Thank you so much for your support and giving me the honor of representing you in the Colorado House of Representatives. It has been a very busy, but exciting time at the Capitol. On January 9th, I was sworn in as a legislator. I have been assigned to the Judiciary and Finance Committees. I ran on a promise of having the integrity and strength to not simply do what is politically expedient, but what I think is right. I promise to fight for the best solution on issues facing our community in a bipartisan manner and to the best of my ability.
Fun facts: Colorado has a history of bipartisan legislation. In 2022, over 96% of bills signed into law had bipartisan support! In 2023, 51 out of 100 legislative seats in Colorado are held by women, and the top leadership positions are all held by women. Colorado is second only to Nevada in the number of women in the legislature.
Colorado Democrats lay out their legislative priorities with first 5 bills
Top caucus policy priorities
- Making Colorado more affordable
- Improving safety in our communities
- Investing in our students & teachers
- Protecting our democracy & freedoms
- Meeting our climate goals
In the House, the first five bills center on education investments, health care costs, mental health, language accessibility and water efficiency. In the Senate, the first five bills introduced involve housing, health care costs, education and workforce development for mental health and forestry professionals.
Read more about the House and Senate Bills outlining these priorities https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/first-legislation-2023-colorado-legislative-session/
My Legislative Priorities
- Public Safety
- Public Education
- Environmental Protection
First Bill up for consideration: Veterans “Individual Unemployability (IU)” Equity: HB 23-1052. This bill is being co-sponsored in the Senate by my colleague, Senator Rhonda Fields. We received a 9-0 vote in favor of the bill in committee, and it was scheduled to be the first bill heard on the floor, by itself, for Second Reading. It has been delayed for Second Reading to Monday, January 30, 2023 to batch it with other bills. But it demonstrates the diligence I desire to bring to my work as your state legislator by having the first bill of the session through committee and on to the House floor . . . despite being a new legislator.
Other bill proposals in the work and awaiting finalization
- County Modernization Act
- Law Enforcement Professionalization Act
- Teacher Stipend/Pay
I have also been asked by the Speaker to run a bill for the Department of Revenue on Private Letter Rulings (PLRs) for taxpayers due to tax law experience. I am also expecting to run an additional bill for the DoR on adopting model rules for income tax adjustments. These are not exciting items to work on, but are the “bread and butter” to make our government work effectively that a mature legislator should focus on in addition to “popular” bills.
The State of the State by Governor Jared Polis
On January 17, 2023, Governor Polis talked about issues facing Coloradoans and his approach to solutions. Watch the speech here. Beware of his Yoda impression towards the end.
MLK Day 2023
HJR 23-1006 Joint Resolution to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was signed on January 20th, 2023. I hope that next year we can organize an event in House District 43 to recognize and honor MLK with acts of community service.
Lunar New Year 2023
On January 21st, 2023 I took part in the Chinese New Year celebration to usher in the Year of the Rabbit at Southridge Recreation Center in Highlands Ranch. The Chinese New Year celebration is organized in partnership with Great Wall Chinese Academy and HRCA Cultural Affairs. It was a great event complete with a cultural fair highlighting the rich culture of China. I presented letters of recognition to Mei Cheng of Great Wall Chinese Academy and Allie Holt of HRCA Cultural Affairs Committee. I also learned how to say Happy New Year in Mandarin....Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!
My Legislative Aides
June Churchill has a B.S. in Physics. She is working full-time doing policy research and scheduling for my office. You can reach her through email (co.aide.marshall@gmail.com) or phone (303-866-2936)
Ishmeet Kalra has a M.S. in Molecular Biology and Microbiology. She has lived in Highlands Ranch since 2009. She is an involved and engaged citizen, who has stepped up to provide constituent outreach and engagement for my office. If you have any issues or concerns, please reach out to her through email (co.aide.marshall@gmail.com) or phone (970-306-7828)
Other Useful Information
- Follow bills at https://leg.colorado.gov/bills. If you feel strongly about an issue, please take action and write to the legislators. We love hearing from you!
- Follow the daily schedule of floor work and watch/listen. The more citizens who are aware of what their government is doing, the better!
- Better yet, come visit us and take a tour!
