Colorado Politics

 Colorado House passes immigration bill to limit ICE access to schools, hospitals

After over four hours of debate spanning two days, lawmakers in the Colorado state House on Saturday passed legislation to limit federal immigration officers’ access into specific Colorado places, such as schools, and penalize, under specific situations, entities that provide...

 Tempers flare at Colorado state Capitol, with only days to go before lawmakers wrap up work

Colorado lawmakers are feeling the weight of the final days of the legislative session, leading to several contentious moments on the House floor. Here’s a few.  Bill on identification forms sparks two-hour debate over race  A bill that seeks to...

 Colorado Senate panel OKs amended version of bill penalizing ‘misgendering’ and ‘deadnaming’

The legislation that seeks to penalize “deadnaming” and “misgendering” drew in more than 600 people to a committee hearing at the state Capitol yesterday, when some argued that the proposal is necessary while others insisted questions over whether transition services...

 Bill to curb credit card ‘swipe fees’ put on hold in Colorado Senate

The Senate sponsors of a bill that sought to rein in “swipe fees” imposed by credit card companies on taxes and tips are postponing the measure until next session. The delay will give sponsors more time to communicate directly with...

 Faith-based group urges Colorado Baptist pastors, members to oppose transgender bill

A faith-based association is urging pastors and members of the Southern Baptist Convention in Colorado to speak out against a bill that seeks to penalize “deadnaming” and “misgendering” as discriminatory actions and mandate the courts to include such claims in...

 Colorado Democrats push to eliminate statute of limitations on child sex abuse

Colorado lawmakers hope to bring a constitutional amendment to the ballot next year to eliminate the statute of limitations for civil claims in childhood sexual abuse cases.  Sponsors argued that the proposal would remedy a loophole that has precluded victims...

 Bipartisan bill requiring age verification for adult websites in Colorado postponed until next year

Sponsors of a bipartisan bill requiring age verification to access adult websites have postponed the measure until next year in light of an impending Supreme Court decision on a similar piece of legislation from Texas. Senate Bill 201, sponsored by...

 Colorado Psychiatric Society | WHAT’S YOUR AGENDA?

Welcome to What’s Your Agenda?, Colorado Politics’ weekly publication of trade association priorities for the state’s 2025 legislative session.   The Colorado Psychiatric Society is a professional medical association that focuses on the needs of physicians who specialize in psychiatry and...

 THIS WEEK AT THE COLORADO CAPITOL | Week of April 14, 2025

Here are legislative committee hearings and other events of note for the week ahead for the Colorado General Assembly. Committee schedules are subject to change. Schedules for both the House and Senate can change at any time. The website is the best...

 Gov. Polis marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month by touring Colorado Springs advocacy center

The most important thing to know about child abuse — and not only during the National Child Abuse Prevention Month of April — is anytime you see, hear or suspect something, say something, Gov. Jared Polis said Wednesday, while touring Safe...

 US Sen Bernie Sanders urges Coloradans to push Gov. Jared Polis to sign labor union bill

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democrat from Vermont, is urging Coloradans to contact Gov. Jared Polis and tell him to sign a bill repealing an 80-year-old law that allows labor groups, when approved by workers in an election, to begin...

 Colorado House gives preliminary OK to $44 billion budget

Colorado state House legislators on Wednesday debated and advanced a $44 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year. They also approved 63 “orbital” bills designed to change state law in order to balance the state budget. As introduced, the fiscal...

 Colorado Senate to tackle bill requiring age verification on adult websites

A group of state lawmakers is pushing legislation to make Colorado the first Democrat-controlled state to require age verification for pornography sites. The bill cleared its first hurdle last month with a nearly unanimous vote in the Senate Health and...

 Signaling acceptance, Colorado governor adds nuclear to ‘clean’ energy sources

Nuclear for power production has now been added to the list of “clean” sources, alongside wind, solar and geothermal, after Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday signed a proposal that signaled Colorado policymakers’ changing attitude toward this energy source.   “The governor...

 El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal criticizes firearm safety training bill as it heads to the governor’s desk

El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal issued a statement following the passage of a bill requiring individuals to take firearm safety training before being eligible to purchase certain firearms.  Under Senate Bill 003, Coloradans planning to purchase a semiautomatic weapons with...

 Colorado Association of Family & Children’s Agencies | WHAT’S YOUR AGENDA?

Welcome to What’s Your Agenda?, Colorado Politics’ weekly publication of trade association priorities for the state’s 2025 legislative session.  The Colorado Association of Family & Children’s Agencies is a non-profit membership group founded in 1980.  “Colorado Association of Family &...

 Colorado lawmakers push for stricter social media regulation to curb youth drug use and addiction

Sixteen-year-old Avery Ping of Olympia, Washington, was like many of his peers. He used social media daily to stay connected with friends, keep tabs on celebrities and influencers, and watch videos. Last December, he used the photo messaging app Snapchat...

 Colorado lawmakers concur with House amendments, pass gun bill

Colorado senators voted to concur with over a dozen amendments made by their counterparts in the House and approved legislation to ban the purchase of certain types of firearms — unless a person undergoes a hunter training. Senate Bill 003 underwent...

 Colorado legislation aimed at preventing future DNA testing misconduct passes committee

A panel of House of lawmakers unanimously advanced a measure drafted in response to the DNA testing scandal at Colorado’s crime laboratory.  The bill would create a duty to report misconduct by crime lab employees and require crime lab directors to investigate...

 Colorado bill to protect law enforcement whistleblowers clears first hurdle after failing last year

A panel of Colorado lawmakers voted on Tuesday to pass a reworked version of a failed bill from last session that sought to protect law enforcement whistleblowers from retaliation.  The bill, House Bill 1031, is the result of months of meetings...

 Colorado House passes bill requiring safety training to purchase certain firearms

The Colorado House on Monday passed legislation to prohibit the purchase and sale of semiautomatic weapons with detachable magazines — unless an individual undergoes safety training.  As introduced, Senate Bill 003 would have prohibited the purchase and sale of the weapons....

 Colorado Democrats, Republicans clash over proposal to ban sale of certain semiautomatic weapons

Democrats and Republicans clashed on Friday over a bill that would restrict the purchase of semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines to only those who complete a hunter safety training. House Republicans offered 50 amendments to the measure.  As originally proposed, Senate Bill...

 Latino Democratic Caucus pushes for immigrant protection, and environmental safeguards in Colorado

Workers’ rights, defending immigrant communities, and protecting Colorado’s environment are among the top priorities for the state’s Latino Democratic Caucus as the 2025 session hits the midway point. The Latino Democratic Caucus unveiled these priorities, including the protection of illegal...

 Legislation Inside: Colorado prisoners seek to change laws from within

David Carrillo served 30 years in prison for first-degree murder. He spent many years angry with the “system” after his conviction in 1993, he said. While his brother was the one who pulled the trigger in the Pueblo County shooting...

 Business, labor sectors remain at odds as Colorado lawmakers push union bill forward

A panel of House lawmakers in Colorado voted on Thursday evening to pass a proposal that would repeal a key requirement before unions may impose fees on non-union members.   Senate Bill 005 would repeal an 80-year-old law‘s requirement for a second...

 Colorado lawmakers advance bill requiring gun safety training for firearm sales with CPW oversight

The House Judiciary Committee voted on a 7-4 party-line vote to advance a contentious gun measure late Tuesday evening, following 14 hours of testimony and seven additional amendments.  Senate Bill 003 would require individuals to take a hunter safety training...

 Colorado Lt. Gov. Primavera signs building accessibility bill into law

As acting Governor, Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera on Tuesday signed a bill into law requiring local governments to implement building codes that meet or exceed the accessibility standards in international building codes.  “Every Coloradan deserves the freedom to live in spaces...

 Colorado gun control bill could shift responsibility to parks and wildlife as debate continues

The sponsors of the 2025 legislative session’s most contentious gun bill plan to introduce an amendment during its House committee hearing on Tuesday that will task Colorado Parks and Wildlife with administering and issuing permits for a program that would...

 Colorado Disability Rights Advocacy Day celebrates progress and legislative efforts

Lawmakers joined hundreds of disability rights advocates at the Capitol on Thursday to celebrate Colorado Disability Rights Advocacy Day, established by former Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. Ortiz, the first Colorado lawmaker to use a wheelchair, attended this year’s event, as...

 Colorado Senate’s revised RTD transit reform bill clears committee in party-line vote

Following months of conversations with riders, the community, and board members, lawmakers have introduced a revised version of reform measures to the Denver Metro’s Regional Transportation District (RTD). Last year’s measure fizzled out in part due to contentions between bill...