Successful second session of the 71st General Assembly
At the stroke of midnight on Wednesday, the legislative session came to a close. With over 700 bills introduced, the most in over a decade, we ended the session with a filibuster over
Senate Bill 252.
It was one of the most unusual moves to occur in several years, and the last bill of the session died "on the calendar."
I introduced 26 bills and one resolution, of which 22 passed. Of the four I lost, two were taken up in the budget through amendments that I successfully passed (housing and teacher loan forgiveness), one bill (community schools) was incorporated into another bill, and I pulled the last bill on alcohol because it wasn't ready for prime time. All in all, I managed to accomplish most everything I set out to do. For more details, see below.
I think the biggest accomplishment of the session for me was my amendment to
Senate Bill 001 that resulted in an unanimous vote of the Senate. I continued to work on improving the legislation while it was debated in the House, and when the bill came back for concurrence
we passed the bill unanimously once more. Funding for transportation is one of the most pressing needs in our state and I'm glad we were able to make it a priority this year.
The biggest regret of the session for me was Senate Bill 200 on PERA. I am glad that we addressed the unfunded liability, because that needed to happen, but I was disappointed with several aspects of the final bill. I was also disappointed that we were not able to address the rampant sexual harassment issues in the Senate.
During the interim I will continue with the School Finance Interim Committee, CDOT Accountability and Efficiency Committee, Statewide Internet Portal Authority, and the Statutory Revision Committee. Thank you to the many constituents who attended an event, emailed me about a bill, visited me at the Capitol, and highlighted for me issues that needed to be addressed. It was my honor to serve you!
With outgoing Senator Andy Kerr
End of session bill update
As I note above, I passed 22 bills and one resolution this session. Here is a link to the
full list of bills in which I was a prime sponsor, and below are some highlights!
EDUCATION
SB18-069Enforcement Statewide Degree Transfer Agreements: If an institution of higher education admits as a junior a transfer student who holds an associates degree that is the subject of a statewide degree transfer agreement, the institution shall not require the student to complete any additional courses to fulfill general education requirements.
HB18-1070 Additional Public School Capital Construction Funding: Concerning an increase in the amount of financial assistance that can be provided for public school capital construction under the "Building Excellent Schools Today Act", and increasing the amount of retail marijuana excise tax revenue credited to the public school capital construction assistance fund.
HB18-1413Create School Safety Grant Program: Concerning the creation of a school safety grant program to provide training, develop best practices and protocols, conduct research, and upgrade technology and infrastructure used for training related to school safety incident response.
HB18-1193Extend The Advanced Placement Incentives Program: The bill extends the advanced placement incentives pilot program to 2021.
HEALTH CARE
SB18-082 Physician Noncompete Exemption For Rare Disorder: Concerning a physician's right to provide continuing care to patients with rare disorders despite a covenant not to compete.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
HB18-1018Human Trafficking Commercial Driver's License: Concerning a requirement that education to prevent human trafficking be included in the training to obtain a commercial driver's license.
TRANSPORTATION
HB18-1299Electronic Filing Title Registration Motor Vehicle:The bill creates a framework for the department of revenue to establish electronic processing for issuing certificates of title, filing or releasing liens, or registering vehicles.
The bill creates an expedited registration program that authorize private providers to register interstate commercial vehicles.
OTHER
SB18-067Auction Alcohol In Sealed Container Special Events: Concerning the ability of certain organizations conducting a special event to auction alcohol beverages in sealed containers for fundraising purposes under specified circumstances.
HB18-1364 Sunset Colorado Council Persons With Disabilities: Concerning the continuation of the Colorado advisory council for persons with disabilities.
STATUTORY REVISION
SB18-090 Terminology Referencing "Rights Of Married Women"
SB18-095 Outdated References To "Illegitimate" Children
SB18-098 Unconstitutional Language Interest On Damages
SB18-102 Odometer Reading Physical Vehicle Identification Number Verification
SB18-107 Repeal Nomination Vacancy Filling In Municipal Elections
HB18-1137Reporting Requirements Department Of Transportation
SJR18-007 National Speech & Debate Education Day:Concerning the designation of March 2, 2018, as National Speech and Debate Education Day in Colorado.
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She serves on the Senate Transportation Committee, Education Committee, and Statutory Revision Committee. She is also a member the CDOT Efficiency and Accountability Committee, School Finance Interim Committee, Transportation Legislative Review Committee, and the Statewide Internet Portal Authority. She also served as Senator for SD19 in 2014.
Outgoing Assistant Minority Leader Lucia Guzman
Legislative Town Hall
Please plan to join Representatives Tracy Kraft-Tharp, Lang Sias and myself for our monthly bipartisan and bicameral town hall meeting on the third Saturday of the month, May 19 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Standley Lake Library. We will be hosting journalists Jesse Paul of the Denver Post and Marianne Goodland of Colorado Politics to give a recap of the session
.
NARAL Gala with Lt. Governor
Donna Lynne and constituent
Tracking your Senator
On Monday, we recognized outgoing
Senators Andy Kerr and Michael Merrifield... We also hosted several athletes from the
Summer, Winter and Para-Olympics... On Tuesday, we recognized outgoing
Senators Irene Aguilar, Kevin Lundberg and Kent Lambert... We also had our final
Transportation Committee meeting... And I was interviewed by
Scott Harrison of Channel 13 Colorado Springs... We passed my last bill
HB18-1364 on the Council for Persons With Disabilities... On Wednesday, we hosted the
Denver Zoo at the Capitol... We also recognized outgoing
Senators Lucia Guzman and Kevin Grantham...
I was interviewed by Marc Stewart of Channel 7 News... I was also interviewed by Shaun Boyd of Channel 4 News... And we concluded the legislative session,
Sine Die, at midnight... On Thursday, I attended the
Jefferson Center for Mental Health 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration and presented a tribute to CEO
Harriet Hall who is retiring... On Friday, we had our final
Coffee With Constituents... I also had a
SIPA meeting... I also attended the
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce State of the State luncheon... On Saturday, I attended the
NARAL Gala and the
Denver Health Gala.
Outgoing Senator Michael Merrifield
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
Donations
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!
