Colorado lawmakers

House Bill 1325 would expand the definition of children living in poverty and qualifying for additional funding and, for the first time, give districts more money for every English language learner enrolled in their schools

The measure would also allow people to put off any residential property tax payments over 4% starting in the 2023 tax year and until they sell their property

While none of the efforts alone would result in broad-based, deep cuts, state officials estimate the combined impact of the various measures could save Coloradans between 20% and 40% in out-of-pocket costs

The budget does not include $3.8 billion in federal coronavirus stimulus money heading to Colorado as part of the American Rescue Plan

The 1992 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights requires that tax increases be approved by voters

The Colorado Sun combed through the three measures to see how they will affect people’s ability to purchase guns and the state’s efforts to reduce gun violence

Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, funded by hospitals, insurers and other business groups, is now the top single-year Colorado lobbying client for any year since 2011 — and possibly ever

“We're not willing to give dictatorial authority over our economy to one unelected board,” Gov. Jared Polis said.

An amendment to House Bill 1232 would require private insurers in the state to offer a highly regulated, standardized plan and drive down premium costs by 18% over three years

House Bill 1106 places requirements on how guns are stored and sold. Senate Bill 78 places new reporting requirements on gun owners whose weapons are lost or stolen.

If Senate Bill 135 becomes law, the violation would be considered a misdemeanor and carry a fine between $250 to $1,000

The legislature has hundreds of millions more to spend than it was anticipating after Colorado’s economy fared better than expected during the pandemic.

Senate Bill 73 is on its way to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk and would eliminate Colorado’s six-year statute of limitations for child sex abuse victims

Think of it like a pressure point for state lawmakers, who no longer will be able to solely blame districts for teacher pay if Senate Bill 172 passes

Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, whose members include hospitals and private insurance companies, spent nearly $5 million in 2020 to attack a similar measure abandoned after coronavirus struck

The most powerful people at the statehouse this year will be those with a coronavirus vaccination and a deep Rolodex. Lobbyists fear that the pandemic will only serve to intensify the power dynamics at the Colorado Capitol

Republicans are wary of the plan, with one GOP lawmaker saying he will wait to get inoculated because he feels he is cutting in line