Now that we have wrapped up our annual check-in meetings with the departments, we are all set to begin hearing bills in the various legislative committees. I have four such bills scheduled for their hearing this week:

First, as a former history teacher, I am thrilled to sponsor SB22-011, which will create the America 250-Colorado 150 Commission. The Commission will be charged with developing programs for the official observance of the 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) of the founding of the United States and the 150th anniversary (sesquincentennial) of Colorado statehood. The Commission will plan and promote historical activities, public ceremonies, educational activities, and other commemorative events. We also plan to collaborate with the America 250 Foundation in commemorating this anniversary.

Got milk? If so, can it be divided in order to meet the guidelines for a vehicle's weight limit when moving from a state highway to a federal highway? The answer is probably not--at least not until we pass SB22-017. Current law has weight limits for vehicles. One of the factors that determines a vehicle's weight limit is whether a load is divisible (can be divided up to lower its weight). For some reason, milk was misclassified as a divisible load and the bill clarifies that a load of fluid milk products carried by a vehicle is not a divisble load. This bill was proposed by the Transportation Legislative Review Committee.

The third bill I'm sponsoring that will be in committee this week is SB22-064 on the licencing of Neighborhood Youth Organizations. NYOs, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, are critical providers of out-of-school programming for youth. Even though these organizations help our youth with emotional, academic, and menthal health needs, we do not have a modern, appropriate license that recognizes and differentiates them from traditional childcare providers. The updates proposed in this bill will better capture the expectations for a high-quality out-of-school provider.

The last bill I will present this week is SB22-008 on higher education support for foster youth. In Colorado, foster youth graduate from high school at the lowest rate of any category of student (30.5% statewide). Of that group, only 13.4% enter postsecondary education by age 21. Foster youth who did not enroll in college pointed to cost as the primary obstacle. This bill will establish a tution and fee waiver program for Colorado foster youth to attend college, and it will create a navigator program to assist foster youth complete high school and successfully bridge into post-secondary education options. This bill was proposed by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee.

Your views are an intergral part of the legislative process. To participate in the hearings or to learn more about each of these bills, visit our legislative website. And, if you are interested in testifying remotely, click HERE to learn how.

Affordable Housing report finalized: The Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force finalized its housing recommendations report last week. For months, we have been hard at work determining how to invest $400 million in affordable housing solutions. Housing challenges existed long before the pandemic, but now they've reached crisis levels. From developing thousands of new affordable housing units to empowering renters by investing in resident-owned community infrastructure, the recommendations from the Affordable Housing Task Force will allow us to make transformative changes to Colorado's housing challenges. We know these funds alone won't solve this crisis--that's why we are going to continue working to address the root causes of this housing crisis. To view the report recommendations, click HERE.

Behavioral Health report finalized: The Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force released their final report recommendations for using $450 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services in Colorado. Our behavioral health system is broken, leaving many of the most vulnerable Coloradans with limited or no options for help. We are excited to make a once-in-a-lifetime investment to reform our system to expand access to care. With this historic opportunity, we are going to make life-saving investment to: improve access to critical care, meet the needs of children and families, expand successful jail diversion programs, and rebuild and support our workforce. To view the report recommendations, click HERE.

School Finance Interim Committee commits to three key bills: The School Finance Interim Committee met last week to finalize their recommendations to revamp education funding allocations in Colorado. The Committee unanimously agreed to sponsor legislation that includes increasing funding for special education students by more than $93 million per year, and updating the formula that better identifies at-risk students. Every Colorado student deserves a quality public education, regardless of physical, mental, or economic conditions, and our current level of state support for schools just isn't getting the job done. The committee's legislation will help get critical resources to the classrooms that need them most while making sure every student has what they need to succeed. For more information, click HERE.

The Colorado Sun: Opinion: For students to flourish, teachers also must flourish

Colorado Politics: Interim school finance panel goes another year without formula fix, finds other improvements

Chalkbeat Colorado: Colorado wants residents connected to high-paying jobs. It will need more than one-time funding

Chalkbeat Colorado: School finance committee: Spend more on special ed, redefine 'at-risk'

Greeley Tribune: Landmark Colorado pro-union bill faces resistance and will likely be scaled back - Greeley Tribune

Channel 4 News: Colorado Lawmakers Take Up Bill To Stop 'Boosters' & Sale Of Stolen Products

The Colorado Sun: Colorado lawmakers want to tweak how at-risk students are counted amid broader school-funding overhaul

SB22-008 Higher Education Support For Foster Youth: Concerning postsecondary education support for certain students who have been in out-of-home placement. Will be heard in Senate Education Committee on Thursday, February 3 at 1:30 pm.

SB22-011 America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission: Concerning the establishment of the America 250 - Colorado 150 commission. Will be heard in the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee on Tuesday, February 1 at 2:00 pm.

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. Will be heard in the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee on Tuesday, February 1 at 2:00 pm.

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. Will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, February 9 at 1:30 pm.

SB22-064 Neighborhood Youth Organizations: Concerning requirements for neighborhood youth organizations that provide services designed for the development of youth. Will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, February 2 Upon Adjournment.

HB22-1009 Continue Workforce Diploma Pilot Program: Concerning continuing the workforce diploma pilot program as the workforce diploma program. Will be heard in the House Education Committee on Thursday, February 17 at 1:30 pm.

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. Will be heard in the House Transportation & Local Government Committee on Wednesday, February 2 at 1:30 pm.

HB22-1057 Public Employees' Retirement Association Employment After Teacher Retirement: Concerning public employees' retirement association employment after retirement limitations. Will be heard in the House Education Committee on Thursday, February 10 at 1:30 pm.

HB22-1099 Online Marketplaces And Third-party Sellers: Concerning mandatory disclosures of third-party sellers selling through online marketplaces. Will be heard in the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee on Thursday, February 10 at 1:30 pm.

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 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. Will be heard in the House Education Committee on Thursday, February 17 at 1:30 pm.

We were pleased to see over 50 people attend our first Legislative Town Hall of 2022. Mark your calendar for the next one on February 19 at 10:30 am. This will be a virtual meeting. For more information, including the Zoom link, click HERE.