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Business leaders win key votes on two environmental bills
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Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

Business leaders win key votes on two environmental bills

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Colorado legislators pushed backed against environmental activists in two ways Thursday, rejecting a bill to require extensive emissions reporting by large corporations and advancing a plan to study how to consider more fully the impact on jobs of future climate regulations. The dual decisions by the House Energy and Environment Committee marked an eye-opening change in direction after legislators have spent most of the past six years passing increasing emissions regulations. And Democratic legislators who sided with Republicans and business groups on the bills stated it is time to think more about the economic impact of state rules and to avoid adding burdensome regulations that could have negligible effects on the state’s air quality. REA...
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In fix to vet shortage, HB 1131 will graduate more vets, CSU dean says as measure advances in Senate
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In fix to vet shortage, HB 1131 will graduate more vets, CSU dean says as measure advances in Senate

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Veterinarians are in extremely short supply in all four corners of Colorado. The solution? The authors of House Bill 25-1131 say, ironically, a veterinarian shortage can be fixed through the graduation of more veterinarians. "We are seeing a shortage of veterinarians all over rural Colorado, and the state, quite frankly," Republican Sen. Byron Pelton said. The bill was termed a free-market solution to the state’s growing veterinary shortage by Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson and Democrat Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, who ushered it through the Colorado House on a 65-0 vote of the lower chamber. The bill was similarly advanced Monday out of the Senate's Education Committee on a unanimous vote and is being fast-tracked through the upper chamber ...
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HB 1096 asks local governments to adopt ‘instant permitting’ for residential solar projects
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Approved, Law Week Colorado, State

HB 1096 asks local governments to adopt ‘instant permitting’ for residential solar projects

By Michael Rummel | Law Week Colorado A bill that would require local municipalities and counties in Colorado to implement an automated permitting process for residential solar panel installation passed its first committee hearing, but several of the aye votes for the measure came with reservations.  House Bill 25-1096, dubbed “Automated Permits for Clean Energy Technology,” was brought to the Colorado House Energy and Environment Committee by Democratic Reps. Lesley Smith and Kyle Brown. It has one prime sponsor on the Colorado Senate side, Democratic Sen. Matt Ball.  “HB-1096 seeks to remove the red tape to help Colorado reach its climate goals by asking local governments to adopt instant permitting solutions for residential solar projects,” Brown said in the hearing. “In 2...
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Why are so many Denver restaurants going belly up or moving out of the city?
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Approved, DENVER7, Local

Why are so many Denver restaurants going belly up or moving out of the city?

By Claire Lavezzorio | Denver 7 News Many Denver restaurants are going belly up or moving to the suburbs. According to Denver's Department of Excise and Licenses (EXL), records show a drop of about 24% in overall food licenses associated with restaurants since 2023. To better understand the trends, Denver7 is taking a 360 look at the struggling industry and what owners are doing to stay afloat. It's the lunch rush at Blue Agave Grill, and Brenda Lucio is in her happy place. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
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Body camera footage released in deadly deputy-involved shooting at Main Event
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Body camera footage released in deadly deputy-involved shooting at Main Event

By Morgan Whitley | Fox 31 News On Monday, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office shared the body worn camera footage and surveillance footage from the parking lot of Main Event Highlands Ranch, where a deputy shot and killed an armed 23-year-old. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office released a five-minute video on X that included an introduction from Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly and a narrated version of the body camera footage and surveillance footage. The video then shows what the sheriff’s office said was the unedited body-worn and dash camera footage of the deadly shooting of Jailn Seabron. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
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Englewood animal shelter ordered to surrender all dogs after license suspension
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Englewood animal shelter ordered to surrender all dogs after license suspension

By Steve Staeger, Amanda Kesting | The Denver Gazette, via 9NEWS An Englewood animal shelter that made headlines after it euthanized 12 puppies following rabies exposure has had their license suspended by the state. Police on Friday served Moms and Mutts: Colorado Rescue for Pregnant and Nursing Dogs Inc. (MAMCO) with the suspension order. In December, the shelter had voluntarily entered into an agreement with the Colorado Department of Agriculture that placed their license on an 18-month probation after multiple violations of the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Citing overreach by Democrats, Sen. Mark Baisley becomes second Republican to enter race for governor
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Citing overreach by Democrats, Sen. Mark Baisley becomes second Republican to enter race for governor

By Bente Birkeland | The Colorado Sun The list of Republicans aiming for Colorado’s top office is growing. Two current statehouse Republicans have officially entered the race for governor in 2026, when Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is term limited. Colorado has not elected a Republican governor since Bill Owens handily defeated a Democrat in 2002.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Colorado Senate committee advances bipartisan bill to repeal parts of Farmworkers Bill of Rights
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Senate committee advances bipartisan bill to repeal parts of Farmworkers Bill of Rights

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A bill seeking to repeal a portion of the 2021 Farmworkers Bill of Rights cleared its first hurdle last week when the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee advanced the measure. Senate Bill 128 won a bipartisan 5-2 vote, with two Democrats and three Republicans in favor and two Democrats voting against it. It now heads to the full Senate for debate. The short hearing showed that divisions remain between moderate and progressive Democrats, with a compromise deal collapsing just before debate. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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New bill would boost safety, background-check requirements for TNCs like Lyft, Uber
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Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

New bill would boost safety, background-check requirements for TNCs like Lyft, Uber

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Seeking to protect Uber and Lyft customers, a group of Democratic lawmakers unveiled a bill Friday that would boost steps companies must take to perform background checks on drivers and ensure unauthorized persons are not picking up rides in place of those drivers. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Jenny Willford of Northglenn and Meg Froelich of Greenwood Village, also would ensure transportation-network-company drivers work no more than 10-hour shifts and would require each ride to be continuously recorded via video and audio. It also would allow people injured by violations of the bill to file civil lawsuits against a TNC or a driver, and it would make violations of the proposed law deceptive trade practices under the Colorado Consumer Protectio...
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