Joel Dyar here, your Western Colorado Alliance Political Director, and facilitator of our Legislative Committee. We’re coming to you with an opportunity to get a very interesting economic justice bill passed in Colorado right now.
Alliance member and bankruptcy attorney Don Bell helps a lot of people whose lives have been turned upside down by debt and bankruptcy — increasingly common issues as a result of today’s unequal economy and sky-high medical bills. Sadly, Colorado currently gets a “D” grade for debtor protections from the National Consumer Law Center. Don has worked for years to get enough political courage assembled to pass legislation to fix this. We’re going to get it done!
Colorado Senate Bill 22-086, Homestead Exemption and Consumer Debt Protection is our fix. It raises debtor protections to modern levels, protecting minimum assets from seizure from creditors so people don’t become destitute. It raises protected cash assets from $0 to $2,500, protected vehicle equity from $7,500 to $15,000, and home equity from $75,000 to $250,000.
It’s already been introduced and has passed the State Senate with Western Colorado Alliance support helping to win bipartisan votes! It now heads to the House, where we need to show big support to legislators and guard against any late attacks from big collectors.
If you want to support this bill and help our Legislative Committee get this done, please sign this letter to our Colorado representatives. Alliance members will be in Denver this Monday, March 7, lobbying at the Capitol to get this bill passed. Thanks for sending them some digital fire support!
Joel Dyar joined our Alliance as organizer for clean and renewable energy in 2019. As a 15-year veteran of community organizing in Colorado and six countries, Joel has worked to help social movements and everyday residents discover their power and make their voices heard on a broad spectrum of sustainability, social, and legislative issues. Joel brings a Masters of Community Development and graduate studies in renewable energy and green business to his work on behalf of our energy future.