Author: Marianne Goodland
-
It’s almost Sine Die and it can’t come soon enough | Capitol M | Week of May 9, 2026
—
by
The lighter side of the state Capitol, usually. At first, May the Fourth might have been a bit of a disappointment. Usually, there’s a lot of Star Wars foolishness on this particular day, but early on, it was low-key. The Senate had nothing. But the House stepped it up, with Rep. Jenny Willford donning the…
-
TABOR showdown: Senate moves bill forward, Advance Colorado prepares for legal action
—
by
Despite objections from legislative staff and Republican opposition, Senate Democrats on Friday moved forward with a proposal to reroute $306 million in taxpayer refunds. Already, critics are preparing to sue over the proposal that seeks to take $300 million in Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds over the next two years to cover what Democratic lawmakers believe…
-
Colorado governor signs $47 billion budget in which ‘nobody won’
—
by
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday officially signed a $46.87 billion spending plan for the Colorado state government in the next fiscal year. His signature is the culmination of months of work by legislators, who resorted to cuts, transfers and other mechanisms to balance the 2026-27 budget amid a deficit of more than $1 billion. That…
-
Latest Pinnacol proposal shifts sponsors and cuts state benefits, triggers union standoff
—
by
Colorado’s long‑running bid to let Pinnacol Assurance break away from state control is suddenly in jeopardy, as a newly revised bill — stripped of the payouts and structural changes once central to the deal — has triggered fresh tensions among lawmakers, unions and the insurer itself. A draft obtained by Colorado Politics shows a very…
-
Colorado Gov. Polis faces intense lobbying blitz from DC-based groups over credit card ‘swipe-fee’ bill
—
by
Colorado’s long‑running fight over credit‑card swipe fees entered its final round Tuesday, when lawmakers sent a proposal to Gov. Jared Polis and rival industry coalitions immediately launched competing campaigns to sway his decision. The clash pits groups urging Polis to sign the bill — restaurants, hotels, breweries, liquor stores, small businesses, and big‑box retailers —…
-
Colorado Senate honors journalism icon Fred Brown
—
by
The Colorado Senate on Thursday honored longtime Denver Post bureau chief Fred Brown with a ceremony as distinctive as the journalist himself, donning masks bearing his likeness and celebrating his five decades of shaping political reporting and ethical standards in the state. The tribute, offered by Sen. Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, noted Brown’s 50 years…
-
Colorado bill redirecting $300M in TABOR refunds raises legal concerns, sparks budget committee dispute
—
by
A discussion about a proposal to eliminate $300 million in taxpayer refunds over the next two fiscal years quickly shifted into a strategy session — and a tense exchange among members of a budget committee — over what would happen if a lawsuit were filed to stop it. House Bill 1419 attempts to take $300…
-
Colorado lawmakers to get automatic pay increase as $1.5B shortfall forces cuts to Medicaid, other services
—
by
Colorado’s $1.5 billion budget deficit is driving widespread cuts across state services, including reduced reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers and steep income losses for families caring for relatives with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, as those reductions take effect, an automatic pay increase for state lawmakers — triggered by a 2024 change in law —…
-
Colorado on the hook for $1 million in costs to pay for wolves’ livestock kills
—
by
After paying more than $700,000 in March to ranchers for livestock lost to wolves, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is poised to approve two additional claims totaling $262,000 at its meeting this week. Those approvals would bring total payouts to about $970,000 with another $56,000 in claims rejected across the March and May meetings.…
-
Overtime for farms, school safety, public office rules: What’s new in Colorado law
—
by
Gov. Jared Polis signed 25 bills into law Monday, bringing changes that will affect workers, families, schools, and local governments across Colorado. The new laws deal with a range of issues – from overtime rules for farmworkers to limits on lawmakers holding multiple offices, along with school safety upgrades and new standards for dementia care…