Colorado State Legislature 101
The Colorado General Assembly is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 35 members, the House has 65 members.
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Members of the House are elected every two years and may serve 4 terms or 8 years. Members of the Senate are elected every 4 years and may serve 2 terms or 8 years.
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The General Assembly meets annually from January to May. From June to December, legislators meet with the community and stakeholders, work on legislation to introduce in the next session, respond to constituents and participate in tours and conferences to grown their expertise. Special sessions may be convened by either the Governor or by written request of at least two-thirds of the members of each chamber.
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Every legislative session, each legislator is allowed to introduce 5 bills on any topic. Each bill is guaranteed a public hearing via committee and formal action (an up or down vote). Bills that come over from the opposite chamber do not count against a member's 5 bill limit. Additional bills must be approved by the Majoirty Leadership team.
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Jenny's Committee Assignments & Legislation
During the 75th General Assembly, Jenny was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve as Chair of the State, Civic, Military and Veteran's Affairs Committee; member of the Legislative Audit Committee and member of the Energy and Environment Committee.
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During the 74th General Assembly, Jenny was a tremendously effective advocate for Northglenn and Thornton, passing a total of 29 bills that were signed by Governor Polis. Read on to learn about about the bills passed! Please note that the title of each bill is hyperlinked in the event that you'd like to learn more.
2024
Special Session
August 2024
During the 2024 Extraordinary Legislative Session, I stepped up with my colleagues to avoid steep property tax hikes while leading a multi-year effort to deliver meaningful relief while protecting critical funding for schools and local services. For context, in May, SB24-233 passed on a vote of 92-8 to responsibly reduce statewide local taxes by more than $1 billion and protect Coloradans against future spikes in property taxes. Click here to learn more about how recent legislation may impact you.
2024
General Session
January - May 2024
This session, we passed 525 bills that will save you money, create safer and healthier communities, and prepare our students for success, helping EVERY Coloradan thrive! We passed long-term property tax reductions, invested millions into increased transportation options across the state, and made significant progress in achieving our air quality and climate goals.
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Here is the legislation I sponsored that was signed into law:
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HB24-1081 Repeal & Reenact Earned Income Tax Credit Increase
Concerning the repeal and reenactment of the law enacted by House Bill 23B-1002 that increased the earned income tax credit for 2023, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
HB24-1153 Physician Continuing Education
Concerning continuing education requirements for physicians.
HB24-1164 Free Menstrual Products to Students
Concerning measures to provide menstrual products at no expense to students, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
HB24-1223 Improved Access to the Child Care Assistance Program
Concerning the improvement of programs that benefit working families, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
HB24-1283: Secretary of State Review of Municipal Campaign Finance Complaints
Concerning a requirement that the secretary of state review a campaign finance complaint that arises out of a municipal campaign finance matter under certain circumstances, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
HB24-1311 Family Affordability Tax Credit
Concerning the creation of a family affordability tax credit, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
HB24-1341 State Vehicle Idling Standard
Concerning idling that is at least as stringent as, but not less stringent than, the state standard.
HB24-1370 Reduce Cost of Use of Natural Gas
Concerning measures to reduce the cost of use of natural gas infrastructure, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
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HB24-1439 Financial Incentives Expand Apprenticeship Programs
Concerning financial incentives related to apprenticeship programs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
SB24-229 Ozone Mitigation Measures
Concerning measures to mitigate ozone pollution in the state, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
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SB24-134 Operation of Home-Based Businesses
Concerning the operation of a home-based business in a common interest community.
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SB24-113 Safer Youth Sports
Concerning measures to make youth sports safer.
SB24-040 State Funding for Senior Services
Concerning reviewing the adequacy of the appropriation for state funding for senior services every three years.
SB24-011 Online-Facilitated Misconduct & Remote Tracking
Concerning measures to increase protection from harm caused through the use of technology.
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2023
Special Session
November 2023
With the need for urgent property tax cuts, more rental assistance, and tax relief for working families, Colorado Democrats delivered results during the 2023 Extraordinary Session of the 74th General Assembly to make Colorado more affordable for all. I was proud to partner with Rep. Mary Young to double the state's Earned Income Tax Credit for the 2023 tax year, targeting $185 million in tax relief for the Coloradans who need it the most.
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HB23B-1002 Increased Earned Income Tax Credit 2023
Concerning an increase in the earned income tax credit for income tax year 2023, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
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2023
General Session
January - May 2023
This was my first session and I worked hard to be responsive to the most pressing needs in Colorado and I believe that we delivered results. This session focused on gun violence prevention, fully funding K-12 public schools, meeting our workforce demands, improving air quality and reducing the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs.
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Here is the legislation I sponsored that was signed into law:
HB23-1005 New Energy Improvement Program Changes
Concerning changes to the new energy improvement program, and, in connection therewith, adding resiliency improvements and water efficiency improvements to the program, modifying the new energy improvement district's notice requirements, and removing the district's hearing requirement.
HB23-1031 Mental Health Professionals Reporting Exemption
Concerning an exemption for mental health professionals from requirements to report information about individuals with a sexually transmitted infection to public health entities.
HB23-1077 Informed Consent To Intimate Patient Examinations
Concerning a requirement to obtain a patient's informed consent before performing an intimate examination of the patient under specified circumstances, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
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HB23-1158 Colorado Commodity Supplemental Food Grant Program
Concerning the creation of the Colorado commodity supplemental food grant program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
HB23-1161 Environmental Standards For Appliances
Concerning environmental standards for certain products, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
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HB23-1228 Nursing Facility Reimbursement Rate Setting
Concerning nursing facility reimbursement rate setting, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
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HB23-1245 Campaign Practices For Municipal Elections
Concerning requirements under the "Fair Campaign Practices Act" for municipal elections.
HB23-1294 Pollution Protection Measures
Concerning measures to protect communities from pollution, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
SB23-017 Additional Uses Paid Sick Leave
Concerning the addition of qualifying uses of paid sick leave, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
SB23-058 Job Application Fairness Act
Concerning required disclosures of age-related information on job applications, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
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SB23-155 Sunset Continue Nursing Home Administrators
Concerning the continuation of the regulation of nursing home administrators, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations in the 2022 sunset report by the department of regulatory agencies.
SB23-186 Oil And Gas Commission Study Methane Seepage Raton Basin
Concerning methane seepage in the Raton basin of Colorado, and, in connection therewith, requiring the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission to complete a study and making an appropriation.
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SB23-260 Individual Access To Publicly Funded Vaccines
Concerning access to publicly funded vaccines.
SB23-261 Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board
Concerning the creation of the direct care workforce stabilization board to develop recommendations regarding direct care workers, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.