by Colleen Enos (CHEC Director of Government Relations)

The State of Colorado is contesting the federal funding freeze from the Trump administration on federal assistance to colleges, hospitals, and the state. While the new administration is reviewing programs to ensure that they comport with their values and exclude fraud and abuse, Colorado wants to make sure it does not have to finance its own Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)  programs. The gravy train for Colorado has been estimated at over $570 million dollars.

Representative DeGraaf introduced HB25-1254, Limit on Gender Transition Procedure Claims, which provided a reasonable extension of time to bring a claim against a provider who had medically injured a minor or person under age 26 as a result of a gender transition procedure. Given that young people lack understanding as to the long-term impacts of these procedures, it definitely offered protection to the injured youth. Testimony offered in the committee hearing ranged from mocking (from those who opposed the bill) to heart-breaking when listening to the recounting of graphic permanent injuries adolescents have suffered. Proponents of DEI and gender-affirming care killed the common-sense bill at the conclusion of the committee hearing.

However, a bill requiring social media companies to enforce their own rules regarding the use of their platforms for sales of illicit substances, illegal firearms, and sexual exploitation of minors was approved and voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB25-086, Protections for Users of Social Media, included testimony regarding several parents losing their children to fentanyl poisoning purchased from drug dealers on Snapchat and another child, beginning at 10 years old, who was sexually exploited by someone with the help of drugs purchased on social media. Thankfully, the bill passed the Senate and is on its way to the House.

Both the Senate and the House have had contentious debates on gun restrictive bills SB25-003, Semiautomatic Firearms and Rapid Fire Devices, and HB25-1133, Requirements for Sale of Firearms Ammunition, which have consistently passed each body in our increasingly anti-second amendment state. SB25-005, Worker Protection Collective Bargaining, a union-backed bill that eliminates the need for a second election to form a union, passed the Senate and will be heard in the House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor. An anti-sanctuary state bill, SB25-047, Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law, was killed in committee even though multiple law enforcement officials asked for its passage.

Things will increasingly speed up as the session wears on, so please join me in keeping your eyes and ears open for any upcoming bills that would threaten homeschool freedoms, parental rights, or religious liberty in Colorado. Additionally, consider testifying on a bill that you care about—you can even do it remotely.

To review currently introduced bills, go here.

In Him,

Colleen Enos, CHEC Director of Government Relations

About the Author: Colleen Enos

Colleen is a homeschooling mom of eight who just completed schooling her last two children. Her children range in age from 19 to 35 years old. She has been married to her husband, Mark, for 38 years, and they are now grandparents to four and expecting another grandbaby very soon. She has been a speech and debate coach for 17 years, pouring her time, effort, and energy into preparing the next generation to speak truth into our culture. Colleen serves homeschool families as the CHEC Director of Government Relations and is working hard to safeguard homeschool freedom through her work with the legislature. You can reach Colleen at colleen@chec.org.