Senate Democrats Stand Up for Public Safety and Pass Legislation Expanding Background Checks for Firearms

HB21-1298 will close the Charleston Loophole in Colorado and help keep guns out of the hands of people with violent histories

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate passed HB21-1298 on third reading and final passage. This landmark piece of legislation, sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales and Brittany Pettersen, will help ensure that people with recent violent criminal convictions cannot access firearms.

“The statistics are clear: the expansion of background checks is a highly effective tool in preventing gun violence. But it’s the stories of people who have been traumatized by such violence that truly move us to meaningful action,” said Senator Gonzales (D-Denver). “We’ve heard from people that survived being shot by intimate partners, from those who narrowly escaped the King Soopers massacre, and from parents who’ve lost children to drive-by shootings – all begging us to act. This bill is in response to these stories. By protecting our communities from this violence that haunts them, we will be paving the way for a safer, more just Colorado.”

“While one crisis begins to subside, another continues to ravage our country: gun violence. Thoughts and prayers are supportive sentiments, but effective policy is what our communities are begging us for,” said Senator Pettersen (D-Denver). “This common-sense legislation will keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people and ensure that Colorado’s background check system is even more effective – a policy that, had it been in effect, would have surely saved Boulder from the horrific tragedy it suffered.”

HB21-1298 prohibits a person who has been convicted of specific violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for 5 years. These certain criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault, and third-degree assault. 

Colorado would join 13 other states that have some form of violent misdemeanor firearm prohibition. State laws that prohibit the possession of firearms by people who have been convicted of a violent misdemeanor crime are associated with reductions in homicide rates.

The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check takes longer than three days to process. With the Governor’s signature, Colorado will join 20 other states that have taken action towards closing the Charleston Loophole.

The bill now heads back to the House for final concurrence. To read the bill and find updates regarding the status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

In addition to HB21-1298, the Senate also gave preliminary approval to a measure that would strengthen and streamline procedures for the relinquishment of firearms by someone who has a domestic violence-related protection order against them (HB21-1255), as well as a bill that would establish the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (HB21-1299).

Bills to Increase Access to Insulin, Address Opioid Crisis Clear Committee!

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee approved legislation to ensure that all Coloradans who need it have access to affordable insulin – a life-saving policy in response to egregious price hikes perpetrated by big pharma. The Committee also approved legislation yesterday to require that insurance companies provide coverage for opioid alternatives. 

HB21-1307, sponsored by Senator Kerry Donovan, increases access to insulin by clarifying that the current $100 cap on a person’s monthly insulin supply applies regardless of the number of prescriptions a person may have. Furthermore, it allows eligible consumers to access one emergency prescription insulin supply for no more than $35 per 12-month period. 

“In Colorado, 40% of patients report having to ration their insulin,” said Senator Kerry Donovan (D-Vail). “This bill builds upon the work that we did in 2019, when we passed legislation capping the price of insulin in Colorado at $100. We can take this next critical step by ensuring that uninsured and underinsured Coloradans have access to the medication that they need at a price they can afford.”

The bill also creates the Insulin Affordability Program in the Division of Insurance to help eligible individuals obtain prescription insulin for $50 a month for 12 months. The findings of an investigation conducted by the Colorado Attorney General’s office released in November 2020, found that over 40% of Coloradans using insulin rationed their medicine due to cost and that over 37% use expired insulin to stretch their supplies due to high costs.

HB21-1276, sponsored by Senator Brittany Pettersen, passed through committee yesterday. This bill requires a health benefit plan to provide coverage for non-pharmacological treatment as an alternative to opioids. It also seeks to limit the supply of benzodiazepines, sedatives commonly prescribed for anxiety and as a sleep aid. Further, the legislation aims to improve education around prescribing benzodiazepines and the potential harm of inappropriately limiting prescriptions to chronic pain patients. 

“The culture of overprescribing opioids has created a public health crisis that has resulted in widespread exposure to highly addictive narcotics for far too many Coloradans,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood). “If we truly want to prevent substance use disorders in our state, we need to limit over-prescribing while covering alternative treatments so patients are able to treat their pain without taking an addictive pill. And that’s exactly what this bill seeks to do.” 

HB21-1307 will now head to the Committee of the Whole, while HB21-1276 will be heard by Senate Appropriations. You can track the progress of the legislation by visiting leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Votes to Curb the Criminalization of Poverty & Over-Policing!

SB21-273 works to dismantle long-entrenched policing and jailing practices that lead to racial discrimination, unjust detainment, & the destabilization of vulnerable communities

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate approved legislation to promote liberty and equal justice under the law by enacting pretrial reform. SB21-273, sponsored by Senators Pete Lee and Dominick Moreno, works to curb detainment for low-level offenses – addressing perpetual cycles of abuse and mistreatment of vulnerable populations. 

“Freedom should never be based on finances. But tragically our criminal justice system has held the poor hostage for far too long,” said Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs). “Over-arresting and cash bond practices have led to low-level detainees being kept behind bars for days, even weeks – resulting in job loss, mental instability, and even death. This bill takes important steps to unravel unjust policies within our criminal justice system that: criminalize poverty, increase racial discrimination, and undermine our fundamental allegiance to liberty.” 

“In Colorado, our jail population has grown 800% in the last 50 years, largely comprising of low-level, non-violent detainees who simply can’t afford cash bonds – forcing presumably innocent people to languish in jail for days, weeks, or even years,” said Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “This is not only immoral but goes against our constitutional right to liberty. Pretrial reform is one of the most important ways we can stop the destructive cycle of over-policing and mass incarceration. We must restore trust in our criminal justice system."

Colorado’s jail population has grown 800% in the last 50 years, largely comprising of low-level, non-violent detainees who simply can’t afford cash bonds. Black people have been disproportionately affected by this trend – being 8x more likely to be arrested than white people for lower-level offenses and 4x more likely to be killed in police custody. This has perpetuated cycles of instability among vulnerable communities and deteriorated society’s relationship with law enforcement. 

SB21-273 prohibits a court from issuing a monetary bond for a misdemeanor offense; municipal offense; class 4, 5, or 6 felonies; or a drug felony unless the court finds the defendant will flee prosecution or threaten the safety of another. The bill also requires peace officers to prioritize the issuance of a summons for low-level, non-violent misdemeanors. Finally, SB21-273 establishes a Community Response Working Group to study and recommend safe, effective alternatives to law enforcement responses including incorporating mental health professionals and social workers.    

The bill will now head to House for further consideration. To read the bill and find updates regarding its status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Bill to Address Workplace Harassment & Discrimination, Advance Equity Passes With Bipartisan Support!

POWR Act would protect survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination, improve accountability measures, and enhance equity in the workplace

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate passed the Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights Act (POWR Act) with bipartisan support. The bill would provide necessary anti-discrimination protections for workers throughout Colorado, as well as make updates to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) in an effort to protect more workers from sexual harassment and discrimination, hold bad actors accountable, enhance equity in the workplace, and deter predatory actions from happening in the future.

“Women are disproportionately impacted by sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, yet our state still lacks adequate policies to protect them and hold perpetrators accountable,” said Senator Faith Winter (D-Westminster). “This bill will take an important step forward in supporting victims of sexual harassment and discrimination by improving accountability measures and enhancing equity in the workplace.” 

“Women and caregivers have paid some of the highest economic prices during the pandemic, with women losing nearly one million more jobs than men over the last year,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood). “In order for us to fully recover from the economic devastation of the last year, we must safeguard our vulnerable workforce. This bill provides critical protections for women, caregivers, and older Coloradans – ensuring that they cannot be discriminated against by employers.”

Due to antiquated harassment standards, women across Colorado are routinely subjected to offensive or coercive behavior without recourse. This legislation would strengthen worker protections against sexual harassment – eliminating the excessive “severe or pervasive” hostile work environment requirements, empowering victims to set the terms of any settlement agreement, and extending the amount of time a worker has to file a claim. The bill also requires businesses with 20 employees and more to provide annual anti-harassment training that includes bystander coaching.  

Moreover, the bill would extend protections against ageism in the workforce; prohibit employers from discriminating against caregivers, like mothers and fathers; and fix a loophole that allows businesses to opt-out of anti-discrimination laws for some employees.

In short, the POWR Act ensures everyone can show up to work and expect to be treated fairly and perform their job without being harassed or discriminated against. 

Having passed the Senate, SB21-176 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

$45 Million in Relief for Small & Local Businesses Advances

Bills creating a Startup Loan Program and continuing the COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program clear committees

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate advanced two stimulus bills through committees that are part of Colorado’s recovery package.

HB21-1288, sponsored by Senator James Coleman, establishes the Colorado Startup Loan Program to provide loans and grants for people seeking capital to start, restart, or restructure a business. This program is intended to support businesses in recovering economic losses incurred over the last year and provide easier-to-access capital for entrepreneurs across the state. The bill allocates $30 million to fund and administer the program. HB21-1288 passed the Senate Finance Committee bipartisanly, 5-1.

“With the rapid increase in vaccination rates and the repeal of capacity restrictions, Colorado small businesses are primed for an economic recovery. However, many are still picking up the pieces after the recession of last year,” said Senator Coleman (D-Denver). “This program will help accelerate Colorado’s Comeback by providing small businesses with access to capital, supporting entrepreneurs, and prioritizing financial assistance to disproportionately impacted communities – ensuring our recovery is equitable and lasting.”

HB21-1302, sponsored by Senator Faith Winter, provides $15 million to the successful Energize Gap Fund. Colorado established the fund to support as many Colorado businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as possible, but it specifically prioritized rural businesses and those that are majority-owned by veterans, women, and minorities. HB21-1302 makes modifications to the program to also prioritize businesses that missed out on the initial cycle of funding, businesses in economically distressed areas, and for-profit sole proprietorships. Additionally, if the Energize fund is to receive more funds in the future, preference will be given to businesses that rent or have a mortgage payment for the business premises or where the business resides at the same address at the business premises. HB21-1302 passed the Business, Labor, & Technology committee unanimously.

Both bills now head to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. To read the bills and find updates regarding their status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Democrats Advance Tax Fairness Package, Fight for Hardworking Families

Two bills seeking to provide tax relief to working families, seniors, and small businesses advance out of the Finance committee and on to Appropriations

DENVER, CO - Last night, the Senate Finance Committee approved a pair of bills working to reform our tax code by supporting families and local businesses; investing more in education, public health, and other basic state services; and closing regressive special interest tax loopholes. The bills, both sponsored by Senators Dominick Moreno & Chris Hansen, seek to build on progress made with tax relief legislation last year and aim to ensure Colorado’s economic recovery is efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

“The pandemic has both exposed and deepened existing inequities as well as created new ones,” said Senator Moreno (D-Commerce City). “As we recover, we can either continue business as usual, with decades-old special interest tax loopholes benefitting a handful of entrenched interests, or we can reform our tax code and uplift hardworking families, small businesses, and the most vulnerable Coloradans. The choice is clear.”

“Colorado’s tax code has been deeply unfair for far too long. Between our flat income tax structure, TABOR, and other restrictive fiscal policies, our state has underinvested in our children and support for hardworking families,” said Senator Hansen (D-Denver). “These bills will insert equity and integrity into our tax code by expanding tax credits like the EITC, and the child tax credit as well as limiting ineffective and outdated tax loopholes for corporations.”

Low wage workers and Colorado’s small businesses that make up the backbone of our economy are struggling to climb the economic ladder, put food on their tables, pay for housing, or afford higher education, while high-powered corporate interests protect an outdated tax system that gives handouts to those who’ve already reached the top.

HB21-1311 takes a critical look at the tax code to modify or eliminate provisions that have objectively failed their intended purpose or are broadly disadvantageous to local businesses and families. Instead, the bill prioritizes hardworking Coloradans by expanding tax credits for low and middle-income earners while curbing unjust tax-avoidance practices by big business. This includes prohibiting corporations from hiding their earnings in off-shore tax-havens as well as reinstating itemized deduction caps for the wealthiest Coloradans. 

According to a non-partisan legislative analysis, the provisions in this bill will raise approximately $110 million in revenue for the state and will pay out over $450 millions to working families, low-income Coloradans, and small businesses over the next 3 years.

Meanwhile, HB21-1312 seeks to adjust other state tax expenditures to prevent exploitation and ensure consistent application of tax laws. Specifically, the bill modifies ineffective tax subsidies for the largest businesses by eliminating property tax loopholes as well as other excessive write-offs. 

These bills provide Colorado with an opportunity to support everyday citizens and small businesses that make up the backbone of our economy – prioritizing those being left behind in our recovery. 

Both bills will now head to the Appropriations Committee, for further consideration. To read the bills and find updates regarding their status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Approves Bill to Protect Coloradans’ Data Privacy

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Rodriguez that seeks to protect Coloradans’ private information that big data companies use for profit without the consumers’ knowledge. 

The lack of regulation around large tech companies has resulted in the monopolization and control of Coloradans’ data that these entities use for profit, without passing down any of the benefits to the consumer. To help reign in this power, it is imperative that we return rights to consumers. 

“Due to the lack of adequate regulations around data privacy throughout our country, big data companies can freely use our data for profit without the consumer’s knowledge,” said Senator Robert Rodriguez (D-Denver). “Coloradans deserve to have control over how their private data is used. This bill shifts power back to consumers by ensuring that they are in full control over whether a company can use their personal information or not.” 

SB21-190 would provide consumers with the right to opt out of their personal data being processed, as well as the right to access, correct, delete, or obtain their personal data from various entities in Colorado that utilize and profit off of their data.

The bill now moves to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

Senate Passes Historic Legislation to Lower Health Care Costs, Improve Access

Senator Donovan passes landmark bill to lower health insurance premiums, improve health equity, and increase accessibility

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate passed HB21-1232: Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option. This bold piece of policy, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Kerry Donovan, will not only make health care more affordable, but improve overall accessibility, equity, and coverage.

“Today is a great day for Colorado. After a years-long process where the health care industry, advocacy groups, and legislators came together – refusing to accept the status quo – we have accomplished what once seemed impossible,” said Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. “Rather than stand idly by as folks were forced to choose between paying rent and paying their insurance bill, we moved forward with the knowledge that accessible, affordable, high-quality care can be a reality. I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to accomplish on behalf of every Coloradan. Because whether you’re a raft guide in Steamboat, a small business owner in Denver, or a ranching family in Bennett, this bill will make a real difference in your quality of life.”

Specifically, the bill requires a 15% reduction in premiums over the next three years. If these reduction targets are not met, the state may set rates on a limited basis to meet consumer savings targets. Additionally, the state will create a standardized benefit plan, available on the individual and small group market through private insurance carriers in every county in the state. 

The standardized plan will be developed with input from doctors, hospitals, and consumers from marginalized and underserved communities around the state. This is designed to improve racial health equity, improve geographic disparities, and ensure that a diversity of voices are represented. 

The Colorado Option will lower health care costs for individuals, families, and businesses across the state as well as increase accountability and consumer choice in the health care industry through multiple transparency mechanisms.

The bill now heads back to the House for final concurrence. To read the bill and find updates regarding the status, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1232.

Democrats Shepherd Three Critical Bills to Increase Community Safety, Address Gun Violence Epidemic

Bills to protect victims of domestic abuse, expand background check requirements, and establish a first-of-its-kind statewide Office of Gun Violence Prevention clear committee

DENVER, CO - Last night, the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs committee approved three landmark firearm safety bills, seeking to address the issue of gun violence with a root-cause, multi-pronged approach.

“Gun violence is an epidemic in the country,” said Senator Pettersen (D-Lakewood). “Every year it seems we are shocked by a horrific mass shooting that shakes us to our core. But it’s the countless other shootings happening every day that represent the deadliest component of this crisis. Domestic abusers and other violent offenders are largely unobstructed from buying a firearm – putting vulnerable families and communities at increased risk of lethal violence. This has to change. By preventing dangerous people from purchasing or owning a gun, these bills will help stop tragedy before it starts.”

HB21-1255, sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen & Sonya Jaquez-Lewis, would strengthen and streamline procedures for the relinquishment of firearms by someone who has a domestic violence-related protection order issued against them. Current law already requires domestic violence offenders who are subject to a protection order stemming from an act of domestic or intimate partner violence to forfeit their firearms and refrain from possessing or purchasing firearms for the duration of the order. This bill simply clarifies the way in which defendants must comply with this requirement, and establishes requirements for courts.

“More than 30% of Coloradans experience physical abuse at the hands of a domestic partner – a threat made five times more deadly when their abuser owns a gun,” said Senator Jaquez Lewis (D-Boulder County). “We must do everything in our power to protect victims by ensuring that perpetrators remain unarmed. This includes passing measures like HB21-1255, which will strengthen current laws that require domestic violence offenders to relinquish their firearms.”

HB21-1298, sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales & Brittany Pettersen, prohibits a person who has been convicted of specific violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for 5 years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault, and third degree assault. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. 

“Background checks are one of the most effective tools we have to keep deadly weapons out of dangerous hands,” said Senator Julie Gonzales (D-Denver). “By ensuring that those who have committed violent offenses are unable to purchase a firearm, we will undoubtedly save lives. But this bill doesn’t stop there - we are also closing a critical loophole that has long allowed firearms to be purchased without any background check if there is a national backlog. No matter the wait, background checks should be non-negotiable for gun purchases and this legislation will ensure that.”

HB21-1299, sponsored by Senators Chris Hansen & Rhonda Fields, establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention under the Department of Public Health and Environment. The Office would be responsible for conducting public awareness campaigns about gun violence prevention. It would educate the public about existing state resources and laws, including how to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order, how to access mental health resources, and how to store firearms securely. The Office would also fund proven community-based violence intervention programs that are focused on interrupting cycles of gun violence through competitive grants.

“Gun violence continues to plague our communities, and for too long Coloradans have been crying out for their leaders to do something about it. We need more than thoughts and prayers, we need action,” said Senator Hansen (D-Denver). “With this bill, we are investing in community-sourced solutions that will combat the root causes of gun violence rather than its symptoms. I am incredibly proud of Colorado’s leadership on this issue and look forward to a day when gun violence no longer stalks our streets, haunts our homes, or terrorizes our public spaces.”

“True gun violence prevention requires that we start thinking bigger and more holistically,” said Senator Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora). “Making top-down regulations without investing in grassroots education will only limit our policies’ effectiveness. We need to build broad public awareness that empowers communities to take action – protecting their loved ones in moments of crisis and implementing evidence-based initiatives that will interrupt cycles of violence and trauma.”

HB21-1299 & HB21-1255 will now head to the Appropriations Committee, while HB21-1298 will be heard by the full Senate. To read the bills and find updates regarding their status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Democrats Champion Law Enforcement & Judicial Reform

Bills that build on progress from 2020’s landmark police reform legislation as well as ensure more equitable and just pre-trial detention processes advance through committee

DENVER, CO - Last night, the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee approved two critical bills seeking to reform law enforcement practices and unjust judicial processes in Colorado.

HB21-1250, sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields, updates requirements related to the instances when body-worn cameras must be operating to include welfare checks. It also directs the Division of Criminal Justice to streamline the reporting requirements for peace officers, which will now include detailing whether an ambulance was called to the scene of an incident, whether there was a forcible entry into a residence and the number of officer-involved civilian deaths. These changes will provide a more holistic approach to data collection and transparency regarding law enforcement interactions.

“Today marks a dark, yet transformational day in American history. George Floyd, a dearly loved father, brother, and son – was murdered by an officer in the public’s trust. And his death ignited a national movement calling for fundamental change in policing. Colorado answered that call and passed sweeping police reform measures – holding bad actors accountable, mandating transparency practices, and reining in the use of force. But there is still so much more work to be done and this bill aims to build upon the progress we made last session by strengthening and clarifying the law to ensure its proper and complete adoption,” said Senator Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora).

In 2020, Senate Democrats championed one of the most progressive police reform bills in the nation, passing SB20-217 with overwhelming support, which was a historic step toward ensuring transparency, integrity and accountability for law enforcement in Colorado. Since its passage, conversations around the state have continued regarding the law’s implementation, presenting opportunities to bolster adoption and clarify expectations.

In addition to passing critical police reform legislation, the Senate took major steps towards creating a more just society by reforming pre-trial detention processes.

HB21-1280, sponsored by Senators Pete Lee and Robert Rodriguez, seeks to address unjust jailing practices by requiring a bond setting hearing within 48 hours after an arrestee's detainment and ensuring prompt and fair pretrial liberty. Specifically, the bill requires detainees to be released from custody within 6 hours after bond is set, requires clear notice of rights regarding bond payment and release procedures, and establishes reporting requirements to ensure compliance with the law.

“Far too many Coloradans are being kept behind bars before ever being convicted of a crime – robbing them of their families, jeopardizing their employment, and compromising their emotional and physical wellbeing,” said Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs). “This bill affirms the ‘innocent until proven guilty’ principle our nation was founded on by improving the bail process so that it is more timely, efficient, and just.” 

In Colorado, people commonly sit in jail for 3-15 days before having their bond set. These are presumptively innocent people, held pretrial.  Many will see their cases dismissed. Many will be released immediately upon seeing a judge.

“Being forced to languish in jail for days before ever seeing a judge isn’t justice, it’s a symptom of a broken system. If you are arrested, you have the right to a bail hearing, period. We cannot abandon our principle of presumed innocence simply because it’s inconvenient,” said Senator Rodriguez (D-Denver). “This bill ensures that Coloradans have access to justice in a timely and efficient manner – reforming practices that have unduly disrupted people’s lives and robbed them of their freedom.” 

Both bills now head to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. To find updates regarding their status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Colorado Comeback Bill to Support Creative Arts Industries Clears Committee!

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Local Government Committee approved a bill sponsored by Senator Janet Buckner and Senator Sonya Jaquez-Lewis that seeks to support creative arts industries throughout Colorado following the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation is part of the Colorado Recovery Plan. 

“This pandemic has taken a huge toll on our creative industries – forcing them to navigate both an economic recession and shifting capacity restrictions for more than a year,” said Senator Buckner, D-Aurora. “Not only will this bill provide relief for the industry as a whole, but it will target direct assistance to cultural facilities that focus on programming for historically marginalized and under-resourced communities to ensure our recovery is equitable.”

HB21-1285 provides $10M to support artists and cultural organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19 throughout the state. This includes funding for the performance-based film incentive, cultural facilities and the CO Creative Industries grant program set up during the 2020 special session.

“Venues, artists, and other creative industries are the heart of Colorado’s economy and they have faced immeasurable challenges over the last year,” said Senator Jaquez-Lewis, D-Boulder County. “As we work to build back stronger, we need to ensure that we uplift the vibrant art and cultural facilities that make our state so unique. This funding will help these indispensable organizations get back on their feet and ensure their longevity as Coloradans start returning to our beloved concert halls, museums, and movie theaters.” 

This bill now moves to Senate Appropriations for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.

Colorado Comeback Bills to Expand Broadband Access, Help Communities Transition Approved With Strong Bipartisan Support

DENVER, CO – Today, Senate committees gave broad bipartisan approval to two pieces of legislation that will increase broadband access for Coloradans as well as assist communities transitioning from coal. These bills are part of the Colorado Recovery Plan. 

HB21-1289: Expanding Access to Broadband, sponsored by Senator Jeff Bridges. Colorado has an opportunity to help bridge the digital divide exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing broadband access for our students, communities and businesses. This bill provides $75M to increase internet access across Colorado through the deployment of devices as well as the development of middle and last mile infrastructure to support services that have become a necessity during the pandemic, like telehealth. It specifically includes $20M for the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes. 

“Going to school these days requires books, backpacks, and broadband,” said Senator Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “Especially after this last year, more and more of our economy is online, and we have an obligation to make sure every Coloradan can participate in that economy. Connecting unserved and underserved communities to high-speed reliable internet creates more opportunity for everyone, and increases statewide equity and prosperity for all of our families.”

HB21-1290: Funding Just Transition Office, sponsored by Majority Leader Steve Fenberg. In 2019, Democrats in the legislature created the Office of Just Transition to guide communities transitioning from coal toward economic resilience. This bill provides $15 million in funding for workforce programs, local capacity grants, transition-related economic development grants, and critical infrastructure investments to boost economies that have been dependent on coal. 

“Allocating additional funding to the Office of Just Transition is a critical way for us to make sure workers in coal-dependent communities are adequately prepared for Colorado’s transition to clean energy,” said Majority Leader Fenberg, D-Boulder. “As our state adopts new clean energy projects in these communities, it’s on us to make sure that no one gets left behind. This funding demonstrates our commitment to providing support and assistance to the workers who are helping pave the way towards Colorado’s future.”

Both bills now move to Senate Appropriations for further consideration. Track the progress of the legislation by visiting leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Passes a Pair of Agricultural Stimulus Bills with Strong Bipartisan Support

Stimulus bills providing financial support for agricultural resiliency and efficiency programs receive final approval from the full Senate

DENVER, CO - Today, the State Senate passed two agricultural stimulus bills that are a part of Colorado’s recovery package, advancing them to the House for final consideration.

SB21-234, sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis & Jerry Sonnenberg, allocates $3 million to the Department of Agriculture to increase the state’s ability to anticipate, mitigate, or respond to droughts. In 2020, each of the 64 Colorado counties were experiencing a drought. Major drivers were an absent monsoon season, increased soil moisture deficits, record-high temperatures, and extreme evaporative demands from winds and low humidity. This drought exacerbated many of the financial impacts on the agriculture sector, and as climate change worsens, drought could cost Colorado an additional $511 million dollars in expected annual damages to agriculture. This bill will help the state plan for and mitigate future droughts and climate disturbances. SB21-234 passed through the Senate with unanimous support.

“Climate change has caused the worst drought for farmers in their planting season in 20 years,” said Senator Jaquez-Lewis, D-Boulder County. “This legislation will provide funding for drought mitigation and wildfire prevention techniques. As a San Luis rancher's granddaughter, I am proud to support our agricultural families across the state.”

SB21-235, also sponsored by Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, allocates another $5 million to the Department of Agriculture, with at least $3 million going to the ACRE3 energy efficiency program and at least $1 million going to conservation districts to implement voluntary soil health programs. Over the next decade, Colorado’s agricultural sector must comprehensively reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also increasing energy efficiency and cutting costs. ACRE3 is Colorado’s premier state-level program for agricultural energy management and provides financial aid, technical assistance, and education to help the agriculture industry cut energy costs and develop their own energy resources. To further increase the sustainability of the ag industry, producers can invest in healthy soil management, nutrient cycling, and erosion prevention strategies which will increase yields and resilience to extreme weather events. This bill was passed by a vote of 28-7, demonstrating strong bipartisan support.

“Agricultural businesses and working families depend on keeping costs low,” said Senator Jaquez-Lewis. “This legislation funds energy-efficient techniques like improving soil health and Agrivoltaics, which combines solar energy creation over croplands. Farmers and Ranchers will have another way to improve their crop production." 

Both bills now head to the House for further consideration. To read the bills and find updates regarding their status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Democratic Legislative Leadership Applaud Supreme Court Decision Allowing Colorado to Address Fault in School Funding Formula

With this ruling Colorado will be able to address long-standing inequities, bolstering K-12 funding

DENVER, CO - Today, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the state legislature may allow school districts to recover millions of dollars in lost revenue due to erroneous guidance regarding Colorado’s property tax system. This ruling is in direct response to HB21-1164, a bill sponsored by Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, Education Committee Chair Rachel Zenzinger, House Speaker Alec Garnett, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, that seeks to rectify incorrect guidance from CDE and bring districts’ mill levy rates in line with what their voters have approved in order to fund their local schools. The bill passed its final hurdle in the Senate this morning on a bipartisan vote of 23-12 after the Supreme Court issued the favorable ruling.

“Education funding in our state has long been an issue, and has been complicated by the entanglement of numerous property tax provisions,” said Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Today’s decision moves us significantly closer to resolving the structural inequity in Colorado’s property tax system that must be fixed to ensure our schools have the funding they desperately need.”

“Today’s groundbreaking announcement from the Supreme Court represents a monumental step toward repairing our state’s broken education funding system,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Fixing the inequities in our education system has been a top priority of mine for years. The decision handed down today will help us start to make up for years of deeply inequitable funding processes that have hamstrung certain districts like mine in Pueblo and held our schools back. It’s long past time to make fair and robust investments in our children and the future of Colorado.”

“I’m thrilled to see that the Supreme Court has affirmed the legislature’s fix to our unequal, unfair school funding structure,” said Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “Today’s decision will have profound impacts on our education system, finally giving Colorado the opportunity to build an equitable revenue system that can provide adequate funding for all students - no matter where they live.”

“Colorado’s students, educators and parents won today,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “With today’s Supreme Court decision, we’ll be able to make major progress towards correcting the inequities that pervade our school funding system and providing our kids and our schools with the fair and sufficient funding they need to thrive. I’m glad the Supreme Court reaffirmed the will of the voters today.”

In Colorado, K-12 education funding consists of a mixture of local and state dollars and is constitutionally directed to be “thorough and uniform.” In 1988, the legislature set a uniform school district mill levy – a property tax applied based on the assessed value of the property – so that theoretically, each district’s taxpayers would contribute the same proportion of local property taxes to school funding. 

While TABOR imposes a cap on school district tax revenue, between 1994 and 2002, voters in 174 of 178 school districts in Colorado chose to permanently waive TABOR’s revenue limitations (“De-Bruce”) in order to fill in the gaps caused by its arbitrary restrictions on public school funding. However, contrary to this voter approval, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) issued guidance directing school districts to continue to reduce their tax rates (total program mill levy) to remain under TABOR’s revenue limits – despite the fact that voters had indicated clear intent for districts to no longer be subject to those limits. 

Due to this error, some property owners pay tax rates that are 16 times higher than those of taxpayers in neighboring school districts on properties of the same value, which forces the state to send disproportionately high state funding to our wealthiest districts, subtracting from what would otherwise be distributed to all districts.

HB21-1164 directs CDE to implement a correction plan for the erroneous reductions in total program mill levies by incrementally phasing out mill levy credits starting in FY 2021-22. This timeline was chosen intentionally to ensure no district is forced to phase out credits faster than 1 mill per year.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Colorado state Senate took up HB21-1164 on Third Reading and final passage – clearing the bill over its final hurdle before heading to the Governor’s desk for signature. To track the progress of the legislation click here.

Following the Avalanche Sweep, Senate Democrats Skate to the Puck & Push Legislative Priorities Forward As Sine Die Nears

Bills support foster youth, domestic abuse victims, firearm safety & education, and police reform, while stimulus bills bolster creative industries, coal communities, & broadband deployment

DENVER, CO - This week, Senate Democrats are cool as ice as many of their legislative priorities get their shot in committee this week.

Three of the bills being heard are a part of Colorado’s recovery package:

HB21-1290: Funding Just Transition Office, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Fenberg & Senator Rankin.

• In 2019, Democrats in the legislature created the Office of Just Transition to guide communities transitioning from coal toward economic resilience. This bill provides $15 million in funding for workforce programs, local capacity grants, transition-related economic development grants, and critical infrastructure investments to boost economies that have been dependent on coal. 

This bill will be heard by the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee at 1:30PM today, May 24th in Senate Committee Room 352.

HB21-1289: Expanding Access to Broadband, sponsored by Senators Bridges and Priola.

• Colorado has an opportunity to help bridge the digital divide exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing broadband access for our students, communities and businesses. This bill provides $75M to increase internet access across Colorado through the deployment of devices, and the development of middle and last mile infrastructure to support services that have become a necessity during the pandemic, like telehealth. It specifically includes $20M for the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes. 

This bill will be heard by the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee at 1:30PM today, May 24th in Senate Committee Room 352.

HB21-1285: Funding To Support Creative Arts Industries, sponsored by Senators Buckner & Jaquez Lewis.

• Venues, artists, and so many other culturally vital organizations have struggled to make it through the last year. This bill provides $10M to support artists and cultural organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19 throughout the state. This includes funding for the performance based film incentive, cultural facilities and the CO Creative Industries grant program set up during the 2020 special session.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Local Government Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in Senate Committee Room 352.

Other legislative priorities headed to committee this week include:

HB21-1094: Foster Youth In Transition Program, sponsored by Senators Zenzinger & Rankin.

• As foster children transition to adulthood and out of the foster care system, they face a steep cliff where they no longer have adequate resources and support that they had for the first several years of their lives. This bill acknowledges the challenges of the 200+ youths who exit the Colorado foster system by creating a new program called Foster Youth in Transition which allows discharged youths to reenter the foster system in order to receive training and support as they transition into adulthood. The program is implemented through county health or social services departments throughout the state, and seeks to extend client-directed and developmentally appropriate services to foster youth who were in foster care or who were adjudicated dependent and neglected after their 14th birthday and who voluntarily choose to receive certain child welfare services through their 21st birthday.

This bill will be heard by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee at 1:30PM today, Monday May 24th in Senate Committee Room 357.

HB21-1299: Office Of Gun Violence Prevention, sponsored by Senators Hansen & Fields.

• True gun violence prevention requires that we start thinking bigger and more holistically. Making top-down regulations without investing in grassroots education will only limit our policies’ effectiveness. We need to build broad public awareness that empowers communities to take action – protecting their loved ones in moments of crisis and implementing evidence-based initiatives that will interrupt cycles of violence and trauma. To help educate and build awareness, this bill establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention under the Department of Public Health and Environment. The Office would be responsible for conducting public awareness campaigns about gun violence prevention. It would educate the public about existing state resources and laws, including how to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order, how to access mental health resources, and how to store firearms securely.

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1255: Protection Order Issued Against Domestic Abuser, sponsored by Senators Pettersen & Jaquez Lewis.

• Current law already requires domestic violence offenders who are subject to a protection order stemming from an act of domestic or intimate partner violence to forfeit their firearms and refrain from possessing or purchasing firearms for the duration of the order. HB21-1255 would strengthen and streamline procedures for the relinquishment of firearms by someone who has a domestic violence-related protection order issued against them. This bill simply clarifies the way in which defendants must comply with this requirement, and establishes requirements for courts.

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1298: Expand Firearm Transfer Background Check Requirements, sponsored by Senators Gonzales & Pettersen.

• Background checks are one of the most effective tools we have to keep deadly weapons out of dangerous hands. By ensuring that those who have committed violent offenses are unable to purchase a firearm, we will undoubtedly save lives. This bill prohibits a person who has been convicted of specific violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for 5 years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault, and third degree assault. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. 

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

HB21-1250: Measures to Address Law Enforcement Accountability, sponsored by Senator Fields.

• In 2020, Senate Democrats passed one of the most progressive law enforcement reform bills in the nation, SB20-217, which was a historic step toward ensuring transparency, integrity and accountability for Colorado’s law enforcement. However, since it’s passage, conversations around the state have continued on the law’s implementation and there are opportunities to clarify language to ensure it is meeting the intended goals. HB21-1250 clarifies requirements related to the instances when body-worn cameras must be operating to include welfare checks. It directs the Division of Criminal Justice to create a single form to streamline the reporting requirements for peace officers, which will now include whether an ambulance was called to the scene of an incident, whether there was a forcible entry into a residence, and the number of officer-involved civilian deaths.

This bill will be heard by the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee at 1:30PM on Tuesday May 25th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

To listen to committee hearings, visit leg.colorado.gov/watch-listen. The full Senate calendar for the week can be found at http://leg.colorado.gov/session-schedule?type=senate.

President Garcia Appoints & Senate Overwhelming Approves Former-Representative Cole Wist to the Independent Ethics Commission

Wist will succeed Commissioner William Leone as the Senate appointee to the Commission for a four-year term, beginning in July 2021

DENVER, CO - Today, Senate President Leroy Garcia introduced Senate Resolution 21-006 to formally appoint Cole Wist to the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission, a constitutionally created independent commission charged with upholding ethics in Colorado government. The Senate voted 34-1 to approve the President's appointment. 

“Though Representative Wist and I come from different political parties, I have always known him to be an honest, principled man with integrity,” said President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo). “I have no doubt that Cole Wist’s exemplary character and experience will make him an extremely valuable member of the Independent Ethics Commission.”

Wist is a former state legislator, and former House Assistant Minority Leader, who represented House District 37 in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2016-2018. Throughout his short but exemplary legislative career, Representative Wist quickly earned a reputation as being an ethical and principled legislator, a creative problem solver, a civil justice reform advocate, and a productive bipartisan lawmaker who demonstrated experienced and reasoned leadership.

Representative Wist was a legislator to whom members from both sides of the aisle turned for guidance and balanced advice and who was admired by his legislative colleagues for his intelligence, fairness, civility, and grace. 

In addition to his legislative career, Wist is a well-respected and experienced attorney, of counsel with the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs in Denver, where he engages in a national legal practice representing employers in complex labor and employment matters and focusing on workplace safety and health and crisis risk management. Over his decades-long legal career, Wist has earned the respect of and been recognized by his peers in the legal community for his outstanding professional achievements.

On the basis of his dedicated public service as a respected member of the Colorado House of Representatives, his extensive career as a highly regarded and well-respected attorney for over thirty years, and his outstanding qualifications and reputation in the community as an individual of integrity and the highest ethical standards, Cole Wist has demonstrated the temperament and personal qualities that will enable him to serve as a respected member of the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission.

For Senate appointments to be confirmed, resolutions must pass through the full Senate with at least a two-thirds vote. To read the resolution in its entirety, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sr21-006.

Governor Polis, Legislators Unveil American Rescue Plan State Funds Package to Power Colorado Comeback

DENVER - Today, Governor Jared Polis joined legislative leadership, members of the Joint Budget Committee, and members of Colorado’s federal delegation and State Treasurer Dave Young to announce how the state will use federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to power the Colorado Comeback. 

“We must seize this once in a generation opportunity to use state stimulus funds to invigorate our economy and help our state recover faster and stronger, while at the same time making critical investments that will better our state for future generations of Coloradans,” said Governor Jared Polis. “And now, we have an opportunity to build on those investments with federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. This package is the product of a truly collaborative effort from the federal to the state and local levels, and will power the Colorado comeback.”

“This is an important step to helping those Coloradans who have been hardest hit over the last year, including those who have suffered with mental, substance use disorders, and behavioral health challenges worsened by the pandemic. These funds will be critical to providing much needed services, to help Coloradans and our communities build back stronger,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. 

“With thousands of people across our state still out of work, and many more families still struggling to make ends meet, the help that’s coming our way as a result of the American Rescue Plan couldn’t come soon enough,” said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). “This funding will help families and businesses alike. It will put money in people’s pockets and shots in their arms. And it will keep people in their homes, get them back to work, and help us build a foundation to build back even better than we were before.”

“The American Rescue Plan delivered exactly what our country needed and will help ensure a strong and successful recovery for all Coloradans. Like much of the COVID response, much of our recovery will take place at the local and state level, and I applaud Governor Polis’ and the Legislature for their leadership in ensuring the American Rescue Plan funding is put to good use to help communities across our state recover and build back better,” said U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated families, workers, and small businesses across Colorado in so many different ways,” said Congressman Jason Crow. “With President Biden’s leadership, we fought hard to pass the American Rescue Plan and bring home billions in aid for Colorado. We’re already seeing the benefits of this investment with shots in arms and money in Americans’ pockets. I’m proud to work with Governor Polis and our statehouse partners as we build back an even stronger Colorado.”

“With passage of the American Rescue Plan help is here, for Colorado families and communities, for workers and small business owners. Families across our state have already received relief checks, small business owners are finding support through grants and loans, and many more are seeing help through direct housing assistance and nutrition assistance. After our successful efforts to secure direct local and state funding in this plan, our communities will now see even more direct support. I am so grateful for the work of our Mayors, the work of Governor Polis and our state legislature to ensure we get these funds into the hands of Coloradans who need it most. We know our communities have faced unprecedented challenges over the last 15 months, asking Colorado families to weather this moment alone was simply never an option,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. 

“Today, state and federal lawmakers joined Governor Polis to outline a responsible framework to spend American Rescue Plan Act dollars in a way that is as precise and effective as possible,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “We listened to the ideas community leaders shared during the statewide listening tour, which has led us to a multi-pronged approach. We’ll use some of the relief funds this legislative session to fortify our state budget, and this summer, we’ll set up a bipartisan process to really dive in and craft bold ideas that will power the Colorado Comeback and help our state build back stronger.” 

“Even though Colorado’s economy is rebounding, too many of our neighbors across the state are still struggling to fix what the pandemic has broken. Thanks to unprecedented funds coming to Colorado from the American Rescue Plan, we can make historic investments in the communities hit the hardest,” said President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo. “By taking the ideas we learned during our statewide listening tour and using an interim committee to give us the strongest recommendations, we can ensure that the remainder of Colorado’s ARPA dollars are available to help the small businesses, industries, and families who have been hit the hardest by COVID-19.” 

“Thanks to President Biden and our federal delegation, we have a tremendous opportunity to build back stronger and make truly transformative, once in a generation change for the people of Colorado,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “The investments we plan to make in workforce development and skills training will connect students with new options for postsecondary education and increase funding for effective programs that provide workers with the tools they need to thrive and fill good jobs. By making strategic investments in hardworking Coloradans, we will put these federal stimulus funds to use to boost our economy and ensure every part of our state is set up for success.”

“After COVID laid bare the fragility of access and availability in our housing market, we knew we needed to do more to get struggling Coloradans into supportive, affordable homes,” said Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “With this once-in-a-lifetime federal stimulus funding we are in a position to make historic investments in equitable housing – providing opportunities for all Coloradans to establish intergenerational wealth and long term prosperity.”

“Today is truly a day of celebration. After more than a year of hardship and struggle, we are entering a new chapter of recovery and growth” said JBC Chair, Senator Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. “With these once-in-a-generation funds, we will revitalize our community pillars and recharge our economy – laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient Colorado.“

“Today is an exciting and historic day for Colorado,” said JBC Vice Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “With these federal funds, we’ll not only be able to invest in stimulative projects that help our economy bounce back stronger, but we’ll also put about a billion dollars into fortifying our budget to guarantee years of stability and fiscal integrity. As our state recovers, this funding will ensure we have the resources we need to avoid cuts to critical state services that Coloradans in every corner of our state need.”

“One year ago, we were learning just how deep and devastating the economic recession from COVID-19 would be, and today, I am so hopeful for the future of this state,“ said JBC member Chris Hansen, D-Denver. ”These funds are going to accelerate Colorado’s economic recovery, and this carefully crafted plan based on months of stakeholder work will ensure the relief is targeted and as effective as possible.”

“This framework makes historic investments in mental health, provides businesses the relief they need to grow and create jobs, and stabilizes our budget to bolster the critical services people rely on,” said JBC Member Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “American Rescue Plan dollars will help to usher in a more equitable recovery where those who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic share in the comeback and economic growth.”

“These funds create opportunities and move Colorado forward,” said Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young. “They offer Coloradans an unprecedented opportunity to address acute needs in the areas of affordable housing and mental health, to strengthen and protect our state budget for the long haul, and to focus on critical needs related to economic justice. They’ll enable us to protect long term budget priorities and lift up working families across Colorado.”

With the $3.8 billion of state aid provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (Fiscal Recovery Funds), the Governor and Colorado legislature are rolling out the roadmap of investments designed to power the Colorado Comeback. 

A top priority for the state aid provided by the American Rescue Plan Act will be to shore up the state budget for the near term through a series of budget integrity measures, so as the Coloradans are recovering from this global pandemic, the state can avoid cuts to critical state services such as funding for K-12 schools, higher education, existing mental and behavioral and physical health programs, and the ongoing public health response to COVID-19. That’s why a full third or $1.3 billion of the federal relief funds will be invested in ensuring budget integrity for the next several years.

Of the $3.8 billion in federal funds:

• $1 billion will go toward fortifying the state budget and maintaining fiscal integrity

• $300 million will go towards Colorado’s ongoing response to the COVID pandemic

• Between $400-$550 million will go towards affordable housing and homeownership efforts

• Between $400-$550 million towards mental and behavioral health programs 

• Approximately $200 million towards workforce development and education 

• Approximately $817 million will be for economic recovery and relief

• $404- $414 million for transportation and infrastructure, and parks and agriculture 

Colorado expects to spend $2 billion of the state’s total $3.8 billion in federal funds this legislative session. An estimated $1.8 billion in federal funds will remain for deployment at the beginning of the next legislative session following an Interim stakeholder process, enabling resources to be targeted to changing needs in the economy that may evolve in the coming months.

These federal funds will further strengthen Colorado’s work to make the state’s economy even stronger post pandemic. Through the Colorado Recovery Plan unveiled in March, the state has already invested roughly $800 million of state funds to help Coloradans recover faster. State stimulus funds are already focused on strengthening small businesses, revitalizing Colorado’s infrastructure, supporting families, investing in rural communities, and developing the state’s workforce. 

To view the roadmap, click here. 

Senate Votes to Increase Tenant Rights, Address Homelessness, Improve Broadband Access & More!

DENVER, CO - Today, the Senate approved several priority bills that would improve tenant rights, expand affordable housing development, support community revitalization, and enhance broadband access. 

HB21-1121 prohibits landlords from increasing rent more than once in a 12-month period, extends eviction notices from 21 to 60 days for tenancies between 1 - 6 months long, and strengthens legal proceedings to give tenants more support in eviction court.

“Colorado is one of the worst states in the nation for housing – ranking 43rd for access and affordability. It’s time we protect tenants from predatory behavior and ensure Coloradans can remain in their homes,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “This bill will make our state more tenant-friendly by limiting the power landlords have to drive up rent and push residents – particularly low-income folks – out of their communities.”

SB21-242 creates a $15 million grant program for local governments, municipalities, and nonprofits to rent, acquire, or restore underutilized hotels or motels to provide immediate housing for people experiencing homelessness. This bill is a part of Colorado’s Recovery Package.

“It’s heartbreaking to see so many people on our streets without safe shelter,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood. “We have a moral obligation to lift up those in our community who are struggling and need our support, and that is what we are seeking to do with this bill. By fully utilizing hotels, motels and other establishments to house the most vulnerable among us, we can put Colorado on a successful pathway towards ending the homelessness crisis once and for all.”

SB21-252 creates the Community Revitalization Grant Program to issue grants intended to support creative projects in commercial centers that would combine revitalized or newly constructed commercial spaces with public or community spaces. This bill is also a part of Colorado’s Recovery Package. 

“Creative community spaces are critical to the vibrancy of our state, but in the wake of the pandemic, many of these projects have flatlined,” said Senator Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “With this funding, our commercial centers can jump-start creative revitalization efforts that will uplift local communities and help Colorado build back stronger.” 

HB21-1109 seeks to extend broadband services to critically unserved communities in the state and ensure that everyone can get connected to the internet. Specifically, the bill adds a new definition of “critically unserved” to better categorize the needs of Coloradans that don’t have adequate broadband connections. It also requires the Broadband Deployment Board to ensure limited state dollars for broadband investments are targeted to areas of Colorado that lack access in a timely and efficient manner. 

“Going to school these days requires books, backpacks, and broadband,” said Senator Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “Especially after this last year, more and more of our economy is online, and we have an obligation to make sure every Coloradan can participate in that economy. Connecting unserved and underserved communities to high-speed reliable internet creates more opportunity for everyone, and increases statewide equity and prosperity for all of our families.” 

These bills now head to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the legislation by visiting leg.colorado.gov.

Committee Approves Bill Aimed at Curbing the Criminalization of Poverty & Over-Policing!

SB21-273 works to dismantle long-entrenched policing and jailing practices that lead to racial discrimination, unjust detainment, & the destabilization of vulnerable communities

DENVER, CO - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to promote liberty and equal justice under the law by enacting pretrial reform. SB21-273, sponsored by Senators Pete Lee and Dominick Moreno, works to curb detainment for low-level offenses – addressing perpetual cycles of abuse and mistreatment of vulnerable populations.   

“Justice and freedom are the cornerstones of American values. But since our founding, these values have been applied inequitably. For people of color, the poor, and socially marginalized justice is a rarity rather than a right,” said Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs). “One of the biggest culprits of this toxicity is reflected in jailing and arrest practices, where people’s freedom and even lives are taken away with a devastating level of frequency. It’s time to completely rethink how police interact with our communities and recalibrate the role money has in our justice system. Because access to funds shouldn’t determine a person’s right to freedom and non-violent, low-level offenses shouldn’t elicit an arrest.”

“Ability to pay should never determine a person’s freedom, however, we continually criminalize poverty when it comes to our justice system. The majority of people in our pre-trial detention system have not even been convicted of a crime, yet they sit in our jail cells simply because they cannot afford bail,” said Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “We cannot allow this unfair, discriminatory system to endure. This bill is a harm-reducing, common-sense policy that will make an enormous difference in holding people accountable, keeping communities safe, and promoting liberty and equal justice for all.” 

Colorado’s jail population has grown 800% in the last 50 years, largely comprising of low-level, non-violent detainees who simply can’t afford cash bonds. Black people have been disproportionately affected by this trend – being 8X more likely to be arrested than white people for lower-level offenses and 4X more likely to be killed in police custody. This has perpetuated cycles of instability among vulnerable communities and deteriorated society’s relationship with law enforcement. 

SB21-273 prohibits a court from issuing a monetary bond for a misdemeanor offense; municipal offense; class 4, 5, or 6 felonies; or a drug felony unless the court finds the defendant will flee prosecution or threaten the safety of another. The bill also requires peace officers to prioritize the issuance of a summons for low-level, non-violent misdemeanors. Finally, SB21-273 establishes a Community Response Working Group to study and recommend safe, effective alternatives to law enforcement responses including incorporating mental health professionals and social workers.   

The bill will now head to Senate Finance for further consideration. To read the bill and find updates regarding its status, visit leg.colorado.gov.

Senate Democrats Champion Legislation to Extend Long Sought After Labor Rights to Agricultural Workers

SB21-087 would expand labor protections, allow workers to form unions, and guarantee minimum wages for agricultural workers across the state

DENVER, CO - Today, the State Senate gave final approval to a groundbreaking agricultural workers’ rights bill that will modernize the industry, promote equity, and establish fair treatment standards by extending basic labor rights to agricultural workers.

SB21-087, sponsored by Senators Jessie Danielson & Dominick Moreno, establishes an ‘Agricultural Workers’ Bill of Rights’ that guarantees break times, meal times, safe and comfortable working conditions, safe housing, overtime pay, clean water, and health protections for agricultural workers. Additionally, the bill prohibits the   use of the short-handled hoe – a practice that has already been outlawed in Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

“For generations, our agricultural workers have been exploited for profit in Colorado, and it’s well beyond time for us to stand up for them,” said Senator Jessie Danielson (D-Wheatridge). “Under this critical legislation, Coloradans who work on farms, ranches and other agricultural establishments across our state will earn a living wage, get overtime pay, have access to water and rest breaks, and be protected from retaliation. Our ag workers should have the same protections as other workers. This bill ensures that.”

“Colorado lags far behind other states when it comes to affording basic human rights to agricultural workers,” said Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “These workers are often exploited for cheap labor and they can’t even discuss workplace conditions with their colleagues without fear of retaliation. Our bill will ensure basic protections for ag workers that already apply to every other worker across our state.”

Specifically, the bill tasks the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics in the Department of Labor and Employment to promulgate rules to establish the overtime pay of agricultural employees, and removes the exemption of agricultural labor from state and local minimum wage laws. To continue to look ahead, the bill also creates the Agricultural Work Advisory Committee to study and analyze agricultural wages and working conditions. Lastly, the bill creates rights, remedies, and enforcement actions for aggrieved agricultural employees, whistleblowers, and key service providers so they can seek justice and promote transparency without fear of retaliation.

SB21-087 will now head to the House for consideration. To read the bill and find updates regarding its status, visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-087.