Advocacy

Soaring housing costs are worsening the crisis in Colorado. Most older residents want to stay in their homes, and 83 percent of Coloradans age 45-plus said being able to afford their home was an extremely or very important issue, a 2022 AARP survey shows. Legislators have failed to find a long-term approach to cutting or capping property taxes, and solutions to the crisis will be a focus of the legislative session beginning Jan. 10.

For the first time since AARP began publishing the Scorecard in 2011, more than half of Medicaid long-term care dollars nationwide for older adults and people with physical disabilities went to home- and community-based services instead of nursing homes and other institutions.

This November Colorado voters have the opportunity to cast a vote on taxation issues. One of these issues is Proposition HH, which provides property tax relief while maintaining support for important local services.

Pushing for legislation to address age discrimination in the workplace is a top priority for AARP during the Colorado General Assembly’s 2023 legislative session, which begins this month.

Advocates meet weekly during the annual state legislative session and have tracked 119 bills this year so far.

Colorado gained an additional congressional seat in the once-a-decade redistricting process. The newly formed 8th District extends from Denver’s northern suburbs into Weld County.

New laws on affordability and oversight for drug prices and AARP supported a bill that extends the Office of Consumer Counsel, which represents the interests of utility customers in proceedings of the state Public Utilities Commission.

AARP Colorado is advocating for more virtual visitation options for nursing home residents and their families to help combat social isolation, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AARP Colorado's advocacy team reports on its 2020 legislative activities

AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins released the following statement today in response to states, including Colorado, beginning to answer concerns over racial injustice, law enforcement practices and disparities: