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Lawmakers take aim at food waste, passing HB 1059 out of House and HB 1166 out of committee
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Lawmakers take aim at food waste, passing HB 1059 out of House and HB 1166 out of committee

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice As Rep. Ron Weinberg's bill taking aim at food waste in school cafeterias from Julesburg to Cortez and all points in between was sailing through the Colorado House on final reading this week, his companion piece of legislation was getting similar treatment Thursday in a House committee. House Bill 25-1166, by the Larimer County Republican and Democrat Rep. Lisa Feret, would expand the Department of Public Health and Environment's role to include training and encourage donation of food through a waste reduction initiative. Specifically, the bill would allow retail food establishments to sell or donate food online and to sell chilled or frozen food at a discount to individuals eligible for food assistance, and also to have grocers replace "sell...
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How Jeffco Kids First exposed a school cover-up that made international headlines
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

How Jeffco Kids First exposed a school cover-up that made international headlines

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A Jefferson County teacher lost her license after an alleged grooming scandal involving a student at Columbine High School. The more disturbing revelation? School officials allegedly not only failed to stop it, but facilitated a fraudulent federal declaration to help the student move in with another teacher — all without notifying her parents. Leann Kearney, a social studies teacher at Columbine, allegedly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old student, according to state investigators. The student’s mother discovered thousands of alleged calls and text messages between the two, including a letter detailing a kiss.  But rather than stepping in to protect the student, Jeffco school staff active...
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System update-related delays to tax return processing near end, Department of Revenue says
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

System update-related delays to tax return processing near end, Department of Revenue says

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics The Colorado Department of Revenue announced that it will soon begin processing state income tax returns following weeks of delays. While no specific date was given, the department said it should be accepting returns some time this week.  The delays stemmed from system updates required to implement a number of recent changes to the sate tax code. As of Feb. 19, the state's Revenue Online website states the links for filing individual, fiduciary, and business income taxes are "coming soon" and to check back in late February.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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HB 1272, a jumpstart of the affordable condo market, gains Gov. Jared Polis’ support
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

HB 1272, a jumpstart of the affordable condo market, gains Gov. Jared Polis’ support

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A proposal intended to tackle "construction defects" and jumpstart the affordable condo market has begun its journey through the General Assembly. House Bill 1272 — introduced on Tuesday and first reported by Colorado Politics last week — would require a third-party, independent inspector to make periodic checks during the condo construction process. The builder would be tasked with responding to problems identified by the inspector and fixing them. Backers of the bill said this would elevate the standards to a higher level of quality and impose a higher burden of proof for that quality. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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HB 1040, adding nuclear to state’s clean energy definitions, gains bipartisan support
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

HB 1040, adding nuclear to state’s clean energy definitions, gains bipartisan support

'If Colorado wants to boost our economy, this is a serious conversation to have' — Rep. Ty Winter By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A proposal to include nuclear energy in two statutory definitions of clean energy has passed the Colorado House on second reading. House Bill 25-1040 is a bipartisan measure by Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, and Ty Winter, R-Las Animas, with the goal of adding nuclear to "clean energy" definitions, enabling financing. "This does not bring nuclear energy to Colorado," Valdez said, who founded one of Colorado's largest and now defunct solar energy companies in 2008. "This designates it as clean energy." The bill would include nuclear, in definition, alongside solar, wind and other clean energy. "If Colorado wants to boost our economy, this is...
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10th Circuit sends bill for cleaning up old Colorado mine back to court
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Approved, Courthouse News Service, State

10th Circuit sends bill for cleaning up old Colorado mine back to court

By Amanda Pampuro | Courthouse News Finding an oil company’s suit timely if categorized as a contribution action, the 10th Circuit on Wednesday revived a claim asking for a century-old mine’s previous owner to pitch in on a $63.7 million environmental cleanup bill. "Actions for contribution and cost recovery entail separate statutes of limitations,” wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Bacharach in a 15-page opinion. “Choosing between the two options, the district court applied the statute of limitations for cost-recovery actions. We disagree, concluding that the limitations period for contribution actions should apply.” Atlantic Richfield Company initially sued NL Industries in 2020, seeking to recoup cleanup costs for silver mines in southwest Colorado under the Comprehensi...
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Struggling Colorado restaurants seek legislative help in rolling back key regulation
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Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

Struggling Colorado restaurants seek legislative help in rolling back key regulation

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance A Colorado restaurant industry battered by increasing costs and regulations will ask legislators Thursday to help it in a way that officials believe can make a huge difference — reducing wage requirements on its already highly compensated bartending and wait staff. In doing so, groups like the Colorado Restaurant Association will find themselves in a decidedly different position than they’ve occupied for several years, when they’ve rallied sector workers to fend off proposed regulations like the 2023 “Fair Workweek” bill. And in seeking proactive help, they’ve amassed a coalition that includes both conservative small-government Republicans and liberal pro-labor Democrats who believe the existing stream of eatery closings will grow into a ragin...
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Ballot measure to overturn Colorado wolf reintroduction clears title board in first hurdle
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Ballot measure to overturn Colorado wolf reintroduction clears title board in first hurdle

By Jason Blevins | The Colorado Sun Wolf reintroduction could return to the Colorado ballot next year.  The Colorado Secretary of State’s Title Board on Wednesday approved language for a proposed ballot measure that would ask voters in 2026 to end the reintroduction of gray wolves by the end of that year.  “The only thing we are doing with this ballot measure is asking voters to approve a day where wolves would no longer be introduced in Colorado by humans,” said Stan VanderWerf, a former El Paso County commissioner who helped write the ballot measure. “This proposal does not make any other changes to state or provisions that address the management of wolves or reimbursement for depredation. It’s a very simple proposal.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE ...
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In killing Rep. Woog’s delivery fee repeal bill, Democrats again voted against relief for Coloradans
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In killing Rep. Woog’s delivery fee repeal bill, Democrats again voted against relief for Coloradans

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Another Republican measure, which could have made everyday life more affordable for Coloradans trying to get by, has been killed by House Democrats. House Bill 25-1144, by Rep. Dan Woog, R-Frederick, which would have repealed retail delivery fees, was postponed indefinitely Tuesday — legislative lingo for killed — along party lines. The measure failed, 9-4. "By voting to keep this delivery fee in place, Democrats are adding to the financial strain that Colorado families and small businesses are already struggling with," Woog said. "This fee is just another example of the hidden costs that make it more difficult for hardworking Coloradans to succeed. Instead of relieving the pressure on our citizens, this vote will only continue to hurt the ve...
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Pet-inclusive housing bill, aiming to reduce income barriers for owners, assigned to committee
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Approved, DENVER7, State

Pet-inclusive housing bill, aiming to reduce income barriers for owners, assigned to committee

By Allie Jennerjahn | Denver 7 News A bill making its way through the state legislature aims to make sure no one has to choose between staying with their pet, or having a roof over their head. HB25-1207 would reduce barriers to pet-inclusive housing by mandating housing providers who get state subsidies to allow pets. It would also keep insurance companies from adding breed restrictions. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
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