Season Chapter Three of the Real Advocates of the Colorado Capitol
If 2024’s election results spurred you to take action, this is your hub for ways to tap in.
Don’t worry; we’re not writing a book (maybe when we retire). This year, we’re here to help you understand how the legislative session works, chat about the bills we are working on, and what legislators to watch…… we might have a couple of rants too. You can always catch up by reading the blogs below or checking out updates on our socials.
Between Jan. 8 and May 7, our team will be fighting for the Youth Agenda under the Capitol dome. This year, thanks to our electoral work, we’ve got New Era AF Certified Youth Agenda Champions in office who are willing to put in the work to invest in our future. Young people have always been at the forefront of justice movements, and we’re ready to do it again.
First time dipping your toes in the political waters? Want to help fight for the Youth Agenda? Want to play bingo with us so we can laugh about the state of politics together? We’ve got you covered.
Latest Updates
- Jan. 16 VIDEO: Budget Cuts + Fiscal Policy ⬇️
- Jan. 13 BLOG: State and local politics remain critical levers for driving progressive change in our country.
- Dec. 23 SOCIAL POST: The Budget Mess
- Dec. 11 VIDEO: The Worker Protection Act ⬇️
Eyes on Economic Justice
We dream of a world where resources are distributed equally and everyone’s basic needs are met. All people deserve to live and thrive (not just survive), no matter where we are from or how we identify. We hear you – you’re broke. It’s hard to stay in the communities we love while struggling to pay for things like rent, health care, and education. Why is it so hard to make ends meet?
A greedy few have rigged the rules to redirect resources from our communities to their country clubs, from our classrooms to their cosmetic surgeons (to be clear- we are not hating on botox – and if you have a couple CC’s for some tired girlies, hit us up), and from our public parks to their private jets.
Pay Me What You Owe Me
In Colorado, the poor pay more taxes than the wealthy. It’s time for the wealthy and corporations to pay what they owe through taxes. When they pay what they owe – we will begin to have the funds we need to pay for affordable housing, higher education, and health care. So how do we get that moolah? A progressive tax code – specifically, one that doesn’t limit how much of the tax money our state spends to support us.
DON’T ACT LIKE YOU FORGOT
Colorado tax law favors the wealthy (I’m shocked, are you shocked?!). It’s f*cked and makes our state budget problems even worse. It’s no accident that Douglas Bruce (an evil mastermind) named the most harmful piece of tax legislation, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) amendment, to make it sound like WE, THE PEOPLE, benefit under a restrictive tax law that actually benefits the wealthy and limits our government’s ability spend $$$ on the programs we need….like affordable housing and medicare. Don’t let old Dougy B. trick you! Our partners at the Colorado Fiscal Institute break down the mess of TABOR in their Colorado Budget Basics.
Our bills to make a fair tax system are still in draft mode, but we’ll update you when they’re ready for votes so we can blow up our legislators’ phones. In the meantime, get hype with our economic justice playlist.
How it Works
Legislators have 120 days each year to make progress on the Youth Agenda and it’s our job to make sure it’s their priority. Bill-making is an extremely nuanced and thorough process. You can read more about how a bill becomes a law on the Colorado General Assembly’s website, but we recommend saving your eyes from glazing over and looking at this handy-dandy chart and video from the Office of Legislative Legal Services.
Advocating in the legislative session is a choose-your-own-adventure vibe. You can get involved in the bill-making process in several ways (listed in order of increasing effort – you choose what works for you!).
Stay updated.
The Real Advocates will keep you updated on our Youth Agenda policy priorities! Follow our Instagram and sign up to get our emails so you know when to take action on the issues you care about.
There will be a lottttt more bills introduced than the ones we talk about. Some are great; some are dumb, pointless, and scary. You can find all of them on the General Assembly’s website. If you want to stay in the loop on a specific bill, bookmark the link! As the bill progresses, you can find updated bill drafts, amendments, and where it’s headed next on its journey through the legislature.
You can also tune into the House and Senate chambers, along with all public committees (sometimes it gets real weird)! Just click this link to find what you’re looking for. If you prefer video over audio-only, the Colorado Channel is your go-to for anything happening in the full chambers! The Colorado Channel doesn’t stream committees, which is where the “Live Legislative Audio” section comes in. You can also use that section to listen to past hearings and sessions!
Contact your state Senator and Representative.
Find your state legislators by putting in your address at this link. Bonus points if you memorize their name and add them as a contact in your phone! Call ‘em, beep ‘em, send ‘em a message, set up a meeting. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you reallllllyyyy think. You’ve got a lot of ways to get in touch and urge them to support or oppose a bill you’re passionate about.
Remember: YOU are their constituent. That means they are responsible for addressing YOUR concerns (and if they’re not, let us know so we can have a niceeee lil’ convo with ‘em). You don’t need any professional experience to advocate for your community. All you need is life experience and a desire to make change!
Show up.
Lobby days at the Capitol are when groups of people supporting a cause flood the dome to talk to their legislators… and there is usually free food! These are a great way to dip your toes into the process with like-minded people. Register for One Colorado’s LGBTQIA+ lobby day here!
Lots of rallies happen during legislative session, too, to make sure lawmakers know what our communities care about.
Testify on a bill when it’s in committee.
The most impactful way to make change is sitting in front of a group of legislators and telling them your story. You don’t have to be the expert on every detail of the bill, that’s their job; Your lived experience is more than enough.
It might be intimidating to sit in a formal room and wait for your turn to speak, but remember that the legislators are everyday people and they’re likely bored, too (we’ve witnessed accidental naps and scrolling sessions in hearings). The best lawmakers give you a thumbs up for encouragement — plus, you’ll always have a pack of Real Advocates at your back.
The deets: You’ll have about three minutes to speak during a committee hearing, so it’s best to keep your story to one page. Be prepared to cut more just in case a lot of people sign up to speak because they might cut down on testimony time.
You’ll typically have to wait until the bill is scheduled for a committee hearing before you can sign up to testify. You’ve got three options:
- In person: *Cue the Jeopardy music as you await your turn at the mic* This option is GREAT if you’re able to spend some time at the Capitol! Legislators love listening to real people’s testimonies, and you can even try to chat with them after the hearing (unless they’re running to another one).
- Remotely via Zoom: This option is GREAT if you work from home or can stay online for a few hours but can’t make it to the Capitol building!
- Submit written testimony: This option is GREAT if public speaking makes you want to throw up! It doesn’t have to be long – just focus on getting your point across. The one downside with submitting written testimony is you can’t guarantee the committee members will actually read it (infuriating, right?). Pair that written testimony with an email and phone call, and they should hear or see at least one of them!
Play Bingo with Us
Sometimes, we can’t help but laugh about what happens under the golden dome. If you want to laugh at our political system while celebrating some wins, play bingo with us!
