Today is May 2, 2024, and here’s what you need to know:

In tense meeting, Colorado Democrats criticize caucus leaders over bills, social media attacks

Progressive House Democrats didn’t wait until the last day of the session, as they did last year, to accuse their caucus leaders of slow-walking their priority legislation and coddling Republicans – one, in particular – who, they said, have bullied members.

The same scene unfolded at the last day of session last year, when a progressive Democrat accused House Speaker Julie McCluskie of not doing enough to “defend” Black lawmakers and not calling out Republicans’ alleged offensive remarks.

Unlike last year, the Democratic leaders pushed back, suggesting their party isn’t all innocent.

Northglenn City Council sends ethics complaint over Sen. Faith Winter's alcohol issues to state Senate

The Northglenn City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday night to send a resolution to Senate President Steve Fenberg, asking him to launch an ethics complaint against Sen. Faith Winter, a Democrat from Westminster.

The council also leveled sharp words at Winter’s colleagues at the state Capitol, whom they accused of ignoring the senator’s alcohol problems for years.

The council took the action after Winter showed up at an April 3 city meeting, in which people said she was visibly intoxicated and combative, according to the complaint authored by Councilman Nicholas Walker.

Bills to regulate 'uncertified' potatoes, increase funding for higher education signed into law

Read about the three bills that Gov. Jared Polis signed into law on Wednesday, including one that advocates claimed could stop shootings before they happen. 

The bill to put Colorado’s funeral home operators under state regulation for the first time in 40 years won near unanimous approval from the House Wednesday.

Senate Bill 173 requires licensing for funeral directors, mortuary science practitioners, embalmers, cremationists, and natural reductionists. The licensing requirements are steep.

The bill says perspective funeral industry professionals must apply, pay an application fee, pass a criminal history check, and not be subject to discipline in another state. Those regulations go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.

Colorado School finance moves forward amid amendments, continued pushback

The effort to develop a new school finance funding formula took a big step forward Tuesday, and it won House approval Wednesday.

But Tuesday’s debate and Wednesday’s final vote for House Bill 1448 came with a fair amount of opposition from progressive House Democrats who are pushing back on behalf of teachers, school districts, and a long list of education professionals.

The 54 to 10 votes included eight “no” votes from Democrats representing some of the school districts most opposed to the bill.