Sine Die.

The term "sine die" is a Latin phrase that means to ajourn business or proceedings with no appointed date for resumption. Our Colorado Constitution stipulates that regular sessions of the General Assembly shall not exceed 120 calendar days, which means we will declare sine die on Wednesday, May 8 and my final legislative session will come to a close. In these final days, three more Latin phrases come to mind that help sum up the session and my term as your Senator:

"Nosce te ipsum." This translates into the common phrase "Know thyself." Working in the state legislature for nine years produced many opportunities to achieve a higher level of personal growth, as well as an understanding of my own strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals. For example, I came into the state legislature with a set of fixed viewpoints, only to discover that the issues were more complicated. If I wanted to represent the interests of all my constituents, I had to dig deeper into certain policies and recognize when I was relying too heavily on my own personal biases. This wasn't an easy process, but in retrospect, I believe it has become one of the better parts of my experience as a legislator.

"Per aspera ad astra." This quote means “Through hardships to the stars.” Put simply, we must persevere through difficulties and challenges to achieve our goals and aspirations. Some of the biggest challenges I faced in the state legislature concerned school finance, balancing the state budget, and conflicts over land use policy. In the first two examples (school finance and the budget), I believe we made tremendous progress. I sponsored the School Finance Act several times, and this year we finally eliminated the BS factor and fully funded our schools. Also, as a member of the Joint Budget Committee, I helped shape the state budget for five years, and even during the pandemic, we balanced the budget in a way that achieved our goals and needs. The third area on land use policy, however, was a huge disappointment to me. I was mostly unsuccessful in convincing my colleagues to avoid preempting local governments of their land use authority. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that some level of good will still occur, particularly on affordable housing.

"Dum spiro spero." This quote means “While I breathe, I hope.” This phrase expresses the idea that as long as one is alive and able to breathe, we must have hope and should persist toward our goals. Even though I am at the end of my term as a state senator, new experiences and challenges lie ahead for me. I have already declared myself a candidate for Jefferson County Commissioner and will kickoff my campaign on June 9 (see below for more details). We have two great candidates, Lindsey Daugherty and Obi Ezeadi, competing for the Senate District 19 seat, and I'm excited by our distict's future. Lastly, while the national political climate may seem overly negative, the communites of Arvada and Westminster feel hopeful and positive. It's been my honor to you and our community's interests in the state legislature. Thank you!

Passed! SB24-008 Kinship Foster Care Homes: Concerning increasing support for kinship foster care homes. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Passed! SB24-070 Remote Testing & Online Education Programs: Concerning allowing online education programs to offer remote state assessment testing to students who attend online education programs. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Postponed Indefinitely: SB24-106 Right to Remedy Construction Defects: Concerning legal actions based on claimed defects in construction projects. The bill was postponed indefinitely in the House Transportation and Local Government Committee.

Passed! SB24-143 Credential Quality Apprenticeship Classification: Concerning credential assessment tools, and, in connection therewith, integrating frameworks for nondegree credential evaluation and classification into state education and workforce systems and aligning stackable credential pathways and apprenticeship programs with international classification standards. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Passed! SB24-170 America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission: Concerning the America 250 - Colorado 150 commission. The bill is in the House awaiting second reading.

Passed! SB24-174 Sustainable Affordable Housing Assistance: Concerning state support for sustainable affordable housing, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed the House Local Government Transportation Committee and was referred to Appropriations.

Passed! SB24-188 Public School Finance: Concerning the financing of public schools. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Passed! SB24-191 Host Homes for Youth: Concerning the operation of host homes for youth. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Passed! SB24-215 Modify Effective Date of House Bill 24-1421: Concerning modification of the effective date of House Bill 24-1421. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Passed! SB24-217 Office of Administrative Services for Independent Agencies: Concerning the repeal and reenactment of the law enacted by Senate Bill 23-228 that created the office of administrative services for independent agencies in the judicial department. The bill is in the House awaiting second reading.

Passed! HB24-1089 Vehicle Electronic Notifications: Concerning the use of electronic notifications for vehicle transactions. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1434 Expand Affordable Housing Tax Credit: Concerning an expansion to the affordable housing tax credit. The bill is in the Senate awaiting second reading.

Passed! HB24-1448 New Public School Finance Formula: Concerning the creation of a modernized approach to funding public education. The bill passed the Senate on second reading.

Passed! HB24-1458 Create Division of Animal Welfare in Department of Agriculture: Concerning the creation of the division of animal welfare in the department of agriculture. The bill is in the Senate awaiting second reading.

Passed! HB24-1462 Third-Party Audit Department of Corrections: Concerning a third-party evaluation of the department of corrections' budget practices, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill is in the Senate awaiting second reading.

Passed! HB24-1465 Program Changes Refinance Coronavirus Recovery Funds: Concerning changes related to programs funded with money the state received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund, and, in connection therewith, changing appropriations. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1466 Refinance Federal Coronavirus Recovery Funds: Concerning exchanging money received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund with state money, and, in connection therewith, ensuring that money received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund is spent in accordance with deadlines established in federal law and making and reducing appropriations. The bill passed and is on its way to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1467 Modifications to the State Personnel Total Compensation: Concerning modifications to the state employee total compensation philosophy, and, in connection therewith, requiring the director of personnel to establish a step pay system for state employees in the state personnel system. The bill passed the Senate on second reading.

Passed! HB24-1469 Collections for Another Government: Concerning the classification of certain collections as collections for another government for purposes of calculating state fiscal year spending pursuant to section 20 of article X of the state constitution. The bill passed Senate Appropriations and is in the Senate awaiting second reading.

NEW! HB24-1470 Eliminate Premium Tax to Health Insurance Affordability Fund: Concerning the elimination of the allocation of a portion of premium tax revenues to the health insurance affordability cash fund. The bill passed the House and is on its way to the Senate.

May 4, 2024 Colorado Public Radio: Colorado's lawmakers are five days - and 300 bills - away from adjournment

May 4, 2024 Colorado Newsline: Parking minimums would be eased in some Colorado communities under Senate-passed bill

May 3, 2024 The Denver Post: Colorado legislature: Both approaches on construction defects reform appear headed for early deaths

May 3, 2024 Greeley Tribune: Colorado Senate kills bill barring rent-setting algorithms as Democrats spar over

May 3, 2024 The Durango Herald: Colorado owes taxpayers $34M in refunds it never sent

May 2, 2024 The Colorado Sun: Colorado owes taxpayers $34M in refunds it never sent. That means trouble for the state budget.

May 2, 2024 Colorado Public Radio: Ban on “rent algorithms” dies after Senate Democrats force a major change

May 2, 2024 The Denver Post: Colorado Democrats spar over bill to prohibit rent-setting algorithms

May 2, 2024 Law360: Colo. House OKs Boost To Affordable Housing Tax Credit

May 1, 2024 Kiowa County Press: Governor Polis signs $40.6 billion Colorado budget into law

May 1, 2024 The Denver Post: Colorado legislature updates: House passes child tax credits, new school funding formula; police oversight bill stalls

April 30, 2024 Colorado Newsline: Gov. Polis signs $40.6 billion Colorado state budget

April 30, 2024 The Center Square: Polis signs $40.6 billion Colorado budget into law

May 3, 2024 RELEASE: Committee Advances New School Finance Formula to Increase Equity in School Funding, Support Rural Districts

May 3, 2024 RELEASE: Senate Committee Passes Bipartisan Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Housing

May 1, 2024 Governor Polis Signs Bills Into Law

May 1, 2024 House Advances New School Finance Formula to Increase Equity in School Funding, Support Rural Districts

April 30, 2024 JOINT RELEASE: Gov. Polis Signs Budget to Support K-12 Schools and Hardworking Families

April 30, 2024 Governor Polis Signs Bills Into Law

Legislative Town Hall Meeting: Legislative Wrap-up



Please join myself and the House Reps for our next legislative town hall meeting. The session ends on May 8, therefore we will provide a wrap-up of the legislative session. Come learn about the bills we passed and the progress we made for Colorado! The meeting will be on Saturday, May 18 at 10:30 am at the Standley Lake Library (and NOT the golf course). For more information, click HERE.

Save the date for commissioner campaign kickoff

Please join me and Commissioner Andy Kerr for a campaign kickoff in support of our races for county commissioner! The event will take place on Sunday, June 9 from 2 pm - 4 pm at the Green Mountain Beer Company, 2585 S Lewis Way #110, Lakewood, CO 80227. If you would like to become a Host or Co-Host of the event, please send me an email at rachelforcolorado@gmail.com. Also, if you are unable to join us, but would like to contribute, please click HERE. Thanks!