general assembly
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Appeals court revives tenants’ lawsuit over landlords’ illegal fee demands
Colorado’s second-highest court revived a proposed class-action lawsuit against landlords and other entities last month, concluding that state law did not permit the practice of demanding that tenants pay attorney fees in certain eviction proceedings. In 2021, lawmakers enacted a process by which tenants facing eviction can “cure” their delinquent payments. After a landlord has…
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Colorado legislature overrules 2 state Supreme Court decisions about child neglect, visitation
Colorado lawmakers have overruled a recent pair of state Supreme Court decisions, adopting the dissenting justices’ points of view in cases involving grandparent visitation rights and the ability of children to oppose a county’s decision to withdraw a neglect case. The recently enacted legislation addressed two split decisions that the Supreme Court released within days…
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Road-funding amendment divides Colorado over $539M general fund shift
A battle is brewing over funding for Colorado’s roads after a citizen initiative has been cleared to gather signatures to put it on the ballot for voters to decide. Supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment that would change existing law on transportation funding and increase state revenue allotted for road transportation said it would end…
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Bills on ballot access, dual office ban move swiftly through Colorado legislature
With an eye on the 2026 election cycle and mounting tensions with the Trump administration, Colorado lawmakers are fast-tracking a pair of election bills they say will protect the state’s mail ballot system and tighten rules for elected officials. The measures, one that expands ballot access timelines and another that bars lawmakers from holding multiple…
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Colorado lawmakers hear about increased judicial discipline complaints, fallout from Missy Woods misconduct
Members of the Colorado legislature’s judiciary committees heard about a large increase in complaints against judges and additional forensic misconduct that has come to light, during three days of oversight hearings last week. Leaders of several judicial-related agencies appeared between Jan. 20-23 to address their priorities and field questions from legislators. On behalf of the…
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Colorado lawmakers hear from chief justice about security needs, new judges
Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez asked members of the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday to stay the course and fund the 10 new trial judgeships that Colorado lawmakers approved last year, and also explained her vision for enhancing judicial branch security. Responding to questions generated by committee members after a hearing last month on…
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Federal judge blocks Colorado law requiring social media platforms to provide warnings to children
A federal judge on Thursday blocked Colorado from implementing a requirement that social media companies notify users younger than 18 of the effects to their mental and physical health from using the platforms. Lawmakers enacted House Bill 1136 by wide margins in 2024, with a goal of providing “research-based education and interventions” about minors’ use…
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Colorado justices decide pre-2025 law did not criminalize AI-generated child porn
Colorado law prior to 2025 did not criminalize, as a means of sexually exploiting a child, the use of artificial intelligence to generate nude images depicting real children, the state Supreme Court concluded on Monday. The legislature acted this year to clearly establish a crime for someone to have or share fake, yet “highly realistic,”…
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Despite 2020 change, Colorado justices rule positive drug test alone can lead to child neglect finding
A divided Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a newborn’s positive drug test by itself can lead to a finding of child neglect, even though legislators amended the law five years ago to eliminate that trigger. The legal debate centered on the wording lawmakers chose to replace the previous understanding that a child is neglected when…
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Colorado justices appear open to striking down harsher municipal sentences
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared open last week to the idea that municipalities cannot impose harsher sentences under their own ordinances than state law does for identical criminal offenses. In a rare pair of appeals taken directly from municipal court, the justices heard about an unusual twist in the relationship between state and…