SB24-055 will improve access to behavioral health care in rural Colorado by creating a new Agricultural and Rural Community Behavioral Health program that would work to better connect farmers, ranchers, and their families to behavioral health care. The program will partner with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, health care providers, and directly with agriculture communities throughout Colorado to provide care and support.

SB24-064 requires courts to electronically collect data for eviction cases in every county, beginning July 1, 2024. By January 1, 2025, the Judicial Department is required to publish data on all residential evictions online in a searchable format, free of charge and on a monthly basis. The public data does not include personally identifiable information about a landlord or tenant.

Colorado's families deserve diverse, accessible childcare options. I sponsored SB24-078 to allow licensure for outdoor nature-based schools (ONBs) and expand their operations. This bill defines ONBs as child care centers for licensing purposes, enabling them to offer full-day programs. It also requires the Colorado Department of Early Childhood to provide training to licensing and ONB program staff. By creating a formal licensure process, we're breaking down barriers for working families, creating job opportunities, and adding an estimated 340 additional spots for children. This innovative approach not only addresses our early-childhood education crisis but also supports students with diverse learning needs.

Our rural schools need access to experienced educators and staff. I sponsored SB24-099, which expands the list of PERA service retirees who can work for rural school districts without a reduction in retirement benefits. This bill now includes superintendents and principals, and clarifies that small rural districts with fewer than 1,000 pupils also qualify. By removing barriers to employment, we're addressing critical staffing shortages in our rural schools. This law ensures our rural students have access to quality education by allowing experienced professionals to continue serving their communities without financial penalty.

Our parks and wildlife are precious resources that should be accessible to all Coloradans. I sponsored SB24-161, which makes important changes to parks and wildlife licenses and passes. This bill lowers the age for senior fishing licenses to 64, expands eligibility for disabled veterans, and reduces costs for youth hunting licenses. It also allows for better management of our wildlife resources through a potential harvest permit surcharge.

Every student deserves to feel safe and respected in school. I sponsored SB24-162 to develop best practices for responding to discrimination and harassment in our schools. This bill requires the Department of Education to work with experts to create these best practices and develop a comprehensive training program. By pushing the implementation deadline to the 2025-26 school year, we ensure schools have time to adopt these thoroughly researched practices. The bill also provides $111,111 for training local education providers. This law is a crucial step towards creating more inclusive and supportive learning environments for all Colorado students.

Our county coroners and deputy coroners provide a crucial public service. I sponsored SB24-186 to reclassify these officials as state troopers within the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) system. Starting January 1, 2025, coroners and deputy coroners elected, reelected, or appointed since January 1, 2021, will be eligible for the same retirement benefits as state troopers. This change recognizes the demanding nature of their work and ensures they receive appropriate retirement benefits. By improving benefits for these essential public servants, we're supporting their dedication to our communities and helping counties retain experienced professionals in these critical roles.

I sponsored SB24-226 to expand and improve the College Kickstarter Account Program. This bill broadens access by allowing any individual, not just parents, to open an account for an eligible child starting January 1, 2025. It extends the claim period for kickstarter funding from 5 to 8 years after a child's birth or adoption, giving families more flexibility. The bill also ensures the kickstarter amount grows with inflation and accrues interest. By expanding the program's advisory board and enhancing reporting requirements, we're making sure this program evolves to meet the needs of Colorado families. These changes will help more children build savings for their education and brighten their future prospects.

Access to quality mental health care is crucial for Coloradans. I sponsored HB24-1002, enacting the Social Work Licensure Compact. This law streamlines the licensing process for social workers across member states, making it easier for them to practice where they're needed most. It enhances accountability by allowing member states to enforce their standards on visiting practitioners. The compact also facilitates telehealth services, improving access to mental health care, especially in underserved areas. By joining this compact, we're removing barriers for social workers and expanding mental health resources for our communities.

When disaster strikes, homeowners need quick access to insurance funds to rebuild. I sponsored HB24-1011 to ensure mortgage servicers promptly and fairly disburse insurance proceeds to borrowers whose homes are damaged or destroyed. This law requires servicers to approve repair plans within 30 days and disburse funds within 14-30 days of receiving insurance proceeds. It mandates transparent communication about the disbursement process and sets clear timelines for fund release. The bill also protects borrowers by requiring excess funds to be returned promptly and ensuring any held funds earn interest for the homeowner. By streamlining this process, we're helping Colorado families recover faster from property damage and natural disasters.

Every dollar counts for college students. I sponsored HB24-1018 to make higher education more affordable by exempting college textbooks from state sales and use tax, starting July 1, 2024. This law reduces the financial burden on students and their families by lowering the cost of essential educational materials.

I sponsored HB24-1039 to ensure that schools honor students' chosen names. This law requires school personnel to use a student's chosen name in school and during extracurricular activities. It defines intentional refusal to use a student's chosen name as discrimination, allowing affected students to file reports or federal civil rights complaints. The bill also mandates that schools implement written policies on honoring students' name choices. By protecting students' right to be addressed as they choose, we're creating more inclusive, supportive learning environments where all students can thrive.

Our schools need more, qualified special education teachers. I sponsored HB24-1087 to create an additional pathway for educators to gain special education endorsements. This law allows teachers with professional licenses to obtain special education endorsements through alternative teacher preparation programs, not just traditional higher education routes. It also permits teachers to continue in their current positions while pursuing this endorsement. By expanding pathways to special education certification, we're addressing the critical shortage of special education teachers in Colorado.

Our students deserve access to quality mental health support. I sponsored HB24-1096, enacting the School Psychologists Licensure Interstate Compact. This law creates a pathway for school psychologists to practice across member states, improving access to these crucial services in our schools. By streamlining the licensure process, we're making it easier for qualified professionals to work where they're needed most. The compact also includes provisions for active military members and their spouses, supporting those who serve our country.

Colorado's unique ecosystems deserve comprehensive protection. I sponsored HB24-1117 to expand our state's conservation efforts to include rare plants and invertebrates. This law renames our conservation act to the "Nongame, Endangered, or Threatened Wildlife and Rare Plant Conservation Act," reflecting its broader scope. It empowers the Division of Parks and Wildlife to undertake voluntary programs to conserve and protect invertebrates, filling a crucial gap in our ecosystem management.

Colorado's workers deserve fair and comprehensive support when injured on the job. I sponsored HB24-1220 to modernize and improve our workers' compensation system. This law allows injured workers to refuse modified employment that requires driving if their doctor has restricted them from doing so. It adds the loss of an ear to the list of injuries eligible for whole person permanent impairment benefits. Importantly, it significantly increases the benefit limits: up to $185,000 for impairment ratings of 19% or less, and up to $300,000 for ratings above 19%. The bill also requires insurers to offer direct deposit for benefit payments upon request. These changes ensure our workers' compensation system better meets the needs of injured workers, providing more comprehensive coverage and convenient payment options.

Access to quality child care is crucial for Colorado families. I sponsored HB24-1237 to create three innovative programs that will boost child care facility development across our state. This law establishes a toolkit and technical assistance program to help providers and communities plan and build child care facilities. It also creates a planning grant program for local governments to update regulations supporting child care development. Additionally, it introduces a capital grant program to fund the construction and renovation of child care facilities. With $250,000 in initial funding and the potential for additional resources, we're making a significant investment in expanding child care access.

Every student deserves to feel safe and respected at school, regardless of their physical appearance. I sponsored HB24-1285 to address a serious form of bullying that often goes unrecognized. This law adds patterns of bullying based on a student's weight, height, or body size to the prohibited behaviors in school district and charter school discipline policies. By explicitly including these forms of bullying, we're sending a clear message that targeting students for their physical appearance is unacceptable. This expansion of anti-bullying policies will help create more inclusive and supportive learning environments, ensuring all students can focus on their education without fear of harassment.

Every student deserves a safe and comfortable learning environment. I sponsored HB24-1307 to ensure our schools have proper heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This law sets stringent requirements for HVAC improvements in schools when using federal or combined federal and state funds. It mandates thorough assessments, professional reviews, and regular maintenance of HVAC systems. The bill also ensures only certified contractors perform this crucial work. To support our schools, it allows them to apply for grants for these projects and provides grant writing and administrative support through the Governor's office.

The safety of our educators is paramount to maintaining quality education in Colorado. I sponsored HB24-1320 to create the Educator Safety Task Force, bringing together diverse perspectives to address crucial safety issues in our schools. This task force will review laws affecting staff safety, examine the impact of staff shortages on student behavior, and investigate incidents of aggressive behavior towards educators. It will also consider how funding, resource inequality, and lack of wraparound services affect learning environments. By June 30, 2025, the task force will provide recommendations to key education stakeholders and policymakers. With an appropriation of $146,250, we're investing in finding comprehensive solutions to ensure our educators can focus on teaching in safe, supportive environments.

Maintaining high professional standards in architecture, engineering, and land surveying is crucial for Colorado's safety and development. I sponsored HB24-1329 to continue the state board of licensure for these professions for another nine years, until 2033. This bill implements key recommendations from the 2023 sunset review, enhancing the board's effectiveness. It strengthens disciplinary processes, updates examination references, and grants the board authority to establish continuing education requirements. We've also modernized the law by removing citizenship and residency requirements for board members and replacing gendered language with inclusive terms. These changes ensure our licensing system remains robust and adaptable, supporting both professionals and public safety in our rapidly growing state.

Agriculture is a vital part of Colorado's heritage and economy. I sponsored HB24-1369 to create a special Colorado agriculture license plate, allowing Coloradans to show their support for our farming and ranching communities. For a one-time additional fee of $25, drivers can proudly display this plate on their vehicles. The funds generated will be credited to the highway users tax fund, supporting our state's transportation infrastructure. This bill not only celebrates our agricultural roots but also provides a new revenue stream for road improvements. With appropriations totaling over $33,000 to implement the program, we're investing in both our agricultural pride and our transportation future.

Safe, healthy housing is crucial for all Coloradans, especially in our rural communities. I sponsored HB24-1457 to create a pilot grant program helping rural local governments tackle dangerous asbestos and lead paint in housing and development projects. Starting July 1, 2025, this program will award grants to offset abatement costs, making renovations and new developments safer and more feasible. The program is funded by up to $200,000 annually from penalties and fines related to hazardous materials violations. By providing this crucial support, we're not only improving public health but also encouraging rural development and revitalization. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to the safety and growth of Colorado's rural communities.