The
First Regular Session of the 72nd General Assembly will convene on Friday, January 4, 2019. We convene earlier than normal this year due to the inauguration of the Governor, which occurs Tuesday, January 8. The opening day ceremony will begin at 10 am.
With Dominick Moreno, Chair of the JBC
Committee assignments were announced earlier this month. I was honored to be named chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, along with my assignment on the Joint Budget Committee. Click
HERE to view the Democratic Senate Committee assignments, and click
HERE to view the Republican Committee assignments.
Just this weekend, two new Senators were chosen to replace outgoing Senators Matt Jones and John Kefalas. Representative Mike Foote from Lafayette, and Representative Joann Ginal from Ft. Collins, were chosen by their respective vacancy committees. A third senator who will replace Sen. Daniel Kagan, who is resigning, will not be named until after the new year.
My office has moved across the street, south of the Capitol building, onto the third floor of the Legislative Services Building, room 320. This is where all members of the JBC are located. My email and phone number remain the same.
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions or feedback, and perhaps I will see you in the gallery on Opening Day!
So, what does the JBC do?
Following the Election last month, I was named to the Joint Budget Committee. Since then, several people have congratulated me on my new position, followed by the question, "So, what does the JBC do?" Great question! Here is a very brief explanation:
Front: Sen. Dominick Moreno, Rep. Daneya Esgar
Back: Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, Sen. Dennis Hisey, Rep. Chris Hansen, Rep. Bob Rankin
The JBC is made up of six members--two from the majority party and one from the minority party of both the House and Senate. These six members are responsible for writing the annual appropriations bill (known as the Long Bill) for the operations of state government.
Colorado has an annual budget cycle (July through June) and we are required by our State Constitution to produce a balanced budget. The Executive Branch, Judicial Branch and Elected Officials must submit requests to JBC by November 1. Then, from
November through December, the JBC schedules hearings and briefings with state departments where we review their expenditures and learn more about their budget requests.
In January, we switch gears and the JBC considers supplemental requests through the month of February. Then, beginning in March, we transition to Figure Setting, which is when we make decisions on the level of funding for state government for the next fiscal year.
The budget (aka the "Long Bill") is then introduced for consideration by both houses in late March or early April. Legislators may offer amendments to the budget during the floor debate. After the budget is approved by the legislature, it heads to the Governor for his signature. The Governor has line item veto power in acting on the Long Bill.
Obviously, this is a very brief explanation of what we do. It is much more complex than what I'm able to relay here. But I'll get into more of the details as I go through the process. Since I'm new to the committee, it kind of feels as if I'm drinking from a firehose, but I am very pleased to be a member of the committee and I look forward to contributing to this process!
9:00 - 12:00 Hearing for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
1:30 - 3:00 Briefings for the Department of Personnel & Operating Common
3:00 - 5:00 Briefing for the Department of Natural Resources
Tuesday, December 18
10:00 - 12:00 Briefing for the Department of Law
1:30 - 5:00 Hearing for the Judicial Branch and Independent Agencies
Wednesday, December 19
9:00 - 12:00 Hearing for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
1:30 - 3:00 Briefing for Capital Construction
3:00 - 5:00 Briefing for the Department of Labor & Employment
Thursday, December 20
9:00 - 11:00 December Revenue Forecast with Legislative Council Staff & the Office of State Planning and Budgeting Staff 11:00 - 12:00 Briefing for the Department of Public Safety
1:30 - 5:00 Briefing for the Department of Corrections
Friday, December 21
9:00 - 3:00 Hearing for the Department of Human Services Lunch Break 12:00 - 1:30
3:00 - 5:00 Hearing for the Office of the Governor & Capital Construction Information Technology Projects
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 the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a member of the Joint Budget 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' event to take place at Kokopelli
Our first "What's Brewing at the Capitol" event of the new legislative session will take place this Friday, December 21, from 6 pm - 8 pm at the Kokopelli Beer Company, 8931 N Harlan St, Westminster, CO, 80031.This is a chance to meet with your State Senator in an informal setting and talk about your priorities for Colorado and the legislative session ahead.
At the Jefferson County Business Lobby legislative reception
Legislative preview with Rep-elect Brianna Titone
Please join Rep.-Elect Brianna Titone and myself for a preview of the legislative session on Saturday, January 12, from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. The gathering will take place at the Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling St, Arvada, CO 80005. (Please note the later start time than our usual town hall meeting series.)
Citizen lobbyists from Green Corps
Monthly town hall meeting will focus on RTD
If you are not planning to attend the Women's March in Denver, please think about joining Rep. Kraft-Tharp for our monthly town hall meeting on Saturday, January 19, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Standley Lake Library. The topic this month will be an update from RTD about the G-Line.
With Sam Mamet, Executive Director of Colorado Municipal League
Tracking your Senator
In November, I met with
Great Education Colorado to discuss school finance... I also met with the
Colorado Association of School Boards to discuss education... I met with
Mental Health Colorado... I attended the
Jefferson County Business Lobby legislative reception... I met with the
Colorado Association of School Executives... I met with the
Department of Local Affairs... I met with
LeadingAge Colorado, an association representing senior living and care providers... I had a student from Front Range Community College, Andrea Davis, shadow me at the legislature for a day... I met with Bruce Benson, the President of Colorado University... I attended the Arvada land development code meeting at City Hall... I met with Great Schools, Thriving Communities to discuss education funding... In December I met with officials from the Colorado Oil and Gas Association... I met with the Colorado Education Association... I attended Lagniappe in Olde Town Arvada... I participated in the Ralston House Colorado Gives Day event... I met with officials from Home Care In-Home Support Services... I attended the Jeffco School Board legislative breakfast... I met with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing... I attended Governor Hickenlooper's legislative holiday reception... I attended the SIPA Board meeting... I met with officials from the Denver Regional Council of Governments... I was interviewed by Sandra Fish with the Colorado Sun about campaign finance reform... I attended the Metro Mayors Caucus and Metro Area County Commissioners regional reception... I met with Dan Baer of the Department of Higher Education... I met with officials with the Commission on Family Medicine... I attended the Education Leadership Council meeting... I spoke on a panel for the Metro North Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast... I attended the School Finance Interim Committee meeting... I met with citizen lobbyists from COPIRG... I met with the executive director of the Jefferson Center for Mental Health... I met with officials from Core Civic... I met with the Department of Revenue... I attended the CLARRO Capitol Fellowship program fundraiser... I attended the Congressional District 7 legislative breakfast with Congressman Ed Perlmutter... I met with constituent David Bolin to discuss AOI Homecare... and I met with constituent Doug Nelson on behalf of Together Colorado.
With Governor Hickenlooper at his last legislative holiday reception
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
Donations to
Rachel For Colorado
Can you help us by making a contribution? While the campaign activity has concluded, we still need your help so that we may continue keeping in touch with constituents. Your contribution helps pay for events, direct mail, the website, newsletter, and other tools that make voters aware of what is happening down at the State Capitol. THANK YOU!
