Gov. Polis’ speech focuses on housing, climate change, healthcare

Gov. Jared Polis, in a 70-minute State of the State address on Jan. 17, outlined his priorities for the upcoming legislative session and what he wants Colorado to look like when he finishes his second term in 2026.

The item that got the governor’s longest remarks: affordable housing. While the legislature invested hundreds of millions of dollars in housing loans and grants in 2022, money that came from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act; and voters approved a ballot measure last November that will add $300 million to housing initiatives, the governor and Democratic lawmakers have been exploring regulatory changes to make those housing options available sooner.

Polis alluded to those changes, noting he wants to see the legislature address government barriers, expand private property rights and reduce regulations to actually construct more housing options at a lower cost.

“...we need more flexible zoning to allow more housing, streamlined regulations that cut through red tape, expedited approval processes for projects like modular housing, sustainable development and more building in transit-oriented communities,” Polis said.

The governor also asked the General Assembly to come up with long-term property tax relief, with those taxes expected to soar in 2023. Lawmakers pledged $700 million for short-term relief in 2023 and 2024, and Polis has asked for another $200 million. But more is needed, he said, noting the state needs a “long-term mechanism to protect homeowners from being priced out of their homes, while protecting school funding.”

He also called for reductions in the state income tax, a non-starter with most Democrats in the legislature.

Polis next turned to water, his only mention of agriculture in the speech: “Farmers and ranchers across the state fear that Colorado won’t have the water resources to sustain the next generation of agricultural jobs.” The state must continue to invest in water projects, he continued, although storage was not mentioned. He pledged to continue fighting for Colorado water rights, stating “We are gearing up, and bringing in the expertise we need to defend what is ours.”

Climate change, a Polis priority during his first term, will continue as a priority into his second. He said the “only long-term solution is to continue pursuing low-cost, reliable, renewable energy. We simply must end our reliance on costly fossil fuels, improve energy security and save people money,” touting electric vehicle and e-bike tax credits, and increasing access to electric vehicles and transit options.

Polis took aim at healthcare costs, which have also been a major part of his agenda in the first term, during the speech. 

“We have worked with the healthcare industry in good faith to lower costs,” he claimed, “but not all of them have held up their end of the bargain.”

Health insurers continue to profit while administrative costs, unrelated to patient care, continue soaring, he said, adding that large hospital systems are making record profits, paying zero taxes and sitting on enormous reserves while overcharging customers. Meanwhile, they are consolidating providers, he continued, which drives up costs and leaves fewer options for Coloradans. 

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