THE GOVERNOR'S NEWSLETTER |
The State of Our State is Strong, Resilient, Kind, Innovative, and Free |
Today, I stood before the Colorado General Assembly to deliver my final State of the State Address as Governor of Colorado. I discussed the historic progress we’ve made during the last 7 years, including through some of the most unprecedented modern times, and charted a bold path forward to deliver on the issues Coloradans care about most during my final year in office.
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“Seven years ago, I joined you all in delivering my first State of the State address and shared what an honor it is to be your Governor. In the time since, forces beyond us have shaped our reality — a once-in-a-century pandemic, widespread inflation, the biggest and most destructive fires in our state’s history, an unpredictable federal landscape. But despite it all, we faced our challenges head on, never losing sight of our values and what makes us who we are. The state of our state is strong. Resilient. Loving. Kind. Innovative. Free. And ever bright with the promise of a Colorado for All.”
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In my State of the State Address, I also spoke about Colorado’s bold progress on the issues Coloradans care about most, including saving people money and lowering the cost of housing. I celebrated Colorado’s nation-leading work to break down artificial barriers that prevent or delay new homes, and discussed my vision for the opportunities ahead to raise the bar and continue making our great state more affordable.
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“Coloradans – of all political stripes, in every part of our state – tell us that the high cost of housing makes it harder to live in the Colorado we love. For too long, we’ve run up against roadblocks – from outdated laws to piles of paperwork – that slow or stop new housing, new transit, and new clean energy from even being built. The more we do here to bring down costs, the more opportunity opens up for Coloradans in the ways that matter most – where we live, and how we spend our time and money.”
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Building on Colorado’s recent progress, which allowed Coloradans the freedom to build an ADU on your property, expanded access to housing near transit and job centers, legalized single or smart stair apartments, encouraged
innovative modular housing, jumpstarted condo construction, and more, I called on the legislature to continue this work. I encouraged the legislature to open the door to more housing on unused or underutilized land centrally located within communities, allow Coloradans to subdivide your property, and tackle skyrocketing homeowners insurance costs.
I also highlighted Colorado’s efforts to defend the state from an increasingly punitive federal government, defending millions of dollars from being cancelled or withheld, and outlined the devastating impacts Washington is having on Colorado through HR1.
I doubled down on Colorado’s commitment to making Colorado one of the top ten safest states and celebrated the progress Colorado has made through smart and data-driven investments in law enforcement and crime prevention strategies, which have produced strong results.
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“When I set the bold goal to make Colorado one of the ten safest states in the nation, we got right to work taking data-driven, common-sense steps to prevent crime in the first place, better equip law enforcement, and crack down on crime. We’re seeing real progress. A new report from our Division of Criminal Justice shows that in the past year, violent crime is down over 13%. Property crime is down nearly 18%, representing nearly 14,000 fewer crimes. Through targeted investments and increased penalties, we’ve achieved a 61% decrease in auto theft in the last four years, including a 34% drop in the last year alone. In a single year, we’ve seen a 95% decline in catalytic converter theft in Denver.
Looking ahead, there is more work to be done to ensure all Coloradans can thrive in safe communities.”
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I also spoke about my commitment to fully funding our schools and preparing students for success both through historic classroom investment and expanding access to new career pathways that lead to in-demand high-paying jobs. I recently announced actions to streamline workforce services from the state to better connect students with the resources needed to get good jobs.
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“A good education gives students a head start right out of the box, and high-quality skills and workforce development help Coloradans cross home plate to a good job. That is why we are calling for a unified department to serve as a one-stop shop for Coloradans to access high-quality skills, training, and education.”
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Read the full text of the speech as prepared for delivery and watch the full speech on the Governor’s Facebook page.
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First Gentleman Marlon Reis is hosting regular educational events at the Governor’s Mansion. Subject matter experts will present on the issue briefly, with time for audience Q&A afterwards.
Please join the upcoming Speaker Series focusing on wildlife rehabilitation.
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WHEN: Tuesday, February 10th, 10:30am-12:00pm
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WHERE: The Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion, 400 E 8th Ave, Denver, CO, 80203
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ABOUT: Join us to learn more about wildlife rehabilitation.
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Please stay tuned for the RSVP form.
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📰America 250- Colorado 150 Newsletter Sign-Up
As we continue building momentum toward Colorado’s 150th and America’s 250th anniversaries in 2026, we encourage everyone to stay informed and engaged with the latest America 250 - Colorado 150 news, events, and opportunities. This newsletter is designed for a statewide audience; anyone who signs up will receive updates, stories, and ways to participate in the commemoration on the first of each month: Link to sign up for the newsletter. |
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Stay Updated with Governor Polis! |
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This email was sent by: Colorado Governor's Office Proper
200 E Colfax Ave Denver, CO, 80203, USA
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