Today is May 9, 2024, and here’s what you need to know:

Housing, taxes, guns dominate Colorado's legislative session

A slew of legislation tackling housing, guns and taxes dominated this year’s legislative session, which is expected to wrap up on Wednesday night after 120 days of hearings, debates and behind-the-scenes negotiations that culminated in the passage of several landmark bills.   

Notably, the 2024 session ended with a series of bipartisan proposals that resulted from intense negotiations between Republicans and Democrats, along with other organizations. 

The state Capitol was, at times, the scene of fierce partisanship but also of kumbaya moments.  

Town hall: Regional leaders delve into Denver's illegal immigration crisis

Metro Denver’s regional leaders on Tuesday delved into what one official described as the moral obligation to help immigrants who have arrived in Colorado after illegally crossing America’s southern border, as well as the economic and fiscal impact of spending potentially $90 million of taxpayer dollars this year alone on the crisis.       

And while everyone agreed that the federal government must solve the crisis, some said Denver’s response — which notably includes free shelter and onward transportation — incentivizes the immigrants to travel from the border to the metropolis, exacerbating the problem that is also spilling over into nearby communities, even those that have deliberately and publicly avoided the “sanctuary” label.

But there were also points of agreement, notably the need to find a way for the immigrants to be able to legally work quicker. 

Aurora lawmakers provisionally approve new 'tough love' homeless approach

Aurora’s proposed “tough love” approach to homelessness, which would bring harsher penalties for violations of the camping ban along the I-225 corridor and create a new court for low-level offenses by homeless people, moved forward with unanimous council support during Monday night’s study session.

The approach includes two new proposals from Mayor Mike Coffman, Councilmember Steve Sundberg and Councilmember Curtis Gardner that were heard at the council’s study session.

The first of the two proposals would “put the entire I-225 corridor under a new trespass ordinance,” in which individuals would be ticketed and given a date to appear in court. The second measure would create a new specialized court to deal with low-level offenses by homeless people, such as violating the trespass ordinance, illegal drug possession or retail theft.

Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky demands resignation of police chief, officers without citing reason

Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky publicly demanded the resignation of Aurora Police Department Interim Chief Heather Morris and several police officers at the end of Monday night’s council meeting, citing incompetence but not providing specifics.

She named officers Brian O’Dell, Tim Meehan, Seth Robertson, Investigations Division Chief Mark Hildebrand and Interim Police Chief Heather Morris, and said they “do not belong in this department.”

Jurinsky called on City Manager Jason Batchelor, who names the Aurora Police Chief and recently named Heather Morris as the interim chief after Chief Art Acevedo left earlier this year, to take action against the five APD members.

Colorado Senate passes 'transit-oriented' housing bill with 2 dozen amendments

After several days of delays, the Senate approved a House proposal requiring metropolitan planning organizations to impose higher density goals in zoning.

The House approved the amendments, and House Bill 1313, which received a 19-15 vote in the Senate on Tuesday, now goes to Gov. Jared Polis, who is expected to sign it.

Four Democrats joined the Senate’s 12 Republicans in rejecting the measure, including Sens. Joann Ginal, Rachel Zenzinger, Chris Kolker, and Julie Gonzales, whose “no” vote is tied to the bill losing its ability to strip away state transportation funding from local governments that refuse to play along.