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Colorado Democrats Push Sweeping New Crackdown on 3-D Printed Guns and Gun Dealer Oversight
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The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Colorado Democrats Push Sweeping New Crackdown on 3-D Printed Guns and Gun Dealer Oversight

By Lucas Brady Woods and Kyle McKinnon | The Colorado Sun Federal data show ghost guns are increasingly turning up at crime scenes. Democrats in the Colorado legislature are adding to their slate of proposals this year to tighten the state’s gun regulations with measures that would further crack down on 3-D printed firearms and impose tougher rules on gun dealers. House Bill 1144 would add to Colorado’s restrictions on ghost guns, unserialized firearms that are often assembled at home using 3-D printed parts or do-it-yourself kits. They allow people to bypass background checks and are virtually untraceable. Federal data show ghost guns are increasingly turning up at crime scenes. Recoveries of the weapons surged nearly 1,600% between 2017 and 2023,...
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Transit Equity Day and the price of “equity”: Who pays when fares go to zero?
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Colorado Accountability Project, Approved, Commentary, State

Transit Equity Day and the price of “equity”: Who pays when fares go to zero?

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project Did you forget to celebrate Transit Equity Day? A reader pointed out the recent RTD press release linked first below. It touts how RTD celebrated Transit Equity Day on the 4th by giving everyone a free ride.Transit Equity Day itself is observed in remembrance of Rosa Parks and her stand against segregation of city busses. Quoting the press release (with links intact):"Transit Equity Day is observed annually on Parks’ birthday in recognition of public transit as a civil right and a critical pathway to opportunity. On Dec. 1, 1955, Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an act that helped galvanize the Civil Rights Movement and launched the Montgomery Bus ...
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Colorado’s Original Constitution Was a Bold Blueprint for Liberty
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Complete Colorado, Approved, Commentary, State

Colorado’s Original Constitution Was a Bold Blueprint for Liberty

By Rob Natelson | Commentary., Complete Colorado This year marks the 150th anniversary of the original Colorado Constitution, which in a recent column I called “an extraordinary testament to human freedom.” The state constitution remains in effect today, but in a mangled form far less protective of liberty than when it became effective on August 1, 1876. As my prior column pointed out, the document imposed severe limitations on taxes, spending, and state debt—limitations far more restrictive than those currently mandated by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). The Colorado founders’ dedication to freedom also appeared in their constitution’s bill of rights. The U.S. Bill of Rights consists only of ten relatively short amendments; the original Colo...
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Colorado Democrats Revive Union Bill Vetoed by Polis Last Year
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Colorado Democrats Revive Union Bill Vetoed by Polis Last Year

By: Colette Bordelon | Denver7 House Bill 26-1005 has the same goal as legislation that passed out of the Capitol last year, and then was vetoed by Governor Jared Polis. DENVER — On Thursday, Colorado lawmakers heard passionate testimony that spanned across roughly three hours related to how workers unionize in the state, and whether or not that should be changed. If the debate under the Gold Dome feels familiar, that's because it is. House Bill 26-1005 proposes changes to Colorado's Labor Peace Act, which was enacted in 1943. Advocates claim the modifications would encourage good faith collective bargaining negotiations, but opponents believe they are trying to fix something that is not broken. In Colorado, a simple majority vote is needed for wor...
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Colorado Democrats Revive Push to Ban State Lawmakers From Holding Multiple Elected Offices
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Colorado Democrats Revive Push to Ban State Lawmakers From Holding Multiple Elected Offices

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Colorado lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each year. Bills in Brief cuts through the noise by explaining which proposals matter, what’s at stake, and how decisions at the Capitol could affect everyday life across the state. A bill set for its first hearing later this month would bar Colorado lawmakers from holding more than one elected office at a time, reviving a recurring debate over conflicts of interest at the Capitol. Senate Bill 59 aims to address an issue that has surfaced at least six times in the last few years: lawmakers holding more than one elected office at a time. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton, and Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, is slated for a Feb. 24 hearing in the...
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Colorado ag department seeks dismissal of whistleblower complaint over DEI as employee calls for HR director removal
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Colorado ag department seeks dismissal of whistleblower complaint over DEI as employee calls for HR director removal

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice More than two months after a single chat comment during a virtual meeting sparked a whistleblower complaint at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the case has escalated into a legal standoff, with the department moving to dismiss the complaint as the employee seeks the removal of its HR director. At the center of the dispute is the employee’s contention that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are embedded in state governance and being promoted within a federally funded agency despite a federal executive order restricting DEI activities tied to federal programs. “Complainant cannot establish a Whistleblower Act claim for several reasons,” the CDA response states. “First, Complainant failed to comply with the Act’s man...
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Colorado Senate moves to widen red flag authority despite due process warnings
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Colorado Senate moves to widen red flag authority despite due process warnings

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Since its adoption five years ago, Colorado’s red flag law has not stayed static. Since its passage, lawmakers have kept returning to Colorado’s red flag law, expanding it piece by piece as new concerns arise. SB26-004 is the latest revision, reviving debate over how far intervention should reach — and how much due process should accompany it. SB26-004 cleared the Colorado Senate on Feb. 3, passing on a 20–13 vote and moving to the House for further consideration. Sen. Nick Hinrichsen the only Democrat to oppose it. The bill revises the state’s Extreme Risk Protection Order system, often referred to as red flag orders, and prompted extended debate during second reading the day before final passage. Supporters s...
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The camel’s nose under the tent: Why Colorado’s “captive customer” bill matters
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Colorado Accountability Project, Approved, Commentary, State

The camel’s nose under the tent: Why Colorado’s “captive customer” bill matters

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project Captive customer price controls--the camel’s nose under the tent? Colorado Democrats are tinkering in the market again, going after a variety to things including so-called "captive customers".Quoting the Complete Colorado article below (with links intact):"House Bill 26-1012 is part of a package of legislation majority Democrats have in mind to regulate consumer prices and limit what the bill sponsors claim is price gouging. “Consumer Protections to Promote Fair Market Pricing” is the only bill in the package introduced so far."There's more to the bill, but the part relevant to this post relates to what the sponsors define as captive customers. Quoting again:"The bill also requires all vendors selling to...
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Colorado Regulators Approve Xcel Renewable Buildout But Warn of Rising Costs
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The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Colorado Regulators Approve Xcel Renewable Buildout But Warn of Rising Costs

By: Mark Jaffe | The Colorado Sun Colorado’s largest power provider is rushing to start before federal tax credits expire that could shave up to 50% from building expenses. Aiming to get energy generation and storage projects started before federal tax credits expire, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 28 approved an expedited list of 1,700 megawatts of projects for Xcel Energy. Still, the commission expressed reservations about the cost and operating efficiency of so many projects and wants more data and analysis. “It doesn’t feel right to me,” PUC Chairman Eric Blank said. “I treat customer money like my own money. … I am looking for a little certainty that we are not going to deeply regret this.” The Trump administration’s tax and spend...
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Boebert Delivers Nearly $15 Million for Rural Water and Infrastructure Projects
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kdvr.com, Approved, State

Boebert Delivers Nearly $15 Million for Rural Water and Infrastructure Projects

By Spencer Kristensen | KDVR DENVER (KDVR) — Rep. Lauren Boebert secured nearly $15 million for clean water projects in rural areas of Colorado, only about a month after President Donald Trump issued the first-ever veto to a unanimously-approved, bipartisan bill, the “Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act,” on Dec. 30, which would have funded the completion of a 130-mile pipeline that would have delivered clean water to over 50,000 residents in southeastern Colorado. Now, 13 communities in Boebert’s district, the 4th Congressional District, have secured $14.75 million in funding for water and infrastructure projects, after requests were signed into law. “I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that 13 of my community project funding requests have been signed int...
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