Colorado Democrats spar over bill to prohibit rent-setting algorithms

A bill aimed at barring landlords from using algorithms to set rents died in the Colorado Senate on Wednesday after a group of moderate Democrats joined Republicans to reject a more forceful House version of the measure. The crux of the disagreement was an adopted amendment that bill backers charged had been written by a … Read more

Colorado oil and gas, climate deal includes fees, abandoned bills

Leading Colorado Democrats and the state’s oil and gas industry announced a preemptive armistice Monday — one that seeks to defuse the latest round of dueling ballot initiatives and legislation aimed at the industry and its environmental impacts. The proposals, described to reporters by Gov. Jared Polis and legislative leadership, include imposing a new per-barrel … Read more

Colorado transit-oriented density bill hits snag in Senate committee

Updated at 3:10 p.m. April 27: The bill that’s the centerpiece of this year’s attempted land-use reforms by Democrats in the Colorado legislature and Gov. Jared Polis has run into potential trouble, facing an uncertain fate in a Senate committee. House Bill 1313, which seeks to increase denser residential development in transit-rich areas, stalled in … Read more

Jared Polis goes to Costa Rica as Dianne Primavera is acting governor

Gov. Jared Polis will travel to Costa Rica this week for the 2024 Biennial of the Americas Summit. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, with Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, left, and Mark Ferrandino, executive director of the Colorado Department of Revenue, right, speaks during a press conference at the Carriage House at the Governor’s Residence at Boettcher … Read more

Faith Winter, Colorado Senate leader, enters treatment for alcohol use

State Sen. Faith Winter, a Broomfield lawmaker and the third-ranking Democrat in the chamber, said Thursday that she has entered substance-use treatment for alcohol abuse after appearing intoxicated at a community event this week. Winter apologized for her behavior at the Northglenn event Wednesday night, where she appeared to slur her words when she spoke … Read more

Colorado lawmakers aim to protect gender identity in hate crimes law

Transgender and nonbinary people would receive more explicit protections in Colorado’s anti-bias and harassment law if a newly introduced bill becomes law. Advocates characterize the bill as a simple legislative fix to ensure gender identity and expression are protected across state law, while also sending a message about Colorado’s values. “(The bill) ensures nonbinary and … Read more

Colorado gun-free zone bill stripped of bars, parks, protests

A proposal to limit where people can carry firearms in Colorado, openly or with concealed carry permits, was narrowed substantially Wednesday as sponsors fought to win a key committee vote in the state Senate. The bill as introduced would have banned firearms from being carried at a slew of places, including stadiums, protests at public locations, … Read more

Colorado lawmakers scramble to shore up free school meals program

Colorado’s new voter-approved universal free school meals program is already tens of millions of dollars short, jeopardizing some of the auxiliary programs tied to the ballot measure as lawmakers scramble to keep the initiative solvent and meals paid for. The state faces a combined shortfall of about $50 million to pay for students’ food under … Read more

Colorado property tax commission recommends changes amid ballot battle

A bipartisan group of Colorado policymakers approved nearly a dozen recommendations to soften the pinch of property tax increases Friday, including an “adjustable cap” on future hikes and mechanisms to spread out hefty tax bills. State Sen. Chris Hansen is chairman of the state Property Tax Commission, which issued its recommendations Friday. (Photo by AAron … Read more

Lauren Boebert opts out of special election after Ken Buck resigns

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert will not seek the Republican nomination for the special election to replace resigning Congressman Ken Buck, she said Wednesday — putting her focus on winning the GOP primary instead. Boebert, who now represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, announced at the end of the year that she would run to replace the … Read more