Legislate, advocate, belong: Rep. Junie Joseph on equity and the 2026 legislative session

By DeRae Logan

As the 2026 legislative session continues at the state capitol, many representatives are focused on bridging the gap between policy and lived experience. For House District 10 Representative Junie Joseph, that means ensuring that the voices of Black and Brown Coloradans are not just heard, but codified into law.

KGNU’s DeRae Logan sat down with Rep. Joseph at a community gathering in Boulder to discuss her current legislative priorities, including bills aimed at equity in medicine and the protection of identification documents for migrant workers.

Joseph is currently sponsoring several key pieces of legislation for the 2026 session, including HB26-1044, which focuses on Black maternal health equity.

The bill seeks to address the disproportionately high rates of birth complications faced by Black parents in Colorado, regardless of income level, by forcing the medical system to account for and mitigate the effects of systemic racism.

The conversation also touched on HB26-1283, a bill designed to protect individuals, particularly migrant workers, from employers confiscating their identification documents. Joseph, an immigrant herself, highlighted how this practice often leaves workers living in the shadows and likened it to a modern form of slavery.

Beyond policy, Joseph challenged the Boulder community to move from simple “inclusion” to “true belonging,” emphasizing that affordability and workforce housing are essential to making the city a place where everyone can truly live, not just work.

This story aired on The Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring local news and community members. Click here to listen to other episodes of The Morning Magazine.