We are at the point in the legislative session where we are finalizing the finishing touches on our state budget. We usually hold off crunching the final numbers until we receive the quarterly revenue forecast. This year's March forecast pointed toward a recovering economy, but lingering pandemic-related disruptions compounded by accelerating inflation and the war in Ukraine elevated near-term risks. Therefore we must budget very cautiously this year.

To learn more about where we land with regard to the budget, please join us next Saturday for our virtual Legislative Town Hall meeting featuring the chair of the Joint Budget Committee.

In addition to finalizing the budget, we "crunched out" the next round of Affordable Housing and Behavioral Health bills. Those bills include:

I am the prime sponsor of SB22-159 which creates a revolving loan fund to help kickstart new construction. The bill will invest $150 million toward developing and integrating housing-related infrastructure and provide gap financing for housing development. Due to a time crunch in this week's Senate calendar, the committee hearing for Senate Bill 22-146 on the Middle Income Access Program Expansion was rescheduled from this week to next week.

Police Week and Peace Officers' Memorial Day: I was honored to welcome members of the Arvada Police Department to the Senate Chamber to observe Senate Joint Resolution 22-006, which proclaimed the week commencing May 11, 2022 as Police Week in Colorado. Furthermore, we recognizeed those officers who, through their courageous deeds, have made the supreme sacrifice. We honored nine fallen officers, including Gordon Beesley of the Arvada Police Department. To watch the tribute, click HERE.

Quarterly revenue forecasts paint difficult picture: Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting presented their respective quarterly revenue forecasts to the Joint Budget Committee last Thursday. The two forecasts were similar to one another. Both models showed strong economic growth and declining unemployment, as well as lingering pandemic-related disruptions compounded by accelerating inflation. Based on the numbers, it appears that Colorado is financially on track to avert much of the recent disruptions caused by global events. The challenges will continue, and we can't lose sight of our obligations and priorities in Colorado. We must remain focused on creating a budget that will work most efficiently and effectively for the greatest number of Coloradans. Click here for the LCS Forecast, and click here for the OSPB forecast.

Jeffco School Board votes to close Fitzmorris: Last week, the Jefferson County School Board voted 4 - 1 to close Fitzmorris Elementary School. The reason stated for the closure was due to low enrollment. District officials estimate that enrollment for next year was going to be under 100 students, which meant the school could no longer operate at level that would provide a quality education with so few students. A nearby school, Allendale Elementary, was shuttered last year, also due to low enrollment. Communities across the state have seen a similar decline in student enrollment. To learn more about the issue of student enrollment and the impact to schools, click HERE.

Universal preschool a step closer to reality: A 485 page bill to create a new Colorado Department of Early Childhood passed out of the House Education Committee last week. House Bill 22-1295 will not only create the Department of Early Childhood, but it will also formulate the new statewide universal preschool program as well. The bill proposes streamlining state agencies that serve young children under one umbrella and will help to optimize early childhood services in Colorado. The universal preschool program will provide 10 hours per week of free, high-quality preschool to every child the year before entering kindergarten starting in the 2023 school year. The program will also help save Coloradans an average of $4,300 per year. Click HERE to learn more.

Have you ever thought about volunteering for the state? There are over 300 boards and commissions in Colorado that are in need of volunteers. Boards and commissions are a great way for Coloradans to enegage in their state government and improve our community. For questions regarding the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions, please contact boards@state.co.us. To learn more about the current openings, click HERE.

Celebrating Women's History Month: Throughout the month of March, we as a state commemorate, celebrate, and highlight the achievements of women through Colorado's history. Colorado was instrumental in the formation of the 19th Amendment, and we were the second state in the nation to ratify this legislation. In Colorado, however, the move to ban gender discrimination in voting laws took place more than 25 years prior to the ratification of the 19th Amendment. In 1894, Colorado elected Clara Cressingham, Frances Klock, and Carrie Clyde Holly, America's first women to serve as elected officials in the state legislature. And today, the Colorado House of Representatives is one of only two legislative chambers in the country where women lawmakers hold a majority. To learn more, click here for The Center for Colorado Women's History.

STL News: Colorado Governor Signs Bills Into Law to Support Education

KPVI: Polis signs bipartisan bills targeting Colorado’s teacher shortage

Kiowa County Press: Polis signs bipartisan bills targeting Colorado's teacher shortage

The Fort Morgan Times: Bill allows retirees to address teacher shortage

KUNC: Thousands of Colorado foster youth could soon have access to free college tuition

Chalkbeat Colorado: Colorado legislature at the halfway mark: Where education bills stand

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

Please join us on Saturday, March 26 at 10:30 am for a virtual town hall meeting on this year's state budget. The Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, Representative Julie McCluskie, will join us to talk through this year's state budget proposal. For more information, including the Zoom link, please click HERE.

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 at jtidmore@jeffcoedc.org.

NEW! 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. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Local Government Committee.

NEW! SR22-003 Single Parent Day: Concerning recognition of Single Parent Day in Colorado. The resolution was introduced and will be heard on Monday, March 21, 2022.

SJR22-006 Police Week and Peace Officers' Memorial Day: Concerning declaring the week of March 11-16, 2022 as Police Week and in conncetion therewith declaring March 15, 2022 as Peace Officers' Memorial Day. The resolution passed unanimously out of the Senate.

SB22-008 Higher Education Support for Foster Youth: Concerning postsecondary education support for certain students who have been in out-of-home placement. The bill passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and will be heard on the Senate Floor on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

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

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 out of the Senate and now moves to the House.

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 rescheduled for the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 29 at 2 pm.

HB22-1162 Motor Vehicle Digital Number Plates: Concerning authorization to use digital number plates in lieu of metal number plates on a vehicle. The bill will be heard in 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 passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be heard on the Senate floor on Monday, March 21, 2022.

HB22-1250 Nonsubstantive Changes to Title 7 of Colorado Revised Statutes: Concerning nonsubstantive changes to title 7 of the Colorado revised statutes. The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be heard on the Senate floor on Monday, March 21, 2022.

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.

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

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

HB22-1099 Online Marketplaces and Third-party Sellers: Concerning mandatory disclosures of third-part 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.

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.