house bill
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Proposal to cap candidate contributions in Colorado’s local elections advances
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
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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East High School student testifies on gun bills hours after school shooting
Alexander Cisneros spent Wednesday morning in lockdown after one of his classmates at East High School allegedly shot two faculty members. Seven hours later, he spent the evening advocating for gun safety in front of the Colorado legislature. Just before 10 a.m., a 17-year-old student shot and wounded two deans at East High School in Denver during…
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Colorado lawmakers target indecent exposure in front of children
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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Colorado lawmakers again try to raise minimum age to criminally charge kids to 13
A bill introduced in the state House Monday seeks to raise the minimum age for criminal prosecution from 10 to 13 years old – reigniting a failed legislative effort from last year. If passed into law, House Bill 1249 would remove children aged 10, 11 and 12 from the juvenile court’s jurisdiction and increase the…
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Colorado bill would let injured child labor victims sue employers
Last month, a cleaning company was exposed for illegally employing over 100 children as young as 13 in dangerous jobs at meatpacking plants in eight states across the country – including at JBS Foods in Greeley, Colorado. Now, Colorado Democrats want to strengthen the state’s child labor protections with House Bill 1196. State law prohibits companies from…
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Proposal advances for mental health screenings in Colorado middle, high schools
Colorado school districts could soon offer mental health screenings to sixth through 12th graders – if a bill passed by the state House is enacted. House Bill 1003 would create a mental health assessment program for Colorado middle and high school students, allowing schools to opt-in to identify mental health concerns and refer students to support programs.…
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Colorado Springs lawmakers clash over banning corporal punishment in schools | FOCUS ON THE SPRINGS
Rep. Regina English’s bill to prohibit corporal punishment in schools and child care centers cleared the House this week – but not before she battled it out with fellow lawmakers from the Colorado Springs delegation. If passed into law, House Bill 1191 would ban willfully causing physical pain to a child as punishment by employees…
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Colorado colleges to add suicide hotlines to student IDs
In Colorado, suicide is the leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults. State lawmakers are trying to help address that with one small change. Beginning in August 2023, House Bill 1007 requires Colorado’s higher education institutions to print the phone and text numbers of statewide and national mental health crisis and suicide hotlines on the…
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Colorado legislature OKs reducing prison sentences for inmates pursuing higher education
Colorado has among the worst recidivism rates in the country, with over 50% of people released from prison ending up back behind bars within three years. On Friday, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill supporters say would help change that. If signed into law, House Bill 1037 would reduce prison sentences for non-violent offenders who complete higher education while incarcerated.…