Dear Southern Colorado,

As some of you may know, this is my last year as a State Representative. I began my tenure in the House back in 2016. In the time since, I’ve championed legislation to support rural Colorado, from implementing telehealth legislation to helping farmers and ranchers. 

While public service is inherently messy- full of debates and conversations- I’ve always kept the needs of House District 62 at the center of my decision-making and worked to bridge the divide between rural and urban. 

I want to extend my deep appreciation for putting your trust in me these past six years. It has been an immense honor to represent my community in the Colorado House of Representatives, and I will be forever grateful. As we look to the future, I hope you continue to share your opinions, questions, and concerns with leaders at all levels of government.

The voice of rural Colorado matters, so use it and speak up. 

Donald

This session, Representatives Valdez and Holtorf passed a bill to put geothermal energy on equal footing with solar by capping installation fees and classifying it as a type of pollution control equipment. 

Geothermal energy is a reliable source of renewable energy. Unfortunately, it's vastly underused in Colorado. According to the U.S Department of Energy, Colorado has an abundance of geothermal resources, including the entire San Luis Valley. This bill will make sure we use these resources to become a cleaner, more sustainable state. Read more about SB 22-118 using this link.

HB 22-1231: Foster Parent Bill of Rights

HB 22-1231 increases rights for foster parents, including the right to receive training, timely financial reimbursements, and clear descriptions of their expectations. This legislation will make life easier for Colorado’s foster parents by ensuring they receive the support they deserve. These people have dedicated themselves to a truly noble cause, and the state government ought to support them however it can. To read more about this bill, click here. 

HB 22-1007 creates a grant program to support outreach efforts to landowners in high wildfire hazard areas and creates a state income tax credit to help landowner’s make their properties more defensible. These efforts could include removing debris and protecting windows. Colorado continues to get hotter and drier, we ought to give the most at-risk people the resources to make their communities and properties safer. 

This legislation will modernize our state’s agriculture industry by teaching farmers how to implement blockchain technology in their daily practices. For context, this bill was created based on the finding from the “Blockchain Advisory Group”, a group appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture in 2019. After extensive research, the committee highlighted potential applications for blockchain in the agriculture industry. This bill follows through on the committee's work by putting their recommendations into statute. 

Representative Valdez knows first-hand the unique set of challenges faced by farmers and ranchers- from supply chain shortages to drier climates- and it’s vital we do everything we can to help them succeed. 

HB 22-1407 will allow veterans to audit college-level courses without paying the hefty entrance fee. Audit programs allow people to attend college-level classes without having to complete homework, and it doesn’t qualify them for academic credit. It is also important to note that this bill will not impact class availability/accessibility for tuition-paying students. Veterans who take advantage of this program can only audit courses with available class space.

Auditing these courses would teach veterans new skills, improve job placement, refine abilities that can be applied to a civilian career, and reward them for their service to our country. This bill will also help fill class seats that would have otherwise been left empty.

Senate Bill 22-028 will allocate $60 million in federal funds to retire wells and finance reductions in groundwater use, especially for the Rio Grande River Basin. This bill will directly benefit farmers and ranchers in the San Luis Valley by helping them manage their water, and I look forward to seeing the tangible impact of this policy.

Department of Local Affairs- Rural Economic Development Initiative:
"The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program is designed to help rural communities comprehensively diversify their local economy and create a more resilient Colorado." The application process is closed, but it's never too early to start preparing for next year. 

Office of Economic Development and International Trade- Rural Jump-Start Program
"This program helps economically distressed communities attract new businesses and jobs." This application has a rolling deadline. 

Skill Advance Colorado
"Colorado First and Existing Industry Job Training Grant Programs support Colorado’s workforce development by providing grants to both existing businesses and those locating to or expanding in Colorado. By reimbursing costs associated with job training, the programs increase transferable job skills that support business competitiveness and enhance workers’ resumes and long-term employment opportunities."
 

Rural Technical Assistance Program
"This program helps rural communities create economic development strategies by providing free technical assistance and consulting services."

Enterprise Zone Program
"This program encourages development in economically distressed areas of the state through tax incentives."

Location Neutral Employment Community Matching Grant
"This grant provides marketing funds to help rural areas attract out-of-state companies to create new jobs in their communities."

All Rural Programs and Funding
Click the above link to view a more comprehensive list of rural programs and funding from the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

Care for Colorado Program:
"The Care for Colorado program is made up of a coalition of partners across the state that share important messaging about preserving and protecting our state’s natural resources."

Colorado Department of Agriculture:
Click this link to learn more about the Colorado Department of Agriculture and their work to help rural Colorado.