It has been a successful week at the Capitol – a bill that I am running with Representative David Ortiz creates a new agency we are calling the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO) and passed committee unanimously. We had a large turnout from the community that came to testify and show support. 1 in 4 Coloradans are affected by disabilities; CDOO would create a resource tasked with serving as a central resource and liaison for disability-related matters in the state. Responsibilities include facilitating societal inclusion, developing recommendations for grants and restructuring, and promoting economic stability and integration for individuals with disabilities. We also had one of our bills pass the House (Training Repayment Agreements / TRAP bill), I would like to thank the Attorney General’s office for all of their hard work with me on this bill and the constituents who brought this worker protection issue to my attention.
Below I want to highlight some of the bills that I have Co-Sponsored that also passed the House this week and are now on their way to the Senate.
HB24-1089 - Vehicle Electronic Notifications. This bill would have the Department of Revenue create a process for which a vehicle owner can request to receive electronic communications, instead of written notifications. These electronic notifications would concern vehicle transactions and would allow electronic notifications for vehicle registration renewals and issuance of license plates. While this opens the gate for electronic communications between state and vehicle owners it would still require states to revoke driver licenses through physical notification.
HB24-1229 - Presumptive Eligibility for Long-Term Care. This bill has passed through the House and hastens the process for someone getting accepted to long-term care facilities. This bill would remove the full assessment required of a person before their acceptance. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will be able to create its own set of requirements for authorization, for requirements of a person in need of long-term services and support.
HB24-1161 - Motor Vehicle Access Individuals with Disabilities. This bill would aim to have car-sharing programs in Colorado disclose accessibility modifications for each shared car. Additionally, local governments would be required, from January 1, 2026, to approve new construction or remodeling of electric vehicle charging stations with specific accessibility standards, including width, access aisles, and height for wheelchair users. Locations with multiple charging stations would have to adhere to federal ADA guidelines for accessible charging stations. The bill clarifies that individuals must not obstruct access to reserved parking, and law enforcement must promptly investigate complaints of blocked accessible parking.
Keep up for further updates on the progress of introduced bills and ongoing legislative efforts.
