Senate Approves Bipartisan Bill to Make Colorado More Affordable, Reduce Property Taxes for Coloradans

SB24-233 would provide permanent property tax relief to save Coloradans money on their property taxes now and in the future

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to provide permanent property tax relief while protecting funding for public schools earned approval before the Senate today.

SB24-233, sponsored by Chair of the bipartisan Commission on Property Tax Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, would ensure that Colorado homeowners won’t see an increase in their property taxes for 2024 and reduce statewide local taxes by more than $1 billion.

"Coloradans are depending on us to meet the moment and provide responsible property tax relief that works for them and their families," Hansen said. "I was proud to lead the bipartisan Commission on Property Tax that spent months working hand in hand with partners across the state to develop recommendations aimed at finding a long-term solution to this challenge. This bill, which is based on those recommendations, does exactly that, and will responsibly reduce property tax rates in a way that balances the needs of homeowners with protecting critical funding for schools. I am excited about this opportunity to deliver relief for those who need it most."

In 2025 and beyond, the bill would reduce property taxes by seven to 10 percent compared to current law for homes valued at $700,000 or less. Annual savings would equal $300-$400 for a home valued at $700,000. Savings would depend on local mills and any changes in assessed home values. SB24-233 would also reduce the non-residential assessment rate to 25 percent by 2026.

To offset revenue loss resulting from property tax reductions, the bill would direct $380 million from the State Education Fund to backfill school districts, ensuring public schools remain fully funded.

Finally, SB24-233 would protect Coloradans against future spikes in property taxes by capping local property taxes at 5.5 percent starting in 2025, creating more certainty for homeowners and businesses.

SB24-233 will now move to the House for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

ICYMI: Bipartisan Legislation to Create New TABOR Refund Mechanism, Better Support Colorado Families Clears Senate

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, that would restructure the refund mechanisms for state revenue collected above the TABOR cap and ensure Colorado is able to meet its commitment to fund critical services and schools cleared the Senate yesterday.

SB24-228, also sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, would temporarily lower income tax rates and create a new formula to determine future refund amounts through a six-tier refund mechanism and income tax rate reduction, and sales and use tax reductions in years with higher surpluses. 

"Making sure Colorado's tax code works for all Coloradans is one of my top priorities, which is why this bill, combined with our work to bolster critical tax credits that benefit working families, is so important,” Mullica said. "Taken together, these measures will put more money into the pockets of working Colorado families, cut child poverty in half, and make it easier to make ends meet."

SB24-228 will ensure Colorado meets its funding obligations during a recession and, when paired with the new Family Affordability Tax Credit and expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, will support working Colorado families by reducing child poverty and boosting the incomes of hardworking people.

SB24-228 will now move to the House. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

ICYMI: Bill to Legalize ADUs, Create More Housing Coloradans Can Afford Earns Senate Approval

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Tony Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs, that would expand housing options and save people money on housing by legalizing ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) cleared the Senate yesterday.

HB24-1152 would allow homeowners in subject jurisdictions to build an ADU with fewer obstacles and creates a new $5 million state grant program to help local governments implement policies to promote and streamline the construction of ADUs.

“Colorado families and communities are desperate for solutions to help address the housing crisis and build more homes for working Coloradans,” said Mullica. “Our bill will give more Coloradans the freedom and support they need to build ADUs on their property, allow more older Coloradans to age in place, and create more affordable housing options in our communities.”

“Everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to live, but too many families are struggling to afford the cost of housing in our state,” Exum said. “By giving folks the flexibility to build ADUs on their property, as well as providing grant funding to help cover construction costs, we can bring down housing prices and keep more Coloradans in the communities they call home.”

The bill’s grant program would enable local governments to support lower and middle-income Coloradans building an ADU, property owners renting their ADU at an affordable rate, and the construction of accessible ADUs.

Finally, HB24-1152 provides $8 million in funding through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to directly help homeowners in ADU-supportive jurisdictions build ADUs, including with down payment assistance, affordable loans, and buying down interest rates on loans for the conversion or construction of ADUs.

Recent polling found that 78 percent of Colorado voters support a law that allows ADUs to be built on single-family home properties.

HB24-1152 will now move to the House for consideration of Senate amendments. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Gives Initial Sign Off on Bipartisan Bill to Make Colorado More Affordable, Reduce Property Taxes for Coloradans

SB24-233 would provide permanent property tax relief to save Coloradans money on their property taxes now and in the future

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to provide permanent property tax relief while protecting funding for public schools earned initial approval before the Senate today.

SB24-233, sponsored by Chair of the bipartisan Commission on Property Tax Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, would ensure that Colorado homeowners won’t see an increase in their property taxes for 2024 and reduce statewide local taxes by more than $1 billion.

"Coloradans are depending on us to meet the moment and provide responsible property tax relief that works for them and their families," Hansen said. "I was proud to lead the bipartisan Commission on Property Tax that spent months working hand in hand with partners across the state to develop recommendations aimed at finding a long-term solution to this challenge. This bill, which is based on those recommendations, does exactly that, and will responsibly reduce property tax rates in a way that balances the needs of homeowners with protecting critical funding for schools. I am excited about this opportunity to deliver relief for those who need it most."

In 2025 and beyond, the bill would reduce property taxes by seven to 10 percent compared to current law for homes valued at $700,000 or less. Annual savings would equal $300-$400 for a home valued at $700,000. Savings would depend on local mills and any changes in assessed home values. SB24-233 would also reduce the non-residential assessment rate to 25 percent by 2026.

To offset revenue loss resulting from property tax reductions, the bill would direct $380 million from the State Education Fund to backfill school districts, ensuring public schools remain fully funded.

Finally, SB24-233 would protect Coloradans against future spikes in property taxes by capping local property taxes at 5.5 percent starting in 2025, creating more certainty for homeowners and businesses.

SB24-233 will now be heard on third and final reading before moving to the House for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Streams, Rivers and Wetlands Earns Senate Approval

Bill would reinstate and expand critical protections jeopardized by the Sackett v. EPA decision

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate approved Senator Dylan Roberts’, D-Frisco, bipartisan legislation to protect streams, rivers, and wetlands.

The Clean Water Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to define “Waters of the United States” and the Army Corps of Engineers to regulate discharges from dredge and fill activities into waters that meet that definition. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA in 2023 redefined what constitutes waters subject to federal regulation and placed an estimated 60 percent of Colorado wetlands at risk of losing protections. The impacted wetlands and seasonal streams work to ensure an adequate water supply, aid groundwater recharge, and provide for wildlife habitat in Colorado.

“There is no more important resource to our state and no more pressing challenge that we will face as a state in the decades to come than protecting our water,” said Roberts. “Last year’s Supreme Court decision jeopardized protections for over half of Colorado’s wetlands, which threatens water supply, wildlife habitats, and our state’s environment and economy. This bipartisan bill will protect streams, rivers, and wetlands that are vital to Colorado by creating a new Colorado-based permitting program to implement proven best practices for dredge and fill activities with key protections for agriculture and other crucial industry activity.”

Cosponsored by Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, HB24-1379 would create a permitting program within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for dredge and fill activities impacting state waters. The permitting framework is based on well-established approaches already used by the Army Corps of Engineers, and would provide clarity and certainty on when a permit is needed for dredge and fill activities. Normal farming, ranching, and agricultural activities, such as plowing, farm road construction, ditch maintenance, and erosion control practices would not require a permit.

Until the recent decision in Sackett v. EPA, the Army Corps’ permitting program safeguarded the vast majority of Colorado’s state waters from pollution caused by dredge and fill activities. Dredge and fill activities involve digging up or placing dirt and other fill material into wetlands or surface waters as part of construction projects. These operations are necessary in many infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, housing developments, flood mitigation, and utility pipelines. HB24-1379 would provide a way for these projects to move forward while protecting Colorado’s water resources.

HB24-1379 now returns to the House for consideration of amendments. Track its progress HERE.

Senate Approves Bipartisan Roberts Bill to Ensure Regular Inspections of Funeral Homes and Crematories

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, that would ensure Colorado’s funeral homes and crematories are regularly inspected by a state agency.

HB24-1335, also sponsored by Senator Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, would extend and expand regulations of the Mortuary Science Code, improving regulations and helping avoid future tragedies caused in part by a lack of oversight by the state.

“Coloradans should be able to trust the services being provided during the most difficult moments of their families’ lives - but too often in Colorado, our state’s lack of oversight results in tragedy instead,” Roberts said. “We’re working hard this session to correct that. This bill will put in place stronger oversight that will ensure funeral homes and crematories are held to a high standard, and combined with SB173 which will finally license the folks who work in the industry, we'll make sure that Coloradans’ remains are handled with the care, dignity, and respect they deserve.”

The bill expands and continues certain portions of the Mortuary Science Code in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), which is scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2024. The bill also:

• Requires inspection of funeral homes and crematories on a routine basis, including after businesses have ceased operations;

• Allows inspections to occur outside business hours;

• Expands rulemaking authority for DORA;

• Adds failure to respond to complaints as grounds for discipline; and 

• Authorizes DORA to suspend the registration for persons who do not comply with orders following a complaint or investigation.

Roberts is also a sponsor of SB24-173, which would align Colorado with the 49 other states that already require education, certification and licensure of those who work as funeral directors, mortuary scientists, cremationists, and embalmers.

HB24-1335 will now return to the House for consideration of amendments. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Safe Housing Passes Senate

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to improve access to safe housing for survivors of domestic violence cleared the Senate today.

Sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, HB24-1431 would create the Stable Housing for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence Program. The program would coordinate with community-based organizations to provide short-term assistance payments to survivors of abuse and interpersonal violence so that they can secure safe housing.

“Survivors of domestic and sexual violence frequently face housing instability, further jeopardizing their safety,” Winter said. “This new program will offer financial assistance to survivors to connect them to safe housing options and help ensure their well-being. I’m proud to see HB1431 advance – one of several pieces of legislation we’re passing this year to address the urgent needs of our most vulnerable Coloradans, support survivors, and build safer communities for all.”

“Colorado is lucky to have wonderful community-based organizations working to connect domestic violence survivors with supportive services – but we must do more to support their great work,” Michaelson Jenet said. “I’m pleased that this year we’re able to greatly increase the amount of funding available for domestic violence survivors and survivors of other types of abuse to access safe housing. This is a critical way survivors can get back on their feet and start to rebuild their lives.”

A 2023 study found that survivors who received housing support reported a decrease in physical, psychological, and economic abuse for themselves and their children.

HB24-1431 now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Approves Bipartisan Marchman Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Child Care

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed Senator Janice Marchman’s, D-Loveland, bipartisan legislation that would create three programs for the development of child care facilities. 

HB24-1237, also sponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, would help reduce costs for developing child care facilities by providing technical planning, building, construction, and development support.

“I’m proud to see our bipartisan legislation to increase affordable child care options move forward today,” said Marchman. “Quality, affordable child care is essential to support Colorado’s workforce, and by providing funding to develop new and convert existing spaces into childcare centers, we can offer more options to Colorado families.”

This legislation would create the framework to provide planning and capital grants, and technical support for local governments, institutions of higher education, public schools, employers, private partners, builders, and child care providers.

The bill now moves to the House for consideration of amendments. Follow its progress HERE.

Roberts’ Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Colorado’s Rural Economy Passes Senate

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, that would create jobs and better support Colorado’s rural economy passed the Senate today.

Cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, HB24-1001 would extend income tax credits and grants available to businesses and their employees through the Rural Jump-Start Program, which aims to reduce the cost of starting a new business or hiring employees in rural economic jump-start zones.

“Colorado's Rural Jump-Start program is a proven success. It provides the possibility for small businesses to open their doors and hire employees in our rural communities,” Roberts said. “This bipartisan bill will ensure that this important program continues and that we can get the resources to small businesses that they need to open, hire employees, grow their operations, and thrive. This is a great win for rural Colorado!”

A rural economic jump-start zone is an area within a county with a population less than 250,000 that exhibits certain indicators of economic distress, such as lower per capita income than the state average, lower gross domestic product than the state average, unemployment levels higher than the statewide average, a declining workforce, or a higher concentration of students eligible for free lunch compared to the statewide average.

HB24-1001 will now move to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Kolker’s Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Child Welfare System Clears Senate

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, that would enhance tools for Colorado’s child welfare system cleared the Senate today.

HB24-1046, cosponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, would require reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect to include any information of evidence of domestic violence found in the home. The bill also requires the Colorado Department of Human Services to create a consistent screening process for county departments to follow when responding to a report hotline. 

“It’s past time we take a closer look at how our child welfare system identifies instances of child abuse and domestic violence,” said Kolker. “This bill will enable us to audit and improve the risk and safety assessment tools we use when investigating reports so we can correctly identify needs and better ensure we’re getting a complete picture of the problem at hand. This is a critical step we can take to ensure we’re doing everything we can to improve how we investigate reports and, ultimately, keep kids safe.”

The bill also requires the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman to contract with a third-party evaluator to conduct audits on safety assessment tools to get a better understanding of the efficacy of the safety assessment tool and any future changes that could be made that will ensure children are protected.

HB24-1046 will now head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Bipartisan Bills to Support Colorado's Workforce Pass Senate

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed two pieces of bipartisan legislation to support workforce development.

HB24-1365, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, and Perry Will, R-New Castle, would help communities address workforce shortages and create connections for Coloradans seeking high-paying, skilled careers. This bill supports the final of several rounds of the successful Opportunity Now Colorado grant program which connects more Coloradans with in-demand, high-wage careers, specifically in the construction, infrastructure and building trades.

“Opportunity is a core Colorado value, and every Coloradan should have the opportunity to earn a good life," said Bridges. "That opportunity often starts with a good education, one that's aligned with good-paying jobs in a person's community. Making sure that what schools teach matches what businesses need is exactly what the Opportunity Now grant does, leading to better wages for workers, a well-trained workforce for our employers, and a stronger Colorado economy for everyone."

Additionally, this bill would create the Regional Talent Summit Grant Program to help Coloradans get connected to these in-demand careers in their communities. HB24-1365 leverages federal investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the CHIPS and Science Act to establish a workforce shortage tax credit that helps with facility and equipment improvements needed to train workers in new emerging fields. 

The second bill, HB24-1439, sponsored by Senator James Coleman, D-Denver, would create a refundable state income tax credit and two grant programs to boost registered apprenticeship opportunities. This income tax credit is available to businesses operating in a new and emerging industry with a registered apprenticeship program. 

“I’m committed to paving the way for equitable access to opportunity, so that all Coloradans have the chance to get ahead – and a key way we can do that is by investing in our workforce,” Coleman said. “We’re bringing forward resources that will expand existing programs and increase the adoption of registered apprenticeships. These investments can create more than 8,000 new apprenticeships, and give Coloradans the opportunities they need to succeed.”

The bipartisan legislation, cosponsored by Senator Mark Baisley, R-Sedalia, would also create the Scale-Up Grant Program to start new or expand existing registered apprenticeship programs and the Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grant Program to connect employers or apprenticeship program participants to registered apprenticeship programs.

HB24-1365 heads to the Governor’s desk for signature, and HB24-1439 heads to the House for concurrence of amendments. Follow their progress HERE and HERE, respectively.

Bipartisan Bill to Expand Treatment for Substance Use Disorders Earns Senate Approval

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate approved Senator Kyle Mullica’s, D-Thornton, bipartisan legislation to expand treatment options for Coloradans with substance use disorders (SUDs).

"More than 1,500 of our neighbors died from a drug overdose here in Colorado last year, a heartbreaking number we must work hard to reduce," said Mullica. "This year we’ve advanced a number of policies to tackle this crisis, including this bill to expand treatment options for folks struggling with substance use disorders. I am proud of the work we've done, and I look forward to helping more Coloradans get the help and support they need to get their lives back on track."

HB24-1045, cosponsored by Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle, would:

• Direct the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to apply for federal Medicaid 1115 waivers to cover health care services for people in jail or prison and to cover a partial hospitalization care;

• Require Medicaid and private insurers to cover all FDA-approved medications for SUDs without prior authorization;

• Expand the treatment workforce by increasing clinical supervision opportunities for addiction counselors under qualified licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists;

• Authorize pharmacists to prescribe medicated-assisted treatment;

• Create a contingency management grant program, funding the best evidence-based practices to help people with SUDs stay sober;

• Invest in behavioral health diversion programs to provide adults charged with a minor offense a substance use treatment option; and

• Continue the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee through the end of 2025.

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.

HB24-1045 now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Track its progress HERE.

Senate Approves Legislation to Combat Predatory Towing, Ramp Up Consumer Protections

HB24-1051 would prohibit towing companies from patrolling residential parking lots

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, to crack down on predatory towing, improve industry transparency, and ramp up consumer protections.

HB24-1051 would direct the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to promulgate new rules for towing carriers, including requiring carriers to disclose additional information necessary for effective oversight and meaningful reporting. It would also end the practice of towing carriers patrolling, monitoring or policing properties to enforce parking restrictions on behalf of property owners.

“When my car was wrongfully towed last summer, it showed me how the laws we had in place were being ignored and weren’t strong enough. Since then, I’ve heard from countless Coloradans who have shared their experiences as well, which was the reason to come back to the table and further strengthen Colorado’s Towing Bill of Rights,” said Gonzales. “It all worked out for me in the end, but you shouldn’t have to be a senator or know the law forward and backward just to be treated fairly. This bill ensures towing companies aren’t hiding the ball when it comes to telling people their options and rights under the law. My hope is that with this bill we can better protect consumers and hold towing carriers responsible for following the law.”

“Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to improve consumer protections in the towing industry,” Priola said. “In the years since, we’ve learned that we need to do more to ensure Coloradans know their full range of options and that towing companies are actually following the law as intended. I’m proud to sponsor this legislation that makes much needed updates to our Towing Bill Rights and levels the playing field for Coloradans.”

Additionally, the bill aims to reduce incidents of wrongful towing by requiring the property owner to specifically authorize each non-consensual tow. Unauthorized vehicles would still be towed at the expense of the vehicle owner. The bill would also make it a deceptive trade practice to conduct a non-consensual tow in violation of the law.

The bill also ramps up consumer protections by requiring companies to return a wrongfully towed vehicle to the original location within 48 hours and at no charge to the vehicle owner, and by improving parking lot signage to explain towing regulations clearly in both English and Spanish.

Finally, in an effort to improve long-term transparency, HB24-1051 would allow the PUC to suspend or revoke a towing carrier permit in certain circumstances and would address conflicts of interest for members of the Towing Task Force.

HB24-1051 now heads to the Governor for his signature. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Committee Approves Legislation to Support New Immigrants

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Lisa Cutter’s, D-Jefferson County, legislation to support new immigrants.

HB24-1280 would create the Statewide Welcome, Reception, and Integration Grant Program to direct funding to community-based organizations that provide services to new immigrants within their first year in the United States.

“Colorado’s immigrant communities make our state stronger,” said Fields. “With the recent increase of new immigrants to our state, community organizations and local governments are struggling to keep up with the high demand for services. Increasing access to resources like employment and housing services will help new immigrants build successful lives in Colorado.”

“Colorado has seen a recent influx of new immigrants, and they often arrive with very little and no knowledge or connections to help them integrate,” Cutter said. “This critical bill will better resource existing community-based organizations so they can support new immigrants and provide them with the tools they need to thrive in Colorado.”

Under the program, grant funding could be used for:

• Conducting an intake and assessment of needs;

• Providing cultural orientation and case management;

• Services or referrals to employment services, immigration legal assistance, housing-related services, transportation services, financial orientation, mental and physical health services, interpretation and translation services, and English as a second language courses;

• Distributing emergency and transitional supplies; and

• Assisting new immigrant parents to enroll their kids in public schools or summer programs.

HB24-1280 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.

Senate Committee Clears Bipartisan Marchman Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Child Care

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed Senator Janice Marchman’s, D-Loveland, bipartisan legislation that would create three programs for the development of child care facilities. 

HB24-1237, also sponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, would help reduce costs for developing child care facilities by providing technical planning, building, construction, and development support.

“I’m proud to see our bipartisan legislation to increase affordable child care options move forward today,” said Marchman. “Quality, affordable child care is essential to support Colorado’s workforce, and by providing funding to develop new and convert existing spaces into childcare centers, we can offer more options to Colorado families.”

This legislation would create the framework to provide planning and capital grants, and technical support for local governments, institutions of higher education, public schools, employers, private partners, builders, and child care providers.

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

Bill to Bolster Crime Victim Support, Behavioral Health Programs Passes Senate Committee

New funds would go to crime victims grant programs, public safety grants, and behavioral health services

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Finance Committee passed legislation to refer a measure to the ballot that would fund the Colorado Crime Victims Services Fund and behavioral health crisis response services by creating an excise tax on the firearm industry.

If approved by voters in the November 2024 election, HB24-1349, sponsored by Senators Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, would create a new excise tax on gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and ammunition vendors beginning April 1, 2025. As amended, this bill would generate approximately $39 million annually.

“Coloradans have shown time and again that they want to make our communities safer, and supporting crime victims is a critical part of that,” Hansen said. “With this measure, Coloradans would have the chance to vote to ensure victim services like youth behavioral health care and violence prevention are sustained for years to come. These programs are essential across the state and can help cut off the cycle of crime before it continues.”

“With federal funding for the Victims of Crime Act to decrease in Colorado by 40 to 50 percent in the next year, it is so important we pass this measure to support victims of crime,” said Buckner. “Many families in my community rely on services like housing support and legal advocacy as they navigate their painful ordeal – which is why I’m proud to sponsor this legislation to create consistent funding for them.” 

The funds would be allocated in the following manner:

• $30 million to the Colorado Crime Victims Services fund for crime victim services grants;

• $9 million to the Behavioral Health Administration to provide crisis resolution services to youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis, and to provide mental health services for veterans; and

• Any remaining funds to the Crime Victim Services fund for additional grants to support crime victims and survivors.

Small businesses with less than $20,000 in annual retail sales and retail sales to peace officers, law enforcement agencies, and active duty military members are exempt from this bill.

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

Legislation to Save Coloradans Money on Housing by Eliminating Parking Mandates Clears Senate

DENVER, CO – Legislation that would save Coloradans money on housing by eliminating parking minimums for residential properties cleared the Senate today.

HB24-1304, sponsored by Senators Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, and Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, would prohibit a county or municipality from enacting or enforcing minimum parking requirements for most multifamily residential properties within a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) that are within a quarter mile of a transit stop or station.

“Parking mandates drive up housing costs, increase traffic congestion, and make it harder for Colorado to hit its climate goals,” Priola said. “Developers can always choose to include parking, but eliminating minimum requirements will increase the availability of housing, drive down prices, and help ensure more Coloradans have a place to call home.”

“Parking spots cost tens of thousands of dollars each to build - an unacceptable number at a time when too many Coloradans are struggling to find housing they can afford,” Hinrichsen said. “We must do more to encourage the construction of new housing in our state, including for Pueblo which has a large amount of land devoted to parking that could be redeveloped as housing and businesses. This bill will make it easier to do just that while reducing traffic, bolstering economic development, and freeing up valuable space for our communities while enhancing our downtowns.”

The bill would still allow a local government to impose a parking minimum of up to one space per unit on proposed housing developments with more than 20 units or that include any units classified as affordable housing. To impose this mandate, they must show that the parking minimum is required to avoid a substantial negative impact. 

HB24-1304 does not allow a county or municipality to lower protections for people with disabilities, and does not prevent a local government from enacting or enforcing a maximum parking requirement or requiring a number of spaces for temporary loading purposes.

Lastly, the bill requires the Colorado Department of Transportation and other state agencies to publish a report of best practices and strategies for optimal parking supply and management policies by the end of 2024.

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. In 2020, each new structured parking space in Denver cost $25,000 each.

Since the city of Minneapolis eliminated residential parking minimums in 2021, rents have only increased one percent, while Denver saw an average increase of nearly five 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.

HB24-1304 will now move to the House for consideration of amendments. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Approves Pair of Bills to Reduce Competency Waitlist, Improve Efficiency in Competency System

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate approved a pair of bills to reduce the competency waitlist and improve efficiency and effectiveness in the competency system.

Last year, Colorado had 448 people who were deemed to be incompetent to proceed by a court and were waiting to receive competency restoration services before proceeding to trial, with an average wait time of 66 days. HB24-1355, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, aims to reduce this competency waitlist through the creation of the Bridges Wraparound Care Program, which would deflect eligible individuals with mental health struggles from the criminal justice system into wraparound care services.

“Colorado’s exorbitantly long competency waitlist is a long-standing issue, and I’m proud that this year we’re advancing policy to start addressing the problem,” said Michaelson Jenet. “When individuals languish on the competency waitlist, they’re not receiving the treatment they need and their likelihood to reenter the criminal justice system greatly increases. The Bridges Wraparound Care Program offers folks a path forward that ensures their needs are being met while helping break the cycle of reoffense and reentry in our criminal justice system.”

A defendant is deemed eligible for the Bridges Wraparound Care Program if a district attorney  and defense counsel agree that there is reasonable cause to believe the defendant will be found incompetent and if the defendant does not pose a risk to public safety. Allowing eligible defendants to participate in the program will give them access to critical behavioral health services while helping reduce Colorado’s recidivism rates. 

Under the bill, if a defendant in the Program complies with their individualized care plan for a specified amount of time, the court must dismiss the charges against the defendant.

The Senate also approved HB24-1034, sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, which would streamline complicated processes in the competency system to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

“Colorado’s competency system is overwhelmed and overcomplicated,” Fields said. “Folks are struggling with difficult mental health issues, and they need help now. It’s past time we make updates to our competency system to ensure more people are getting the behavioral health care support they need to stay out of the criminal justice system and live more whole lives.”

To help get people who are unlikely to be restored to competency into appropriate treatment, the bill imposes new time limits for when a defendant who has been deemed incompetent to proceed can remain in custody. Additionally, the bill directs when competency services may be provided on an outpatient basis.

Both bills now return to the House for consideration of amendments. Track HB24-1355’s progress HERE and HB24-1034’s progress HERE.

Senate Committee Passes Bipartisan Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Housing

DENVER, CO – The Senate Finance Committee today passed bipartisan legislation that would save Coloradans money on housing by expanding the Affordable Housing Tax Credit (AHTC).

HB24-1434, sponsored by Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, would increase Colorado’s Affordable Housing Income Tax Credit (AHTC) annually by $20 million for 2024-2026, $16 million for 2027-2029, and $10 million for 2023-2031. The state AHTC is paired with federal incentives to create a greater statewide impact. 

“Colorado’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit in its previous form was so successful, we had three applicants for every one that we could satisfy,” said Zenzinger. “By doubling the amount available to incentivize developers, we anticipate that we will generate thousands of living units that otherwise wouldn’t have existed, helping so many working families to get into their own homes. I look forward to watching the positive results as they unfold in the coming years.”

The AHTC Program was created in 2021 to support affordable housing developments across the state and has been renewed numerous times since then. From 2015 to 2021, the program has aided the development of over 8,000 housing units, supported nearly 24,000 jobs, and had an economic impact of $3.6 billion.

Additionally, the bill would invest $150 million in the Transit-Oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund for tax credits to incentivize the development of affordable housing in transit corridors. This incentive would ensure Colorado communities can plan for the future and increase the housing supply near existing, new, or expanded public transit, jobs and job centers, and safe biking and walking corridors. 

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

Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Streams, Rivers and Wetlands Clears Committee

Bill would reinstate and expand critical protections jeopardized by the Sackett v. EPA decision

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Finance Committee approved Senator Dylan Roberts’, D-Frisco, bipartisan legislation to protect streams, rivers, and wetlands.

The Clean Water Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to define “Waters of the United States” and the Army Corps of Engineers to regulate discharges from dredge and fill activities into waters that meet that definition. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA in 2023 redefined what constitutes waters subject to federal regulation and placed an estimated 60 percent of Colorado wetlands at risk of losing protections. The impacted wetlands and seasonal streams work to ensure an adequate water supply, aid groundwater recharge, and provide for wildlife habitat in Colorado.

“There is no more important resource to our state and no more pressing challenge that we will face as a state in the decades to come than protecting our water,” said Roberts. “Last year’s Supreme Court decision jeopardized protections for over half of Colorado’s wetlands, which threatens water supply, wildlife habitats, and our state’s environment and economy. This bipartisan bill will protect streams, rivers, and wetlands that are vital to Colorado by creating a new Colorado-based permitting program to implement proven best practices for dredge and fill activities with key protections for agriculture and other crucial industry activity.”

Cosponsored by Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, HB24-1379 would create a permitting program within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for dredge and fill activities impacting state waters. The permitting framework is based on well-established approaches already used by the Army Corps of Engineers, and would provide clarity and certainty on when a permit is needed for dredge and fill activities. Normal farming, ranching, and agricultural activities, such as plowing, farm road construction, ditch maintenance, and erosion control practices would not require a permit.

Until the recent decision in Sackett v. EPA, the Army Corps’ permitting program safeguarded the vast majority of Colorado’s state waters from pollution caused by dredge and fill activities. Dredge and fill activities involve digging up or placing dirt and other fill material into wetlands or surface waters as part of construction projects. These operations are necessary in many infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, housing developments, flood mitigation, and utility pipelines. HB24-1379 would provide a way for these projects to move forward while protecting Colorado’s water resources.

HB24-1379 now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further review. Track its progress HERE.