Author: Marissa Ventrelli
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Colorado legislators abandon proposal targeting natural gas initiative
Colorado lawmakers pulled back plans to counter a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right of consumers to use natural gas. The bill’s backers said the legislation would not have significantly affected the initiative’s impact, even as debate intensifies among environmental groups, the oil and gas industry and policymakers. The bill — initially planned by House…
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Colorado lawmakers say Lottery overreached, pass bill to require cash-only purchases
Calling the move by the state’s gaming authority “illegal,” Colorado legislators passed a bill prohibiting the use of credit cards to purchase lottery tickets. In November, the Colorado Lottery commission passed a rule allowing the purchase of lottery products with credit cards, eliciting sharp criticism from more than two dozen legislators, who questioned the gaming…
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Colorado bill on lobbyist registration awaits final decision from the governor
A bipartisan bill requiring more disclosure from legislative liaisons and state agency lobbyists is in limbo, despite broad support in both the Colorado House and Senate as Gov. Jared Polis is reportedly considering a veto. Senate Bill 147, sponsored by Sens. Lisa Cutter, D-Evergreen, and Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-Fort Morgan,…
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Colorado eyes expansion of state inspection authority over immigration detention centers
A proposal to add new inspection requirements for detention centers and increases the civil liability for sharing information with federal immigration authorities passed both chambers of the Colorado Legislature. The proposal is now headed to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk. House Bill 1276 expands a current law prohibiting employees of state agencies or political subdivisions from…
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Colorado legislature pushes AI rules targeting health care, therapy and chatbots
With just days left in the 2026 legislative session, Colorado lawmakers are rushing a trio of artificial intelligence bills to Gov. Jared Polis, aiming to set rules on artificial intelligence in the areas of health care, therapy and consumer-facing chatbots. As technology advances at breakneck speed, lawmakers have been scrambling to establish regulations, particularly regarding…
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Colorado ethics panel finds probable cause in complaint against Democrat caucus leader
The colleagues of a Democrat unanimously concluded they have probable cause to believe she committed an ethical violation by mismanaging her party caucus’s funds as its co-chair. The House Ethics Committee was charged with examining a complaint from Rep. Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, alleging that Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, mishandled and improperly used caucus funds for…
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Fate of new AI regulation bill in Colorado is now in the hands of Gov. Jared Polis
A revised version of Colorado’s artificial intelligence law — among the first in the country to regulate “consequential” decisions by the new technology — cleared both the House and Senate just one week after its introduction and is now headed to Gov. Jared Polis for his signature. Backers framed Senate Bill 189 as the culmination…
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Colorado lawmakers eye 5% ‘fee’ on online gaming ‘skins,’ other game features
Colorado lawmakers are seeking to impose a new fee on online game purchases, in particular targeting “add-on transactions,” referring to features or enhancements that players can buy. Sponsors said they want to earmark the new revenue toward youth mental health services. The sponsors are pushing the new revenue source amid a budget deficit and at…
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Bill permitting lawsuits against ICE agents reaches Gov. Jared Polis’ desk
Colorado lawmakers advanced two high‑profile measures Thursday — one seeks to reshape how the state manages its strained prison population and another allows Coloradans to sue federal immigration agents for alleged constitutional violations. The state policymakers sent both bills to Gov. Jared Polis as the legislative session enters its final stretch. Prison population management Senate…
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Colorado Senate committee rejects transparency bill that would have applied to legislative caucuses
A panel of senators voted down a proposed measure requiring legislative caucuses to disclose certain financial records. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, Senate Bill 168 would also require legislative caucuses to provide the Legislative Council with caucus members’ contact information. The bill specifically addresses legislative caucuses based on interest, ideology, issue, or identity, not…