Source: Colorado Politics
Colorado House Democrats on Wednesday introduced their first 10 bills of the 2025 legislative session, which are often some of the most prominent proposals of the year.
Speaker Julie McCluskie of Dillon said the proposals focus on affordability.
“Supporting families is a top priority, and our first 10 bills will bring down the cost of housing, specifically for renters, and ensure youth with complex health needs have access to care,” she said. “We’re focused on meeting Colorado’s climate goals, combating wildfire and attracting film tourism in our great state.”
House Bill 1001 seeks to improve enforcement and crack down on worker misclassification, which sponsors say is often used to deny workers legally required wages, overtime, or sick time.
The bill is sponsored by Majority Leader Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, Sens. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Chris Kolker, D-Centennial,
“Workers rely on the work that they do to put food on the table and they deserve to get paid the wages they are owed,” said Majority Leader Duran. “We’ve seen that women and workers of color are disproportionately affected by wage theft. This bill will help ensure there is a clear and transparent process to combat bad actors and ensure workers are supported.”
The same four legislators ran a similar bill last session that only dealt with the construction industry. Gov. Jared Polis vetoed the bill.
House Bill 1002 standardizes insurance coverage determinations, which sponsors say would ensure that mental health care is based on clinical evidence and not profit margins.
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, and Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver, and Sens. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Byron Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells.
House Bill 1003 seeks to increase healthcare access for children with complex medical needs by streamlining federal waivers.
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood, and Max Brooks, R-Castle Rock, and Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton.
House Bill 1004 places regulations on rent-setting software used by landlords, which the Biden White House claimed increase rent by more than $100 a month in certain parts of the state.
A similar bill from last session to prohibit the use of rent-setting algorithms altogether died on the Senate floor.
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, and Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, and Sens. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo.
House Bill 1005 creates a tax credit to incentivize film festivals to come to Colorado, following the news that Boulder was selected as a top-three finalist to host the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027.
The bill is sponsored by House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, and Sens. Judy Amaile, D-Boulder and Mark Baisley, R-Roxborough Park.
House Bill 1006 gives school districts the ability to pursue solar fields and affordable housing projects in their leases.
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, and Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, and Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village.
House Bill 1007 improves and standardizes paratransit services for Coloradans with disabilities.
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, and Alex Valdez, D-Denver, and Sens. Faith Winter, D-Broomfield and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa.
House Bill 1008 encourage jails to provide access to mental health services and treatment to individuals.
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, and Mary Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs, and Sens. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton.
House Bill 1009 encourages local governments to reduce the prevalence of dead or dry vegetation to prevent wildfires.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo, and Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton.
House Bill 1010 amends Colorado’s price gouging statutes to include household items like groceries.
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins, and Kyle Brown, D-Louisville and Sen. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora.
