Back in November I polled readers of my newsletter on their priorities for Colorado. The top three policy areas were: Education, Housing and the Environment. I will spend the next couple of newsletters digging into these top priorities by highlighting legislation that addressed those areas, beginning with Education.

I began the session as Chair of the Senate Education Committee, which allowed me the opportunity to sponsor a number of key education bills such as SB22-137 on transitioning back to standard K-12 accountability. Later in the session I stepped down as Chair to fill a vacancy on the Joint Budget Committee, but I maintained my position on the Education Committee and rejoined the group after we adopted the budget.

After I transitioned to the JBC, I continued working on education issues mainly from a school finance perspective. For example, I sponsored the School Finance Act (HB22-1390) where we increased funding for K-12 public schools by nearly $550 per student on average. We increased the state's share by $431 million, bringing the total amount up to $8.4 billion. We also reduced the Budget Stabilization Factor (the factor in the formula that reduces overall funding) by $250 million, which dropped the BSF to its lowest level since instituting the factor. We are now on track to completely eliminate the BSF next year!

The K-12 bill that I am most proud of, however, is SB22-127 on special education funding. We have never fully funded special education services in Colorado. This bill helps close the gap by increasing funding by $80 million. The allocation for all special education students will go up from $1,250 to $1,750. The remaining amount will go toward increasing support for students with more complex needs, from $3,200 to $4,500 per student. I also sponsored HB22-1294, which will increase access to special education services in charter schools.

I also sponsored several bills aimed at supporting our educator workforce. HB22-1057 and HB22-1101 addressed the ability for retired educators to step in as substitute teachers and to fill certain vacancies without incurring penalties on their pensions. To help increase the quality of leadership in our public schools, I sponsored a bill to extend the School Leadership Pilot Program (HB22-1248). Lastly, I sponsored HB22-1220 on Removing Barriers To Educator Preparation. This bill does many things such as: establish a portfolio process in lieu of the Praxis exam, increase funding to the Educator Loan Forgiveness program, and provide stipends to low-income teacher candidates during their student teaching.

Two of the bills I sponsored this year helped improve support for "at-risk" students. The first bill, HB22-1202, will create a new measure in the public school funding formula for identifying at-risk students. This was a recommendation by the School Finance Interim Committee. The other bill, HB22-1331, directed supplemental funding support for our facility schools, which include residential and day programs, including hospitals. On average there are approximately 6,000 placements made per year in facility schools, representing over 80 school districts and placed by 8 different types of public agencies.

Lastly, two of my bills built upon work I began in prior sessions. I sponsored SB22-054 which adds Community Schools to the list of recommendations that a district or public school may choose if they fail to make substantial progress under its turnaround plan. Also, I passed SB22-202, a bill that creates a state match fund for property tax revenue collected by school districts in low property wealth communities. This will help address inequities that have cropped up as a result of the current mill levy override process.

Those are just a few of the K-12 education bills that I sponsored this session. You can view the full list below. Next week I will will dig into some of the other education bills such as Higher Education and Early Learning. Finally, I will close by wishing all the graduating seniors, including my own student Soren, a hearty congratulations for completing high school. The past few years have been difficult for students, making this graduation season all the more special. Cheers to you!

Local solution to baby formula shortage: By now you've likely heard about the unfortunate shortage of baby formula in the United States. What you may not have heard about is how the Arvada-based Mothers' Milk Bank is part of the solution! MMB is a nonprofit program of Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation. For nearly 40 years, MMB as collected, processed and distributed donor human milk to babies thorughout the country. MMB has teamed up with the State of Colorado to help address the baby formula shortage. Colorado and MMB are calling for donations of breast milk or financial donations that will help families with the cost of supply. For more information or to donate, click HERE.

Free COVID test kits still available: With the unfortunate rise of COVID cases in Colorado and across the country, you should know that the federal government is still making available free test kits. You and your household are are eligible for up to eight rapid antigen kits free of charge. To order your kits, click HERE.

Are you prepared for the June Primary Election? Believe it or not, the Primary Election is just around the corner. In fact, ballots have already been mailed to military and overseas voters. That means your ballot will soon be on its way to you. The Primary Election will be on June 28, and the Jeffco Elections division will start mailing out ballots on June 6. If you have moved or need to update your registration, then go to VoteJeffco.com. If everything is updated, you should receive your ballot by Monday, June 13. If you do not receive your ballot by then, or for any other questions, contact the Jeffco Clerk & Recorder's office.

Jeffco Human Services Foundation accepting donations: The Jeffco Human Services Foundation is a nonprofit, community-based organization on a mission to break the cycle of generational poverty. According to their website, they "partner with initiatives that provide service and opportunities that enable Colorado families to thrive in our community." Jeffco Prosperity Partners (JPP) is one of those partners. The foundation participated in the Colfax Marathon as a way of fundraising for the JPP, and it's not too late to contribute. You can show your support and donate until May 31st by clicking HERE.

The Colorado Sun: Low pay leaves rural Colorado teachers struggling, often working 2nd jobs

Colorado Politics: 2022 SESSION: The most and least successful Colorado lawmakers

Ark Valley Voice: Governor Signs Legislation to Save Middle-Income People Money on Housing

KKTV: Governor Polis signs new legislation to help Colorado residents save money on housing and property taxes

Colorado Newsline: What Colorado lawmakers passed, amended, killed in legislative session's final days

Law360: Colo. lawmakers OK extending Enterprise Zone tax break

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

SB22-008 Higher Education Support for Foster Youth: Concerning postsecondary education support for certain students who have been in out-of-home placement.

SB22-011 America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission: Concerning the establishment of the America 250 - Colorado 150 commission.

SB22-017 Fluid Milk Products Not Divisible Load: Concerning the determination that a load of fluid milk products hauled by a vehicle is not a divisible load under the vehicle weight limits permitted by law.

SB22-054 Recommend Community School for Turnaround Plan: Concerning the addition of a recommendation that a district public school be converted to a community school if the district public school fails to make substantial progress under its turnaround plan.

SB22-064 Neighborhood Youth Organizations: Concerning requirements for neighborhood youth organizations that provide services designed for the development of youth.

SB22-085 Colorado Safe Student Protection Program: Concerning creating the Colorado safe student protection program. Postponed Indefinitely

SB22-121 Tuition Revenue Pledged by Institution Higher Education: Concerning increasing the amount of tuition revenues pledged by an institution of higher education.

SB22-127 Special Education Funding: Concerning funding for special education services.

SB22-137 Transition Back to Standard K-12 Accountability: Concerning measures related to the transitional return to standard education.

SB22-142 Repeal Municipal Bond Supervision Advisory Board: Concerning the repeal of the municipal bond supervision advisory board.

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.

SB22-146 Middle Income Access Program Expansion: Concerning the expansion of the Colorado housing and finance authority's middle income access program.

SB22-159 Revolving Loan Fund Invest Affordable Housing: Concerning the creation of a revolving loan fund within the division of housing in the department of local affairs to make investments in transformational affordable housing.

SB22-162 Administration Organization Act Modernization: Concerning the modernization of the terminology used in the Colorado Revised Statutes relating to the organization of Colorado state governmental agencies without altering the status of the powers assigned to those agencies pursuant to the "Administrative Organization Act of 1968."

SB22-164 Correction Property Tax Disclosure Information Metropolitan District: Concerning the substitution of the word "treasurer's" in place of the word "assessor's" in a statutory provision requiring disclosure of property tax information for purchasers of newly constructed residences within the boundaries of a metropolitan district.

SB22-192 Opportunities for Credential Attainment: Concerning the creation of opportunities for credential attainment, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SB22-202 State Match for Mill Levy Override Revenue: Concerning providing state matching money for property tax revenue collected by school districts.

SB22-210 License Supplemental Health-care Staffing Agencies: Concerning the regulation of supplemental health-care staffing agencies by the department of public health and environment.

SB22-215 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Cash Fund: Concerning the creation of the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund to be used for non federal match funding requirements for infrastructure projects eligible to receive federal funding under the federal "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act."

SB22-216 Reallocation Of Limited Gaming Revenues: Concerning the reallocation of the limited gaming tax revenues for fiscal years following a significant decrease in the revenues, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SB22-217 Programs That Benefit Persons With Disabilities: Concerning motor vehicle related programs that benefit persons with disabilities, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SB22-225 Ambulance Service Sustainability And State Licensing: Concerning emergency medical services in the state, and, in connection therewith, creating an emergency medical services system sustainability task force and requiring ambulance services to obtain a state license from the department of public health and environment.

SB22-235 County Administration of Public Assistance Programs: Concerning county administration of public assistance programs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SR22-003 Single Parent Day: Concerning recognition of Single Parent Day in Colorado.

SJR22-006 Police Week and Peace Officers' Memorial Day: Concerning declaring the week of March 11-16, 2022, as Police Week, and in connection therewith declaring March 15, 2022, as Peace Officers' Memorial Day.

HB22-1009 Continue Workforce Diploma Pilot Program: Concerning continuing the workforce diploma pilot program as the workforce diploma program. Postponed Indefinitely

HB22-1031 Consumer Right to Repair Powered Wheelchairs: Concerning a requirement that a powered wheelchair manufacturer facilitate the repair of its powered wheelchairs by providing certain other persons with the resources needed to repair the manufacturer's powered wheelchairs.

HB22-1051 Mod Affordable Housing Tax Credit: Concerning modification of the Colorado affordable housing tax credit, and, in connection therewith, extending the time during which the credit may be claimed and increasing the yearly amount of credits that can be allocated.

HB22-1057 Public Employees' Retirement Association Employment After Teacher Retirement: Concerning public employees' retirement association employment after retirement limitations.

HB22-1093 Updates to Bingo and Raffles Law: Concerning the conduct of charitable gaming activity, and, in connection therewith, modernizing the "Bingo and Raffles Law" to accommodate the use of improved electronic aids and devices in the conduct of games of chance and making an appropriation.

HB22-1099 Online Marketplaces and Third-party Sellers: Concerning mandatory disclosures of third-party sellers selling through online marketplace.

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.

HB22-1114 Transportation Services For Medicaid Waiver Recipients: Concerning authorizing a transportation network company to provide nonmedical transportation services to persons who are enrolled in certain medicaid waiver programs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB22-1162 Motor Vehicle Digital Number Plates: Concerning authorization to use digital number plates in lieu of metal number plates on a vehicle.

HB22-1202 At-risk Student Measure For School Finance: Concerning the creation of a new measure in the public school funding formula for identifying at-risk students, and, in connection therewith, creating a working group in the department of education to implement the new measure in a future budget year.

HB22-1220 Removing Barriers To Educator Preparation: Concerning removing barriers in educator preparation to support educator candidates entering the educator workforce.

HB22-1245 Foster Youth in Transition Program Clarifications: Concerning clarifications related to the foster youth in transition program.

HB22-1248 Extend School Leadership Pilot Program: Concerning continuation of the school leadership pilot program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB22-1250 Nonsubstantive Changes to Title 7 of Colorado Revised Statutes: Statutes: Concerning nonsubstantive changes to title 7 of the Colorado revised statutes.

HB22-1255 Improve Higher Education for Students With a Disability: Concerning measures to improve postsecondary education outcomes for students with a disability.

HB22-1258 Essential Services For Youth Special Districts: Concerning the creation of an essential services for youth special district in each judicial district in the state. Lost on Third Reading in the House.

HB22-1290 Changes to Medicaid for Wheelchair Repairs: Concerning changes to medicaid to allow for expedited repairs to complex rehabilitation technology.

HB22-1293 Medical Record Requests By Attorneys: Concerning the provision of medical records in the custody of a health-care facility. Laid over in the House on Second Reading.

HB22-1294 Special Education Services in Charter Schools: Concerning additional pathways to provide special education services to children with disabilities in charter schools.

HB22-1320 Achieving a Better Life Experience Savings Accounts: Concerning the achieving a better life experience (ABLE) savings program for individuals with disabilities, and, in connection therewith, modifying who may create and control an ABLE program account, preventing the state from filing certain claims against an ABLE program account upon the death of the designated beneficiary, and allowing contributions to an ABLE program account that are withdrawn for qualified disability expenses to be deducted from a taxpayer's federal taxable income for purposes of determining the taxpayer's state taxable income.

HB22-1329 2022-23 Long Bill: Concerning the provision for payment of the expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions, for and during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, except as otherwise noted.

HB22-1331 Supplemental Funding for Facility Schools: Concerning supplemental funding for facility schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. 

HB22-1333 Increase Minimum Wage for Nursing Home Workers: Concerning an increase in the minimum wage for nursing facility employees, and, in connection therewith making an appropriation. 

HB22-1334 Food Distribution Program Administrative Fee: Concerning the collection of an administrative fee from an agency that receives commodities through a food distribution program.

HB22-1336 Streamline Processing of Judicial Department Collections: Concerning the streamlining of the processing of certain money collected by the judicial department. 

HB22-1339 Merge Department of Revenue Division of Motor Vehicles Cash Funds: Concerning the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account of the highway users tax fund, and, in connection therewith, merging the licensing services cash fund into the account and requiring account investment earnings to be credited to the account. 

HB22-1340 Capital-related Transfers of Money: Concerning capital-related transfers of money.

HB22-1341 Marijuana Tax Cash Fund: Concerning measures to ensure that the marijuana tax cash fund is in balance.

HB22-1390 Public School Finance: Concerning the financing of public schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB22-1395 Transportation Innovation Grant Program: Concerning creating the competitive transportation innovation grant program to address the public school transportation shortage. Laid over in the House in the Appropriations Committee.

HB22-1415 Repeal Registered Manager Requirement Liquor Licensees: Concerning elimination of the requirement that certain businesses licensed to sell alcohol beverages for consumption on the licensed premises register a manager of the licensed premises with the state licensing authority.

HB22-1418 Extension Of Certain Unused Tax Credits: Concerning the extension of the period for which unused and expiring Colorado job growth incentive and enterprise zone income tax credits may be carried forward to subsequent years.

HJR22-1002 Study State and Interstate Highway Vehicle Weight: Concerning a request that Congress allow the state of Colorado to conduct an analysis of and possibly move forward on harmonizing the gross vehicle weight for trucks on the Interstate Highway System in Colorado with that of other state highways.

HJR22-1006 Military, Veterans, Missing in Action/Prisoner of War Appreciation Day: Concerning recognition of military, veterans, and MIA/POW Appreciation Day.

We want to thank everyone who joined us for our wrap-up town hall meeting, especially our guest speakers Jesse Paul, Ed Sealover, and Alex Burness. Please save the date for our next town hall meeting on Saturday, June 18 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. The topic and location are still TBD. For more details, click HERE.