Governor Jared Polis Signs Bills to Improve Public Safety to Save Lives and Make Colorado Communities Safer

Acting on his commitment to make Colorado among the top ten safest states in the nation, Gov. Polis signs transformative legislation delivering real results to improve public safety & ensure every Coloradan can thrive

AURORA — Today, Governor Polis is taking bold action to improve public safety, signing legislation in Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Denver and Lakewood to improve public safety.

“Today we are delivering real results to make Colorado communities safer. Every Coloradan has the right to a safe community, and today, we are one step closer to my goal of making Colorado one of the ten safest states in the country in the next five years,” said Gov. Polis. 

In Highlands Ranch, Governor Polis signed legislation to improve school safety and support evidence-based programs to keep youth out of the criminal justice system. Gov. Polis will sign HB22-1003 sponsored by Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Sen. James Coleman, and Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, to support youth-oriented early intervention-programs to keep young Coloradans out of the criminal justice system. Governor Polis will also sign  HB22-1243, sponsored by Rep. Tony Exum, Rep. Kevin Van Winkle, Sen. Chris Kolker, and Sen. Nick Hinrichsen and the bipartisan HB22-1120 sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van Winkle,  Rep. Patrick Neville, Sen. Rob Woodward, and Sen. Jeff Bridges to keep Colorado schools safe and prevent incidents of school violence. 

Governor Polis then will visit Aurora at Smoky Hill High School to sign  SB22-001, sponsored by Sen. Janet Buckner, Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, Rep. Kerry Tipper, and Rep. Naquetta Ricks, to ensure the physical environment in communities helps to deter crime with improved lighting, clear pathways, and evidence-based approaches to prevent crime from happening in the first place.  While in Aurora, Gov. Polis will also sign bipartisan SB22-018. Sponsored by Sen. Pete Lee, Sen. John Cooke, Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, and Rep. Matt Soper, the new law aims to improve accountability and increase court appearance rates, saving public safety officers time and increasing court efficiency. 

Later this afternoon in Denver, the Governor signed new laws to protect communities from targeted crimes based on identity and to support evidence-based early intervention programs that prevent crime from happening in the first place. HB22-1234, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Bacon, Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, and Sen. Robert Rodriguez supports community-based programs that work to prevent identity-based crimes and strengthen inter-communal connections. The Governor will also sign SB22-196, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Bacon, Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, Sen. July Gonzales, and Sen. Pete Lee, supports data-driven early-intervention programs to prevent Coloradans with behavioral health needs from becoming involved with the criminal justice system. 

Then in Lakewood, Governor Polis will then sign legislation to ensure victims of crime can access critical resources and support at the Porchlight Justice Center, SB22-183 Crime Victims Services sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Weissman, Senators Faith Winter and Bob Gardner.