Friday Health Plans will become the fourth health insurance company to pull out of the Colorado market in the past year, according to an announcement Thursday from the Colorado Division of Insurance. Continue Reading Fourth health insurance company to leave Colorado
Gov. Jared Polis' plan to offer relief to property taxpayers effectively guts refunds from the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights by compounding the amount the state is allowed keep and spend each year, exponentially shrinking the money that Coloradans get and potentially eliminating it altogether at… Continue Reading Critics: Polis' property tax plan guts TABOR refunds
A fast-approaching deadline looms for businesses to register with the state in order to report wages and pay premiums under Colorado's voter-approved program that will pay for workers to take up to 16 weeks of leave. Continue Reading Major deadline looms for businesses under Colorado's paid family, medical leave program
We asked Colorado's governor and the General Assembly's leaders their thoughts on the conclusion of this year's legislative session, including lessons they learned, strategies they deploy next year and relationships they've come to cherish. Continue Reading Colorado governor, leaders reflect on 2023 legislative session
By the time Colorado lawmakers wrapped up their work on May 8, they tackled hundreds of proposals, ranging from mundane to monumental, in a session featuring flashes of acrimony, intraparty dissent and interparty filibustering. Continue Reading Top 12 Issues | 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
A business trade group wants Gov. Jared Polis to veto three bills, including legislation to ban employers from asking for an applicant’s age. Continue Reading Colorado business trade group wants Jared Polis to veto 3 bills
Is high potency marijuana bad for individuals with preexisting mental health conditions? Continue Reading High potency marijuana associated with psychosis, curbs anxiety, depression: researchers
Gov. Jared Polis this month signed legislation to exempt small companies from the state's 27-cent delivery fee, the subject of criticism by both businesses and customers alike. Continue Reading Delivery fee no longer applies to small businesses, companies laud changes
Republicans left the Colorado Capitol last May hopeful of winning more offices and even taking control of the Senate. But they returned in January to an expanded Democratic majority in both chambers instead, finding themselves at the worst legislative disadvantage the party had seen in 85 years. Continue Reading Colorado Republicans reflect on the 2023 session: Wins, losses and walkout
Colorado lawmakers on Monday night wrapped up their work for the year after tackling sweeping legislation in several areas, notably property taxes, guns and abortion, following four months of sometimes tumultuous sessions and marathon meetings punctuated by filibusters and a walkout. Continue Reading Colorado lawmakers wrap up work in 2023 after tackling guns, taxes, abortion
Fresh from an election that gave them supermajority control of the House and expanded numbers in the Senate, Democrats flexed their muscle this year to push for hot-button proposals, many of which — guns and abortion, in particular — found their way to Gov. Jared Polis' desk, who promptly si… Continue Reading 3 takeaways from the 2023 legislative session
Indecent exposure is the only child sex crime in Colorado classified as a misdemeanor, instead of a felony. But that will soon change if Gov. Jared Polis signs a new bill into law. Continue Reading Felony status for indecent exposure in front of children passes Colorado legislature
An effort to add non-gendered bathrooms and baby changing stations to Colorado’s public buildings passed its last major legislative hurdle on Friday. Continue Reading Colorado legislature OKs non-gendered bathrooms, baby changing stations in public buildings
Colorado's lawmakers sent a $38.5 billion spending plan to Gov. Jared Polis on April 21, the culmination of months of work by a small group of legislators who ultimately succeeded in persuading their colleagues to adopt the budget. Continue Reading Colorado's budget drafters navigate landmines big and small | COVER STORY
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday signed off on four gun bills, which the Democratic majorities controlling Colorado's General Assembly believe will help rein in the state's gun violence problem. Continue Reading Polis signs 4 gun control bills, Colorado gun group sues in court
Gov. Jared Polis' signature housing bill won preliminary approval from the state Senate but not without more changes, though most were minor. Continue Reading Polis housing bill wins preliminary Senate OK — but with even more changes
In November 2022, six people who had never sat on a committee with each other before were handed a gargantuan task and the most important responsibility of the General Assembly — come up with a balanced budget that would fund state operations in the fiscal year. Continue Reading The six lawmakers who crafted Colorado's $38.5 billion budget | COVER STORY
A coalition of business is mobilizing to oppose what it describes as a sweeping emissions proposal that would handicap not just Colorado's oil and gas firms but also a host of other industries, including breweries and bakeries. Continue Reading Business coalition in Colorado mobilizes against emissions bill
Colorado lawmakers this week are preparing to review a bill designed to address a loophole in the state's marijuana laws. Continue Reading Colorado lawmakers advance 'intoxicating hemp' regulation
None of Colorado’s 32 largest hospitals have fully complied with a federal law requiring transparency on pricing, an analysis shows. Continue Reading Report: None of Colorado's largest hospitals are in compliance with federal pricing transparency law
There are 347 bills awaiting action in the Colorado legislature with less than a month left in the session. But this week, work slowed down in the House. Continue Reading Colorado House leaders threaten to break deals amid Republican filibustering
The legislative body that crafts Colorado's state budget on Wednesday came up with its recommendations on which spending to keep and pitch to lawmakers. Continue Reading Colorado's 2023-24 spending plan heads to House
Update: Senate Bill 249 passed the Senate Thursday in a unanimous 35-0 vote with no amendments. It will next be sent to the House. Continue Reading Colorado bill makes falsely reporting mass shootings a felony
Gov. Jared Polis' signature housing bill got its first airing in a Senate committee last week, when opponents warned they would tie the measure up in the courts for years to come. Continue Reading Jared Polis' housing bill a magnet for lawsuits, critics warn
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert wants to arm teachers following a spate of school shootings in Nashville and Denver. Continue Reading Arm teachers, Lauren Boebert says following East High, Nashville shootings
An effort to ban alcohol and drug use in certain event seating sections met an unceremonious end on Tuesday, when it was rejected by a Senate committee. Continue Reading Lawmakers kill proposal for substance-free seating at Colorado events
On a day when teachers and supporters of East High School came to the Capitol for a second day, a trio of Democratic-sponsored gun violence bills tied up the state House for hours on Friday. Continue Reading Colorado Republicans stage filibuster to delay gun bills
Colorado's U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden are pressing for parity in mental health services for children and older Americans. Continue Reading Colorado's Michael Bennet, Oregon's Ron Wyden press for mental health parity for seniors, kids
Days before a hearing on a bill to ban hospital facility fees, supporters of the legislation are backing off a blanket prohibition on those fees. Continue Reading Hospital facility fees legislation set for a rewrite, lobbyist tells reporters
US Rep. Jason Crow secured more than $600,000 in federal funding for Douglas County to address the youth mental health crisis acerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Reading Douglas County receives $600,000 to address youth mental health crisis
Colorado public health officials vaulted to prominence three years ago when residents started to sicken and die of COVID-19, kicking off a pandemic that would spark fierce, even violent political debate and offer clear lessons for the future. Continue Reading Rocked by deadly pandemic, Colorado public health faces needed rebuild
Colorado landlords could soon be prohibited from evicting tenants or declining to renew leases without "just cause," if a bill passed by the state House becomes law. Continue Reading Colorado Democrats advance bill to ban evictions, lease terminations without ‘just cause’
Public health officials will begin testing more than a dozen people exposed to an individual at George Washington High School in Denver who tested positive for tuberculosis. Continue Reading Denver health officials to conduct tuberculosis testing after exposure at high school
A panel of lawmakers approved, on a party-line vote, a bill intended to fix issues with the Colorado Option, the state-designed health insurance program that launched its first open enrollment period late last year. Continue Reading House panel OKs changes to Colorado Option, raises questions about unfair competitive advantage
When the coronavirus started sweeping through Colorado three years ago, protecting hospitals' ability to care for the sickest patients was at the center of public life — a driving reason behind masks and limiting gatherings. Continue Reading Pandemic accelerated remote health care amid crisis that triggered staffing shortages in Colorado
A review of financial records and state policy reports by the Denver Gazette show that during the pandemic the richest Colorado hospitals simply got richer, especially as time went on and revenues bounced back. Continue Reading Colorado's wealthiest hospitals favored in $1.2 billion COVID bailout
Colorado Catholic bishops pushed back against a slew of abortion-rights legislation Democrats introduced at the state Capitol this week, arguing the proposals "eliminate choice" for women. Continue Reading Colorado's Catholic bishops defend crisis pregnancy centers, abortion 'reversal'
In a crowded theater Monday afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris sat in front of hundreds of Colorado residents to tout the Biden administration's climate-related initiatives and express hope for the future of climate change. Continue Reading Kamala Harris touts Biden's actions, offers hopeful climate vision during Colorado visit
House Bill 1219 seeks to impose a three-day waiting period for firearms purchases. Continue Reading Proposal for 3-day waiting period for gun purchases in Colorado advances
Across the nation, a drug-resistant stomach bug is on the rise. Continue Reading Drug-resistant stomach bug sparks CDC warning, Colorado saw fall outbreaks
Gov. Jared Polis, joined by 14 Democratic lawmakers, announced a package of five new bills intended to reduce the cost of health care for Coloradans. Continue Reading Polis, Democrats roll out health care package they say will reduce costs for Coloradans
Gov. Jared Polis and lawmakers are expected Thursday to roll out a package of bills designed to correct issues with the 2021 bills on the public option and prescription drug affordability, as well as require nonprofit hospitals to prove they're providing community benefits to address the nee… Continue Reading Slew of health care bills seek fixes to public option, prescription drug board
Cindy Powers underwent emergency surgery to fix a life-threatening abdominal obstruction in 2004. Over the next five years, she received 18 additional surgeries to address complications, infections and hernias, before her condition was finally fixed in 2009. Continue Reading Colorado bill would cap medical debt interest, implement other consumer protections
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday signed legislation to add roughly 60 drinking water projects across Colorado to the list of those receiving financial assistance from the state. Continue Reading Polis signs proposal adding dozens of drinking water projects funded by state
Excess weight boosts mortality risk more than previously believed, while the mortality risk of being slightly underweight has likely been overestimated, according to new research from the University of Colorado Boulder. Continue Reading New CU Boulder research warns excess body weight means shorter life span
A bill that seeks to ban so-called facility fees — charged by hospital outpatient clinics to pay for certain costs, such as nurses, security and janitorial services — could result in exactly the opposite of what bill sponsors claim it would do, which is lower health care expenses, the propos… Continue Reading Hospitals decry bill banning 'facility fees,' supporters call it more 'surprise billing'
As the Chief Nursing Officer for Denver Health, Kathy Boyle has read far too many internal reports of violence against health care workers. Continue Reading Colorado health care workers face spike in workplace violence
Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet said when she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, she was forced to spend weeks taking multiple ineffective drugs that only worsened her mental health. Continue Reading Colorado bill seeks to limit step therapy in serious mental illness treatment
The first of three bills attempting to deal once again with fentanyl won approval from a House panel on Tuesday. Continue Reading House committee tackles first of several fentanyl-related bills
