Colorado Politics

 Colorado’s crowded gubernatorial primary fields take shape as race looms for open seat | TRAIL MIX

A few months after celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial next summer, voters will elect the state’s 44th governor in the first open race for the seat since term-limited Democrat Jared Polis was elected eight years earlier. At last count, four Democrats and...

 A historical view: Colorado legislature wraps up longest special session in 23 years

The recently concluded six-day special session of the Colorado General Assembly was the longest in 23 years.  But it wasn’t the longest by a long stretch. That belongs to the second of two special sessions in 1991 under then-Democratic Gov....

 Medicaid provider cuts likely to be an area of disagreement between Polis and the Joint Budget Committee

The most significant cuts to the state budget, as contained in the spending reduction plan that Gov. Jared Polis will present to the Joint Budget Committee on Thursday, are for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. That’s a...

 Gov. Jared Polis announces $252.5 million in cuts to Colorado state budget

Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday signed an executive order, initiating the process to cut $252.5 million in cash and general funds from the current year’s budget, with the most significant impact on the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing,...

 ‘Political theatre’ or necessary action? Colorado lawmakers weigh in on ‘divisive’ session

While Democrats and Republicans clashed over the cause of an $800 million budget shortfall plaguing the Colorado state government, they agreed that the recently-concluded special session, which sought to solve that deficit, was one of the most “divisive” in years....

 Colorado legislators wrap up special session to plug $800 million budget deficit

Colorado’s legislators on Tuesday wrapped up their work following a special session that sought to plug an $800 million budget deficit. They adopted a slew of tax measures intended to shore up state revenue and confirmed the governor’s authority to...

 Here is how Colorado’s corporate taxes will change

Colorado tax policy currently is “coupled” with federal tax policy. What that means is when the federal government changes tax policy, Colorado’s policy automatically conforms to those changes. Changes to the federal tax code enacted through H.R. 1 resulted in...

 Tensions erupt in Colorado House over harassment resolution against former GOP Rep. Armagost

In the final hours of a special session on Tuesday, Colorado lawmakers voted to denounce former Rep. Ryan Armagost for his role in an incident involving a photo of Rep. Yara Zokaie, sparking a heated exchange between party leaders. On...

 Colorado legislature passes 11 bills in special session

Colorado state lawmakers passed a total of 11 bills during the 2025 special session, which concluded on Tuesday. Most of the legislation aimed to offset the impacts of the federal budget reconciliation bill, which is estimated to cost the state...

 Effective Sept. 1: Colorado enacts new laws on rental agreements, child abuse reporting and military justice

Three laws, including measures related to rental agreement procedures in the event of a tenant’s death and updates to the state’s Military Code of Justice, will take effect on Sept. 1. Here’s an explanation of each and how they could...

 Artificial intelligence bill gutted by Colorado Senate as deal possible collapses

Between Sunday and Monday, a hoped-for deal on the Colorado General Assembly’s main proposal on artificial intelligence regulation took a hit — and sources said it may not recover, as the issue around liability further shook the already shaky support...

 Day Five of Special Session: Colorado legislature moves key measures forward

As artificial intelligence legislation remained in limbo, Colorado’s legislators turned their attention on several other measures during Monday’s special session, notably debating a change to a measure bill to set aside $100 million to help lower health insurance premiums.  Lawmakers also advanced...

 Need to catch up on Colorado’s special session? Here’s what happened this weekend

Colorado legislators worked over the weekend to debate wolf funding, money for health insurance and inoculating Planned Parenthood — at least at the state level — from looming Medicaid cuts.  Here’s what you need to know. Wolf funding One key question for...

 Senate committee gives green (well, maybe yellow) light to artificial intelligence bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Sunday handed Senate Bill 4, the artificial intelligence bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, a 4-3 win and moved it on to the full Senate. Whether the measure has the votes to get...

 U.S. Rep. Skaggs’ seasoned experience shows in CD2 debate | A LOOK BACK

Thirty-Five Years Ago This Week: Republican candidate Jason Lewis started off the Northglenn Rotary Club’s 2nd Congressional District debate with sweeping promises of a balanced budget, term limits, and enactment of the death penalty. His opponent, incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep....

 Colorado Special Session Day 2: Hints of compromise over governor’s authority to make cuts

The Colorado House on Friday killed a measure introduced by Republicans that aims to curb the governor’s spending powers, but, given the unanimous 11-0 vote to do so, there are suggestions of a compromise. Joint Budget Committee members Rep. Rick...

 Colorado lawmakers advance bills diverting wolf funding, using portion of student meals revenue to pay for SNAP

Colorado senators on Friday gave final approval to several measures, while a proposal dealing with artificial intelligence regulation is mired in negotiations.  The Senate panel in charge of hearing budget bills canceled its hearing on Senate Bill 4, the AI proposal...

 Special Session Day 1 recap: A high-profile resignation, heated debates and fast-tracked bills

Day 1 recap The Colorado General Assembly started Thursday with 33 bills and two concurrent resolutions that would go to voters. The first day ended with just 13 bills left, five in the Senate and eight in the House. The Senate put...

 New AI bill in Colorado would mandate disclosure of ‘non-human’ nature

Not into chatting with chatbots? There’s a bill making its way through this week’s special session that sponsors say would increase transparency around how consumers interact with AI systems. Members of the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee voted, 8-5,...

 Artificial intelligence bill clears first Senate special session committee

The proposed Senate Democrats’ fix to the first-in-the-nation artificial intelligence regulation dealing with “algorithmic discrimination” won approval from its first committee on the first day of the 2025 special session. Senate Bill 4 — sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert...

 Colorado state Rep. Ryan Armagost resigns, avoids censure resolution

State Rep. Ryan Armagost announced on Thursday afternoon that he is resigning his House seat immediately. That resignation takes out the possibility of a censure that was expected to be brought up against him either on Thursday or Friday. Only...

 Senate committee advances bills to shift wolf program funds, proposal on governor’s budget authority

Colorado legislators began to advance proposals dealing with an $800 million budget shortfall on Thursday, just hours after the legislature officially re-convened to deal with the revenue shortfall.  They started with a hearing on Senate Bill 1, which adds a...

 Pause new law on artificial intelligence, Colorado mayors urge lawmakers

While filling the $800 million gap in the state budget is a significant part of the special session set to go underway this morning at the state Capitol, the battle over artificial intelligence regulations is quickly taking center stage, with...

 Colorado lawmakers begin special session — here’s what’s at stake

Colorado legislators will officially convene in a special session this morning to plug an $800 million budget deficit that Democrats insist is the result of the congressional budget but which Republicans argue is the state’s own making after failing to...

 AI regulation, taxes: Here’s what business, labor groups are watching in Colorado special session

When Thursday’s special session of the Colorado General Assembly gets underway, the business community will be closely watching to see how lawmakers deal with corporate taxes. Democrats have blamed federal changes to the corporate tax structure as the culprit behind Colorado’s...

 Big cuts, bigger questions: Here’s how lawmakers plan to fill $800 million shortfall

Plans are taking shape on how Colorado’s state government will trim $800 million in general fund expenses. The shortfall, according to Democrats, is due to a $1.2 billion loss of income tax revenue, mainly on the corporate side. The state...

 It’s up to Gov. Jared Polis to figure out where to cut $800 million, proposal says

As Colorado lawmakers attempt to wrestle down an $800 million budget deficit, legislative leaders are coalescing around the idea that, ultimately, it is up to Gov. Jared Polis to figure out where to make cuts, instead of legislators going through...

 Colorado special session bills: What you need to know

Colorado legislators have begun proposing bills for Thursday’s special session, when they will need to figure out how to plug a nearly $800 million budget shortfall. Only a handful of the measures introduced so far directly deal with the deficit....

 Heath becomes chosen Democrat to face Hank Brown in long-shot bid | A LOOK BACK

Thirty-Five Years Ago This Week: Josie Heath and her army of female supporters ultimately toppled Carlos Lucero’s campaign in the Democratic primary for Colorado’s open U.S. Senate seat. On election night, Heath’s office on the 16th Street Mall and Welton...

 Other Hats Q&A | Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter talks running a funeral home and the family ranch

Welcome to the first installment of the new Colorado Politics series, “Other Hats,” where we explore what state lawmakers do for a living when the legislature is not in session.  Note: some responses have been edited for clarity. Assistant Minority...