State Legislator of the Month, January 2025: Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese

The State Legislator of the Month highlights successes and acknowledges those who personify the principles at the core of ALEC–limited government, free markets, and federalism.

We are thrilled to recognize Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese as the State Legislator of the Month for January.

Elected in 2022 to represent Colorado’s District 14, which includes Colorado Springs, Representative Pugliese quickly established herself as a dynamic leader and steadfast advocate for her constituents. Serving as House Minority Leader in 2024, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, marked by a commitment to transparency and inclusivity, ensuring all voices within the caucus are heard and valued. Her colleagues have reaffirmed their confidence in her abilities, electing her to continue in this role in the upcoming legislative session.

Last year, ALEC was honored to host the 2024 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. With the support of Colorado members like Representative Pugliese and ALEC’s State Chairs, the event was a resounding success, bringing together leaders from across the nation to collaborate on innovative policy solutions and strengthen connections within the ALEC network.

Building on that momentum, we were also grateful to travel to Colorado recently to meet with legislators. Representative Pugliese welcomed ALEC and fostered meaningful engagement with her caucus members, creating opportunities for collaboration that set the stage for a productive 2025 and reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing policies that benefit all Coloradans.

Representative Pugliese has been a vocal advocate for reducing the cost of living and enhancing public safety, focusing on the issues that matter most to Colorado families. Her background as an attorney and former Mesa County Commissioner has given her a deep understanding of the legal and administrative aspects of governance, enabling her to address complex challenges and deliver practical solutions.

Reflecting on the value of ALEC, Representative Pugliese shared:

ALEC is an important institution for legislators and staff alike. The training programs, model policies, and interaction with other states help me as a legislator craft thoughtful and impactful legislation to make life better for the people of Colorado. We were thrilled when ALEC chose Denver as the destination city over the summer of 2024. The experiences, relationships, and training gained during the event have truly set my caucus and staff on the path to more successful legislative sessions for our state.

She continued:

The ALEC staff, located across the country, make a big difference. We are especially grateful for all those who work to coordinate events and provide materials that benefit Colorado citizens and elected officials. Not only is ALEC an invaluable asset for legislators, but also for staff. The legislative staff academy has left a lasting imprint on our staff, helping provide more thoughtful and accurate legislative support.

By working through model policies and discussing their impacts, freshmen legislators gain hands-on experience that replicates the work they will do in office. This preparation allows them to hit the ground running and become effective leaders from the start.

As Colorado House Minority Leader, Representative Pugliese continues to lead efforts to make Colorado more affordable, safe, and prosperous. Her leadership and dedication make her a deserving recipient of this honor.

Congratulations, Representative Rose Pugliese!