DIVERSIFY RETIREMENT STRATEGIES

“Unfortunately, (certain) 14,000-plus-foot peaks (have been) o limits to the public. It would be pointless to reintroduce this bill again so long as Democrats hold the majority.”

Kevin Van Winkle

State Sen. Kevin Van Winkle represents northwest Douglas County, including the Highlands Ranch area. e most important bills he felt he supported related to school safety, health care price transparency and retail delivery fees.

Here’s what he had to say about them:

Several bills and budget amendments, on school safety: “ is year cumulated four years of intensive work leading the legislature to advance school safety programs that honor Kendrick Castillo, and other young heroes, to ensure safer schools for our kids and teachers.

“ ere were several bills and budget amendments passed that range from upgrading physical security of buildings, assuring faster emergency response, improving mental health programs, and cracking down on so-called ‘swatting’ false emergencies. Together these will improve the safety and security of schools so that children feel safe to learn and can ultimately reach their full potential.

SB23-252, on health care price transparency: “Medical price transparency will provide families with clear and upfront price transparency that is an important step forward to allowing free-market principles and competition into a health care space that desperately needs it. is will lead to more informed decision making, cost containment, improved care and consumer empowerment without the use of any heavy-handed bureaucratic burdens.”

SB23-143, on reducing retail delivery fees: “Finally, reducing the Democrats’ new 27-cent retail delivery fee on home delivery, and its burden on businesses. It will reduce costs for both retailers and customers by saving hardworking taxpayers a little bit each day.”

Looking ahead: “Also on track is ensuring the creation of our state’s rst new judicial district — centered in Douglas County — in roughly 60 years. (Judicial districts are responsible for operating district courts, which hear criminal cases and other matters.)

“I work for the citizens of Douglas

County, will remain accessible to anyone, and will ensure that citizens’ voices are heard and accounted for by the ruling majorities at the state Capitol.”

Jim Smallwood e bills he supported that he felt were most important regarded taxes, prescription drugs and an o ense against minors.

State Sen. Jim Smallwood represents much of northeast Douglas County, including the Parker and Castle Rock areas.

Here’s what he had to say: is bipartisan bill surprised me by passing unanimously out of the Senate but then facing ‘no’ votes from a huge number of House Democrats. is bill is on the governor’s desk (as of June 2), and I hope to see it signed into law very soon.”

HB23-1135, on indecent exposure in view of minors: “ is bill makes indecent exposure in view of a child a class 6 felony, up from a class 1 misdemeanor. I feel our children need the same protections from these o enders regardless of this type of behavior occurring online or in person, and this new law helps create this parity.

“For this new law to apply, the offender must have known there was a child under 15 years of age in view of the act and the o ender must be more than 18 years of age and more than four years older than the child.

HB23-1277, on taxable income: “ is is a simple bill that makes it easier for small businesses to le their tax returns by allowing the ling of composite returns, consolidating the composite return and withholding options, and clari es calculations of tax payments.

“ e bill also aligns the due date of income tax return deadlines between the federal government and the state of Colorado. is commonsense, bipartisan bill should really make life easier for Colorado taxpayers and has already been signed into law by the governor.”

SB23-041, on prescription drugs: “ is was another simple, threepage, bipartisan bill that would have ensured that health professions would not face disciplinary action by the sole act of prescribing an FDAapproved drug for an o -label use.

“Shockingly, after passing the Senate without a single ‘no’ vote, this bill was killed on a party-line vote in the House Health and Insurance Committee, with all Democrats voting against the bill and all Republicans voting in favor. I hope to introduce this bill again next year and hope the majority party takes some time to better understand the issue.” e top 11 included Allison Harrison as Miss Cherry Creek, Makenzie Jensen as Miss Colorado River Valley, Deja Moore as Miss Boulder, Molly Casey as Miss Central Colorado, Sarah Swift as Miss Rocky Mountain, Mackenzie Mitchell as Miss Colorado Springs Elizabeth Melachrinoudis as Miss Denver Madison Marsh as Miss Academy, Madison Strasheim as Miss Northern Colorado, Savannah Watson as Miss Eastern Colorado and Madison Falkenstine as Miss Southern Colorado e women that made the top ve were Marsh,