

DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates yesterday introduced legislation that would improve transparency and accountability for utilities and save people money on their energy bills.

SB23-291 presents a package of reforms to lower utility bills now and in the future. It rebalances what kinds of expenses are paid by utility shareholders vs. ratepayers, aligns incentives on fuel cost control, and levels the playing field at PUC proceedings, where infrastructure plans are proposed and approved.

The bill would limit utility expenses that can be paid by ratepayers, such as lobbying and advertising, which would be more appropriately paid by company shareholders. It would also create a mechanism to incentivize utilities to save money on fuel costs, and allow the PUC to set a maximum monthly fuel cost to smooth out monthly bills and avoid sudden price shocks.

“Colorado families were hit hard this winter by unexpected and severe price shocks, which is why we convened the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates to investigate the causes and find solutions,” Joint Select Committee Chair Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, said. “That’s why I am proud to introduce this legislation that will improve transparency and hold utilities more accountable to the ratepayers they serve. Senate Bill 291 will help to align utility companies’ and Coloradans’ interests and expectations about their energy service, while helping save Coloradans money on their energy bills ”

"Coloradans are counting on us to address skyrocketing utility costs, and as a Joint Select Committee, we’ve taken their concerns seriously as we worked to uncover the root causes of rising rates,” said Joint Select Committee Vice Chair Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “After months of information gathering, we’re introducing legislation to change the incentive structure for utilities that will better protect ratepayers from sudden price hikes and ensure a more transparent PUC process for consumer interests.”

“Our committee has been hard at work the past few months searching for answers and working to save people money on their energy bills,” Joint Select Committee member Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, said. “One thing quickly became clear, Coloradans are bearing the brunt of volatile rate increases while utility companies are empowered to set their own rules. This important legislation will help level the playing field at the PUC and create fairer processes in utility rate setting that will impact Coloradans today and for generations to come.”

"As a Joint Select Committee, we’ve been working diligently with policy experts, consumer advocates, and utility companies to uncover what is leading to rising utility rates that are impacting our neighbors,” said Joint Select Committee member Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “Our new legislation will create a pathway toward long-term, cost-saving solutions that will increase rate transparency and provide additional tools and tactics to limit price hikes that stick Coloradans with high, unpredictable utility bills.” 

Further, the bill would level the playing field at the PUC by requiring utilities to report more detailed justification for their plans when they request a rate increase, which will help regulators and watchdogs make sure proposed investments are truly in the public interest. In addition, the bill empowers the PUC to reduce utilities’ use of expensive consultants and lawyers that argue on behalf of rate increases. 

SB23-291 will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee. You can track the bill’s progress HERE.

Convened by President Fenberg and House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, in response to recent spikes in energy prices, the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates worked 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.

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

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

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate cleared 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 House for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Committee Advances Moreno’s Landmark Bill to Cut Red Tape, Create More Housing Options Coloradans Can Afford

SB23-213 will implement a comprehensive plan to help create more housing now for every Colorado budget

DENVER, CO – The Senate Local Government & Housing Committee today voted to advance Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno’s, D-Commerce City, bill to cut red tape and create more housing options now that Colorado families can afford.

SB23-213 is a comprehensive bill that establishes a framework for more housing in municipalities while providing flexibility for local leaders to implement standards that meet their community's needs. The proposal establishes ways for the state and local communities to work together to develop strategies to meet Colorado’s housing goals more broadly and to avoid regional imbalances in housing production.

“Every Coloradan deserves a safe and affordable place to live, and this proposal will create a smart, holistic approach to expand the menu of housing options families and communities can choose from,” said Moreno. “I’m pleased to see this bill move forward, and I’m excited to continue fighting to cut red tape, expand our housing supply, and improve affordability so that more Colorado families have a place to call home.”

The proposal also includes opportunities for local communities to implement solutions that address unique circumstances and build on prior local efforts that address housing abundance and affordability. By creating more housing supply, this proposal will lead to increases in home options for every budget so that Coloradans can live in the communities they want without being priced out. The plan also helps improve air quality, protect open space, conserve water and plan for future growth while helping prevent displacement. 

The plan outlines strategies to create more housing now including:

• Legalizing the ability to build more affordable housing types like ADUs, duplexes, triplexes, or townhomes.

• Incentivizing more multifamily housing in or near transit-oriented and walkable communities to lessen the number of cars on the road, improving air quality, reducing pollution, and saving people money on commutes. 

• Cutting red tape and reducing building limitations to decrease building time and cost and giving more options and flexibility for homeowners to build on their land. 

• Assessing statewide housing needs and identifying affordability strategies tailored to local and regional needs. The bill will provide a framework for state, regional, and local agencies to strategically align investments and policies and track progress.

• Constructing more homes and creating jobs by eliminating arbitrary laws that prevent property owners from building the housing units local communities need. 

The bill was amended in committee to provide more flexibility for municipalities, among other changes. Tier 1 municipalities will now need to allow middle housing in at least 30 percent of the areas where they allow single-unit dwellings, or the total area of their key corridors and transit-oriented areas, whichever is greater. 

Municipalities will gain the flexibility for where to locate zones for middle housing, but must do so based on their displacement risk analysis, and are encouraged to locate middle housing near transit and in walkable neighborhoods.

SB23-213 will now move to further consideration before the Senate Appropriations committee. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Buckner Bill to Make Colorado Safer, Extend Successful Public Safety Programs Clears Committee

Buckner: “I’m proud to champion these important programs, and I look forward to creating a safer Colorado for us all.”

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, that would extend and expand key public safety programs cleared the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee today.

SB23-277 would extend the Safer Streets Grant Program created by SB22-001, and make changes to a pair of public safety programs established by SB22-145 to expand their reach and help law enforcement officials recruit and retain more officers in order to keep Colorado safe.

“Every Coloradan deserves to feel safe - but right now too many of our neighbors don’t have that luxury,” Buckner said. “We worked hard last year to implement evidence-based solutions to improve public safety, and this bill will strengthen and expand those critical programs. I’m proud to champion these important programs, and I look forward to creating a safer Colorado for us all.”

SB23-277 extends the Safer Streets Grant Program and allows the $10.3M appropriated last year to be expended past FY 2022-2023. The Safer Streets Grant Program helps local governments make critical upgrades to neighborhoods, such as better lighting for increased visibility and improved design of the built physical environment, that help prevent crime and create safer communities.

SB23-277 also makes changes to two grant programs created by SB22-145. The bill would allow grants from the Law Enforcement Workforce Recruitment, Retention & Tuition Grant Program to be used for child care for peace officers, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training, partnerships with schools to develop internship programs or youth programs, and education campaigns for law enforcement recruitment assistance.

SB23-277 makes similar changes to the State’s Mission for Assistance in Recruitment and Training (SMART) grant program, allowing grants to be used for the same purposes added to the other two grant programs. SMART grants help local law enforcement agencies recruit and train officers that better represent the communities they serve.

SB23-277 will now move to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

ICYMI: Judiciary Committee Advances Gonzales Bill On Admissibility Standards for Youth Interrogations

Legislation would bar juveniles’ statements from being admitted in court if law enforcement used deceptive practices during interrogation

DENVER, CO – Yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Senator Julie Gonzales’, D-Denver, bill to bar a juvenile’s statement from being admitted in court if law enforcement used deceptive practices during a custodial interrogation.

HB23-1042 would make a juvenile’s statement inadmissible in court if a law enforcement official knowingly uses untruthful practices during a custodial interrogation, unless the prosecution can prove that the statement was made voluntarily despite the deception. It would require an interrogation to be recorded and would allow a judge to use the recording to determine if the statement or admission is voluntary and admissible.

“False confessions harm the person giving the confession as well as our public safety,” Gonzales said. “Currently, Colorado law tells us that we are okay with law enforcement lying to children; that we are okay with innocent children ending up behind bars. This year, we have an opportunity to do right by Colorado’s kids. I’m proud to carry this critical legislation which will help prevent kids from having permanent records over false confessions and ensure law enforcement is keeping our communities safe by finding the correct perpetrator of crimes.”

The bill would allocate $30,000 to fund juvenile interrogation training for law enforcement to improve understanding of juvenile development, strengthen techniques for building rapport with juveniles, and reduce the likelihood of false confessions.

HB23-1042 now heads to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate 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 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 House for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Water Restoration Projects

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

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate passed 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 they 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 House for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE. 

Gonzales & Jaquez Lewis’ Bill To Reduce Local Government Participation in Immigrant Detention Clears Committee

HB23-1100 would end formal cooperation between ICE and Colorado sheriffs

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis’, D-Longmont, bill to prohibit local governments from providing space in jails and prisons to detain undocumented people for civil immigration purposes.

HB23-1100 would limit local governments' participation in immigration detention by prohibiting them from entering into certain contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and with private detention facilities. The bill also prohibits state and local governments from opening or facilitating new private immigration detention facilities.

“Over the past few years we have made significant progress to limit Colorado’s local governments’ involvement in federal immigration detention policies,” Gonzales said. “This bill takes us another step closer to ending involvement altogether, helping ensure we are living out our Colorado values and working to keep immigrant families in Colorado whole.”

“Right now, Colorado taxpayers are helping fund ICE facilities and detention,” said Jaquez Lewis. “This runs counter to the values of an overwhelming majority of Coloradans and it’s time to put an end to it. With this bill, we’re ensuring critical state dollars and resources are not being used to enforce federal policies that separate families and thrust undocumented people into dangerous detainment.”

In 2019, Gonzales passed legislation to prohibit state law enforcement officers from arresting or detaining people on federal immigration charges.

HB23-1100 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

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.”