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Trucking industry: Colorado’s climate lawsuit is unrealistic and wasteful
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Trucking industry: Colorado’s climate lawsuit is unrealistic and wasteful

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics The head of a Colorado trucking industry group is voicing worries about the Attorney General's decision to sue the Environmental Protection Agency over vehicle emissions, stressing that the adopted standards are already "impossible" to meet. Last week, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that he is joining a coalition of states in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's use of the Congressional Review Act to prohibit states from adopting stricter emissions standards for certain motor vehicles. California has received federal permission to adopt more stringent standards, with Colorado and other states following suit in adopting emissions standards. Adopted in 1996, the Congressional Review Act ...
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$2.3B at risk? House Republicans press Polis to end Medicaid funding for illegals
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

$2.3B at risk? House Republicans press Polis to end Medicaid funding for illegals

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Three Republican members of Colorado's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives are urging Gov. Jared Polis to work with legislators to end state spending on health care coverage for undocumented immigrants — or risk losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. "We write to you expressing grave concerns over Colorado’s continued policy of covering illegal immigrants with state Medicaid funds — prioritizing benefits for those unlawfully present in our country over citizens who need it the most: individuals with disabilities, single mothers, children, and seniors," U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans wrote in a letter delivered to the Democratic governor on Thursday. The letter was also signed by U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Jeff Cr...
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Polis ignored GOP lawmakers’ warnings—and now Colorado faces massive federal funding cuts
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Polis ignored GOP lawmakers’ warnings—and now Colorado faces massive federal funding cuts

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Colorado's House Republican leadership is criticizing Democratic Gov. Jared Polis for not heeding their advice against enacting legislation that could lead to the state losing federal funding. Earlier this week, Polis announced that the state created a dashboard to track funds that are either being cut or are at risk from the Trump administration, as well as the state's efforts to protect those funds through legal action. As of June 19, about $76 million in federal funding has been cut, and another $56 million are at risk. Over $282 million has been reinstated across state agencies.  The dashboard currently shows federal funding tied to nine of the state's 20 agencies. It does not yet include the largest source of f...
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Economists Sound Alarm: Colorado Faces Sluggish Growth, Shrinking Revenues
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State, Colorado Politics

Economists Sound Alarm: Colorado Faces Sluggish Growth, Shrinking Revenues

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Colorado's economic outlook is on a downward trend, according to state economists, who estimated that the chances of a recession here have risen to 50%. "Uncertainty is the key aspect impacting the economy now and moving forward," said Legislative Council Chief Economist Elizabeth Ramey, who discussed the June revenue forecast with the Joint Budget Committee on Wednesday. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) is also less than optimistic about the economic outlook, should a federal budget bill pass, predicting it could affect 100,000 people on Medicaid and SNAP, devastate the state's rural and safety net hospitals and nearly wipe out the state's general fund reserve over the next two years. Uncertainty is also the watchword f...
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Wolf claims top $650K, but CPW records don’t add up
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

Wolf claims top $650K, but CPW records don’t add up

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The state wolf compensation fund, set at $350,000 by statute last year, saw claims from 2024 that are approaching double that amount. Data obtained through an open records request to Colorado Parks and Wildlife showed that the agency paid out $425,478.61 in claims. But the information provided by the agency appears to exclude claims that were denied, recent claims paid and claims still awaiting final payments or settlements. Based on information independently verified by Colorado Politics, the total amount of claims stood at at least $649,765.90, with a dozen claims still showing as pending on CPW's wolf depredation website. Two ranchers in Grand County settled for lesser amounts, which are not reflected in the data obtained from...
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Chamber report flags 200K Colorado regulations as “excessive or duplicative”
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

Chamber report flags 200K Colorado regulations as “excessive or duplicative”

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Colorado's regulatory framework took the center stage during this year's legislative session, where lawmakers clashed over proposed measures that — depending on who is asked — either benefit workers or create new burdens on businesses. Behind these two competing frameworks are the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Fiscal Institute. On the one hand, the chamber and its allies argue that regulations have increased significantly over the past decade, putting up unnecessary barriers for businesses. On the other hand, the Colorado Fiscal Institute and its supporters maintain that the rules are essential to protect workers and consumers from harmful practices. One of the most frequently cited statistics during the session...
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10-year gun ban for car thieves: Polis signs HB 1174 into law
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

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

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics 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. "Today, we are taking important steps to make Colorado one of the top 10 safest states in the nation," Polis said. "From now on, anyone convicted of first-degree motor vehicle theft ineligible to possess a firearm, keeping guns out of the w...
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Colorado files amicus brief supporting DEI initiatives in lawsuit
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Approved, Colorado Politics, National

Colorado files amicus brief supporting DEI initiatives in lawsuit

By Thelma Grimes | Colorado Politics 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.  In the case involving public health funding, U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Rhode Island granted a temporary restraining order against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services terminating $11 billion in public health grants, including $229 million in Colorado. That lawsuit, filed April 1 by 23 states and the District of Columbia, argued that cutting billions in federal money from state public health departments would decimate health infrastruc...
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Polis open to signing bill restricting local ICE cooperation as Colorado sanctuary debate heats up
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

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

By Luige Del Puerto | Colorado Politics 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 dete...
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Condo reform bill becomes law–after years of lawsuits, delays and rising insurance costs
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

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

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics 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.  This bill puts Colorado more in line with other states that see condo construction and protects homeowners from legitimate defects, Polis said. "There's no silver bullet" for dealing wi...
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