Personal record week for bills passed out of Senate
While the House was busy debating several controversial bills well into the night last week, the Senate was business as usual. I had a particularly successful week, passing four bills in one day and a total of seven bills this week. Here is an update on the various bills I am carrying and where they are in the process:
With county sheriffs and peace officers and
Co-Sponsor Sen. John Cooke after passing SB106
Senate Bills on their way to the House:
These are the bills that passed this week in the Senate and are now on their way to the House:
SB19-092 Check Engine Light: This bipartisan bill got quite a bit of attention, including a mention in
Complete Colorado, the Westminster Window and the Arvada Press. The bill says that the check engine light can no longer be used as the sole criteria for failing an emissions test. I appreciate the many, many stories that I received from constituents (and event non-constituents) about this unfair practice. The bill passed the Senate 32-3.
SB19-102Community Schools: This bill adds the very successful Community Schools Model highlighted in ESSA and the ELC to our list of acceptable innovations when schools or districts apply for Innovation Status. It cost us nothing to add the model to the list and Colorado will now become eligible for over $20 billion in federal funding. Chalkbeat wrote a great story about the bill that you can find HERE. It passed the Senate 21-13-1.
SB19-106Peace Officer Retirement: This bipartisan bill, brought to us from Jefferson County, will allow County Sheriff Peace Officers to leave their generic, countywide pension plans in order to join the
Fire Police Pension Association. It passed unanimously out of Committee and on the Senate Floor 35-0.
House Bills on their way to the Senate:
There are a few bills of which I am the Senate Sponsor that have passed through the House and are on their way over to me in the Senate:
HB19-1007County Contribution Limits: This bill will add campaign contribution limits for County Offices, which are currently the only elected office in Colorado in which there are no limits. It passed out of the House on a partisan vote, so I will need to work hard to get bipartisan support in my chamber. Here is an
article from last year when a similar bill died. The bill has not been scheduled in the Senate yet.
HB19-1084Blight Notice to Property Owners:Currently, urban renewal authorities must give notice to property owners of a blight determination. The bill changes the notice from 30 days to within 7 days. We feel property owners have a right to know if a determination has been made as soon as possible. It will be heard in the Senate Local Government Comte on Tuesday, February 26 at 2 pm.
With member of the Jefferson County School Board
House Bills still in the House: There are a few bills of which I am the Senate sponsor that have not quite made it through the House yet, but I think are worthy of mentioning so you can keep an eye out for them:
HB19-1164Child Tax Credit: In 2013, the general assembly created a child tax credit against state income taxes for a resident individual. But the credit is only allowed after the United States congress enacts a version of the "Marketplace Fairness Act." The bill repeals the contingent start of the tax credit. HERE is an op-ed about the bill. It will be heard in House Finance on Monday, February 25 at 1:30 pm.
HB19-1055Public School Capital Construction Financial Assistance: This bill builds upon the work we did last year to get more of the marijuana excise tax money into the BEST program for schools. The bill increases the maximum total amount of BEST annual lease payments to $105 million this year and $110 million next year. HERE is an article from Westword about the bill. It passed through the House Education Committee and sent to House Finance Committee.
HB19-1002Leadership Professional Development For School Principals:
The bill creates a school leadership pilot program to provide professional development for public elementary, middle, and high school principals. The bill passed the House Education Committee and sent to House Appropriations.
HB19-1085Grants For Property Tax Rent And Heat: The bill
expands the property tax and rent assistance grant property-related expense assistance grants for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities and makes adjustments for inflation. The bill passed the House Finance Committee and sent to House Appropriations.
Statutory Revision Committee Bills: The following bills were all referred from the Statutory Revision Committee, of which I'm a member, and are generally bipartisan and noncontroversial. They clean up the statutes and eliminate redundant or obsolete language. Here are the bills I've already carried and passed:
And finally, two of my Senate bills that have already passed through the Senate will be heard in House Committees this week including:
SB19-039 on Interdistrict Transportation and
SB19-068 on Expanding Disclosure of Electioneering Communication. Follow the links to learn more about the dates and times they will be heard.
In addition to my regular bills, committee bills, House bills and late bills, there are a number of bills that I will be carrying as a member of the Joint Budget Committee. For example, we passed
18 supplemental bills to the budget last week.
If you go to our legislative website and enter my name in the sponsor field, you will find the complete list of bills. That list will continue to grow as we get ready to introduce the budget bill in March. As always, please let me know if you have any questions on these or any other bills.
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She also served as Senator for SD19 in 2014. Sen. Zenzinger is a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a member of the Statutory Revision Committee, a member of the Interim School Finance Committee, and a board member of the Statewide Internet Portal Authority.
'What's Brewing' at SomePlace Else Brewery
Our next 'What's Brewing at the Capitol' event will take place at
SomePlace Else Brewery, on Wednesday, February 20 at 6:30 pm. This nifty little brewery is located at 6425 W 52nd Ave #6, Arvada, CO 80002. The
brewery is in the middle of the small complex just east of Marshall Liquors, and the entrance is located on the east side of the building. They also have a whole room full of pinball machines--so bring your quarters! This is a casual event with no speaker or featured topic--just a chance to sit and talk with your Senator. We look forward to seeing you there.
Members of the Jefferson County Business Lobby at the Capitol
'Coffee With Constituents' rescheduled for 2/28
Due to the cancelation of our coffee event earlier in the month because of bad weather, we are rescheduling for Thursday, February 28 from 7 am - 8 am. We are trying out a new location as well: Morning Story Restaurant, 8025 Sheridan Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003 (where the Egg & I used to be located). They will have menus available to order breakfast (at your own expense) and the coffee will be on us!
DCTA Rally for teachers at the Capitol with former Sen. Andy Kerr
This week in JBC
Tuesday, February 19
2:00 Consideration of Potential Legislation
Wednesday, February 20
Upon Adjournment Consideration of Figure Setting Recommendations for the Departments of Natural Resources
1:30 Continuation of Figure Setting Recommendations as Needed
Thursday, February 21
Upon Adjournment Consideration of Figure Setting Recommendations for Capital Construction and the Department of Labor & Employment
1:30 Continuation of Figure Setting Recommendations as Needed
Meeting with folks from the CO Public Health Association
Tracking your Senator
On Monday, I met with the
Governor's Office of Information Technology... I presented
HB10-1060 in the Senate Judiciary Committee... I attended the
DCTA rally on the West Steps...
On Tuesday, I met with the
Jefferson County School Board members... I also attended the
Mile High United Way legislative reception... I chaired the
Committee of the Whole... I passed
SB19-092 on Third Reading, and I passed
SB19-102 and
SB19-017 on Second Reading... I presented
SB19-106 in the Senate Finance Committee... the JBC voted on the
Department of Public Safety Figure Setting... I attended the BJ4C Legislative Reception... I also attended the EMS Legislative Reception...
On Wednesday, I met with international students from
Study Colorado... I met with the
Jefferson County Business Lobby... I passed
SB19-102 and
SB19-017 on Third Reading... I attended a
Fiscal Policy Strategy Conversation with Governor Polis and Senior Advisor for Fiscal Policy, Cary Kennedy... I attended the
One Colorado Lobby Day... I met with
PACE providers... I met with a representative of
county health departments... I met with member of the
Arvadans for Progressive Action who were lobbying for affordable health care... I met with a representative of
Planned Parenthood... I met with representatives of
CEA... I attended a welcome reception for the new executive director of
CDHE Angie Paccione... I attended a dinner with the
State Board of Education...
On Thursday, I attended the
Colorado Public Health Association breakfast... I met with
Governor Polis' education team... I presented
HB19-1071 to the Senate Agriculture Committee... the JBC voted on Figure Setting for the
Department of Personnel...
On Friday, I was out of town in Atlanta for a family funeral...
On Saturday, we hosted
Sen. Bob Rankin and
Leslie Colwell of the Children's Campaign for our monthly town hall meeting.
International student from Saudi Arabia studying communication and marketing at UCD
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
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Rachel For Colorado
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