First Woman Legislator to Sponsor a Bill
Rep. Carrie Holly was one of three women sworn in to serve in the Colorado House of Representatives on January 2, 1895. Rep. Holly was a 38-year-old Republican from Pueblo. She actively sought the office and, unlike the other two women who were elected that year, she had been active in the suffrage movement.
The first bill sponsored by a woman was introduced by Rep. Holly. The bill would raise the “age of consent” for girls from 16 to 18. Despite contentious debate her bill was eventually passed and signed by the Governor.
Rep. Holly passed a bill allowing mothers the same rights to their children as fathers. She sometimes supported Populist bills, including a “local options” bill to regulate the sale of liquor in club houses, a bill to abolish capital punishment, and opposed a church taxation bill.
More information about Carrie Holly:
Colorado General Assembly Biographical Information
Colorado Joint Resolution honoring first women in legislature
Note: The information on this page is made available through the generosity of the Colorado Legislative Women’s Caucus, which has asked us to preserve, maintain and promote information they gathered.
