Have you ever driven past signs for new communities offering “homes starting in the low $400s,” and asked yourself how such opportunities are possible in this housing market? In all likelihood, the planned master communities are within a locally approved metro district.

Although metro districts are a commonly used financing tool (Colorado now has more than 2,300 metro districts), they’re not well understood, even by residents living within them. And because not all metro districts are created equal, they’re easy to vilify. Even so, we can certainly do more to crack down on potentially abusive practices and heighten transparency. That's why Senator Marchman and I have brought forward SB23-110 Transparency For Metropolitan Districts, which passed out of the Senate Local Government and Housing Committee last week.

SB23-110 is the result of a collaborative, bipartisan effort to address concerns that have been heard from elected officials, residents, and others through testimony, townhall meetings, the media, and stakeholder engagement. The bill adopts and codifies best practices that metro district boards across Colorado have modeled. In section four of the bill, for example, we address a concern that developers simply set the interest rates for reimbursement at whatever they want, ultimately allowing for the “padding of pockets.” This section places specific parameters and protections around this financing to ensure that reimbursement rates are at or below market rate.

The bill contains a number of other provisions as well, that collectively provide stronger local oversight, improved transparency on property taxes, and mandated disclosures by developers. By strengthening local oversight, this legislation empowers local officials to provide sweeping protections for homeowners and homebuyers living in metro districts. The bill will now advance to the full Senate this coming week!

Select Committee to Investigate Rising Utility Rates Formed: Last week, House and Senate leadership announced the formation of a Joint Select Committee to investigate the causes of Coloradans’ rising utility rates and explore potential actions to prevent future price hikes, saving Colorado’s working families money on their energy bills. The committee will seek expert testimony from utility companies, relevant agency staff, regulators, consumer advocates, and policy experts in order to better understand issues such as the impact of volatility in natural gas markets, the frequency and justification for rate increases sought by utilities, and other relevant factors. For more information, click HERE or HERE.

IRS Declares TABOR Refunds not Income: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced last week that it would not require Coloradans to pay federal income tax on the expedited tax refunds they received last year to help provide immediate relief. The taxability of the refunds was called into question on February 3, 2023, when the IRS released a statement telling Americans to delay filing until they determined whether the stimulus checks sent out by over 19 different states last year were subject to federal income tax, including Colorado. Read more HERE.

Arvada Festivals Hosts Winterfest Event: The Arvada Festivals Commission will be hosting a Winterfest event on Saturday, February 25, from 11 am to 3 pm at the McIlvoy Park in Olde Town. There will activities such as live ice sculpting and cultural performances, vendors, a pet parade, and even an ugly sweater competition. You can also hang out at the Winterfest beer garden (proceeds to benefit the Olde Town Business Improvement District). For more information, click HERE.

Jeffco Public Schools Annual Family Survey: Beginning this year, Panorama Education is conducting the Jeffco Schools' annual family survey. If you are a parent or guardian of a Jeffco student, please consider participating in the survey. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 15–20 minutes to complete. Results will be used to improve the district and student learning environment. The survey will remain open until Friday, March 3.To take the survey, click HERE.

City of Westminster Offers Tree Sale: The City of Westminster's Westy ReLeaf Tree Sale is now live. The program offers citizens an opportunity to purchase a new, unique, low-cost tree to your yard while helping to protect the City's urban forest for years to come. Trees are available for purchase through the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department for $75 plus tax. Trees will be available for pickup in mid-April. Click HERE for details.

JBC Recap for the week of February 13: The JBC considered figure setting recommendations for the Department of Education, the Department of Early Childhood, the Judicial Department Independent Agencies, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Regulatory Agencies.

The JBC successfully shepherded the supplemental bill package through both chambers.

The Senate will need to take final action on three supplemental appropriation bills that were amended by the House (Senate Bills 23-119, 124, and 125). The House retained the Senate amendments, and adopted three additional amendments. In total, the amendments to the package increase General Fund appropriations for FY 2022-23 by $14,010,000. This reduces the projected year-end reserve and the funds available for FY 2023-24 by the same amount.

Coming Up This Week: The JBC will next meet Tuesday, February 21 to consider figure setting recommendations for the Departments of Natural Resources, Corrections, and Public Safety. To see the full schedule, click HERE.

Mark your calendar now for our next town hall meeting! Please plan to join us on Saturday, March 18 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Indian Tree Golf Course Clubhouse, 7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003. The topic for March will be the State Budget proposal. For more information, click HERE.

Below is a list of bills that I am sponsoring that have been introduced and are awaiting action from either the House or Senate. For a full list of bills, click HERE.

SB23-155 Sunset Continue Nursing Home Administrators: Concerning the continuation of the regulation of nursing home administrators, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations in the 2022 sunset report by the department of regulatory agencies. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.

SB23-094 School Transportation Task Force: Concerning the creation of a task force to report on measures to improve school transportation. The bill passed unanimously out of the Education Committee and was referred to Senate Appropriations.

SB23-097 Motor Vehicle Theft And Unauthorized Use: Concerning the adoption of the 2023 recommendations of the Colorado commission on criminal and juvenile justice regarding motor vehicle offenses committed by a person who is not the owner of the motor vehicle. The bill was introduced and will be heard in the Judiciary Committee on Monday, February 27 at 1:30 pm.

SB23-110 Transparency For Metropolitan Districts: Concerning transparency for metropolitan districts. The bill passed and was referred to the full Senate.

HB23-1001 Expanding Assistance For Educator Programs: Concerning expanding financial assistance for educator programs. The bill passed out of the House and was assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

HB23-1053 Veterans' Cemetery Department of Public Safety Gifts Grants Donations: Concerning the authority to accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations, and, in connection therewith, authorizing the division of veterans affairs to expend gifts, grants, and donations in support of the western slope military veterans' cemetery, authorizing the department of public safety to accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations in support of its purposes, and creating the department of public safety gifts, grants, and donations fund. The bill passed out of the State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee unanimously and was referred to the full Senate.

Partnerships Bulletin: Colorado senator touts P3 expansion

Denver Business Journal: Metro district reform bills clash in Colorado's Legislature, worrying housing developers

Denver Gazette: Colorado bill letting metro district developers buy their own bonds passes Senate committee; showdown possible

RELEASE: Zenzinger Hosts Town Hall to Discuss Health Care in Colorado Alongside State Legislators, Health Experts

RELEASE: Zenzinger & Marchman Bill to Improve Transparency for Metro Districts Passes Committee

In an effort to be transparent and accessible, here are the events and meetings that I have attended in the last week as your state senator: