It’s shocking to think that we are nearly a month into our 2023 legislative session already. Committees are meeting regularly, bills are making their way through the legislative process at a more brisk pace, and, as of this writing, a whopping 282 bills have been introduced in both chambers. I’ve already had my first bill, HB23-1005, pass the House this week and it’ll make its way through the Senate in the coming days. Next week will feature my Farm Equipment Right to Repair bill in committee on Monday with farmers from across the state in attendance (you can listen here). 

While the week was primarily a blend of committees and advanced work on my bills, I was also honored with visits from special constituents. On Thursday, I was honored to receive artwork on loan from the Capitol Arts Project, created by the Veterans Arts Council. This year I’m proud to display a stunning photograph by Don Gardner, a veteran of the Air Force, who took up photography several years ago and has been winning accolades ever since. You can check out more of his work here: https://www.donaldmgardner.com/. On Friday, I was also visited by a group of students from North Arvada Middle School who were at the Capitol to see lawmakers in action and tour our historic building.

If you’re ever interested in coming to the Capitol, I’m always happy to host constituents who visit during the session! 

Black History Month

Finding Solutions for HOA Issues

HB23-1105: Homeowners' Association And Metropolitan District Homeowners' Rights Task Forces
In the House Business & Labor committee on February 16th

For the past four legislative sessions, I’ve been championing bills centered on solving HOA issues and providing homeowner protections. As the years have rolled on, more and more homeowners have reached out with their stories of runaway boards, complexes facing massive infrastructure issues from poor management, and other heartbreaking scenarios that current law is making all the more complicated or difficult. 

Having run into significant roadblocks with some of my previous bills, this year I’m using a different tactic. I’m running a bill to establish a task force, made up of both HOA-related professionals as well as homeowners, to critically analyze current law and develop recommendations to the legislature on how to help alleviate issues between boards, managers and homeowners. The task force would convene this year and provide recommendations to legislators for the 2024 session.

My bill also includes the formation of a task force for metropolitan districts. Through constituent feedback, it’s come to light that metro districts are facing some unique issues of their own. Major impacts from current law are hitting the bottom line of many metro district residents. The task force would take a look at ways to ensure that developers, boards and residents are able to find better ways to manage the districts and keep costs to residents down.

Upcoming "Meet Brianna" Events

 Explore the Old West in Colorado

 Golden History Museum presents in Brands in Colorado on February 15th 6 to 7:30 pm. Look beneath the surface of today's ranching and rodeo culture to the Old West. It will be an evening of brands, rustling, range and stock detectives, and other typically western notions. Register here or purchase tickets in-person at the museum. 

For a list of other upcoming Golden events, check out the Community Calendar: https://www.cityofgolden.net/calendar/

ICYMI

• NPR: The USDA wants to limit added sugars and sodium in school meals
• CNN: Green comet, visible in the night sky for first time since Stone Age, makes its closest pass by Earth
• Reuters: People under domestic violence orders can own guns -U.S. appeals court rules

• CPR: Grand opening for Center for African and African American Studies kicks off Black History Month at CU Boulder
• Arvada Press: Jeffco Public Schools release data to be used for secondary school closures
• Colorado Sun: Coloradans can defer payment on a big chunk of their rising property tax bill. Here’s how to do it.
• Denver Post: Bill would bar Colorado employers from seeking information that reveals job-seeker’s age during application process