Bill to Expand Local Government Access to Affordable Housing Clears Senate

HB26-1313 would modernize Prop 123 requirements to reflect rising construction costs

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Matt Ball, D-Denver, to expand local government access to affordable housing funds.

“Under current Proposition 123 rules, even the most proactive local governments can’t meet production requirements to access affordable housing funds, as rising construction costs continue to put up barriers,” Ball said. “This important bill would modernize Prop 123 requirements to allow more local governments to leverage this dedicated funding and create more affordable housing for Colorado families.”

Under current law, local and tribal governments seeking state affordable housing funding through the voter-approved Proposition 123 program must commit to increasing affordable housing units by three percent annually over a three year cycle. 

HB26-1313, also sponsored by Senator Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, would replace this growth requirement with a target that encompasses each jurisdiction’s pace of development. For each local government, the target would equal the average annual number of permits issued over the past three years for new construction, multiplied by three (for the 3-year cycle), multiplied by a growth factor of 10, 15, or 20 percent, depending on the rate of job growth in the local jurisdiction.

The bill would provide bonus credit toward targets for certain types of affordable housing, like units on donated land, for-sale units, or units for very low-income households. Additionally, it would allow local governments to request waivers if they cannot meet requirements – either a good faith effort waiver for the 2024 cycle or an adjustment waiver for 2027 and beyond. 

HB26-1313 now moves back to the House for consideration of amendments. Track its progress here. 

Committee Approves Bill to Save Students Money

HB26-1078 would expand concurrent enrollment classes for high school students

DENVER, CO – The Senate Education Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, to expand access to low- and no-cost college-level courses for high school students.

“Concurrent enrollment classes accelerate student learning and prepare them for future careers, whether it be public service, private sector jobs, or technical training,” Marchman said. “I’m proud to sponsor this legislation that would expand these effective and low-cost programs and create more opportunities for Colorado students to excel.”

HB26-1078, cosponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, would extend concurrent enrollment in Colorado to include off-campus courses offered by higher education institutions. Concurrent enrollment allows high school students to take college-level courses, saving them money and time while accelerating their degree completion. Students can typically earn high school and college credits simultaneously for certain courses.

Under current law, most off-campus courses are excluded from concurrent enrollment programs. This often means only those provided in high school classrooms or on a college campus meet the concurrent enrollment course requirements. This bill would modify the narrow requirement by allowing higher education institutions to offer off-campus courses that qualify as concurrent enrollment courses provided the courses meet state and federal requirements and accreditation guidelines. 

This bill also applies to post-secondary technical and career education courses offered through area technical colleges, which are non-traditional, hands-on courses such as workshops, certificate classes, and skilled trades. 

HB26-1078 now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Committee Advances Bill to Fight Back Against Federal Coal Mandates

DENVER, CO –The Senate Transportation and Energy Committee today passed legislation to fight back against federal mandates that force aging coal plants to stay operational, which will drive up costs to ratepayers and hinder Colorado’s clean energy future.

HB26-1226, sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, would help to mitigate the impacts of federal interference in Colorado’s energy future, ensure energy reliability, and implement modern standards for coal plant pollution. 

“Colorado is a leader in climate policy, and we should be able to continue planning our own energy future,” said Cutter. “While the Trump Administration is busy propping up outdated, highly polluting, ready-to-retire coal plants, we’ve made considerable progress in bringing Colorado into a sustainable future with clean air, good jobs, and affordable energy. This legislation will mitigate harm caused by misguided federal mandates, while protecting ratepayers and maintaining clean air standards.”

“The Trump Administration is trying to force expensive, polluting coal plants to stay open against the will of our communities, ignoring years of thoughtful planning,” said Weissman. “This bill pushes back by requiring transparency and pollution safeguards if some coal plants are required to stay open, ensuring Colorado can continue to chart our own path forward.”

If coal-fired plants are permitted to operate past 2034, this bill would:

• Mandate that consumers and regulators are given information on the costs of keeping those coal plants open, and give the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) financing tools to manage operating costs, minimizing the impact on ratepayers.

• Ensure the PUC approves new resources for Colorado’s largest electric utilities to help Colorado reach our carbon reduction targets and retire coal plants on schedule.

• Require that coal plants still in operation use modern pollution controls to reduce emissions and help Colorado reach clean energy targets.

In addition to informing consumers about the cost impacts of keeping coal plants open past their retirement date, this bill would also allow utility companies to use securitization as a financing tool if it lowers costs for ratepayers. This would include refinanced debt or long-term, low-interest bonds on large-scale projects to help lower costs for ratepayers now. 

To reduce pollution, this bill would require the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to issue a rule to set limits on the emission of NOx and SO2 from coal-fired power plants, unless those plants have retired or converted to burn a fuel other than coal. HB26-1226 would also require operators to submit quarterly emissions reports showing compliance and the associated costs beginning in 2034. 

Last December, the Trump Administration issued a 202(c) emergency order to keep an aging coal-fired power plant in Craig operating, despite the plant's scheduled retirement in late 2025. This unprecedented order was challenged by the Colorado Attorney General and environmental groups.

Additionally, the owners of the coal power plant, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and the Platte River Power Authority filed a formal petition asking the U.S. Department of Energy to reconsider to “find a more effective and affordable path forward, one that will not delay retirement of Craig Unit 1.” Last month, the Trump administration issued a second order, further extending coal burning at Craig until at least June, which is estimated to cost almost $80 million annually.

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

Bill to Make Property Insurance More Affordable Clears Senate

SB26-155 would create a grant program to harden roofs and mitigate the impact of natural disasters

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed legislation to stabilize Colorado’s homeowners insurance market and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters. 

SB26-155, sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, would create a grant program to fortify roofs against costly wind and hail damage in order to make property insurance more affordable. 

"This bill is about saving Coloradans money and preventing costly hail and wind damage that raises prices for everyone," said Mullica. “Homeowners insurance premiums have skyrocketed in recent years, squeezing household budgets and costing families thousands each year. This bill is a commonsense approach to reduce costs and make Colorado homes more resilient and disaster-ready for years to come.”

“Hardening homes against hail and wind doesn’t just protect the family inside, it lowers costs for every policyholder in the state,” Marchman said. “Colorado ranks in the top 10 most expensive homeowners insurance markets and hail is driving more than half of premiums in communities like mine. If we are serious about affordability, we have to be serious about reducing the losses that are pushing rates up. This bill does that.“

Colorado homeowners insurance rates are some of the highest in the nation and have doubled from 2020 to 2025. The Division of Insurance recently found that hail damage accounts for an average of 26 percent to 54 percent of an annual homeowners insurance premium and that hail mitigation has the potential to save consumers an average of $82 to $387 per year.

SB26-155 would create the Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise in the Division of Insurance to implement a grant program to help homeowners fortify their roofs against wind and hailstorms. The Enterprise would collect a fee from insurers that offer multiperil homeowners insurance policies and use the revenue to provide grants to homeowners to retrofit residential properties with resilient roof systems. The Enterprise would be governed by a seven member board that includes the Colorado Insurance Commissioner, experts in home hardening, and members to represent interests of insurers, consumers, and counties. 

Beginning in 2027, the insurer fee imposed and collected by the Enterprise would be an amount equal to 0.5 percent of the total premium collected by an insurer on multiperil homeowners insurance policies in the preceding calendar year. The insurer may not surcharge the fee amount to policyholders. Under the bill, an insurer offering multiperil homeowners insurance in the state will be required to submit certain information in an annual filing to the Division of Insurance, including the number of policies in force, number of homes that have installed resilient roofing and the discount applied to their insurance policies, and the wind and hail claims frequency and severity for homes with and without a resilient roof system. 

Additionally, the bill would require the Enterprise and the Division of Insurance to conduct a study to analyze insurance risk in high-risk wildfire areas of the state. The study would include an analysis of market competition in high-risk wildfire areas, the impact of a high-risk program on potential losses, and the availability of homeowners insurance in those areas.

SB26-155 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track its progress here.

Senate Approves 2026 School Finance Act

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate voted to approve the 2026 School Finance Act, sponsored by Senator Chris Kolker, D-Centennial.

“As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, upholding our promise to Colorado students, teachers, and schools is my number one priority,” said Kolker. “During an extremely challenging budget year, we worked hard to ensure we don’t backslide on the important progress we’ve made to eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor and drive more funding to our schools. While there is much more work to do to ensure Colorado is a national leader in public education funding, I’m proud that despite budgetary constraints we were successfully able to increase per pupil funding and protect funding for Colorado’s public schools.”

Also sponsored by Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, SB26-023 sets statewide per pupil funding at $12,316 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, an increase of $440 as compared to FY 2025-2026 funding levels, bringing total K-12 funding for the upcoming fiscal year to $10.2 billion and increasing total program funding by $194.8 million. The General Fund contribution to K-12 education is increasing significantly thanks to the Kids Matter Fund created by Democrats last year, which is forecast to invest more than $216 million in Colorado’s schools next year. 

Under SB26-023, the new school finance formula (HB24-1448) is implemented at 30 percent and includes a three-year averaging model to help stabilize school funding in a declining enrollment environment. This follows requirements in last year’s School Finance Act that phased in the implementation of the new school funding formula at 15 percent per year for six years, and then 10 percent for the final seventh year of implementation.

This year, Democrats also increased funding by $14 million to continue free preschool access for all Colorado kids and increased funding by $38 million to implement the voter-approved Proposition MM to preserve access to free school meals for students.

SB26-023 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track its progress here.

Senate Approves Bill to Improve Traffic Safety Around Schools

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed a bill sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, to improve traffic safety standards around schools.

“School zones are not properly or clearly defined, and this confusion has put students at risk,” Cutter said. “Losing a child due to a traffic accident on their way to or from school is tragic and unnecessary. This bill will put in place some commonsense regulations to keep students safe.”

HB26-1318, the Liam Stewart School Zone Act, would set roadway signage requirements around schools to strengthen road safety for students and road users. The bill would require all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school boundary to have signage indicating the school boundary and that driving penalties are doubled in this area. Existing school zones between 200 and 1,000 feet from the school may keep their current school zone boundaries, but must follow the bill’s process for modifying these boundaries.

Under the bill, a jurisdiction may reduce the distance that they must put these signs up to 200 feet from the school after they hold a public hearing to ensure the community is aware of this change and given an opportunity to weigh in. The bill also allows jurisdictions to expand school zone boundaries as they see fit and to raise revenue through bonding to fund school zone signage. Additionally, local governments may close school streets to vehicles and require vehicles to yield to non-vehicle road users. The maximum speed limit would be set to 10 miles per hour.

The bill also allows a state or local government to use an automated vehicle identification system to detect traffic violations in a school zone or on a Safe Route to School, which is defined as a designated roadway that is frequented by pedestrians and cyclists when commuting to and from school.

This bill is inspired by a fatal accident in 2023 that took the life of Liam Stewart, a Littleton middle schooler, who was hit by a car while biking to school.

HB26-1318 now moves back to the House for consideration of amendments. Track its progress here.

Senate Approves Bill to Spur Geothermal Energy Projects

SB26-142 would allow municipalities to develop and expand renewable energy projects

DENVER, CO – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Matt Ball, D-Denver, and Senate President Pro Tempore Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins to help municipalities reach clean energy goals by streamlining the development of geothermal energy projects. 

“If we’re serious about meeting our goal of 100% clean energy by 2040, we need to capitalize on Colorado’s unique potential for geothermal energy,” Ball said. “This bill is an innovative and exciting step towards allowing local governments to develop more energy for themselves, making energy cleaner and cheaper for all.”

“Local governments know their needs best, and they should be able to utilize the energy that local industries produce as a byproduct,” Kipp said. “This legislation is a huge step forward for these municipalities who have been facing red tape and regulatory barriers in their pursuit of these projects and their clean energy goals.”

SB26-142 would expand the use of geothermal energy by removing barriers to allow local governments to more easily enter into agreements for new projects and create new pathways for geothermal innovation.

Under the bill, local governments could enter into their own agreements to develop, operate, and finance geothermal energy projects and provide that energy outside their jurisdiction through collaboration with other local governments.

Additionally, the bill would require the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission to collect data from orphaned oil wells for geothermal energy resources in the state and make recommendations for safe and effective development to the General Assembly by November 15, 2026. 

Colorado has been ranked as having the highest geothermal resource of all 50 states in the three to four kilometer depth range, but technology isn’t currently ready to extract this heat and generate electricity. This new legislation would remove some of the red tape that has restricted development of geothermal energy in order to help the state reach its clean energy goals. 

SB26-142 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Bill to Expand Preventive Healthcare Coverage and Save Lives Passes Senate

DENVER, CO –The Senate today passed bipartisan legislation to expand preventive healthcare coverage to combat chronic kidney disease (CKD). 

HB26-1019, sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, would ensure early-stage kidney function screening services, including urine or blood tests, are considered preventive healthcare by insurance carriers.

“Improving access to early kidney function screenings saves lives and can lower the cost of healthcare for everyone,” said Roberts. “Chronic kidney disease impacts thousands of Coloradans, and finding it early means treatment is less expensive and more effective. Every Coloradan deserves access to preventive care that can improve their quality of life and keep them healthy for the long-haul.” 

Also sponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, HB26-1019 would save patients money on healthcare and encourage early detection of CKD, especially for high-risk patients with hypertension or diabetes. It would require private health insurance companies, including large, small and individual employers, to cover early-stage kidney function screening services without cost-sharing with patients.

CKD affects more than one in seven adults, equating to an estimated 35.5 million Americans. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and a family history of kidney disease can increase risk factors. Despite the prevalence of kidney disease, early-stage kidney disease often has little to no symptoms. Nine in 10 adults do not know they have CKD until the disease advances into the late stages. The cost of treatment in the late stages of CKD is significantly more expensive than if treated early on, often surprising patients with massive medical costs just as they begin to grapple with symptoms of the disease. In 2024, more than 8,700 Colorado residents were living with kidney failure, according to the American Kidney Fund.

HB26-1019 now heads back to the House for consideration of amendments. Track its progress HERE.

Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Harms Caused by Addictive Sports Betting Practices Clears Senate

SB26-131 would address problems arising from the online sports betting industry through commonsense guardrails around impulsive online betting

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to prevent harms caused by addictive sports betting practices was approved by the Senate today.

SB26-131, sponsored by Senator Matt Ball, D-Denver, would address problems arising from the growing online sports betting industry by implementing guardrails around impulsive online betting.

“Pernicious algorithms and advertisements are increasingly preying on vulnerable online sports bettors,” said Ball. “Since Colorado’s legalization of online sports betting in 2019, technology has rapidly transformed the industry, catching more and more people in the cycle of devastating gambling addiction. As online sports betting continues its rise in popularity, we must ensure there are reasonable protections in place to help prevent addiction, protect underage Coloradans, and uphold the integrity of the game and its athletes.”

The bill, cosponsored by Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, aims to curb addictive sports betting habits by implementing a limit of six deposits per customer within a continuous 24-hour period and restricting the use of credit cards for sports betting accounts.

To help prevent marketing to minors, the bill would prohibit a sports betting operation or their marketing affiliates from targeting Coloradans who are under twenty one years old or advertising when a majority of the demographic audience is reasonably expected to be under twenty one years old.

To better assess the impact of online sports betting across Colorado, the bill would require sports betting operators to annually report transactional data and metrics to the Gaming Division within the Department of Revenue, beginning February 1, 2028. A public report on the data would be published by the Gaming Division every three years, beginning January 1, 2029.

In 2019, voters approved Proposition DD to legalize sports betting in Colorado. In 2025, more than $6.3 billion was wagered in online sports bets in the state, a 130 percent increase from 2020. The growth has been especially pronounced among young men, with 36 percent of boys aged 11 to 17 reporting that they have gambled in the past year.

SB26-131 now moves to the House for further consideration. Track its progress here.

“Conversion Therapy” Accountability Bill Passes Committee

HB26-1322 would create a civil cause of action for harm done by “conversion therapy”

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, to allow Coloradans to pursue a civil cause of action for damages related to “conversion therapy” passed the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday.

"Mental health is crucial to our overall health and wellbeing. A licensed therapist should not inflict harm on a child or young person by steering them in any predetermined direction," said Cutter. "This bill simply recognizes that real harm can be inflicted in the name of therapy, and that this harm might not be fully understood for many years. We are simply allowing people to have the time to process and understand the trauma that might have been inflicted, and seek the remedies already available to them under Colorado law."

“It is critical that we as policymakers listen to trusted scientific organizations when they tell us a practice is harmful. For over a decade, we’ve known that ‘conversion therapy’ increases suicidality and exacerbates depression and anxiety for LGBTQ+ Coloradans,” Mullica said. “In light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, it’s vital that we create avenues for those who have been subjected to ‘conversion therapy’ to get some justice.”

Beginning July 1, 2026, HB26-1322 would allow an individual who was subject to “conversion therapy” to bring a civil cause of action against certain professionals who cause damages from efforts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These actions could be brought only against a licensed mental health professional who engages in “conversion therapy,” a person or entity that employed or supervised the professional and knew or should have known of the conduct, a person who does not try to prevent or stop the professional, or a person who negligently hired or supervised the professional. 

Currently, Colorado law requires these claims to be filed within two years. The bill would remove this time restriction, and if the impacted individual has passed away, their representative could bring a survival action within five years of the individual’s death.

A 2024 report from the Trevor Project found that 14 percent of LGBTQ+ youth in Colorado have been threatened with or subjected to “conversion therapy.”

In 2009, the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation concluded that “conversion therapy” is not likely to be successful and increases the risk of depression, suicidality and anxiety. The American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and many other mental health and medical organizations believe that “conversion therapy” is harmful and ineffective.

In 2019, Colorado Democrats passed a law to ban state-licensed medical or mental health care providers from providing “conversion therapy” to minors. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled against this law, making it vitally important to create new protections for people who are harmed by “conversion therapy.” 

HB26-1332 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Bill to Update the Front Range Passenger Rail District to Pave the Way for Future Progress Passes Committee

DENVER, CO – Legislation to make narrowly targeted updates to advance the Front Range Passenger Rail project, a train line that would connect communities from Fort Collins to Pueblo, passed the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee yesterday. 

SB26-172, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, and Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, would clean up district boundaries and ensure that the correct legal framework is in place for future ballot measures.

“Families in Fort Collins want an affordable, eco-friendly, and convenient way to travel along the Front Range,” said Kipp. “These communities are highly interconnected and our infrastructure should match how Coloradans live, work, and travel every day. This bill creates a strong foundation for this project to advance with accurate boundaries and community input.”

“For my community in Pueblo, Front Range Passenger Rail means opportunities for employment, visiting family, and enjoying everything Colorado has to offer in a way that meets how Coloradans want to travel,” said Hinrichsen. “This bill lays the groundwork for Front Range Passenger Rail to move forward, creating limitless opportunities for communities along the Front Range, including Pueblo.”

SB26-172 would update the Front Range Passenger Rail District boundaries to include municipalities who would be served by the rail line and remove municipalities outside of the service area. It would also create residency requirements for the district board and adjust how ballot measures are brought by the district, creating options for sub-districts.

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

Committee Approves Bill to Increase Data Privacy, Protect Vulnerable Workers

HB26-1283 would prohibit employers from confiscating and sharing an employee’s ID with federal law enforcement agencies

DENVER, CO – The Senate Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, to increase data privacy and protect vulnerable workers’ critical identification documents from being confiscated and shared with federal law enforcement agencies. 

“Government-issued ID documents are absolutely essential for accessing everything Coloradans need to thrive, from food assistance to housing to employment,” Marchman said. “This legislation would ensure our state statute prioritizes Coloradans’ data privacy and protects individuals from having their documents unlawfully withheld or shared with federal agencies.” 

HB26-1283 would prevent employers from seizing, demanding, confiscating, retaining or otherwise requiring an employee to surrender their government-issued identification card (ID) for more than a short period of time (up to ten hours), except for lawful purposes like employment verification or when otherwise required by federal law. To enforce these provisions, the bill creates criminal penalties for unlawful confiscation and allows workers to pursue civil action and have their IDs returned if their documents were unlawfully seized. Under the bill, employers must advise their employees of these protections. 

This bill also strengthens protections for employees if their employer unlawfully turns over their ID to federal immigration enforcement authorities or threatens to do so. If an employer holds an employee’s ID or personal document with the intent of harassing or intimidating the employee, they could be charged with a bias-motivated crime. HB26-1238 helps protect immigrant communities, especially workers employed in the service industry, hospitality, agriculture and construction industries. 

In recent years, Colorado Democrats have passed legislation to strengthen existing protections guaranteed to all Coloradans, including SB25-276, which prohibits public employees from sharing personally-identifying information related to immigration status with federal immigration enforcement, and SB25-008, which streamlined access to necessary legal IDs.

HB26-1283 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Legislation to Enact Protections for Meatpackers Passes Senate

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed legislation to boost protections for meatpackers. 

SB26-160, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, and Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, would prohibit a meatpacking employer from deducting the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) from an employee’s pay and would ensure access to restrooms during work hours.

“The JBS workers’ strike in Greeley exposed serious concerns about working conditions in Colorado’s meatpacking industry,” said Rodriguez. “This bill takes action to address those concerns, prioritizing fair pay and workplace safety. It protects workers’ basic right to access the restroom on the job and ensures the cost of equipment that protects workers’ health and safety isn’t taken out of their hard-earned paychecks.”

“Meatpacking is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country with high rates of workplace injury,” said Gonzales. “These hard-working employees provide food for our families and communities and power our economy. This bill is about honoring the bravery of the workers who have come forward about egregious workplace conditions and ensuring that basic standards of dignity and safety are crystal clear in Colorado law.” 

Colorado meatpacking facilities have been the center of ongoing concerns and investigations into workplace conditions, as publicized by the recent JBS meatpackers strike. Complaints include denial of restroom access and wage deductions for PPE. 

Under federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, employers must pay for required PPE. This bill would add that same rule into state law, providing certainty for employers and employees regardless of changes at the federal level. Ensuring wages are not deducted for PPE strengthens basic workplace safety protections in state law, supports compliance with current OSHA standards, and helps prevent avoidable workplace injuries. 

The bill would also prevent large meatpacking employers with 500 or more employees from unreasonably denying workers access to the restroom during work hours. It would implement a fine of $100 per employee per violation, not to exceed $200 per employee per week. 

The bill now heads to the House for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.

Bill to Boost Ballot Accessibility and Transparency Clears Senate

HB26-1320 would make ballot language more accessible so more Coloradans are encouraged to vote

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City, to make ballot language more accessible, transparent, and easy to understand. 

“The complex statutory language that appears on ballots is a substantial barrier to the average Coloradan voting on ballot measures,” Benavidez said. “Under this legislation, ballot title language would be more accessible so that more Colorado voters feel empowered to cast their ballots and make their voices heard.”

HB26-1320 requires ballot titles to be written in plain language that is understood by the widest possible audience. Under this bill, ballot titles would be required to include language that is substantially similar to the statutory language, rather than word-for-word, to make it easier for voters to understand. 

This bill also adds language to tax revenue ballot titles to include the effects of tax revenue increases or decreases to better inform voters. By including plain language in the bill title, voters would have a better understanding of the impact of a ballot measure from the beginning. 

Colorado has one of the highest voter turnout rates in the country. HB26-1320 is the latest in a series of bills championed by Colorado Democrats to safeguard and improve Colorado’s election system. This includes HB26-1084, which aims to share information with voters about how much proposed ballot measures could impact state finances and essential services, and HB26-1113, which makes necessary modifications and updates to Colorado’s election system.

HB26-1320 now moves back to the House for consideration of amendments. Track its progress here. 

Senate Passes Bill to Bolster Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed 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 Governor’s desk for his signature. Track its progress HERE.

Senate Approves Bill to Bolster Outdoor Recreation

HB26-1008 would give Colorado Parks and Wildlife more flexibility to manage outdoor recreation

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, to strengthen Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) capacity to manage outdoor visitor experiences while protecting natural resources and wildlife.

“No agency is better positioned to hold recreation and conservation together than Colorado Parks and Wildlife,” Marchman said. “This legislation gives them the coordinating capacity to engage partners, collaborate with tribal governments, and deliver the kind of strategic, integrated management that keeps Colorado’s outdoors from being loved to death.”

Colorado’s lands support a $65.8 billion outdoor recreation economy, and HB26-1008, cosponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, would direct stewards of our lands to collaborate with stakeholders from all different land-use backgrounds, from wildlife and natural resource advocates to agricultural communities and private landowners. Specifically, this bill formalizes CPW’s role in leading Colorado’s outdoors strategy to support conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience in the state. 

As the lead coordinator, CPW will ensure outdoor recreation needs are well-represented in its leadership and increase coordination to anticipate and respond to potential conflicts. The strategy prioritizes integrating data and metrics from existing efforts, partnering with local and federal agencies, and shoring up state capacity in this area.

The goal of HB26-1008 is to proactively streamline planning and management so that the state can continue to provide high-quality experiences to all outdoor users. CPW manages 43 state parks and over 350 wildlife areas, covering roughly 900,000 acres in Colorado.

HB26-1008 now moves back to the House for the consideration of amendments. Track its progress HERE. 

Senate Approves Bill to Improve Public Safety, Reform Competency Laws

DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed bipartisan legislation to reform Colorado’s competency laws, increase access to treatment, and safeguard public safety.

SB26-149, sponsored by Senator Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, would create new pathways for defendants deemed permanently incompetent to proceed to ensure appropriate access to treatment and prevent individuals deemed extremely dangerous from being released into the community.

“Too often, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities or untreated mental illness are in jail not because it is the right place for them, but because there is nowhere else to go,” said Amabile. “This bill would improve access to restorative treatment, protect Coloradans’ constitutional rights, and enhance public safety by ensuring that the very small percentage of people who should not be released into our communities get the treatment they need. This bill comes after months of consideration with law enforcement, mental health providers, impacted families, and community leaders to find the right path forward that protects Coloradans’ fundamental rights and prioritizes public safety.”

In 2022, Colorado passed bipartisan legislation to bring the state into compliance with the constitutional right, established in the 1960 U.S. Supreme Court case Dusky v. United States, that those facing criminal charges must be able to aid in their own defense. Under this constitutional right, when a defendant is found incompetent and unlikely to be restored, the judge must dismiss the case.

Currently, Colorado lacks sufficient civil treatment resources to ensure that individuals deemed dangerous are not released back into the community after their case is dismissed. In recent years, several individuals deemed incompetent to proceed have violently reoffended after being released.

Also sponsored by Minority Leader Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, this bill makes several changes to the process of declaring incompetency, including eliminating automatic presumptions that have led to some cases being dismissed and shifting the burden of proof for certain felony crimes so that the defense attorneys, not the prosecution, would be responsible for proving that their client is unrestorable to get their case dismissed. SB26-149 would also give judges new tools to help defendants earlier in the process, like the ability to appoint a care coordinator. 

The bill would create two new civil pathways for the small subset of very dangerous individuals who are deemed permanently incompetent to proceed: civil commitment for those with psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia), and enhanced protective placement for those with neurocognitive disorders (e.g. dementia) or intellectual and developmental disorders. 

These reforms aim to improve the process for declaring incompetency, increase access to appropriate treatment, protect public safety, and uphold Coloradans’ constitutional rights.

The bill now heads to the House for further consideration. Track its progress HERE. 

Bill to Expand Local Government Access to Affordable Housing Passes Committee

HB26-1313 would modernize Prop 123 requirements to reflect rising construction costs

DENVER, CO – The Senate Local Government and Housing Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Matt Ball, D-Denver, to expand local government access to affordable housing funds.

“Under current Proposition 123 rules, even the most proactive local governments can’t meet production requirements to access affordable housing funds, as rising construction costs continue to put up barriers,” Ball said. “This important bill would modernize Prop 123 requirements to allow more local governments to leverage this dedicated funding and create more affordable housing for Colorado families.”

Under current law, local and tribal governments seeking state affordable housing funding through the voter-approved Proposition 123 program must commit to increasing affordable housing units by three percent annually over a three year cycle. 

HB26-1313, also sponsored by Senator Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, would replace this growth requirement with a target that encompasses each jurisdiction’s pace of development. For each local government, the target would equal the average annual number of permits issued over the past three years for new construction, multiplied by three (for the 3-year cycle), multiplied by a growth factor of 10, 15, or 20 percent, depending on the rate of job growth in the local jurisdiction.

The bill would provide bonus credit toward targets for certain types of affordable housing, like units on donated land, for-sale units, or units for very low-income households. Additionally, it would allow local governments to request waivers if they cannot meet requirements – either a good faith effort waiver for the 2024 cycle or an adjustment waiver for 2027 and beyond. 

HB26-1313 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here. 

Bill to Boost Small Businesses and Create Jobs Passes Senate

HB26-1003 would expand eligibility for small business loans

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

HB26-1003, sponsored by Senators 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 business owners in rural areas, multilingual speakers, 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 Governor’s desk for his signature. Track its progress HERE.

Committee Approves Bill to Improve Traffic Safety Around Schools

DENVER, CO – The Senate Transportation and Energy Committee today passed a bill sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, to improve traffic safety standards around schools.

“School zones are not properly or clearly defined, and this confusion has put students at risk,” Cutter said. “Losing a child due to a traffic accident on their way to or from school is tragic and unnecessary. This bill will put in place some commonsense regulations to keep students safe.”

HB26-1318 would set roadway signage requirements around schools to strengthen road safety for students and road users. The bill would require all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school boundary to have signage indicating the school boundary and that driving penalties are doubled in this area. Existing school zones between 200 and 1,000 feet from the school may keep their current school zone boundaries, but must follow the bill’s process for modifying these boundaries.

Under the bill, a jurisdiction may reduce the distance that they must put these signs up to 200 feet from the school after they hold a public hearing to ensure the community is aware of this change and given an opportunity to weigh in. The bill also allows jurisdictions to expand school zone boundaries as they see fit and to raise revenue through bonding to fund school zone signage. Additionally, local governments may close school streets to vehicles and require vehicles to yield to non-vehicle road users. The maximum speed limit would be set to 10 miles per hour.

The bill also allows a state or local government to use an automated vehicle identification system to detect traffic violations in a school zone or on a Safe Route to School, which is defined as a designated roadway that is frequented by pedestrians and cyclists when commuting to and from school.

This bill is inspired by a fatal accident in 2023 that took the life of Liam Stewart, a Littleton middle schooler, who was hit by a car while biking to school.

HB26-1318 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here.