Recently I wrote about what we in the state Legislature did for Colorado this year; I am proud to have been a part of that team effort. This month, I present the 30 bills I sponsored and the governor signed in 2024:
1. HB24-1009 Requires childcare licensing to be offered in the prevalent language of an area. This helps more children get an early start, and more parents find good jobs.
2. HB24-1003 Trains educators and students in harm reduction for drugs through Naloxone; an Animas and Durango High School bill.
3. SB24-013 Fairly compensates district attorneys and assistant district attorneys, especially in rural areas.
4. SB24-005 Conserves water by prohibiting certain nonessential turf landscape practices.
5. HB24-1446 Improves training resources for science educators.
6. HB24-1444 Expands the American Indian boarding school research program for three more years.
7. HB24-1441 Clarifies the number of members on the state board of nursing.
8. HB24-1257 Continues and expands the Colorado Natural Areas Council, showcasing our extraordinary vistas.
9. HB24-1222 Clarifies terminology referring to the entities administering human services programs.
10. HB24-1154 Codifies the potential financial relationship between traditional and charter schools.
11. SB24-128 Edits an obsolete provision in a Colorado Department of Transportation requirement.
12. SB24-105 Clarifies fuel product fees imposed by Department of Revenue.
13. SB24-103 Adds technical changes to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment statutes.
14. SB24-099 Permits rural school administrators to return to work after retiring with PERA benefits.
15. SB24-078 Adds a licensure opportunity for outdoor nature-based preschool programs.
16. SB24-070 Allows online education programs to offer remote state assessment testing.
17. SB24-031 Permits local authorities to control the spread of noxious weeds.
18. SB24-026 Requires the State Agricultural Commission and the Colorado Water Conservation Board to hold regularly scheduled public meetings.
19. SB24-017 Helps K-12 schools budget by regularly distributing their property tax and state payments over a year.
20. SB24-014 Authorizes a Seal of Climate Literacy high school diploma endorsement, an Animas and Durango High School bill.
21. SB24-204 Makes technical revisions to the procurement code.
22. SB24-194 Adds fire and ambulance districts to the list of districts permitted to impose impact fees.
23. SB24-188 Eliminates the Budget Stabilization Factor for Colorado public schools, raising the per-pupil spending and giving a one-time stipend to rural schools.
24. HB24-176 Updates terminology for individuals enrolled in the state medical assistance programs.
25. SB24-175 Adds doulas to health insurance programs to help improve perinatal health outcomes for the most susceptible.
26. SB24-172 Clarifies language concerning hemp in statutes regulating marijuana.
27. SB24-171 Authorizes the restoration of wolverines in Colorado’s mountains, to take place after about four more years of study.
28. SB243-170 Helps fund the America 250 – Colorado 150 program for a statewide celebration of the two birthdays.
29. SB24-148 Allows certain facilities to practice precipitation harvesting for water conservation.
30. SB24-132 Extends confidential evaluation protections for all educators.
As I end my tenure, I finished my sixth year as chair of the House Education Committee, and first year as chair of the House Services Committee and vice chair of the Statutory Revision Committee. I am also vice chair of the Sportsmen Caucus and member of the Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee, and the Interim Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee.
I was also filled in as the vice chair of the House Finance Committee for 30 minutes during our special session last year. I suppose that will look good on a resume somewhere.
Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, is serving her fourth term representing La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta and San Juan counties. She has been a journalist and teacher.
