Fighting for Colorado - Tom's Vision
When life knocks you down, how you get back up helps define who you are—and what you choose to do next.
When my son Alex was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting, my family's life changed forever. When I found the strength to stand back up, I also found a voice that could not be silenced and a belief that has guided me ever since: every life matters, every voice deserves to be heard, and government has a responsibility to work for the people it serves.
I never expected to hold elected office. I was a veteran, a postal worker, a union member, a husband, a father, and a neighbor long before I became a legislator. Those experiences are what I bring with me to the State Capitol every day.
Since first being elected in 2018, I have worked to turn lived experience into action—protecting victims and survivors, preventing gun violence, standing up for workers and veterans, strengthening our schools, lowering costs for families, and making sure Coloradans have the opportunity to build a good life.
There is still more work to do. I want to continue bringing the lessons I have learned throughout my life—and the experiences the people of our community share with me every day—to the Colorado Senate as a voice for the people of Senate District 27.
My priorities at the State Capitol include:
Building an economy that works for all Coloradans
Lowering costs for families and making our tax system fairer
Supporting small businesses and Colorado workers
Protecting our communities from gun violence
Investing in K-12 schools, higher education, and workforce development
Supporting Colorado's veterans, service members, and their families
Protecting reproductive freedom and access to health care
Addressing the rising costs of health care, housing, and everyday necessities
Protecting Colorado's environment and our way of life
Strengthening behavioral and mental health services
Protecting victims of crime and ensuring their voices are heard
Tom’s Legislative Highlights
For me, legislation isn't about putting my name on a bill. It's about solving problems and making a measurable difference in people's lives.
From landmark gun violence prevention legislation to protections for workers and veterans, I have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle when possible to deliver results for Colorado.
2026 Legislative Session
In 2026, I continued working on the issues that have driven my public service from the beginning: safer communities, stronger protections for working people, and honoring our commitments to veterans and their families.
Among the legislation I prime-sponsored:
SB26-004 — Expanding Extreme Risk Protection Orders
Built upon Colorado's existing Extreme Risk Protection Order law by allowing additional qualified community and institutional petitioners—including certain schools, higher education institutions, health care and behavioral health facilities, and co-responders—to petition a court when someone poses a serious risk to themselves or others.SB26-093 — Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage Verification
Strengthened enforcement of Colorado's workers' compensation requirements to help ensure employers maintain required coverage and workers have the protections they are entitled to when they are injured on the job.HB26-1144 — Prohibiting 3D-Printed Firearms and Components
Addressed the emerging threat posed by unserialized firearms and firearm components produced using 3D-printing technology.SB26-067 — Tuition Waivers for Dependents of Disabled Veterans
Proposed providing tuition assistance at Colorado public colleges and universities for qualifying dependents of disabled veterans. Although the legislation did not become law in 2026, supporting veterans and their families remains one of my priorities.
2025 Legislative Session
The 2025 session included some of my most significant work on gun violence prevention, worker protections, and responsible government.
SB25-003 — Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices
I was a prime sponsor of legislation establishing new requirements around certain semiautomatic firearms and rapid-fire devices. The bill was signed into law in April 2025.SB25-158 — State Agency Procurement & Disposal of Certain Items
Worked to establish clearer requirements governing how state agencies procure, possess, and dispose of certain firearms and related items. The legislation was signed into law.HB25-1284 — Regulating Apprentices in Licensed Trades
Helped strengthen Colorado's apprenticeship system for licensed trades, including electrical and plumbing apprentices, supporting both workers entering skilled careers and the integrity of Colorado's workforce standards.
A Record of Gun Violence Prevention
Gun violence prevention brought me to the Capitol long before I was elected to serve there. It remains deeply personal to me, but my work has never been about one tragedy or one family. It is about preventing the next family from experiencing what mine did.
HB19-1177 — Extreme Risk Protection Orders ("Red Flag Law")
Established Colorado's Extreme Risk Protection Order law, providing a court process to temporarily remove firearm access when an individual is found to pose a significant danger to themselves or others.HB20-1356 — Lost or Stolen Firearms
Strengthened requirements surrounding the reporting of lost and stolen firearms.HB21-1299 — Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Helped establish Colorado's Office of Gun Violence Prevention to coordinate education, resources, and evidence-informed violence prevention efforts.HB22-1086 — Vote Without Fear Act
Strengthened protections against voter intimidation involving firearms at polling locations and other election-related locations.SB23-170 — Extreme Risk Protection Order Petitions
Expanded who may petition for an Extreme Risk Protection Order, building upon the law we passed in 2019.HB23-1219 — Waiting Period to Deliver a Firearm
Established a waiting period before the delivery of a purchased firearm.SB25-003 — Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices
Continued my work to reduce the devastating toll that firearms capable of inflicting mass casualties can have on Colorado communities.SB26-004 — Expanding Extreme Risk Protection Orders
Further strengthened Colorado's ERPO framework by expanding the qualified people and institutions able to intervene when someone presents a serious danger.HB26-1144 — 3D-Printed Firearms & Components
Responded to changing firearm technology and the growing challenge posed by unserialized, privately manufactured weapons and components.
Standing Up for Workers
Before I ever ran for office, I spent nearly three decades working for the United States Postal Service and served as a union steward and officer. I know what it means to punch a clock, raise a family, and rely on the protections workers have fought generations to secure.
That experience continues to guide my work.
SB19-171 — Apprenticeships & Vocational Technical Training
SB20-120 — Apprenticeship Exams & Professional Licenses
HB20-1415 — Whistleblower Protections During Public Health Emergencies
HB21-1007 — State Apprenticeship Agency
HB21-1264 — Investments in Skills Training & Workforce Development
HB22-1001 — Reducing Business Filing Fees
SB23-051 — Conforming Workforce Development Statutes
HB25-1284 — Regulating Apprentices in Licensed Trades
SB26-093 — Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage Verification
I will continue fighting for safe workplaces, fair wages, strong apprenticeship and workforce programs, and an economy that rewards work.
Keeping Our Commitment to Veterans
I am the son of two Air Force veterans and proudly served in the U.S. Air Force myself. Supporting those who served our country—and their families—is not simply another policy issue for me. It is personal.
My legislative work has included:
SB19-029 — Income Tax Residency Presumption for Military Members
SB21-024 — Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
HB22-1102 — Protecting Veterans and Service Members in Housing
SB23-154 — Continuing Colorado's Veterans One-Stop Center
SB26-067 — Tuition Waivers for Dependents of Disabled Veterans
I will continue working to make Colorado a state where veterans, active-duty service members, and military families know their service is valued and their government stands behind them.
The Work Continues
I've learned throughout my life that public service isn't about who gets the credit. It's about showing up.
It's about listening to the people you represent. It's about standing beside families on their hardest days. It's about fighting for workers who deserve a fair shot, veterans who earned our support, students who deserve a great education, and communities that deserve to be safe.
I didn't come to the State Capitol because I wanted to be a politician. I came because I believed I could make a difference.
That is still why I'm here—and I'm not finished yet.