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Colorado lawmakers hear final state economic forecast ahead of budget bill
Colorado’s economy is expected to continue its growth over the next few years, though it will be at a slower pace in the near term, economists told the Joint Budget Committee on Thursday. Nonpartisan representatives from the Legislative Council Staff and Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budget presented their quarterly economic report to lawmakers, […]
Trio of abortion access protection bills clear Senate committees
Three Democrat-led bills to expand access to abortion care in Colorado passed through committee on Wednesday, as lawmakers seek to protect reproductive health care amid efforts by many other states try to limit or outright ban abortion. If passed by the Legislature and signed into law, the bills would shield patients and providers from interstate […]
Colorado Democrats say gun bills will reduce violence. Here’s what experts say.
Colorado Democrats introduced a slate of bills aimed at gun violence prevention in February, all four of which have been passed by at least one chamber of the General Assembly. While the Democrats’ package came partially in response to last year’s mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, researchers agree that it is difficult […]
Bipartisan bills would bolster workforce for in-demand Colorado jobs like construction, fire fighting
Colorado lawmakers want to make it easier for young people to enter in-demand career pathways by reducing the costs — and in some cases making it free — to get trained in fields like construction, early childhood education and law enforcement. “We hear from businesses across the state, ‘We need people with the skills to […]
Gun waiting period, overdose prevention center bills advance despite all-night Republican filibuster
Colorado lawmakers advanced two controversial bills in the House early on Friday morning despite a Republican filibuster that lasted more than 16 hours. A bill to establish a three-day waiting period for firearm purchases and one to allow local governments to open overdose prevention centers both passed on second reading and are set for final […]
Bills to protect abortion rights, out-of-state patients announced by Colorado Democrats
Colorado Democrats announced Thursday that they will introduce a trio of bills that would build upon last year’s legislation that enshrines the right to abortion into state law. The bills would prohibit deceptive advertising for anti-abortion centers, increase insurance access for abortion coverage, and ensure that patients and providers for abortion and gender-affirming care would […]
‘Red flag’ expansion among gun bills that advance to Colorado Senate floor
Three bills aimed at slowing gun violence in Colorado made it through a committee on Wednesday following an all-day hearing at the Legislature. The entire Senate will now consider bills to expand the state’s extreme risk protection order law, allow victims of gun violence to sue manufacturers more easily, and raise the minimum age to […]
Colorado’s public utility model questioned in first committee meeting on rising rates
Colorado lawmakers held their first in a series of meetings looking into the forces behind increasing utility costs in the state and developing a plan to address the issue. “We have all heard from our constituents that their utility bills have gotten out of control,” said Senate President Steve Fenberg during a Tuesday hearing for […]
Proposal for firearm-sale waiting period advances through Colorado House committee
The first bill in Democrats’ gun safety legislation package passed through a committee at the Colorado Legislature on Monday after hours of testimony about how a waiting period for firearm purchases could be crucial in reducing suicide by firearms and gun violence overall. House Bill 23-1219 now heads to the full House to consider. If […]
Colorado bill would ban sale, transfer of assault weapons
Two Democratic Colorado lawmakers introduced a long-awaited bill that would ban the sale and transfer of assault weapons in the state. House Bill 23-1230 is sponsored by Rep. Elisabeth Epps of Denver and Sen. Rhonda Fields of Aurora. It has seven co-sponsors in the House, including Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, and one co-sponsor in […]
Democrats introduce bills to lower health care costs in Colorado
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and a group of Democratic lawmakers introduced a slate of new bills Thursday they say are meant to reduce health care costs in the state. The bills would reduce premiums for Colorado Option plans, lower prescription drug costs and work to increase transparency for hospital profits. “Saving people money on healthcare […]
Colorado House set to consider bill on ‘overdose prevention centers’
Colorado lawmakers are set to debate whether local governments should be able to sign off on sites where people can use drugs under medical supervision, a strategy that harm reduction experts say can reduce overdose deaths and connect people with resources. House Bill 23-1202 passed its first committee hearing Wednesday on an 8-3 vote after […]