The Problem:
Housing, groceries, utilities, and everyday living costs are rising faster than wages. Families face impossible choices and are increasingly priced out of the communities where they work and raise their kids.

My Approach & Solutions:

• Cut Everyday Costs for Families
  Lower utility bills with local energy choice programs, giving communities the power to negotiate fair rates. Expand food access through community farming, mobile markets, and tax-free basics like groceries and diapers.

• Housing That Works
  Build more homes, faster, and for local families—not investors. Allow duplexes, triplexes, ADUs, and cottage clusters in all urban zones. Enforce use-it-or-lose-it taxes on vacant units held by large landlords to free up rental inventory.

• Protect Consumers & Essentials
  Crack down on deceptive pricing, predatory fees, and price gouging on necessities. Encourage “Buy Local, Fair Price” initiatives to cap fees, increase transparency, and support local businesses.

• Support Working Families
  Strengthen the Colorado Earned Income Tax Credit and provide housing vouchers linked to workforce programs. Preserve long-term affordability through community land trusts and local-first economic development.

2025 Legislation I Support:

• HB25-1273 – Residential Building Stair Modernization – Reduces construction costs while keeping housing safe.

• HB25-1090 – Protections Against Deceptive Pricing Practices – Stops surprise fees for working families.

• SB25-002 – Regional Building Codes for Factory-Built Structures – Expands access to affordable, safe homes.

• SB25-020 – Tenant and Landlord Law Enforcement – Protects renters from unsafe living conditions.

• HB25-1010 – Prohibiting Price Gouging in Sales of Necessities – Prevents exploitation in emergencies.

• HB25-1093 – Limitations on Local Anti-Growth Land Use Policies – Stops unnecessary restrictions on housing development.

The Problem:
Families in HD19 struggle to access affordable healthcare and reliable childcare. Rural areas face particular gaps, and workers often lack the support they need to thrive.

My Approach & Solutions:

• Cut Prescription Drug & Insurance Costs
  Increase transparency and accountability for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and insurers. Require full rebate pass-throughs, fair pricing, and public drug price tools to lower out-of-pocket costs for families. Builds on HB25-1094 and proven models in other states.

• Expand Access & Preventive Care
  Incentivize free annual wellness visits with no copays for follow-ups. Strengthen telehealth infrastructure for rural and underserved communities. Support school-based mental health services, 988 crisis lines, and mobile response teams to catch issues early and reduce costly ER visits.

• Statewide Healthcare Navigator & Ombudsman Programs
  Provide free assistance for families to understand coverage, enroll in benefits, and appeal denied claims, reducing barriers especially for low-income residents.

• Support Rural & Local Providers
  Fund training programs, loan forgiveness, and relocation incentives to attract healthcare and childcare professionals where they’re needed most. Expand cooperative care hubs and rural clinics to ensure timely, quality care close to home.

• Affordable, High-Quality Childcare
  Encourage employer-supported childcare partnerships and community cooperative childcare hubs. Implement sliding-scale childcare programs linked to income and local workforce needs, prioritizing high-demand areas.

• Outcome-Based Healthcare Payment Models
  Reward providers for effective, affordable care rather than volume, shifting the system toward prevention and keeping families healthy.

2025 Legislation I Support:

• HB25-1300: Workers' Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement – Empowers injured workers to choose their primary treating physician and shifts the burden of proof in medical disputes to employers or insurers.

• SB25-290: Stabilization Payments for Safety Net Providers – Establishes a Provider Stabilization Fund to provide payments to safety net providers serving low-income, uninsured populations.

• HB25-1222: Preserving Access to Rural Independent Pharmacies – Prevents PBMs from prohibiting rural independent pharmacies from using private couriers or delivery services to deliver prescription drugs.

• HB25-1223: Capital Needs of Rural and Frontier Hospitals – Directs the Department of Public Health and Environment to conduct a study of capital needs for rural and frontier hospitals and creates a task force to oversee the study.

• SB25-083: Limitations on Restrictive Employment Agreements – Excludes from the highly compensated worker exemption a covenant not to compete that restricts the practice of medicine, advanced practice registered nursing, or dentistry in Colorado.

• HB25-1094: Pharmacy Benefit Manager Practices – Regulates PBM practices affecting prescription drug costs, including requiring PBMs to disclose pricing formulas and pass rebates directly to patients.

The Problem:
Colorado students need better preparation for the real world, access to healthy meals, and sustainable learning environments. Schools are underfunded, teachers are underpaid. Students also need the skills to succeed in the rapidly changing workforce, including the AI-driven economy.

My Approach & Solutions:

• Teach Future-Ready Skills
  Support career readiness programs, coding, digital literacy, and AI-awareness into all public high schools so students are prepared for tomorrow’s jobs.

• Guarantee Healthy Meals
  Ensure every student has access to nutritious meals, including breakfast, lunch, and snacks, through the Healthy School Meals for All Program.

• Promote Sustainability Education
  Implement hands-on projects like school gardens, composting, and energy conservation initiatives to teach environmental responsibility.

• Expand Mental Health Support
  Increase access to school counselors, mindfulness programs, and peer support networks to foster emotional well-being and resilience.

• Offer Enrichment Programs
  Provide after-school and summer programs that include STEM, arts, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and AI-related learning opportunities.

• Enhance Early Childhood Access
  Expand preschool and pre-K slots in underserved communities, including wraparound care for working families.

• Build Local Partnerships
  Connect students to apprenticeships, mentorships, and career pathways through local business and internship programs.

• Create Flexible Learning Environments
  Incorporate outdoor classrooms, project-based learning, and technology-driven personalized instruction to engage students.

• Empower Student Voices
  Involve youth in school decision-making and curriculum planning to foster ownership and responsibility.

2025 Legislation I Support:

• HB25-1192: Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement – Adds a course in financial literacy and completion of financial aid applications to high school graduation requirements.

• SB25-214: Healthy School Meals for All Program – Guarantees nutritious meals for every student through reimbursements to participating school food authorities.

• HB25-1059: Food Waste Reduction in Public Schools – Encourages school districts to adopt policies to reduce food waste in cafeterias and food preparation facilities.