Yesterday marked the offical midway point of session, which means we have 60 more days to accomplish our goals of creating a stronger, safer and healthier Colorado. As I relayed to you at the beginning of session, we erected a series of interim task forces to address these goals and to prioritize the American Rescue Plan Act funds the state received to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. The final task force recommendations were announced last month and the first round of legislation to enact these recommendations dropped last week.

First, the House and Senate introduced a slate of legislation aimed at addressing Colorado's behavioral health crisis. The bills were developed bassed on recommendations from the state's Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. The legislation will increase access to behavioral health care for children and youth, help implement innovative community-based programs to address inequities and improve health outcomes, and increase access to resources. Here is a list of the first round of bills:

Next, the House and Senate introduced the first few bills aimed at addressing the affordability of housing. These bills were developed based on recommendations from the state's Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force. These first two bills are aimed at spurring develoment of innovative housing and expand access to workforce housing. Here is a list of the first round of bills:

I am a prime sponsor of SB22-146 CHFA Middle Income Access Program, which will serve middle income families and individuals with incomes too high to quailfy for low income housing tax credits. I am also working on a draft bill that will create a Revolving Loan Fund within the Division of Housing to make investments in transformational affordable housing.

We still have two more task force intiatives, the Student Success and Workforce Revtialization Task Forc, and the Task Force on Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund, that have yet to introduce their associated bills. I expect legislation connected to those efforts to be indroduced in the coming week or two, so stay tuned!

Legislative Town Hall Meeting moved back to online: We had hoped to finally return to our in-person town hall meeting forums, but we experienced several insurmountable conflicts with securing a location that prevented us from making the transition this month. That means we will once again host our monthly town hall meeting online. Please plan to join us on Saturday, March 26 at 10:30 am to hear a presentation on the state budget. Representative Julie McCluskie, Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, will be our guest and she will review this year's budget proposal that will be introduced at the end of this month. For more details and to find the Zoom link to participate, click HERE.

'What's Brewing at the Capitol' returns on Tuesday: We are very pleased to be able to once again host our signature 'What's Brewing' event in person this coming Tuesday. This is a casual meet-and-greet with your State Senator over a pint of beer from a local brewery. Menus will be available for folks who wish to order items on their own, but your first pint will be on us! I hope you can join us this coming Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30 pm at the Kokopelli Beer Company, 8931 N Harlan St, Westminster, CO 80031. For details, click HERE.

Police Week and Peace Officers' Memorial Day: I am honored to be the prime sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 22-006 which proclaims the week commencing March 11, 2022 as Police Week in Colorado, in recognition of peace officers' efforts in safeguarding the citizens of Colorado. Furthermore, we will recognize those officers who, through their courageous deeds, have made the supreme sacrifice or have been disabled in the line of duty. We will honor nine fallen officers, including Gordon Beesley of the Arvada Police Department. The resolution will be heard in the Senate on Monday, March 14 at 10:00 am. Click HERE to watch or listen.

Jeffco EDC unveils 'Caffeinated Conversations': The Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation has created a new series of casual conversations with local representatives to discuss the latest news and information happening at the Capitol. I will be their guest speaker for the inaugural event on Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30 am. Location TBD. For more information, contact Jansen Tidmore jtidmore@jeffcoedc.org.

Gearing up for budget season: Every year around this time, the General Assembly starts preparing for budget season. One key event to this process will be the March Quarterly Economic and Revenue Forecast presented by Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting. This year's forecast will be presented to the Joint Budget Committee on Thursday, March 17 at 1:30 pm. Click HERE to listen to the presentation. The JBC staff and LCS maintain a helpful tool that allows the public to explore the state budget. In addition, HERE is an interesting memorandum produced by LCS on the History of TABOR Refund Mechanisms.

Chalkbeat Colorado: Community schools option not intended for Adams 14 - Chalkbeat Colorado

Sentinel Colorado: GONZALES, ZENZINGER, BRIDGES: The time for transformative housing solutions is now

Colorado Politics: Colorado legislators introduce first bills to spend $850 million for housing

Grand Junction Sentinel: Bills aim to get more teachers in rural schools

Denver Post: Colorado might soon allow digital auto plates

Denver Fox 31: Retired teachers could help fill school shortages in bill headed to Polis

For a full list of this week's press and videos visit rachelforcolorado.com/news.

Not a morning person? Busy on the weekends? Then 'What's Brewing at the Capitol' is the event for you! This is a casual meet-and-greet with your State Senator over a pint of beer from a local brewery. Join us on Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30 pm at the Kokopelli Beer Company, 8931 N Harlan St, Westminster, CO 80031. For more details, click HERE.

Due to various conflicts, we are unable to meet in person at our next legislative town hall meeting. While we are disappointed that we cannot make to transition to in-person quite yet, we are excited to announce our guest speaker with be the Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, Julie McCluskie, to discuss this year's state budget proposal. We hope to see you online Saturday, March 26 at 10:30 am. For more information, click HERE.

SB22-142 Repeal Municipal Bond Supervision Advisory Board: Concerning the repeal of the municipal bond supervision advisory board. The bill passed unanimously on Second Reading.

SB22-144 Public and Nonprofit Entities Rideshare Contracts: Concerning the provision of transportation services by a transportation network company not in connection with a business operated for profit. The bill passed unanimously on Second Reading.

SB22-146 Middle Income Access Program Expansion: Concerning the expansion of the Colorado housing and finance authority's middle income access program. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 22 at 2 pm.

HB22-1057 Public Employees' Retirement Association Employment After Teacher Retirement: Concerning public employees' retirement association employment after retirement limitations. Passed the Senate and on the way to the Governor.

HB22-1099 Online Marketplaces and Third-party Sellers: Concerning mandatory disclosures of third-part sellers selling through online marketplace. Passed the Senate and on the way to the Governor.

HB22-1101 Public Employees’ Retirement Association Service Retiree Employment in Rural Schools: Concerning the expansion of a program that allows a public employees’ retirement association service retiree to work full-time without any reduction in the service retiree’s retirement for benefits for a rural school district that has a critical shortage of qualified individuals with specific experience, skills, or qualifications that the service retiree has. Passed the Senate and on the way to the Governor.

HB22-1162 Motor Vehicle Digital Number Plates: Concerning authorization to use digital number plates in lieu of metal number plates on a vehicle. Introduced and assigned to the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee on Thursday, March 24 upon adjournment.

HB22-1245 Foster Youth in Transition Program Clarifications: Concerning clarifications related to the foster youth in transition program. The bill will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 16 upon adjournment.

The red font indicates a new bill or a change in status. For a full list of active bills, visit rachelforcolorado.com/capitol or the Colorado General Assembly's website.