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Leading Out Loud:

Effective Advocacy for Buellers

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February 16, 2022

Agenda

• Colorado’s 73^rd General Assembly
• Early Childhood Bills this Session
• How a Bill Becomes Law
• Budget Process
• Advocacy versus Lobbying

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Colorado General Assembly

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The legislative session lasts 120 days

• 2022 session began on Wednesday, Jan 12th

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• 100 Lawmakers
• 35 Senate
• 65 House

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• Democrats control House and Senate

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Legislative Make-up

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Legislative Committees

House Committees

• Rural Affairs
• Education
• State, Veterans & Military Affairs
• Health & Insurance
• Public Health Care & Human Services
• Transportation & Local Government
• Energy & Environment
• Business Affairs & Labor
• Judiciary
• Finance
• Appropriations

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Senate Committees

• Agriculture, Natural Resources, & Energy
• Education
• State, Veterans & Military Affairs
• Health & Human Services
• Local Government
• Transportation
• Business, Labor & Technology
• Judiciary
• Finance
• Appropriations

Joint Committees

• Capital Development Committee (CDC)
• Joint Technology Committee (JTC)
• Joint Budget Committee (JBC)

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Joint Budget Committee

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Sen. Dominick Moreno (Vice Chair)

D-Commerce City

Rep. Leslie Herod

D-Denver

Sen. Bob Rankin

R-Carbondale

Sen. Chris Hansen

D-Denver

Rep. Kim Ransom

R-Douglas County

Rep. Julie McCluskie (Chair)

D-Dillon

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Early Childhood Bills this Session

2022 Legislation

• Early Childhood Bills
• HB22-1010 - Early Childhood Educator Tax Credit
• Implementation of Department of Early Childhood and Universal PreK
• Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water
• HB22-1006 - Child Care Center Property Tax

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2022 Legislation

• Health Bills
• Reproductive Health Equity Act
• Cover All Coloradans
• Behavioral Health Transformational Taskforce Recommendations
• Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise
• Create Dental Therapists in Colorado

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2022 Legislation

• Family Economic Security Bills
• HB22-1055 - Eliminate Sales Tax on Diapers and Menstrual Products
• TANF Bill Package
• Eviction Bill Clean Up
• Renters Roundtable

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Legislative & Budget Processes

Legislative Process 

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Bill is introduced, assigned a bill number, and assigned to a ”committee of reference”

• A Senate Bill has three numbers: SB19-001
• A House Bill has four numbers: HB19-1001

Legislative Process 

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First Chamber:

• Committee Hearing(s)
• Committee of Reference-Public Testimony
• Appropriations & Finance Committees, if needed
• 2^nd Reading-Chamber floor; Voice Vote
• 3^rd Reading-Chamber floor; Recorded Vote

Legislative Process 

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Second Chamber:

• Committee Hearing(s)
• Committee of Reference-Public Testimony
• Appropriations & Finance Committees, if needed
• 2^nd Reading-Chamber floor; Voice Vote
• 3^rd Reading-Chamber floor; Recorded Vote

Legislative Process 

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• Reconcile Differences between the Chambers if needed in Conference Committee

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• Governor’s Signature/Veto

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Legislative Process

• The earlier you weigh in on a bill, the greater impact you can have.

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• Try to weigh in before the bill is introduced, or while it is in committee

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Composition of a bill

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How to Follow the Legislature

At leg.colorado.gov you can:

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• Learn what bills are pending

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• View calendar of committee hearings & floor votes

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• Learn which legislators serve on which committees

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• Find contact information for all legislators

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How to Follow the Legislature

• Colorado General Assembly Website: leg.colorado.gov
• Listen: http://leg.colorado.gov/watch-listen
• Watch the Chambers: coloradochannel.net
• Joint Budget Committee: leg.colorado.gov/content/budget
• Listen: http://leg.colorado.gov/committee/granicus/742321
• Office of State Planning & Budget (OSPB) Google Drive
• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YUAByWT8lxuaGG56ThJN2jFqO95lREr6
• Schedule Summaries, Change Requests, Supplementals

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Lobbying vs Advocacy

Lobbying vs. Advocacy

• Advocacy is focused on education about a specific issue on behalf of the people your organization serves.

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• Lobbying is focused on convincing decision-makers to take a specific position on a specific policy or law.

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Lobbying vs. Advocacy

Lobbying: Any attempt to influence specific legislation

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• Lobbying involves attempts to influence specific legislation at the local, state, or federal level:
• Contacting any legislative member, legislative staff, or government employee to influence him or her to propose, support, or oppose specific legislation
• Trying to persuade the public to share your views on a particular legislative proposal

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Lobbying vs. Advocacy

Advocacy: Stakeholders making their voices heard on issues that affect their lives and the lives of others

• Telling legislators how a state or federal has helped your constituents.

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• Educating a legislator about the effects of a policy on your constituency.

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• Inviting a legislator to visit your organization so that he/she may see first-hand how public funding or policy affects day-to-day operations.

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• Updating the members of your own organization on the status of legislation, without a call to action.

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Lobbying vs. Advocacy

• Different organizations have different levels of comfort with advocacy and lobbying activities and may operate with different expectations.

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• It’s always best to talk with your supervisor or board of directors to ensure you understand your organization’s advocacy guidelines.

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Speak Up for Kids – March 17

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