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Colorado schools may soon be required to have a cellphone policy
State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado schools may soon be required to have a cellphone policy

By Erica Breunlin | The Colorado Sun All Colorado school districts would be required to adopt a cellphone policy with rules for when and how students can use phones in school under a bipartisan bill set to be introduced in the legislature later this month. The legislation aims both “to promote a conducive learning environment” and protect students’ mental health, said state Rep. Meghan Lukens, a Steamboat Springs Democrat and prime bill sponsor. The hope is to eliminate, or at very least limit, distractions to student learning caused by cellphones and other devices. The bill, which would allow districts to make their own decisions about how to address cellphone use during school hours, shows educators’ shared concerns about the toll devices can take on kids’ academics and well-bei...
State grappling with funding insurance enterprise into the future, and solution could be premium fee hike
State, The Sum & Substance

State grappling with funding insurance enterprise into the future, and solution could be premium fee hike

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance A Colorado enterprise that offers free health insurance to undocumented immigrants and helps fund the state’s reinsurance program is likely to be short of revenue by 2027, spurring consideration of options that include raising fees on statewide health insurance policies. The Health Insurance Affordability Exchange board will meet at 8 a.m. Friday to discuss how to deal with the situation and how to grapple with the uncertainty around future federal funding. If it elects to pursue a fee increase, such an effort would have to go before the Legislature prior to the May 7 conclusion of its 2025 regular session. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE SUM & SUBSTANCE
A fight over 340B, the fed’s program to cut hospitals’ prescription drug costs, is coming to the Colorado Capitol
State, The Colorado Sun

A fight over 340B, the fed’s program to cut hospitals’ prescription drug costs, is coming to the Colorado Capitol

By John Ingold | The Colorado Sun Colorado is on the verge of a massive fight at the state Capitol over a multibillion-dollar federal health care program you may have never heard of. The program goes by the super-unsexy name of 340B, and it pulls together a battle royale of health care industry heavyweights: hospitals versus pharmaceutical companies versus pharmacies versus insurers. Advocates on various sides of the issue have already started sponsoring panel discussions and buying up ads (one of which appeared this week in The Colorado Sun’s politics newsletter, The Unaffiliated). And that’s before the legislation this fight is all about has even been introduced. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
SB5, the Labor Peace Act overhaul, advances over business complaints
State, The Sum & Substance

SB5, the Labor Peace Act overhaul, advances over business complaints

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Senate Democrats used their first bill hearing of the 2025 legislative session Tuesday to advance a proposed major change to the state’s Labor Peace Act, saying that the 82-year-old “compromise” law is not working for Colorado employees anymore. The 4-3, party-line vote from the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee to send Senate Bill 5 to the Appropriations Committee came despite business warnings that erosion of the law will depress the state’s falling economic competitiveness even more. But one of its supporters said he’d like to see business and labor leaders find a compromise — a plea issued before the sides were set for a major negotiating session on Wednesday. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE SUM & SUBSTANCE
Launch of SAFE Colorado aimed at building safer, stronger Colorado
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Launch of SAFE Colorado aimed at building safer, stronger Colorado

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice John Fabbricatore and Steven Monahan were announced Wednesday as the leaders in the launch of Strong Advocates For Enforcement in Colorado (SAFE Colorado), aimed at enhancing public safety across the state by fostering collaboration among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Fabbricatore previously served as an ICE field director in Colorado and Wyoming, and was the 2024 Republican nominee to the 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House. He is a visiting fellow of the Heritage Foundation. Steven Monahan was the 2022 Republican nominee to the 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House. The mission of SAFE Colorado is "to protect communities by prioritizing safety over political agendas and holding leaders accountable for...
If you’re fed up with high egg prices, you’ll like HB25-1074 by Rep. Gonzalez and Sen. Kirkmeyer
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

If you’re fed up with high egg prices, you’ll like HB25-1074 by Rep. Gonzalez and Sen. Kirkmeyer

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice If you have not yet visited your grocer's refrigerated section in 2025, you're in a for a surprise. The only eggs you will find are cage-free, and they are expensive. There's a reason. House Bill 20-1343, passed nearly five years ago, set forth standards for laying hens and the eggs they produce, of which some harmful consequences are just being realized today. The bill by Western Slope Democrat rancher Sen. Kerry Donovan and Western Slope Democrat attorney Dylan Roberts had bipartisan support from a full flock then of about two-thirds of the Colorado General Assembly, and Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill. Weld County Rep. Ryan Gonzalez, R-Greeley, and Weld County Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, neither of which supported the 2020...
Is it last call in Colorado? The state lost 41 breweries in 2024, beer sales down 1.2% more than national average
kdvr.com, State

Is it last call in Colorado? The state lost 41 breweries in 2024, beer sales down 1.2% more than national average

By Spencer Kristensen | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News If you live in or have ever been to Colorado, one thing you may notice is that Coloradans love a good brewery. Colorado has boasted the likes of breweries such as Coors, New Belgium Brewing Company, Left Hand Brewing and Odell Brewing Co. While Colorado has breweries in its DNA, beer sales are down and 41 breweries closed or left the state last year, according to a press release from the Colorado Beverage Coalition. The Colorado Beverage Coalition said that 2024 was another challenging year for Colorado brewers. Beer sales are down by 3.2% which is higher than the national average that saw a 2% decrease in 2024, according to the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division. READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS
Bipartisan Senate committee to review ethics complaint against state Sen. Jaquez Lewis
coloradopolitics.com, State

Bipartisan Senate committee to review ethics complaint against state Sen. Jaquez Lewis

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Senate President James Coleman announced on Tuesday that the ethics complaint against Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, is moving to a committee. Jaquez Lewis has been accused of mistreating her aides. According to the Colorado Sun, a workplace misconduct complaint filed on Nov. 15 with the Office of Legislative Workplace Relations alleged she paid an aide to do landscaping work and tend bar, and that she paid him with a campaign check. She did not report those expenditures in her campaign finance reports. She also paid the aide to knock on doors for an Adams County commissioner candidate in the June primary who faced off against the wife of one of Jaquez Lewis' legislative rivals, according to reports.   READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORA...
More Colorado PERA benefit cuts “likely” in next two years
State, The Colorado Sun

More Colorado PERA benefit cuts “likely” in next two years

By Brian Eason | The Colorado Sun State pension members in Colorado are likely to face another round of benefit cuts and contribution hikes within the next two years, board members learned last week, after a study found that the public retirement system has been underestimating some of its future debts. The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association holds a review every four years to ensure it is accurately estimating a range of assumptions about its investments, the public workforce and the lifespans of its retirees. Think of it like a financial checkup to make sure that the assumptions underpinning the future payments it owes to retirees are unfolding as expected. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado among the states aiming to pause Trump order seeking to overturn ‘anchor baby’ citizenship
CBS Colorado, State

Colorado among the states aiming to pause Trump order seeking to overturn ‘anchor baby’ citizenship

By Karen Morfitt | CBS Colorado There's been a swift response to President Donald Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship as 22 state attorneys general, including Colorado, filed suit. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and the other attorney generals from those states argue the order is unconstitutional. The uncertainty around the order, set to take effect in February, has left Coloradans like Maria, who asked that CBS Colorado protect her identity, searching for answers. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO