| Representative Leslie Herod (HD-8) was elected in 2016 as the first LGBTQ African American in the General Assembly, while receiving the highest number of votes of any candidate running in a contested election. She serves as the Chair of the House Finance Committee, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Chair of the Committee on Legal Services. Rep. Herod also chairs the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus and the Arts Caucus.
Since her election in 2016, Herod has sent 68 bills to the Governor's desk, marshaling through numerous pieces of legislation addressing criminal justice reform, mental health & substance abuse, renewable energy, youth homelessness, and civil rights protections. Her legislative agenda underscores her commitment to improving the lives of all Coloradans, especially those caught in the cycle of poverty or mired in the criminal justice system.
Some of her signature work includes-
Restoring voting rights to over 11,000 Coloradans on parole. [HB 19-1266]
Ending qualified immunity in Colorado to enhance law enforcement integrity. [HB 20-217]
Requiring insurance companies to cover the diagnosis of infertility, treatment for infertility, and fertility preservation services. [HB20-1158]
Passing the CROWN Act, banning race-based discrimination on the basis of hairstyle and hair texture [HB 20-1048]
Banning the 'box' on employment and college applications so that felons can find a stable job and seek higher education without discrimination. [HB 19-1025 & SB 19-170]
Giving every Colorado newborn a $100 college kickstarter account. Even a small amount of savings can vastly increase a child's likelihood of attending and graduating from college. [HB 19-1280]
Requiring that county jails provide free and immediate tampons and other menstrual hygiene products. [HB 19-1224]
Eliminating cash bail for low-level offenses, which will prevent 13,000 per year from staying in jail simply because they couldn't afford to get out. [HB 19-1225]
Restricting fees for new solar panel installations to reduce barriers to clean energy. [17-179]
Changing drug possession for personal use from a felony to a misdemeanor. [HB 19-1263]
Obtaining greater funding to address the needs of crime victims, especially men and people of color. [HB 18-1409]
Reauthorizing the Colorado Civil Rights Division and Commission despite enormous pressure to weaken it [Denver Post]
Indefinitely extending the 'Child Mental Health Treatment Act.' [HB 18-1094]
Protecting Coloradans' personal property by reigning in asset forfeiture [9 News]
Supporting Colorado winemakers [HB 17-1145]
Improving educational opportunities for children and adults in Colorado prisons [18-1437]
Creating a tax return check off for Urban Peak - Colorado's leading homeless youth service agency - which raised over $100,000 in 2018. [HB 17-1055]
In addition to winning reelection in 2018, Herod championed a ballot initiative - Caring 4 Denver - that will raise at least $35 million annually for mental health and substance abuse treatment and services for children and adults in Denver. The initiative passed overwhelmingly with nearly 70% support from Denver voters and has created the largest mental health foundation in the state.
Herod cares a great deal about the future of Colorado's young people. While a student at CU Boulder, she co-founded New Era Colorado - the state's leading organization focused on the engagement of young people - with Congressman Joe Neguse, Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, and Lisa Kaufmann, now Chief of Staff for Governor Polis. She has served as a mentor for high school students, delivered commencement remarks, and is a frequent guest at high school and college campuses.
Herod is dedicated to serving the community, having served on multiple organizations, boards and commissions, including serving as Governor Ritter's appointee to the Judicial Performance Commission, a mayoral appointee to Denver's Cultural Affairs Commission, the Board of Directors for Urban Peak - Colorado's leading homeless youth service agency, and President of Colorado Black Women for Political Action. Herod also served as President Obama's Deputy Political Director in Colorado during his 2012 Reelection Campaign.
Herod's notable achievements have been recognized by numerous organizations. In 2019, she was featured in 5280 Magazine. In 2018, the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado awarded Herod with the "Force for Good" award, Urban Peak presented her with its "Maverick Thinker" award, and she was chosen to give a TED talk on the importance of providing free tampons to female inmates. In 2017, the Colorado Democratic Party honored Representative Herod with the 2017 "Rising Star" award, Out Front Colorado honored her with a 2017 "Power Award" she was named a "Champion of Choice" by Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, and she was featured in Marie Claire Magazine's "Power Issue."
House District 8 is located in Northeast Denver and includes the neighborhoods of Five Points, the San Raphael Historic District, Curtis Park, Cheesman Park, Uptown, City Park West, Whittier, Cole, Clayton, North City Park, City Park, Congress Park, South Park Hill, North Park Hill, Northeast Park Hill, Stapleton, and East Colfax. |