PRESS RELEASE

Senate GOP Fights for Relief, School Safety, Infrastructure, Rural Colorado during 2024 Budget Debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2024

Press Contact

joshua.bly@coleg.gov

Call: 303-866-2723

DENVER – This morning, the FY 2024-25 Colorado state budget, HB 24-1430, was passed in the Senate.

The Colorado Senate Republicans proposed 31 amendments on various issues, with a key focus on enhancing school safety, supporting rural Colorado, building infrastructure, and protecting victims. Unfortunately, democrats killed a majority of these amendments.

Below is a summary of the most impactful budget amendments offered by Senate Republicans during the debate.

Budget Amendment 47 (J.137)

  • Sponsors: Senators Pelton B and Winter
  • Description: This budget amendment re-allocates $15 million from the general fund to Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund. This fund provides direct support to victims by paying for medical expenses, mental health services and home health services/home security. 
  • Status: Adopted!

Budget Amendment 36 (J.175)

  • Sponsor: Senator Pelton R
  • Description: This amendment gives $10 million to the Groundwater Compact Compliance and Sustainability Fund. The fund supports initiatives that enhance the long-term viability of groundwater resources. Specifically, it supports activities such as purchasing and retiring irrigation wells and irrigated acreage.
  • Status: Killed by Democrats

Budget Amendment 46 (J.148)

  • Sponsors: Senator Van Winkle and Pelton B
  • Description: This amendment gives $4 million to the school safety disbursement program. The program works with local education providers and eligible non-profits to ensure schools have adequate safety measures in place to protect students, teachers and the community as a whole.
  • Status: Killed by Democrats

Budget Amendment 28 (J.142)

  • Sponsor: Senator Pelton B
  • Description: This amendment re-allocates $2 million from the JUD OSPD staff and operation budget and gives it to rural hospitals. 
  • Status: Killed by Democrats

Budget Amendment 31 (J.143)

  • Sponsor: Senator Pelton B 
  • Description: Re-allocates $2.0 million from the JUD OSPD staff and operating to the School Safety Disbursement Program
  • Status: Killed by Democrats

Budget Amendment 6 (J.130) 

  • Sponsors:  Senators Rich , Michaelson Jenet and Ginal 
  • Description: This amendment gives $6.1 to Denver Region AAA for: Congregate meals, home delivered meals, transportation, in-home services
  • Status: Adopted by the Senate!

Budget Amendment #34 (J.155)

  • Sponsor: Senator Pelton B
  • Description: This amendment increases the appropriation to the Veterans Assistance Grant Program in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs by $2,500,000 General Fund.
  • Status: Killed by Democrats

Budget Amendment #45  (J.150)

  • Sponsor: Senator Van Winkle
  • Description:This amendment adds $27m to school safety disbursement program to fully fund all of the grant applicant requests. 125 request totalling $43 million, however only 66 grant applications were funded at a total of $16 million
  • Status: Killed by Democrats 

Budget Amendment #16 (J.170)

  • Sponsor: Senator Pelton B 
  • Description: Redistributes $20 million from the State Ed Fund for the BEST program
  • Status: Killed by Democrats

Budget Amendment #15 ( J.154)

  • Sponsor: Senator Will 
  • Description: Adds $5,000,000 General Fund for the State Share of Districts’ Total Program Funding in the Department of Education and adds a footnote stating the General Assembly’s intent that the additional funding is for distribution to rural districts.
  • Status: Killed by Democrats

Budget Amendment #29 (J. 163)

  • Sponsor: Senator Will 
  • Description: Adds $6,000,000 General Fund to the Underfunded Courthouse Facilities Grant Program in the Judicial Department and adds a footnote indicating that this amount is for updates and controlled maintenance for the Dolores County Courthouse.
  • Status: Killed by Democrats

Budget Amendment #38 (J.162)

  • Sponsor: Senator Rich
  • Description: Reduces General Fund appropriations to the Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response in the Department of Public Health and Environment by $3.0 million, with a corresponding decrease in FTE of 33.1.

Status: Killed by Democrats

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If any media outlet requires photographs of any of our Senators, they are invited to use anything contained on our Flickr account with attribution to “Colorado Senate Republicans.”

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