Chris Holbert

Chris Holbert[2] (born February 6, 1961)[3] is an American politician serving as Republican minority leader of the Colorado Senate. He has represented the 30th district since January 6, 2015. Formerly he represented the 44th district of the Colorado House of Representatives. He was elected in November 2016 by the Senate Republican Caucus to the position of Senate Majority Leader, the second highest position in the Colorado Senate.

Chris Holbert
Holbert in February 2018
Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 4, 2019
Preceded by	Leroy Garcia
Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate
In office January 11, 2017 – January 4, 2019
Preceded by	Mark Scheffel
Succeeded by	Steve Fenberg
Member of the Colorado Senate from the 30th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 2015
Preceded by	Ted Harvey
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 44th district
In office January 12, 2011 – January 7, 2015
Preceded by	Mike May
Succeeded by	Kim Ransom
Personal details
Born	February 6, 1961 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence	Parker, Colorado[1]
Education	Colorado Heights University (BA)
Website	Official website

Prior to seeking elected office, Chris’ career centered on trade association management with focus on executive leadership, marketing, communications, and government affairs. From 2000 to 2008, Chris served as president and executive director of a statewide trade association where he represented over 6,000 business professionals throughout Colorado.

Now in business for himself, Chris provides consulting services to for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. Since 2009, Chris has also devoted time to assist members of various grassroots organizations better understand the legislative process and structure of government. Chris teaches both clients and volunteers alike that knowledge, truth, and accountability are the means by which positive change can be most effectively achieved.

In 1986, Chris Holbert married his wife, Diane, and they are the parents of two boys, Victor and Carson.

Education

Holbert earned his bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Loretto Heights College (now Colorado Heights University).

Elections

• 2012 Holbert ran unopposed for the June 26, 2012 Republican Primary, winning with 4,063 votes,[4] and won the three-way November 6, 2012 General election with 27,381 votes (64.0%) against Libertarian candidate Jarrod Austin.[5]
• 2010 When District 44 Republican Representative Mike May left the Legislature and left the seat open, Holbert won a three-way Republican Primary in August 2010 with 4,455 votes (39.8%) in a field which included Polly Lawrence (who was elected to the House for District 39 in 2012),[6] and won the November 2, 2010 General election with 28,009 votes (75.21%) against Independent Peter Ericson and Democratic write-in candidate Margie Brown.[7]
• 2014 Holbert was elected to the State Senate seat for District 30.[8]

Legislative career

Senator Chris Holbert claims to be a defender of Constitutional liberties as supported by the Declaration of Independence. The Colorado Statesman named Senator Holbert a “Winner” of the 2016 general session after 93% of his bills were passed by both chambers and signed into law by the Governor. In 2015, The Denver Post also named Senator Holbert as a “Winner” for his leadership of the bi-partisan House Bill 15-1323, which reduced the frequency of assessments in Colorado public schools. Such assessments do not drive to a student's letter grade, but rather collect data for use in teacher, school, district, and state performance measures.

Recent honors include Colorado Union of Taxpayers' "Guardian Award", ranking second of thirty-five senators in the 2017 General Assembly, as well as receiving the second highest rating in the Senate from Principles of Liberty Colorado.

Some other significant pieces of legislation Senator Holbert has carried include: Senate Bill 17-229, Penalties When Passing Stationary Vehicles. Colorado State Trooper Cody Donahue was killed during a traffic stop on I-25 south of Castle Rock in 2016. Another State Trooper was killed on this same stretch of highway in 2015. This law increases the penalties for not moving over for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and stationary public utility service vehicles that are flashing their lights on the side of the road. Specifically, it increases the penalty to a class 1 misdemeanor if the driver's actions are the proximate cause of bodily injury to another person and to a class 6 felony if the actions are the proximate cause of the death of another person.

The short title of the bill is the 'Move Over for Cody Act'. [9]

Also related to the above:

Senate Joint Resolution 17-017, Naming a Portion of I-25 between Castle Rock and Monument the 'Trooper Donahue and Trooper Jursevics Move Over Safety Awareness Corridor'. Colorado State Troopers Cody Donahue and Jamie Jursevics were killed on this stretch of interstate in Douglas County, Colorado when motorists didn't move over as the troopers were stopped for emergencies and were struck outside their vehicles. Memorial signs have been placed along the corridor as well as signage reminding motorists to move over and slow down.[10]

Read more about these bills: Colorado Politics CBS News, Denver

Senate Bill 16-1373, Student Medical Marijuana Use at School, also known as 'Jack's Law'

Under previous law, a student with a medical marijuana recommendation was not permitted to use medical marijuana on school grounds, on a school bus, or at a school activity unless the district has adopted a policy permitting the use. The act allows a student to use medical marijuana on school grounds, on a school bus, or at a school activity if the student's primary caregiver possesses and administers medical marijuana in a non-smokable form to the student. The primary caregiver shall not administer the medical marijuana in a manner that is disruptive to the educational environment or causes exposure to other students. After the primary caregiver administers the medical marijuana, the primary caregiver shall remove any remaining medical marijuana from the grounds of the preschool or primary or secondary school, the school bus, or school sponsored event. The act allows a school district to adopt policies regarding who may be a primary caregiver and the permissible circumstances regarding the administration of the medical marijuana.

The act does not apply to a school district or charter school if:

• The school district or charter school loses federal funding as a result of implementing the act;

• The school district or charter school can reasonably demonstrate that it lost federal funding as a result of implementing the act; and

• The school district or charter school posts on its website in a conspicuous place a statement regarding its decision not to comply with the act.

The act prohibits a school district or charter school from disciplining a student or denying eligibility to attend school to a student who holds a valid recommendation for medical marijuana solely because the student requires medical marijuana in a non-smokable form as a reasonable accommodation necessary for the child to attend school.[11]

Read More about Jack's Law: KKTV News Article CBS News, Denver

House Bill 15-1323, Concerning Assessments in Public Schools, and in Connection Therewith, Codifying the Consensus Recommendations of the Standards and Assessments Task Force Created in HB14-1202.

This law reduced the frequency of public school assessments such as the PARCC, and made it easier for parents to opt their children out of such tests without retribution for the student.[12]

Read the article by Chalkbeat.

House Bill 12-1029, Save Colorado Jobs Act Concerning an economic stimulus through a property tax exemption for business personal property, and, in connection therewith, enacting the "Save Colorado Jobs Act". The measure offers Colorado business owners relief from the burden of the business personal property tax.

This law allows local governments, including counties, to exempt up to 100 percent of locally assessed business personal property taxes. “The Save Colorado Jobs Act encourages businesses to grow. It respects the authority of local governments and works to keep jobs in Colorado while accelerating our economic recovery,” Then Representative Holbert said of the bill. Relocation consultants report that Colorado's business personal property tax factors into many job creators’ decision to leave the state. Holbert's measure is written to prevent this drain on Colorado's economic recovery. This bill received the endorsement of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce representative Kevin Hougen:[13]

References

1. "County Delegation". www.ciclt.net. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
2. "Chris Holbert's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
3. "Rep. Holbert shares birthday, ideals with the Gipper". The Spot.
4. "2012 Republican Party state representatives primary results". Denver, Colorado: Secretary of State of Colorado. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
5. "2012 General election state representatives results". Denver, Colorado: Secretary of State of Colorado. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
6. "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2010 Primary & 2010 General" (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Secretary of State of Colorado. p. 93. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
7. "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2010 Primary & 2010 General" (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Secretary of State of Colorado. p. 131. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
8. Ballotpedia. Chris Holbert. Viewed: 2016-01-26.
9. Colorado General Assembly Website. .
10. Colorado General Assembly Website. .
11. Colorado General Assembly Website. .
12. Colorado General Assembly. .
13. Colorado General Assembly. .

External links

• Official page at the Colorado General Assembly
• Campaign site
• Profile at Vote Smart