[4] Before running for the legislature herself, Stephens was a veteran of numerous Republican campaigns, including those of Colorado Governor Bill Owens, 4th Judicial District Attorney John Newsome, El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams,[4] and U.S. President George W.

[6] In 2015 she was hired by Dentons, the world's largest global law firm, to lead their Denver Government Affairs practice.

[11] Four bills introduced by Rep. Stephens were passed by the General Assembly,[12] most prominently a measure that would prohibit criminal charges against illegal immigrants from being dismissed without their deportation.

[13][14] In November 2007, upon Rep. Bill Cadman's appointment to the Colorado Senate, the first-term legislator was elected to succeed him as House Minority Caucus Chair.

[28] In October, Stephens, with other Republican legislators, participated in a statewide "Save, Don't Spend" RV Tour critical of Democratic policies.

[32] With Democratic Rep. Joe Rice, Stephens sponsored legislation allowing health insurance providers to offer discounts for participation in wellness programs.

Additionally, Stephens passed a piece of legislation targeted at reporting waste-prevention in health care (HB 1196 Report Waste-Prevention Methods Accountable Care), as well as another bill assisting home-schooled students in participating in extracurricular activities in public schools (HB 1095 Home School Students Participation in Activities).

On February 26, 2014, while in the process of raising campaign funds and gathering signatures to petition onto the June Republican primary ballot, she announced her intentions to drop out of the race and support Cory Gardner.

[44] “The bill allowed individuals and small businesses to band together and negotiate in marketplaces for health care coverage the way large companies do.”[45] “Stephens sponsored the legislation that created[46] the Connect for Health Colorado insurance marketplace, arguing, “The only thing to decide was if we would exercise our state rights or put people in a federally run exchange.”[47] Stephens set up an implementation review committee to provide oversight and hold the exchange accountable to the legislature and to state audit.