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Paid Family Leave & Education Among Top Priorities During State Legislative Session

DENVER (CBS4) - The Colorado State Legislature will start work on the 2020 session on Wednesday. Democrats control both chambers and will bring back some controversial bills including paid family leave.

house-convenes
State lawmakers convened for the 2012 legislative session on Wednesday morning. (credit: CBS)

Lawmakers will also introduce major new legislation including a bill to create a public health insurance option.

Speaker of the House KC Becker warns lawmakers against introducing bills that will cost a lot of money.

"We have much tighter budget this year. We spent a lot last year in terms full day K (kindergarten) and reinsurance. Those are going well, but they cost a lot money so there just isn't as much opportunity," she said.

"We're doing a lot defense make sure Colorado doesn't continue slide on the economic scales. We've seen different reports all throughout the nation, but they're all kind of consistently showing Colorado as one of the best economies, we're starting to drop because of policies passed last session. So first off, let's do no harm, let's give businesses a chance to recuperate," said Rep. Patrick Neville.

Colorado Senate Legislature Generic
(credit: CBS)

Neville says education will be one of the top Republican priorities as well as bills addressing the cost of living in Colorado.

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