We are in the last full week of session and some of the "big rocks" are finally making their way to the Senate floor for debate. What do I mean by that? Well, there have been a few large pieces of legislation that the whole state has had an eye on since the begininng of session. Those topics include: unemployment insurance, the public employees retirement payment, collective bargaining, fentanyl, and school finance.

First, Senate Bill 22-234 will put $600 million toward the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to address the amount owed to the federal government. The fund was heavily used during the pandemic and was a lifeline to many people who found themselves out of work. According to an article in the Denver Post: "This bill represents a compromise after some wrangling on how much will be paid off and other mechanisms." The bill passed its first committee hearing and was referred to Senate Appropriations on Monday morning.

Another bill finally moving forward is the compensatory payment to the Public Employees' Retirement Association. House Bill 22-1029 will make a $225 million payment that was due plus $78.57 million to cover the interest lost from skipping the payment in 2020 due to COVID. The bipartisan bill was unanimously recommended by the pension review committee and groups representing both the political left and right. The bill passed its first committee hearing and was referred to House Appropriations.

The much-anticipated labor bill, SB22-230, was finally introduced last week. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would guarantee Colorado statutory county workers the ability to organize and form a union if they so choose. The bill does not force counties to adopt a union and does not permit binding arbitration or the right to strike. The bill was significantly pared down from all public sector workers to just county workers. The bill passed on Second Reading in the Senate and will be up for a final vote on Monday.

One of the more controversial bills of the session is HB22-1326 concerning Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention. The crisis of fentanyl overdose deaths here in Colorado is a tragedy, and the bill seeks to tackle the issue from multiple angles and contains many different components. From a high level, the bill seeks to invest in harm reduction efforts to save lives, increase access to treatment and recovery services, and crack down on dealers to keep fentanyl off our streets. The bill has already passed through the House and its first Senate Committee hearing, and it will be heard in Senate Appropriations on Monday.

The last big bill I want to touch on is HB22-1390, the School Finance Act. This year's SFA sets funding levels for Colorado’s 178 school districts, modifies several education-related programs, and increases state expenditures and school district funding. The bill increases funding by$545 per pupil. Total program funding increases by $433.1 million, from $8.0 billion to $8.4 billion. If you are interested in viewing all the SFA components, click HERE. The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee unanimously, and it will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee Monday morning.

The bills above are by no means all the "big rocks" still remaining. We are also dealing with a number of property tax and COVID relief measures, as well as a high number of housing and behavioral health bills. Nevertheless, it was a huge relief to finally see these hefty issues make their way to me in the Senate.

Refund checks to address inflation, rising cost of living: Last week, SB22-233 concerning the TABOR refund mechanism for fiscal year 2021-22 was introduced. Inflation and the rising cost of living has hit our state hard. We recognize the pain and financial stress families are feeling, which is why we are speeding up the TABOR refund process. Checks of $400 for individual filers and $800 for joint filers will be mailed to all 2021 Colorado taxpayers in September. There will be no changes to the Senior Property Homestead Tax Exemption, the Income Tax reduction, and any remaining balance will be distributed through the existing 6 tier refund system. For more information, click HERE.

Legislators announce $100 million child care investment: A package of bills were announced last week focussing on child care and the early childhood workforce. Most of the money will to toward existing grant programs and will be funded through federal COVID relief dollars. SB22-213 on Child Care Support Programs will help boost Colorado's economy and make it easier for families to access child care by increasing capacity across the state and better develop the workforce. To learn more, click HERE.

Celebrate Colorado event planned: As a way to thank Coloradans for their resiliency and strength over the last two and a half year, the Governor's Office is hosting Celebrate Colorado, a three-day statewide celebration from May 6-8, 2022, with free and discounted activities encouraging folks to get out in their communities and engage with neighbors, friends, and family. For more information on the events near you, click HERE.

RELEASE: Bipartisan School Finance Act to make historic investment in school funding clears committee

Young Invincibles News Release: CO General Assembly passes higher education support for foster youth

CoPirg News Release: Colorado passes nation's first right to repair bill for wheelchairs, awaits Gov. Polis signature

RELEASE: Zenzinger's bipartisan bill to get more teachers in classrooms clears committee

KUNC: Colorado lawmakers propose shifting EMS licensing power from counties to the state

RELEASE: Senate passes bills to save people money, bolster behavioral health workforce, and set students up for success

Denver Post: Air quality, pandemic recovery, staffing shortages key aims of Colorado's record-setting budget

KRDO: Colorado passes Right to Repair bill for wheelchairs

RELEASE: Senate passes transformative $150 million housing bill to save money on housing, build more homes families can afford

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

Please join us on Saturday, May 21 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm for a virtual legislative town hall meeting. The legislative session will end on May 11, so we will provide a legislative wrap-up of the session. In addition, we will host several reporters who cover the Capitol to get their perspective. For more details, click HERE.

NEW! SB22-235 County Administration Of Public Assistance Programs: Concerning county administration of public assistance programs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, May 2 at 8:15 am.

NEW! HB22-1114 Transportation Services For Medicaid Waiver Recipients: Concerning authorizing a transportation network company to provide nonmedical transportation services to persons who are enrolled in certain medicaid waiver programs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed unanimously on Second Reading.

NEW! HB22-1290 Changes To Medicaid For Wheelchair Repairs: Concerning changes to medicaid to allow for expedited repairs to complex rehabilitation technology. The bill passed out of the Health & Human Services Committee unanimously and will be in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, May 2 at 8:15 am.

NEW! HB22-1320 Achieving A Better Life Experience Savings Accounts: Concerning the achieving a better life experience (ABLE) savings program for individuals with disabilities, and, in connection therewith, modifying who may create and control an ABLE program account, preventing the state from filing certain claims against an ABLE program account upon the death of the designated beneficiary, and allowing contributions to an ABLE program account that are withdrawn for qualified disability expenses to be deducted from a taxpayer's federal taxable income for purposes of determining the taxpayer's state taxable income.

SB22-210 License Supplemental Health-care Staffing Agencies: Concerning the regulation of supplemental health-care staffing agencies by the department of public health and environment. This bill passed through Senate Health & Human Services and also the Finance Committee, and will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, May 2 at 8:15 am.

SB22-216 Reallocation Of Limited Gaming Revenues: Concerning the reallocation of the limited gaming tax revenues for fiscal years following a significant decrease in the revenues, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. This bill passed out of Senate Appropriations and will be heard in the Senate for Second Reading on Monday, May 2.

SB22-225 Ambulance Service Sustainability And State Licensing: Concerning emergency medical services in the state, and, in connection therewith, creating an emergency medical services system sustainability task force and requiring ambulance services to obtain a state license from the department of public health and environment. This bill passed out of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee and the Finance Committee and will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, May 2 at 8:15 am.

HB22-1220 Removing Barriers To Educator Preparation: Concerning removing barriers in educator preparation to support educator candidates entering the educator workforce. This bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee and will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, May 2 at 8:15 am.

HB22-1390 Public School Finance: Concerning the financing of public schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed unanimously out of Senate Education and will be heard in Senate Appropriations on Monday, May 2 at 8:15 am.

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.

SB22-008 Higher Education Support For Foster Youth: Concerning postsecondary education support for certain students who have been in out-of-home placement.

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.

SB22-011 America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission: Concerning the establishment of the America 250 - Colorado 150 commission.

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.

SB22-127 Special Education Funding: Concerning funding for special education services.

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.

SB22-144 Public And Nonprofit Entities Rideshare Cotracts: Concerning the provision of transportation services by a transportation network company not in connection with a business operated for profit.

SB22-146 Middle Income Access Program Expansion: Concerning the expansion of the Colorado housing and finance authority's middle income access program.

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".

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 persons with the resources needed to repair the manufacturer's powered wheelchairs.

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

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.

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.

HB22-1162 Motor Vehicle Digital Number Plates: Concerning authorization to use digital number plates in lieu of metal number plates on a vehicle.

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.

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: Statutes: Concerning nonsubstantive changes to title 7 of the Colorado revised statutes.

HB22-1255 Improve Higher Education for Students With a Disability: Concerning measures to improve postsecondary education outcomes for students with a disability.

HB22-1294 Special Education Services In Charter Schools: Concerning additional pathways to provide special education services to children with disabilities in charter schools.

HB22-1331 Supplemental Funding for Facility Schools: Concerning supplemental funding for facility schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. 

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. 

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.

HB22-1336 Streamline Processing of Judicial Department Collections: Concerning the streamlining of the processing of certain money collected by the judicial department. 

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. 

HB22-1340 Capital-related Transfers of Money: Concerning capital-related transfers of money.

HB22-1341 Marijuana Tax Cash Fund: Concerning measures to ensure that the marijuana tax cash fund is in balance.