Midway through last week, the Joint Budget Committee closed out the budget, also known as the Long Bill. That means the six-member bipartisan committee wrapped up the final touches on the 2022-23 state budget proposal.

Last year we assembled Part One of our Colorado Comeback when we developed a bipartisan state stimulus package that focussed on strengthening small businesses, supporting Colorado families, investing in rural Colorado, and developing our workforce.

This year's budget represents Part Two of our recovery effort. We plan to invest both American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and state general fund dollars in areas such as: Affordable Housing, Behavioral and Mental Health, Workforce, and various Economic Recovery and Relief Efforts. Furthermore, we tried to increase funding in the areas that will set us up for future success, for example:

Lastly, we set aside $700 million to help save people money and to invest in healthy, safe communities. In order to avoid unsustainable out-year costs, these funds are for "one-time" purposes only. For example, we can provide temporary economic relief for individuals, families, and businesses, or invest in stand alone public safety projects, air quality improvements, or workforce development initiatives.

The budget will be introduced in the State House tomorrow and work it's way through the process for about a week. Then, once approved by the House, the Long Bill will come to the State Senate the following week. As one of the members of the Joint Budget Committee, I am glad that we have gotten the budget to this stage and I am eager to engage with my colleagues on the merits of the bill in the coming weeks.

In addition to my college-age interns, Will and Keaton, we are pleased to welcome Norm Schultz to our office as well. Norm is a teacher turned software developer with a philosophy background.

According to Norm he also has an odd sense of humor, which might explain why he decided to become an intern in our office! In all seriousness, Norm expressed a desire to become a legislative intern in order to learn more about the political process and how the creation of laws actually works. As a constituent of Senate District 19, he also wanted to find a venue where he could serve his community.

According to Norm he is learning, "a TON about how bills get passed, issues that Colorado faces, what the different political roles are responsible for, how constituent views are handled, and how decisions are made."

We asked him how he thought this experience fits in with his future plans and he answered, "I'm sure it all would fit in with a future plan if I had one, but I really don't right now. I know that I enjoy pros/cons-style argumentation, and that I'd like to somehow be a contributor to rational decision making in politics."

Whether politics ends up becoming part of Norm's future or not, we are certainly glad that he is working in our office this session and we are grateful for his contributions!

Denver Business Journal: Polis signs bill targeting online marketplaces that enable organized retail theft

STL News: Colorado Governor Signs Bills Into Law to Support Education

KPVI: Polis signs bipartisan bills targeting Colorado’s teacher shortage

KUNC: Thousands of Colorado foster youth could soon have access to free college tuition

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

Join the Westminster Chamber and your area State Legislators. Hear the ins and outs of the 2022 Colorado State legislative session. After updates, attendees will have a chance to ask questions and engage in civil discourse. This event is held once a month, during the legislative session (January-June) on the 1st Friday. Hosted by The Ranch Country Club. Breakfast is included in the program. To RSVP, click HERE.

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.

NEW! 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 will be heard in the State Affairs Committee on Thursday, March 31 upon adjournment.

NEW! 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 at 2:00 pm.

NEW! 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 will be heard in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Thursday, March 31 upon adjournment.

NEW! 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 will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 31 at 1:30 pm.

NEW! HB22-1255 Improve Higher Education for Students With a Disability: Concerning measures to improve postsecondary education outcomes for students with a disability. The bill will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 31 at 1:30 pm.

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

SB22-146 Middle Income Access Program Expansion: Concerning the expansion of the Colorado housing and finance authority's middle income access program. The bill will be heard in the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 29 at 2 pm.

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.

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 will be heard in the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee on Tuesday, March 29 at 2:00 pm.

HB22-1245 Foster Youth in Transition Program Clarifications: Concerning clarifications related to the foster youth in transition program. The bill passed out of the Senate and is on the way to the Governor.

HB22-1250 Nonsubstantive Changes to Title 7 of Colorado Revised Statutes: Concerning nonsubstantive changes to title 7 of the Colorado revised statutes. The bill passed out of the Senate and is on the way to the Governor.

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.

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.