Legislative session resumes; but not business as usual
Last week, the full legislature returned to the Capitol to resume our session, but it was not business as usual. Due to the pandemic, we had to reconfigure the chamber to allow for social distancing. Also, when we arrive to the Capitol, we must first go through a brief health screening. The hallways are eerily quiet as well. That's because the number of visitors, lobbyists, and staff have greatly diminished. And, of course, everyone has been encouraged to wear masks.
Sen. Moreno and myself social distancing on the Senate floor
But that's not all that has changed.
We also debated and passed a rule change that permits legislators to participate remotely. This rule only applies to floor work. The social distancing measures have been enforced for committee hearings as well, and people testifying on bills must practice social distancing as well.
Prior to recessing, there were just over 550 bills in various stages, including nearly 100 bills that had already been signed into law. Unfortunately, due to the $3.3 billion budget gap, any bill with a fiscal note will likely be postponed. Already, over 90 bills were postponed indefinitely, and many more will be set aside in the coming week. The remaining bills still alive will mainly deal with issues related to COVID-19 or will move forward because they are timely in some way (such as sunsets set to expire).
A few bills that did not have fiscal notes were allowed to continue. For example, my bill
SB20-175, concerning the prohibition of indicating an assessment score on a student's high school transcript, had already passed through the Senate unanimously and was sitting in the House Education Committee waiting to be heard. That bill passed unanimously out of committee last week, and will now head to the House floor.
Legislators participating remotely for the first time
In addition to a handful of new bills connected to COVID19 relief, we have introduced 42 new JBC bills along with the "Long Bill" (also known as the budget). The budget bill was introduced in the House on Tuesday and will be taken up for Second Reading in the House some time this week. To see the proposed budget changes that will be debated, here is a link to the
Budget Package and Long Bill Narrative.
There is no specific timeline for how long the legislature will be in session. The original end date was May 6, which has already come and gone. We have approximately 48 more days left in our 120 day session, and we must pass the state budget prior to July 1. Our goal is to work as quickly as possible, so that we may begin addressing the health, safety, and well being of all Coloradans.
Hand sanitizer has become a staple at the Capitol. Thank you to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 12, 68, 111, 113, & 667
for helping us stay safe!
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She also served as Senator in 2014. Sen. Zenzinger is a member of the Joint Budget Committee, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Vice Chair of the Statutory Revision Committee.
Demonstrators call for justice in wake of killing
The
Capitol closed down Friday and Saturday in solidarity with the demonstrators who are demanding justice in the wake of George Floyd's death. He was killed by a Minnesota police officer.
Bullet hole that entered a window at the Capitol Thursday afternoon
The demonstrations began Thursday afternoon and continued throughout the weekend.
The protests were largely peaceful during the day, but turned quite destructive at night. The Capitol building and many of the surrounding public buildings were especially targeted by vandals. As a result, the City of Denver instituted a curfew beginning Saturday evening.
The curfew was sad but necessary. I'm shocked and heartbroken over the damage and destruction that has occurred, especially to the Capitol. I view the building as a symbol of freedom and democracy.
Yet, peaceful demonstrations are also symbols of freedom and democracy. The American Archive of Public Broadcasting notes that, "Protests have long been an essential part of American life, employed to draw attention to critical issues, events, and injustices."
Protesters lie "dead" chanting, "I can't breathe," for nine minutes. Photo credit: Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Personally, I've struggled to organize my thoughts about what our country is going through right now.
I do not condone violence in any form by anyone--demonstrator, police, agitator, or activist. And yet, I recognize that so many people are hurting. These protests are an expression of that pain.
A myriad of events have taken place this weekend--some peaceful and some destructive--but let's not forget the genesis for these demonstrations both here and across the country: Black lives matter. The death of George Floyd was a senseless act of police violence. And it needs to end.
