As the midway point of this year’s legislative session approaches, more than 500 bills have been introduced! Legislators are busy with hearings on issues ranging from housing to air quality to how legislators can work together, and our policy team is busy advocating for bills that will support kids’ and families’ well-being.
We invite you to attend our upcoming Mid-Session Update Webinar. The Colorado Children’s Campaign policy team will offer insight into what’s happened so far this year in each of our issue areas: Family economic prosperity, early childhood, youth success, and child & family health. Register today!
What we’re watching:
Title X Funding: SJR24-008, which elevates the importance of funding for reliable and effective family planning services, passed out of the House last Friday. The Colorado Children’s Campaign provided a letter of support for this resolution. We believe access to high-quality family planning services is essential so that people can ensure autonomy over their bodies and chart their own futures. Learn more about SJR24-008.
Eliminating the Budget Stabilization Factor: Last Tuesday, the Joint Budget Committee voted fully fund public schools for the first time in over a decade. The state would not use the so-called Budget Stabilization Factor to reduce the amount of funding the state is constitutionally committed to spending on public schools.
Defendant Filing Fees in Evictions: HB24-1099, which would eliminate certain fees for an eviction defendant, passed unanimously last Tuesday out of the House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee. Senior Director of Policy Sarah Barnes testified in support of the bill. Learn more about HB24-1099.
Rulemaking Authority of the Executive Director of the Department of Early Childhood: HB24-1332, which would extend the Department of Early Childhood’s executive rulemaking authority, passed unanimously last week out of the House Health and Human Services Committee. We supported this bill, which will allow the Department of Early Childhood to continue to develop and implement programs efficiently in its early years. Melissa Mares, Director of Early Childhood, testified in support last week. Learn more about HB24-1332.
Programs for the Development of Child Care Facilities: HB24-1237, which would create three new programs for the development of child care facilities, has been introduced in the House and assigned to the Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee. The new programs would be implemented and administered by the division of housing in the department of local affairs. Lauren Corboy, Senior Policy Analyst, provided testimony in support of the bill on Wednesday. Learn more about HB24-1237.
Family Affordability Tax Credit: HB24-1311, which would create a family affordability tax credit, is currently under consideration in the House Finance Committee. We support this legislation as it will put more money into the pockets of 45% of families, including those making up to $95,000 a year, to help cover the rising costs of housing, food, and childcare. Learn more about HB24-1311.
State Income Tax Credit for Careworkers: HB24-1312, which creates a refundable income tax credit for qualifying individuals working in the care workforce, has been introduced in the House and assigned to the Finance Committee. The $1,500 tax credit would be available to those working in the care workforce and having an annual gross income of no more than $75,000 as a single filer or $150,000 as a joint filer. Learn more about HB24-1312.
