Julie Gonzales
Colorado’s 2020 legislative session begins this week. Here’s a rundown of 10 issues to watch.
The state legislature’s break-neck pace from 2019 may not return, but expect fierce debates over health care, criminal justice, guns and transportation
Top Stories
Opinion: Let’s target tax cuts that help lift Colorado families out of poverty
By Emily Sirota Opinion
Spring Café linked refugees with state lawmakers. A shortage of immigrants means the Denver coffee shop will close.
By Jesse Paul Coloradans Primary category in which blog post is published
Colorado’s 2019 legislative session was a doozy, from Democrats’ growing pains to a blabbermouth GOP strategy
By Jesse Paul Politics and Government Primary category in which blog post is published
An effort to ensure Colorado police and sheriffs aren’t carrying out federal immigration law has drawn Polis’ concerns
By Jesse Paul Politics and Government Primary category in which blog post is published
Split among Democrats on two major issues comes as Colorado’s legislative session heads into final sprint
The paid parental and family leave bill, as well as a measure to abolish Colorado’s death penalty, have been delayed by internal party concerns
A one-day sentencing reduction for some Colorado crimes would help legal immigrants avoid deportation
Under current Colorado law, a Class 2 misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of a year. By reducing that to 364 days, people with visas or permanent legal status would be protected from facing mandatory deportation proceedings.
Colorado lawmakers will consider whether to repeal the death penalty again, as factors align for passage
The Colorado legislature has debated getting rid of capital punishment four times since 2000. The bill being brought this year wouldn’t send the question to voters, as proponents of lethal injection want.
Jared Polis injected himself into Denver teachers’ strike. Now he needs a way out.
The new governor must decide whether to intervene and prevent a teacher walkout, a decision with major political implications
Leroy Garcia’s opening remarks are notable for what he didn’t mention. Here’s the Colorado Senate president’s speech, annotated.
Context for Leroy Garcia's opening day speech at the Colorado legislature, with annotations from The Colorado Sun highlighting what’s important and explaining what it all means
