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In 75th session, 6 of 10 Colorado Senate committees have one-seat Democratic majority
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In 75th session, 6 of 10 Colorado Senate committees have one-seat Democratic majority

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Senate leaders on Friday announced committee assignments for the 2025 session that begins on January 8. There will be 10 committees in the 2025 session, six of which will have a narrow one-seat majority, according to Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, and Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument.  Democrats retained 23 seats following the November election, while Republicans held onto 12.  Only 20 members of the Democratic caucus are assigned to committees; 11 out of 12 Republicans have committee assignments. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
NRA sees national concealed carry, ATF reform under Trump
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NRA sees national concealed carry, ATF reform under Trump

By Paul Bedard | Colorado Politics, via Washington Examiner The National Rifle Association is growing hopeful that after four years of fighting off anti-gun policies in Washington and several state capitals, having an ally in the White House will result in several pro-firearms policies. Doug Hamlin, the CEO and executive vice president of the nation’s biggest and oldest Second Amendment advocacy, said that the NRA is eager to work with President-elect Donald Trump on multiple fronts, including national-pro-gun initiatives and key law enforcement hires. “We're super excited because we have a president who has the benefit of four years experience,” Hamlin told Secrets. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
At odds over union law, business and labor groups sharpen arguments ahead of Capitol fight
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At odds over union law, business and labor groups sharpen arguments ahead of Capitol fight

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics As the fight over proposed changes to an 80-year-old labor law takes shape, unions and businesses have begun sharpening their arguments, with both sides notably claiming their approach is best for Colorado's economy.    Indeed, the two sides are pointing to economic reports and studies in an effort to strengthen their position among lawmakers ahead of next year's legislative session. At least one legislative leader said she wants both sides to have a say in any effort to change the labor law. Established in 1943, the law, called the Labor Peace Act, governs unionization and collective bargaining agreements. While the other 49 states are either "right to work" states — meaning employees aren't required to union be members or to pay...
Colorado wildlife officials omit crucial portion of law as they defend wolf funding
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado wildlife officials omit crucial portion of law as they defend wolf funding

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The hunt for coins in the couch cushions — the Colorado General Assembly's budget crafters are scrambling to find hundreds of millions of dollars to cover a shortfall projected for the 2025-26 budget and are eyeing wolf funding as a potential area to cut — is getting pushback from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. And the agency has now resorted to omitting a crucial portion of the law that mandated the wolves' reintroduction as it seeks to persuade lawmakers to fund Colorado's reintroduction program. Lawmakers have noticed that omission.   The issue is whether to fund the wolf reintroduction program in the 2025-26 budget year or save the $2.1 million in general fund dollars appropriated annually for the program. READ T...
Who will Democrats support for governor in 2026? Poll is inconclusive
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Who will Democrats support for governor in 2026? Poll is inconclusive

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A majority of voters are undecided about their next choice for Colorado governor among a few potential Democratic aspirants. The poll only offered potential Democratic candidates.   The nonprofit Healthier Colorado released its findings of its first poll on the 2026 Democratic governor primary election. The poll asked Democrats and unaffiliated voters on four potential gubernatorial candidates: Colorado U.S. Rep Joe Neguse, Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Attorney General Phil Weiser, and former Colorado Attorney General and current ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
After swearing in new mayor, Parker needs to fill vacant seat on City Council
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

After swearing in new mayor, Parker needs to fill vacant seat on City Council

By Noah Festenstein | Colorado Politics, vis Denver Gazette The Town of Parker plans to appoint a new councilmember after new Mayor Joshua Rivero vacated the seat for his new role, according to town officials. Rivero was sworn in as mayor of Parker on Monday. Rivero is a self-identified independent who, in the middle of his term as a councilmember, vacated his seat after defeating former Mayor Jeff Toborg in the November election. “What we need at this level is nonpartisan representation,” Rivero previously told The Denver Gazette. “What we need is somebody that listens to all of Parker and not just one party." READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Aurora picks Amsalu Kassaw to vacated at-large City Council seat
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Aurora picks Amsalu Kassaw to vacated at-large City Council seat

By Kyla Pearce | Colorado Politics via the Denver Gazette Aurora's councilmembers on Monday night picked a leader of the Ethiopian community for the council's at-large seat. The council split, 6-4, in appointing Amsalu Kassaw to the seat. The discussion at times delved into issues of race. Kassaw is the public relations director of the Ethiopian American Civic Council. He is also a lieutenant at GEO Group Inc.'s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Aurora, according to his application for the seat. Mayor Mike Coffman has worked with Kassaw when he served on his congressional advisory committee. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Kevin Van Winkle, set to leave Senate in a month, appointed by Gov. Polis as Douglas Co. commissioner
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Kevin Van Winkle, set to leave Senate in a month, appointed by Gov. Polis as Douglas Co. commissioner

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday appointed state Sen. Kevin Van Winkle of Highlands Ranch to the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners. Van Winkle replaced Lora Thomas, who resigned on Dec. 6. Van Winkle was elected to the commission on Nov. 5, succeeding Thomas, who was term-limited. Initially, he submitted a letter of resignation to the state Senate on Nov. 22, effective on Jan. 9, the day before the start of the 2025 legislative session. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis rescinds 200 ‘unnecessary, outdated, wasteful, obsolete’ executive orders
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis rescinds 200 ‘unnecessary, outdated, wasteful, obsolete’ executive orders

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order on Thursday to rescind more than 200 executive orders, almost all of which had been issued before he took office. He said this move would make the government more efficient. From 2019 through Thursday, Polis has issued 586 executive orders, not including clemency orders, which are another form of executive order. The high watermark was 2020's COVID-19 year, when he issued 316. Only two of the 208 orders he canceled on Thursday were orders he issued — one from 2019 and another from 2020. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
As AI technology vaults forward, groups press for national regulation
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As AI technology vaults forward, groups press for national regulation

By Thelma Grimes | Colorado Politics As artificial intelligence is sprinting forward, many argue that the public policy to regulate the technology is falling behind. And with the federal government playing catch-up, states are taking small steps to fill that vacuum, but several sectors, including attorneys general, argue that state-level efforts offer an inadequate, patchwork of rules when what's really needed, they argue, is a uniform standard on the national and international stage. Others cautioned against rushing to regulate without careful analysis of a proposed policy's ramifications for businesses, consumers and companies' freedom to innovate.    READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS

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