Rep. Tisha Morrow highlights economic-development rate, coal-transition and rural health funding wins for Pueblo

Representative Tisha Morrow (House District 46) told the Capital Success Group that she focused on Pueblo-centered bills during the recent legislative session and outlined several measures she sponsored or supported.

On rates for economic development: Morrow described a bipartisan economic-development tariff that allows utilities to offer lower rates to businesses without passing costs onto other customers. ``It's in fact stated in statute. It's not allowed to [be] passed on to the consumer,'' she said, describing the legal constraint that prevents the utility from directly shifting that cost to residential customers.

On coal transition: Morrow said she carried legislation to extend timelines associated with coal-transition funding for Pueblo to preserve money the county expects for workforce and community transition as the Comanche facility phases down. She said the bill was designed to ensure previously guaranteed funds remain available for Pueblo’s workforce and economic diversification.

On rural health funding: Morrow described two measures aimed at increasing federal matching dollars and support for rural health providers, including language to make it clearer that donated funds can be earmarked for rural parts of the state in a UCHealth-related fund and a House bill to support federally qualified health centers. She said the combined approach should increase total dollars for southern Colorado and trigger federal matches.

Additional local measures: Morrow also said she sponsored a bill to give Pueblo West fire authorities additional authority to prevent and mitigate grass fires and legislation to ease procedures for county clerks.

Next steps: Morrow encouraged county leaders to use the economic-development tariff locally and to coordinate on workforce and health funding outreach so rural partners can secure federal matching dollars.