Author: JAMES ANDERSON Associated Press

Colorado’s minority Republican lawmakers are using everything at their disposal to slow down the rushed consideration of dozens of Democratic bills the final week of the legislative session – and there were more signs Tuesday the tactics were working. Following an overnight Senate session, the Democratic majority leader, Steve Fenberg, effectively killed a bill granting…

Two Colorado state senators whose rural constituents pay some of the nation’s highest health insurance rates pleaded Thursday for support for a bill to cut those premiums by having the state help insurers cover their highest-risk clients. But the reinsurance measure — House Bill 1168, sponsored by Republican Sen. Bob Rankin of Carbondale and Democratic…

Kerry Donovan says she thought agricultural and water issues would be her top priority when she was elected a Colorado state senator representing a central Rocky Mountain district in 2015. But Donovan, D-Vail, says that district has become the nation’s most expensive individual health care market – and health care is her constituents’ top concern.…

Colorado’s Senate advanced another piece of Democratic Gov. Jared Polis’ health care agenda on Tuesday by tentatively endorsing a study on creating a state-run health insurance option. The bill would direct state agencies to recommend a plan that would compete with existing private insurance plans and those offered on Colorado’s health care exchange. Another Senate…

Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation Friday designed to shed light on the conclusions of internal police investigations into alleged officer misconduct by making investigation documents available to the public. The law allows citizens to obtain records of internal affairs investigations, with proper redactions protecting witnesses, victims and others who aren’t the subject of…

A bill to allow more Colorado residents who are in the country illegally to apply for drivers licenses is one step from clearing the Legislature after a House vote on Wednesday. Senate Bill 139 would increase from three to 10 the number of Department of Motor Vehicles offices offering special drivers licenses to those residents.…

A Colorado Senate committee on Tuesday advanced an ambitious paid family leave bill that was substantially amended by its sponsors in an attempt to alleviate the concerns of most of the state’s major business chambers. The Senate Finance Committee voted 4-3 Tuesday to send the bill to the Appropriations Committee. The vote came after Sens. Faith Winter…

Colorado hospitals will have to report annual spending under a transparency law signed Thursday by Gov. Jared Polis. The bipartisan effort is part of Polis’ goal to reduce health care costs and raise both price transparency and hospital efficiency in a state where rural residents often pay some of the nation’s highest insurance rates. It’s…

Colorado’s Democrat-led state Senate debated the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, due process and public safety on Friday before advancing a bill that would allow weapons to be seized from people who are determined by a court to pose significant risk. The Senate gave preliminary approval to House Bill 1177 on a voice vote…