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May 29, 2009

Wrap Up of the 2009 General Assembly Session

Wow, what a year for the citizens of House District 19! In spite of being in the minority party at the state house, and with great senate sponsorship on these bills, we were able to successfully sponsor and deliver eleven very important pieces of legislation for our district and the state!

After hearing about the many problems that our troops and their family members live with on a day-to-day basis, it was important to me to sponsor these three military bills:
HB09-1054, Unemployment Insurance Benefits for Surviving Spouses of Combat Soldiers.
HB09-1205, Voting By Members of the Armed Forces Serving Outside the United States-Internet Voting Pilot.
HB09-1280, Colorado Youth Challenge Corps Program in Colorado.

Another issue that affects all of the citizens in House District 19, the region and our state is WATER! This year was a historic year for water bills. All three of my water bills were recognized nationally for their historic accomplishments, sustainability and comprehensive conservation techniques:
SB09-141, Fountain Creek Watershed.
HB09-1129, Precipitation Harvesting Pilot Projects, Rainwater Harvesting Part 1.
SB09-080, Precipitation Collection Systems.

Legislation important for seed farmers and car collectors in our district and throughout state were:
SB09-116, The Continuation of the Colorado Seed Act. Legislation that provides protection for consumers and allows seed farmers the required oversight necessary to allow them to take their product to market.
SB09-107, a bill that makes it less burdensome for automobile collectors to get titles for antique and old cars that are twenty-five years and older.

House District 19 is home to many small business owners, from the Calhan to Colorado Springs, Falcon to Fountain, Rush to Ramah, and everything in between! Our state is home to over 425,000 small businesses and in honor of all the small businesses in HD19 and throughout the state it was a privilege to sponsor, SJR09-22 proclaiming March 9-13, 2009 as Small Business Week.

One of the more compassionate pieces of legislation was SJR09-38, Recognizing the importance of organ and tissue donation for the 1,800 Coloradoans currently waiting for life saving transplants and observing April as "DONATE LIFE COLORADO MONTH".

Looking back over the legislative session, one of my most important pieces of legislation was HB09-1081, The Vehicular Homicide Statue of Limitations. This legislation will allow our law-enforcement officers more time to solve hit-run cases involving death.

This list of eleven state policies adopted by the General Assembly in 2009 represent issues important to the hard working families and citizens of House District 19. The events in our personal lives and communities often become the foundation for great state and federal policy! All of this legislation originated from the concerns and thoughts shared with me by the citizens of HD19, and it has been an honor to work with all of you on these significant issues. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!

Sincerely,

Marsha Looper

State Representative Marsha Looper

Colorado House of Representatives, District 19
Ag., Livestock & Natural Resources Committee
State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee