Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Two Tuition Assistance Bills to Help Make Higher Education More Affordable for Coloradans

March 20, 2019

Denver, CO – The Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today unanimously voted to pass two bills to help make college more affordable by increasing tuition assistance for Coloradans: SB19-194, National Guard Tuition Assistance Colorado State University Global, and SB19-174, Dependent Tuition Assistance Program Eligibility. The two bills now head to the Committee of the Whole for consideration with a recommendation that they be placed on the consent calendar.

Sponsored by President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo) and Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada), SB19-194 would add Colorado State University - Global Campus to the list of designated institutions of higher education for purposes of tuition assistance for members of the National Guard.

“As a veteran, I have great respect for the selflessness and dedication demonstrated by members of the National Guard and all our service branches,” said President Garcia. “They have served us, and I believe we have an obligation to serve them as well. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation that will increase tuition assistance for members of the National Guard and will always work hard to help Coloradans in uniform achieve an education.”

“Members of our National Guard are committed to serving our nation, and we need to commit to serving them in return,” said Senator Zenzinger. “I am proud that our bill to help them receive tuition assistance at CSU Global Campus is moving forward. It is the least we can do to help our National Guard access a quality education.”

President Garcia is also a sponsor of SB19-174, which would make it easier for certain dependents to afford college through tuition assistance programs.

“We owe it to the families of service members who are missing in action or prisoners of war -- as well as to our law enforcement officers and first responders -- to pass legislation that will help clarify things like tuition assistance for their dependents,” added President Garcia.

For more information on these bill, please visit http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-194 and http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-174.

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Colorado State Senate Passes Net Neutrality Legislation

March 6, 2019

Denver, CO – The Colorado State Senate today voted 19-to-15 with one excused to pass SB19-078, Open Internet Customer Protections in Colorado, a bill to make sure that broadband infrastructure funded by the citizens of Colorado will adhere to fair and open internet practices. The bill, sponsored by Senators Kerry Donovan (D-Vail) and Jeff Bridges (D-Arapahoe County), now heads to the House for consideration.

“Private companies that use state dollars to build out their broadband networks shouldn’t dictate who gets fast internet and who doesn’t. Coloradans rely on the internet every day and deserve the same level of access to those networks, no matter what corner of the state you live in,” said Senator Donovan. “This legislation ensures equal access to the internet, which is why I am confident it will pass the House, and I urge Governor Polis to sign net neutrality into law.”

“The passage of net neutrality ensures that every Coloradan, no matter where you live, gets a fair shot,” said Senator Bridges. “This legislation will benefit Coloradans who rely on the internet for everyday tasks and small businesses who need it to innovate and grow our Colorado economy.”

SB19-078 will help protect net neutrality in Colorado by disqualifying internet service providers that interfere with the open internet from receiving financial support from the state. To learn more about SB19-078, please visit https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-078.

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Colorado Senate Democrats Deliver on Ambitious Agenda for Colorado Families

May 3, 2019

Senate Democrats passed legislation to make healthcare more affordable, invest in education, and help hardworking Coloradans get ahead financially

Denver, CO – Today, the 2019 legislative session adjourned after four months of Democratic leadership delivering for Colorado families. For the first time since 2013, Democrats held majorities in both the Senate and the House, allowing legislators to make progress on the most important issues facing Coloradans. The solutions made healthcare more affordable, invested in education, and ensured Coloradans are more financially secure as the cost of living continues to rise.Roughly 95 percent of the more than 500 bills introduced during the 2019 legislative session had  bipartisan sponsorship or passed with bipartisan support.“I am proud of all that we accomplished this session for Colorado families and in the manner in which we did it, by working across the aisle to find common ground,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia. “The sheer number of bills that passed with bipartisan support illustrates the fact that we were willing to work with anyone, regardless of party, to lower the cost of healthcare, invest in education, and help hardworking Coloradans get ahead financially.”“This was a historic session for delivering on healthcare affordability, economic security, and education,” said Majority Leader Steve Fenberg. “I have no doubt that Coloradans all across the state will be better off because of what we accomplished this session.”HEALTHCARE ACCOMPLISHMENTSNobody should have to choose between paying their bills and getting the healthcare they need. That is why the Colorado Senate Democrats worked hard to make sure every Coloradan has affordable, accessible healthcare and that those struggling with mental health and addiction can get the help they need. The Colorado Senate Democrats were able to address the high cost of healthcare by:

• Helping Coloradans who are struggling with addiction get the treatment they need by expanding the medication-assisted (MAT) treatment pilot program to some of the highest need counties in the state. [SB19-001]
• Passing legislation to encourage consumers to negotiate rates on a collective basis directly with providers. [SB19-004]
• Creating a reinsurance program that could reduce health insurance premiums in Colorado by almost 23 percent. [HB19-1168]
• Ending the practice of surprise billing to allow Coloradans to get the care they need at an affordable price. [HB19-1174]
• Passing legislation to hold hospitals accountable for lowering costs by requiring them to annually report costs and spending. [HB19-1001]
• Working towards the creation of a state-backed public option by leveraging existing state infrastructure. [HB19-1004]
• Increasing access to mental health professionals in schools and making it easier for kids to get confidential therapy services and mental health education resources. [SB19-010 and HB19-1120]
• Creating a plan to allow consumers to import prescription medications from Canada to help Coloradans afford high cost prescription drugs. [SB19-005]
• Capping the total copay for insulin, a lifesaving drug for people with diabetes in Colorado. [HB19-1216]
• Working to prevent Coloradans from developing substance use disorders. [SB19-228]

EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENTSTo give every kid a strong start, the Colorado Senate Democrats fought to increase funding for education, worked hard to pass legislation that supports both students and teachers, and fought so Coloradans can pursue a college degree without being saddled with debt for the rest of their lives. Some key education accomplishments include:

• Funding full-day kindergarten to ensure that all children, not just those whose parents can afford it, have access to it. [HB19-1262]
• Passing legislation to regulate aggressive student loan servicers and tackle Colorado’s student debt crisis. [SB19-002]
• Addressing Colorado’s rural teacher shortage by increasing stipend amounts for participants in teacher preparation programs who agree to teach in rural schools. [SB19-009]
• Increasing loan forgiveness for educators who teach specific subject areas and an in high-need communities. [SB19-003]
• Increasing K-12 education funding by $325.9 million dollars, including $175 million dollars to implement full-day Kindergarten and an additional $77 million to buy-down the budget stabilization factor. [SB19-207]
• Holding tuition flat at state institutions of higher education. [SB19-207]

ECONOMIC SECURITY ACCOMPLISHMENTSAs the cost of living continues to rise and Coloradans feel like it is getting harder to get ahead, the Colorado Senate Democrats worked to make sure that people are paid what they are worth and helped Coloradans afford to live in the communities they want to call home. Key economic security accomplishments include:

• Passing legislation to close the gender wage gap and level the playing field so women are paid the same as men for the same work. [SB19-085]
• Passing a Paid Family Leave implementation plan so that all Coloradans can get the time off they need to be there for their families without losing a paycheck. [SB19-188]
• Protecting Colorado renters by passing legislation to make sure they are charged fairly for application fees, to ensure that tenants who are spending money on rent have a safe place to call home, and to increase the amount of time they have to cure lease violations. [HB19-1170, HB19-1106, and HB19-1118]
• Passing a bill to incentivize developers to build more affordable housing units to address the rising housing costs in Colorado. [HB19-1319]
• Fighting to give renters more protections when it comes to disagreements with their landlords by passing a bill to help provide legal counsel to Coloradans who are facing eviction. [SB19-180]
• Establishing the Colorado Secure Savings Plan Board to study ways to help increase retirement savings for hardworking Coloradans. [SB19-173]
• Passing a bipartisan, balanced budget that will provide $300 million in transportation funding to invest in our state’s infrastructure. [SB19-207]

In addition to delivering on these key promises, the Colorado Senate Democrats also succeeded in passing long overdue oil and gas reforms, bipartisan criminal justice reforms, reducing the influence of money in politics, expanding and protecting the right to vote, and passing a commonsense gun safety measure that will save lives.For more information on the Colorado Senate Democrats’ 2019 legislative accomplishments, please visit https://senatedems.co/.

Bill Requiring State Procurement Disparity Study Unanimously Passes Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee

February 25, 2019

Denver, CO – The Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee today voted unanimously to advance SB19-135, a bill sponsored by Senators Angela Williams and Robert Rodriguez that would require Colorado to conduct a disparity study of how state procurement contracts are awarded to different demographics. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.   “Colorado has a diversity of people and businesses, but we do not know if that diversity is reflected in how the state awards contracts to businesses because we have never conducted a statewide study before,” said Senator Williams. “By finding where disparities exist and who they affect, this study can free the procurement process from bias and allow businesses to compete based entirely on their qualifications and what they have to offer to the community.”   SB19-135 would require the state to conduct a disparity study, directing the Colorado Department of Personnel to contract with an independent entity to study the state’s procurement process and make recommendations to address any discrepancies identified by the study.   “A disparity study could give us the opportunity to change the lives of small business owners across Colorado,” said Senator Rodriguez. “If we’re going to make our process of awarding state procurement contracts more equitable and inclusive, this is an important step we need to take. I’m excited to see that the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee agrees.”   “A disparity study wouldn’t just strengthen the fairness and justice of the procurement process, it would strengthen Colorado businesses and our state’s economic future,” added Senator Williams. For more information on the bill, please visit: http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-135.

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