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Proposed sweeping changes to Colorado charter schools could divide Democrats
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Proposed sweeping changes to Colorado charter schools could divide Democrats

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A trio of state Democratic lawmakers is pushing a sweeping proposal to boost what they describe as accountability but which critics say flies in the face of local control and unfairly targets charter schools. Notably, the biggest pushback is likely to come from members of their own caucuses and Gov. Jared Polis.  Reps. Tammy Story of Evergreen and Lorena Garcia of Adams County, along with Sen. Lisa Cutter of Littleton, introduced House Bill 1363, a 55-page bill that seeks major changes in how charter schools operate. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Colorado House Republicans push move to impeach Jena Griswold after SCOTUS keeps Trump on ballot
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Colorado House Republicans push move to impeach Jena Griswold after SCOTUS keeps Trump on ballot

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese and a fellow Republican legislator on Wednesday called on the chamber's Democratic speaker to bring to the floor a resolution to impeach Secretary of State Jena Griswold, arguing that Griswold's "partisan political ideology" has prevented the Democrat from carrying out her duties. In a letter delivered late Wednesday to House Speaker Julie McCluskie by Pugliese and state Rep. Ryan Armagost, nearly every member of the House Republican caucus insisted that Monday's U.S. Supreme Court decision keeping Donald Trump on Colorado's presidential primary ballot underlines the urgency of their impeachment resolution, which the lawmakers say was submitted to the speaker's office nearly a month ago. Griswold, an...
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Rep. Mike Lynch proposes tougher approach to fentanyl possession
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Rep. Mike Lynch proposes tougher approach to fentanyl possession

By Thelma Grimes | Colorado Politics Arguing the status quo has failed to curb overdose deaths in Colorado, a Republican legislator is pushing for legislation to make it a felony for possessing any amount of fentanyl. In response the overdose crisis, state policymakers in 2022 approved legislation to heighten the felony charges for possession of 1 to 4 grams of any substance containing fentanyl. The criminal penalty increase above 4 grams, an under 1 gram, possession is a misdemeanor. In addition, the law allows defendants charged with the new felony to argue to a judge or jury that they didn't know they possessed fentanyl, and if a "finder of fact" determines the defendant made a reasonable mistake of fact, the offense becomes a Level 1 drug misdemeanor. READ THE FUL...
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Republicans rip Colorado GOP chair Dave Williams over use of party resources to attack primary rival
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Republicans rip Colorado GOP chair Dave Williams over use of party resources to attack primary rival

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams is drawing fire from fellow Republicans after the state GOP mailed a brochure to El Paso County voters this week that includes attacks on one of the congressional candidates running against Williams in this year's Republican primary. Since announcing his candidacy in Colorado Springs-based 5th Congressional District in January in an email distributed by the state GOP, Williams has faced calls to step down from the party post, with critics citing party bylaws that prohibit the party and its officers from taking sides in primaries, including on their own behalf. Those calls have intensified this week, including from three of Williams' predecessors as state party chair. "That’s misappropriatio...
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Colorado lawmakers eye expansion of ‘right to repair’ laws to include electronic equipment
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Colorado lawmakers eye expansion of ‘right to repair’ laws to include electronic equipment

By Marissa Ventrelli  | Colorado Politics A proposal in the Colorado House could see a major expansion to the state's "right to repair" laws, notably in the area of electronic equipment, such as mobile phones and other devices.  House Bill 1121 would expand the state's right to repair laws to include digital electronic equipment, such as cellphones, computers, and kitchen appliances. The proposed legislation includes exemptions for a number of products, including motor vehicles, security alarms, and certain medical devices.   The proposal comes on the heels of Colorado's first law on the issue in 2022, under which manufacturers of powered wheelchairs are required to provide independent repair shops and owners of their products with "parts, embedded software, fi...
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Colorado Senate panel rejects Gov. Jared Polis’ nominees to wildlife commission
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Colorado Senate panel rejects Gov. Jared Polis’ nominees to wildlife commission

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Last year, Gov. Jared Polis appointed three people — allegedly with ties to the animal rights community — to the state's parks and wildlife commission  But those nominees still had to go through a confirmation process with the state Senate, and on Thursday, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee rejected two of the three, claiming they lacked the necessary qualifications to represent the constituents tied to those seats and as required by state law. The nominations of Gary Skiba and Jessica Beaulieu, who were appointed to represent sportspersons (hunters and anglers) and outdoor recreation and state parks, respectively, were both rejected on 4-3 votes. But they still have a chance to stay on the commission ...
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WATCH: Colorado Democrats unveil portrait of Joe Biden, paid for by Joe taxpayer
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WATCH: Colorado Democrats unveil portrait of Joe Biden, paid for by Joe taxpayer

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Colorado Democrats unveiled the state's portrait of President Joe Biden in a ceremony Friday at the state Capitol.  Biden's portrait will be displayed, along with his 45 predecessors in the state Capitol's third floor Presidential Portrait Gallery. This year's presidential portrait was commissioned by the Capitol Building Advisory Committee and paid for with taxpayer funds delegated to the legislature. That's a change from the past, when the portraits were paid for largely by private donations. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Appointees to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission draws critics ahead of hearing
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Appointees to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission draws critics ahead of hearing

By Marianne Goodland  | Colorado Politics A coalition of more than 20 agriculture, outdoor recreation and sports groups are advocating for the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to reject three appointees to the state's parks and wildlife commission. The committee's makeup indicates the appointees may have a tough time at today's hearing, and the hearing comes at a time when the Polis administration is already under fire from ranchers and others over bungled communications tied to the release of wolves in Grand County in December. That included a contentious hearing in January in the same committee.  The appointees, the coalition wrote in a letter obtained by Colorado Politics, are not qualified and have been appointed based on their biases against the very pe...
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Colorado lawmakers discuss funding AI software to detect guns in schools
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Colorado lawmakers discuss funding AI software to detect guns in schools

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A proposal seeks to prevent shootings by providing schools with funding to acquire, install and operate AI-driven software that — the company behind the technology claims — can detect guns and alert law enforcement within seconds of the weapon's detection. The Colorado House Education Committee discussed the measure without voting on Wednesday.  Sponsored by Rep. Brandi Bradley, R-Roxborough Park, House Bill 1123 would provide additional financing to the state's School Safety Disbursement Fund. The exact amount has not been determined.   READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Colorado lawmakers seek to penalize ‘fake electors’ under perjury laws
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Colorado lawmakers seek to penalize ‘fake electors’ under perjury laws

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A panel of Colorado legislators on Monday advanced a bill to penalize "fake electors." As introduced, the legislation would have penalized creating a "false" slate of electors, serving as an elector in that false slate, and conspiring to create or serve in that slate. Colorado's current statutes do not explicitly outline penalties for such acts.  As amended, House Bill 1150 defined these specific actions as perjury and forgery, punishable by a fine of no greater than $10,000. The amendment also removed the possibility of jail time for an individual convicted of the offense relating to false electors. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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