Final session proves productive and rewarding

The Colorado legislature wrapped up this year's legislative session on Wednesday, May 8 following a hectic, but productive, pace. Unlike last year, this session ended on a relatively high note. Many have characterised this year as a “breakthrough” session so to speak. Indeed, we achieved a high level of compromise and bipartisanship in the final weeks, leading to several pieces of key legislation. Democrats embraced wins on tax policy, gun safety, education funding, and housing, whereas Republicans praised the Polis income tax cut and the bipartisan legislation on property taxes. Education issues, particularly funding, received the highest level of support this year from both parties.

In total, the Colorado legislature introduced 705 bills. Approximately 525 bills have already passed or are on their way to the Governor's desk for his signature. Not all bills were successful, including 105 bills postponed indefinitely and 75 bills that died by some other means (most likely in the Appropriations Committee due to lack of funding). So far, the Governor has issued six vetoes. Once the Governor receives a bill, he has 10 days to sign it into law unless we are out of session, then he has 30 days. The next few weeks will feature a high number of special bill signing ceremonies, inclulding one this coming Thursday where the Governor will sign into law several of my education bills. Stayed tuned for details!

On a personal note, this was my ninth and final legislative session, and my most successful one as well. I sponsored 102 pieces of legislation, including 13 Senate bills, 87 House bills, and two resolutions. I received bipartisan support on 99% of the bills I sponsored, and Republicans co-sponsored 98% of my bills. Forty percent of my bills passed unanimously. You can see the full list of bills below. Since I sponsored over 100 bills, I cannot go into too much detail about individual pieces of legislation, but I have identified in the next section of this newsletter what I consider my "favorite" bills of the session.

As far as next steps, I will continue to serve as the senator for Senate District 19 until the end of the year when my term expires. I will not be commuting to the Capitol during the interim, but you can still reach me or my office via email or phone for any constituent concerns. I have also announced my candidacy for a position on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners and I have secured a position on the November ballot for your consideration. We will officially kick-off the campaign at a special event at 2 pm on Sunday, June 9. You can find more details below. I hope you can join us!

Before closing, I'd like to thank a few people that have been very meaningful and supportive of me during my time in the legislature. First, I want to acknowledge my aide, Aaron Silverstein. He has worked in my office for nearly eight years and he was extraordinary. I am also grateful to my family, most especially my husband, Steve Caulk, and my two college-aged children, Soren and Olivia, who supported me and contributed greatly to my success. I also want to thank my parents who instilled in me a spirit of service, and my sister who gave me tremendous encouragement throughout my term. Finally, I'd like to thank you, the voters of Colorado, for electing me to this position. I cannot stress how much I have enjoyed serving as your State Senator and what an honor it has been. Thank you!

Top five Zenzinger bills overall

SB24-188 Public School Finance: This was the year we finally paid off the Budget Stabilization Factor and fully funded our schools! This bill also made the one time funding for rural schools a permanent part of the formula. It was a signficant investment in our public schools and I'm pleased to have fulfilled a promise I made to eliminate the BS Factor when I was first elected to this position. Read more HERE.

HB24-1448 New Public School Finance Formula: Our current formula is outdated, inequitable, confusing, and most concerning, not focused on student needs. This bill updates our 30-year old formula by right-sizing the formula to address structural inequities and once fully implemented will increase funding in our schools by over $500 million. Read more HERE.

HB24-1340 Incentives for Post-Secondary Education: Under this bill, eligible students would get a refund from the state to cover the cost of the first two years of free college for Colorado families earning less than $90,000 annually. It would apply to community colleges, technical colleges and four-year universities. The way it would work is it would create a refundable income tax credit which would cover the cost of tuition for at least two years. Read more HERE.

SB24-008 Kinship Foster Care Homes: This bill came out of the Child Welfard Interim Committee that I participate on during the interim. We learned that foster children placed in a kinship foster care home were receiving little to no assistance from the state to support their care. This bill will give kinship homes a similar subsidy as traditional foster care placements. Read more HERE.

HB24-1430 2024-25 Long Appropriations Bill: This was the fifth and final budget that I had the privilege of crafting during my tenure in the Senate. This year's annual budget was a more challenging than in year's past. Nevertheless, the 2024-25 spending plan invests heavily in state workers, health care services, K-12 and higher education.Read more HERE.

Top five Zenzinger Senate bills

SB24-016 Tax Credits for Contributions via Intermediaries: This bill idea was presented to me by the Colorado Gives Foundation. It allows for qualified intermediary organizations to forward or pass through the contribution to the charitable recipient organization. Current law does not allow an intermediary, like Colorado Gives Foundation, to accept tax credit donations and pass them through to the recipient. This creates a barrier to giving! The passage of this bill ensures all future tax credits can utilize intermediary organizations. Read more HERE.

SB24-174 Sustainable Affordable Housing Assistance: This bill would create a requirement for cities and counties to conduct local housing needs assessments every six years beginning in 2026. These assessments would report on current housing stock and estimate future needs based on economic and population trends. This was the bill aimed at addressing our affordable housing needs that does not preempt local control. Read more HERE.

SB24-191 Host Homes for Youth: Host Homes is a program where state-certified families/adults offer temporary respite for youth in crisis in their “host homes,” providing up to ten days of safe housing and access to appropriate wraparound services. This is an unprecedented program in Colorado. We have developed the program based on the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare guidelines. This program allows for immediate conflict, de-escalation, and a chance to regroup. It provides safe housing and prevents couch-surfing and runaways. Read more HERE.

SB24-170 America 250/ Colorado 150: In 2026, the United States will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence - the nation’s semiquincentennial. At the same time, Colorado will mark the 150th anniversary of its entrance into the Union–the state’s sesquicentennial. The America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission was established to guide Colorado's twin commemorations in ways that enable all Coloradans to participate. The bill expanded the commission to help plan community events, foster historic preservation, develop educational opportunities, gather in community, and more. Read more HERE.

SB24-106 Right to Remedy Construction Defects: As introduced, the bill would have modified the state’s Construction Defect Action Reform Act, which outlines the process for when and how homeowners can sue builders for a construction defect claim. SB-106 would have added a right-to-repair path to resolve faulty construction issues outside of the costly litigation process. Homeowners would have the option for the builder or a third party perform the corrective work under the right-to-repair process. The bill passed out of the Senate but did not make it through the House. While I was deeply disappointed, I remain encouraged by the overwhelming amount of support we received from all corners of the state to fix this issue, and I am hopeful that my co-sponsors will carry on with it next year. Read more HERE.

Top five Zenzinger House bills

HB24-1017 Bill of Rights for Foster Youth: In 2011 Colorado passed a bill that created protections for youth in foster care. However, in the 12 years since those protections

passed, our understanding of children’s and youth’s needs has changed significantly, indicating the need to update these protections.The bill converts the current protections into rights, aligns Colorado law with current regulations related to children and youth’s rights in foster care, and updates the statutes accordingly. Read more HERE.

HB24-1235 Reduce Aviation Impacts on Communities: This bill will help pave the way for local general aviation airports to become a little quieter and safer for neighbors who live near them. The bill provides financial incentives for aircraft owners to convert their planes to use unleaded fuel. Airports must also work harder to come up with plans to muffle aircraft noise. Read more HERE.

HB24-1389 School Funding 2023-24 for New Arrival Students: The Joint Budget Committee sponsored a bill that allocated additional funds to Colorado schools to accommodate increased immigrant student enrollment that came after the annual pupil count in October. The bill directed $24 million in one-time funds from the state education fund to the Department of Education. Read more HERE.

HB24-1403 Higher Education Support Homeless Youth: This bill aims to create a last-dollar scholarship program for students experiencing homelessness, modeled after the FosterEd program created through SB22-008. Currently, no programs exist that

target this demographic with this manner of funding. This new scholarship program will increase the ability for unhoused students to apply, enroll, and complete a post-secondary

credential. Read more HERE.

HB24-1458 Create Division of Animal Welfare in Department of Agriculture: This bill increases oversight of animal welfare programs by moving the Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP) under this newly created Division. The Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) will also be moved administratively under the new Division. Also, the bill provides the State Veterinarian with additional capacity to focus on animal health and agricultural

emergencies and provides $200,000 for equine welfare grants and support.

SB24-008 Kinship Foster Care Homes: Concerning increasing support for kinship foster care homes.

SB24-016 Tax Credits for Contributions via Intermediaries: Concerning qualification for state income tax credits for charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations, and, in connection therewith, authorizing a taxpayer to make a charitable contribution for which the taxpayer may claim a state income tax credit to a charitable recipient organization through a qualified intermediary that forwards the contribution to the charitable recipient organization and allowing a tax credit certificate for the Colorado homeless contribution tax credit to include only the last four digits, rather than all digits, of a taxpayer's social security number.

SB24-051 Adult Education: Concerning modifications to enhance adult education in Colorado.

SB24-070 Remote Testing & Online Education Programs: Concerning allowing online education programs to offer remote state assessment testing to students who attend online education programs.

SB24-106 Right to Remedy Construction Defects: Concerning legal actions based on claimed defects in construction projects. Postponed Indefinitely.

SB24-132 Evaluation Protections & Educators: Concerning extending evaluation protections to all educators.

SB24-143 Credential Quality Apprenticeship Classification: Concerning credential assessment tools, and, in connection therewith, integrating frameworks for nondegree credential evaluation and classification into state education and workforce systems and aligning stackable credential pathways and apprenticeship programs with international classification standards.

SB24-170 America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission: Concerning the America 250 - Colorado 150 commission.

SB24-174 Sustainable Affordable Housing Assistance: Concerning state support for sustainable affordable housing, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SB24-188 Public School Finance: Concerning the financing of public schools.

SB24-191 Host Homes for Youth: Concerning the operation of host homes for youth.

SB24-215 Modify Effective Date of House Bill 24-1421: Concerning modification of the effective date of House Bill 24-1421.

SB24-217 Office of Administrative Services for Independent Agencies: Concerning the repeal and reenactment of the law enacted by Senate Bill 23-228 that created the office of administrative services for independent agencies in the judicial department.

HB24-1012 Front Range Passenger Rail District Efficiency: Concerning the operational efficiency of the front range passenger rail district.

HB24-1017 Bill of Rights for Foster Youth: Concerning a bill of rights for youth in foster care.

HB24-1089 Vehicle Electronic Notifications: Concerning the use of electronic notifications for vehicle transactions.

HB24-1146 Medicaid Provider Suspension for Organized Fraud: Concerning authorizing the department of health care policy and financing to suspend a provider's enrollment if the provider is participating in an organized fraud scheme.

HB24-1156 Chamber of Commerce Alcohol Special Event Permit: Concerning authorization to hold special events where substances that minors are prohibited from purchasing are served.

HB24-1160 Economic Development Organization Action Grant Program: Concerning the creation of the economic development organization action grant program. The bill died in House Appropriations.

HB24-1180 Department of Agriculture Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of agriculture.

HB24-1181 Department of Corrections Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of corrections.

HB24-1182 Department of Early Childhood Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of early childhood.

HB24-1183 Department of Education Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of education.

HB24-1184 Department of Governor, Lt Governor, & OSPB Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and state planning and budgeting.

HB24-1185 Department of Health Care Policy & Financing Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of health care policy and financing.

HB24-1186 Department of Higher Education Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of higher education.

HB24-1187 Department of Human Services Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of human services.

HB24-1188 Judicial Department Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the judicial department.

HB24-1189 Department of Labor & Employment Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of labor and employment.

HB24-1190 Department of Law Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of law.

HB24-1191 Legislative Department Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of legislature.

HB24-1192 Department of Local Affairs Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of local affairs.

HB24-1193 Department of Military Affairs Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of military and veterans affairs.

HB24-1194 Department of Natural Resources Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of natural resources. 

HB24-1195 Department of Personnel Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of personnel.

HB24-1196 Department of Public Health & Environment Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of public health and environment.

HB24-1197 Department of Public Safety Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of public safety.

HB24-1198 Department of Regulatory Agencies Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of regulatory agencies.

HB24-1199 Department of Revenue Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of revenue.

HB24-1200 Department of State Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of state.

HB24-1201 Department of Transportation Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of transportation.

HB24-1202 Department of Treasury Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of the treasury.

HB24-1203 Capital Construction Supplemental: Concerning funding for capital construction, and making supplemental appropriations in connection therewith. 

HB24-1204 Capital Construction Information Technology: Concerning funding for capital construction information technology, and making supplemental appropriations in connection therewith.

HB24-1205 Colorado Imagination Library Program: Concerning modifications to the Colorado imagination library program to enhance early childhood literacy.

HB24-1206 School Food Authorities: Concerning including certain schools as types of school food authorities, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1207 Adjustments to School Funding Budget Year 2023-24: Concerning adjustments to school funding for the 2023-24 budget year, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation.

HB24-1209 America 250 - Colorado 150 Cash Fund: Concerning creation of the America 250 - Colorado 150 cash fund.

HB24-1210 Higher Education Longitudinal Data System Report Deadline: Concerning extending the deadline for the Colorado commission on higher education's statewide longitudinal data system report, and, in connection therewith, extending a related existing appropriation. 

HB24-1211 State Funding for Senior Services Contingency Fund: Concerning the establishment of the state funding for senior services contingency reserve fund, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SB24-1213 General Fund Transfer Judicial Collection Enhancement: Concerning a transfer from the general fund to the judicial collection enhancement fund.

HB24-1235 Reduce Aviation Impacts on Communities: Concerning measures to reduce the impact of aviation on surrounding communities.

HB24-1264 Supporting the Educator Workforce: Concerning supporting the educator workforce in Colorado. The bill died in House Appropriations.

HB24-1266 Local Government Utility Relocation in Right-of-Way: Concerning the relocation of utility facilities in a local government right-of-way.

HB24-1276 Sunset Process Commission Deaf Hard of Hearing Deafblind: Concerning the continuation of the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations contained in the 2023 sunset report by the department of regulatory agencies. 

HB24-1290 Student Educator Stipend Program: Concerning an appropriation to reduce financial barriers for students entering the educator workforce through the student educator stipend program.

HB24-1326 Bingo-Raffle Licensing Sunset Review: Concerning continuation under the sunset law of the licensing of certain games of chance including bingo, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations of the 2023 sunset report of the department of regulatory agencies.

HB24-1340 Incentives for Post-Secondary Education: Concerning the creation of incentives against the state income tax for students pursuing post-secondary credentials.

HB24-1376 Expand Teacher Mentorships: Concerning measures to increase teacher mentorships in public schools.

HB24-1384 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics: Concerning applying for federal grants related to certified community behavioral health clinics.

HB24-1388 Transfers to the Nurse Home Visitor Program Fund: Concerning an increase in the percentage of money transferred to the nurse home visitor program fund from the tobacco litigation settlement cash fund, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1389 School Funding 2023-24 for New Arrival Students: Concerning providing funding to schools in the 2023-24 budget year for increases in pupil enrollment after the 2023-24 budget year pupil enrollment count day, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1391 Appropriation Authority Educator Licensure Cash Fund: Concerning extending the continuous appropriation authority for the educator licensure cash fund.

HB24-1393 Accelerating Concurrent Enrollment Program Modifications: Concerning measures to reduce the cost of the accelerating students through concurrent enrollment program, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing an appropriation.

HB24-1394 Mill Levy Equalization: Concerning funding for charter school institute mill levy equalization, and, in connection therewith, increasing and decreasing appropriations.

HB24-1395 Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund Transfer Date: Concerning delaying a transfer from the marijuana tax cash fund to the public school capital construction assistance fund, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation.

HB24-1397 Creative Industries Cash Fund Transfer: Concerning cash funds that provide funding for the creative industries division in the office of economic development.

HB24-1400 Medicaid Eligibility Procedures: Concerning medicaid eligibility procedures.

HB24-1401 Appropriation to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing for Denver Health: Concerning making an appropriation to the department of health care policy and financing for payments to the Denver health and hospital authority.

HB24-1402 Evaluation of Colorado Department of Higher Education Information Technology: Concerning an evaluation of the department of higher education's information technology functions and services by the office of information technology, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1403 Higher Education Support Homeless Youth: Concerning postsecondary education support for students experiencing housing disruptions in high school, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1404 Financial Aid Appropriation Alignment: Concerning an exception for appropriations of less than two million dollars in new legislation to the requirement that appropriation increases for student financial aid align with appropriation increases to institutions of higher education.

HB24-1405 Higher Education Special Education Services Funding Medicaid Match: Concerning the increased money received pursuant to the federal "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" used for health services at the university of Colorado, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation.

HB24-1407 Community Food Assistance Provider Grant Program: Concerning the creation of the community food assistance provider grant program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1408 Expenditures for Care Assistance Programs: Concerning expenditures for care assistance programs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1409 Employment-Related Funding & Workforce Enterprise: Concerning the funding of employment-related services in the state through the department of labor and employment, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing appropriations.

HB24-1410 Changes to Just Transition Office: Concerning administrative changes to the just transition office in the department of labor and employment.

HB24-1411 Increase in Property Tax Exemption Filing Fees: Concerning an increase in the amount of fees paid to the property tax exemption fund for filing property tax exemption forms.

HB24-1414 Repeal COVID Heroes Collaboration Fund: Concerning repealing the COVID heroes collaboration fund, and, in connection therewith, transferring the balance of the fund to the general fund.

HB24-1415 State Employee Reserve Fund: Concerning the state employee reserve fund, and, in connection therewith, transferring thirty-one million one hundred sixty thousand dollars from the state employee reserve fund to the general fund.

HB24-1416 Create the Healthy Food Incentives Program: Concerning the creation of the healthy food incentives program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1419 Transfer to Stationary Sources Control Fund: Concerning a transfer of ten million dollars from the energy and carbon management cash fund to the stationary sources control fund.

HB24-1420 Transfer to Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund: Concerning the transfer of money from the general fund to the Colorado crime victim services fund.

HB24-1421 Modifying Public Safety Program Funding: Concerning modifying funding for grant programs administered by the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1422 Capital Renewal Project Cost Threshold: Concerning the cost threshold of controlled maintenance projects for capital renewal.

HB24-1424 College Opportunity Fund Transfer to General Fund: Concerning the transfer of one million four hundred ninety-six thousand dollars from the college opportunity fund to the general fund.

HB24-1426 Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund Transfer: Concerning transferring the balance of the controlled maintenance trust fund to the general fund.

HB24-1427 Public Employees' Retirement Association Study Conducted by an Actuarial Firm: Concerning a requirement that the state auditor retain an actuarial firm with experience in public sector pension plans to conduct a study regarding the public employees' retirement association, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1429 Transfer from Unused State-Owned Real Property Fund: Concerning a transfer from the unused state-owned real property fund to the general fund. Postponed Indefinitely.

HB24-1430 2024-25 Long Appropriations Bill: Concerning the provision for payment of the expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions, for and during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, except as otherwise noted.

HB24-1434 Expand Affordable Housing Tax Credit: Concerning an expansion to the affordable housing tax credit.

HB24-1448 New Public School Finance Formula: Concerning the creation of a modernized approach to funding public education.

HB24-1458 Create Division of Animal Welfare in Department of Agriculture: Concerning the creation of the division of animal welfare in the department of agriculture.

HB24-1462 Third-Party Audit Department of Corrections: Concerning a third-party evaluation of the department of corrections' budget practices, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB24-1465 Program Changes Refinance Coronavirus Recovery Funds: Concerning changes related to programs funded with money the state received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund, and, in connection therewith, changing appropriations.

HB24-1466 Refinance Federal Coronavirus Recovery Funds: Concerning exchanging money received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund with state money, and, in connection therewith, ensuring that money received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund is spent in accordance with deadlines established in federal law and making and reducing appropriations.

HB24-1467 Modifications to the State Personnel Total Compensation: Concerning modifications to the state employee total compensation philosophy, and, in connection therewith, requiring the director of personnel to establish a step pay system for state employees in the state personnel system.

HB24-1468 Artificial Intelligence & Biometric Technologies: Concerning the creation of the artificial intelligence impact task force.

HB24-1469 Collections for Another Government: Concerning the classification of certain collections as collections for another government for purposes of calculating state fiscal year spending pursuant to section 20 of article X of the state constitution.

HB24-1470 Eliminate Premium Tax to Health Insurance Affordability Fund: Concerning the elimination of the allocation of a portion of premium tax revenues to the health insurance affordability cash fund.

SR24-003 Single Parent Day: Concerning the recognition of Single Parent Day.

SJR24-019 Colorado Youth Entrepreneurship Awareness Week: Concerning Colorado Youth Entrepreneurship Awareness Week.

SJR24-019 Colorado Youth Entrepreneurship Awareness Week: Concerning Colorado Youth Entrepreneurship Awareness Week.

May 18, 2024 Colorado Politics: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs new laws on conservation, a new sustainability office, aviation gas

May 18, 2024 Colorado Politics: How Democrats' failure at the ballot box led to bipartisan successes in the Colorado legislature

May 17, 2024 Colorado Politics: Departing Colorado state senator reflects on how an election year affects policymaking

May 16, 2024 Colorado Politics: Bipartisan teams emerge to push for major bills in Colorado

May 16, 2024 Colorado Politics: Departures: 15 Colorado legislators leaving office in 2024

May 15, 2024 The Colorado Sun: Colorado looks to get the lead out of aviation fuel

May 14, 2024 The Montrose Press: When Colorado’s legislature returns next year, there won’t be any Democratic lawmakers who were once in the minority

May 13, 2024 Chalkbeat Colorado: Education bills Colorado lawmakers passed in the 2024 legislative session

May 10, 2024 Denver 7: Colorado lawmakers approve bill to make college free for 2 years

May 10, 2024 Colorado Community Media: New law aims to make local airports quieter and safer for neighbors 

May 9, 2024 The Colorado Sun: The six major Colorado land-use bills passed by Democrats in the legislature and aimed at housing affordability

May 8, 2024 Colorado Springs Gazette: Housing, taxes, guns dominate Colorado's 2024 legislative session

May 8, 2024 Kiowa County Press: Measure that would increase housing density near transit earns final Colorado Senate approval

May 8, 2024 Colorado Politics: Sen. Rachel Zenzinger's final bill aims to boost Colorado's higher education

May 7, 2024 Law360: Colo. House OKs Tax Credits For Gifts Through Intermediaries

May 7, 2024 Colorado Politics: Colorado Senate passes 'transit-oriented' housing bill with 2 dozen amendments

May 7, 2024 Colorado Public Radio: Transit-oriented communities bill passes Colorado legislature

May 7, 2024 Colorado Newsline: Measure that would increase housing density near transit earns final Colorado Senate approval

May 6, 2024 Colorado Public Radio: The first two years of college in Colorado could be covered for some students under a new tax credit. Here’s how it would work

May 6, 2024 Colorado Newsline: Pair of affordable housing bills pass initial Colorado Senate vote

May 6, 2024 The Colorado Sun: Effort to limit lawsuits over construction errors — and in turn boost Colorado condo construction — fails at Capitol

May 18, 2024 SIGNED! Legislation to Reduce Lead and Noise Pollution, Protect Colorado's Air

May 18, 2024 Governor Polis Takes Action on Bills

May 11, 2024 Governor Polis Launches Bill Signing Tour in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Signs Bills Into Law

May 11, 2024 Governor Polis Signs Bills Into Law

May 7, 2024 RELEASE: Senate Approves New School Finance Formula to Increase Equity in School Funding, Support Rural Districts

May 7, 2024 RELEASE: Senate Advances Bill to Make College Free for At Least Two Years

Legislative Town Hall Meeting



Even though the legislative session has concluded, we will continue to host our regular town hall meetings on the third Saturday of each month through October. Our next town hall will take place on Saturday, June 15 at 10:30 am at the Indian Tree Golf Club, 7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003 (NOT the library). Topic is TBD. For more information, click HERE.

Joint kickoff event for County Commissioner

Please join us for a special event where Commissioner Andy Kerr and I will kickoff our respective campaigns Jefferson County Commissioner. Commissioner Kerr is running for re-election to the District 2 seat, and I hope to join the Board as the District 1 representative. The event will take place on Sunday, June 9 from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Green Mountain Beer Company, 2585 S. Lewis Way #110, Lakewood, CO 80227. If you would like to become a Host or Co-Host of the event, please send me an email at rachelforcolorado@gmail.com. Also, if you are unable to join us, but would like to contribute, please click HERE. Thanks!