Putting Money in Taxpayers’ Pockets, Conserving Colorado Water, Agriculture Trade Expansion BILL SIGNING TOUR - DAY 8 Yesterday in Denver, I joined bill sponsors and community leaders to sign major legislation to help hardworking Coloradans keep more of their hard earned dollars. I also visited Pueblo, Alamosa, and Center to sign bills easing the adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction, and to deliver urgently needed resources to support local water conservation efforts and help communities thrive. PUTTING MONEY IN TAXPAYERS' POCKETS $500 TAX REFUNDS FOR COLORADANS To kick off the second week of the bill signing tour I signed SB22-233 yesterday at the State Capitol. This bill puts tax rebates into the pockets of hardworking Coloradans ahead of schedule, providing the relief that Coloradans need and empowering them to make their own decisions about how and when to spend it. We are helping Coloradans deal with inflation by getting people back their hard earned money this summer - at least $500 for individuals and $1000 for joint filers - to help pay for everyday items and support themselves and their families. Under this new law, all eligible Colorado income tax filers will receive their rebate directly in the mail in August or September. This rebate is available for all full time residents who have filed their 2021 tax returns by June 30th, 2022. If an individual or joint filer files before June 30 then they will receive their check in August or early September. If an individual or joint filer files after June 30 but before the extended filing deadline on October 17 then they will get their check in January 2023. SUPPORTING ALL COLORADANS FAMILY AFFIRMATION In Pueblo, I signed “Marlo’s Law,” HB22-1153, providing equal protection under the law for Colorado’s LGBTQ+ and non-traditional families using assisted reproduction to start and grow their families. The law breaks down barriers to legal adoptions by creating a simplified process to establish a legal parent-child relationship that must be recognized nationwide and instruct courts to confirm the adoption within 30 days. “Marlo’s Law” modernizes our parentage laws to meet Coloradans where they are, and ensure all families receive respect and recognition. WATER CONSERVATION, STRENGTHENING COLORADO’S AGRICULTURE TRADE PROTECTING COLORADO'S WATER Then in the San Luis Valley, I signed two new bipartisan laws to help protect Colorado’s water. SB22-028 creates the groundwater compact compliance and sustainability fund to help finance groundwater use reduction efforts in the Rio Grande river basin and the Republican river basin. This bill strengthens our state’s ability to continue thinking long-term, supporting the needs and well being of our state's farmers, ranchers and local communities, while also making good on our obligations as a headwaters state. I also signed bipartisan HB22-1316. With this bill we are, every year, investing in valuable water projects, initiatives, loans and our state water plan, to continue our fight to get ahead of the challenges we face from our stressed water resources. The annual water projects bill is an annual downpayment on a more secure water future for Colorado, this year with nearly $25 million in investment - which isn’t stimulus funding but foundational state investments that we make annually. POTATO TRADE EXPANSION ANNOUNCEMENT Later in the afternoon in Center, I joined Colorado Department of Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt, and Jim Ehrlich of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee for an announcement about expanding export markets for Colorado’s potato producers. This agreement, paired with the critical work the Valley is doing to protect and conserve our water, will make a major positive difference for our farmers, meaning more money in the pockets of hardworking Coloradans. A stronger region in the San Luis Valley means a stronger Colorado for all. I thank our farmers and ranchers who work so hard in this truly durable trade to make Colorado the thriving agricultural center that we are. Colorado is strategically positioned to lead the nation in potato exports to Mexico providing new revenue for Colorado potato farmers. WHAT COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE SAYING "Thanks to this change in law, Colorado’s working families will be getting bigger rebates, and we won’t be sending $2,000 checks to millionaires. In addition to making our tax code a little fairer by giving everyone an identical amount, putting more money into the hands of working people sooner will be better for our economy, since those folks are more likely to spend their rebates in their local communities,” said Kathy A. White, Executive Director of Colorado Fiscal Institute. “I’m proud to see Colorado pass this law. HB22-1153 eliminates outdated and burdensome obstacles and provides acknowledgment and greater protections for Colorado families through assisted reproduction,” said Ellen Trachman, Managing Attorney of Trachman Law Center, LLC. ​​"The San Luis Valley is home to 150 potato farming families and is the state's primary area for potato production. Expanding markets for our potato producers will help strengthen Colorado's economy and preserve this meaningful trading relationship for future generations of farmers," said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. "Colorado’s first shipment of potatoes into Mexico was successfully made last week. With this new trade agreement, we are optimistic that this expansion will benefit potato producers across the country and Colorado’s producers in particular." FOLLOW ALONG FOR THE BILL SIGNING TOUR! May 12th began the 30-day clock for all of the bills passed this session to make their way across my desk. I will be traveling to every corner of our state during the bill signing tour to celebrate the incredible work we have done this legislative session. SUBSCRIBE TO BILL SIGNING UPDATES Office of Governor Jared Polis | Website State of Colorado - Governor's Office | 136 State Capitol , Denver, CO 80203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]