Kevin Priola
Kevin Priola is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2008, Priola represented House District 30, which encompassed central Adams County, Colorado, from 2008 to 2012. In the 2012 election, Representative Priola was reelected to the newly redistricted House District 56. Priola served two terms as a state representative in District 56. In 2016, he ran for State Senate in District 25, beating his Democratic opponent with 52% of the vote.
Biography
Born and raised in Adams County, Colorado, Priola graduated from Horizon High School in Thornton. He then attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he was a member of the College Republicans, earning a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in economics. While at CU, Priola participated in the Ralphie Handlers program, as one of the students who train and care for the school's mascot. Priola remained involved with the program after graduation, and served as its co-director from 2001-2011; he received The Denver Chapter Buff Club's Most Valuable Buff Award for his service and training Ralphie IV.Priola has spent his career working for two family businesses, Priola Greenhouses and CAP Land Company in Henderson, Colorado, where he has served as vice-president and treasurer. He now owns Priola Real Estate & Investment. Priola is an active member of the Commerce City Rotary Club, for which he has served as president, and served on the Commerce City Name Change Committee.
In 1996, Priola married his high school sweetheart Michelle. He and his wife currently have four children.
Legislative career
2008 Election
In 2008, Priola announced his intention to run for 30th District seat in the Colorado House of Representatives that was to be vacated by Mary Hodge. On November 4, 2008, Priola won election to the 30th District seat, defeating opponent Dave Rose by less than 500 votes.Candidate | Votes |
Kevin Priola | 11,936 |
Dave Rose | 11,505 |
2009 Legislative session
For the 2009 legislative session, Priola was named to seats on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee and the House Education Committee.Priola ran the following bills in 2009:
- House Bill 1132 Protect Children from Unlawful Acts That Utilize New Technology, Signed by the governor.
- Senate Bill 85 Phase Out Business Personal Property Tax, Signed by the governor.
- Senate Bill 147 Alleviate South Platte Well Depletion Debts, Signed by the governor.
2010 Legislative session
Priola ran the following bills in 2010:
- HB 1285 Economic Incentives for the Trucking Industry, signed by the governor
- HB 1264 Identify and Eliminate Government Waste, Fraud and Abuse, signed by the governor
- HB 1081 Prevent Money Laundering in Gambling, signed by the governor
- SB 116 Prompt Payment for Public Works Contractors, signed by the governor
- HB 1185 Ensure Safe and Accurate Gas Pumps, signed by the governor
- HB 1220 Continue and Streamline The Division of Insurance, signed by the governor
- HB 1291 Reduce Administrative Court Costs, signed by the governor
- SB 85 and SB 86 Phase Out the Business Personal Property Tax, Lost in the Senate State Affairs Committee
2010 Election
Candidate | Votes |
Kevin Priola | 10,612 |
Laura Huerta | 6,931 |
2011 Legislative session
For the 2011 legislative session, Priola was named to seats on the Economic and Business Development Committee and Transportation Committee.Priola ran the following bills in 2011:
- SB 167 Efficiencies in State Regulatory Systems, Signed by the governor
- HB 1130 Commodity Metals Transactions Violations, Signed by the governor
- HB 1115 Prompt Payment for Public Constructions Projects, Signed by governor
- HB 1263 Business Personal Property Tax Exemption.
- SB 23 Reduce Use of State-Owned Vehicles for Commuting.
2012 Legislative session
Priola ran the following bills in 2012:
- SB 149 Allows Local Government Retirement Retirement Plan Modifications, Signed by Governor
- SB 38 Protects Consumers' Residential Roofing Work, Signed by Governor
- HB 1150 Calculate PERA using highest 7 years.
- SB 52 Local and Statewide Assessed Property Tax Exemption.
2012 Election
Candidate | Votes |
Kevin Priola | 22,270 |
Dave Rose | 14,070 |
2013 Legislative Session
Priola ran the following bills in 2013:- HB 1040 Calculate PERA Using Highest 7 years.
- HB 1066 Preservation of Religious Freedom.
- HB 1172 K-12 Public School Accountability.
- HJR 1013 Creation of School Choice Week, signed by Governor
2014 Legislative Session
- HB 1048 Religious Freedom in Higher Education
- HB 1153 Attorney Fees for All Motions to Dismiss
- HB 1201 Align PERA Highest Average Salary With Other States
- HB 1262 Highly Effective Teachers and Low Performing School Districts
2014 Election
Candidate | Votes |
Kevin Priola | 20,627 |
Vicki A. Snider | 10,629 |
2015 Legislative Session
Priola ran the following bills in 2015:- HB 1200 Highly Effective Teachers and Low Performing Schools, Lost in Committee
- HB 1512 In-State Tuition Dependents Of Military Members,
- HB 1216 Basis For Expert Opinion Testimony,
- HB 1257 Eliminate Penalty To Increase Compliance Cigarette Sale
- HB 1296 Campus Sexual Assault Task Force
- HJR 1020 Fitzsimons VA Hospital
2016 Legislative Session
- HB 1010 Destructive Rodent Pest Release Authorization Requirements.
- HB 1130 Changes To CDE Reports
- HB 1219 Motor Vehicle Related Services Consolidation.
- HB 1225 School Districts Must Post Director Candidate info.
- SB 124 Machine Tools Sales Tax Exempt Recovered Materials
2016 Election
Candidate | Votes |
Kevin Priola | 30,074 |
Jenise May | 27,678 |
2017 Legislative Session
Priola ran the following bills in 2017:- SB17-287 Concerning an Income Tax Credit For Donation To Endowment Fund
- SB17-272 Concerning adding a measure relating to demonstration of college and career readiness
- SB17-200 Concerning raising academic excellence in public schools
- SB17-123 Concerning a high school diploma endorsement for biliteracy
- HB17-1344 Concerning measures to support innovative teacher preparation programs
- HB17-1101 Concerning the creation of the youth corrections monetary incentives award program in the division of youth corrections
2018 Legislative Session
- SB18-278 Increase Penalty For First Responder Assaults
- SB18-200 Modifications To PERA Public Employees' Retirement Association To Eliminate Unfunded Liability
- SB18-151 Colorado Department of Education Bullying Policies Research
- HB18-090 Align Early Childhood Quality Improvement Programs
- HB18-009 Allow Electric Utility Customers Install Energy Storage Equipment
2019 Legislative Session
- SB19-192 Front Range Waste Diversion Enterprise Grant Program
- SB19-079 Electronic Prescribing Controlled Substances
- SB19-077 Electric Motor Vehicles Public Utility Services
- HB19-1257 Voter Approval To Retain Revenue for Education & Transportation
- HB19-1076 Clean Indoor Air Act Add E-Cigarettes Remove Exceptions
2020 Legislative Session
- SB20-028 Substance Use Disorder Recovery
- SB20-055 Incentivize Development Recycling End Markets
- SB20-066 Highly Effective Teachers and Low-performing Schools
- SB20-112 College Trust Scholarship for Early Graduation
- SB20-163 School Entry Immunization
- SB20-167 Electric Motor Vehicle Manufacturer and Dealer
- HB20-1189 Tax Credit Donation Human Trafficking Victims