Welcome to the 2020 Legislative Session!
As we kick off the 2nd session of the Seventy-second General Assembly, we begin with the Speaker's opening day speech, as well as the Governor's State of the State Address on moving Colorado Forward.
Speaker's Opening Day Speech ([link removed])
Governor Polis' State of the State Address ([link removed])


** Committees for the 2020 Session
------------------------------------------------------------
For the 2020 Legislative Session, I will again be serving as Vice-Chair of the Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee along with Committee Chair Roberts, and Representatives Arndt, Buentello, Catlin, Holtorf, McCluskie, Pelton, Titone, Will, and Young. This committee considers matters concerning water, agriculture, wildlife, mineral development, rural affairs and recreation. In addition, the committee has legislative oversight responsibility for the departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Next week, there are three bills up for consideration in this committee:

HB20-1037 ([link removed]) : This bill authorizes the Colorado water conservation board to augment stream flows to preserve or improve the natural environment to a reasonable degree by use of an acquired water right that has been previously quantified and changed to include augmentation use, without a further change of the water right being required.

HB20-1004 ([link removed]) : This bill establishes the wildfire mitigation resources and best practices grant program (grant program) within the decision of local government in the department of local affairs. Grant recipients use grant money to conduct outreach among landowners to inform them of resources available for wildfire mitigation and best practices for wildfire mitigation. The grant program only awards grants to applicants conducting outreach to landowners in high wildfire hazard areas and prioritizes applications based on the potential impact of the applicant's proposed outreach.

HB20-1067 ([link removed]) : This bill allows the MCAJCD (Moffat County Affiliated Junior College District) to hold and sell its current real estate holdings provided that: the sale is for fair market value as determined by an independent appraiser; and the proceeds are used for the benefit of the Colorado Northwestern Community College. The bill authorizes the transfer of the Rangely and Craig campuses of CNCC to the state board for community colleges and occupational education consistent with the original plan and statutory authority of the RJCD and MCAJCD prior to the inadvertent repeal of the statutes.

I am also a member of the Transportation and Local Government Committee along with Committee Chair Gray, Vice-Chair Exum Sr., and Representatives Carver, Catlin, Froelich, Hooton, Humphrey, Melton, A. Valdez, and Wilson. The House Transportation & Local Government Committee considers matters concerning motor vehicle law, traffic regulation, transportation funding, public infrastructure, other subject areas related to the state transportation system, local governments, special districts, housing, and land use planning. In addition, the committee has legislative oversight responsibility for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Local Affairs. Next week, there are two bills up for consideration in this committee:

HB20-1029 ([link removed]) : The annual salary of an elected county officer (officer) is currently specified in statute. The bill expressly allows an office to make an election to receive less than the amount specified in law. The officer may subsequently elect to increase or decrease his or her salary as long as it does not exceed the amount allowed in the statute.

HB20-1030: I am the prime sponsor of this Bill along with Representative Gray and Senators Scott and Hisey. I have included the specifics of this bill in the next section.


** Bill Updates
------------------------------------------------------------

HB20-1046 ([link removed]) Payments In Construction Contracts
This bill requires that in construction contacts of at least $150,000, the property owner is required to to make partial payments to the contractor at the end of each month with amount pertaining to the contact. The property owner must pay the contractor at least 95% of the value of satisfactory work to be paid within 60 days of completed work. A contractor must pay a subcontractor within 30 calendar days with no greater than a 5% retainer.

LAST ACTION: 01/8/2020 | Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs & Labor.
This Bill is scheduled to be heard in Committee on Tuesday, January 28th.

HB20-1030 ([link removed]) Commercial Vehicle Annual Fleet Overweight
Current law requires a commercial motor vehicle fleet owner that wished to apply for an annual fleet overweight permit to apply for separate annual fleet permits for vehicles that have a quad axle grouping for divisible vehicles or loads, and vehicle combinations with a trailer that have 2 or 3 axles for divisible vehicles or loads. The bill allows a fleet owner that has a fleet consisting of vehicles from both of these categories to apply for a single annual fleet overweight permit.

LAST ACTION: 01/8/2019 | Introduced In House - Assigned to House Transportation and Local Government.
This Bill is scheduled to be heard in Committee on Wednesday, January 22nd.


** Happy MLK Weekend!
------------------------------------------------------------

On Monday, we celebrate the vision of Martin Luther King Jr. The vision that all individuals are created equal and that we must all come together to fight against injustice. We now, more than ever, need to embrace his call for equality and justice.

"Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be."
-Martin Luther King Jr., April 3, 1968
"I've Been to the Mountaintop"


** As heard in Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee: a presentation from the Colorado State Forest Service
------------------------------------------------------------
At the next Rural Affairs and Agriculture Committee meeting, we will be hearing from the Colorado State Forest Service. Stay Tuned.


** Caution: Severe Weather Warning for this Weekend
------------------------------------------------------------
A Winter Storm Warning ([link removed]) is currently in effect for The San Juan Mountains. Consistent, heavy snowfall accumulations are expected. "Southwest Colorado high country areas will also experience high winds, resulting in blowing snow and reduced visibility on roadways. CDOT asks travelers to be aware of potential road closures if the storm causes unsafe driving conditions, particularly along CO 145 Lizard Head Pass, US 550 mountain pass corridor and US 160 Wolf Creek Pass."
To monitor road conditions, visit the CDOT ([link removed]) website. To check your local weather, visit NOAA ([link removed]) .


** In the News
------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado Democrats Outline Plan for Second Year After Blue Wave ([link removed])
Westword, January 4, 2020
"We're excited about the progress we made, and we're going to keep focusing on the areas that we talked about a lot. We want an economy that works for all, we want to keep investing in Colorado's future, and we want to protect the Colorado way of life," KC Becker, the Boulder Democrat and House speaker, said in her office at the Capitol.

============================================================

Community Events

** Frosted City Winter Market ([link removed])

January 18 & 19, 2020
Colorado State Fairgrounds- Pueblo
9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

** MLK in the Age of Trump ([link removed])

January 20, 2020
Adams State University- McDaniels Hall, Room 101
12:00 p.m.

** Music of the Americas ([link removed])

January 20, 2020
Adams State University-​ Richardson Hall Auditorium
7:00 p.m.

** San Luis Valley Women's March ([link removed])

January 19, 2020
March starting on Main and Richardson
10 a.m., program to follow at 11 a.m.


Anyone who would like to receive my newsletter can email me at:

** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Our office number at the

Capital Building is

303-866-2916

As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

** Donald Valdez for HD62 ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Email (mailto:[email protected])
Copyright © 2019, Representative Donald Valdez, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Representative Donald Valdez
200 E Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can
** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Representative Donald Valdez . 1525 Sherman Street . Denver, Co 80238 . USA

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]