Marchman Bill to Address Teacher Shortage Passes Senate

SB26-126 seeks to address teacher shortage by easing licensure requirements for teachers from certain states

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, to ease requirements and expedite license applications for teachers from states participating in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact passed the Senate today. 

“Talented educators shouldn’t face excessive barriers to entry when Colorado is already facing a teacher shortage,” Marchman said. “This legislation would streamline access to a teaching career in Colorado for educators who are already experienced in a trusted state.”

SB26-126, cosponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, would require the state to enter into reciprocal agreements for teacher licensure with states participating in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which currently includes 13 states other than Colorado, and to expedite licensure applications from teachers moving from those states. 

Under current law, teachers with at least three years of successful, evaluated teaching experience within the previous seven years are eligible for provisional licensure. This bill removes the requirement that the experience must be within the previous seven years.

SB26-126 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track its progress HERE. 

Committee Approves Bill to Strengthen Career Pathways

HB26-1136 would streamline access to careers in public service

DENVER, CO – The Senate Education Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Senators Katie Wallace, D-Longmont, and William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, to streamline skills-based learning and higher education curriculum to better prepare students for a career in public service in Colorado’s state agencies after graduation.

“This bill would help more college students understand their options in state roles so that they have more chances to pursue these fulfilling, impactful jobs,” Wallace said. "This is about inspiring that next generation of civic leaders and allowing more Coloradans to feel a sense of purpose in assisting their communities."

“Our state is stronger because of the public servants who dedicate their careers to the betterment of their communities,” Lindstedt said. “More students and pre-professionals deserve the chance to pursue these jobs, and this legislation would give them more of those chances.”

HB26-1136 would streamline skills-based hiring programs and establish stronger partnerships between state agencies and higher education institutions to strengthen career pathways. The bill would create the Pathways to Public Service Program within the Colorado Department of Personnel to establish a base camp for Coloradans seeking a career in public service. Under the bill, state agencies would work alongside higher education and workforce readiness programs to identify curriculum and coursework that would make it easier for students to enter a career in state government after graduation. 

The State of Colorado is one of the largest employers in Colorado, employing more than 122,600 people in 2023. Thirty-three percent of the state workforce is located outside of the Denver metro area, serving communities directly where individuals access state services. State employees serve in diverse skill areas that support Coloradans, including public safety, healthcare, wildlife and natural resource management and many others.

HB26-1136 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.

Committee Approves Bill to Bolster Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence

DENVER, CO – The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced bipartisan legislation to enact evidence-based screening and additional protective measures for victims of domestic violence.

HB26-1009, sponsored by Senator Katie Wallace, D-Longmont, would require lethality assessments to be conducted when law enforcement responds to domestic violence incidents. 

“This bill ensures law enforcement takes extra care to identify those at highest risk of death or serious injury by domestic violence and connects them with resources that can save their life,” said Wallace. “I spent six years working in domestic violence prevention and intervention. Lethality assessments are an evidence-based tool that can prevent the worst outcomes before it’s too late.”

Also sponsored by Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, the bill would require police officers responding to a domestic violence case to conduct a lethality assessment and include the results in their report unless the victim is unavailable, not present, or incapacitated. This assessment is an evidence-based screening tool that helps identify the likelihood of serious injuries or death, including questions about whether the abuser has a history of abuse and if the abuser has ever threatened to use or has used a weapon to harm them. If the findings from the lethality assessment indicate that the survivor is at high risk of harm, law enforcement would immediately reach out to a community-based victim advocate and offer the victim an opportunity to speak with them.

The bill would also require mandatory training for peace officers to learn how to administer the lethality assessment and provide victim referrals. The training must be available by June 1, 2027 and all peace officers must complete the training by July 1, 2027.

HB26-1009 now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.

Legislation to Improve Training and Response for Missing College Students Passes Senate Unanimously

SB26-120 would create uniform procedures for the critical hours after a college student goes missing

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to improve response time, coordination, and training for when a college student goes missing unanimously passed the Senate today. 

SB26-120, sponsored by Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Katie Wallace, D-Longmont, would require peace officers seeking or renewing their Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification to undergo missing person alerts training. It would also create new, standardized protocols for higher education institutions to minimize delays and ensure best practices when a student goes missing. 

“I brought forward this bill in partnership with the brave families  who have lived through the unthinkable – their child going missing, on or off a Colorado college campus,” said Marchman. “This bipartisan bill ensures that our peace officers are trained to properly use the full range of missing persons alert systems. It also creates a clear, consistent process for colleges and universities to respond quickly, protect students, and ensure families get the answers they need.”

“When a loved one goes missing, every minute matters, and any delay or confusion is unacceptable,” said Wallace. “Under current law, college students can and have fallen through the cracks. This bill creates clear protocols for colleges and universities when a student is reported missing and ensures officers are trained to act with urgency and precision during those critical first hours.” 

Under the bill, the required training for peace officers during POST certification and recertification would include training on Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts, Blue Alerts, and the State Emergency Alert System. 

SB26-120 would also require that when a student is reported missing, a higher education institution must immediately inform law enforcement or conduct a structured internal search for up to six hours. This would include digital contact, a residential check if the student lives in on-campus housing, inquiry to available faculty and staff, and emergency contact outreach. Institutions must document this process, retain records for three years, and publish this policy publicly. If a student is not found within six hours, or if there is credible evidence of risk, the institution must immediately notify campus police or the nearest law enforcement agency, if the institution does not have its own police department. 

SB26-120 now heads to the House for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.

Senate Approves Bill to Expand PERA Benefits

HB26-1146 would allow employees at approved facility schools to participate in the Public Employees’ Retirement Association

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, to expand Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) benefits to facility school employees passed the Senate today. 

“Educators at facility schools are multi-talented professionals who adapt to challenging situations to serve some of our state’s most vulnerable students,” Kolker said. “Those students deserve consistent and engaged teachers, and the benefits offered by this bill would create an environment where teachers and students alike can thrive.”

“Facility schools and the faculty who run them offer indispensable services to Colorado students, but they sometimes struggle to offer competitive benefits, resulting in high turnover rates,” Kipp said. “This legislation would put benefits offered by facility schools on par with other school districts to keep educators healthy and engaged.”

HB26-1146 would expand PERA benefits to educators and staff at facility schools, which serve students with behavioral or special education needs. These state-approved facilities specialize in high-needs academic and therapeutic services for their students and are often located outside of a traditional school setting. 

This bill aims to strengthen educator recruitment, create parity in educator retirement benefits and improve employee retention. To accomplish this, HB26-1146 would expand the definition of “employer” to include facility schools. Facility schools would still be required to apply with PERA for approval. 

HB26-1146 would apply to more than 30 state-approved facility schools that serve approximately 3,000 students. According to the Colorado Department of Education, facility program types include residential, day treatment, hospitals and specialized day schools. Additionally, between the 2021-2022 and 2024-2025 school years, staff numbers at facility schools have increased by 19 percent.

HB26-1146 now moves to the Governor’s desk for signature. Track its progress here.

Committee Approves Bill to Improve Support for Vulnerable Children

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved legislation sponsored by Senators Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Matt Ball, D-Denver, to improve support for children through child advocacy centers (CACs) as they navigate trauma, maltreatment, and abuse. 

“Under current law, child advocacy centers sometimes face unnecessary barriers to doing their jobs, including barriers to accessing crucial information,” Roberts said. “By allowing for information sharing between law enforcement and child advocacy centers, we’ll clear pathways for professionals to more effectively support the kids who need it the most.” 

“Child advocacy centers already support thousands of children across the state, and this legislation serves to strengthen the tools they have,” Ball said. “More collaboration, more support, and more resources afforded by this legislation will ultimately allow them to better support Colorado’s most vulnerable.” 

HB26-1142, also known as the Colorado Child Advocacy Center Act, would clearly define and create consistency across CACs, reinforcing the expectations that CACs coordinate with law enforcement and adopt trauma-informed practices as they move through investigation, treatment, and prosecution processes. It would also define multidisciplinary investigative boards within CACs to include a member of a law enforcement agency, a district attorney or assistant district attorney, a member of the county department’s child protective services unit, a local mental health provider, a local health care provider, a victim advocate, and a CAC staff.

The bill would also allow county departments of human services and CAC multidisciplinary team members to share relevant information with the purpose of protecting a child in a maltreatment case. It would also offer civil and criminal immunity for CAC advocates for sharing relevant information between multidisciplinary teams and county departments and civil immunity for CAC board members, staff and volunteers for actions taken in good faith. Adding clarity around information sharing and confidentiality would boost advocates’ confidence and help encourage collaboration while protecting children.

CACs provide services to children and their families in the case of abuse. These services can include medical evaluations, mental health treatment, assistance navigating the judicial system and child abuse prevention. There are 19 CACs across the state that have served nearly 6,000 Colorado kids.

HB26-1142 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Bill to Prevent Out-of-State Farms From Using Colorado Labels Passes Committee Unanimously

HB26-1031 would support Colorado producers and protect the integrity of made-in-Colorado products

DENVER, CO – The Senate Agriculture Committee today unanimously advanced bipartisan legislation to support Colorado farmers and agricultural producers by cracking down on false advertising of products originating outside of Colorado.

HB26-1031, sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, would prohibit identifying an agricultural product as being produced in Colorado when selling, marketing, advertising, or distributing the product unless the product is grown in the state.

“Colorado is known for its delicious and high-quality agricultural products like Palisade peaches, Pueblo green chiles, and San Luis Valley potatoes – to name a few,” said Roberts. “Consumers want to purchase made-in-Colorado products and should be able to trust the Colorado Proud label. This bill is about supporting Colorado farmers, ranchers, and businesses who make the real deal, right here at home.” 

Also sponsored by Senator Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, HB26-1031 was first approved by the interim Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. It would protect the integrity of Colorado-made products, ensuring Colorado producers aren’t undercut by mislabeled products imported from out-of-state. 

The Trump Administration’s tariffs have driven up costs for Colorado’s businesses, farmers, ranchers, and consumers and limited the available international markets for producers to sell their products. The bill aims to protect Colorado markets for farmers and ranchers to sell their locally-made products and food.

HB26-1031 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress HERE. 

Legislation to Increase Colorado Public School Funding Passes Committee

SB26-135 would give voters the opportunity to invest in Colorado’s students and teachers

DENVER, CO – The Senate Finance Committee today passed legislation to refer a measure to the November ballot to allow Colorado to retain revenue above the current TABOR cap to drive funding to K-12 schools.

SB26-135, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, and Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, would refer a statewide measure to the November 2026 ballot that would free up state funds to boost investment in K-12 schools. Increased investment would mean more educators in classrooms, smaller class sizes, and stronger special education services.

"This measure is about the simple idea that when Colorado's economy grows, our school funding should grow alongside it," said Bridges. "For decades, we have underfunded our schools using the negative factor. This measure gives us the chance to turn that around and lead with a positive factor. Public education is how a kid from any neighborhood, city, or county in Colorado can have the opportunity to succeed. It's time to fund our schools. It's time for Colorado schools to be as strong as Colorado itself."

“As a former school board member, I know firsthand how our schools struggle each year to do more with less, to provide a quality education for every Colorado student while being squeezed from all sides,” said Kipp. “This measure is about giving Coloradans the opportunity to decide if they want to make progress in our quest to adequately fund our public schools so that every Colorado kid can fulfill their potential.”

The measure would ask voters to increase general fund K-12 funding by up to 2 percent annually for the next ten years. It would allow the state to retain and spend revenue that it already collects in an amount equal to 2026-27 state K-12 funding, providing stable, predictable funding to keep pace with population growth and student needs. Additionally, it would require a public audit and report detailing how much excess revenue was retained and how it was spent. The measure would not raise taxes.

Colorado has chronically underfunded K-12 public schools. The state ranks 40th in teacher pay and retention, and underfunds every student by about $4,600 per year – a total shortfall of nearly $4 billion. Currently, K-12 funding makes up roughly a third of the state’s total budget. 

Current budget challenges under TABOR threaten the progress Colorado Democrats have made to increase funding for K-12 education. Colorado’s  current budget model is inadequate to meet the state’s educational goals. 

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.

Senate Approves HOME Act to Build More Housing Now

HB26-1001 would make it easier for non-profits, schools, and transit districts to build affordable housing on their land

DENVER, CO – The Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME) Act, sponsored by Senators Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, which would streamline the process for many non-profits, schools, and transit districts to build affordable housing on their land, passed the Senate today. 

“Too many families in Colorado Springs are afraid of being priced out of the place they call home,” Exum said. “If we’re serious about solving the housing crisis in Colorado, we need to open up every available option to get our neighbors secure and affordable housing. The HOME Act would help our communities build the housing that is so desperately needed in our state.”

“Access to affordable and secure housing is the reason I am able to serve my community at all,” Gonzales said. “We have a housing crisis in this state, and Coloradans who work multiple jobs to make ends meet still can’t afford to buy a home and plant roots in their communities. This bill would allow community organizations more flexibility to give their neighbors that gift of stable, affordable housing.”

Beginning December 31, 2027, HB26-1001 would streamline the process for building housing by allowing non-profit organizations, housing authorities, school districts, state colleges, Board of Cooperative Educational Services, universities, and transit districts to build on their land. It would unlock centrally-located and underutilized land to build housing near job centers, transit hubs, schools, and local businesses. These residential developments could also include child care centers and facilities that provide recreational, social, or educational services to residents.

Under the HOME Act, local governments could not reject the construction of a residential development due to height, as long as the development adheres to the height standards of the zoning district or is no taller than three stories or 38 feet. Additionally, local governments may require notification to residents and accept public comments on administrative projects, ensuring that community feedback can be heard.

HB26-1001 applies to properties up to five acres within a municipality or a census designated place in the three mile planning area of an unincorporated county. Exemptions to this bill would include land that is not connected to water and sewage treatment systems, land where state or federal regulations restrict residential housing, properties zoned for industrial or agricultural use, floodplains, open space, and municipalities that have already implemented similar process standards.

In 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 123 to create and fund new housing affordability programs for low- and middle-income Coloradans. This bill would provide an additional incentive to build affordable housing by counting each unit of affordable housing built on these qualifying properties as 1.1 units, boosting eligibility for Proposition 123 funding.

A 2022 report found that removing bureaucratic barriers in the permitting process can expedite the approval process by 28-percent.

HB26-1001 now moves back to the House for consideration of amendments. Track its progress here. 

Marchman Bill to Address Teacher Shortage Passes Committee

SB26-126 seeks to address teacher shortage by easing licensure requirements for teachers from certain states

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, to ease requirements and expedite license applications for teachers from states participating in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact passed the Senate Education Committee today. 

“Talented educators shouldn’t face excessive barriers to entry when Colorado is already facing a teacher shortage,” Marchman said. “This legislation would streamline access to a teaching career in Colorado for educators who are already experienced in a trusted state.”

SB26-126, cosponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, would require the state to enter into reciprocal agreements for teacher licensure with states participating in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which currently includes 13 states other than Colorado, and to expedite licensure applications from teachers moving from those states. 

Under current law, teachers with at least three years of successful, evaluated teaching experience within the previous seven years are eligible for provisional licensure. This bill removes the requirement that the experience must be within the previous seven years.

SB26-126 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress HERE. 

Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Expand PERA Benefits

HB26-1146 would allow employees at approved facility schools to participate in the Public Employees’ Retirement Association

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, to expand Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) benefits to facility school employees passed the Senate Finance Committee today. 

“Educators at facility schools are multi-talented professionals who adapt to challenging situations to serve some of our state’s most vulnerable students,” Kolker said. “Those students deserve consistent and engaged teachers, and the benefits offered by this bill would create an environment where teachers and students alike can thrive.”

“Facility schools and the faculty who run them offer indispensable services to Colorado students, but they sometimes struggle to offer competitive benefits, resulting in high turnover rates,” Kipp said. “This legislation would put benefits offered by facility schools on par with other school districts to keep educators healthy and engaged.”

HB26-1146 would expand PERA benefits to educators and staff at facility schools, which serve students with behavioral or special education needs. These state-approved facilities specialize in high-needs academic and therapeutic services for their students and are often located outside of a traditional school setting. 

This bill aims to strengthen educator recruitment, create parity in educator retirement benefits and improve employee retention. To accomplish this, HB26-1146 would expand the definition of “employer” to include facility schools. Facility schools would still be required to apply with PERA for approval. 

HB26-1146 would apply to more than 30 state-approved facility schools that serve approximately 3,000 students. According to the Colorado Department of Education, facility program types include residential, day treatment, hospitals and specialized day schools. Additionally, between the 2021-2022 and 2024-2025 school years, staff numbers at facility schools have increased by 19 percent.

HB26-1146 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here.

Bill to Boost Small Businesses and Create Jobs Passes Committee

HB26-1003 would expand eligibility for small business loans

DENVER, CO – The Senate Finance Committee today passed legislation to expand eligibility for the successful CLIMBER (Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery) program.

HB26-1003, sponsored by Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, would remove the COVID-19 recovery provisions of the Small Business Recovery and Resiliency Loan Program and expand loan eligibility to better equip small businesses for success, create more good-paying jobs, and support local economies. 

“Here in Colorado, small businesses power our economy,” said Kolker. “Access to a loan to grow a business or help it get off the ground can be a game-changer for Colorado entrepreneurs, their employees, and our local communities. The updates to this program will increase access to loans for small businesses and create flexibility to allocate loans where the need is greatest throughout the state.”

“Since its creation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the CLIMBER program has delivered measurable results – supporting hundreds of small businesses and creating jobs,” said Marchman. “This bill modernizes the program to meet the needs of small businesses today, expand eligibility, and increase support for rural and underserved businesses.” 

In order to support Colorado's small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado Democrats established the CLIMBER program in 2020 to offer small business loans with below-market interest rates. Under the program, small businesses with up to 99 employees may apply for working capital loans between $10,000 and $500,000. These loans can be used to hire more employees, start or expand brick-and-mortar storefronts, get new businesses off the ground, and more. In fiscal year 2023-2024, the CLIMBER program loaned over $17 million and helped create or support nearly 1,900 jobs across the state.

HB26-1003 would build upon a 2024 law sponsored by Kolker and Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver, to make the CLIMBER Program permanent and target resources and expertise to underserved businesses. It would reappropriate $5 million to the Colorado Startup Loan Fund, a program that’s been highly successful in supporting entrepreneurs in rural areas, multilingual business owners, and those who have been unable to receive traditional financing

The bill would also increase the accessibility of the Small Business Recovery and Resiliency Fund by lowering the private leverage requirement, which currently requires $4 of private funds for every $1 of state funds. The bill would lower the matching ratio requirement to 1:1. 

HB26-1003 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.

Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Support Vulnerable Kids Through Child Abuse Cases

Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Support Vulnerable Kids Through Child Abuse Cases

DENVER, CO – Today, legislation sponsored by Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, to help children who are navigating child abuse cases in the justice system unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

“Kids who have experienced unthinkable trauma deserve justice, but in the process of getting it, they’re often forced to re-live their experiences in court proceedings and have limited resources while navigating a complicated system,” Cutter said. “This legislation would give them trauma-informed resources so they have the information and support they need to get that justice from their abusers.”

HB26-1103 would require law enforcement agencies to report child sex offense claims to a local child advocacy center (CAC) within a week of when the alleged offense occurred. If there is no CAC within the judicial district, the agency must report the alleged offense to the CAC that they determine would best serve the child.

Current law allows a child under 12 years old to give testimony in a room other than the courtroom if the judge believes that the child would experience serious emotional distress or trauma in the presence of the defendant. The bill would raise the age to under 18 years old, require courts to make considerations about a child’s ability to give testimony in front of the alleged offender, and allow for collaboration with a child advocacy center to conduct interviews.

There are 19 CACs across Colorado with over 33,000 child abuse professionals and community members who provide wraparound services to survivors. Each CAC has trained forensic interviewers and victim advocates to support the child through the judicial process and with mental health services.

The legislature is concurrently considering the Colorado Child Advocacy Center Act, which would reinforce the expectations that CACs coordinate with law enforcement and adopt trauma-informed practices as they move through the investigation, treatment, and prosecution processes.

HB26-1103 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here.

Committee Advances Bill to Strengthen Victim Compensation

DENVER, CO – The Senate Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to prioritize direct victims of crime over insurance companies in restitution payments.

HB26-1017, sponsored by Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, would clarify Colorado law regarding insurance companies’ eligibility for restitution.

“Restitution should be reserved for victims of crime so they can get their life back on track – not to further pad the pockets of insurance companies,” said Weissman. “Insurance companies that have paid out claims following a crime are not victims, they are financial institutions designed to balance risk and loss. This bill would create clarity and consistency for restitution decisions going forward.”

Restitution is court-ordered payment from a convicted offender to the victim, designed to cover financial losses directly resulting from a crime. Under current law, insurers of a victim of a crime can receive restitution payments in criminal cases. HB26-1017 would prohibit insurance companies from receiving these restitution payments unless they are a direct victim of a crime such as fraud, theft, or property damage.

The bill would clarify Colorado’s laws on insurance companies’ eligibility for restitution that have been the subject of confusion in Colorado courts. 

HB26-1017 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress HERE. 

Senate Unanimously Approves Bill to Support Survivors of Crimes

SB26-095 would update Colorado law to improve transparency, strengthen survivor rights, and bolster trauma-informed procedures in court and law enforcement response

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, to improve access to care for survivors of crime and strengthen trauma-informed justice practices unanimously passed the Senate today.

“Under current Colorado law, survivors of crime face significant barriers to care, justice, and information about their proceedings,” Weissman said. “I am proud to sponsor this long-overdue legislation to improve access to care, ensure trauma-informed justice procedures and law enforcement response, and strengthen protections for the rights of survivors in court proceedings.”

SB26-095 would make several updates to Colorado statute, including: 

• Ensuring that victims are informed of how to obtain results and other records related to forensic testing;

• Creating a special motion to dismiss claims arising from protected survivor statements made during investigations or legal proceedings, helping to shield survivors from retaliatory lawsuits;

• Limiting the enforceability of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and joint-action waivers, thereby strengthening the rights of survivors in sexual misconduct disputes;

• Authorizing remote forensic testimony and allowing certain survivors to voluntarily testify remotely; and

• Expanding training and use of peace officer training funds to include trauma-informed law enforcement response training.

SB26-095 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Legislation to Improve Training and Response for Missing College Students Passes Committee Unanimously

SB26-120 would create uniform procedures for the critical hours after a college student goes missing

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to improve response time, coordination, and training for when a college student goes missing unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee today. 

SB26-120, sponsored by Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Katie Wallace, D-Longmont, would require peace officers seeking or renewing their Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification to undergo missing person alerts training. It would also create new, standardized protocols for higher education institutions to minimize delays and ensure best practices when a student goes missing. 

“I brought forward this bill in partnership with the brave families who have lived through the unthinkable – their child going missing, on or off a Colorado college campus,” said Marchman. “This bipartisan bill ensures that our peace officers are trained to properly use the full range of missing persons alert systems. It also creates a clear, consistent process for colleges and universities to respond quickly, protect students, and ensure families get the answers they need.”

“When a loved one goes missing, every minute matters, and any delay or confusion is unacceptable,” said Wallace. “Under current law, college students can and have fallen through the cracks. This bill creates clear protocols for colleges and universities when a student is reported missing and ensures officers are trained to act with urgency and precision during those critical first hours.” 

Under the bill, the required training for peace officers during POST certification and recertification would include training on Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts, Blue Alerts, and the State Emergency Alert System. 

SB26-120 would also require that when a student is reported missing, a higher education institution may conduct a structured internal search for up to six hours. This would include digital contact, a residential check, inquiry to available faculty and staff, and emergency contact outreach. Institutions must document this process, retain records for three years, and publish this policy publicly. If a student is not found within six hours, or if there is credible evidence of risk, the institution must immediately notify campus police or the nearest law enforcement agency, if the institution does not have its own police department. 

SB26-120 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress HERE. 

Senate Committee Advances HOME Act to Build More Housing Now

HB26-1001 would make it easier for non-profits, schools, and transit districts to build affordable housing on their land

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Local Government and Housing Committee approved the Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME) Act, sponsored by Senators Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, which would streamline the process for many non-profits, schools, and transit districts to build affordable housing on their land. 

“Too many families in Colorado Springs are afraid of being priced out of the place they call home,” Exum said. “If we’re serious about solving the housing crisis in Colorado, we need to open up every available option to get our neighbors secure and affordable housing. The HOME Act would help our communities build the housing that is so desperately needed in our state.”

“Access to affordable and secure housing is the reason I am able to serve my community at all,” Gonzales said. “We have a housing crisis in this state, and Coloradans who work multiple jobs to make ends meet still can’t afford to buy a home and plant roots in their communities. This bill would allow community organizations more flexibility to give their neighbors that gift of stable, affordable housing.”

Beginning December 31, 2027, HB26-1001 would streamline the process for building housing by allowing non-profit organizations, housing authorities, school districts, state colleges, Board of Cooperative Educational Services, universities, and transit districts to build on their land. It would unlock centrally-located and underutilized land to build housing near job centers, transit hubs, schools, and local businesses. These residential developments could also include child care centers and facilities that provide recreational, social, or educational services to residents.

Under the HOME Act, local governments could not reject the construction of a residential development due to height, as long as the development adheres to the height standards of the zoning district or is no taller than three stories or 38 feet. Additionally, local governments may require notification to residents and accept public comments on administrative projects, ensuring that community feedback can be heard.

HB26-1001 applies to land up to five acres. Exemptions to this bill would include land that is not connected to water and sewage treatment systems, land where state or federal regulations restrict residential housing, properties zoned for industrial or agricultural use, floodplains, open space, and municipalities that have already implemented similar process standards.

In 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 123 to create and fund new housing affordability programs for low- and middle-income Coloradans. This bill would provide an additional incentive to build affordable housing by counting each unit of affordable housing built on these qualifying properties as 1.1 units, boosting eligibility for Proposition 123 funding.

A 2022 report found that removing bureaucratic barriers in the permitting process can expedite the approval process by 28-percent.

HB26-1001 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Support Survivors of Crimes

SB26-095 would update Colorado law to improve transparency, strengthen survivor rights, and bolster trauma-informed procedures in court and law enforcement response

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, to improve access to care for survivors of crime and strengthen trauma-informed justice practices unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

“Under current Colorado law, survivors of crime face significant barriers to care, justice, and information about their proceedings,” Weissman said. “I am proud to sponsor this long-overdue legislation to improve access to care, ensure trauma-informed justice procedures and law enforcement response, and strengthen protections for the rights of survivors in court proceedings.”

SB26-095 would make several updates to Colorado statute, including: 

• Ensuring that victims are informed of how to obtain results and other records related to forensic testing;

• Creating a special motion to dismiss claims arising from protected survivor statements made during investigations or legal proceedings, helping to shield survivors from retaliatory lawsuits;

• Limiting the enforceability of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and joint-action waivers, thereby strengthening the rights of survivors in sexual misconduct disputes;

• Authorizing remote forensic testimony and allowing certain survivors to voluntarily testify remotely; and

• Expanding training and use of peace officer training funds to include trauma-informed law enforcement response training.

SB26-095 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Legislation to Support First Responders Through Affordable Housing Opportunities Clears Senate

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate approved Senator Kyle Mullica’s, D-Thornton, bipartisan legislation to support first responders and help them afford to live in the communities where they serve.

SB26-053, cosponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, would expand eligibility for mortgage loans through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) to include peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, correctional officers, 911 operators, and their families who qualify as low- or moderate-income. 

“This bill is about taking care of those who take care of us,” said Mullica. “By expanding eligibility for Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s mortgage loans to first responders, we can help ensure that the folks who protect our communities can actually afford to live in the communities where they serve. When we have an opportunity to take care of our first responders, we should jump at that opportunity.”

The bill would implement an income cap of 110 percent of the CHFA cap on other programs. CHFA’s home mortgage program offers access to fixed-rate mortgage loans for low- and moderate-income Coloradans. They also provide homeowner education and down payment assistance to support working families as they live, work, and thrive in their communities.

SB26-053 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track its progress here.

Senate Democratic Leadership Welcomes Senator Adrienne Benavidez to Colorado Senate

DENVER, CO –  Following her official swearing in by Judge Lino S. Lipinsky de Orlov, Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver, and Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, today welcomed Senator Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City, to the Colorado Senate.

“On behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus, I want to extend a warm welcome to Senator Benavidez,” said Coleman. “We’re mid-way through an ambitious legislative session where we are working on lowering costs for Colorado families, creating opportunities through education and workforce development, and standing up for what’s right amid federal tumult. I have the utmost confidence that Senator Benavidez will be a champion for this important work.” 

“Senator Benavidez has always brought a discerning eye to every bill, committee hearing, and debate she’s been a part of, and our work in the legislature is stronger because of it,” said Rodriguez. “With her officially on board, we’re ready to hit the ground running and continue this session’s impactful work.” 

 “I’m humbled and honored to be selected to represent the people of Senate District 21,” said Benavidez. “I am committed to fighting for reproductive freedom, supporting small businesses and Colorado workers, standing up to the Trump Administration, and protecting the rights of our immigrant communities. The hardworking people of my district deserve representation that will advocate for their needs and concerns. I hope to make them proud!”

Senator Adrienne Benavidez represents Senate District 21, Adams and Arapahoe Counties. Benavidez formerly represented House District 32 and served on the House Finance, Judiciary Committee, and State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committees. Prior to her time in office, Benavidez worked as an attorney, was the executive director of the Denver Department of General Services, and directed the Colorado Division of Finance and Procurement.