committee hearing
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Colorado Democrats advance proposal seeking to curb costs of utility bills
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Months after the Colorado legislature began investigating the state’s skyrocketing energy bills, Democrats advanced a proposal they say will help address the issue. Senate Bill 291 seeks to lower costs of utility bills and reduce future volatility by making several changes to the regulation of Colorado’s investor-owned electricity and natural gas providers, such as Xcel Energy, including…
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Snyder bill seeks to incentivize wildfire-resilient homes | FOCUS ON THE SPRINGS
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Marc Snyder was mayor of Manitou Springs when the Waldo Canyon fire devastated the city, killing two people, destroying 346 homes and becoming the most destructive wildfire in state history at the time. Since the 2012 fire, Colorado wildfires have only become more common and more catastrophic. In the last three years, the state has endured…
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Bill advances to lower threshold for workplace harassment in Colorado
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When a cook at Marie Evenson’s job repeatedly grabbed her around the waist, she reported him to a manager. One week later, she was fired for not “fitting in” to the workplace environment. Evenson met with a lawyer to discuss her legal options, but was told she didn’t have a case. Evenson said her lawyer claimed…
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Colorado advances proposal raising minimum age to criminally charge kids to 13
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Colorado could soon stop charging children under 13 with most crimes, if a bill passed by a House committee becomes law. Currently, the minimum age for criminal prosecution in Colorado is 10. House Bill 1249 would raise the age to 13, except when a child is suspected of committing homicide. This would remove children aged 10, 11 and 12…
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Proposal to cap candidate contributions in Colorado’s local elections advances
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Colorado could soon establish a statewide limit on donations made to candidates in local elections, if a new bill is passed into law. House Bill 1245 would cap donations from individuals at $250 and donations from small-donor committees at $2,500 in municipal elections, among other requirements. The bill cleared its first vote Monday in the…
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Colorado proposes $1,000 tax credit for teachers to buy classroom supplies
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More than 90% of teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies, according to the National Education Association. In Colorado, lawmakers want to put an end to that practice. If passed into law, House Bill 1208 would reimburse full-time, licensed public school teachers $1,000 each year to pay for school supplies, with a new refundable state income…
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Bradfield’s bleed control kits, Pugliese’s workforce support clear committee | FOCUS ON THE SPRINGS
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The House Education Committee unanimously advanced two bills this week sponsored by Colorado Springs Reps. Mary Bradfield and Rose Pugliese. Bradfield’s House Bill 1213 would provide free bleed control kits and training materials to K-12 schools that request them. Bleed control kits are first aid kits designed to control serious bleeding from an injury, including a tourniquet,…
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Colorado advances eating disorder prevention, intervention bills: ‘It’s time we take a stand’
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In Colorado and nationwide, around one in 10 people will be diagnosed with an eating disorder in their lifetime. State lawmakers are trying to address that with a new pair of bills. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee advanced Senate Bill 14 and Senate Bill 176 on Thursday. If signed into law, SB 14 would create a statewide…
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Colorado lawmakers target indecent exposure in front of children
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In January 2020, two Larimer County sisters ages 14 and 16 were sitting in a parking lot eating a snack after school when a strange man drove up to them. The man raised his pelvis to his window and exposed his genitals to the girls, masturbating in front of them. The man was immediately apprehended…
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Democrats advance protections for out-of-state abortion patients, restrictions on crisis pregnancy centers
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Two bills seeking to bolster abortion rights in Colorado cleared their first hurdle Wednesday night, receiving approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee. If passed by the full legislature, the bills would shield abortion patients and providers from interstate investigations, and prohibit “deceptive” advertising from crisis pregnancy centers, deemed “anti-abortion clinics” by critics. Critics of the…
