I started the day at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities to sign three new laws that will increase career and higher education opportunities for Coloradans. First I signed SB22-008 which supports Colorado’s foster youth by helping them pay for tuition, providing education mentoring, and creating specific, on-campus points of contact for foster youth at Colorado’s higher education institutions. Next up was SB22-192 to create more opportunities for Coloradans to get the skills they need while simultaneously meeting the needs of businesses and in-demand industries such as healthcare, education, childcare and more.
Then I signed SB22-127 which supports students receiving special education services and increases the amount distributed to students with learning disabilities. I also signed SB22-011 to create the America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission to plan for the official observance of these historic milestones and reflect on our history and share the stories of Black communities, Indigenous communities, communities of color, women, and people with disabilities.
In Denver, I signed the Public School Finance Act (HB22-1390). The Public School Finance Act will increase the base per pupil funding rate by $253 to $7,478, and provide an additional $1 million to the Mill Levy Equalization Fund. I also signed SB22-202, creating a state match for mill levy override revenue and HB22-1220 which creates the student educator stipend program. This new law saves future educators money and removes barriers to becoming a teacher by awarding stipend money for required student teaching and expanding Educator Loan Forgiveness with millions more dollars.
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