Colorado Politics

10-year gun ban for car thieves: Polis signs HB 1174 into law

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Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed a bill prohibiting anyone convicted of car theft in the first degree from owning a gun during a visit to the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce.

In Colorado, motor vehicle theft in the first degree is a Class 3 felony, carrying a prison sentence of up to 12 years and fines ranging from $3,000 to $750,000.

Under House Bill 1171, individuals who have maintained a clean record can petition for a court order, allowing them to own a gun 10 years after their case has been resolved.

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Colorado files amicus brief supporting DEI initiatives in lawsuit

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Colorado joined yet another coalition of 18 states in filing a court brief supporting the legal challenge to two of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs, even as a federal court blocked cuts to public health grants. 

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Polis open to signing bill restricting local ICE cooperation as Colorado sanctuary debate heats up

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Gov. Jared Polis said that while he had “major problems” with an earlier proposal that sought to inoculate immigrants from federal policies, the bill now includes “workable language,” thereby signaling his intent to sign it.

The governor reiterated he is still reviewing the proposal, which underwent several changes before its final passage during the 2025 legislative session.

At its core, Senate Bill 276 reemphasized existing state law that precludes local law enforcers from detaining an individual based on an “immigration detainer.” An immigration “detainer” is a notice issued to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies informing the latter that agents intend to assume custody of an individual no longer subject to the former’s detention.

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Condo reform bill becomes law–after years of lawsuits, delays and rising insurance costs

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Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed the first major bill of his administration that sponsors hope would unclog the state’s longstanding logjam regarding the construction of affordable, middle-market multi-family housing, specifically condos and townhomes, and, thereby directly promote home ownership.

Past efforts by the governor had mostly focused on rental housing and zoning. 

This year, House Bill 1272 aims to jumpstart the affordable condo market, which backers say has died off in Colorado due to “construction defects” litigation.

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Statewide and congressional contests heat up early as candidates line up for 2026

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Colorado’s political world is in as close to a lull as it’s likely to get this cycle — six months past the 2024 general election, days after the end of this year’s regular legislative session, and with just over a year to go until voters begin casting primary ballots.

Major candidates for the state’s most prominent and competitive 2026 contests have already emerged, but many are about to get more company.

Statewide and congressional contests heat up early as candidates line up for 2026 Read More »

“YIGBY” bill to let churches build housing on their land fails without Senate support

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The campaign known as “YIGBY” – “Yes in God’s Backyard” – to allow churches, school districts, colleges, and universities to build affordable housing on their land failed in the waning days of the Colorado legislative session. 

House Bill 1169 would have required local governments to allow residential development on land owned by those institutions.

The bill has sat in the state Senate, awaiting debate, since it cleared the Senate’s Local Government and Housing Committee on March 27.

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Northeast Colorado judge resigns after allegations of undisclosed ties to former client

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A judge from northeastern Colorado resigned at the end of Wednesday, and, in doing so, admitted to allegations that he used his position to aid a friend in her court case and did not disclose his personal connection in other cases involving that friend.

District Court Judge Justin B. Haenlein presided in the 13th Judicial District of Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma and Kit Carson counties. He had been off the bench since the Colorado Supreme Court suspended him in November, pending a disciplinary investigation.

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Gregory: Colorado’s highest court has lost credibility

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Colorado is haunted by the ghosts of Watergate. Through his preemptive pardon of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford blunted the rule of law by preventing our country from ever directly addressing the wrongfulness of Nixon’s conduct and having public discourse as to what accountability was appropriate. The evolution of Colorado’s judicial scandal has been very similar to the chronology of Watergate. In it I have found my own spiritual camaraderie with Justice Melissa Hart’s grandfather, Archibald Cox. Like me, Cox was retaliated against and fired just as his investigation of Nixon discovered critical evidence.

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Democratic lawmakers prepare rare override of Polis veto on open records bill

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Democratic lawmakers, who are preparing for a fight with the executive branch over a myriad of issues, will seek an override of Gov. Jared Polis’ veto on Friday of a bill that sought to increase deadlines to fulfill public records requests in Colorado.

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