Colorado lawmaker wants to crack down on companies that charge hidden fees

When Colorado state Rep. Naquetta Ricks traveled to Las Vegas recently, she shopped around for the best rate on a hotel.

But when she arrived, she says, the price of her room jumped $240. She says the hotel tacked-on a "resort fee" that wasn't listed anywhere in the price of the room.

"Had I known that I would have compared apples to apples and gotten a nicer place to stay," says Ricks, who is now sponsoring a bill to shed light on hidden fees in Colorado.

She's introduced a bill that would ban advertising or selling a product or service without disclosing all fees upfront. Violations would be a deceptive trade practice.

The consumer advocacy group CoPIRG says there's been a rise in resort fees, convenience fees, processing fees, service fees and other fees. 

LOCAL NEWS State lawmaker calls HOA charges "excessive" following CBS News Colorado investigation

A new law intended to protect HOA residents in Colorado may need some revisions or clarifications according to the sponsor, after a CBS News Colorado investigation revealed one management company charging high fees to send certified letters to HOA residents.

First African immigrant to serve in Colorado legislature shares her story

“Black immigrants over the last 20 years have increased in Colorado 400%, according to the Census and Immigration Council,” Ricks said. “So the importance that Black immigrants, whether you are from Africa or the Caribbean, are represented here in the statehouse is important.”

Representative Naquetta Ricks wins second term as Colorado State Representative

Colorado General Assembly Member Naquetta Ricks wins her second term as Colorado’s State Representative for House District 40. The Liberian-born Representative snagged 61.54% of the votes against her Republican rival, Le Sellers on Tuesday, Nov. 8, sealing a second two-year term in the Colorado State House.

RHEA passes the House!

HB22-1279, the Reproductive Health Equity Act, sponsored by Representative Froelich, House Majority Leader Esgar, and Senator Gonzales passed through both the House Health & Insurance Committee and 2nd Reading in the House last week. Today, it passed its 3rd and final reading in the House of Representatives.

This bill would establish that: 

● Every individual has the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraception.

● Every individual who becomes pregnant has a fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion.

● A fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent rights under the laws of the state. 

This critical legislation ensures that the rights of all Coloradans are protected, specifically the right to healthcare - including contraception and abortion. Everyone deserves to choose what happens to the their body. Everyone deserves to make their own healthcare decisions and to involve whomever they see fit in that decision, without the government’s involvement. In our communities of color, including the Black community, we lack access to adequate healthcare, and this bill is one crucial step towards addressing that inequity.

The committee hearing for this bill lasted an unprecedented 13 hours - from 2:00pm on March 9th until 3:40am on March 10th. 2nd Reading in the House lasted right around 24 hours - from Friday morning March 11th until Saturday morning March 12th. Read more about the committee hearing here and here and more about 2nd Reading here. During the many hours of debate during 2nd reading, I spoke in support of the bill - see my remarks in the video below.

I'm so proud of my fellow Democratic colleagues for fighting tirelessly in support of this critical legislation. I am especially proud of the bill's sponsors for their fierce advocacy and commitment to the work of protecting reproductive rights for all Coloradans.

RHEA is now headed to the Colorado State Senate. Follow @RepMegFroe, @SenadoraJulie, @Dlesgar, @COHouseDem, @COSenDem, #RHEA4CO, #RHEA #coleg, and #copolitics on Twitter to stay updated.


Representative Ricks leads International Women's Day celebration

March 8th is International Women’s Day - a day to recognize the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women throughout the world. In celebration of this important day, Representative Ricks introduced a Tribute in the House of Representatives and shared remarks. She also welcomed women from throughout the state for a special event at the Capitol. Attendees attended the House of Representatives Session, toured the Capitol, and met with legislators. Read more about the Tribute and event here.

In her remarks, Representative Ricks highlighted how far we have come locally, nationally, and globally regarding gender parity and equity. She also pointed out how far we have to go. While Colorado ranks highest in the nation for number of female legislators at 42%, it also has never had a female governor, U.S. senator, or mayor of its capitol city. Across the world in Liberia, her country of birth, Representative Ricks shared that two-thirds of women are illiterate and 74% of all female workers are informal laborers. And while statistics such as these can be discouraging, it is also important to note that Liberia is home to the first elected female Head of State in Africa - Madame Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Watch Representative Ricks’ full remarks below.

Rep. Naquetta Ricks delivers remarks highlighting voting rights in honor of MLK Day

Last year, Representative Ricks gave her first speech on the floor of the House of Representatives in honor of the the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year, on January 14th, she delivered remarks in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once again. This year, she highlighted his fight to secure voting rights for people of color and push back against efforts to block access to the ballot. She asked her colleagues to join her in affirming their commitment to protect the right to vote and expand voter access.

Watch the full speech below:

Liberia Native Finds Her Footing as New Colorado Lawmaker

Liberia Native Finds Her Footing as New Colorado Lawmaker

In Colorado, Ricks’ legislative efforts are getting recognition. In October, the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce honored her as Government Official of the Year for advocating "inclusion and diversity within the larger business community." The state’s Independent Bankers Association and nonprofit housing group Habitat for Humanity both awarded her for championing the legislation for the pilot program to help renters improve credit scores.

In the next legislative session, Ricks anticipates more work on consumer protection, education and immigration issues. She emphasized that she works on behalf of all her constituents.

Colorado's immigrants now have more protections, benefits in state law

Rep. Naquetta Ricks, an Aurora Democrat, is the only immigrant in the legislature this year and sponsored several of the bills, including the immigrant legal defense fund.

“We are very prevalent,” Ricks said. “We are a part of the fabric of Colorado. We are what makes Colorado work. … We’re a very significant part that needs to be recognized and be included in the policies in the state.”

Q&A: Rep. Naquetta Ricks, first African immigrant elected to Colorado Legislature

Yes, America is one of the greatest countries in the world, but people come because they are running from trauma, political unrest, they come because they’re running from famine and war. … People are here because they’re seeking a better life. They’re seeking a place where they can live and they can thrive, and I think that immigrants contribute so much to the United States. … We are part of this fabric of this country.

DREAM ON: Amid a housing crisis, Colorado lawmakers try to preserve a slice of the American Dream

Along with Rep. Mary Bradfield and Sen. Jeff Bridges, Ricks was a prime sponsor of a bill that creates a voluntary pilot program that renters can participate in to report their rent payment to consumer reporting agencies in order to build their credit history.

The bill is designed to boost home ownership rates among low-income Coloradans, who are less likely to have a credit history, Ricks said. Bad credit makes it more difficult to access loans for things like mortgage payments, and people with poor credit pay much higher rates than those with better credit.

Proposed Bill Aims to Protect Owners of Towed Vehicles

A bill making its way through the Colorado House aims to protect the rights of car owners who’ve been towed. A task force within Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission reviews hundreds of consumer complaints against towing companies every year. A bill sponsored by Representative Naquetta Ricks would change who reviews these complaints.

'A Single, Small Step': Colorado's Black Democratic Caucus Reacts To Chauvin Verdict

Rep. Naquetta Ricks, an Aurora Democrat, acknowledged the long road ahead toward achieving racial justice.

"Today, we are far from justice, but we are one step closer to reckoning with white supremacy in this country," Ricks, the first Black immigrant to serve in the Colorado General Assembly, said on Twitter. "I stand in solidarity with my fellow members of the Black Caucus in our commitment to justice for all black lives."