Working on getting SMART during short week

Our legislative calendar at the Capitol was relatively short and uneventful last week. We were not in session Monday due to the MLK Day holiday, we were off Tuesday due to the severe weather, and we have not yet scheduled the introduced bills for committee hearings yet. So what are we doing? We have begun the SMART Act hearing process.

The State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act defines a philosophy for the management of state agencies that includes a focus on taxpayer and customer service with the goal of achieving operational excellence. The Act calls for integrating measures for evaluating the performance of state departments into the formal state planning process and utilizing the annual budget process as a part of the performance management system to incentivize continuous process improvement. As such, the Joint Budget Committee will make the rounds and visit with each committee of reference to review the Governor's bill requests for each agency in which they have oversight.

So far, the JBC has met with the Joint House and Senate Committees for Education (including Early Childhood and Higher Education), Health and Human Services (including Behavioral Health, Health Care Policy & Financing, Human Services, Regulatory Agencies, and Insurance), Energy and Environment (including Department of Natural Resources, Public Health & Environment, Public Utilities Commission, Colorado Energy Office), and State Affairs (including Military & Veterans Affairs and the State Department). The SMART Act hearing process will conclude by next week and the JBC will then transition to supplementary budget requests.

If you are curious about any of the SMART Act hearings, including the opportunity to view the presentation materials, or if you'd like to tune in to the hearings, you can find the schedule by clicking HERE.

Property Tax Deferral Program: If you are concerned about higher property tax bills in the coming months, you may be eligible to postpone paying under a state Treasury Department deferral program. Originally, the Colorado’s Property Tax Deferral Program was available exclusively for seniors and active military personnel, but the program was expanded in 2023 to include homeowners whose property tax-growth cap exceeds a 4% average from the preceding two years. Under this program, the minimum amount a taxpayer may defer is $100 and the maximum cumulative taxes that a taxpayer may defer is $10,000. The application must be filed between January 1, 2023 and April 1, 2023. For more information, click HERE.

Colorado’s family leave program (FAMLl): Benefits for the voter-approved Family and Medical Leave Insurance, also known as FAMLY, officially became available on January 1, 2024. Covered Colorado workers may receive up to twelve weeks of leave per year to:In 2020, Colorado voters approved the FAMLI program in 2020 to ensure Colorado workers have access to paid leave in order to take care of themselves or their family during life circumstances that pull them away from their jobs. For more information on covered benefits, eligibility requirements, or to estimate the cost of your premiums and your potential benefit payment, click HERE.

Severe weather resources for Jeffco: We had our first round of brutal temperatures, and you can use this lull to make sure your pipes and vehicles are set for the season ahead. Here are some resources to help:

• Stay warm and safe this season by following these helpful Winter Preparedness check-lists from Jefferson County: https://www.jeffco.us/3588/Winter-Preparedness

• Make sure your phone is set up for free weather alerts from the US National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/wrn/wea

• And sign up with the Jefferson County Sheriff Office for emergency notifications on weather events and more: https://www.jeffco.us/473/Emergency-Notifications

• Find emergency winter night shelter for adult individuals and couples at the Severe Weather Shelter Network: https://www.swshelternetwork.com

Monday, January 15: The JBC did not meet due to MLK Day holiday.

Tuesday, January 16: The Colorado State Senate was canceled due to extreme weather.

Wednesday, January 17: The JBC met to consider supplemental requests for the Departments of Human Services Part 1 and Part 2, Public Safety, and to receive an overview of Federal ARPA Funds.

Thursday, January 18: The JBC met to consider supplemental requests from the Office of the Governor, Capital Construction, and the Departments of Public Health & Environment and Military & Veterans Affairs.

Friday, January 19: The JBC considered supplemental requests for the Departments of Education, Higher Education, and Personnel.

he JBC will next meet Monday, January 22nd for consideration of supplemental requests for the Departments of Human Services, Judicial Department and Independent Agencies, and Capital Construction and Information Technology Projects. To view the full JBC schedule, click HERE.

SB24-051 Adult Education: Concerning modifications to enhance adult education in Colorado. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

SB24-008 Kinship Foster Care Homes: Concerning increasing support for kinship foster care homes. The bill will be heard in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee on February 1 at 1:30 pm.

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. The bill will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on January 30 at 2 pm.

HB24-1012 Front Range Passenger Rail District Efficiency: Concerning the operational efficiency of the front range passenger rail district. The bill was introduced and assigned to House Transportation, Housing & Local Government.

Chalkbeat Colorado: Five things to know about how Colorado leaders propose to reshape workforce education

Legislative Town Hall Meeting: Healthcare



Please join Sen. Zenzinger, Rep. Daugherty, Rep. Bird, and Rep. Titone on Saturday, February 17 at 10:30 am for a legislative town hall focusing on the topic of healthcare. The location for the town hall will be the Indian Tree Golf Course, 7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003 (and NOT the library). For more information, please go to my website or click HERE.

Commissioner Andy Kerr endorses Zenzinger

“Rachel brings a huge amount of energy and integrity to any project, and I know we are going to accomplish more than ever on behalf of the people of Jefferson County.”

—Andy Kerr, Jefferson County Commissioner

Endorsements of Rachel Zenzinger's campaign for Jeffco Commissioner are pouring in! To view the latest, click HERE. If you'd like to join the list of supporters, please send an email to: rachelforcolorado@gmail.com.