Below you'll find the Policy and Legislative Advisory Network's (PLAN) highlights on what's happening in the world of policy that most impacts economic and social mobility within Adams County, Broomfield County, and the City of Aurora.

By 2025, 50% (est. n= 193,000) of individuals 18 and older in Adams and Broomfield Counties will earn a post-high school certificate or degree.

That is an increase of an estimated 45,800 people in 5 years!

This work is about reduction of poverty and improving the overall well-being of individuals and industry across the region. Credential Attainment is one measurement the community can utilize to monitor progress towards economic and social mobility. Learn more HERE.
This week in policy was provided by:
Adam Burg, Senior Advisor, Legislative and Government Affairs, Adams County Government
PLAN Chair
Kayah Swanson, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, RMP Backbone
With ongoing input from:
Matthew La Crue, Managing Director, Dentons
PLAN Co-Champion
Ryan McCoy, Executive Director, Front Range Community College Foundation | President, Westminster Public Schools Board of Education
PLAN Co-Champion
We've gotta say it: This information is subject to change. In addition, some updates may be sourced from organizations that have read limits or limits on how many articles you can access in a given time period.

The information below is in line with the Rocky Mountain Partnership's formal policy priorities for 2021. Learn more and check those policies out for yourself HERE.
This Week in State Policy
This week, we're thrilled to start this update with some exciting news: another one of the bills supported by Rocky Mountain Partnership has passed! SB21-148 Creation of Financial Empowerment Office has passed and is on its way to Governor Jared Polis for a signature.

The Partnership is still in support of five additional pieces of legislation moving through the statehouse. Each of the five bills is listed below. You can click on them to learn more, or view the Master Bill Tracker to see what else the Partnership is keeping an eye on.

Is there another bill you want us to track? Let us know by clicking HERE!
Statewide & National Updates
#1: More Than Half of US Has Received At Least One Shot

More than half of the total U.S. population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, marking another milestone in the effort to defeat the coronavirus. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated Friday showed that 50.1 percent of the population had at least one shot and that 40.2 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, which takes place two weeks after receiving the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the Johnson & Johnson shot.
#2: Biden Budget Has Increase in Domestic Spending & Taxes

President Joe Biden is proposing a $6 trillion budget next year that would greatly ramp up domestic spending and raise taxes on corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Presidential budgets are crafted chiefly to be messaging documents, outlining priorities and making recommendations that Congress may take into consideration when drafting appropriation bills. Biden's first full budget recommendation includes sweeping new proposals he has already introduced.
#3: CO Cities Can Now Require Affordable Housing Development

In Colorado, a 20-year-old court precedent that has blocked Colorado cities and towns from forcing developers to build affordable housing in new rental projects is no more, after Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law Friday. House Bill 1117 modifies state land use statutes so local governments can require below-market-rate units in new or redeveloped rental projects without running afoul of the state’s rent-control prohibition, and is one of the bills supported by Rocky Mountain Partnership in 2021.
#4: 12 State Stimulus Bills Approaching Final Vote

Colorado lawmakers on Friday advanced a dozen bills from the $800 million Colorado Recovery Plan stimulus package, setting the stage for a vote on final passage on all 12 pieces of legislation. Among those were eight bills approved on second reading by the House with scant debate other than overviews offered by the sponsors. Six of those eight bills had amendments added by House lawmakers after the Senate approved the legislation, meaning the two chambers will have to reconcile.
The Tea on Rocky Mountain Partnership

The Rocky Mountain Partnership is a coalition of cross-sector stakeholders who are working together to collectively improve economic and social mobility across the Adams County, Aurora and Broomfield region by:
  • utilizing data to set shared targets and as a scorecard to measure progress towards this;
  • advocating for and aligning policies, funding, and resources to remove barriers and accelerate progress;
  • better coordinating and improving the work happening on the ground to achieve this.
Rocky Mountain Partnership | rmpartnership.org