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Thousands rally for abortion rights at Colorado Capitol in Denver
In Colorado — unlike in states including Wyoming, Utah and Texas — the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade does not mean abortion is already illegal or soon could be banned. While Wyoming, Utah and Texas are among those states with laws on the books that could ban abortion procedures by the end of […]
State lawmakers plan bill to protect Colorado abortion providers, patients
The same day the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision that will have the effect of banning or restricting abortion in as many as half the states, Coloradans on all sides of the abortion debate were preparing next steps. Two Democratic state lawmakers who spearheaded passage of a bill this year protecting the right […]
Colorado abortion rights advocates face new, post-Roe reality
In a landmark opinion handed down Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court brought an end to the nearly 50-year period in American history when the right to have an abortion was secured by the nation’s highest court. Now, in some states, seeking an abortion could make someone a criminal — and advocates warn that the burden […]
Lower-cost ‘Colorado Option’ health plan wins approval from feds
Federal approval of a state waiver application means it’s full steam ahead for the “Colorado Option”: a heavily regulated, lower-cost health insurance plan that private carriers must offer starting next year. “I’m thrilled that Colorado’s waiver has been approved — allowing us to move forward with this historic money-saving and forward-thinking program in Colorado,” Gov. […]
Colorado taxpayers could see $750 refund checks this summer, new forecast estimates
Individual Colorado taxpayers can expect early refund checks of $750 in late summer, while joint filers could see $1,500 checks, according to estimates from an economic forecast released Tuesday. Those amounts are nearly double the $400 and $800 checks that state officials predicted Coloradans would receive when they first announced the new tax refund policy […]
Campsite reservation issues potentially cost state $2.8M, audit finds
Colorado’s system for managing campsite reservations at state parks falls short on two key measures: encouraging public use and maximizing state revenue, according to an audit report released Monday. The problems potentially cost Colorado Parks and Wildlife up to $2.8 million in 2021. In its report, the state auditor’s office found that more than a […]
Q&A: Colorado’s new behavioral health leader wants ‘people-first’ system
When Gov. Jared Polis appointed her in January as the state’s first ever behavioral health commissioner, Dr. Morgan Medlock knew she had a difficult task ahead of her. Mental Health America had ranked Colorado 51st in the nation for adult mental health, and media reports revealed cracks in the status-quo system of care that included […]
2022 primary election: Top 4 Colorado legislative races to watch
In a few dozen Colorado legislative districts where voters lean heavily Democratic or Republican, the political party of the November winner is nearly assured. Some of those districts feature an incumbent who is running unopposed in the June 28 primary election. For example, in eight recent statewide elections, Democrats running in Denver’s House District 8 […]
Mexico’s abortion access serves as vital example to U.S., state lawmakers say
With dozens of state-level abortion restrictions already in effect, and more set to kick in if and when the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, elected officials across the U.S. are looking to Mexico as an example in the fight to protect and expand abortion access. Six Democratic state lawmakers from various states, including Sen. […]
Colorado to launch online portal to help ag industry comply with labor laws
Last year, Colorado lawmakers passed sweeping legislation meant to improve working conditions for farm and ranch employees. Senate Bill 21-87 established minimum standards for workplace housing, gave workers collective bargaining rights and directed the state to create and enforce overtime protections. While farmworkers’ advocates argue that the overtime rules don’t go far enough — and are […]
New law requires speedier post-wildfire homeowners insurance payouts
Coloradans who lose their homes in a wildfire could see their insurance claims paid out more speedily under a bill that Gov. Jared Polis signed into law Thursday. House Bill 22-1111 applies to owner-occupied properties lost in declared fire disasters, like the Marshall Fire that destroyed more than 1,000 structures in Boulder County in December […]
Fentanyl law’s proponents and foes prepare for criminal justice fallout
With Gov. Jared Polis’s signature May 25, hotly debated legislation to respond to the fentanyl overdose crisis became law in Colorado. But for the policy makers, attorneys and advocates who fought for a bill they could stomach, the work is only just beginning. “This law is a bold response deploying both public safety and public […]