Gov. Jared Polis announced late Thursday that Colorado’s special legislative session aimed at providing people with economic relief from the state’s worsening coronavirus crisis will begin Nov. 30.
The session will start at 10 a.m. on that date and must run at least three days.
“We are living in a moment of unprecedented urgency,” Polis said in a written statement announcing the date of the special lawmaking term.“We will act to support our small businesses who face challenging months ahead, provide relief to hardworking people, support child care and improve broadband access for students and educators.”
Polis, in an executive order calling for the session, laid out seven priorities for lawmakers:
Small business relief in the form of delayed tax payments.Child care support in the form of financial aid.Housing and direct rental assistance.Broadband access.Food insecurity.Utilities payment help.Money to aid Colorado’s health care response to the pandemic.The special session will come only about a month before state lawmakers were set to convene Jan. 13 for their normal legislative term. Democrats, who are in the majority at the Capitol, say delaying COVID-19 relief for even a month in the absence of congressional help would be too long.
“Frankly, January will be too late,” said House Speaker-designate Alec Garnett, D-Denver, this week.
State health officials are urging lawmakers to avoid in-person gatherings at the Capitol as much as possible to prevent spread of COVID-19. On Wednesday night, a Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Meg Froelich of Englewood, announced she has tested positive for the disease.
The state is also planning to provide KN-95 masks to lawmakers, staff members and journalists at the Capitol.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has encouraged lawmakers to limit Capitol visitors as well, and begin a testing regimen before and during the session.
Colorado’s coronavirus hospitalizations reached 1,500 on Thursday, by far their highest level since the pandemic began. The state’s test-positivity rate has also been steadily climbing as the number of average daily cases has eclipsed 4,000.
