Capitol Update – What has happened in the first third of the 2022 legislative session?

With less than 80 days to go in the legislative session, the pace has started to pick up at the Capitol. More than 400 pieces of legislation have been introduced, and the Children’s Campaign has already analyzed and taken positions on 120.  We are excited to see some of our priority bills already making their way through the legislature. If passed, our state could see significant systems change in the early childhood sector, school finance formula, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, among others. You can follow these bills – and many more to be introduced – by subscribing to our weekly KidsFlash newsletter and visiting our Capitol Updates page.   

This week on The West Steps, we’re in house! Riley Kitts, Government Affairs Director at the Colorado Children's Campaign, sits down with our host and Communications Director, Beza Taddess, to give us an insider view of what the 2022 legislative session has looked and felt like so far. In a year that more closely resembles pre-pandemic times, the session has been off to a slow start. However, the Children's Campaign is still anticipating the introduction of our additional priority bills – and hopefully their passage – to secure some significant wins for Colorado kids and families. Riley shares his excitement for the remainder of the session, and encourages all Coloradans to reach out to their legislators and share their stories. In fact, you don’t even need to travel to the Capitol to advocate for policies you care about. Contact your legislator via email, phone, or social media, and consider signing up to provide virtual testimony on a bill you are passionate about. To learn more about ways to engage, contact Riley at riley@coloradokids.org.