Colorado Capitol Coverage

With the election less than two months away, political rifts in Grand County mirror those across Colorado and the rest of the country. Changing demographics are exacerbating political differences and making it hard to focus on the issues that matter, even when Republicans and Democrats agree on them.

More than a dozen statewide ballot measures are on the November ballot. They deal with major issues like abortion, gun violence, elections, and conservation, but they can also be confusing. What does a “yes” vote on any of them really mean?

An annual poll released this week shows inflation, low wages, unaffordable housing, and expensive healthcare are major concerns for Latino voters in Colorado. Also on the list are abortion, immigration, and gun violence.

The state legislature’s special session on property taxes wrapped up Thursday. Lawmakers passed a bill that provides small tax cuts for homeowners and businesses and averts the threat of ballot initiatives that would decimate state and local budgets. They also rejected a slew of other measures.

Colorado’s 2024 lawmaking term ended with notable civility in comparison to the tense final days of last year’s session. This year, lawmakers came together to pass flagship legislation on property taxes, education funding, housing, and gun control.

Gov. Jared Polis and top Democrats announced an agreement with the fossil fuel industry and environmental advocates to avert a ballot box fight in November. As part of the deal, lawmakers scrapped more aggressive regulatory proposals in place of two new bills, with just days left in the legislative session.

A bill that would reform transparency and accountability around police misconduct, especially between officers, was introduced this week with just days left in the legislative session.

Last year, lawmakers handed Gov. Jared Polis a major defeat when they rejected his controversial plan to tackle Colorado’s housing crisis. Now, a similar set of proposals is advancing in the legislature despite bipartisan opposition. Polis signed one proposal into law Monday that will ban occupancy limits statewide, but the rest of his housing proposals face an uncertain future.

A bill backed by Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, Colorado’s first Mexican-born state lawmaker, would create a grant program for local organizations that help new arrivals get settled and connected with services like housing, healthcare, education, and employment.

In their annual address to the state legislature, the leaders of Colorado’s two Native American Tribes criticized Gov. Jared Polis and other officials for allowing state gambling laws to continue to exclude tribes. They also called for more support from the state around health care, education and water rights.