Issues and legislation
Addressing Climate Change
It is urgent that we do all that we can to mitigate the effects of climate change and work to lower global warming emissions. There is so much we can do on a state level and do not have to wait for the slow gears of the federal government to act. I have in my first term and will continue the work at the state legislature to hold industries accountable for releasing dangerous compounds into our air and water. We must keep driving these emissions down until we are no longer part of the problem but instead can be a model for solution.
Lowering Healthcare Costs
As we continue to push for a health care system that covers everyone across our nation in a way that is affordable and sustainable, we here in Colorado can move to make pharmaceutical pricing more fair, to increase transparency in hospital and provider costs, and bring easier access to health care to more Coloradans. I am proud to be part of several pieces of legislation in my first term that will specifically lower the cost of prescriptions and lower premiums.
Education
Colorado has one of the top economies in the nation yet our education system still ranks toward the bottom of funding among states. We must keep working on ways to find the funding that is desperately needed for our students, our teachers and our schools. The education of our kids is our greatest investment in the future. I am glad that we were able to fund our state’s classrooms with additional needed funding this next year but we must keep up the work to keep funding at sustainable levels for all kids and educators across the state.
Cost of Living
The forces on inflation have been worldwide. Supply chain issues triggered by the pandemic, increases in demand and the war in Ukraine have disrupted world markets. At the state level we can help relieve the financial pressures on families by lowering childcare costs with grants and providing universal free pre-kindergarten. We can send TABOR refunds out much earlier than expected. We can lower health care costs. We can ease bottlenecks in the food supply by opening more processing facilities. The faster we can get products to market, the faster prices come down. We can provide tax relief to families and businesses. We passed a $1 billion tax relief plan for Coloradans that will relieve the squeeze on wallets to allow time for market prices to adjust down. We can and did do all these things and I will continue to support policies to help families with the everyday cost of living.
Public Saftey
We must take a holistic look at the factors that lead to crime, homelessness, substance use disorder and access to mental health services. I support community based multidisciplinary approaches to crime prevention and crisis intervention strategies. Funding our co-responder programs, such as here in Longmont - C.O.R.E - Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement, where a specially trained police officer, a behavioral health clinician and a paramedic respond to 911 calls that indicate a mental health crisis. People in crisis need help. We are fortunate to have the Longmont Community Justice Partnership program which makes a positive difference in the justice system for both offenders and victims making a positive impact on reducing recidivism. Addressing crime at its core causes better serves our community members and is more successful in the long term.
Gun Safety
Americans support common sense legislation to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to our kids and families. It is critical to implement federally mandated universal background checks for all gun sales to keep guns out of the hands of convicted criminals and gun traffickers. The presence of a gun dangerously compounds the risk of impulsive acts of violence like spousal abuse or suicide, which is why it is important to implement waiting periods, or “cooling off” laws, which have been proven to decrease gun related violence by creating an important window of time for gun purchasers to reconsider their intentions which can lead to a change of heart and a life saved. Raising the age for purchasing a firearm should also be considered to save lives. I proudly and readily supported the laws we passed in my first year to close the boyfriend loophole, mandate safe storage of firearms, require reporting of lost or stolen firearms and created a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention. There is more work to be done to save more lives.
LGBTQ Rights
Human rights apply to all people. As a society we must stay vigilant and push to ensure equal treatment under the law for all citizens. As the mother of a trans child I know firsthand that we are not where we need to be to make sure that all are indeed treated equally and that access to needed care is equitable.
Public Transportation
In the 21st Century higher priority must be placed on expanding our public transportation options - light rail, bus routes, bike and car sharing. Getting more people to use more fuel efficient forms of travel makes sense for our climate, our infrastructure, our wallets and our quality of life.
Reproductive rights
No government should come between a woman and her doctor. Just as no government should come between a man and his doctor. Reproductive health care decisions are personal, private and protected under the law. Our voices need to stay loud and clear on this issue. I vow to stand strong on this.
Housing
Everyone needs and deserves a place to call home. We can work on policies at the state level to increase affordable rental and ownership housing. Decision makers in government must carefully balance the growth in our state and the ability to afford to live where we work. We have taken steps these past two legislative sessions to provide funding for local grant programs for affordable revolving loans, measures to allow mobile home park residents to purchase the property they live on and incentivize innovation in affordable, attainable housing options for Coloradans. Work must continue to give people the opportunity to live where they work and to hopefully invest in their own home.
Addressing Systemic Racism and inequities
We have work to do to examine and root out the myriad of ways that we have racist policies and inequities built into the fabric of our nation. As James Baldwin said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” Our social structure, criminal justice system, housing and jobs access, healthcare system, education system, and access to building wealth are just some of the areas where there continues to be a need for serious reforms. I will remember to bring this lens with me when exploring policies to help Colorado families. We must do better. We must listen to our affected neighbors.
Support for Unions
Our labor unions in Colorado need our support. Electrical workers, letter carriers, teachers, pipefitters, service workers, postal workers, construction workers and so many more of our neighbors, depend on their union memberships to ensure that their wages are fair, that their retirement benefits are secure, and that they have health care that they can depend on. Unions are the backbone of the growth of our country and to this day offer people of all ages an excellent opportunity to learn a trade through apprenticeship programs and have a great career earning a secure living. I will make sure union interests are taken into consideration at the state capital.
Protecting Animal Health and Ecosystems
As a life-long advocate for animal health and welfare I will continue to speak up to defend the animal world. We must protect wildlife, insects and their habitats. We have seen the effects of a global pandemic and with the likelihood that another pandemic will be presented to us in the near future, this is an area that will take forward thinking and planning with a focus on preserving the delicate balance among all inhabitants of planet earth.
Legislation
Legislation
Veterinary Technician Scope of Practice
HB24-1047
Concerning the scope of practice for veterinary technicians, and, in connection therewith, directing the state board of veterinary medicine to promulgate rules regarding the supervision of and the delegation of certain tasks to veterinary technicians, veterinary technician specialists, or other personnel by a licensed veterinarian and establishing a veterinary technician specialist designation.
Providing Veterinary Services Through Telehealth
HB24-1048
The bill allows a licensed veterinarian who has established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship to use telehealth to provide veterinary services to clients and patients in Colorado with the consent of the client. A licensed veterinarian may also refer a patient to a veterinary specialist, who may provide veterinary services via telemedicine under the referring veterinarian's veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
Analysis of Universal Health-Care Payment System
HB24-1075
Concerning consideration of a statewide universal health-care payment system, and, in connection therewith, creating an advisory task force for the purpose of advising the Colorado school of public health in conducting an analysis of draft model legislation concerning a statewide universal health-care payment system.
Professional Endorsement Special Education Teaching
HB24-1087
Under current law, a person seeking a teaching endorsement in special education or early childhood special education must complete an approved program and a student teaching practicum through an institution of higher education and pass one or more appropriate content-based exams. The bill requires the department of education to issue an endorsement. To receive the endorsement, the educator must hold a valid teaching license other than an initial license
Invertebrates & Rare Plants Parks & Wildlife Commission
HB24-1117
The bill adds rare plants and invertebrates to the species that may be studied and conserved under the current "Nongame, Endangered, or Threatened Species Conservation Act", which is renamed the "Nongame, Endangered, or Threatened Wildlife and Rare Plant Conservation Act". The department of natural resources is required to include, in the department's SMART Act hearing, information about the investigations conducted under the bill. The general assembly is required to make a general fund appropriation to study invertebrates.
Ground Ambulance Service Rates & BillinG
HB24-1218
For ground ambulance services, the bill: Allows a political subdivision, or an ambulance service providing ambulance services on behalf of the political subdivision, to submit to the division of insurance the established rates for the ambulance services; Establishes reimbursement rates for ambulance services that are out-of-network; and Prohibits an out-of-network ambulance service from billing a covered person any outstanding balance for a covered service not paid for by a carrier, except for any coinsurance, deductible, or copayment amount required to be paid by the covered person.
State Income Tax Credit for Veterinary Professional
HB24-1271
For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2026, but before January 1, 2033, the bill creates a new refundable state income tax credit for a qualified licensed veterinarian and a registered veterinary technician working full-time in an underserved area or under-resourced area and for a buyer of a veterinary practice in an underserved area. The department of agriculture is required to certify tax credits for eligible veterinary professionals and buyers of a veterinary practice in an underserved area in an amount not to exceed, in aggregate, $2 million in any tax year.
Energy & Carbon Management Regulation
HB24-1346
Concerning energy and carbon management regulation in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, broadening the energy and carbon management commission's regulatory authority to include regulation of direct air capture facilities and geologic storage operations.
Regulate Dredge & Fill Activities in State Waters
HB24-1379
The bill requires the water quality control commission in the department of public health and environment to promulgate rules by May 31, 2025, to implement a state dredge and fill discharge authorization program and requires the division of administration in the department to administer and enforce authorizations for activities that will result in the discharge of dredged or fill material into state waters. The rules must focus on avoidance of, minimization of, and compensation for the impacts of dredge and fill activity, include application requirements, and be at least as protective as the guidelines developed pursuant to section 404 (b)(1) of the federal "Clean Water Act".
Prohibit Landscaping Practices for Water Conservation
SB24-005
On and after January 1, 2026, the bill prohibits local governments from allowing the installation, planting, or placement of nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species on commercial, institutional, or industrial property, common interest community property, or a street right-of-way, parking lot, median, or transportation corridor. The bill also prohibits the department of personnel from allowing the installation, planting, or placement of nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species as part of a project for the construction or renovation of a state facility, which project commences on or after January 1, 2025.
Study Green Infrastructure for Water Quality Management
SB24-037
The bill requires the division of administration in the department of public health and environment, in collaboration with the university of Colorado's Mortenson center in global engineering and resilience and the Colorado water institute located within Colorado state university, to: Conduct a feasibility study of the use of green infrastructure, which refers to nature-based, watershed-scale water quality management solutions that are an alternative to traditional gray infrastructure, which refers to centralized water treatment facilities, and the use of green financing mechanisms for water quality management and submit a report and present to the water resources and agriculture review committee on the progress of the feasibility study and any pilot projects and on any legislative and administrative recommendations to promote the use of green infrastructure and green financing mechanisms for water quality management in the state.
Authorize Conservancy District Water Management
SB24-038
Concerning conservancy districts, and, in connection therewith, authorizing a conservancy district to participate in a plan for augmentation; contract with water users outside the conservancy district for the provision of services; exercise certain powers regarding the control, delivery, use, and distribution of water; establish a water activity enterprise; and sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the use of water or capacity in works by contract.
Prescription Drug Manufacturer Requirements
SB24-077
The bill requires each manufacturer of a prescription drug that is available for purchase in this state to register with and pay a fee to the division of insurance. The bill requires a manufacturer to offer a copayment assistance program to a covered person, either for the entire plan year or for the calendar year, whichever the deductible and out-of-pocket calculation applies to, for as long as the covered person is enrolled in the health benefit plan. A manufacturer that violates the requirements commits an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance.
Regenerative Agriculture Tax Credit
SB24-152
The bill creates a tax incentive program to be administered by the department of agriculture and the department of revenue to encourage local food and beverage retailers to purchase agricultural commodities from local producers practicing regenerative agriculture. For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2024, but before January 1, 2029, qualifying retailers that purchase produce and animal products from qualifying local producers are allowed an income tax credit in an amount equal to 25% of the total amount paid for all such purchases by the qualifying retailer in the income tax year in accordance with the requirements and limitations set forth in section 2 of the bill. Section 3 makes a conforming amendment to allow the exchange between the department of agriculture and the department of revenue of otherwise confidential tax information pertinent to an income tax credit claim allowed pursuant to section 2.