Today is May 1, 2024, and here’s what you need to know:

Compromise plan revamps TABOR refund process, cuts sales and income tax rates

A bipartisan quartet of state lawmakers is planning a revamp of the refund process under Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights that includes reducing both the income tax and sales tax rates when certain conditions are met.

The proposed bill, which is expected to be introduced Wednesday, brings together Republican lawmakers who have long advocated for income tax rate reductions and their Democratic colleagues who want the governor’s support for bills that use the TABOR surplus to pay for workforce and child poverty issues.

Indeed, Republicans have long pushed for the tax cuts, while Democrats have pursued using TABOR dollars for their spending priorities. The proposal allows for both, proponents said.

Colorado lawmakers advance proposal dealing with contested books in public libraries

A panel of legislators approved a measure to create “standards” for public libraries in assessing contested materials after a similar proposal failed to pass through committee earlier in the session.

Diving into an issue that has divided communities across America and enraged parents and activists on both sides of the debate, Senate Bill 216 requires a library’s board of trustees to establish written policies governing the acquisition, retention, display and usage of resources, such as books, movies and CDs.

The bill mandates libraries to publicize their reconsideration process, share the outcomes of each reconsideration request with the public and ensure that challenged materials remain on shelves until a final decision is made.

In addition, the bill seeks to inoculate library employees from termination, discipline or discrimination if they refused to remove a resource before it undergoes proper review.

10th Circuit reinstates dress code discrimination lawsuit against Colorado Springs charter school

The federal appeals court based in Denver agreed on Tuesday that a boy could pursue his claims of sex-based discrimination against a Colorado Springs charter school after he was disciplined for wearing earrings under a boys-only prohibition on the accessory.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit determined a trial judge relied on the wrong legal standard to dismiss the claims of “John Doe” against Rocky Mountain Classical Academy. It is not appropriate to ask whether the dress code imposed “comparable burdens” on girls and boys, wrote Judge Joel M. Carson III, but instead whether the government had an important objective in treating the sexes differently.

The allegations do not reflect that “RMCA has an ‘exceedingly persuasive justification’ for its sex-based classification or that its classification serves important governmental objectives through means substantially related to those objectives,” wrote Carson, a Donald Trump appointee, in the panel’s April 30 opinion.

Sheena Kadi resigns from state treasurer's office

Sheena Kadi, who has served as public information officer and communications director for state Treasurer Dave Young, has resigned effective Tuesday.

Kadi is under a protective order issued on behalf of Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, after Kadi accused Herod of being a “sexual predator,” using the X account she also used for communications on behalf of the state treasurer.

Kadi made more than a dozen accusations on X, man of which remained on her account. A post accusing Herod of sexual assault last December has since been deleted.

In a Feb. 12 ruling, Denver County Court Judge Clarissa Gonzales found Kadi’s accusations not credible and granted Herod a year-long protective order. The order requires Kadi to keep away from Herod, setting a 100-yard requirement, although with some wiggle room, given that both women work at the state Capitol and could attend the same party functions.

Colorado lawmakers target CDOT proposal to charge fees for broadband access

Colorado lawmakers are preparing to push a proposal that seeks to prohibit the Colorado Department of Transportation from charging annual fees for right-of-way access to deploy broadband networks in some of the most remote areas of rural Colorado.

Supporters said the transportation agency’s proposed fee program would make costs so prohibitive that broadband projects would simply not start. State transportation officials maintained that the fee schedule is cheaper compared to neighboring states and that it offers an option to develop high-speed internet throughout the state.

Driving the discussion is Gov. Jared Polis’s executive order, signed two years ago, directing Colorado Broadband Office to work on getting broadband to 99% of Coloradans by 2027.