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Colorado Bill To Decriminalize Prostitution Sparks Sharp Debate At Capitol
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kdvr.com, Approved, State

Colorado Bill To Decriminalize Prostitution Sparks Sharp Debate At Capitol

By Anna Coon | KDVR DENVER (KDVR) — A bill that would decriminalize prostitution in Colorado is drawing sharply divided reactions from lawmakers and advocacy groups. Supporters argue the measure would improve safety, while opponents warn of broader social consequences. The proposal, introduced by four Democratic lawmakers, would remove criminal penalties for adults who buy or sell consensual commercial sex. It would also prohibit local governments from banning consensual commercial sexual activity. The policy is also backed by the ACLU, and if passed, Colorado would become the first state to fully decriminalize prostitution. Supporters say the legislation would reduce violence against sex workers, curb human trafficking and slow the spread of disease by allowing...
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Behind the zero: What Colorado’s opening day didn’t say about the true cost of lawmaking
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Behind the zero: What Colorado’s opening day didn’t say about the true cost of lawmaking

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice “Governor Polis told us we should please work together,” Sen. Janice Rich said Wednesday, recounting a recent exchange as she stood on the Senate floor during opening session. Inside the chamber, legislative leaders spoke about shared goals and economic pressure on families. What didn’t make it into the speeches, according to Rich, was where many of the real financial consequences of those bills are already hiding. Rich, the Senate Minority Whip and vice chair of the Statutory Revision Committee, said the optimistic tone often masks how legislation actually moves once the gavels come down—particularly in how costs are presented, debated and ultimately shifted onto taxpayers and local governments. “They say they want to work...
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Colorado must stop pushing unfunded laws on local governments, lawmakers say
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The Daily Sentinel, Approved, Commentary, State

Colorado must stop pushing unfunded laws on local governments, lawmakers say

By Rick Taggart, Janice Rich and Matt Soper | Commentary, The Daily Sentinel When lawmakers pass a new bill, there’s one question we should all ask before we vote: Who’s going to pay for it? Too often, that question goes unanswered. Across Colorado, local governments are being asked to carry out new state laws — on everything from wildfire codes to building standards — without the funding to make them possible. These are called unfunded mandates, and they’ve quietly become one of the biggest threats to local budgets and the essential services people depend on. In Mesa County alone, these mandates now cost nearly $10 million each year. Statewide, the total is estimated at more than $360 million — money that could otherwise fund deputies, road repairs, or mental health programs. Ins...
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Bauer: Power House Panel of Western Slope Legislators in Delta
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Bauer: Power House Panel of Western Slope Legislators in Delta

By Shirley Bauer | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Hard math: 4 of 70 Republican bills became law. On July 23, five of our state’s most prominent legislators representing the Western Slope met for a legislative update at Daveto’s to a sold-out crowd. The legislative update was sponsored by Delta County GOP, and the MC was Chairwoman Leslie Parker. The legislators present represented Delta County along with other counties on the Western Slope: • Senator Janice Rich from Senate District 7, Senate Minority Whip and winner of the “Legislator of the Year” award in 2023, represents the Cedaredge area in Delta County and all of Mesa County (she resides in Grand Junction). • Senator Marc Catlin, who resides in Montrose, is from Senate District 5. He represents most of Delta Coun...
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SCOTUS backs states protecting minors from transgender treatment—Colorado lawmakers say HB25-1312 defies it
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories

SCOTUS backs states protecting minors from transgender treatment—Colorado lawmakers say HB25-1312 defies it

 By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s restrictions on gender-related medical interventions for minors has reignited scrutiny over Colorado’s HB25-1312, with several Republican lawmakers calling the ruling a clear rebuke to the law’s premise—and a warning to parents. “I was so happy with the Supreme Court’s ruling. I hope it leads to the State of Colorado being sued for the passing and the Governor’s signing of HB25-1312,” said Sen. Janice Rich (Mesa County). That ruling, issued June 18 in U.S. v. Skrmetti, affirmed that Tennessee’s restrictions on puberty blockers and hormone treatments for youth were constitutionally sound because the state had a legitimate interest in protecting minors from harm.  The ma...
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Hunter: A Father’s Day tribute to the men who carried us
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Top Stories, Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Hunter: A Father’s Day tribute to the men who carried us

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice What makes a man a great father? Not just in the sentimental sense, but in the enduring, full-bodied, legacy-building kind of way? As we celebrate Father’s Day, we at Rocky Mountain Voice would like to invite you on a journey – a journey through time, reflecting on the enduring impact of fathers. From the respected fathers of our past, to the steady hands of today’s dads, to the hopeful plans we dream of in future fatherhood, there’s a theme – a thread, if you will. It’s not power or perfection. It’s about being genuine, having good character, and delivering a benevolent performance, all of which are interwoven in how a man shows up for his family, his work, and his world. In every generation, there's a breed of me...
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