Last week the state budget, known as the Long Bill, was introduced, debated, amended, and passed through the Colorado House. The budget (HB22-1329) will now head over to the Senate to repeat the same process. There were nearly 60 amendments proposed in the House, but only a dozen were successful. Here is a quick recap of what's in this year's budget proposal.

As one of six members of the Joint Budget Committee who crafted the budget, I am responsible for shepherding the bill through the process in the Senate. The bill will be introduced on Monday and assigned to Senate Appropriations on Tuesday. We will have a public caucus to review the budget on Wednesday, and then we will debate the bill the rest of the day. If all goes well we will wrap-up debate on Thursday.

In addition to the Long Bill, there are several companion bills that also make up the budget package. I am the prime sponsor of several of those bills including:

While the House debated the budget last week, the Senate finally moved forward with several key bills that were "waiting" in the Appropriations Committee. Among those bills were two of my education priorities: SB22-008 Higher Education Support For Foster Youth and SB22-127 Special Education Funding. In addition, I also presented and passed two more important education bills: HB22-1202 At-risk Student Measure for School Finance and HB22-1255 Improve Higher Education for Students With a Disability.

After successfully passing my two bills, the Senate Education Committee took up HB22-1395 on the Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program. The bill implements the new department of early childhood that was approved last year, as well as set in motion a universal preschool program. There was disagreement on whether the new agency should be headed up solely by an Executive Director or whether it should be managed by a Governing Board alongside an ED. That discussion took many hours before the bill successfully passed. The bill will now head to the Senate Appropriations Committee. To learn more, click HERE.

In addition to the education bills mentioned above, I successfully passed four other bills last week, including: SB22-146 Middle Income Access Program Expansion for Affordable Housing, HB22-1093 Updates To Bingo and Raffles Law, HB22-1162 Motor Vehicle Digital Number Plates, and a Statutory Revision Committee bill, SB22-162 Administration Organization Act Modernization.

Coming up this week, in addition to the budget, I am scheduled to present SB22-159 on Revolving Loan Fund Invest Affordable Housing. This bill will create a revolving loan fund within the division of housing in the department of local affairs to make investments in transformational affordable housing. I also have four other bills making their way to committee: SB22-164 Correction Property Tax Disclosure Information Metropolitan District, SB22-192 Opportunities for Credential Attainment, HB22-1031 Consumer Right to Repair Powered Wheelchairs, and HB22-1294 Special Education Services in Charter Schools. It should be a very productive week!

Student success and workforce revitalization bills debut: After several months of participating in what was known as the 1330 Task Force, several new bills addressing innovation in higher education debuted last Tuesday. Governor Polis hosted a press conference to outline the package of bills recommended by the Task Force. There are three bills aimed at improving access to higher education and to connect education to in-demand jobs. The three bills are: HB22-1350 Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program, HB22-1349 Postsecondary Student Success Data System, and SB22-192 Opportunities for Credential Attainment. I will be sponsoring the last bill, which will create stackable credential pathways for students. For more information, click HERE.

Bill to provide higher education support for foster youth advances: Senate Bill 22-008 Higher Education Support For Foster Youth, was one of several priority bills generated by student members of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC). The bill provides postsecondary education support for students with experience in foster care. In Colorado, 13.4% of foster youth attempt postsecondary education, 5% obtain a vocational certificate, and 3% receive an associate or bachelor's degree. Students coming out of foster care need greater financial and academic support if they are to successfully transition into adulthood. The bill passed through the Senate and is now being debated in the House. For more information, click HERE.

Special education funding bill brings state closer to 2006 promise: After weeks of waiting, the bill to increase Special Education funding finally made its way to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 22-127 increases funding for special education by $80 million. The bill bumps up the state allocation for all special education students (known as Tier A) from $1250 to $1750. Funding for students with more complex needs (known as Tier B) will increase from $3,100 to $4,700 per student. On average, it costs $10,000 to educate a special needs student, which means districts are shouldering over $740 million in unreimbursed costs each year. We will not reach full funding with this bill, but we are making the largest investment in special education funding to date. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on Second Reading in the Senate. For more information, click HERE.

Package of bills to address air quality unveiled: We unveiled a package of bills this week that will improve air quality across Colorado. Poor air quality impacts the health and well-being of Coloradans everywhere. That's why this week, we announced a slate of bills aimed at improving air quality across our state. This package of bills will make a record investment toward improving air quality, such as: encourage industrial emissions reductions, help school districts transition to zero-emission school buses, fund free transit during ozone season, improve air monitoring, reducing building energy use, high-efficiency electric appliances, and supporting near zero energy construction. If we want to build a healthier Colorado, we need to cut down on air pollution and reduce emissions. To learn more about the air quality package of bills, click HERE.

County officials announce series of budget forums: As part of their community outreach on the budget, the Board of County Commissioners will be hosting several Community Budget Forums in April and May. These meetings will be in-person 90-minute sessions where attendees can get more information on county budget issues. This will be a great way to learn more about the issues and provide your feedback and input. To learn more and to register for the forums, click HERE.

Colorado Politics: Colorado Senate OKs extending public health whistleblower protections after pandemic

Colorado Newsline: Gov. Polis, state lawmakers unveil Colorado workforce development legislation as part of COVID-19 recovery

Colorado Public Radio: 6 quick highlights from Colorado’s $36 billion spending plan — the largest ever

The Denver Post: 6 things to know about Colorado’s record $36 billion state budget

Denver Business Journal: Colorado leaders unveil plan to train more state residents for in-demand jobs

The Colorado Sun: Colorado lawmakers debate $36 billion state budget

The Colorado Sun: Student teachers are rarely paid. Colorado lawmakers, school leaders want to ensure they're compensated

Chalkbeat Colorado: Better jobs in less time: Colorado plan aims to connect higher ed, workforce

Chalkbeat Colorado: $36.4 billion Colorado budget boosts K-12, higher ed spending

The Colorado Sun: Colorado charter schools seek more authority over special education

Chalkbeat Colorado: Colorado charter schools seek more authority over special education

For a full list of this week's press and videos visit rachelforcolorado.com/news.

The Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation has created a new series of casual conversations with local elected representatives to discuss the latest news and information happening at the State Capitol. I will be their guest speaker for the inaugural event on Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30 am at Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters, 8850 Westminster Blvd, Westminster. For more information, contact Jansen Tidmore at jtidmore@jeffcoedc.org.

Please join Representatives Titone, Daugherty, and me for a legislative town hall meeting on climate change policies making their way through the legislature, including: air quality, water, fire mitigation, and more! Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 16 at 10:30 am. For more details, click HERE.

NEW! SB22-192 Opportunities for Credential Attainment: Concerning the creation of opportunities for credential attainment, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

NEW! HB22-1031 Consumer Right to Repair Powered Wheelchairs: Concerning a requirement that a powered wheelchair manufacturer facilitate the repair of its powered wheelchairs by providing certain other person with the resources needed to repair the manufacturer's powered wheelchairs. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee.

NEW! HB22-1294 Special Education Services in Charter Schools: Concerning additional pathways to provide special education services to children with disabilities in charter schools. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

NEW! HB22-1331 Supplemental Funding for Facility Schools: Concerning supplemental funding for facility schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

NEW! HB22-1333 Increase Minimum Wage for Nursing Home Workers: Concerning an increase in the minimum wage for nursing facility employees, and, in connection therewith making an appropriation. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

NEW! HB22-1334 Food Distribution Program Administrative Fee: Concerning the collection of an administrative fee from an agency that receives commodities through a food distribution program. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

NEW! HB22-1336 Streamline Processing of Judicial Department Collections: Concerning the streamlining of the processing of certain money collected by the judicial department. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

NEW! HB22-1339 Merge Department of Revenue Division of Motor Vehicles Cash Funds: Concerning the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account of the highway users tax fund, and, in connection therewith, merging the licensing services cash fund into the account and requiring account investment earnings to be credited to the account. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

NEW! HB22-1340 Capital-related Transfers of Money: Concerning capital-related transfers of money. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

NEW! HB22-1342 Marijuana Tax Cash Fund: Concerning measures to ensure that the marijuana tax cash fund is in balance. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB22-146 Middle Income Access Program Expansion: Concerning the expansion of the Colorado housing and finance authority's middle income access program. The bill passed unanimously and referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB22-159 Revolving Loan Fund Invest Affordable Housing: Concerning the creation of a revolving loan fund within the division of housing in the department of local affairs to make investments in transformational affordable housing. The bill will be heard in the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday, April 5 at 2:00 pm.

SB22-162 Administration Organization Act Modernization: Concerning the modernization of the terminology used in the Colorado Revised Statutes relating to the organization of Colorado state governmental agencies without altering the status of the powers assigned to those agencies pursuant to the "Administrative Organization Act of 1968". The bill passed unanimously out of the State Affairs Committee and will be heard in the Senate on Tuesday, April 5.

SB22-164 Correction Property Tax Disclosure Information Metropolitan District: Concerning the substitution of the word "treasurer's" in place of the word "assessor's" in a statutory provision requiring disclosure of property tax information for purchasers of newly constructed residences within the boundaries of a metropolitan district. The bill will be heard in the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 5 at 2:00 pm.

HB22-1093 Updates To Bingo And Raffles Law: Concerning the conduct of charitable gaming activity, and, in connection therewith, modernizing the "Bingo and Raffles Law" to accommodate the use of improved electronic aids and devices in the conduct of games of chance and making an appropriation. The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate State Affairs Committee and will be heard in the Senate this week.

HB22-1162 Motor Vehicle Digital Number Plates: Concerning authorization to use digital number plates in lieu of metal number plates on a vehicle. The bill passed out of the Transportation Committee and will be heard on 3rd Reading in the Senate on Monday, April 4.

HB22-1202 At-risk Student Measure for School Finance: Concerning the creation of a new measure in the public school funding formula for identifying at-risk students, and, in connection therewith, creating a working group in the department of education to implement the new measure in a future budget year. The bill passed unanimously and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

HB22-1255 Improve Higher Education for Students With a Disability: Concerning measures to improve postsecondary education outcomes for students with a disability. The bill passed unanimously and will be heard in the Senate on Tuesday, April 5.

The red font indicates a new bill or a change in status. For a full list of active bills, visit rachelforcolorado.com/capitol or the Colorado General Assembly's website.

SB22-017 Fluid Milk Products Not Divisible Load: Concerning the determination that a load of fluid milk products hauled by a vehicle is not a divisible load under the vehicle weight limits permitted by law.

SB22-054 Recommend Community School for Turnaround Plan: Concerning the addition of a recommendation that a district public school be converted to a community school if the district public school fails to make substantial progress under its turnaround plan.

SB22-064 Neighborhood Youth Organizations: Concerning requirements for neighborhood youth organizations that provide services designed for the development of youth.

SB22-121 Tuition Revenue Pledged by Institution Higher Education: Concerning increasing the amount of tuition revenues pledged by an institution of higher education.

SB22-137 Transition Back to Standard K-12 Accountability: Concerning measures related to the transitional return to standard education.

SB22-142 Repeal Municipal Bond Supervision Advisory Board: Concerning the repeal of the municipal bond supervision advisory board.

HB22-1057 Public Employees' Retirement Association Employment After Teacher Retirement: Concerning public employees' retirement association employment after retirement limitations.

HB22-1099 Online Marketplaces and Third-party Sellers: Concerning mandatory disclosures of third-part sellers selling through online marketplace.

HB22-1101 Public Employees’ Retirement Association Service Retiree Employment in Rural Schools: Concerning the expansion of a program that allows a public employees’ retirement association service retiree to work full-time without any reduction in the service retiree’s retirement for benefits for a rural school district that has a critical shortage of qualified individuals with specific experience, skills, or qualifications that the service retiree has.

HB22-1245 Foster Youth in Transition Program Clarifications: Concerning clarifications related to the foster youth in transition program.

HB22-1250 Nonsubstantive Changes to Title 7 of Colorado Revised Statutes: Concerning nonsubstantive changes to title 7 of the Colorado revised statutes.