In Productive Session, Lawmakers Focused on Affordability and Safeguarding Coloradans' Rights and Freedoms

Democrats stood up for taxpayers and protected our investments in K-12 education, Medicaid and public safety amidst budget uncertainty and funding threats from Washington DC

DENVER, CO – House and Senate Democratic Leadership on Wednesday celebrated a productive first session of the 75th General Assembly in which Democrats passed legislation to save people money, improve public safety and protect the Colorado way of life in the face of threats from the Trump Administration and significant budget constraints. 

“Democrats delivered this year with a productive session focused on affordability and safeguarding our rights, freedoms and the Colorado way of life,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “From turning on the new school finance formula that invests in our students to saving people money on housing, health care and child care, we focused on what matters most to Coloradans. This session shows our strength and resiliency to protect taxpayers and core services like education, Medicaid and public safety in the face of threats from Washington and significant budget constraints.”  

“This session, we worked to make Colorado a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive – where anyone can work hard, afford basic necessities like a safe place to live and high-quality health care, and earn a good life,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “We prioritized solutions to protect our freedoms like reproductive health care and voting rights, create more opportunities for affordable homeownership and rentals, and passed policies to create communities safe from all kinds of violence. I’m proud of Colorado Democrats’ successes to deliver results for all Coloradans.”

“The bold legislation we passed this session will boost our workers and Colorado’s economy by cracking down on wage theft, creating jobs, and raising incomes for hardworking people,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Thanks to our work, the Sundance Film Festival will soon call our state home, and consumers are now protected from price gouging on groceries and basic necessities. I’m proud that Colorado stepped up to clarify the Constitutional and civil rights of immigrant communities and that our efforts to reduce gun violence and direct Prop KK resources to support victims of crime and domestic violence will improve public safety in Colorado.”  

“This year, Colorado Democrats once again tackled the issues that matter most to Coloradans,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “We delivered on our promises to create more affordable and safer communities, increase access to high-quality health care, secure funding for K-12 education for years to come, and support workers and the middle class. Additionally, we stood up for our freedoms and against federal uncertainty that threatens the Colorado we know and love.”

Making Colorado More Affordable

On housing, Colorado Democrats took bold action to save people money by making it easier and cheaper to build new condominiums and starter homes, cracking down on algorithms and junk fees that drive up the price of rent, and cutting red tape to allow smart stair construction. New laws will also boost the manufactured housing industry to reduce costs and create jobs, and lawmakers made $50 million available to finance for-sale home construction for low and moderate-income buyers.

Democrats also passed legislation to address price gouging of necessities like groceries and toiletries during a declared disaster. Lawmakers worked to reduce the cost of property insurance, prohibit child care waitlist fees and save people money on health care by boosting funding for safety net providers and protecting insurance coverage for preventive services like breast cancer screenings and prenatal care. Finally, the state budget caps higher education tuition increases and reduces fees to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking families. 

Safeguarding Your Rights, Freedoms and the Colorado Way of Life

From protecting Colorado taxpayers from federal funding cuts to implementing the will of the voters on abortion rights and marriage equality, Colorado Democrats safeguarded Coloradans’ rights and freedoms. Democrats strengthened Colorado’s reproductive rights shield law to protect providers and patients and ensured emergency access to abortion and miscarriage care. Lawmakers also protected insurance coverage for preventive health care like cancer screenings and annual wellness checkups, which are under attack at the US Supreme Court. 

To protect Coloradans’ civil rights, Democrats passed the Colorado Voting Rights Act, clarified constitutional protections for immigrants, and updated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to better protect Coloradans who experience discrimination, particularly those with disabilities. Democrats also passed the Freedom to Read Act to require safeguards against book bans.

Improving Public Safety and Preventing Gun Violence

New legislation will prevent crime and improve public safety by reducing gun violence and recidivism, and increasing access to justice for victims of crimes. Democrats passed laws to direct new funding to victim services, improve sexual assault forensic kit testing, and increase rideshare safety for drivers and passengers. Visitation rights in prisons will reduce recidivism by helping maintain connections for incarcerated people so they are set up to successfully reenter communities.

Under legislation to enforce Colorado’s magazine limit, a firearm safety course is now required prior to purchasing some of the most deadly weapons available. The age to purchase ammunition is raised to 21 years old, and that ammunition will now need to be in secure displays in gun stores. Finally, new laws prohibit the possession of a firearm for individuals convicted of multiple vehicle thefts and increase penalties for firearm theft. 

Boosting Colorado’s Economy and Workforce

Colorado Democrats worked to create jobs, boost our economy and create opportunities for everyday Coloradans to thrive. The research is clear that unions increase wages and employment, and Democrats stood up for working families by making it easier for workers to negotiate for a better life for themselves and their families. 

In exciting news, the legislature successfully lured the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado, which will create jobs and boost our economy. New legislation cracks down on wage theft to ensure workers are paid what they are owed, and Democrats stepped up to protect workers in health care facilities and boost the incomes of home care workers.