Today is Feb. 13, 2024, and here’s what you need to know:

Ballot measure seeks to cap Colorado's property tax revenue growth at 4%, return rates to 2022 levels

Two groups at the opposite ends of major tax policies in past years have banded together to push for a ballot measure to reduce residential and business property tax rates down to roughly 2022 levels and cap future revenue growth to no more than 4% year over year.

Under the proposal, which was filed Friday, only a vote of the public would allow a local government to collect above the 4% cap in new property tax revenue in a year.

Colorado Concern and Advance Colorado are advocating for the changes a few months after voters rejected Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats’ preferred relief at the ballot box. The measure’s defeat compelled the governor to convene lawmakers into a special session, where they approved legislation that hewed closely to some of the provisions of Proposition HH.

In addition to the 4% revenue cap, the ballot measure would cut the residential property tax rate from 6.7% to 5.7%, which the groups said would effectively return the rate to near 2022 levels. That mechanism would “erase” the massive property tax hikes that homeowners expect to see in the coming weeks, the groups said, noting that, as a result of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, lawmakers “could never increase these tax rates.”

Colorado lawmakers give green light to bill prohibiting adult use of cellphones while driving

A Senate committee Monday gave approval to a measure that will require adults to use hands-free cellphone devices or face harsher penalties for talking on a cellphone while driving.

Senate Bill 65 is the latest incarnation of efforts by lawmakers who have been trying for at least 15 years to require adult drivers to keep their eyes on the road, instead of on their cellphones.

Current state law already imposes restrictions around cellphones on drivers under 18. But it’s been a much bigger hurdle to impose those same restrictions on adult drivers.

The laws affecting adults permit regular cell phone use for voice calls, although they are prohibited from sending text messages or browsing the internet while behind the wheel.

That isn’t enough, supporters insisted Monday.

Polis, Colorado legislators announce funding plan to expand healthcare training at four state colleges

Gov. Jared Polis, lawmakers and leaders from the state’s higher education institutions gathered at Metropolitan State University on Monday to announce a new funding plan aimed at supporting expanded healthcare training initiatives across four state colleges.

The pending legislation creates a certificate of participation to fund infrastructure projects at Colorado State University, University of Northern Colorado, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Trinidad State College.

While not yet officially introduced, the proposed will be sponsored by Sens. Kyle Mullica, D- Northglenn, and Barbara Kirkmeyer, R- Brighton, and Reps. Mary Young, D- Greeley, and Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada.

“I’m so proud to see Colorado’s institutions of education really put these ideas on the table and do all the planning work to establish them,” Polis said. “This will be a major upgrade for healthcare in Colorado. There’s no question about it. It’ll be a boost to our economy in the areas that it serves.”

Denver's presiding juvenile judge steps down amid misconduct investigation

The longtime presiding judge of the Denver Juvenile Court, D. Brett Woods, retired from the bench on Friday amid a misconduct investigation whose details are still unclear.

“I am proud of my work in the area of juvenile justice,” Woods wrote in a Feb. 8 letter to Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright. “I will cherish my time on the bench.”

Colorado Politics reported last month that the state Supreme Court issued a Dec. 21 order suspending Woods and directing to explain why he should be allowed to remain on the bench while the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline completed its investigation into him. In January, the court issued another order reiterating that Woods remained on paid suspension until further notice.

Cyberattack disables Colorado public defender office's network

A malware attack on the state public defender’s computer system last week has resulted in the disabling of the office’s network, the office confirmed on Monday.

A spokesperson for the Judicial Department said the courts themselves were not affected by the cyberattack.

“As a preventative measure, we temporarily disabled our computer network and are working to safely and securely bring systems back online. Our operations will be limited while the network is offline,” said James Karbach, the communications director for the public defender’s office.

Are you in the right occupational field in Colorado? Tool offers insights into future workforce gaps

A new report suggests a “misalignment” between higher education graduates and what the job market would need in just a few years.

Notably, Colorado’s schools are producing graduates in some fields at rates that are “far greater” than the job market’s projected need by 2031, according to a new report from the Common Sense Institute.

More specifically, some occupations — the fields of production, life, physical, and social sciences, as well as transportation and material handling — would be “overrepresented” based on college degree attainment. Meanwhile, other professions, notably in the areas of business and financial operations, computer and mathematics, and healthcare, will be “underrepresented in college output.”