house bill
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Colorado legislature unanimously OKs expanding post-conviction DNA testing
In the 20 years since Colorado’s post-conviction DNA testing law was established, only three people have been exonerated for DNA-related reasons. Colorado lawmakers want to change that with House Bill 1034, an effort to expand access to post-conviction DNA testing. The state legislature unanimously approved the bill on Wednesday with the Senate’s final vote. Now, the…
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Colorado bill seeks to limit step therapy in serious mental illness treatment
When a doctor prescribes medication for a patient, insurance companies often require the patient to first try a series of alternative, less expensive drugs before they will cover the originally prescribed medication. Critics say that process – called “step therapy” – delays lifesaving care. Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet said when she was diagnosed with major depressive…
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House passes bill to reduce prison sentences for inmates pursuing higher education
An effort to incentivize Colorado prisoners to pursue higher education took a major step forward on Tuesday, receiving near-unanimous approval from the state House of Representatives. House Bill 1037 would deduct six months from an inmate’s prison sentence for earning a certificate while incarcerated, one year for an associate or bachelor’s degree, 18 months for a master’s degree…
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Colorado House OKs right to repair agricultural equipment
Colorado’s farmers may soon be able to access the resources needed to repair their own agricultural equipment after the state House of Representatives on Tuesday passed House Bill 1011. Modern agriculture equipment often runs on advanced computer software and, currently, some manufacturers prohibit access to these systems, or do not provide information on how they work. If approved…
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Colorado could soon require mediation before eviction for tenants on government financial assistance
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Samantha Hudson and her two daughters were living on just $400 a month from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Unable to keep up with her rent and facing threats of eviction, Hudson moved out of her home and onto the streets. Hudson said her family…
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Proposal advances for non-gendered bathrooms, baby changing stations in Colorado public buildings
An effort to add non-gendered bathrooms and baby changing stations to Colorado’s public buildings passed its first hurdle on Monday, receiving approval from a state House committee. If passed by the full legislature, House Bill 1057 would require newly constructed public buildings owned or operated by the government to provide non-gendered bathrooms on each floor…
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Colorado bill would ban businesses from prohibiting tipping
From McDonalds to Walmart, numerous businesses throughout the country prohibit their employees from accepting tips. But that practice could soon come to an end in Colorado. If passed by the state legislature, House Bill 1146 would ban employers from punishing employees who accept cash tips from patrons of the business. This would block employers from demoting, firing…
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Colorado House approves prescriptive authority for psychologists
An effort to certify psychologists to prescribe and administer psychotropic medications took a major step forward Thursday, receiving approval from the Colorado House of Representatives. Currently, if a psychologist providing therapy or counseling decides their patient needs medication such as antidepressants, they must refer the patient to a psychiatrist or medical doctor to get a…
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Colorado bill would reduce 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. Lawmakers want to change that with House Bill 1037. If passed into law, the bill would deduct one year from an inmate’s prison sentence for every associate, bachelor’s or…
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State House approves adding suicide hotlines to college student IDs
An effort to add suicide hotline numbers to student identification cards took a huge step forward Tuesday, receiving approval from the state House of Representatives. If passed by the state Senate, House Bill 1007 would require Colorado’s higher education institutions to print the phone and text numbers of statewide and national mental health crisis and suicide hotlines…