About this time every session, the Joint Budget Committee pauses discussions on next year's budget to consider adjustments that may be necessary for the current fiscal year. That process is known at "supplementals". Sometimes this requires reductions in last year's budget and sometimes we must increase the budget to reflect increased costs or required spending.

I was the lead sponsor of 29 out of the 31 bills that made up this year's supplemental package. Overall, the General Fund obligations for FY 2022-23 decreased by $187.8 million. Most bills passed unanimously without much fanfare. There were three bills, however, that I'd like to highlight. In SB23-124, the Department of Local Affairs supplemental, we added $8 million to boost the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). ERAP has provided assistance to more than 36,000 households and has helped keep people housed during the pandemic. The program was in the process of wrapping up, but the JBC added additional funding to cover the program until Proposition 123 kicks in. To learn more, click HERE.

Another supplemental bill, SB23-139, on State Severance Tax Trust Fund Allocation, appropriated money from the severance tax operational fund to the wildfire mitigation capacity development fund, in order to support the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP). COSWAP was created after the devastating 2020 fire season to help increase Colorado's capacity to conduct critical forest restoration and wildfire mitigation work that will increase community resilience and protect life, property and infrastructure. We felt the additional funding for fire mitigation was worth the effort in order to prevent future disasters.

The last bill I want to highlight, SB23-138, makes a $5 million appropriation to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to assist Denver Health, the largest safety net provider in the state. Denver Health is experiencing significant financial hardship, and as a safety net hospital on the front line of providing health-care services for the uninsured and underserved, we need to keep them financially sustainable. After learning about their situtaion, the JBC decided to contribute some emergency funding to keep the hospital operating. To read more, click HERE.

In addition to the package of supplemental bills, I also passed two regular bills out of committees this week: SB23-099 on increasing funding for special education and SB23-082 the Colorado Fostering Success Voucher Program. Both bills passed unanimously and were referred to Senate Appropriations. For the coming week, the supplemental package will be debated in the House, and I have three bills that will be heard in committee: SB23-094 School Transportation Task Force, SB23-110 Transparency For Metropolitan Districts, and HB23-1053 Veterans' Cemetery Department of Public Safety Gifts Grants Donations.

JBC Recap for the week of February 6: The JBC introduced 31 supplemental bills for consideration. The bills were heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, and debated in Senate on Wednesday and Thursday. The bills will now head to the House of Representatives.

In addition to the supplementals, the JBC began figure setting for FY23-24 with Tobacco Revenue and the Department of Treasury, and reviewed a memo on ARPA and other Federal Funds. We continued figure setting for the Departments of Labor and Employment and Transportation.

Coming Up This Week: The JBC will next meet Monday, February 13 to consider figure setting recommendations for the Departments of Education and Early Childhood. For the full scheduled, click HERE.

Our February town hall meeting will take place in a new location. Please plan to join us on Saturday, February 18 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Indian Tree Golf Course Clubhouse, 7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003. Our topic this month will be the "Future of Healthcare." 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.

SB23-001 Authority Of Public-private Collaboration Unit For Housing: Concerning additional functions of the public-private collaboration unit for public projects that provide housing. The bill passed out of the Local Government & Housing Committee and was referred to Senate Appropriations.

SB23-007 Adult Education: Concerning enhancing adult education in Colorado. The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee and was referred to Senate Appropriations.

SB23-049 Special Mobile Machinery Registration Exemption: Concerning the registration exemption for special mobile machinery, and, in connection therewith, eliminating the requirement that an owner of such machinery regularly have at least one thousand items of such machinery in the state to obtain a registration exempt certificate for the machinery. The bill passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and was referred to Senate Appropriations.

SB23-082 Colorado Fostering Success Voucher Program: Concerning creation of the Colorado fostering success voucher program to assist foster youth. The passed out of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee and was referred to Senate Appropriations.

SB23-094 School Transportation Task Force: Concerning the creation of a task force to report on measures to improve school transportation. The bill will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Monday, February 13 at 1:30 pm.

SB23-097 Motor Vehicle Theft And Unauthorized Use: Concerning the adoption of the 2023 recommendations of the Colorado commission on criminal and juvenile justice regarding motor vehicle offenses committed by a person who is not the owner of the motor vehicle. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Judiciary Committee.

SB23-099 Special Education Funding: Concerning funding for special education services. The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee and was referred to Senate Appropriations.

SB23-110 Transparency For Metropolitan Districts: Concerning transparency for metropolitan districts. The bill will be heard in the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee on Tuesday, February 14 at 2:00 pm.

SB23-112 Department of Agriculture Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of agriculture. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-113 Department of Corrections Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of corrections. The bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House.

SB23-114 Department of Early Childhood Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of early childhood. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-115 Department of Education Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of education. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-116 Department of Governor, Lt. Governor, & OSPB Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and state planning and budgeting. The bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House.

SB23-117 Department of Health Care Policy & Financing Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of health care policy and financing. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-118 Department of Higher Education Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of higher education. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-119 Department of Human Services Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of human services. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-120 Judicial Department Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the judicial department. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-121 Department of Labor & Employment Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of labor and employment. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-122 Department of Law Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of law. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-123 Legislative Department Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of legislature. The bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House.

SB23-124 Department of Local Affairs Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of local affairs.The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-125 Department of Military Affairs Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of military and veterans affairs. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-126 Department of Natural Resources Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of natural resources. The bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House.

SB23-127 Department Of Personnel Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of personnel. The bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House.

SB23-128 Department of Public Health & Environment Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of public health and environment. The bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House.

SB23-129 Department of Public Safety Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of public safety. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-130 Department of Regulatory Agencies Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of regulatory agencies. The bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House.

SB23-131 Department of Revenue Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of revenue. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-132 Department of State Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of state. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-133 Department of Transportation Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of transportation. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-134 Department of Treasury Supplemental: Concerning a supplemental appropriation to the department of the treasury. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-135 Capital Construction Supplemental: Concerning funding for capital construction, and making supplemental appropriations in connection therewith. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-136 Adjustments To School Funding Fiscal Year 2022-23: Concerning adjustments to school funding for the 2022-23 budget year, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-138 Appropriation To Department of Health Care Policy And Financing For Denver Health: Concerning authorizing the department of health care policy and financing to distribute money to the Denver health and hospital authority, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-139 State Severance Tax Trust Fund Allocation: Concerning the appropriation of money from the severance tax operational fund to the wildfire mitigation capacity development fund, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-140 Fentanyl Study Deadline And Appropriation: Concerning extending the contract deadline for the independent study of House Bill 22-1326, and, in connection therewith, extending a related existing appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

SB23-142 Information Technology Project Appropriation Process: Concerning the information technology capital appropriation process for information technology projects submitted to the general assembly by certain state entities. The bill passed outo of the Senate unanimously and is headed to the House.

HB23-1001 Expanding Assistance For Educator Programs: Concerning expanding financial assistance for educator programs. The bill passed out of the House and was assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

HB23-1053 Veterans' Cemetery Department of Public Safety Gifts Grants Donations: Concerning the authority to accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations, and, in connection therewith, authorizing the division of veterans affairs to expend gifts, grants, and donations in support of the western slope military veterans' cemetery, authorizing the department of public safety to accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations in support of its purposes, and creating the department of public safety gifts, grants, and donations fund. The bill passed out of the House unanimously and will be heard in the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Thursday, February 16 at 1:30 pm.

HB23-1061 Alcohol Beverage Retail Establishment Permit: Concerning permitting a retail establishment to serve complementary alcohol beverages at a place of business. The bill passed out of the House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor and referred to the House Finance 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 House and will be heard in the House Education Committee on Thursday, February 16 at 1:30 pm.

HB23-1135 Penalty For Indecent Exposure In View Of Minors: Concerning the offense classification for indecent exposure in view of a minor. The bill was introduced and will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 22 at 1:30 pm.

HB23-1189 Employer Assistance For Home Purchase Tax Credit: Concerning an income tax credit for employer assistance to employees in making a home purchase. The bill was introduced in the House and assigned to the Finance Committee.

Greeley Tribune: Colorado bill to assist former foster youth with housing passes Senate committee

Centennial Citizen: Lawmakers attempt to tackle auto theft

9 News: Repeat offenders are a major factor in Colorado's car theft epidemic, data shows

Becker’s Hospital Review: Denver Health to benefit from fast-track state payment

Denver Post: Colorado lawmakers look at extra money to keep rental assistance program afloat

Colorado Politics: Colorado bill would create housing voucher program for homeless foster youth

Denver Post: Colorado lawmakers fast-track “extraordinary” $5 million payment to shore up Denver Health

Colorado Politics: Proposal advances to add $40 million to Colorado's special education funding | Legislature

Westword: Proposed Bill Would Make Car Thefts in Colorado a Felony Regardless of Vehicle Value

Centennial Citizen: Lawmakers attempt to tackle auto theft

Denver Post: Colorado politicians want more property tax relief as state forecasts 26.5% increase in assessed values

RELEASE: Senate Advances FY 2022-2023 Supplemental Budget Package to Mitigate Wildfires, Bolster Aid for Renters

RELEASE: Zenzinger’s Bipartisan Bill to Help Former Foster Youth Find Housing Clears Committee

RELEASE: Education Committee Approves Bipartisan Zenzinger Bill to Improve Special Education Funding in Colorado

In an effort to be transparent and accessible, here are the events and meetings that I have attended in the last week as your state senator: