A front row seat to Colorado Democracy

Marie Hotta and Lauren Jones-Kaplan

Last Wednesday, a few of us from Vibrant Englewood had the honor of joining Rep. Meg Froelich and her team for House District 3 (HD3) Day at the Capitol. From the House floor to the golden dome to committee meetings in the basement, we spent the day seeing government in action.

Starting the Day: Coffee, Duffey Rolls, & Legislation

Our morning kicked off in Rep. Froelich’s office, where we met her team over coffee and Duffy Rolls. She and her Legislative Aide, Co O’Doherty, gave us a rundown of the day and an inside look at the bills she’s working on.

Fun Fact: Each state senator or representative can introduce up to five bills per session – a unique feature of Colorado’s legislature that Rep. Froelich shared to explain why we hear so much about new legislation on a regular basis.

On the House Floor: A Shoutout & A Snapshot

Next stop: the House floor. While the session was light that day, we watched Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie gavel in and the chamber quickly pass two resolutions—one honoring co-responders and behavioral health professionals, another approving Water Project Eligibility Lists.

Rep. Froelich shared a lovely celebration of HD3 day and introduced our group as her guests. She even invited us up to the Speaker’s lectern for a photo.

The Best View in Denver? The Capitol Dome

With time to explore, the House Sergeant of Arms took us up to the Capitol dome. The climb was worth it—there’s no better view of Denver than from up there. Along the way, we learned about the building’s history and the Colorado-sourced materials that make it unique.

Committees in Action: Bipartisanship & Big Issues

We dropped into the Joint Budget Committee, chaired by State Senator Jeff Bridges. The committee was focused on supplemental funding requests from the judicial department. While budget discussions aren’t always thrilling, we were struck by the civility and humor between committee members. In a time of political division, it was refreshing to see bipartisan problem-solving.

At the Gun Violence Prevention Caucus, we heard from Moms Demand Action and Everytown about Colorado’s progress in gun safety—and what gaps still need to be closed. Rep. Froelich and her colleagues were praised for their work, but the discussion highlighted opportunities to strengthen laws even further by addressing loopholes that had been closed by legislation in other states that could strengthen safety for the people in Colorado. Before heading out, we stopped by the Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee, chaired by Rep. Froelich, where they were debating an electric fence bill. This bill was a reminder that state laws really dig into the little details of many parts of life.

Final Thoughts

Spending a day at the Capitol was an incredible experience. Seeing democracy in action—beyond the headlines—was a powerful reminder that real people are working every day to shape Colorado’s future.

Shoutout to our HD3 community for making sure Vibrant Englewood was in the room. We left feeling inspired, informed, and more connected to the work happening on behalf of our state.

Capitol Denver government HD3 Jeff Bridges Meg Froelich

Last modified: February 10, 2025