Lobbying to Secure Universal Preschool in Colorado

Interning with Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), I saw first hand how an interest group influences policy change. A great example was my work with SCAN’s Colorado team, which was deeply focused on the passage of HB 20-1427 in the Colorado General Assembly.

Background: Governor Jared Polis took office in January 2019. His campaign platform included early learning, and he quickly championed full-day kindergarten legislation which passed the state legislature that same year. He immediately turned his focus to preschool expansion and in 2019 worked with legislators to introduce House Bill 1333—a legislatively referred measure to increase the tobacco tax in Colorado, and bring nicotine products under the same tax structure—including liquid vaping products. Revenue from the tax would be used to fund a universal preschool program in Colorado and fund after school programs. The bill was defeated in the Senate and did not advance.

A citizen initiated measure to increase the tobacco tax and bring nicotine products under the same tax structure was launched in spring of 2020, with support from the Governor’s office. Signature gathering for the initiative began in June 2020. However, the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges to the campaign, and prospects for securing sufficient signatures were uncertain. With only four days left in the state legislative session, House Bill 20-1427 was introduced and passed with bipartisan support in the state legislature. The Cigarette, Tobacco and Nicotine Products Tax will move to the ballot in November.

House Bill 20-1427: If passed in November, this measure will increase taxes on tobacco products and initiate expanded taxes on nicotine products—including vaping products. Revenue from the taxes would be dedicated to tobacco cessation and education programs, and for the first two years, the tax revenue would go to the State Education Fund to support K-12 education.

After the first two years, beginning in fall 2023, the majority of tax revenue would then be permanently dedicated to a universal preschool program (run through the Colorado Preschool Program or any successor program. The program would ensure a minimum of ten hours of free, voluntary preschool to every child in Colorado during the last year of preschool. Any additional revenue would be used to support increased access for low-income children or children who are at risk of not entering kindergarten “school ready.” In essence, a universal and means-based program will be developed.

SCAN’s Advocacy: House Bill 20-1427 was introduced with four days left in a historically difficult legislative session in which hundreds of bills were considered and voted on in a matter of weeks. SCAN was in close touch with the Children’s Campaign of Colorado, and made aware of this legislation a week before it came to a vote by the Campaign. SCAN mobilized advocates through email alerts, phone calls, direct emails and other messages to turn-out constituent support for the bill. SCAN advocates generated 350 emails and phone calls to targeted legislators in a 48 hours period, calling for support of HB 20-1427. The bill passed.

Since its passage, SCAN advocates have directly thanked lawmakers through emails and telephone calls, on social media, and have submitted letters to the editor to local publications, acknowledging the leadership of legislators. SCAN is now planning next steps to turn out a yes vote in November. It is worth noting that in November 2019, SCAN’s Colorado State Advocacy Summit featured speakers addressing the possibility of a ballot measure to fund universal preschool.