Rodriguez Bill to Streamline Access to Benefits for Firefighters Clears Committee

Legislation would help cut through the red tape standing between firefighters and the benefits they’ve earned

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, that would better support Colorado’s firefighters by streamlining access to critical health care benefits cleared the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee today.

Employers of firefighters, like local governments and special districts, are required to provide health care coverage for heart and circulatory conditions related to elevated risks firefighters are exposed to throughout the course of their jobs. Right now, employers can fulfill this obligation through self insurance, accident insurance, or by participating in a multiple employer trust. SB24-089 would instead require that all employers of firefighters participate in a trust.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our families and our communities safe, and they deserve the best possible care when they experience medical issues related to their dangerous and demanding jobs,” Rodriguez said. “This bill will help cut through the red tape standing between firefighters and the benefits they’ve earned, and ensure firefighters can focus on themselves and their recovery instead of fighting to get a claim approved.”

Participating in the trust instead of through self insurance will make it easier and more likely for firefighters to have their claims approved.

SB24-089 will now move to consideration before the full Senate. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Colorado Democrats Unveil Bill to Reduce the Cost of Housing

Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution

DENVER, CO - Colorado Democrats today introduced legislation to make housing in Colorado more affordable and reduce traffic congestion by eliminating parking mandates that drive up the cost of building new housing, especially multifamily developments.

“Requiring more parking spots than the market demands drives up the cost of construction, makes housing more expensive in Colorado, and puts more and more distance between homes and destinations," said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “We have quite literally paved paradise to put up a parking lot. With each new off-street parking spot adding potentially tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new building, the evidence is overwhelming that eliminating minimum parking mandates will allow for more diverse housing stock, free up space for more transportation choices, and improve air quality. It's time for us to put people over parking, and ensure Coloradans can live, work, and play affordably throughout our great state.”

“Addressing Colorado’s housing crisis requires an all-of-the-above approach - and with parking mandates eating up more and more space and money, it’s long past time we act to eliminate them,” Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, said. “Parking minimums stifle housing development and act as barriers to building the new housing we need to bring down prices and get folks housed. This bill will make it easier to increase Colorado’s housing supply, and encourage practices that will reduce emissions and help us reach our climate goals.”

“The research is clear, the actions we’re taking will keep rents from rising, reduce the cost of building new apartments, homes and condos, and will save people money on housing,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “There are eight parking spaces for every vehicle on the road, and most municipalities require up to three parking spaces per unit, which can add millions to the cost of building new multifamily housing. This common sense reform empowers consumers to choose the housing options that work best for them instead of continuing to force higher costs on builders, renters and homeowners for parking spaces they don’t need or want.”    

“This year we’re taking a multifaceted approach to combating the housing crisis in Colorado, and removing parking mandates that drive up housing costs is a key part of our agenda,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “Studies have shown time and again that mandated parking minimums negatively impact health outcomes and the environment while slowing housing development and raising prices. I look forward to working on this commonsense solution that can improve affordability for the hardworking folks of Pueblo.”

Beginning January 1, 2025, HB24-1304 would prohibit counties or municipalities from establishing or enforcing minimum parking requirements for residential or commercial properties within a metropolitan planning organization.

Parking minimums increase home prices and rents by requiring developers to use valuable space for cars that may not be fully utilized and could instead be dedicated to more housing units. With new structured parking spaces costing $25,000 each in the Denver Metro in 2020, developers are disincentivized from building new residential projects or must reduce the number of units that are developed.

Since the city of Minneapolis eliminated residential parking minimums in 2021, rents have only increased 1 percent, while Denver saw an average increase of nearly 5 percent in just the last two years. Research attributes the significant expansion of the housing supply in Minneapolis to the elimination of parking minimums.

The oversupply of parking is also directly linked to higher vehicle miles traveled. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in Colorado, with cars contributing nearly 60 percent of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified Denver and the Northern Front Range as having unhealthy levels of ground level ozone, which can lead to negative health impacts like asthma and bronchitis, especially for vulnerable Coloradans. Additionally, replacing wildlife habitat to build massive surface lots for parking harms the environment by increasing soil and water pollution, flooding, and the heat island effect.

The bill does not impact parking spaces required for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Hansen, Michaelson Jenet Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Social Media Companies, Protect Children Online

Legislation would require social media companies to create policies that keep kids safe 

DENVER, CO – Senators Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, recently introduced legislation aimed at keeping kids safe online.

SB24-158 would require social media companies to make their platforms safer for children and teens. This includes commonsense measures like requiring them to verify the age of users, defaulting to protective settings for kids, and providing easy-to-use parental tools to limit some risky or more addictive features. 

“As the parent of two teenagers, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact unfettered access to social media can have on our youth,” Hansen said. “Without laws forcing them to protect our kids, social media companies will continue to fall short. This bill will put critical guardrails around these companies, and make Colorado a national leader in the fight to create a safer and healthier online environment for our kids.”

“Unregulated social media platforms have wreaked havoc on our kids’ mental health while making it dangerously easy for predatory adults to target Colorado children and teens for sexual exploitation - and it’s only getting worse,” said Michaelson Jenet. “It’s far past time we stand up and say enough is enough. I am proud to champion this legislation that will better protect our kids and address the toxic role social media platforms play in young people’s lives.”

SB24-158 would improve content moderation by requiring social media companies to publicly post the process for flagging content and their process for responding to user flags, as well as contact information for policy inquiries. It would also require companies to post a statement that various forms of illegal activity are prohibited and that violations will be reported to law enforcement. 

Further, social media companies would also have to comply with law enforcement inquiries on specified timetables, and provide data to the Colorado Attorney General on how the platforms are being used by kids and how companies are complying with the safeguards created in this bill. 

SB24-158 will be heard by the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee in the coming weeks. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Marchman Hosts Loveland Town Hall, Discusses Legislative Priorities

Marchman: “I look forward to continuing to fight for the issues that matter most to District 15 in the Capitol”

LOVELAND, CO – Yesterday, Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, held a town hall at the Loveland Fire Station to hear directly from constituents and discuss priorities as the legislative session ramps up. 

During the town hall, Marchman detailed her legislation to improve behavioral health outcomes in rural Colorado. Her bipartisan bill, SB24-055, would better connect farmers, ranchers and their families to behavioral health care resources. Additionally, SB24-034 would increase access to school-based health care via telehealth, mobile services and referrals – which particularly supports rural and agricultural communities.

“It was great to connect with folks in the Sweetheart City ahead of Valentine’s Day,” said Marchman. “I’m laser focused this session on championing bills that support rural and aging communities, improve behavioral health outcomes, and bolster our schools. I look forward to continuing to fight for the issues that matter most to District 15 in the Capitol.”

Members of the community expressed concern about the potential increase in natural gas prices after the February cold snap. Last session, Colorado Democrats passed legislation to improve accountability and transparency for utilities while saving people money. 

Senate Gives Initial Sign Off to FY 23-24 Budget Supplemental Package

Bills include measures to set students up for success, increase access to behavioral health care, support seniors, & improve public safety

DENVER, CO – The Colorado Senate today advanced the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Supplemental Package on a preliminary vote. The suite of bills includes measures to set students up for success, increase access to behavioral health care, support seniors, and improve public safety.

“Our bipartisan supplemental budget package will help all Coloradans access the resources they need to thrive,” said JBC Vice Chair Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “In response to mid-year budget adjustments like changes in caseloads and pupil counts, we’re investing responsibly to make sure we meet the needs of programs ranging everywhere from education to behavioral health care to public safety. I look forward to continuing our work to craft a budget that delivers for Colorado families and communities while keeping Colorado on solid financial footing.”

“This year’s supplemental budget package reflects our Colorado values,” said JBC member Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. “We’ve worked in a bipartisan fashion to invest in our shared priorities – supporting behavioral health care, improving public safety, and bolstering our early childcare system.”

Each year, the legislature adopts a Budget Supplemental Package to make mid-year adjustments to the current fiscal year’s budget based on changes to caseload, pupil counts and other considerations. 

Supporting Education, Setting Students Up for Success

• HB24-1183 would provide over $4.6 million from the State Public School Fund to support at-risk students in their educational journey. This bill would help school districts meet the needs of their at-risk students to help them succeed and graduate.

• HB24-1206 would make facility schools as well the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind eligible for state nutrition programs, including Healthy Schools Meals for All. This bill aims to ensure all youth have access to healthy, nutritious food during the school day.

• HB24-1182 would allocate over $11 million of federal Child Care Development Funds money to the Child Care Sustainability Grant Program and the Early Care and Education Recruitment and Retention Grant and Scholarship Program.

Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Care

• HB24-1187 would devote $58 million to properly staff hospitals that house patients with pending criminal charges that require competency evaluations, and would allocate $13.1 million to Pueblo’s Colorado Mental Health Hospital to fill staff openings with contract staffers. Additionally, the bill would allocate $500,000 to the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind, allowing the state to meet the rising demand for the long-term needs of Coloradans and maintain accessibility services.

• HB24-1203 would allocate $11.4 million for inpatient treatment beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan to ensure Coloradans can receive the behavioral health care treatment they need, when they need it. 

• HB24-1185 would offer $10.4 million to increase rates for child behavioral therapies with autism spectrum disorder, meeting the recommendations of the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee.

Improving Public Safety

• HB24-1214 would support survivors of crime by boosting the Community Crime Victims Grant Program with a $4 million investment. This fund directly supports qualified victims of crime by assisting with emergency housing, child care and medical visits.

• HB24-1197 would aid local places of worship, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, in ramping up their security measures through a $1 million allocation to the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The bill would also set aside more than $200,000 in grant funding for local education providers and eligible nonprofits to help schools keep their students safe through improved physical security measures as well as advanced security training for their staff and teachers.

Supporting Services for Older Coloradans 

• HB24-1211 would offer $2 million in supplemental funding to the Meals on Wheels program and other senior services to ensure the thousands of Coloradans who rely on these programs can have access to healthy, nutritional meals. Due to interruptions in federal funding, older Coloradans who use the popular Meals on Wheels food delivery program could experience a lapse in service without action by the legislature.

Reaching Climate Goals 

• HB24-1196 would provide a $1.3 million grant renewal to help Coloradans transition to eco-friendly, electric lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other lawn equipment. Additionally, the bill would allocate $214,000 to ensure the state can educate on and protect Colorado’s water and ecosystems following the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision that left Colorado’s wetlands vulnerable to pollution and destruction.

Mullica Receives Outstanding Government Service Award from the American Medical Association

Senator recognized for his work to implement health policy that benefits Coloradans

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, received the Outstanding Government Service Award from the American Medical Association for his contributions to advancing public health in Colorado.  

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the American Medical Association for my commitment to improving public health in Colorado,” said Mullica. “As an ER nurse, I know firsthand the challenges that patients face when seeking care, as well as the challenges providers face in delivering care. Throughout my time in elected office, I have fought for policies that ease the burdens for patients and providers alike and improve health outcomes for all Coloradans.”

This year, Mullica is sponsoring legislation to reduce medical waste and increase affordability for patients, expand treatment options for Coloradans with substance use disorders, and allow counties to prohibit nicotine products to discourage Colorado’s youth from vaping and tobacco use.

In previous years, Mullica championed legislation to increase Colorado’s vaccination rates, expand access to community health care services, support the health care workforce, and better prepare for public health emergencies.

Outside of public office, Mullica is an emergency room nurse and is the only active medical practitioner serving in the Colorado Legislature.

Danielson Bill to Bolster Colorado’s Workforce by Connecting Apprenticeships with Education System Clears Committee

SB24-104 aligns currently siloed education and workforce systems to increase apprenticeships

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee unanimously passed Senator Jessie Danielson’s, D-Wheat Ridge, bill to seamlessly connect apprenticeship programs with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and high school and technical education (CTE) programs. 

SB24-104 would require the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) and the CCCS to align high school CTE programs with registered apprenticeships, which includes things like working with apprenticeship sponsors on including credit for CTE programs completed. There are currently over 300,000 high school and community college students enrolled in CTE programs, and this would help more of these students to progress into paid apprenticeships with concrete career pathways. Programs and occupations would focus on areas of workforce shortages, such as infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, education, or health care.

“Currently, there is a gap between technical education and apprentice programs across the state," said Danielson. "This bill bridges that gap by connecting students with quality apprenticeships that will give them the opportunity to earn as they learn.”

While Colorado has made progress in advancing registered apprenticeships over the last several years, according to CDLE, apprenticeships make up only 0.1 percent of the state’s workforce. Reports show that students benefit from experiential learning opportunities, leading to higher grades, greater engagement, and stronger career-readiness. 

The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Follow its progress HERE.

Legislation to Boost Substance Use Disorder Prevention Efforts Clears Committee

Bill a result of interim committee work to save lives, prevent overdose deaths in Colorado

DENVER, CO – Legislation aimed at boosting substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and saving lives in Colorado cleared the Senate Health & Human Services Committee today.

SB24-047, sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, would support Coloradans with SUDs by updating the Colorado Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to improve data collection and access, and by creating the Substance Use Disorder Prevention Gap Grant Program to provide grants to community-based organizations to address funding for SUD prevention services.

“Addressing the overdose and substance use disorder crisis requires an all-of-the-above approach, and this prevention bill starts with doing a better job on the front end by preventing folks from becoming at all.” said Jaquez Lewis. “These resources will empower community organizations and folks on the ground as they work to prevent substance use and abuse while connecting Coloradans who are struggling with the treatment and support they need.”

“We have lost far too many Coloradans to accidental overdoses and substance use disorders. Something has to change,” Priola said. “By cultivating more supportive recovery programs and promoting proven prevention methods, our multi-pronged approach will help save lives and get more of our neighbors the support they need to thrive.”

SB24-047 also updates data-sharing permissions for local overdose fatality review boards and establishes a statewide grant for substance use screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment in Colorado schools and pediatric settings to identify treatment resources and needs for adolescents. Finally, the bill expands the statewide perinatal substance use data linkage project, adding access to state and federal data to improve legislative recommendations for those impacted by substance use during pregnancy. 

This legislation originated from the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee, which met over the interim and developed policies aimed at bolstering prevention efforts, improving treatment programs, promoting harm reduction strategies, and supporting Coloradans in recovery to prevent overdose deaths and save lives.

SB24-047 will now move to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Mullica’s Bill Allowing Counties to Prohibit Nicotine Products Clears Committee

The bill would ensure counties have the same power as municipalities to regulate nicotine sales

DENVER, CO – Senator Kyle Mullica’s, D-Thornton, bill to give counties more local control over tobacco and nicotine sales cleared the Senate Local Government and Housing Committee today.

SB24-022 would explicitly allow counties to prohibit the sale of cigarettes, tobacco, or nicotine products. This includes the power to prohibit the sale of flavored cigarettes, flavored tobacco or flavored nicotine products.

“Colorado is facing an epidemic of vaping and tobacco use that is having harmful effects on our kids and our communities,” Mullica said. “We have evidence from towns across Colorado that these types of policies work, and can lead to improved outcomes across the board. This bill is about ensuring both cities and counties can regulate tobacco in the fight for the health of our communities.” 

Colorado municipalities already have the power to prohibit flavored tobacco and nicotine products and several have done so, including Aspen, Boulder, Carbondale, Edgewater, Glenwood Springs, Golden, and Snowmass Village.

Youth and young adults are more likely than adults to use flavored nicotine products. In 2021, 22.6 percent of high school students in Colorado who have ever used a vape reported they used the products because they were flavored. Flavored and menthol nicotine products have also been shown to disproportionately impact the health of many marginalized groups - including Black Americans, Latino Americans, the LGBTQ community, women, and people living with mental illness. 

SB24-022 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. Follow the bill's progress HERE.

Sullivan Bill to Establish Merchant Codes for Firearms, Combat Gun Violence Earns Committee Approval

Legislation would make it easier to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns

DENVER, CO – Legislation that would combat gun violence by establishing a new code to categorize gun sales and help law enforcement recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns cleared the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee today.

Sponsored by Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, SB24-066 would require payment card networks like Visa or Mastercard to provide a specific code, known as a merchant code, for businesses that sell firearms and ammunition. Merchant codes would allow banks and credit card companies to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns – like a domestic extremist building up an arsenal – and report them to law enforcement.

“In the weeks before my son Alex was killed in the Aurora Theater shooting, his killer purchased multiple firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition - and nobody batted an eye,” Sullivan said. “Credit cards have been repeatedly used to finance mass shootings, and merchant codes would have allowed the credit card companies to recognize his alarming pattern of behavior and refer it to law enforcement. This bill will give us more tools to protect people, and make it easier to stop illegal firearms-related activity like straw purchases before disaster strikes.”

SB24-066 would be enforced by the Attorney General, and will now head to further consideration before the full Senate. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Danielson & Fields Measure to Protect Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Clears Committee

Resolution would refer measure to give voters opportunity to protect children from sexual abuse and hold perpetrators accountable

DENVER, CO – A measure sponsored by Senators Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, that, if passed, would ask voters to amend the Colorado state constitution to protect children from sexual abuse by holding perpetrators accountable cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

SCR24-001 would refer a measure to voters on the November 2024 ballot that, if approved, would amend the state constitution and create a narrow exception to the constitution’s ban on laws that apply to past conduct for child sexual abuse civil claims. The amendment would pave the way for the General Assembly to take action and allow survivors of child sexual abuse to pursue legal action against their abusers and any institution complicit in the abuse.

“For too long, Colorado law has failed victims of childhood sexual abuse,” Danielson said. “We are asking the people of Colorado to stand with survivors who were abused as children, and to hold not only the predators accountable, but institutions and organizations who swept it under the rug as well.”

“The current statute of limitations for victims to pursue child sexual abuse claims denies them the chance to seek justice after undergoing years of trauma and possible recovery,” said Fields. “Statutes of limitations are the tool most often used to deny and defeat claims of sexual abuse, but healing from trauma has no timeline. That is why the civil statute of limitations needs to be eliminated. Survivors in Colorado deserve the ability to access the civil legal system on their own schedule.”

In 2021, Colorado passed the bipartisan Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Act, joining 29 other states and territories in giving survivors of childhood sexual abuse an opportunity to pursue civil claims against those responsible for their abuse, regardless of when it happened. Last summer the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the lookback window was unconstitutional because it violated the state constitution’s ban on “retrospective” laws. SCR24-001 would update the state constitution to allow for such a law to pass in the future.

To successfully refer SCR24-001 to Colorado voters as a constitutional amendment, it will require at least two-thirds support in both chambers, and would need to garner at least 55 percent of the vote in November. 

SCR24-001 will now move to the full Senate for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE. 

Committee Passes Sullivan’s Bill to Prevent Suicide In Rural Colorado

Legislation would create a suicide prevention program for agricultural and rural communities

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance Senator Tom Sullivan’s, D-Centennial, bill focused on suicide prevention in rural and agricultural communities in Colorado.

SB24-057 would establish the Agricultural Workforce Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Program. The bill would create a free, confidential crisis hotline specific to the needs of agricultural workers, and promote suicide awareness and prevention within rural communities. 

“Suicide is a serious concern in rural Colorado, where the suicide rate for farmers, ranchers, and other ag workers continues to rise,” said Sullivan. “When people reach out for help, they need to know that the person on the other end of the phone understands the unique challenges they’re dealing with - from the isolation that can come with living in rural areas to how the weather impacts their crops. This bill helps rural Coloradans have crisis support options that are relevant to them.”

Rural and agricultural communities in Colorado are often underserved in terms of behavioral health resources. Between 2017 and 2022, rural communities experienced the highest rates of suicide in Colorado, with individuals employed in construction, mining, gas, and agriculture experiencing rates higher than average. 

SB24-057 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Follow the bill's progress HERE.

Mullica’s Bill to Improve Eviction Data Collection and Reporting Clears Committee

Legislation would require courts to collect and report an expanded set of eviction case data

DENVER, CO – Senator Kyle Mullica’s, D-Thornton, bill to improve eviction data collection and reporting cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

SB24-064 would require courts to electronically collect data for eviction cases in every county, beginning July 1, 2024. By January 1, 2025, the Judicial Department would be required to publish data on all residential evictions, including final orders issued by Colorado District Courts, online in a searchable format, free of charge and on a monthly basis. The public data would not include personally identifiable information about a landlord or tenant.

“The cost of housing in Colorado continues to push people out of the communities they call home,” Mullica said. “As part of our larger effort to address Colorado’s housing crisis, we need to make sure we have a thorough understanding of how often and why people are being evicted. My hope is that through improved eviction data collection and reporting, we can better recognize trends from county to county and in the future, develop policies that will keep more Coloradans housed.”

SB24-064 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Marchman’s Bipartisan Bill to Improve Mental Health in Rural Colorado Passes Committee

Legislation would create a behavioral health program for agricultural and rural communities

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance Senator Janice Marchman’s, D-Loveland, bipartisan bill focused on supporting mental health promotion in rural and agricultural communities in Colorado.

SB24-055, co-sponsored by Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle, would improve access to behavioral health care in rural Colorado by creating a new Agricultural and Rural Community Behavioral Health Program to better connect farmers, ranchers, and their families with behavioral health care. The program would partner with the Department of Agriculture, health providers, and directly with agriculture communities throughout Colorado.

“Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and their families are struggling to get the behavioral health care they urgently need, and the results have been disastrous,” Marchman said. “Everyone deserves to have behavioral health care created by and for their own communities. This bill will bolster our ongoing efforts to close the rural mental health gap, and ultimately help save lives across our state.” 

Marchman’s bill would also establish a working group and centralize existing grant programs within the Department of Agriculture to address the root causes of behavioral health issues in rural and agricultural communities. 

SB24-055 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Sullivan’s Bill to Improve Investigations of Illegal Firearm Activity Clears Committee

Legislation would increase the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to investigate illegal transfers, ghost guns, and investigations on tip line requests

DENVER, CO – Today Senator Tom Sullivan’s, D-Centennial, bill to improve investigations of illegal firearm activity cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SB24-003 would give the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the ability to investigate illegal activity involving firearms. The bill would appropriate $1.7 million to the Department of Public Safety to create a team that investigates individuals convicted of felonies who are attempting to illegally purchase a firearm, and other illegal firearm crimes such as possession of a ghost gun. 

“Though our background check system, InstaCheck, is working as intended, follow-up investigations are rarely conducted at the local or federal level due to resource limitations,” Sullivan said. “By giving CBI statutory authority, they will be able to more effectively investigate illegal firearms transfers and components, violations, ghost guns and information obtained through tip lines, such as suspected straw purchases – all while improving safety in communities across Colorado.”

Creating a framework within the CBI to address illegal transfers, ghost guns, and investigations based on tip line requests would help to improve safety across the state, especially in rural and underserved areas.

SB24-003 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Cutter and Winter’s Bill to Fund Bike and Pedestrian Safety Infrastructure Wins Committee Approval

Legislation would fund infrastructure projects like bicycle lanes and improved sidewalks and lighting at dangerous intersections

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee approved Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter’s, D-Broomfield, bill to provide dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Deaths and serious injuries on Colorado’s roads are on the rise, felt most acutely by vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. Bicycle and pedestrian deaths reached a new all-time high in 2023 with 153 deaths, topping the previous high set just one year ago. 

SB24-036 would establish a dedicated funding source to pay for proven small infrastructure projects that improve safety for vulnerable road users, such as bicycle lanes, pedestrian refuge islands in crossings, and improved sidewalks and lighting at dangerous intersections.

“Bicyclists and pedestrian deaths have spiked at an alarming rate,” said Cutter. “Our bill will support safety projects that are proven to reduce traffic deaths. When our streets are safer and friendlier, people will feel more comfortable traveling outside of a car.”

“Preventing avoidable deaths and serious injuries is a moral imperative in its own right,” Winter said. “Making these street improvements will give people safe, dignified, and low-cost alternatives to driving, which will reduce traffic, improve air quality, reduce climate pollution, and make our streets more vibrant community places.”

Revenue would be generated from a vehicle registration fee calculated based on weight and configuration. Vehicles under 3,500 pounds would be exempt, while larger and heavier vehicles would typically pay between $5 and $10 per year. The fee would only apply in the state’s twelve largest counties, with an exemption for commercial and farm vehicles.

Part of the increase in road danger is due to vehicles getting bigger and heavier. Vehicles with hood heights of 40 inches or more are on average 50 percent more likely to cause a fatality when hitting a pedestrian compared to a vehicle with hood height of 30 inches or less. Meanwhile, hood heights of passenger trucks have increased about 11 percent and their weight has increased about 25 percent since the year 2000.

SB24-036 will now move to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Education Committee Passes Legislation that Improves Access to Outdoor Nature Based Preschools

Marchman: “By allowing ONBs to operate full-day programs, we can create job opportunities, make ONBs more accessible to working families, and ensure kids get the quality education they deserve.”

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Education Committee passed Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Kevin Priola’s, D-Henderson, legislation that would allow licensure for outdoor nature based schools (ONBs) and increase their operations. 

SB24-078 would define ONBs as child care centers for licensing purposes, and require the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) to provide training to licensing and ONB program staff. ONBs currently have no way to obtain licensure. Despite currently operating via waivers and exemption statuses, roadblocks remain in place for ONBs, such as their inability to support full-day preschool.

“Colorado is in the midst of an early-childhood education crisis, which is why it’s imperative that we develop a formal licensure process for ONBs and expand childcare options,” Marchman said. “By allowing ONBs to operate full-day programs, we can create job opportunities, make ONBs more accessible to working families, and ensure kids get the quality education they deserve.”

“I’m glad to see Senate Bill 78 move forward, as it would ensure universal safety standards at outdoor nature based schools and break down barriers for working families who want to access this type of education,” said Priola. “With this bill, we can get outdoor nature preschools licensed as child care centers, and increase access to unique early childhood education options for Coloradans.” 

ONBs are growing in popularity due to their unique format and support for students with diverse learning needs. Eighty-two percent of Coloradans work full-time. Full-day licensure for ONBS would break down barriers for working families and add an estimated 340 additional spots for children. Additionally, full-day operations would support these small businesses by creating jobs in local communities.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Follow its progress HERE.

Bill to Increase Use of Transit Clears Committee

Legislation would extend the popular Ozone Season Free Transit Grant Program, create a tax credit for purchasing a transit pass, and establish a free transit program for youth

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, to increase the use of transit cleared the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee today.

SB24-032 would create the Youth Fare Free Transit Grant Program to provide grants to transit agencies around the state for fare free year-round transit services for Coloradans ages 19 and younger. The bill would also extend the successful Ozone Season Free Transit Grant Program that funds Colorado’s free transit rides during peak ozone season, which is set to expire without further legislative action.

“During my time in elected office, Colorado has taken leaps and bounds forward when it comes to smart, successful transportation policy,” said Priola. “Now in my final legislative session in the General Assembly, I’m proud to sponsor new legislation that will improve upon our past work while continuing to innovate. Senate Bill 32 will streamline a statewide transit system to increase usage and save people money.”

“This important bill from the Transportation Legislation Review Committee will make it even easier for Coloradans to opt for a bus or train instead of a car, helping reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” Jaquez Lewis said. “The Ozone Season Grant Program and the Youth Fare Free Transit Grant Program will help lower costs for working families, while the tax credit will help Colorado businesses offer their employees reliable and discounted transportation.”

Finally, the bill would create a statewide transit pass exploratory committee within the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to produce a proposal for implementing a statewide transit pass. The committee would be created by October 1, 2024, and offer a proposal by July 1, 2026. The committee members would be appointed by the executive director of CDOT and must include representatives of transit agencies from throughout the state.

SB24-032 will now move to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Roberts Bill to Spur Affordable Workforce Housing

Property tax credits and rebates aim to incentivize more affordable rentals 

DENVER, CO – Today, the Colorado Senate passed Senator Dylan Roberts’, D-Frisco, bipartisan legislation to grant local governments the authority to create property tax rebate programs to address areas of specific local concern including affordable housing development.

SB24-002 would allow local governments to establish property tax incentive programs to address critical issues related to housing, childcare, behavioral health, economic development and other areas of local concern. For example, under the bill, a municipality would be able to authorize tax credits or rebates that incentivize property owners to convert rental properties from short-term to long-term, boosting the availability of workforce and more permanent housing.

“Local governments are desperate for solutions to our state’s housing crisis and affordability issues, which is why this legislation is so important," said Roberts. "It will create valuable financial incentives for more long-term affordable rental housing for local workers instead of short-term rentals, more options for childcare, greater support for small businesses, and more. I'm thrilled this bill is moving forward with bipartisan support.”

The bill allows a local government to renew a tax rebate or incentive program for up to one year if they find that it has been effective in addressing the area of specific local concern.

SB24-002 now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Coleman’s Bill to Examine Impacts of Systemic Racial Inequities Earns Committee Support

Coleman: “This is an important opportunity for our state, and I am looking forward to continuing this conversation so we can begin to repair the damage and create a better and more equitable future for all Black Coloradans.”

DENVER, CO – The Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem James Coleman, D-Denver, that would create a study to examine racial disparities and the impact of systemic racism on Black Coloradans.

SB24-053 would establish a commission to oversee the study with History Colorado conducting historical research across areas like economic mobility, housing, education, health care and the criminal justice system. 

“Black Coloradans have been living with the impacts of systemic and historic racism – and the structural inequities that have resulted from it – for decades,” Coleman said. “Studying that painful legacy is the first step towards addressing it, and would give us a deeper understanding of the impacts of past and current racial discrimination and policies on our community. This is an important opportunity for our state, and I am looking forward to continuing this conversation so we can begin to repair the damage and create a better and more equitable future for all Black Coloradans.”

The study would also include an economic impact analysis of the racial discrimination determined by the study. 

SB24-053 will now move to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.