Sen. Winter Statement on SCOTUS Decision Limiting EPA's Ability to Combat Climate Change

Senator: “I am bitterly disappointed by today’s shameful Supreme Court decision that guts the EPA’s ability to regulate emissions and sets back our efforts to mitigate the worst effects of climate change.”

WESTMINSTER, CO - Colorado State Senator Faith Winter today released a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision limiting the EPA’s ability to regulate power plant emissions:

“I am bitterly disappointed by today’s shameful Supreme Court decision that guts the EPA’s ability to regulate emissions and sets back our efforts to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. We must be taking proactive steps to reduce emissions, but today’s decision will instead make this crisis worse, and it’s the most vulnerable among us who will be hit hardest. But here in Colorado, we are still leading the way, and this ruling will not deter our efforts to lower our emissions and tackle climate change head-on, before it’s too late. Whether it’s on climate change or abortion access, Colorado will stand strong and we will continue fighting to ensure a cleaner, safer, and healthier future for us all.”

General Assembly Democrats 2022 Accomplishments on Saving Colorado Families Money

MEMO                                                         

TO: Colorado Press Corps
RE: 2022 Accomplishments on Saving Colorado Families Money
FROM: House and Senate Democrats

Overview

Inflation and the rising cost of living caused by global economic forces and continued disruptions from the pandemic have caused economic uncertainty across the globe. This has hit Coloradans squarely in their pocketbooks, and folks are feeling the pain as the cost of living has risen, often hitting Black and Brown Coloradans and other disadvantaged communities the hardest. We recognize the financial stress families are feeling, which is why we worked hard to save Coloradans and businesses money and ease the burden for working Colorado families who are feeling the pinch.

That’s why Democrats this year passed legislation to save homeowners hundreds of dollars on their property taxes, expedite critical tax relief in the form of refund checks to every Colorado resident, and replenish the unemployment insurance trust fund to save businesses money and improve unemployment insurance for Colorado workers. We also worked to lower gas prices, save families money on groceries, and slash fees on everything from starting a business to getting a driver's license.

This urgent relief will help working families afford everyday necessities like gas and groceries, and will help make life more affordable in Colorado.

Saving People Money

Tax Relief and Cashback for Individuals and Families: Democrats passed legislation to save the average homeowner $274 on their property taxes (SB22-238); provide advanced tax refunds of $750 ($1,500 for joint filers) this summer to every Colorado resident (SB22-233); help tax filers take advantage of tax reforms that will save families and workers $180 million this year through the expanded earned income tax credit and child tax credit (SB22-182); and save homeowners money on wildfire mitigation (HB22-1007).

Tax Relief for Businesses: Democrats are providing $700 million in property tax relief over the next two years for homeowners and businesses (SB22-238); eliminating fees to start your business (HB22-1001); allowing restaurants to keep $40 million of the sales tax they collect (HB22-1406), making sales tax filing easier (SB22-006); and replenishing the unemployment trust fund to avoid cost increases on businesses (SB22-234).

Saving People Money on Housing: Democrats are saving Coloradans money on housing by investing $428 million to preserve and construct new affordable housing. This funding will go toward loans to leverage private and local dollars to construct affordable homes; direct grants to nonprofits and local governments to build affordable homes; investments in middle-income housing; and innovative housing solutions such as modular homes. (HB22-1304, SB22-159, SB22-160, SB22-146, HB22-1282). Additionally, Democrats extended the Colorado Affordable Housing Tax Credit for an additional 7 years, providing $420 million in additional tax credits over the next decade (HB22-1051), fostered economic mobility among mobile home park residents (HB22-1287), and protected veterans and active military members from housing discrimination (HB22-1102).

Increasing Behavioral Health Care Access: Democrats passed legislation to expand access to behavioral health care and save people money on the treatment they need to support their health and well-being. This $450 million package expands access to critical services for adults, youth, and families; increases access to substance use disorder treatment; bolsters the behavioral health workforce; and adds more residential treatment beds. (HB22-1281, SB22-196, HB22-1302, SB22-147, SB22-148, HB22-1283, HB22-1303, SB22-181, SB22-177, HB22-1278).

Child Care and Free Universal Preschool: Democrats passed legislation this session to help child care providers save money and stay open (HB22-1006, SB22-213) and create free universal preschool for every Colorado family that will help parents get back to work and save families thousands of dollars (HB22-1295).

Democrats saved people money everywhere we could including on:

• gas and car registrations (HB22-1351, HB22-1254), 

• groceries (HB22-1380), 

• hygiene products and diapers (HB22-1055), 

• drivers license renewals (HB22-1004), 

• professional fees and licensure renewals (HB22-1298, HB22-1299, HB22-1005),

• college tuition and apprenticeships (HB22-1350, HB22-1155, SB22-192, SB22-226, SB22-003)

• student loan forgiveness for educators and behavioral health care professionals (SB22-181, HB22-1220)

Colorado Senate Majority Caucus Joint Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Overturning Roe

COLORADO - The Colorado Senate majority caucus today released the following joint statement upon the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade:

“We strongly condemn the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision that has federally protected the right to abortion under the U.S. Constitution for the last 49 years. Today’s decision undermines the integrity of the U.S. Supreme Court, and undercuts decades of legal precedent. By overturning Roe v. Wade, millions of pregnant Americans will lose the ability to access a safe abortion.

We believe that every single American should have the freedom to decide when they want to start a family, and the liberty to seek out critical, often life-saving medical care, without interference from politicians. To be clear: today’s decision will not stop abortions from happening. It will stop safe abortions from happening, and put the lives of millions of Americans at risk while doing so. 

In Colorado, Democrats passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act because we anticipated that this day would come. Now and always, we will fight to ensure that every pregnant American’s decision regarding abortion and reproductive health care is respected and honored. Today serves as a stark reminder that the freedoms we enjoy cannot be taken for granted. It is also an opportunity for us to unite as Americans and demand change. We call on every single member of Congress to put politics aside and immediately pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, a federal measure that will codify abortion rights in law, once and for all. Abortion is a fundamental right, and we will fight for that right – for as long as it takes.”

JOINT RELEASE: Lawmakers Celebrate Important Step Forward to Fund Colorado Option

COLORADO - Colorado Democratic lawmakers today are celebrating news that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Colorado’s Section 1332 Innovation Waiver Request for the Colorado Option, a landmark bill signed into law last year that will save Coloradans money and improve access to health care across the state.

Sponsored by Reps. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, and Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, the Colorado Option will lower health care costs for individuals, families, and small businesses across the state by creating a new standardized health insurance plan for consumers on the individual and small group markets, and by requiring health insurance carriers to bring premiums down by 15 percent over three years.

“The Colorado Option will be an affordable and quality insurance plan in every county of the state. Coloradans – especially in rural and mountain communities like mine – have faced soaring health care costs for too long and that is why we worked so hard to make this plan a reality,” Roberts said. “This waiver means we can move forward with the Colorado Option and make quality, affordable health insurance plans for individuals and small businesses in every part of the state a reality.”

“I want to thank CMS for their partnership in making the Colorado Option a reality. This groundbreaking idea will cut the cost of health care and increase access for all Coloradans and small businesses – relief we need in Colorado’s high country and across the state,” Donovan said.

“I am proud that the Colorado Option will bring more affordable and quality health care to rural communities, people of color and small businesses across our state,” Jodeh said. “We have been working toward this day for a long time, and CMS’ approval of Colorado's waiver is an important step toward full implementation of the Colorado Option and achieving meaningful cost savings for Coloradans.”

Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) permits a state to apply for a State Innovation Waiver (also referred to as a Section 1332 waiver) to pursue innovative strategies for providing residents with access to high quality, affordable health insurance while retaining the basic protections of the ACA.

CMS’ waiver approval is a critical step that will allow Colorado to use up to $135 million in federal funding to provide a new, affordable health insurance option that will save consumers money and help more Coloradans access and afford the critical health care they need to thrive.

JOINT RELEASE: Colorado Gains Jobs, Strong Economy Means More Money Will be Returned to Coloradans Through Cashback Plan

DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee today released the following statements after the Legislative Council staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the June economic forecasts.

“Today’s forecast shows that our economy is making a bold recovery with unemployment rates falling to pre-pandemic levels, nearly all sectors thriving, and Colorado’s employment gains outpacing the nation,” said JBC Chair Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I’m proud of the fiscally responsible decisions we made to power the Colorado comeback and position our state to compete. We know that even with our strong recovery, families are struggling with high gas prices and the rising cost of living. Our Colorado Cashback Plan will send every Coloradan a refund check in September to help with everyday necessities, which thanks to our economic growth, will now be at least $750 for single filers and $1,500 for joint filers. From cutting property taxes to creating free universal preschool, we passed dozens of laws this year to help Coloradans and small businesses hold on to more of their hard-earned money.”

“Thanks to smart, responsible budgeting, Colorado’s economic recovery is leading the way, which is good news for families that are dealing with surging prices,” said JBC Vice Chair Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “Even better, Democrats have worked hard to ensure Colorado remains on a sound fiscal path, and today’s forecast means families will get even more money back - at least $750 for single filers and $1,500 for joint filers - when they receive their taxpayer relief checks this fall. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to invest in our communities, support Colorado’s economy, and move our state forward.”

“Despite a geopolitical crisis, supply chain challenges and pandemic-induced inflation leading to higher prices across the globe, Colorado is gaining jobs and beginning to close the gaps in our recovery that disproportionately impact people of color and lower-income communities,” said JBC Member Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “Our recovery has led to a strong budget surplus that we used to save people money on gas, groceries, property taxes, fees, hygiene products, car registrations, sales taxes, child care and so much more. By investing in vibrant communities, increasing access to behavioral health, boosting small businesses, and making housing more affordable, we worked to address the most pressing needs in our communities and protect the Colorado way of life.”

“Today’s data makes clear that Colorado’s economy continues to outpace other states when it comes to economic recovery and growth,” said JBC Member Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “We crafted a budget that delivers for Colorado families by making investments in K-12 education, reducing fees for businesses and professionals to save people money, and investing in health care for children and pregnant women, and it’s paying off for our families and our communities.”

The unemployment rate continued to fall in Colorado to 3.5 percent in May, led mostly by gains in the food and accommodations sectors. The state exceeds pre-pandemic jobs by 35,000 and continues to outpace the rest of the country. Inflationary pressures, however, will impact near term budget priorities and state departments. Geopolitical disruption and monetary policy decisions at the federal level in response to inflation were also presented as risks to the forecast. Extraordinary state and federal action to help Coloradans weather the disruption of the pandemic ensured a stronger and faster recovery than previous recessions.

During the 2022 legislative session, Democrats passed the Colorado Cashback Plan to send rebate checks to Coloradans in September to help people with rising costs. Under the new law, the state will refund approximately 85 percent of FY 2021-2022 surplus TABOR revenue through the Colorado Cashback Plan in checks of equal amounts for single filers and double that amount for joint filers. Due to Colorado’s strong recovery, the forecasts now estimate that the checks will be $750 for single filers and $1,500 for joint filers.

The Legislative Council staff (LCS) forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $17.43 billion in FY 2021-2022 and $17.42 billion in FY 2022-2023 – a $1.37 billion increase for FY 2021-2022 and a $1.05 billion increase for FY 2022-2023 as compared with the earlier March revenue forecast. The forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $17.40 billion for FY 2023-2034.

The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) anticipates that General Fund revenue will be $17.2 billion for FY 2021-22, which OSPB revised upward by $1 billion relative to its March estimate. For FY 2022-23, OSPB projects General Fund revenue will be close to $16.6 billion, which OSPB revised upward by $91.1 million relative to its March estimate. For FY 2023-2024, OSPB estimates that General Fund revenue will be $17.3 billion.

Senate Applauds Signing of Danielson Bill to Prevent Crime, Create State-Level Response to Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives

SB22-150 will improve coordination and raise awareness of MMIR cases

DENVER, CO – The Colorado State Senate is celebrating the signing of a bill sponsored by Senator Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, that will improve Colorado’s response to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives to help prevent crime and improve public safety.

The bill, SB22-150, will create an Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) to improve coordination, response, communication, and awareness of MMIR cases.

“Indigenous people are at particularly high risk for violent crime,” Danielson said. “We must stop looking the other way and address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives with a comprehensive and strong response. This new law will do just that."

More than 4 out of 5 Indigenous people in the United States experience violent crime during their lifetime, a rate disproportionately higher than any other segment of the population.

SB22-150 will improve responses to MMIR cases, provide better support for Indigenous communities, and better serve families of MMIR. It will establish an MMIR alert system and improve data tracking regarding MMIR cases while ensuring interagency coordination, allowing for a more effective and robust response.

It also will require MMIR training for first responders, and implement a public education campaign to raise awareness around MMIR issues.

Approximately half of Indigenous women in the United States have experienced sexual violence, physical violence by an intimate partner, and stalking. Among Indigenous men, 27 percent have experienced sexual violence, 43 percent experienced physical violence by an intimate partner, and 19 percent experienced stalking.

The murder rate of Indigenous women is almost three times higher than that of non-Hispanic white women and is the third leading cause of death for Indigenous women and girls between the ages of 15-24.

Danielson, Jaquez Lewis Applaud Signing of Bill to Combat Wage Theft, Empower Colorado Workers

New law will ensure workers are able to recover legally earned wages

DENVER, CO – Senators Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder, celebrated the signing of SB22-161 by Governor Jared Polis that will modernize Colorado's wage enforcement procedures and ensure Colorado workers are able to recover legally earned wages. 

“Wage theft is far too prevalent in Colorado, and it often hits working families the hardest,” said Danielson. “It’s essential that we support the folks who work hard to keep Colorado’s economy running. This law will ensure workers receive the full wages they have earned.”

“Right now, many workers are victims of wage theft without even realizing it,” Jaquez Lewis said. “With this law, we’re empowering the Attorney General and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to collaborate and combat cases of wage theft. We must make sure workers receive the wages they are rightfully owed, and that violators are held accountable.”

The law empowers the Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to facilitate the recovery of unpaid wages in wage theft cases by expanding investigatory authority to locate violators and streamlining enforcement of CDLE determinations in court. It also authorizes the Attorney General to partner with CDLE to investigate cases of wage theft and worker misclassification.

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Colorado’s Behavioral Health Care Workforce

Legislation invests $72 million to help more Coloradans access critical care they need

DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed into law a bipartisan bill that will help bolster Colorado’s critical behavioral health care workforce. 

SB22-181, championed by Senators Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, and Representatives Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Tonya Van Beber, R-Weld County, directs the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to develop and implement a workforce plan to invest $72 million to bolster, diversify, and stabilize the state’s behavioral health care workforce. 

“If we want to achieve our goal of transforming Colorado’s behavioral health system, then we need a robust workforce to help us do it,” said Bridges. “This new law is a significant investment that will expand our behavioral health workforce and allow us to address our workforce shortage, better meet the needs of patients, and improve patient outcomes.”

“This year, we worked to address the most pressing issues in our community. In Colorado, too many people are struggling to access or pay for the behavioral health care they need to thrive,” said Cutter. “The legislation Governor Polis signed today is part of the total $450 million investment of federal funds to help us meet this challenge by boosting our health care workforce and recruiting and retaining the providers Colorado needs. The law will save providers money as they pursue their education and go through the credentialing process and create new pathways for people entering mental health professions.”

JOINT RELEASE: Governor Signs Bill to Save Seniors $100 Million on Housing

140,000 Colorado seniors can now claim new refundable tax credit for housing

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed HB22-1205, which will save seniors money on housing by creating a temporary new income tax credit.

“Coloradans are feeling the pressures of rising costs from pandemic-induced inflation, supply chain challenges and rising gas prices, so we made saving people money our top priority this session,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “We reduced property taxes, made record investments to bring down the cost of housing, and passed legislation to put more money into people’s pockets. With this law, 140,000 low-income Colorado seniors save $100 million on housing. This will cut taxes and directly boost the incomes of older Coloradans who rent their homes or haven’t owned them long enough to qualify for the senior homestead exemption.”

“This year we took important steps to alleviate the pressure many families are facing due to pandemic-induced inflation and the rising cost of living, and this new law is a key component of that progress,” said Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “This measure will save older Coloradans millions of dollars on housing, make Colorado a more affordable place to live, and ensure seniors can remain in the communities they have called home for years.”

“This new law will put $100 million back into seniors’ pockets, save seniors money on housing, and help vulnerable Coloradans afford the rising cost of living in our state,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “With so many Coloradans facing rent increases, higher property taxes, or an unaffordable home market, we passed a package of bills this session to save people money on housing. In addition to the new tax credit signed into law today, Governor Polis has signed bills into law to reduce property taxes by $274 on average and direct $428 million in federal funds to build more affordable homes, develop middle-income housing, and construct innovative and modular homes.”

“Rising housing costs are putting folks all across Colorado in a bind, and it’s hitting those on fixed incomes, like many seniors, especially hard,” said Senator James Coleman, D-Denver. “This new law will give those folks immediate relief by creating a new tax break that will save thousands of Colorado money on housing and help them stay in their homes and their communities.”

HB22-1205, sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Mike Weissman and Senators Chris Hansen and James Coleman, will save Colorado seniors over $100 million on their housing costs by creating a new refundable income tax credit. Seniors with incomes under $75,000 who have not claimed the senior homestead exemption will be eligible for the tax credit through their 2022 income tax returns. The credit starts at $1,000 for taxpayers with incomes below $25,000 and phases out slowly by $10 for every $500 of income above $25,000. Because the credit is refundable, taxpayers will receive the benefit even if the credit exceeds their tax liability. According to the bill's fiscal note prepared by nonpartisan staff, nearly 60,000 Coloradans will receive the full $1,000 credit, and up to 77,000 additional Coloradans will see tax relief under the law.

The chart below from the bill’s fiscal note shows the tax credit amount as it phases out by income level.

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Just Transition for Coal-Based Economies

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill to support workers and communities making the transition from coal-based economies.

“No community, no worker should be left behind in Colorado’s transition away from a coal-based economy,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Our law directs funding to impacted workers to assist with tuition and child care assistance, career planning services, and more. This money will help build vibrant and resilient economies in parts of our state, including Southern Colorado, that are struggling as market forces move our nation away from coal. This law directly impacts Colorado communities and helps build stronger economies.”

“As our energy economy moves forward, it’s critical we make sure that every affected community and worker is supported,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “This legislation will make an equitable investment in projects to help diversify our rural economy, support working families, and help make sure no transitioning community is left behind.”

“Our bill that the Governor signed today is a vital step forward for transitioning communities and demonstrates our commitment to giving them the resources needed to support workers and diversify local economies during this time,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “With this new $15 million of funding, communities like Oak Creek, Hayden and Craig will be able to invest in new projects that diversify their economies, incentivize new energy jobs, and provide workers with career services and other supports. I am proud to represent and fight for Northwest Colorado, and this funding is a commitment to protecting those communities and the people that make them great.”

“In Colorado, we take care of each other,” said Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. “This new law aligns with that value and provides resources to some of the best places in the state to envision and build what's next for them."

HB22-1394, sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Representative Dylan Roberts as well as Senators Faith Winter and Kerry Donovan, funds efforts by the Office of Just Transition to boost communities and workers transitioning from coal-based economies. The new law supports coal workers to help them provide for themselves and their families, and access innovative education and training opportunities. It will also provide funding to bolster coal-transition communities and help them create vibrant, resilient and sustainable local economies with good-paying jobs. $5 million will go to support economic development and assistance to local businesses, and $10 million will go directly to workers and their families.

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Two Bipartisan Bills to Save Coloradans Money on Health Care

Legislation boosts hospital transparency and improves protection from surprise medical bills

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will increase hospital pricing transparency and save Coloradans money on health care.

HB22-1285 sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, Representative Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock, Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City and Senator John Cooke, R-Greeley will increase hospital pricing transparency practices and save health care consumers money.

“Our bipartisan laws will save Coloradans money on health care by improving hospital price transparency and protecting patients from surprise billing,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar. “Hospitals are required to be open and honest about what they’re changing patients, and our bills signed into law today by Governor Polis will not only ensure transparency but limit the hospital's ability to collect medical debt if they’re not in compliance. Coloradans deserve to know what they’re getting when it comes to health care, and this legislation protects them against surprise medical bills that are often shockingly expensive.”

"According to federal law, hospitals are required to be transparent about the price of services they provide patients,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno. “By preventing Colorado's hospitals from sending medical debt to collections if they are out of compliance with these requirements, this new law will protect patients and empower Coloradans to make the right health care decisions for themselves and their families."

HB22-1285 saves Coloradans money on their health care costs by increasing hospital transparency and prohibiting hospitals that are out of compliance with federal price transparency laws from referring medical debt to collections. In July 2021, President Biden signed an executive order that directed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop detailed rules to increase hospital billing transparency. Hospitals must now publicly post their “standard charges,” which are the gross charges, discounted cash prizes, payer-specific negotiated charges, and de-identified minimum and maximum negotiated charges so that consumers can make informed decisions when shopping for health care services.

Under the law, hospitals that are not in compliance with federal hospital price transparency laws will be prohibited from referring, assigning or selling medical debt to collectors, and they will be prohibited from using the courts to obtain a judgment for an outstanding medical debt.

Governor Polis also signed HB22-1284, sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar, Representative Marc Catlin, R-Montrose and Senators Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, and Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, to improve surprise medical billing protections in Colorado.

“We need to do everything we can to protect Coloradans from malicious surprise billing practices, and instead help them access the care they need while saving them money,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen. “This new law will increase protections for patients, lower the cost of health care for Coloradans, and improve patient outcomes as we work to build a healthier Colorado for all.”

HB22-1284 boosts Colorado’s surprise medical billing protections by aligning them with recently passed federal legislation. The law provides clarity to consumers, providers and insurance carriers about how to move forward with surprise billing protections. It adds balance billing protections for post-stabilization services to ensure that patients are protected from surprise bills until they can consent and be safely transferred to an in-network facility.

It mirrors the federal law’s notice and consent requirements to ensure that out-of-network providers and facilities provide notice to a consumer before a scheduled service, including a good-faith estimate of the total charges the consumer will be responsible for. Additionally, it updates Colorado laws to allow for a 90-day period of continued coverage at in-network rates for transitional care.

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Pair of Bipartisan Bills to Crack Down on Catalytic Converter Thefts, Create a Safer Colorado

Legislation will reduce crime, improve public safety

DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed into law a pair of bipartisan bills to crack down on catalytic converter thefts and create a safer Colorado.

SB22-009, sponsored by Senators Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, and Dennis Hisey, R-Fountain, and Representatives Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City, will cut down on the spiking number of catalytic converter thefts across Colorado by giving state regulators more oversight of aftermarket sales of catalytic converters and make it easier to prosecute “chop shops” for selling stolen ones.

“Catalytic converter theft has become a huge problem here in Colorado and throughout our nation, and it’s only getting worse,” said Ginal. “Coloradans depend on their cars for everyday things like getting to work and picking up groceries, and an inoperable car can cause real harm and unnecessary costs. This new law will help us crack down on those thefts by allowing the state to go after the market that encourages these crimes, educate folks on how to keep their property secure, and better protect Coloradans property and our communities.”

“This new law will help address the rising number of catalytic converter thefts by cracking down on chop shops and aftermarket sales that are driving demand for stolen parts,” said Bird. “These costly repairs are often unaffordable for families and can significantly disrupt daily life for anyone who relies on their car. I’m proud we are taking action to prevent these thefts and help Coloradans avoid expensive trips to the mechanic.”

Polis also signed HB22-1217, sponsored by Ginal, Benavidez, and Rep. Rod Bockenfeld, R-Aurora, which creates a grant program - funded by penalties accrued under companion legislation, SB22-179 - aimed at increasing public awareness around catalytic converter theft and providing financial assistance to victims of catalytic converter theft.

“The theft of catalytic converters is costing Coloradans money and making life miserable for the victims of these thefts,” said Benavidez. “These new laws will protect vehicle owners, help Coloradans avoid costly repairs, and give law enforcement additional tools to go after the people selling stolen parts.”

Catalytic converters control the exhaust emissions from vehicles and play an important role in reducing harmful pollutants. They have recently become a target for thieves because they contain precious metal alloys that have high resale values.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts nationwide have more than quadrupled recently, from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020.

JOINT RELEASE: Signed! Funding to Protect Religious Centers and Nonprofits

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed HB22-1077 into law. The legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaleson Jenet and Iman Jodeh and Senators Chris Hansen and Kevin Priola, creates a grant program to enhance security for nonprofits.

“Today, we’re making Colorado communities safer by providing grant funding to boost security at sacred spaces, including synagogues, churches, temples and mosques,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “With violence and threats on the rise, I am worried about the safety of my community. Antisemitic incidents are increasing to new records, and reported incidents in Colorado grew by 53 percent in 2021. This law secures funding to protect our communities from violence now by creating a grant program to improve security and help make Colorado safer for everyone.”

“We worked tirelessly this session to pass legislation to build a safer Colorado for all, and this effort builds on that progress by ensuring the safety and security of marginalized communities,” said Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, and this new law will help protect Coloradans who experience threats, violence, hate crimes, and other forms of bigotry in their places of worship, community centers, schools, and other spaces.”

“With this law, we’re prioritizing the safety and well-being of Colorado’s minority communities who continue to experience threats and acts of violence at their places of worship,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “We’re not waiting around for the next incident or threat of violence at community centers, places of worship, schools and community spaces. This law provides funding to help the pillars of our communities improve security and keep people safe.”

HB22-1077 creates the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program in the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The program would offer grants to eligible entities to enhance the physical security of Colorado’s nonprofit and charitable organizations.

Currently, the federal government provides grants for this purpose through the Department of Homeland Security, however the increase in threats combined with not enough funding have led to unmet security needs for Colorado-based organizations. The law provides $500,000 for these grants to additional Colorado organizations to complete critical security upgrades for their facilities.

Minority communities are facing a growing threat from violent extremists who are targeting shared spaces such as mosques and synagogues. In Colorado, there has been an increase in violent rhetoric and threats. In 2019, there was an attempted bombing at a synagogue in Pueblo and an individual was recently arrested after threatening congregants with a weapon outside of the Downtown Denver Islamic Center.

JOINT RELEASE: General Assembly Applauds Signing of Bipartisan Bill to Save Businesses Money, Improve Unemployment Insurance for Colorado Workers

SB22-234 will invest $600 million to improve and expand unemployment benefits, create a more resilient future economy

DENVER, CO – The Colorado General Assembly today celebrated the signing of a bill by Governor Jared Polis to save businesses money and improve unemployment insurance for Colorado workers.

Sponsored by Senators Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, as well as Representatives David Ortiz, D-Littleton, and Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, SB22-234 will infuse the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund (UITF) with pandemic relief funds while expanding eligibility and improving benefits to help support Colorado’s working families.

“When the pandemic hit and thousands of Coloradans lost their jobs, the state’s unemployment insurance program was there to help families pay rent and keep food on the table,” Hansen said. “Now we’re doubling down to protect this critical safety net for working families and our economy by investing hundreds of millions into unemployment insurance to protect future solvency while improving and expanding the benefits it offers. This law will better prepare us to weather any future economic downturns, and help make sure unemployment insurance continues to benefit working Colorado families for years to come.”

“I’m proud Governor Polis has signed our bipartisan legislation into law that will save businesses and employees money and improve how Colorado delivers critical unemployment assistance,” Ortiz said. “By replenishing the unemployment trust fund, businesses will avoid cost increases, and it will cost them less to bring on new workers. I’m proud that this legislation also helps Coloradans get back to work by allowing workers to accept part time jobs without being penalized.”

“This bipartisan legislation was one of businesses’ top priorities this session, and I’m proud that we have delivered this critical relief,” Snyder said. “Small businesses and workers are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve an unemployment assistance program that delivers for them. The law Governor Polis signed today will help our economy continue to grow and save businesses money that they can use to increase wages or expand their operations.”

SB22-234 invests $600 million to shore up the solvency of the UITF and protect the Fund against potential future economic downturns. This will save businesses money on premiums and provide certainty to workers who depend on unemployment benefits to continue paying for essentials like food, rent, and transportation while they search for new work.

The new law makes further improvements to ensure the unemployment system works better for Colorado families. It raises the benefit amount part-time workers can receive from 25 percent to 50 percent of the weekly benefit amount, removing disincentives for workers who are laid off to find part-time employment while seeking a full-time job. It also creates a Benefit Recovery Fund to ensure that workers in Colorado who lack work authorization can access the benefits they contribute to and their employers pay premiums into.

The law also eliminates the one-week waiting period to help workers access their benefits as quickly as possible once the Fund reaches a sustainable level, clarifies what constitutes an overpayment, and requires employers to inform their workers of their unemployment benefit eligibility upon separation.

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Clean Water for Schools and Daycare Centers

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill to build a healthier Colorado by eliminating lead from drinking water in schools and childcare centers.

“Clean, lead-free drinking water in schools and childcare centers cuts down the risk of dangerous, lifelong impacts to children's health and well-being,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Our law takes bold action to test for lead, replace fixtures and install updated equipment to ensure the drinking water consumed by kids in school or childcare centers is clean. Colorado’s youngest learners deserve clean water, and this law ensures facilities that care for children have appropriate and updated water filtration systems.”

“In far too many communities in Colorado, lead in drinking water at our schools is a problem, especially in disadvantaged regions of the state,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “No matter where you live, you should have clean water to drink. This law will equip us with better tools to detect unsafe drinking water in schools and daycare centers so that our kids know the water they drink is safe and healthy.”

“Every child should have clean water to drink, period,” said Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora. “Unfortunately, far too many students face the threat of drinking water at school contaminated with lead, and that is simply unacceptable. This law takes important steps to ensure drinking water at schools is safe and clean, which will ultimately help improve health and educational outcomes for Colorado’s future leaders.”

HB22-1358, sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota and Senators Faith Winter and Rhonda Fields, would provide resources to school districts and childcare centers to install filters and clean water devices to eliminate lead children’s drinking water. The law provides school districts and child care centers $18 million to test for the presence of lead, and install clean sources of drinking water, such as faucet filters or bottle filling stations.

Many Colorado schools do not test for lead and do not know if their water is contaminated. Samples that have been taken have found elevated levels of lead in the drinking in Colorado schools. Elevated levels of lead in children's blood leads to life-long damage, including memory loss, fatigue and learning challenges.

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bills to Save Coloradans Money on Hygiene Products, Improve Access to Affordable Food and Groceries

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed three bills into law that will help families thrive by cutting sales taxes on essential hygiene products, increasing access to critical services, and lowering the cost of food and groceries for low-income households.

HB22-1055, sponsored by Representative Susan Lontine and Leslie Herod as well as Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Faith Winter, will eliminate the state sales tax on essential hygiene products like menstrual products, diapers, and incontinence products.

“This law is about dignity and confidence – so every person who uses necessary hygiene products can feel comfortable in their bodies,” said Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “For too long, too many Coloradans have been going without period products, diapers and essential hygiene products. Our law slashes the state sales tax on these items because they’re essential for millions of people. Together, we’re moving closer to a future of affordable hygiene products for all.”

"Right now, things like food and medicine are tax exempt, but other essential hygiene products are not. This inequity impacts low-income folks and communities of color the most,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County. “This critical law is about dignity. The more we can make these products affordable, the more access folks will have to these essential products."

“Today, we’re standing up for dignity and removing the sales tax on hygiene products,” said Susan Lontine D-Denver. “By eliminating the sales tax on diapers and period products we’re making these products more affordable to everyone who uses them. These items are essential to many families in our state and making them more affordable saves Coloradans money.”

“Every Coloradan deserves to live with dignity, but for far too many, their inability to pay for basic human needs like period products and diapers means they can’t,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “With this law, we’re removing the tax on dignity while ensuring that Coloradans can save money on essential items. This is a commonsense step in the right direction that will help countless families afford these products so they can maintain their own health and care for their loved ones.”

HB22-1364, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Soper and Senators Tammy Story and Kevin Priola, will ensure Coloradans have access to day to day necessities by investing $3 million in food pantry assistance and broadening the kinds of products that food pantries may purchase with the funds to include culturally significant foods.

“The pandemic only exacerbated inequity and left many families economically insecure, which often includes food insecurity,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “Today, we’re taking action and directing $3 million to help Coloradans have access to everyday necessities and healthy foods. When we uplift and invest in families, we create more resilient communities and help all Coloradans thrive.”

“Coloradans are still feeling the financial impact of the pandemic, leaving many people food insecure and unable to afford everyday necessities,” said Senator Tammy Story, D-Conifer. “This new law will help alleviate the pressure folks have faced over the last few years by ensuring they have access to nutritious foods and basic needs so they can better support themselves and their families.”

To uplift Colorado families, Governor Polis also signed HB22-1380 sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Rod Pelton and Senators Jeff Bridges and Don Coram. This law directs $14 million in federal pandemic relief funds to save people money on healthy food and increase critical services for low-income individuals.

“Together, we’re making smart investments to increase access to food, groceries and critical services for the Coloradans who need it the most,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “This law will foster new markets for Colorado agriculture, support small food retailers, and reduce the everyday cost of food for Coloradans. Low-income families were disproportionately affected by the pandemic, so we are also improving how we deliver food benefits and other critical services to best meet their needs and save them money.”

“Moving Colorado forward means ensuring that no one is left behind, which is why we’re making important investments to uplift low-income folks who have been disproportionately impacted by the economic consequences of the pandemic,” said Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “By increasing access to healthy foods and the essential services people need to thrive, we can help more families bounce back and get back on track all while saving them money.”

This law invests $8 million to support small food retailers and small farmers to ensure underserved communities have access to healthy, fresh foods through a consortium and grant program. This will support small food retailers and grocery stores with technical assistance and one-time grants of up to $25,000 to strengthen Colorado’s food value chain.

The law also directs $2 million in federal relief funds to efficiently identify SNAP recipients who are also eligible for utility bill assistance; $3 million for a universal management system to reduce administrative costs and streamline the application process for various benefit programs; and $1 million to support technology upgrades and integrate the Double Up Food Bucks Program in local food stores, increasing access to healthy foods for SNAP recipients.

SIGNED! Danielson Bill to Increase Safety in Assisted Living Facilities, Prevent Abuse & Neglect Becomes Law

New law aims to hold assisted living facilities accountable & protect older Coloradans

DENVER, CO – Legislation championed by Senator Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, to increase safety in assisted living facilities recently became law. The law aims to protect residents and prevent abuse and neglect of older Coloradans.

While most residents receive quality care in assisted living facilities, too many are neglected and others are victims of psychological, physical, and other kinds of abuse. SB22-154 aims to strengthen protections for older adults and persons with disabilities residing in these facilities by developing process protections for those facing involuntary discharge and establishing a system of minimum standards and requirements. It will also increase the current cap on fees to incentivize further protections for seniors.   

“Older Coloradans should be treated with the utmost care and attention, but some assisted living facilities across our state are not doing their due diligence, and are getting away with abuse and neglect,” said Danielson. “The situation in some facilities is truly abhorrent, and too many families have had to bear the brunt of negligence with either the loss of or profound mistreatment of a loved one. This critical law will hold assisted living facilities accountable, better protect older Coloradans, and prevent abuse and neglect from happening in these spaces moving forward.”

SB22-154 will establish procedures to help protect residents when an assisted living center initiates an involuntary discharge of a resident, requiring a facility to provide written notice, documentation, and establishing an appeal and grievance process.

The law will also establish minimum qualifications for residence administrators and will require facility owners to check Colorado’s Adult Protective Services Data System prior to hiring an employee who is responsible for the care and welfare of residents. 

The law also raises the cap on facility fines, and gives the Department of Public Health and Environment authority to determine the amount of the fine, based on factors outlined in the bill. 

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bills to Help Save Colorado Families Money on Child Care Become Law

Legislation will increase child care capacity, encourage new providers to enter the field

EVERGREEN, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills into law that will help Colorado families save money on child care.

SB22-213, sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Representatives Alex Valdez, D-Denver, and Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, will boost Colorado’s economy and make it easier for families to access child care by increasing provider capacity across the state and better developing and training the early childhood professional workforce to provide high quality care to our youngest Coloradans.

“The pandemic exposed glaring gaps in our state’s child care system, and it’s hurting Colorado’s families and our economy,” Fields said. “Increasing our state’s child care capacity and helping more folks train for jobs in the child care field will allow us to provide critical support for working families across Colorado who have been doing their best to make sure their children have a safe place to learn and grow during the workday.”

“By boosting funding for child care providers, we’ll create more child care options for parents, save families money and help people get back to work,” Valdez said. “Not only will this help parents, but it will help Colorado’s employers as well as they deal with workforce shortages and rising costs. This law is great news for families with young children, child care providers and small businesses across Colorado.”

“Child care is one of the largest costs families have to deal with, and many of us juggle between multiple providers to find reliable care for our kids,” Tipper said. “Too many families cannot go back to work because they simply can’t afford child care or cannot find a provider to care for their children. This new law will boost our state’s child care capacity and builds on our work to make child care more affordable and available for families across our state.”

The law directs $50 million in federal economic relief funds to boost child care capacity, including providing $16 million in grant funding to open a new child care center or expand capacity at an existing licensed childcare facility. It also invests $10 million to support the employer-based child care facility grant program, which will help business owners and other employers provide convenient, high-quality child care on-site while parents are at work.

SB22-213 also adds $15 million to a successful workforce recruitment and retention grant program, and provides $7.5 million to support and train license-exempt informal caregivers working with young children in their communities.

Polis also signed HB22-1010, a bipartisan bill championed by Senators Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, and Representatives Emily Sirota, D-Denver, and Tonya Van Beber, R-Weld County, which creates the early childhood educator tax credit to help save early childhood educators money and encourage new providers to enter the field.

“Colorado currently does not have enough early childhood educators, which limits options for parents and makes it more expensive to provide care to our youngest learners,” Sirota said. “This law will save educators money and create an incentive to enter the early childhood education profession. By attracting more educators and working to retain the teachers we already have, this law will lower the cost of early childhood care and help parents get back to work.”

“Early childhood educators are among the lowest paid professionals in every state, including Colorado,” said Buckner. “As the demand for quality early childhood educators rapidly increases, we must do all we can to ensure it is a viable, attractive career path for Coloradans, and this new law will do just that.”

Boosting pay for the child care workforce and making the profession more sustainable will expand child care options in Colorado and ultimately lower the cost of child care. Child care providers are facing significant workforce challenges as workers leave the field for higher paying, less stressful jobs.

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bills to Help Communities Prevent Wildfires

EVERGREEN, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed four bills into law that will help Colorado communities prevent, respond to and prepare for future disastrous wildfires.

SB22-002, sponsored by Senators Joann Ginal and Tammy Story as well as Representatives Lisa Cutter and Perry Will, will invest $1 million to better prepare local fire departments and their firefighters for wildfires.

“Over the past few years wildfire season has evolved into a year-round threat,” said Senator Tammy Story, D-Conifer. “We must take steps to defend our homes and our communities from these climate-induced mega fires, and these laws will give more Coloradans the resources and knowledge they need to proactively defend themselves, their property, and their communities from future blazes."

“The threat of destructive wildfires in Colorado is only growing due to climate change and extreme weather conditions, which means we need to be more prepared than ever,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “The four bills signed by Governor Polis are preventative measures to prepare our local fire departments, improve Colorado’s mitigation efforts and invest in our communities’ safety. As wildfires grow in frequency and intensity, we’re taking action now to combat destruction, save lives and build a healthier state for all.”

The law will make local volunteer fire departments eligible for reimbursement for wildland fire suppression activities, including equipment costs and volunteer firefighter recruitment, training and retention. Local fire departments will also be able to use grant funds to replace or dispose of damaged or obsolete equipment. The law also provides behavioral health care services to firefighters, paid for by public employers.

SB22-007, sponsored by Senators Pete Lee and Tammy Story as well as Representatives Lisa Cutter and Marc Snyder, will expand an outreach campaign to raise awareness and motivate more than half of the state’s population to better prepare for extreme wildfires. The law will help folks living in fire-prone areas take steps to mitigate the risks of catastrophic wildfires and improve wildfire danger awareness.

“The Marshall Fire highlighted just how dangerous the threat of deadly wildfires has become,” said Senator Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs. “These laws will give millions of Coloradans the education and motivation they need to keep themselves and their property safe while also equipping local governments with the tools they need to support wildfire mitigation efforts and protect our forests from future damage.”

“Wildfires are encroaching on our homes, businesses and livelihoods–we need to mitigate the destruction and support communities,” said Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “I’m proud to stand behind two bills signed into law today by Governor Polis that will give Coloradans the tools to proactively defend their property from wildfire destruction and provide resources to local governments to fight wildfires. Improved mitigation is one of the best methods to combat catastrophic wildfires and our laws work at the local level to protect communities.”

SB22-007 will direct the Colorado State Forest Service to implement a wildfire mitigation public awareness campaign for 2023 and 2024 aimed at folks that live in the Wildland-Urban Interface, areas where structures and developments meet with wildland vegetation.

The Governor also signed HB22-1012, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Donald Valdez as well as Senators Pete Lee and Joann Ginal, which will improve forest management to mitigate wildfire risks and increase the state’s carbon inventory – the capacity of plants and trees in the state to remove carbon from the air.

“The regular threat of wildfires has become scary and stressful, and serves as a constant reminder of the impact of global warming in our world,” said Senator Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins. “While we continue ramping up our wildfire mitigation efforts to keep Coloradans safe, we need to ensure that we are conserving our natural resources as well. This law will help improve forest management so we can better protect our forests from future destruction.”

The new law creates a framework to link forest management and wildfire mitigation goals with efforts to decarbonize the air through healthy forests.

Finally, the Governor signed HB22-1011, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Marc Snyder as well as Senators Pete Lee and Tammy Story. This law will leverage local and private funds through a matching grant program to provide resources to local governments for forest management and wildfire mitigation efforts.

By incentivizing local governments to identify dedicated long-term funding for wildfire mitigation, the law makes smart investments to maximize state resources and encourage sustainable local and state funding for wildfire mitigation efforts.

JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bills to Safeguard Colorado’s Elections, Protect Election Officials

New laws defend election systems from internal threats, provide new protections to election officials

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills to enhance Colorado’s voting systems, safeguard elections from internal and external threats, and provide protections to election officials.

Championed by Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senator Kevin Priola, R-Brighton, and Representative Susan Lontine, D-Denver, the bipartisan Colorado Election Security Act improves election security by, among other measures, prohibiting anyone from serving as an election official if they have been convicted of any election offense or any offense or conspiracy to commit sedition, insurrection, treason, or conspiracy to overthrow the government. 

SB22-153 also prohibits election officials or candidates from physically tampering with voting equipment, and from having access to or being present in a room with voting equipment without being accompanied by one or more persons with authorized access.

“Colorado sets a national example when it comes to holding free, fair, and secure elections, and we want to keep it that way,” Fenberg said. “But unfortunately, there are folks both inside and outside the election system seeking to tamper with and undermine trust in our elections. The Colorado Election Security Act increases penalties for anyone who tampers with Colorado’s gold standard elections and interferes with our democracy, and will help defend our elections from wrongdoers while giving Coloradans peace of mind at the polling place.”

“Colorado leads the nation when it comes to election access and security and is a model for other states to follow,” said Lontine. “This law is a critical step to defend our elections from insider threats and ‘Big Lie’ conspiracy theorists who have used their positions to jeopardize our elections equipment. This commonsense law strengthens our elections system and will hold people accountable when they tamper with election equipment.” 

The Colorado Election Security Act further secures Colorado’s gold standard elections by improving training for clerks and election workers, and penalizes anyone who interferes with or obstructs the notification of a potential violation, or retaliates against someone providing notice. The bill prohibits accessing electronic equipment or a reporting system without authorization, makes knowingly publishing passwords or other confidential information a class 5 felony, and directs the District and Supreme Courts to expedite scheduling and issuance of final rulings of any orders in connection with a violation of election code.

HB22-1273, sponsored by President Steve Fenberg, Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, and Representatives Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, and Emily Sirota, D-Denver, provides additional protections for election officials throughout Colorado.

“The dramatic increase in threats and intimidation against our election officials cannot continue,” said Duran. “Colorado’s election workers uphold our democracy and they deserve to feel safe on the job. This bill makes it clear that it is criminal to intimidate, threaten or coerce election workers or to attempt to do so. These civil servants secure fair and free elections in Colorado and we’re prioritizing their safety and well-being.”

“More and more election officials are leaving the job because of ongoing threats against their safety and the safety of their families,” said Sirota. “We’re strengthening Colorado’s gold standard election system by protecting those who secure the right to vote. This bill increases the criminal penalties for threatening or doxxing election workers so they can feel safe on the job and continue to uphold our democracy.”

“No one should fear for their safety when they are carrying out their duty to protect the most sacred part of the democratic process - the right to vote,” Pettersen said. “The reality is too many of our election officials are facing threats to themselves and their families for simply doing their job, and we won’t stand for it. This bill implements critical protections to ensure our election officials and their families are safe from violence and intimidation while increasing penalties for those who attempt to threaten their well-being.”

HB22-1273 establishes clear penalties for threatening or doxxing an election worker. While Colorado law already prohibits individuals from interfering with an election official, this bill clarifies that intimidating, threatening or coercing an election official while they are performing official duties or retaliating against them performing their official duties is criminal activity. The law also prohibits attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce an election official.