After 120 days debating and voting on new laws for the state of Colorado, I am proud of what we accomplished in the 2014 session of the state Legislature. It was fast-paced, productive and bipartisan. Ninety-six percent of the bills that passed had support from both parties, and we passed important legislation to promote economic growth and support rural Colorado.
Senate Bill 1, which I sponsored with Rep. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, will make college more affordable by investing $100 million in higher education and capping tuition increases for state colleges and universities at 6 percent annually. This legislation will allow more students to attend college and reduce the need for students to carry burdensome loan debt. This bill will help students across Colorado, including those attending Fort Lewis College and Western State Colorado University.
During the session, I also fought to ensure that Fort Lewis and Western State would receive the funding to complete the Berndt Hall and Quigley Hall projects and was pleased when our bipartisan compromise was included in the state budget.
SB 164, which I sponsored with Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, provides funding for the purchase or lease of an eyes-in-the-sky fleet of small, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to help firefighters locate and attack wildfires when they’re still small. I am also looking forward to my work this summer and fall on the interim Wildfire Matters Review Committee to continue to reduce the wildfire threat across Colorado.
Another of my bills will increase the number of healthful meals available to hungry families in Colorado. House Bill 1119, which I sponsored with Sens. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, and Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, will provide a tax credit to farmers and organizations who donate a portion of their crops to food banks and charitable organizations. Many food banks lack healthful, fresh food, and this bill will incentivize donations from producers and help Colorado’s most needy.
For the last two years, I have been honored to serve as the state representative for District 59. Until we reconvene in January, my letters to constituents will be done once a month.
McLachlan represents House District 59 in Colorado’s General Assembly. The district encompasses La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, Ouray and Hinsdale counties and part of Gunnison County. Call McLachlan at (303) 866-2914 or email mike.mclachlan.house@state.co.us
