Accomplishments and Legislative Successes
Protecting Elections and Voter Rights
Sen. Jessie Danielson is a former state director for America Votes in Colorado, where in 2013 she built and helped lead the bipartisan coalition that developed and passed Colorado's groundbreaking Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act (HB13-1303).
Colorado voters quickly embraced a new election system that sent mail-in ballots to every eligible citizen, modernized in-person voting, and created same-day registration.
Signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper, the bill created:
Same-day registration – which leads to higher registration rates and turnout.
Portable registration – ensures a voter can cast an eligible ballot, even when they move.
Universal mail-in ballot – every eligible voter is mailed a ballot, eliminating “inactive” status, which led to voters being denied ballots.
Voter service centers – efficient service hubs that allowed voters to register, vote, secure a new ballot and drop off ballots.
Gov. Hickenlooper then appointed Jessie to the Voter Access and Modernized Elections Commission to help oversee its implementation.
Jessie’s Ballot Access & Voter Rights Legislation
As a legislator, Jessie has passed new laws increasing ballot access and protecting elections:
Progressive Values and a Real Record
A Fairer Economy
Jessie passed Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the Farmworker Bill of Rights and the Wage Theft Transparency Act. She was the prime sponsor of the Worker Protection Act and is supported by the Colorado AFL-CIO and dozens of labor unions.
She is a dedicated ally of Colorado workers and has been a leader in helping hardworking Colorado families achieve greater economic security.
Pro-Conservation Legislation
From cracking down on polluters, to increasing electric vehicle charging infrastructure, to legalizing rain barrels, to protecting wild bison, expanding wildlife overpasses, and promoting water conservation, Jessie has fought to protect Colorado’s air, land and water. At the legislature, she is making sure state government is working to combat the climate crisis.
Abortion Rights
A former NARAL Pro Choice Colorado Political Director, Jessie has spent decades advocating for the rights of women and reproductive freedom. In 2022, she sponsored the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which codified abortion rights into Colorado law. Jessie will never stop standing up to politicians trying to roll back the rights of women. In 2015, Jessie passed a law requiring Colorado higher education institutions to create access Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exams and rape kits for evidence collections.
Gun Safety Bills
Jessie passed legislation requiring the reporting of lost and stolen firearms, to help save lives and reduce gun trafficking. In 2025, she passed legislation closing gun show loopholes. She is a proud co-sponsor of gun safety legislation creating Extreme Risk Protection Orders and closing the “boyfriend loophole” to get guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Jessie sponsored the Freedom to Marry Act in 2025 (SB25-014), protecting LGBTQ+ families from potential future legal attack. She was singled out for recognition by One Colorado for her work to help pass SB20-221 – banning the “gay panic” defense. She has been a staunch ally of Colorado’s queer community throughout her service.
Fighting for Colorado Workers
A 2022 Colorado AFL-CIO “Labor Champion” awardee, Jessie Danielson has been the Colorado legislature’s staunchest advocate for workers’ rights, labor unions and the right to organize. She has passed equal pay for equal work legislation that have become national models.
Jessie passed legislation expanding apprenticeship and vocational/technical training opportunities, and standing up to entrenched corporate special interests.
HB18-1108 Commission Deaf Hard Of Hearing Deafblind
HB17-1269 Repeal Prohibition Of Wage Sharing Information
HB17-1253 Protect Seniors From Financial Abuse
HB17-1021 Wage Theft Transparency Act
SB16-114 Employee-earned Paid Sick Leave
HB16-1347 Employer Information Concerning Wage Law Violation
HB16-1156 Extend Pay Transparency Protection All Employees
HB16-1027 Criminal Deposition For At-risk Persons
HB16-1001 State Contract Certify Compliance With Equal Pay Laws
SB15-178 Sunset Continue Comm'n For Deaf & Hard Of Hearing
HB15-1242 Patient Caregiver Designation Hospital Requirement
HB15-1018 Protecting Seniors From Elder AbuseHB21-1007 State Apprenticeship Agency
SB20-182 Supporting Wandering Persons Recovery Programs
SB20-120 Apprentice Examinations And Professional Licenses
SB20-081 School Information For Apprenticeship Directory
SB20-022 Increase Medical Providers For Senior Citizens
SB19-238 Improve Wages And Accountability Home Care Workers
SB19-171 Apprenticeships And Vocational Technical Training
SB19-085 Equal Pay For Equal Work Act
HB19-1267 Penalties For Failure To Pay Wages
HB19-1210 Local Government Minimum Wage
HB18-1378 Equal Pay For Equal Work Act
HB18-1368 Local Control Of Minimum Wage
HB18-1341 Apprenticeship And Vocational Technical Training
HB18-1108 Commission Deaf Hard Of Hearing Deafblind
HB17-1269 Repeal Prohibition Of Wage Sharing Information
HB17-1253 Protect Seniors From Financial Abuse
HB17-1021 Wage Theft Transparency Act
SB16-114 Employee-earned Paid Sick Leave
HB16-1347 Employer Information Concerning Wage Law Violation
HB16-1156 Extend Pay Transparency Protection All Employees
HB16-1027 Criminal Deposition For At-risk Persons
HB16-1001 State Contract Certify Compliance With Equal Pay Laws
SB15-178 Sunset Continue Comm'n For Deaf & Hard Of Hearing
HB15-1242 Patient Caregiver Designation Hospital Requirement
HB15-1018 Protecting Seniors From Elder Abuse
Jessie’s pro-worker, pro-educator and pro-retiree legislation:
SB25-005 Worker Protection Act
HB25-1001 Cracking Down on Wage Theft
HB25-1130 Labor Requirements for Government Construction Projects
HB25-1245 HVAC Improvement Projects in Schools
HB25-1328 Direct Care Worker Pay Raise & Workforce Development
SB24-104 Career & Technical Education & Apprenticeships
HB24-1307 HVAC Improvements for Public Schools
HB24-1260 Prohibition Against Employee Discipline
HB24-1008 Wage Claims Construction Industry Contractors
SB23-261 Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board
SB23-146 Colorado Apprenticeship Directory Information
SB23-105 Ensure Equal Pay For Equal Work
SB23-058 Job Application Fairness Act
SB23-031 Improve Health-care Access For Older Coloradans
HB23-1212 Promotion Of Apprenticeships
HB23-1197 Stakeholder Process For Oversight Of Host Home Providers
SB22-189 Colorado Geriatric Provider Pipeline Program
SB22-187 Supporting Recovery Programs Persons Who Wander
SB22-185 Security For Colorado Seniors
SB22-161 Wage Theft Employee Misclassification Enforcement
SB22-154 Increasing Safety In Assisted Living Residences
HB22-1346 Electrician Plumber Licensing Apprentice Ratio
SB21-087 Agricultural Workers' Rights
HB21-1007 State Apprenticeship Agency
SB20-182 Supporting Wandering Persons Recovery Programs
SB20-120 Apprentice Examinations And Professional Licenses
SB20-081 School Information For Apprenticeship Directory
SB20-022 Increase Medical Providers For Senior Citizens
SB19-238 Improve Wages And Accountability Home Care Workers
SB19-171 Apprenticeships And Vocational Technical Training
SB19-085 Equal Pay For Equal Work Act
HB19-1267 Penalties For Failure To Pay Wages
HB19-1210 Local Government Minimum Wage
HB18-1378 Equal Pay For Equal Work Act
HB18-1368 Local Control Of Minimum Wage
HB18-1341 Apprenticeship And Vocational Technical Training