I wanted to send a quick note explaining why I you did not receive a weekly newsletter from me on SundayI spent the weekend in Atlanta, Georgia with my husband's family to celebrate the life of his mother who recently passed. On our return trip, Frontier Airlines canceled the second leg of our trip, and rather than a layover in Cincinnati we found ourselves trapped there with no available flights. Knowing that this week was Budget Week, we rented a car and drove through the night from Cincinnati to Denver.

Why did we go to all the trouble of driving across the country? Because, as I said, this is a critical week in the Senate. Yesterday, we introduced SB23-214, the FY2023-24 Long Bill, also known as the state budget. Along with the budget, we introduced 32 orbital bills, which are bills that are directly related to the budget. This morning, these bills were taken up by the Appropriations Committee, and all but one passed unanimously. I posted a list of those companion bills to the budget below.

So what's in this year's Long Bill? Here are a few key points:

Tomorrow, the budget will head to the Senate floor for debate. I expect several of my Senate colleagues to offer up amendment proposals to the budget. It should be a lively debate! If you would like to keep track, you can watch or listen by clicking HERE.

Mark your calendars now for next month's town hall meeting. Please plan to join us on Saturday, April 15 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Indian Tree Golf Course Clubhouse, 7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003. The topic for April will be mental health. For more information, click HERE.

Below is a list of bills that I am sponsoring that have been introduced and are awaiting action from either the House or Senate. For a full list of bills, click HERE.

NEW! SB23-215 State Employee Reserve Fund General Fund Transfer: Concerning the transfer of money from the state employee reserve fund to the general fund to fund monthly housing stipends for department of corrections staff.

NEW! SB23-216 Colorado Universal Preschool Program Funding: Concerning funding to the department of early childhood for the Colorado universal preschool program.

NEW! SB23-217 Separating Fees In Records And Reports Cash Fund: Concerning no longer requiring the fee collected for the background checks for child abuse or neglect to support the costs associated with the appeals process for a person who is found responsible in a confirmed report of child abuse or neglect.

NEW! SB23-218 Repeal School Transformation Grant Program Administration Cap: Concerning the repeal of the cap on the amount of money the department of education may expend on costs incurred in implementing the school transformation grant program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

NEW! SB23-219 Supports To Students And Facility Schools: Concerning services to support students eligible to enroll in facility schools, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing an appropriation.

NEW! SB23-220 Public School Capital Consrtuction Assistance Grants: Concerning the use of money previously allocated for public schools, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation.

NEW! SB23-221 Healthy School Meals For All Program Fund: Concerning the funding of the healthy school meals for all program, and, in connection therewith, creating the healthy school meals for all program general fund exempt account, allowing expenditures in excess of appropriations for the program, clarifying how the program should be accounted for in the annual general appropriations bill, and making an appropriation.

NEW! SB23-223 Medicaid Provider Rate Review Process: Concerning the annual report the department of health care policy and financing submits to the joint budget committee concerning the medicaid provider rate review process.

NEW! SB23-224 Colorado Commission Policies Postgraduate Student Exchange Program: Concerning policies to be established by the Colorado commission on higher education related to postgraduate student exchange programs.

NEW! SB23-225 Specialty Education Colorado State University Medical School Partnership: Concerning the use of higher education specialty education services funding for the school of medicine partnership operating on the campus of Colorado state university.

NEW! SB23-227 State Agency Attorney Hourly Rate: Concerning the hourly rate compensation for attorneys who contract with state agencies to provide legal representation.

NEW! SB23-231 Amend Fund To Allow Payment Overdue Wage Claims: Concerning the ability of the division of labor standards and statistics in the department of labor and employment to disburse money in the wage theft enforcement fund to employees after an employer fails to make payments determined to be owed to the employees, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

NEW! SB23-232 Unemployment Insurance Premiums Allocation Federal Law Compliance: Concerning unemployment compensation, and, in connection therewith, reducing employer premium rates; creating support surcharge rates; adjusting the allocations of employer premiums and support surcharge payments to the unemployment compensation fund, the employment support fund, the employment and training technology fund, and the benefit recovery fund to comply with federal law; and making and reducing appropriations.

NEW! SB23-233 Employment Services Funded By Wagner-Peyser Act: Concerning a merit system for county employees who provide employment services that are paid for with federal funds pursuant to the federal "Wagner-Peyser Act".

NEW! SB23-235 Department Of Law Funds For Unanticipated State Legal Needs: Concerning the authority of the department of law to use litigation management funds for unanticipated state legal needs.

NEW! SB23-238 Small Communities Water and Wastewater Grant Fund: Concerning authorization to use money in the small communities water and wastewater grant fund to provide the state funds for water projects for which a state match is required to qualify for federal funds for the projects.

NEW! SB23-239 Hazardous Site Response Fund Transfer: Concerning the transfer of money from the hazardous substance site response fund to the hazardous substance response fund.

NEW! SB23-242 Community Corrections Financial Audit: Concerning financial audits of the community corrections programs in the state, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

NEW! SB23-243 General Fund Transfers To Capital Construction Fund: Concerning transfers from the general fund to the capital construction fund.

NEW! SB23-244 Technology Accessibility Cleanup: Concerning updates to language in relevant Colorado statutes related to ensuring technology accessibility to persons with disabilities.

NEW! SB23-245 Transfer To Revenue Loss Restoration Cash Fund: Concerning a transfer to the revenue loss restoration cash fund.

NEW! SB23-246 State Emergency Reserve: Concerning transfers to the state emergency reserve for the 2023-24 state fiscal year.

SB23-182 Temporary Suspension Of Medicaid Requirements: Concerning the temporary suspension of certain statutory requirements for medical assistance programs. The bill passed out of the Senate and headed over to the House.

HB23-1001 Expanding Assistance For Educator Programs: Concerning expanding financial assistance for educator programs. The House concurred with the Senate amendments and the bill heads to the Governor.

HB23-1061 Alcohol Beverage Retail Establishment Permit: Concerning permitting a retail establishment to serve complementary alcohol beverages at a place of business. The bill was introduced in the Senate and assigned to the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee.

HB23-1089 Special Education Services For Students In Foster Care: Concerning the continuation of special education services for a student in foster care when the student moves. The bill was introduced in the Senate and will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, April 5 at 1:30 pm.