The first regular session of the 73rd General Assembly came to a close last week, and in reflecting on our work this past session I think the main theme was an unwavering and resolute response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Back in January when the session began, the pandemic was still in full swing and the vaccine had just arrived on scene. Many people in Colorado were suffering from the impact of COVID-19, and citizens from across the state were looking to us for a response. But a "response" was not enough. Colorado needed us to take things a step further by focusing both the short-term and long-term needs.

There were 628 bills introduced this session and 502 were sent to the Governor or signed into law. At least one-quarter of the bills focused on responding to our immediate needs such as housing, childcare, and healthcare. Many of these bills were connected in some way to the Colorado Recovery Plan. Another one-quarter of the bills restored funding to programs that were cut last year, such as K-12 education, higher education, and capital construction. One-quarter of the bills made new investments into programs and resources that will aid in our long-term recovery, such as rebuilding our workforce, broadband deployment, and economic development. The remaining bills were connected to the federal stimulus dollars that we will receive from the American Rescue Plan that will allow us to reinvest in our future, such as funding for behavioral health and infrastructure.

I carried 42 pieces of legislation this session, 36 bills with a Republican co-prime sponsor and 41 bills garnered at least one Republican co-sponsor. In addition, 100% of my legislation left the Senate chamber with bipartisan votes, 80% received a unanimous vote at some point in the process, and 54% of my bills passed unanimously out of the Senate. As the chair of the Senate Education Committee, a large majority of my bills focused on education, children and youth. I also passed a number of bills that increased disability services and addressed problems created by the pandemic. I also had a few good governance bills and a number of Statutory Revision Committee bills (legislation that corrected errors and cleaned up our statutes). Here are some of my personal favorites that I'd like to highlight:

A few favorite "runner-ups" include: SB21-038 on complementary/alternative medicine for non-ambulatory disabled individuals, SB21-039 on eliminating the subminimum wage for people with IDD, SB21-110 funding for the Main Street revitalization program, and HB21-1099 on domestic violence and child welfare. For more details, you can find a complete list of bills that I sponsored below or HERE.

I'll close by noting that while I am proud of the legislation I carried this session, I was equally proud of the votes I took on legislation sponsored by my legislative colleagues. While I did not always agree with every bill, I know that our work this session was critical to building back stronger. By focusing on responding to urgent needs, taking steps to restore our economy, and by reinvesting in our future, we have lead our state out of this crisis and into a brighter future. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you in the state legislature this year!

SB21-268 Public School Finance: Concerning the financing of public schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SB21-265 Transfer From General Fund To State Highway Fund: Concerning a transfer from the general fund to the state highway fund.

SB21-263 Outdoor Advertising Act: Concerning the regulation of outdoor advertising.

SB21-262 Special District Transparency: Concerning transparency for special districts.

SB21-257 Mobile Machinery Registration Exemption: Concerning an exemption from motor vehicle registration requirements for certain special mobile machinery.

SB21-254 Eliminate Obsolete Committee Child Care Licensing: Concerning the elimination of the obsolete advisory committee on the licensing of child care facilities.

SB21-253 Women Veterans With Disabilities License Plate: Concerning license plates for veterans who have disabilities, and, in connection therewith, creating a license plate to honor women veterans with disabilities.

SB21-239 2-1-1 Statewide Human Services Referral System: Concerning the statewide communication system for referral to behavioral health services, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SB21-238 Create Front Range Passenger Rail District: Concerning the front range passenger rail district, and, in connection therewith, creating the district for the purpose of planning, designing, developing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining a passenger rail system and specifying the territory, governing structure, powers, and duties of the district.

SB21-232 Displaced Workers Grant: Concerning an appropriation to the department of higher education for the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative's displaced workers grant.

SB21-185 Supporting Educator Workforce In Colorado: Concerning supporting the educator workforce in Colorado.

SB21-180 Recycling And Composting Enterprise Grant Program: Concerning a report to be submitted to the general assembly by the department of public health and environment regarding post-consumer recycled content recommendations for packaging, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Postponed Indefinitely in the House.

SB21-179 Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Advisory Board: Concerning the composition of the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative advisory board.

SB21-135 Prohibit Certain Animals In Traveling Animal Act: Concerning a prohibition on the use of certain animals in a traveling animal act.

SB21-115 Annual Funding For Talking Book Library Services: Concerning the use of money in the Colorado telephone users with disabilities fund to support talking book library services for certain persons with disabilities.

SB21-110 Fund Safe Revitalization Of Main Streets: Concerning funding for the safe revitalization of Colorado's main streets.

SB21-104 Sunset Special Education Fiscal Advisory Committee: Concerning the continuation of the special education fiscal advisory committee, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations contained in the 2020 sunset report by the department of regulatory agencies.

SB21-053 Adjustments To School Funding Fiscal Year 2020-21: Concerning adjustments to school funding for the 2020-21 budget year, and, in connection therewith, making appropriations.

SB21-039 Elimination Of Subminimum Wage Employment: Concerning the elimination of subminimum wage employment by providing supports to ensure successful transitions for individuals (with an intellectual or developmental disability) currently working in subminimum wage jobs.

SB21-038 Expansion of Complementary And Alternative Medicine: Concerning an expansion of the complementary or alternative medicine pilot program for a person with a primary condition resulting in the total inability for independent ambulation (spinal cord injury).

SB21-017 Sexual Contact By An Educator: Concerning sexual contact between a student and an educator in violation of the public trust.

HB21-1330 Higher Education Student Success: Concerning measures to support student success in obtaining postsecondary credentials, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

HB21-1325 Funding Public Schools Formula: Concerning changes to the method for funding public schools, and, in connection therewith, amending the "Public School Finance Act of 1994" and establishing a school finance legislative interim committee.

HB21-1300 Health-care Provider Liens For Injured Persons: Concerning health-care provider liens related to charges for health care provided to a person injured as a result of the negligence or wrongful acts of another person.

HB21-1274 Unused State-owned Real Property Beneficial Use: Concerning the beneficial use of unused state-owned real property, and, in connection therewith, directing the department of personnel to inventory such property and use such property to promote affordable housing and renewable energy development.

HB21-1230 Create User-friendly State Internet Rules Portal: Concerning creation of a user-friendly state internet portal relating to state agency rules.

HB21-1196 Update Senate Bill 19-263 Effective Date: Concerning the updating of the effective date clause of Senate Bill 19-263.

HB21-1178 Correcting Errors in the CO Marijuana Code: Concerning correcting nonsubstantive errors in the Colorado marijuana code.

HB21-1164 Total Program Mill Levy Tax Credit: Concerning reductions in the property tax credits that apply to school districts' total program mill levies for purposes of funding the "Public School Finance Act of 1994". The bill was introduced and assigned to the House Education Committee.

HB21-1161 Suspend Statewide Assessments for Select Grades: Concerning suspending required statewide assessments for selected grade levels for the 2021-21 school year.

HB21-1156 Fix Defects Related to Severance Withholdings: Concerning the correction of statutory defects related to severance tax withholdings from a disbursement to an oil and gas interest owner.

HB21-1155 Sales Tax Statute Modifications to Address Defects: Concerning modifications to the sales and use tax statutes in order to address certain defects and anachronisms.

HB21-1152 Repeal Obsolete Capitol Dome Restoration Fund: Concerning the repeal of statutes related to the obsolete capitol dome restoration fund.

HB21-1146 Auricular Acudetox Professional Practice: Concerning the practice of auricular acudetox by a professional, and, in connection therewith clarifying that in order to perform auricular acudetox, a person does not need to be licensed, certified, or registered as a mental health professional.

HB21-1144 Bingo-Raffle Licenses & New Equipment: Concerning the conduct of charitable gaming activity, and, in connection therewith, requiring additional disclosures from license applicants and modernizing the "Bingo and Raffles Law" to accommodate the use of improved electronic aids and devices in the conduct of games of chance. The bill has been assigned to House Business Affairs and Labor on March 24. Postponed Indefinitely in the House.

HB21-1125 Suspend State Assessments In 2020-21 School Year: Concerning suspending the administration of state assessments for the 2020-21 school year. Postponed Indefinitely in the House.

HB21-1104 Professional Educator Licensure Renewal Period: Concerning extending the renewal period for professional educator licenses from five to seven years, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing an appropriation.

HB21-1099 Policies And Procedures To Identify Domestic Abuse: Concerning authorization to implement best practices for child welfare caseworkers to recognize domestic abuse, and, in connection therewith, addressing domestic abuse as a form of child abuse or neglect.

HB21-1094 Foster Youth In Transition Program: Concerning the transition of youth in Colorado's foster care system to successful adulthood.

HB21-1083 State Board Assessment Appeals Valuation Adjustment: Concerning the modification on appeal of property valuation set by the county board of equalization.

HB21-1021 Peer Support Professionals Behavioral Health: Concerning supporting the peer support professional workforce, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

SJR21-006 Interrogatory Regarding School Dist Mill Levies: Concerning a request to the supreme court of the state of Colorado to render its opinion upon a question regarding House Bill 21-1164.

You can find a full list of all my bills on my website HERE or the state's legislative website HERE.

With the legislative session at its end, I look forward to returning to our community over the coming months to speak with you about the impacts of this session and to start working on bill ideas for next year. Please stay tuned for updates on upcoming town halls and events as well as any new information on other important news. I will be paring down the frequency of this newsletter from once a week to once a month until January. Speaking of events, I hope you will join Representatives Brianna Titone, Lindsey Daugherty, and myself for our regular monthly town hall meeting on Saturday, June 19 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. You can find more details below or HERE.

I want to thank my legislative aide, Aaron Silverstein, for his phenomenal work this year. We were unable to host any interns or volunteers this year and therefore all of the day-to-day work fell to just him. I could not have made it through this very difficult session without his help. Legislative aides are hard to come by, especially ones as capable as Aaron, so I am very grateful! Aaron will be working in the office until the end of the month and then we will close the office until the next session begins. Although I will be participating on a number of interim committees, I will not physically be at the Capitol much during the interim, so if you have any questions or concerns the best way to reach me will be via email at senatorrachelz@gmail.com. Thanks!

COVID 19 Vaccine Lottery: Each week until July 7, our state will be hosting a lottery where one vaccinated Coloradan over the age of 18 will win $1million and five vaccinated Coloradans aged 12-17 will receive $50,000 toward college tuition or other post-secondary education. The deadline to be entered in time for the final drawing is June 30, so be sure to get your first vaccine as soon as possible to have a chance at the prize. For more information on the lottery visit: Colorado Comeback Cash.

Where to find the COVID-19 Vaccine: To learn more about where you can get vaccinated visit: https://covid19.colorado.gov/for-coloradans/vaccine/where-can-i-get-vaccinated. Call the vaccine hotline at 1-877- CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926).

Here are the latest press articles from this past week that touch on legislation I am sponsoring. Also, you can view the full list on my website by clicking HERE.

EIN News: Governor Signs Pair of Zenzinger Bills Making Historic Investments in Colorado Schools

Denver Business Journal: Colorado is eliminating subminimum wage jobs

June 10, 2021 The Denver Post: 4 takeaways from the just-finished 2021 Colorado legislative session

Denver Business Journal: Here are the major business moves made in Colorado's 2021 legislative session

The Denver Post: Colorado legislature passes metro district reform bill with some changes

Red MSU Denver: State stimulus bill aims to help Coloradans go back to school

We hope you can join us at our next legislative town hall meeting for a legislative wrap-up on Saturday, June 19 at 10:30 am. Unfortunately, we were not able to secure a location for an in-person meeting. Nevertheless, we hope you can join us for one last Zoom meeting.