Colorado lawmakers will again seek to ban the sale of certain types of semiautomatic firearms in the coming legislative session, embracing a new approach after more sweeping assault weapons bans died in the state Capitol in recent years. The new bill spearheaded by Democrats is aimed at building upon existing gun laws by prohibiting the sale, … Read more
Many metro Denver tenants paid more than $1,600 in additional rent in 2023 because of a profit-maximizing algorithm that Colorado lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to ban earlier this year, according to a new report issued by the White House. The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers found that American tenants who live in apartments that use … Read more
Colorado lawmakers are set to introduce a pair of bills in the next legislative session that would bar municipal courts from imposing more severe sentences than state courts for the same crimes, as well as limit city courts from criminalizing missed hearings. The first bill, sponsored by Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat, seeks to … Read more
Gov. Jared Polis struck down a half-dozen bills to close this year’s legislative session. But a revived proposal to fight wage theft — potentially with his backing — shows that the defeats aren’t necessarily permanent. House Majority Leader Monica Duran, a Wheat Ridge Democrat, was one of the prime sponsors of House Bill 1008. The … Read more
State Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis was stripped of legislative aides this week by chamber leaders following new allegations about her treatment and management of staff. Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, had faced previous allegations of staff mistreatment. She was removed from a bill concerning wage theft protections during the regular legislative session earlier this year … Read more
One of the top issues on the minds of Colorado voters this election is the cost of living, with about 15% in the ongoing Voter Voices survey by media outlets across the state saying they intend to focus first on the economy as they mark their ballots. Coloradans are concerned about the price of housing, … Read more
Outside committees have spent more than $1.2 million on a handful of Colorado legislative races already this election cycle, highlighting the electoral fights that could determine how much power the majority Democrats will have in the Capitol for the next two years. The spending, most of it by party-aligned independent expenditure committees, largely targets nine … Read more
Lamenting the uneasy budgetary situation facing the state, Colorado lawmakers rejected a proposed bill Friday that would have increased annual payments to the Public Employees’ Retirement Association in times of inflation. “I think it’s a good concept. I don’t see how we can afford it this year,” Rep. Rick Taggart told fellow lawmakers on the … Read more
A Denver judge this week dismissed several claims made by Douglas County against the State Board of Equalization over what the county alleged was an illegal move to block it from providing tax relief to thousands of homeowners this year. Denver District Judge Martin Egelhoff on Tuesday dismissed three of Douglas County’s four claims, saying … Read more
The Colorado Senate gaveled in Thursday morning and quickly gave final approval to a much-heralded property tax deal, ending a special session aimed at stopping a pair of ballot initiatives that would enact deeper cuts. The legislation now goes to Gov. Jared Polis for his signature — and is expected to prompt the conservative and … Read more
