Past Committees
The House Committee on Business, Affairs & Labor considers matters concerning the regulation of professions and occupations, property and casualty insurance, unemployment insurance, health insurance, workers' compensation insurance, economic development, banks and financial institutions, real estate, labor, and technology. In addition, the committee has legislative oversight responsibility for the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Personnel and Administration, the Department of Regulatory Agencies, the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
The House Education Committee considers matters concerning K-12 public schools, including public school accountability and school finance; and higher education, including administration and governance, tuition, and financial assistance.
The House Finance Committee generally considers matters related to a broad range of public finance proposals including legislation that affects the state's revenue and tax structure. In addition, the committee has legislative oversight responsibility for the Public Employees' Retirement Association, Department of Revenue, State Treasury, and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting.
2016 House Session
Clarify Tax Exemptions For Housing Authorities (HB16-1006) – Reps. Garnett & Becker K.
Colorado has an affordable housing crisis that is changing the dynamic of neighborhoods overnight. This bill will make sure that the entities whose sole mission is to deliver affordable housing can stretch every dollar to its maximum. Specifically, the bill clarifies the exemption from government charges for property owned by or leased to a housing authority. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
School District Crime Insurance In Lieu Of Bonds (HB16-1013) – Rep. Garnett
Every year we hear about the funding shortfall in our schools, and how our per-pupil spending is 48th in the country. My goal is to increase efficiency and save school districts money in any way I can. This bill allows school districts to purchase crime insurance instead of surety bonds because it’s more efficient and will save school districts money. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Change Name Area Vocational Schools (HB16-1082) – Reps. Garnett & Willett
I believe everyone doesn’t have to get a four-year college degree to be successful in today’s economy. Too many kids are coming out of school with unmanageable amounts of student loan debt. To meet our workforce and high-school students needs we must promote vocational and technical education. Under this bill, the governing board of an area vocational school may, by resolution, change the name of the area vocational school to an area technical college. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Sunset Review Skolnik Medical Transparency Act (HB16-1157) – Reps. Garnett & Kraft-Tharp
In accordance with the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies contained in its sunset review, the bill establishes a separate, periodic sunset review for the healthcare professions profile program, established in the Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010. The initial sunset review will occur in 2020, with a termination date of September 1, 2021, if the program is not extended. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Business Income Tax Credit Offer Apprenticeships (HB16-1301) – Rep. Garnett
To meet Colorado’s growing workforce shortage and to better prepare high-school students to succeed in our changing economy, Colorado needs to increase opportunities to develop state of the art skills. Through apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeships, Colorado students need to gain access to different industries where they can learn the skills needed to hit the ground running. This bill would have provided a state income tax credit to employers who hire workers that are either preparing for or participating in a qualified pre-apprenticeship or an apprenticeship program. This bill passed the House and died in the Senate on a party-line vote.
Student Data Collection Use Security (HB16-1423) – Reps. Garnett & Lundeen
A constituent brought to my attention the frightening reality that our student’s personally identifiable information is not protected in the classroom. The advancements in technology have put a tablet or a laptop in front of every kid. Every day our students are creating a digital trail that can be sold by corporations for profit. This bill prohibits certain uses of the data and protects the future of our students. It’s the strongest student data privacy bill passed in the country, and hopefully will be used as a model for other states in the future. This bill is waiting to be signed by the Governor.
Sales & Use Tax Exemption Residential Energy (HB16-1457) – Reps. Garnett & Wilson
The Department of Revenue misinterpreted what had been existing law since 1980 and was charging commercial prices for residential use. This bill will help keep energy costs low for the middle class and our seniors. This bill is waiting to be signed by the Governor.
Increase BEST Purchase-Lease Payment Cap (SB16-072) – Sen. Kerr, Reps. Garnett & Wilson
The BEST program collects resources to pay for school reconstruction and rehabilitation across the state. With the increase in recreational marijuana excise taxes the state has the ability to fix more schools. This bill raises the cap for the BEST program so that the state of Colorado can enter into more capital construction agreements. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Higher Education Tuition Pledged For Bonding (SB16-121) – Sen. Tate & Rep. Garnett
Colorado’s investment in higher education has dwindled over the past decade, and I pledged to my constituents to help save higher education institutions money. Under current law, a state institution of higher education or group of institutions may pledge up to 10 percent of tuition revenues of the institution for purposes of entering into contracts for the advancement of money. The bill allows an institution or group of institutions to pledge up to 100 percent of tuition revenue saving the institution millions of dollars in capital costs. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
State Bank Meeting Frequency (SB16-126) – Sen. Roberts, Reps. Garnett & Nordberg
The bill changes the current statutory requirement for a state bank board of directors to meet at least quarterly from at least monthly unless the banking board directs that meetings be held on a more frequent or less frequent basis. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
The House Education Committee considers matters concerning K-12 public schools, including public school accountability and school finance; and higher education, including administration and governance, tuition, and financial assistance.
The House Finance Committee generally considers matters related to a broad range of public finance proposals including legislation that affects the state's revenue and tax structure. In addition, the committee has legislative oversight responsibility for the Public Employees' Retirement Association, Department of Revenue, State Treasury, and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting.
2016 House Session
Clarify Tax Exemptions For Housing Authorities (HB16-1006) – Reps. Garnett & Becker K.
Colorado has an affordable housing crisis that is changing the dynamic of neighborhoods overnight. This bill will make sure that the entities whose sole mission is to deliver affordable housing can stretch every dollar to its maximum. Specifically, the bill clarifies the exemption from government charges for property owned by or leased to a housing authority. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
School District Crime Insurance In Lieu Of Bonds (HB16-1013) – Rep. Garnett
Every year we hear about the funding shortfall in our schools, and how our per-pupil spending is 48th in the country. My goal is to increase efficiency and save school districts money in any way I can. This bill allows school districts to purchase crime insurance instead of surety bonds because it’s more efficient and will save school districts money. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Change Name Area Vocational Schools (HB16-1082) – Reps. Garnett & Willett
I believe everyone doesn’t have to get a four-year college degree to be successful in today’s economy. Too many kids are coming out of school with unmanageable amounts of student loan debt. To meet our workforce and high-school students needs we must promote vocational and technical education. Under this bill, the governing board of an area vocational school may, by resolution, change the name of the area vocational school to an area technical college. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Sunset Review Skolnik Medical Transparency Act (HB16-1157) – Reps. Garnett & Kraft-Tharp
In accordance with the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies contained in its sunset review, the bill establishes a separate, periodic sunset review for the healthcare professions profile program, established in the Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010. The initial sunset review will occur in 2020, with a termination date of September 1, 2021, if the program is not extended. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Business Income Tax Credit Offer Apprenticeships (HB16-1301) – Rep. Garnett
To meet Colorado’s growing workforce shortage and to better prepare high-school students to succeed in our changing economy, Colorado needs to increase opportunities to develop state of the art skills. Through apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeships, Colorado students need to gain access to different industries where they can learn the skills needed to hit the ground running. This bill would have provided a state income tax credit to employers who hire workers that are either preparing for or participating in a qualified pre-apprenticeship or an apprenticeship program. This bill passed the House and died in the Senate on a party-line vote.
Student Data Collection Use Security (HB16-1423) – Reps. Garnett & Lundeen
A constituent brought to my attention the frightening reality that our student’s personally identifiable information is not protected in the classroom. The advancements in technology have put a tablet or a laptop in front of every kid. Every day our students are creating a digital trail that can be sold by corporations for profit. This bill prohibits certain uses of the data and protects the future of our students. It’s the strongest student data privacy bill passed in the country, and hopefully will be used as a model for other states in the future. This bill is waiting to be signed by the Governor.
Sales & Use Tax Exemption Residential Energy (HB16-1457) – Reps. Garnett & Wilson
The Department of Revenue misinterpreted what had been existing law since 1980 and was charging commercial prices for residential use. This bill will help keep energy costs low for the middle class and our seniors. This bill is waiting to be signed by the Governor.
Increase BEST Purchase-Lease Payment Cap (SB16-072) – Sen. Kerr, Reps. Garnett & Wilson
The BEST program collects resources to pay for school reconstruction and rehabilitation across the state. With the increase in recreational marijuana excise taxes the state has the ability to fix more schools. This bill raises the cap for the BEST program so that the state of Colorado can enter into more capital construction agreements. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Higher Education Tuition Pledged For Bonding (SB16-121) – Sen. Tate & Rep. Garnett
Colorado’s investment in higher education has dwindled over the past decade, and I pledged to my constituents to help save higher education institutions money. Under current law, a state institution of higher education or group of institutions may pledge up to 10 percent of tuition revenues of the institution for purposes of entering into contracts for the advancement of money. The bill allows an institution or group of institutions to pledge up to 100 percent of tuition revenue saving the institution millions of dollars in capital costs. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
State Bank Meeting Frequency (SB16-126) – Sen. Roberts, Reps. Garnett & Nordberg
The bill changes the current statutory requirement for a state bank board of directors to meet at least quarterly from at least monthly unless the banking board directs that meetings be held on a more frequent or less frequent basis. This bill was signed into law by the Governor.
