We brought real progress home to HD-59 this legislative session. I’m proud to share that 14 of my bills were signed into law. We also worked across the aisle, successfully passing seven bipartisan bills through the Legislature. From healthcare and housing to energy and public safety, we delivered on our commitments to Southwest Colorado, and I’m already developing ideas for legislation to advance next year.
I know that many Southwestern Coloradans continue to feel the strain of rising costs, which is why affordability remained a top priority this session. I’m excited to report on the steps I have taken to help make life more affordable for working families. During my first bill-signing ceremony with Gov. Jared Polis, we celebrated the signing of SB26-040, which expands affordable housing opportunities by modernizing overly restrictive language in Proposition 123.
Housing was a major focus this year, and I’m pleased to report that HD-59 secured more than $500,000 in state grants to support the construction of affordable apartments and homes across Southwest Colorado. We also passed legislation to lower property insurance costs (SB26-155), legalized plug-in solar panels to help reduce household energy bills (HB26-1007) and expanded access to property tax exemptions for parcels newly classified as farms and ranches (SB26-010).
At the same time, we continue to grapple with the impacts of the Trump administration’s H.R. 1. According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, the law could result in as many as 14 million Americans losing health insurance coverage over the next decade. The Bell Policy Center estimates that Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District will be the hardest-hit district in the state, with nearly one-third of residents relying on Medicaid for healthcare coverage.
At the state level, we are doing everything we can to mitigate the effects of these federal cuts with the tools available to us. Balancing the budget required difficult decisions, including reductions affecting Medicaid provider reimbursement rates, community-based service hours and coverage under Cover All Coloradans. Despite these challenges, we continued to expand access to care. My legislation this session improved treatment-in-place services by first responders (HB26-1069), expanded Medicaid nonemergency medical transportation (HB26-1328) and helped save Colorado taxpayers an estimated $25 million in General Fund spending.
This session was also about accountability. On May 27, Polis signed into law my legislation to prevent the abuse of strip searches in county jails after 10 months of work and multiple amendments to address stakeholder concerns. I’m proud that we were able to deliver meaningful change for survivors in La Plata County. At a time when public trust in institutions is being tested, this law represents an important step toward protecting the dignity and rights of incarcerated individuals.
Despite significant fiscal challenges, we continued to make progress on the issues that matter most to Southwest Colorado. As the legislative session concludes, I’m focused on bringing those conversations back home and hearing directly from constituents about their priorities for the year ahead. Sen. Cleave Simpson and I have hosted town halls with the League of Women Voters in La Plata and Montezuma counties, and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 29, I’ll be in Pagosa Springs at The Studios for a community meet-and-greet.
Serving Southwest Colorado is the honor of a lifetime. I’ll be spending the next several months at home in Durango with my family and community, and I welcome the opportunity to meet with you. Your ideas, concerns and experiences help shape my work at the Capitol, and I encourage you to stay in touch. Whether you need assistance navigating state government, a letter of support or simply want to sit down for a cup of coffee, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Katie Stewart represents House District 59 in the Colorado House of Representatives, which encompasses Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan counties and most of Montezuma County. Reach her at katie.stewart.house@coleg.gov.
