Colorado Politics

 Colorado justices accept appeals on Netflix taxation, children pursuing neglect cases

The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will decide whether Netflix subscriptions are subject to the state’s sales tax as “tangible personal property.” At least three of the court’s seven members must agree to hear an appeal. The...

 Proposal outlines $300M deal separating Pinnacol from Colorado state government

Colorado lawmakers are weighing a proposal that would allow Pinnacol Assurance to sever its remaining ties to the state in exchange for a $300 million payment, a long‑debated shift that supporters say could stabilize the insurer’s future and help plug...

 Bill requiring employers to grant unpaid leave to Colorado lawmakers heads to governor’s desk

Colorado lawmakers are one step away from securing guaranteed unpaid leave from their day jobs during the legislative session after the House narrowly approved the proposal Thursday. Senate Bill 087 would require businesses to allow employees who are members of...

 Redistricting fight escalates as Colorado Title Board clears competing ballot proposals

Colorado’s title board on Wednesday gave final approval to multiple ballot measures related to congressional redistricting, setting up a series of proposals that could alter how the state draws its U.S. House districts for the 2028 and 2030 elections. The...

 Trump downplays major reform bill and says housing is ‘all about interest rates’

President Donald Trump downplayed the bipartisan housing legislation that many congressional allies hope will ease the affordability worries plaguing voters, saying instead in an exclusive Washington Examiner interview that housing is “all about interest rates.” Trump said on a phone call Thursday morning...

 Colorado lawmakers propose deep cuts to close $1.2B budget gap

The panel of Colorado legislators in charge of crafting next year’s budget has finalized the 2026–27 spending plan built on deep cuts and one‑time cash transfers in an attempt to close a shortfall of more than $1.2 billion. The plan...

 Denver judge denies Gov. Polis request to dismiss ICE-related records case

A year after blocking the release of state records to federal immigration agents, a Denver judge has now denied Gov. Jared Polis’ effort to end the lawsuit at the center of the dispute. The lawsuit filed against the governor in...

 10th Circuit grants rare all-judges’ review of Colorado banking regulation

The Denver-based federal appeals court announced on Thursday that it will hold a rare all-judges review of a recent decision that permits Colorado to require out-of-state banks to abide by the state’s maximum interest rates when they lend to in-state...

 Colorado appeals court orders new sentencing for Tina Peters, upholds convictions

Colorado’s second-highest court determined on Thursday that a trial judge improperly sentenced former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters based upon her exercise of protected speech, while at the same time upholding her convictions. The three-judge Court of Appeals panel also...

 Denver promised every school funding from $1B bond — but campuses later closed received far less | Analysis

Denver voters overwhelmingly approved the largest bond measure in Denver Public Schools history on the promise that every school — including charter campuses — would receive something. And they did. But the nearly $1 billion bond was not distributed evenly....

 National conservation area growing by 4,000-plus acres in western Colorado

A formerly private, sweeping swath of western Colorado is growing a public, red rock wonderland.  Spanning 4,000-plus acres, Escalante Ranch has been transferred to the Bureau of Land Management and incorporated into Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, The Conservation Fund recently...

 Judge rules that Colorado law makes it too hard for parties to bar unaffiliated voters from primaries

A federal judge ruled in favor of the Colorado Republican Party late Tuesday, saying that a portion of the state law that allows unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in party primaries is unconstitutional because it imposes an unrealistic burden on...

 10th Circuit upholds regulator’s methodology for Tri-State exit fees

The Denver-based federal appeals court upheld a regulatory agency’s methodology for calculating the fee owed by entities seeking to withdraw from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association last week. Tri-State is a Westminster-based cooperative that provides and transmits electricity to member...

 Federal judge proposes sanctions against Mike Lindell’s lawyers for continued fake citations

A federal judge is once again pursuing sanctions against lawyers for MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell for continuing to cite to court cases that do not exist, likely based on the faulty output of artificial intelligence tools. Last year, a jury...

 Front Range cities oppose Democratic proposal to permit lot‑splitting

Colorado lawmakers are pressing ahead with a plan to let homeowners split their lots to make room for smaller, less expensive houses — a proposal that has drawn sharp opposition from Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver and other Front Range cities...

 Susan Blanco signals views on role of appellate courts in first opinion as Colorado justice

Justice Susan Blanco’s first solo opinion as a new member of the Colorado Supreme Court made clear her view of the guardrails that keep the state’s highest court tethered to the issues it is asked to decide. On Monday, the...

 Hegseth features Fort Carson soldiers after returning from Middle East, gives warning on Iran war

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday the next few days in the war against Iran would be decisive ​and warned Tehran that the conflict would intensify if it did not make a deal. Hegseth also highlighted his trip to the Middle...

 Denver Council narrowly approves deal with Axon

After weeks of delay, the Denver City Council narrowly approved a one-year $150,000 contract with Axon for 50 automated license plate-reading cameras and the necessary system hardware, replacing the city’s former vendor, Flock. The 7-6 vote came during Tuesday’s regular...

 Colorado leaders weigh next steps after Supreme Court rejects state ban on ‘conversion therapy’

Colorado leaders said they are weighing next steps after the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the state’s ban on “conversion therapy” for children, as critics and supporters cheered or lambasted the ruling. The court’s near-unanimous decision called the Colorado...

 Aurora homeless shelter opened too early, CEO says, as mold and plumbing issues emerge

Aurora’s largest homeless services project launched “way too early,” its CEO told city leaders Tuesday, saying the rushed opening left residents living amid mold, plumbing failures, and other issues inside the former hotel. During Tuesday’s Housing, Neighborhood Services and Redevelopment...

 Gov. Polis declares April ‘dig safely month’ to mark 40th anniversary of Colorado 811

Gov. Jared Polis declared April 2026 as “Dig Safely Month” in Colorado, an annual observance that this year highlights the 40th anniversary of Colorado 811, the state’s One-Call Notification System. “Before everyone starts their warm weather projects around the house,...

 Federal judge dismisses U.S. government lawsuit against Colorado, Denver’s ‘sanctuary’ laws

A federal judge dismissed the U.S. government’s lawsuit against Colorado and Denver on Tuesday, which alleged that various local policies impermissibly infringed on federal immigration enforcement. U.S. District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher followed the lead of judges in Illinois...

 Denver proposes yearlong moratorium on new data centers

As Denver Water calls for a 20% reduction in water use during Stage 1 drought conditions, City Council members advanced a bill to rein in one of the largest water users — data centers — by proposing a yearlong moratorium...

 Lakewood zoning canvasser accused of stealing opposition material

Controversies surrounding the Lakewood special election continue, with the latest including allegations of sign-stealing. The city’s special election regarding already approved zoning changes is occurring on April 7 and — along with more than a year of contention between opponents...

 Federal judge finds DOJ adequately searched for, disclosed records related to Bidens

A federal judge determined on Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice adequately searched for and disclosed records to a Colorado attorney in response to his request for documents related to former President Joe Biden’s son and brother. In November...

 Colorado lawmakers push legislation to shrink RTD board, increase pay as ridership struggles persist

Colorado lawmakers are advancing a new push to overhaul the Regional Transportation District, proposing to shrink the board, raise member pay and boost ridership back to pre-pandemic levels. While some stakeholders see the effort as a step forward, others warn...

 Appellate court slap downs in Trump cases highlight mounting tension in the judiciary

The Trump administration has won key reversals of lower court rulings against it in appeals courts — many of which have sharply rebuked the district court’s earlier rulings, highlighting growing tensions within the judiciary. Since January 2026, federal appeals courts...

 10th Circuit warns lawyers after finding fake case in filing

The Denver-based federal appeals court warned attorneys to be more careful last month after discovering one lawyer cited a fake case in his arguments. In recent months, federal and state judges in Colorado have begun cautioning lawyers explicitly about the...

 Colorado legislators drove up cost of Medicaid program

Some of Colorado’s spending woes in Medicaid can be traced to lawmakers who had approved new or expanded programs in the last few years, driving up state costs to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Just three measures...

 Supreme Court rules against Colorado ban on ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBTQ kids

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against a law banning “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ kids in Colorado, one of about two dozen states that ban the discredited practice. An 8-1 high court majority sided with a Christian...