Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

HB25-1146 increases the emergency detention bed cap and funds deflection programs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          June 26, 2025

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation to allocate $10 million to support youth justice sponsored by Senator Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Representative Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, goes into effect on July 1, 2025.

“This new law funds crucial programs to help kids get on the right path after a mistake and get connected to a community of support,” said Amabile. “The grant program aims to address the underlying causes of juvenile crime and treat them effectively – which is good for young people, their families, and our state. HB25-1146 is a balanced approach to keep Colorado communities safe while holistically supporting our youth.”

“This bipartisan law will make Colorado a safer place,” said Bird. “We know that many youth who commit violent crime often lack the support and guidance that they need to build a bright future for themselves. This law invests in programs to reduce recidivism and keep youth out of the justice system in the first place while also protecting our communities from harm by allowing more flexibility in the use emergency beds in detention centers.”

HB25-1146 is also sponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, and Representative Dan Woog, R-Erie. The new law increases the number of emergency detention beds available under the statewide juvenile detention bed cap from 22 to 39, and allows more flexibility on when the beds may be used. It enhances transparency by requiring the Colorado Department of Human Services to publish a monthly report including the number of youth in detention and the number awaiting services.

Prairie Vista Youth Services Center in Brighton, CO.

To address concerns about staff interactions with detained youth, the law also establishes a pilot program for Department of Youth Services (DYS) staff at one facility to wear body-worn cameras during interactions with youth.

Additionally, the new law allocates over $3 million for deflection and community programs. The law creates the Deflection and Community Investment Grant Program in the Colorado Department of Public Safety to provide grants to eligible applicants to implement trauma-informed health and development deflection programs for youth, including Native American youth.

Finally, the law makes procedural changes to the juvenile justice system to repeal infrequently-used provisions and streamline case dismissal for some low-level charges, improving efficiency and fairness.

DYS operates 14 secure youth centers serving youth between the ages of 10 to 21. DYS also administers juvenile parole services. In 2023, HB23-1307 allowed DYS to administer 22 temporary emergency beds that did not count toward the detention cap of 215 beds.

The post Bill to Improve Youth Justice System Goes Into Effect appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole. 

SB25-167 creates a down payment assistance program for public school employees

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Representatives Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, to create the Educator First Home Ownership Program to provide down payment assistance for public school employees.

SB25-167, also sponsored by Senator Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, creates a Community Investment Portfolio within the Public School Fund to be used for a shared equity down payment assistance program and other community investments. The law unlocks at least $100 million by 2028 and $200 million by 2030 to assist public school employees in buying their first home.

“SB25-167 uses financial tools already in our toolbox to help teachers and other public school employees afford a down payment,” said Amabile. “This new program will allow teachers, who give so much to our communities, to put down roots, build generational wealth, and have a safe and stable place to call home. It is a win-win, letting participants keep most of their equity if they sell, while sustaining the program and paying it forward for others.”

“With this law, we’re making owning a home a reality for more Colorado teachers,” said Rep. Lukens. “The lack of affordable housing, especially in rural mountain communities like mine, can be a significant barrier for first-time homebuyers. By creating a new program to help public school teachers afford a down payment, more educators can afford to live in the communities where they teach.”

“For first-time homebuyers, the initial down payment can be financially intimidating or seemingly impossible,” said Bird. “This law makes it easier for our teachers to afford to purchase their very first home, making it possible for them to build generational wealth and put down roots in the communities they teach in. Together, we’re investing in our teachers.”

The down payment assistance program will be managed by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) who will establish criteria for participation, prioritizing first-time homebuyers using the home as their primary residence. The new law establishes reporting requirements to the House and Senate Education Committees, the Public School Fund Investment Board (PSFIB), and the Colorado Department of Education.

The PSFIB will manage the portfolio. They may contract with investment advisors to provide support and expertise, and one member must have experience in community investments.

CONTACT:
Senate Majority Communications Director Nina Krizman, 913.981.3713
House Majority Media Relations Director
Mallory Feeney, 563.542.8299

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