House Bill 1358: Water Smart Homes Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #1, Senate Vote #1)

HB 1358, Sponsored by Representative Randy Fischer and Senator Michael Johnston, is a first-in-the-nation policy that requires home builders to offer several Water Smart options when homebuyers are deciding on their appliances and finishes. As Colorado continues to experience sharp growth demands, HB 1358 is one more step to making sure we can meet our future water needs. Options for homebuyers include water efficient toilets and faucets, low water use appliances, Water Smart landscaping, and high-intensity water-pressurization systems. At the same time homebuyers are choosing their flooring and countertops, they will also be able to select Water Smart options up front when it is most cost effective. Water Smart homes use up to 20% less water than traditional homes, saving both water and money over the life of the home. HB 1358 passed the House 38-27 and the Senate 21-14. YES was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1051: Water Efficiency Plans Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #2, Senate Vote #2)

HB 1051, sponsored by Representative Jack Pommer. and Senator Bruce Whitehead, creates the first statewide data collection system for water efficiency efforts in Colorado. It is essential that the state know how people are currently using water and which programs are leading to the most efficient use of water. HB 1051 is a building block; it will provide the critical information needed to develop statewide water supply strategies to meet our future water needs. Prior to the passage of HB 1051, the state lacked a centralized, comprehensive clearing house for water efficiency data. This program will be a tool for statewide water supply planning, a testing ground for water efficiency programs and will ensure that before providers implement new programs, they can evaluate their effectiveness. HB 1051 passed the House 48-17 and the Senate 31-2. YES was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1107: Agricultural Area Preservation Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #3, Senate Vote #3)

HB 1107, sponsored by Representative Randy Fischer and Senator Morgan Carroll, prohibits the use of urban renewal funding on agricultural lands, except in certain narrowly-defined circumstances. Under Colorado’s urban renewal law, taxpayer funding is used to incentivize the redevelopment of blighted urban areas. A loophole in the law allowed urban renewal authorities to use that taxpayer funding instead to incentivize sprawl on farmland, which are generally neither blighted nor urban. HB 1107 closes this loophole to ensure that urban renewal funding is used to redevelop abandoned old factories in city centers rather than paying to pave over productive farmlands on the outskirts of town. HB 1107 passed the House 55-8 and the Senate 31-2. YES was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1001: Increasing Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #4, Senate Vote #4)
HB 1001, sponsored by Representative Max Tyler and Senators Gail Schwartz and Bruce Whitehead, increases Colorado’s Renewable Electricity Standard to 30% by 2020, as well as sets a bold new requirement that three percent of total electricity sales come from “distributed generation” (DG) such as rooftop solar systems or small wind projects. HB 1001 is expected to generate tens of thousands of new jobs and lead to 100,000 solar rooftops across the state. With the second-highest renewable standard in the country, Colorado has cemented its place as a national leader in building a clean, homegrown energy future. The bill passed the House 37-27 and the Senate 21-13. YES was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1333: Green Jobs Training Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #5, Senate Vote #5)

HB 1333, sponsored by Representative Edward Vigil and Senators Gail Schwartz and Linda Newell, creates the Green Jobs Colorado Training Program, a two-year pilot that offers grants to community colleges, vocational schools, apprenticeships, and other groups to train workers for Colorado’s clean energy industries. Administered by an appointed council and funded with federal resources, the program will give priority to training courses that demonstrate a high likelihood that participants will receive job offers and that target low-income individuals, entry-level or incumbent workers, and dislocated workers from industries in decline. HB 1333 passed the House 39-26 and the Senate 23-11. YES was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1342: Solar Gardens Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #6, Senate Vote #6)

HB 1342, sponsored by Representative Claire Levy and Senator Suzanne Williams, directs the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to adopt landmark new rules to ensure that the rebates and renewable energy credits given to customers when they install individual solar energy systems on their property also apply to “community solar gardens”– solar facilities that are jointly owned by ten or more customers at a shared location. This bill ensures that more Coloradans can take part in building the new energy economy, and cut down their monthly utility bills, even if they are renting their home or apartment or have a rooftop that is for some reason unsuitable for solar. The bill passed the House 56-7 and the Senate 22-13. YES was the pro-environment vote.

Senate Bill 100: Community Based Clean Energy Financing Full Text of Bill
(House vote #7, Senate Vote #7)

SB 100, sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz and Representative Joe Miklosi, enhances opportunities for property owners in rural communities to obtain financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. SB 100 allows local governments, both contiguous and noncontiguous, to band together to create single cross-boundary financing districts. With their larger business volumes, the new multi-government districts will lower the cost of financing for their voluntary participants, thereby bringing new jobs and the benefits of clean energy to less-populated rural areas. SB 100 passed the Senate 24-10 and the House 37-26. Yes was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1131: Colorado Kids Outdoor Grant Program Full Text of Bill
(House vote #8, Senate Vote #8)

HB-1131, sponsored by Representative Christine Scanlan and Senator Dan Gibbs, the Colorado Kids Outdoor Grant program legislation will create two grant programs, one to fund programs that actually get kids outdoors and the other to fund development of a state environmental literacy plan. Research shows that kids who spend time outside are more fit, have better eyesight, less stress, and better grades. However, kids today spend half as much time outdoors as kids did 20 years ago and the average American child spends more than seven and a half hours a day plugged into electronic media. HB 1131 is a key first step in addressing the trend of the indoor child and re-connecting children to their natural world. HB 1131 passed the House 43-22 and the Senate 24-11. Yes was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1348: Uranium Processing Accountability Act Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #9, Senate Vote #9)

HB 1348, sponsored by Representative Buffie McFadyen and Senators Bob Bacon and Ken Kester, requires uranium processing facilities to clean up toxic pollution before operators can apply to expand operations. HB 1348 will also ensure water well owners are notified of nearby groundwater contamination, increase bonding oversight at uranium facilities, and tighten the review of applications to process toxic waste at uranium facilities. The processing of uranium ore into yellowcake for nuclear reactors and weapons has left behind a toxic legacy, with taxpayers spending $1 billion in cleanup costs in Colorado alone. HB 1348 will hold uranium companies accountable for cleaning up toxic pollution and help protect public health and the environment. HB 1348 passed the House 62-2 and the Senate 24-9. YES was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1328: New Energy Jobs Creation Act Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #10, Senate Vote #10)

HB 1328, sponsored by Representative Joe Miklosi and Senator Gail Schwartz, establishes the authority for a statewide clean energy financing district. Under the new law, an independently appointed board of directors will create a program to make low-interest clean energy loans accessible to homeowners across the state. Without raising taxes and by relying wholly on voluntary participation, the program will help homeowners meet the upfront costs of energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades while creating thousands of installation and other clean energy jobs. HB 1328 passed the House 37-26 and the Senate 20-13. YES was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1238: Wildlife Crossing Zones Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #11, Senate Vote #11)

HB 1238, sponsored by Representative Kathleen Curry and Senator Gail Schwartz, enables the Colorado Department of Transportation to establish wildlife crossing zones on state highways. Wildlife crossing zones will be established in areas with high rates of collisions between vehicles and migrating wildlife. The zones will be identified by signs alerting drivers to reduced speed limits and, in some cases, increased penalties for speeding within the zones. By reducing speeds, HB 1238 gives motorists more time to recognize wildlife on roadways and avoid accidents. This legislation makes our highways safer for motorists and protects Colorado’s migrating elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, and lynx. HB 1238 passed the House 35-28 and the Senate 23-11. YES was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1204: Water Efficiency Plumbing Guidelines Full Text of Bill
(House Vote #12, Senate Vote #12)

HB 1204, sponsored by Representative John Soper and Senator Lois Tochtrop, requires the Colorado State plumbing code adopted by the examining board of plumbers to include standards for water efficiency and conservation, water-efficient fixtures and installation guidelines, and the use of locally produced materials. This bill will help save money and water while training the next generation of plumbers in the best technology. The Bill passed the House (62 -1) and the Senate (25-10). Yes was the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1098: Increased Transparency for Rural Electric Co-ops. Full Text of Bill
(Senate Vote #13)

HB 1098, sponsored by Representative Claire Levy and Senator Mary Hodge, will make the governance of rural electric cooperatives (REAs) more transparent, accountable and accessible to the public. REAs are responsible for providing power to 33% of all Coloradans; increasing transparency will allow more co-op members to voice their support for cleaner, more efficient energy choices. The bill requires that the state’s REAs provide easy online access to basic information including board meeting times and locations. It also ensures that board elections are announced in advance and are conducted using standardized, fair, and open election practices. The Bill passed the House 34-28 and the Senate 22-11. Yes was the pro-environment vote.