Here are our views for the 2024 Colorado state issues. We summarize each proposed measure, then indicate our personal vote and finally offer our prediction of what the public vote will be:

Amendment G: Modify Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities

Proposed by the legislature, 55% vote required.

A “yes” vote on Amendment G reduces the property taxes paid by some veteran homeowners by expanding the existing homestead exemption to include veterans whose disability is rated as making them unemployable.

We generally trust constitutional amendments from the state legislature. Most people will not resist lowering property taxes on the homes of military veterans suffering from disabilities that make them unemployable? The state will reimburse local governments for any lost tax revenue.

Cronin: Yes

Loevy: Yes

We predict this will pass with more than 55% of the vote.

Amendment H: Judicial Discipline Procedures and Confidentiality

By the legislature, 55% vote required.

A “yes” vote on Amendment H creates an independent adjudicative board made up of citizens, lawyers and judges to conduct judicial misconduct hearings and impose disciplinary actions.

This was prompted by unacceptable deals at our state Supreme Court.

Cronin: Yes

Loevy: Yes

We predict this will easily pass.

Amendment I: Constitutional Bail Exception for First Degree Murder

By the legislature, 55% vote required.

A “yes” vote on Amendment I allows judges to deny bail to a person charged with first-degree murder when the judge determines the proof is evident or presumption is great the person committed the crime.

The legislature has it right. It makes sense not to let accused murderers out on bail.

Cronin: Yes

Loevy: Yes

We predict this will pass with more than 55% of the vote.

Amendment J: Repealing the Definition of Marriage in the Constitution

By the legislature. Majority vote required.

A “yes” vote on Amendment J repeals language in the Colorado Constitution that defines a valid marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

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Adopted in 2006, this provision of the Colorado Constitution was rendered void when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of same sex marriages in 2015. This is a “housekeeping” amendment.

Cronin: Yes

Loevy: Yes

We predict this will easily pass.

Amendment K: Modify Constitutional Election Deadlines

By the legislature, 55% percent vote required.

A “yes” vote on Amendment K results in earlier deadlines for certain election filings and the publication of ballot measures in newspapers.

This is another “housekeeping” amendment.

Cronin: Yes

Loevy: Yes

We predict this will pass with much more than a majority vote.

Amendment 79: Constitutional Right to Abortion

By citizen initiative, 55% vote required.

A “yes” vote on Amendment 79 places the right to abortion in the Colorado Constitution and repeals the current ban on state and local funding for abortion services.

Abortion rights are already provided for and protected under current Colorado law. The main controversy here is whether government employees will have their health insurance programs cover abortion expenses. Likewise for Medicaid recipients. This measure does not provide for such funding but allows the legislature that option. We understand many people with strong religious convictions will find this unacceptable.

Cronin: Yes

Loevy: Yes

We predict this could pass.

Amendment 80: Constitutional Right to School Choice

By citizen initiative, 55% vote required.

A “yes” vote on Amendment 80 creates a constitutionally protected right to school choice for K-12 children and their parents, and specifies school choice includes public, private, homeschool and any future innovations in education.

We are strong supporters of school choice and believe it has improved public education in Colorado. In fact, our offspring have benefited from school choice. But should it be enshrined in the state constitution, where it will be difficult to change if new educational ideas and techniques develop in the future? We believe the state constitution should be reserved to protect basic principles of government, such as freedom of speech and the structure of the state legislature.

Cronin: No

Loevy: No

We predict this will pass with a 55% or more vote.

Proposition JJ: Retain Additional Sports Betting Tax Revenue

By the legislature. Majority vote required.

A “yes” vote on Proposition JJ allows the state to keep and spend more money for water projects when sports betting tax revenue is collected above the amount previously approved by voters.

This is another ploy by the state legislature to get around tax limitation. Voters who bet on sports are asked to give tax money, that would otherwise be returned to them, to a good cause — in this case water conservation and protection projects. We disapprove of such complex legislative shenanigans, even when the cause seems worthy.

Cronin: No

Loevy: No

We predict this will pass.

Proposition KK: Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax

By the legislature. Majority vote required.

A “yes” vote on Proposition KK creates a new tax on firearms, firearm parts and ammunition, and uses the revenue for crime victim services, mental health services for veterans and youth, and school safety programs.

More shenanigans by the state legislature. Old timers called this a “sin” tax. “A number of people disapprove of guns and ammunition, so let’s tax it.” We do not think it is fair to put an even heavier tax on people who are buying firearms for legitimate purposes such as hunting and target practice. Also, if the state legislature wants to spend more money on crime victim services, mental health services, etc., it should finance those government programs from regular state finances and raise taxes if necessary.

Cronin: No

Loevy: No

We predict this will pass.

Proposition 127: Prohibit Bobcat, Lynx, And Mountain Lion Hunting

By citizen initiative. Majority vote required.

A “yes” vote on Proposition 127 would make it illegal to hunt bobcats, lynx, and mountain lions in Colorado.

Bobcat, lynx and mountain lion populations in Colorado are numerous and healthy and are best regulated by the trained professionals employed by the state government. The average voter lacks the expertise needed to make decisions about these animals. The recent problems with reintroducing wolves to Colorado illustrate what can go wrong.

Cronin: No

Loevy: No

We predict this will not pass.

Proposition 128: Parole Eligibility for Crimes of Violence

By citizen initiative. Majority vote required.

A “yes” vote on Proposition 128 would require a person convicted of certain crimes of violence to serve at least 85% of their sentence in prison before being eligible for discretionary parole or earned time reductions, and make a person convicted of a third or subsequent crime of violence ineligible for earned time or discretionary parole

This is a “tough-on-crime” proposed law, and we are tempted to support it. Our concern is it takes away from judges and prison personnel the ability to reward cooperative and rehabilitating prisoners with less prison time through early parole.

Cronin: No

Loevy: No

We predict this will pass.

Proposition 129: Establishing Veterinary Professional Associates

By citizen initiative. Majority vote required.

A “yes” vote on Proposition 129 establishes the new regulated profession of veterinary professional associate as a provider of veterinary care, alongside veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists.

Do veterinarians need a new category of assistants called “veterinary professional associates?” This is a question best left to the professionals in the field and not to the voters, who lack expertise to make such a decision.

Cronin: No

Loevy: No

We predict this will not pass.

Proposition 130: Funding For Law Enforcement

By citizen initiative. Majority vote required.

A “yes” vote on Proposition 130 directs the state to provide $350 million in additional funding to local law enforcement agencies to improve officer recruitment and retention. It also requires the state to provide a one-time $1 million death benefit to the family of each state and local law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.

Money spent on police training will contribute to a reduction in crime rates.

Cronin: Yes

Loevy: Yes

We predict this will pass with much more than a majority vote.

Proposition 131: Establishing All-Candidate Primary and Ranked-Choice Voting General Elections

By citizen initiative. Majority vote required.

A “yes” vote on Proposition 131 establishes an all-candidate primary for all voters regardless of their political party affiliation for certain offices and advances the top-four candidates to a general election where voters rank the candidates in order of preference.

The major problem with ranked-choice voting is its stupefying complexity, particularly in the general election. Many voters will have trouble comprehending how their vote is connected to whoever gets elected and is serving in office. We think the keywords in elections are visibility and responsibility. Voters should be able to see clearly the one candidate they are casting their one vote for. At the same time, elected officials should be directly responsible to voters who have voted directly for them.

This is a case of good intentions, likely leading to unwelcome consequences. We favor it being tried in more local communities to see whether it serves the public interest. Let’s not spring this consequential and expensive change on the entire state.

Cronin: No

Loevy: No

This extremely well-funded measure, mostly by very wealthy “reformers,” stands a good chance of passing.

Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy are columnists who write on Colorado and national politics.