Once again, we find ourselves on the cusp of a busy legislative session. This time, we’re hot off the heels of a special legislative session where we addressed property tax increases and the rising cost of living in Colorado. Over the past few years – and indeed the past few weeks – we’ve made real progress to address the rising cost of living, support our schools and improve public safety. And yet, we must do more work to position Colorado well for the future and build a stronger, safer and healthier Colorado for all. As we get closer to the start of the 2024 legislative session, Colorado Democrats’ packed agenda is coming into focus.

Dramatic property tax increases have hit Coloradans hard, especially seniors and folks living on fixed incomes. Building directly on our previous work, we will continue to look at long-term property tax solutions to ensure everyone can live in a Colorado they can afford. Over the next four months, a bipartisan task force will identify solutions and make recommendations on delivering relief without shortchanging essential local services like schools and fire districts. As we develop responsible solutions, we’ll also work on one of our other most pressing challenges and one directly tied to property taxes – housing.

Also read: State Senate GOPers will fight for relief for Coloradans in 2024 | OPINION

Population growth and a huge demand for housing has outpaced new construction, making it incredibly difficult for Coloradans to become first-time homeowners and making our state unaffordable for renters. It’s time we catch up. This year, we’ll continue partnering with local communities across the state to increase housing near public transit and bring down housing prices. Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and we’ll work hard to ensure that’s available to every Coloradan.

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Gov. Jared Polis has set a goal of making Colorado one of the top-10 safest states in the country. A safe Colorado means many different things, and achieving this shared goal requires a comprehensive solution. This session, we’ll work to improve our criminal justice system, reduce recidivism and ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to keep folks safe and communities secure. Additionally, we’ll introduce legislation to make our roads safer, improve support for victims of crimes, and further address the epidemic of gun violence in our communities.

Another of our main priorities will be to once again support schools and teachers. This year, we have an opportunity to fully fund our schools for the first time in 14 years. Thanks to several years of responsible budgeting by our Joint Budget Committee, we are positioned to finally eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor. Additionally, we will address our teacher workforce shortage, increase behavioral health care in schools and improve higher education affordability so every Coloradan who wants to can access a high-quality post-secondary education.

Colorado has long been a leader when it comes to innovation for the clean-energy economy and addressing environmental issues. As the effects of climate change increasingly impact our weather, air quality and public safety, it’s clear we must keep up the pressure to ensure we have a sustainable Colorado for generations to come. There are areas where we continue to lead the nation, but we also need to admit there are areas where we are falling short and are no longer the leader of the pack. We need to better ensure our electricity system is ready to fully accommodate the next generation of renewable energy technologies coming online – deeper penetrations of solar energy, widespread adoption of batteries, and electric vehicles quickly taking over market share. Additionally, we need to ensure the transition to a renewable energy economy doesn’t leave anyone behind or come at the expense of higher utility bills. After all, renewable energy is arguably cheaper than fossil fuels in many circumstances, and consumers should feel the full benefit of those savings.

Lastly, I’m excited for Colorado to take the next step in building out a truly 21st century transportation system that meets our state and region’s economic, climate and equity goals. The passage of SB21-260 finally put us on a more sustainable path to finally fund our state’s transportation backlog, but we can dream bigger. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Colorado has the opportunity to turn our dreams of a truly statewide rail system into reality. We must act to ensure Colorado gets its fair share of the federal infrastructure funds and we deliver the legacy of a modern, clean and safe transportation system for generations to come.

We have our work cut out for us. The challenges ahead will require us to work efficiently, to work intentionally, but most importantly, they’ll require us to work together. As essential as it is to accomplish our goals and face Colorado’s toughest issues, we must do so by disagreeing productively. When we talk, listen and work with colleagues and viewpoints that we disagree with, we will always end up with better policy. I can’t wait to hit the ground running this January and spend my final year in the legislature advancing transformational progress for a better Colorado for us all.

Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat, is the president of the Colorado Senate.