A happier budget week | Capitol M | Week of April 18, 2026

Marianne Goodland

marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 2 days ago

It’s budget time at the state Capitol, and generally, it’s a humorless situation. It certainly was that way in the House last week, with a 15-hour reading of the long bill at 661 pages that resulted in lawmakers having to...

Colorado Politics Calendar Apr. 20-26

Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics

rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 3 days ago

CoPo’s weekly political calendar helps you find political and public policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances,...

Mysterious letter causes uproar, investigation in Mesa County GOP | A LOOK BACK

Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics

rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 3 days ago

Twenty Years Ago This Week: An unregistered activist group calling themselves ‘The Colorado Republican Caucus’ mailed letters to at least 160 Republicans in Mesa County calling various Grand Junction Republicans “turncoats” and “traitors.” “The danger was that the letters were...

Hemp beverage bill puts profits over Colorado kids | OPINION

Colorado Politics

colorado-politics@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 9 hours ago

By Rachel O’Bryan The hemp THC beverage industry wants to sell its high-inducing drinks in Colorado everywhere that beer or wine is sold — including stores and restaurants near schools. This self-serving bill, Senate Bill 164, would blow Colorado’s regulated...

Colorado lawmakers advance bill to tackle Colorado’s prison capacity issues

Marianne Goodland

marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 16 hours ago

As lawmakers move the 2026–27 state budget toward completion, they are intensifying efforts to address overcrowding and capacity challenges within the Department of Corrections and related agencies—issues that have contributed to increased spending in the budget. The state Senate on...

Colorado justices, lawyers speak with rural students through outreach program

Michael Karlik

michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 17 hours ago

Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared before students from eight rural schools on Thursday to hear a pair of cases, field questions, and mark the first time the state’s newest justice participated in the long-running program. “I had such...

Democrats want Colorado colleges to provide medication abortion

Marissa Ventrelli

marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 14 hours ago

A bill proposing to require Colorado colleges and universities to provide abortion medication services cleared a legislative committee on Thursday. Advocates said the measure — which exempts religious-based institutions but applies to public, private, and community colleges — will improve...

Colorado lawmakers cut newer programs to close $1.2 billion budget shortfall

Marissa Ventrelli

marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 17 hours ago

With Colorado facing a budget gap exceeding $1.2 billion, lawmakers are preparing to wind down or sharply reduce a slate of recently-created programs — from teacher training to wildfire mitigation — as the Joint Budget Committee searches for savings across...

Trump ‘in discussions’ with IRS to cut deal in tax record lawsuit

Brady Knox, Washington Examiner

brady.knox.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com

Updated 15 hours ago

President Donald Trump is in talks with the Internal Revenue Service to strike a deal over the release of his tax records. The news was revealed in a legal filing, where his legal team said they were in “discussions” with...

Governor’s wildlife commission picks face pushback ahead of Colorado Senate hearing

Marianne Goodland

marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 15 hours ago

Colorado’s largest coalition of hunters, anglers, and wildlife conservation groups is urging state lawmakers to reject two of Gov. Jared Polis’ latest nominees to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, setting up a contentious confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture...

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