Colorado lawmakers are entering their final month of the 2012 session with plenty left to do — but without the caustic atmosphere one might expect in the closing days of an election year. The state’s divided Legislature has until May 9 to balance the budget and make final decisions on questions such as civil unions, [...] [...]
A new crime of “fetal homicide” is on hold in Colorado amid concerns the proposal was vague and could affect abortion rights. The Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee tabled the bill Monday, just before it appeared the committee would reject the measure. The bill was approved last month by the Republican House. Similar bills have been [...] [...]
Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill this week that will support local, small-scale growers and producers by creating alternative methods for them to sell homemade goods. The legislation will allow growers to sell products directly to consumers, by exempting home kitchens from certain health inspections that are generally applied to large retailers. Home kitchens willb [...] [...]
State employees are under the microscope in Colorado as lawmakers tackle broad revisions to employee protections that haven’t been changed in decades. But don’t expect the fireworks other states have seen when revising how state employees are hired and fired. The Colorado overhaul has bipartisan support, and the state’s public employee union says it likes [...] [...]
A potential tax break on business equipment is headed to the desk of Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. The Senate voted 34-0 Wednesday to give final approval to the measure that allows municipalities to control how much of the taxes they want to exempt. The legislation would give municipalities the choice to exempt all taxes on [...] [...]
Colorado takes pride in its Western entrepreneurial spirit — and that extends to the belief of some lawmakers that business owners should be able to use deadly force against anyone who tries to take what’s theirs. It’s an idea that conjures Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry, and its supporters have taken liberties with the hardboiled character’s [...] [...]
Colorado Republicans aren’t faring well on some of their major health care proposals this year. A Republican bill to repeal Colorado’s health insurance exchange is up for a vote Thursday in a Democrat-controlled Senate committee, where it appears headed to certain defeat. The committee is led by the Democratic senator who proposed the exchange last [...] [...]
A Republican lawmaker who wants to lower car fees to the tune of $12 million a year is trying again to ratchet back vehicle registration fees. Rep. Randy Baumgardner of Hot Sulphur Springs is bringing his tag fee repeal to a Republican House committee Wednesday. The GOP House approved the idea last year, but the [...] [...]
Hang onto your wallets, Colorado. The Legislature is back in session. It’s an old joke, but it holds special significance for the 2012 session. This year, it’s all about helping voters’ pocketbooks. Expect long arguments over the next five months about how to strengthen the economy, chip away at Colorado’s 8 percent unemployment rate, and [...] [...]
The Colorado Trust today launched a new section of its website dedicated to tracking public policy issues that could affect the health and well-being of Coloradans. The new section of the site, at www.coloradotrust.org/healthpolicy, includes information about federal, state and local laws, regulations, bills, judicial decisions and political events. It highlights information about Colorado health [...] [...]