Updated June 10, 2024.
The Denver Foundation is proud to lend our voice to important issues that impact our community. Every year, we engage in policy proposals at the local and state level in the areas of economic opportunity, education, environment, housing and transportation, and at the federal level on issues that the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. This year, there are several exciting policy proposals that will keep residents safe and healthy at home, preserve affordable housing options, and promote free transit during ozone season.
We examine policy issues to ensure they align with the foundation priorities and our policy principles, which we developed based on our policy framework and feedback from nonprofit organizations, grantees, fundholders, and community members.
Below are the policy positions we are taking during the 2024 legislative session:
Economic Opportunity
We believe economic opportunity is achievable when the community has the tools and resources to build individual and community wealth.
HB24-1148: Amending Terms of Consumer Lending Laws
- What is this about: This bill updates the “Uniform Consumer Credit Code” calculation to reduce the annual percentage rate on certain loans provided by nonbank lending institutions.
- Why we care: Add-on costs and fees are a growing concern for Coloradans. These additional charges quickly add up and exacerbate financial challenges for consumers. This bill will help consumers have the right information when choosing lending options for essential expenses.
- Status: Died in Senate Finance Committee
- For more information about this policy, click here.
HB24: 1157: Employee-Owned Business & Income Tax Credit
- What this is about: This bill provides a new tax credit of up to $50,000 per year to support new employee-owned companies. The bill also creates the Employee Ownership Office within the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
- Why we care: Businesses that are employee-owned help further economic opportunity for communities through higher wages and better working conditions. This bill increases tax credits to support the costs associated with converting a business to an employee-owned model.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
HB24-1311: Family Affordability Tax Credit
- What is this about: This bill creates the “Family Affordability Tax Credit,” which will provide families, depending on their filing status and income level, with a tax return of up to $25,000 using excess TABOR refund funding.
- Why we care: This bill will help put more money into the pockets of the nearly 50% of families in Colorado making up to $95,000 a year. Combined with existing tax credits families are eligible for, this will help cut child poverty in half.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy, click here.
SB24-053: Racial Equity Study
- What this is about: This bill establishes a study that looks at state policy to determine any historical and ongoing effects of slavery and systemic racism on Black Coloradans.
- Why we care: It is imperative to understand these issues if we want to support racial equity. By collecting data and stories connected to the experience of Black Coloradans, we can better understand how policies have impacted wealth building, education, housing, and other important issues.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy, click here.
Education
We believe that access to a well-funded and racially equitable education system is critical for communities to thrive.
HB24-1448 – New Public School Finance Formula
- What this is about: This bill updates the state’s approach to determine how much funding is allocated per student. The update is based on components of the recommendations from the public-school finance task force report. It will increase funding for students who are considered at-risk, English language learners, and students with special needs.
- Why we care: This bill will modernize the state’s approach to public school finance to ensure districts have the resources to serve at-risk students, English language learners, and those with special needs.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy, click here.
Environment and Climate
HB24-1338: Cumulative Impacts and Environmental Justice
- What this is about: This bill creates the Office of Environmental Justice to develop recommendations for the state to achieve its environmental justice goals. The bill also requires the office to develop and assess the impacts of projects on air quality and health and wellness by using an environmental equity and cumulative impact analysis for projects in specific areas of the state.
- Why we care: This bill comes from the recommendations of the Environmental Justice Task Force’s recommendations and will equip the state to assess the impacts of projects on communities disproportionally impacted by pollution and the climate crisis.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
SB24-218: Modernize Energy Distribution Systems
- What this is about: This bill adopts a series of policy changes that help increase the capacity of the local electric grid in Colorado. The changes include requiring certain utility companies to upgrade their distribution systems to support the state’s goals on transportation electrification and decarbonization and the creation of a grant program to support apprenticeships for line workers in the energy sector.
- Why we care: Increasing the creation of renewable energy across Metro Denver is important to reduce greenhouse emissions. This policy will help improve buildings’ electrification and solar energy production.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
SB24-229: Ozone Mitigation Measures
- What is this about: This bill builds off current law to improve the state’s oil and gas permitting process and ability to reduce pollution from the oil and gas sector. The bill also provides resources for community liaisons to help improve collaboration between state agencies and disproportionally impacted communities.
- Why we care: To improve air quality in the Metro Denver region, we need more collaboration between state agencies to implement strategies that will reduce emissions. This bill helps create more authority and resources to help the state in its efforts to reduce pollution.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information on this policy proposal, click here.
Environment and Climate |
Housing
We believe that environmental justice begins with targeted policy efforts and investments in under-resourced communities to address the impacts of climate change.
We believe the continuum of housing programs designed to address affordable housing and homelessness should be well-funded and respond to the history of exclusionary housing policies.
SB24-094- Safe Housing for Residential Tenants
- What this is about: This bill updates Colorado’s Warranty of Habitability law which requires landlords to maintain a minimum standard of healthy housing.
- Why we care: Tenants deserve a clearer process to request repairs from landlords, such as fixing mold issues or sewage leaks. This bill also aims to increase access to cooling options during episodes of extreme heat, which will benefit individuals with a disability or prone to chronic health issues.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy, click here.
- Other items: A fact sheet on the bill is available HERE. The press release about the legislature approving the bill is on our website.
Environment and Climate |Housing and Transportation
HB24-1313: Housing in Transit-Oriented Communities
- What this is about: This bill establishes a transit-oriented community, which is a new category of local government. The bill creates requirements for transit-oriented communities to plan for the development of housing in areas with access to bus or light rail service.
- Why we care: Colorado needs new affordable housing options for those of all income levels. This bill aims to help reduce the regulations currently in place to allow for multi-family housing near transit lines. The creation of such affordable housing options will help increase the number of individuals using bus or rail transportation, which helps reduce emissions
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
Housing
We believe the continuum of housing programs designed to address affordable housing and homelessness should be well-funded and respond to the history of exclusionary housing policies.
HB24-1007: Prohibit Residential Occupancy Limits
- What this is about: This bill prevents local governments from enacting or enforcing limits on how many unrelated people can live together, unless there are health, safety, or welfare concerns.
- Why we care: This bill helps preserve affordable housing options, such as cooperatives or renting a room within a multi-room home. These housing options are inclusive and reduce barriers to individuals and families looking to find housing near their jobs, schools, or communities they grew up in. This is a particularly important tool as we work to address the affordable housing crisis in Colorado.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy, click here.
HB24-1098: Cause Required for Eviction of Residential Tenant
- What this is about: This bill establishes a framework for when a landlord can legally evict a tenant. Such reasons include non-payment of rent, lease violations, or criminal activity.
- Why we care: The two most common self-reported causes of homelessness in Denver are inability to pay rent and eviction. This bill would give more Coloradans a greater sense of housing security and a safe and stable place to call home, regardless of their zip code, race, or income level.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
HB24-1175: Local Governments Rights to Property for Affordable Housing
- What this is about: This bill establishes a process for local governments to make offers to purchase existing affordable housing and market-rate multi-family developments that become available for sale.
- Why we care: Preserving the long-term affordability of existing properties will help increase Colorado’s affordable housing supply and mitigate the displacement of community members from their homes.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
HB24-1322: Medicaid Coverage Housing and Nutrition Assistance
- What this is about: This bill directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to conduct a feasibility study to explore the feasibility of seeking federal authorization to provide nutrition and housing services that address Medicaid members’ health-related social needs.
- Why we care: This bill will help the state of Colorado understand how a federal waiver for Medicaid, which is the health care coverage for low-income Coloradans, can increase funding for services to keep people housed.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
SB24-174: Sustainable Affordable Housing Assistance
- What this is about: This bill requires the Department of Local Affairs to develop reasonable methodologies for conducting statewide, regional, and local housing needs assessments and reasonable guidance for a local government to identify areas at elevated risk of displacement.
- Why we care: This bill provides financial resources and technical assistance for local governments to conduct a housing needs assessment and develop housing action plans to support the development of housing for residents.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy, click here.
Transportation
We believe that access to reliable and affordable public transportation options is a core function of a thriving community.
SB24-032: Methods to Increase the Use of Transit
- What this is about: This bill continues funding for free transit during ozone season, creates a youth fare-free transit grant program for the Regional Transportation District, and establishes a statewide transit pass exploratory committee.
- Why we care: Funding is a critical aspect of increasing transit access to individuals and families that are cost-burdened. This policy proposal continues programs that have been successful by investing more in our transit systems.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
SB24-184: Support Surface Transportation Infrastructure Development
- What this is about: This bill establishes a congestion impact fee on rental cars to help reduce congestion from driving while raising funding for statewide transportation. The bill also says that the Colorado Transportation Investment Office will develop a 10-year capital plan that prioritizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions from driving.
- Why we care: This bill establishes a dedicated funding source to further multimodal projects, such as public transportation, to increase accessibility and affordability of such options across Metro Denver and Colorado.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
SB24-230: Oil & Gas Production Fee
- What this is about: This bill adopts a new fee on oil and gas production. The fee is estimated to raise roughly $138 million a year, with a majority of the funding going toward the expansion of local transit services.
- Why we care: Investment in public transit service through dedicated funding will help address some of the root problems with our public transit system that prevent people from using transit services. These problems include staffing, cost, and service, that prevent people from using transit services. By increasing funding for transit operations, we can help improve accessibility and affordability for bus service in Metro Denver.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
Critical and timely issues
Under our policy principles, The Denver Foundation maintains an opportunity for engagement in “critical and timely” policy proposals. Recent examples include policy proposals to address the COVID-19 pandemic and racial reckoning. The following critical and timely issues have been identified as appropriate for the foundation’s engagement during this legislative session.
HB24-1280: Welcome, Reception, & Integration Grant Program
- What this is about: Creates the statewide Welcome, Reception, and Integration Grant Program to provide grants to community-based organizations that provide culturally and linguistically appropriate navigation of services and programs to migrants who are within one year of arrival in the U.S.
- Why we care: Nonprofits across Metro Denver and Colorado are leading efforts to support migrants with resources to find housing, employment opportunities, mental health services, and other needs as individuals and families integrate into our community. This bill will help further the capacity of organizations to do this critical work.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
HB24-1286: Equal Justice Funding Authority
- What this is about: This bill creates the Equal Justice Fund Authority to administer the Equal Justice Fund to give money to local organizations that provide legal representation and legal advice to low-income individuals. Funding for this authority would come from an increase in civic court filing fees.
- Why we care: As the manager of the Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund, we recognize the importance of legal representation for individuals going through the court process. Establishing a dedicated funding source will increase access to legal representation for the legal needs of the most vulnerable Coloradans.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
HB24-1389: School Funding 2023-24 for New Arrival Students
- What this is about: This bill appropriates $24 million from the state education fund for the Department of Education to provide one-time funding to school districts and charter schools that enroll new arrival students across Colorado.
- Why we care: School districts across Metro Denver and Colorado are developing strategies to serve the thousands of new arrival students enrolling in schools. This funding will help districts provide services to newly arrived students and continue to support existing students.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.
SB24-182: Immigrant Identification Document Issuance
- What this is about: This bill updates the state’s Standard License program, which was established in the 2013 legislative session to provide access to individuals seeking a driver’s license or identification card. The updates to the current program will standardize the proof of residency requirement and allow individuals not lawfully present in the United States to apply for a state ID in the process of proceedings.
- Why we care: Updating the current processes and documentation requirements will help individuals going through the immigration process secure documentation to help obtain housing, employment, or other timely resources.
- Status: Signed into law.
- For more information about this policy proposal, click here.