Our biggest priority in the legislature (and indeed a legal obligation) is to pass a balanced budget. Secondarily, but of equal importance, is to pass the School Finance Act. I have the pleasure of sponsoring both bills this year, and I am particularly pleased with how the legislature has prioritized education above all else.

This year's proposal for school finance (SB23-287) will boost K-12 funding next year to more than $9.1 billion, and increases funding by $180 million more than the set aside contained within the 2023-24 budget. This translates into an additional $1018 per pupil over last year (10.61%) and raises the state's portion of average per pupil funding to $10,614--an all-time high!!

We are taking a major step forward in the path to fully funding public education in Colorado. The bill proposes buying down the Budget Stabilization Factor by $180 million, which brings it down to the lowest level since its inception. And, we wrote into the law that we will fully buy it down to zero next year.

Additionally, here are some other provisions of this year's bill:

Related to this year's School Finance Act, is the draw down of dollars from the State Education Fund for a number of education priorities, including:

There are a number of other policy adjustments contained within SB23-217 that do not have an appropriation but impact school finance. For example, we are delaying the implementation of the new "At Risk Factor" until we can get all the data we need to move forward. We are also updating the definition of administrative costs for the Imagination Library, and we are writing in some optional language for districts to use when purchasing or upgrading technology. Lastly, we are creating a new task force that will look at issues of equity and adequacy for various components of our funding formula.

The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee last week, and now heads to the Appropriations Committee before procedding to the full Senate. Even though we have more work ahead of us, I believe this year's School Finance Act contains the largest commitment to public education in Colorado history, something our schools desperately need and deserve. For more information on the bill, click HERE.

A little perspective on land-use bill: SB23-213 (Moreno/ Woodrow & Jodeh) One of the most controversial proposals to hit the legislature recently is a land-use bill that would essentially move zoning authority from the local governments to the state level. It is well-intentioned, in that sponsors think it would relax limitations on housing growth. I like the effort, but not the approach. Republican Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, a former county commissioner, joined me, a Democrat and former city councilor, in composing an op-ed about the bill. In the opinion piece, we outline why the greatest common good is best achieved by keeping land use decisions at the local level. Click HERE to read the entire op-ed.

Continuous Medicaid eligibility bill moving forward: HB23-1300 (Bird & Sirota/ Zenzinger & Kirkmeyer) This bill requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to submit a waiver and complete a study to improve Colorado’s Medicaid program. The initial waiver will extend continuous eligibility in Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) for children from birth to age three, guarantee 12 months of continuous coverage for individuals leaving Department of Corrections prisons after serving their sentence, and allow for seamless redeterminations for individuals with no income. The bill was discussed and adopted by the JBC, as we believe it will reduce gaps in coverage and increase our Medicaid program's ability to meet the health-related social needs of Coloradans. For more information, click HERE.

Joint Select Committee energy bill introduced: SB23-291 (Fenberg & Cutter/ deGruy Kennedy & Martinez) Democratic members of the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates introduced last week a bill to improve transparency and accountability for utilities and save people money on their energy bills. The bill presents a package of reforms to lower utility bills now and in the future. It rebalances what kinds of expenses are paid by utility shareholders vs. ratepayers, aligns incentives on fuel cost control, and levels the playing field at PUC proceedings, where infrastructure plans are proposed and approved. For more information, click HERE.

April 23, 2023 The Colorado Sun: Sens. Zenzinger-Kirkmeyer: As Gov. Jared Polis himself once said, local control matters

April 21, 2023 Chalkbeat Colorado: Colorado special education gets long-awaited funding boost

April 20, 2023 Colorado Politics: Polis' housing bill clears first committee on party-line vote

April 19, 2023 Chalkbeat Colorado: Colorado school finance act boosts K-12 spending, steers clear of formula changes

April 18, 2023 Colorado Politics: Polis' housing bill to face stern test in Colorado Senate committee review

April 16, 2023 Colorado Public Radio: Ski towns could be exempted from controversial land-use bill as Democrats try to clear path

April 20, 2023 RELEASE: Governor Polis Signs Bills Into Law

April 18, 2023 RELEASE: Governor Polis Signs Bills Into Law 

Mark your calendars now for next month's town hall meeting. Please plan to join us on Saturday, May 20 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. We will be returning to the Standley Lake Library. The legislative session ends on May 8, so we will provide a wrap-up of what occurred. 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.

NEW! SB23-287 Public School Finance: Concerning the financing of public schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee and will be in the Appropriations Committee on Monday, April 24.

NEW! SB23-289 Community First Choice Medicaid Benefit: Concerning seeking an amendment to the medicaid state plan to implement the community first choice optional benefit. The bill passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously and will be on Second Reading in the Senate on Monday, April 24.

NEW! SB23-294 Increase General Fund Transfers To Capital Construction Fund: Concerning increases in the amount of transfers from the general fund to the capital construction fund to be made on July 1, 2023. The bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, April 24.

NEW! HB23-1295 Audits Of Department Of Health Care Policy And Financing Payments To Providers: Concerning the review of payments made by the department of health care policy and financing to providers. The bill will be heard in the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, April 25.

NEW! HB23-1300 Continuous Eligibility Medical Coverage: Concerning extending continuous eligibility medical coverage for certain individuals, and, in connection therewith, seeking federal authorization and making an appropriation. The bill passed the House Appropriations Committee and will be heard on Seconds on Monday, April 24.

NEW! HB23-1305 Continue Health Benefits In Work-related Death: Concerning the program to provide the continuation of health benefits for dependents of certain local government public safety employees who die in a work-related death. The bill was assigned to the House Appropriations Committee.

SB23-281 Limited Transferability Of College Credits Notice: Concerning a required notice of limited transferability of college credits from a private occupational school. The bill will be in the Senate Education Committee on Monday, April 24 at 1:30 pm.

SB23-283 Mechanisms For Federal Infrastructure Funding: Concerning mechanisms to utilize federal funding under federal infrastructure-related acts. The bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and will be heard on Second Reading on Monday, April 24.

HB23-1061 Alcohol Beverage Retail Establishment Permit: Concerning permitting a retail establishment to serve complementary alcohol beverages at a place of business. The bill passed out of the Senate Business Committee unanimously and referred to the Senate Finace Committee on Tuesday, April 25 at 2 pm.

PASSED! SB23-094 School Transportation Task Force: Concerning the creation of a task force to report on measures to improve school transportation. Passed! On to the Governor.

PASSED! SB23-099 Special Education Funding: Concerning funding for special education services. Passed! On to the Governor.

PASSED! SB23-220 Public School Capital Consrtuction Assistance Grants: Concerning the use of money previously allocated for public schools, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation. Passed! On to the Governor.

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: