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Hi <<First Name>>,
The Capitol is full of energy and I am working hard to continue supporting Senate District 5. The past couple weeks have been buzzing with excitement as we prepare bills to be heard in committee. One of the best ways to follow my day-to-day work during the session is on Twitter, @kerrydonovansd5. I have also started utilizing Facebook Live to update my constituents as I present bills. I invite you to join me in the moment or watch videos later after I post them. The bottom of this newsletter contains links to both my Twitter and my Facebook Page.
As previously mentioned, many of my bills went through committee this week. Although not all bills had the outcome that I had hoped for, I am pleased with the progress that we have made and am looking forward to continue advocating for District 5. Below, please find an update on bills that went through committee this past week.
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Industrial Hemp is Headed to the House!
The Industrial Hemp in Animal Feed had a successful couple of weeks. On Thursday, February 9th, the bill was heard by the Senate Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill came out of committee on a vote of 11-0 and went forward to pass both second and final reading in the Senate. I feel confident about this bill and am excited to continue to follow it through the House of Representatives. There was even a fun video made about this bill, I encourage you to check it out!
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REACT ACT Defeated on Party-Line Vote
REACT was heard in the Finance Committee on February 14th. After much great testimony by groups on both sides of the aisle, the bill was ultimately defeated on a party line vote. Despite this not being the outcome that I had hoped for, it was inspiring to see the immense amount of support that rural Colorado has towards economic development and I will continue looking for ways to help bolster the economy in rural areas.
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Take a look at some of the groups that testified in support of the REACT ACT! While this is not a comprehensive list, I am proud that such diverse and widespread groups were able to unite in support of our rural economies.
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Continuing the Broadband Fight
Broadband is a complex issue but I realize the importance of bringing increased broadband access to rural Colorado. Unfortunately, my bill to Repeal Local Government Internet Service Voter Approval was defeated after its hearing in the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. Despite hours of great testimony by communities across Colorado, the bill failed on a party-line vote.
However, I will continue to fight to increase broadband access in Colorado. I have another Rural Broadband Deployment bill that is scheduled to be heard in committee tomorrow. This bill updates the definition of effective competition for the purpose of transferring money to support infrastructure construction.
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Update Outdated Statuses of Persons with Disabilities Bill Passes Unanimously
The Update Outdated Statuses bill concerns modernizing terms related to people with disabilities. This bill, which had already passed in the House, was heard in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on Thursday. The bill passed on a unanimous vote.
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Gary Donovan is interested in all of the bills this week too!
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Contact Me
I love my job as your Senator and I work hard to represent the voices of my constituents. Please do not hesitate to call me or email me with ideas on how to better our community. I look forward to hearing from you and welcoming constituents into my office.
I hope you had a fun and relaxing President's Day Weekend!
Kerry Donovan
(303) 866-4871
Kerry.Donovan.Senate@state.co.us
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Sincerely,
Kerry Donovan
Colorado Senate District 5
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