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Colorado owes taxpayers $34M in refunds it never sent. That means trouble for the state budget. 
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State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado owes taxpayers $34M in refunds it never sent. That means trouble for the state budget. 

By Brian Eason | The Colorado Sun The state government owes Colorado taxpayers an extra $34 million in refunds it should have sent out years ago, legislative budget staff told lawmakers Friday, blowing a hole in the state’s budget with just days left in the 2024 legislative session. The error was first uncovered by a state audit released in February. State officials had planned to come up with a solution by June, but after conferring with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Joint Budget Committee staff members say the matter can’t wait until after the session. “We really don’t have any choice,” JBC Director Craig Harper told the budget writing committee Friday. “That’s an under-refund from prior years and will need to be refunded at the earliest available opportunity.” ...
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Democrats make deal with governor to redirect TABOR refunds to low-income families
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State, The Colorado Sun

Democrats make deal with governor to redirect TABOR refunds to low-income families

By Brian Eason and Jesse Paul | The Colorado Sun Democrats in the Colorado legislature on Tuesday announced a deal with Gov. Jared Polis to make sweeping changes to the state tax code that reduce income taxes and redirect hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer refunds to low-income parents and the middle class. The tax package, spread across a handful of different bills in the final days of this year’s lawmaking term, represents an escalation of the legislature’s recent efforts to reimagine the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights — a darling of the conservative movement — as a vehicle for progressive policy. Under the TABOR amendment, the government must refund money to taxpayers when revenue rises faster than the combined rate of inflation and population growth. This fiscal year, it’s...
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House Republican minority boasts passage of two bills into law, advancing five others they led
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

House Republican minority boasts passage of two bills into law, advancing five others they led

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A pair of bills carried by Republican members of the Colorado House have been signed into law, along with a few other victories as the countdown to closure of the state legislature draws near. There are nine business days left in session, with sine die, the closing day of the session, scheduled for May 8. In an email detailing the successes of the 'Mighty 19' Republicans in the House, noted were the signing into law of Senate Bill 87 sponsored in the House by Rep. Mary Bradfield to ease prescriptions of topical medications and House Bill 1072 sponsored by Rep. Lisa Frizell to protect victims of sexual crimes. Five other bills with Republican support have passed the House. Senate Bill 125 to enact an interstate compact for the placement ...
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‘Citizens are not safe coming to the state capitol’, Rep. Holtorf says on Stinchfield
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Citizens are not safe coming to the state capitol’, Rep. Holtorf says on Stinchfield

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Anyone choosing to visit the state's capitol is doing so at their own peril in Colorado, Minority House Whip Rep. Richard Holtorf told Grant Stinchfield during a recent appearance on Real America's Voice. "Denver citizens and Colorado citizens are not safe coming to the state capitol, or the capitol of Colorado," he said in a video clip posted on his Twitter/X account. He's critical of City of Denver budget reductions, some to police in the state's capitol city, at the same time as out-of-control illegal migration, the clip details. He also details a concern toward crime related to illegal immigrants being unable to find work. "When these immigrants can't find jobs, they're going to turn to crime," Holtorf said. Fluent in Spanish, Holto...
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Amendments to Colorado’s school finance formula could move opponents closer to support
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Amendments to Colorado’s school finance formula could move opponents closer to support

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics With more than a dozen amendments being added to the new school finance formula, outspoken opponents that have come out against the measure may move closer to a position of support. As reported by Colorado Politics Thursday, the bill that would revamp the state's school finance formula was amended in the House Appropriations Committee Friday morning. HB 1448 starts with the base per-pupil funding, excluding high school students and online enrollment. Then, it adds in at-risk funding, money for English language learners, and special education. The cost-of-living factor would be applied after that, along with a locale factor, a district size factor, and then "extended" high school and online funding. The cost is estimated at around $500 milli...
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Colorado lawmakers back off withholding road money from cities under plan to boost housing near transit
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State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado lawmakers back off withholding road money from cities under plan to boost housing near transit

By Brian Eason | The Colorado Sun Facing outcry from local officials, Colorado Democrats this week said they would back off a plan to withhold highway maintenance funding from cities that don’t meet proposed state targets for housing density near transit stops. But even with the biggest penalty in the bill on the chopping block, local government leaders across the Denver metro area remain divided over the legislation, the centerpiece of Gov. Jared Polis’ plans to reduce housing costs in Colorado. House Bill 1313 would require a number of urban and suburban local governments to allow more apartments and townhomes along major transit corridors. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Colorado lawmakers to introduce long-awaited property tax relief bill
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado lawmakers to introduce long-awaited property tax relief bill

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The long-awaited major property tax bill will likely be introduced sometime early next week, giving it about a week to work through the General Assembly before its May 8 adjournment. This bill, however, will have had an advantage that previous bills, most notably the 2023 legislation, didn't have: a public airing of its concepts. That's because the bill will be largely based on the recommendations of the property tax commission, which has been meeting since last December. Lawmakers have been scrambling to deal with skyrocketing property taxes since 2020 when voters approved repealing the Gallagher Amendment, which set specific assessment rates for residential and non-residential properties.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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In final weeks of Colorado legislative session, 374 bills still need action
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coloradopolitics.com, State

In final weeks of Colorado legislative session, 374 bills still need action

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics On day 105 of the 120-day legislative session, lawmakers have 374 bills out of 673 bills introduced that need action between now and midnight, May 8, when the session adjourns. The number of bills introduced in 2024 is the fifth highest in the last 25 years. Four sessions have had more than 700 bills, with 2003 at the high watermark, with 736. According to data from the Office of Legislative Legal Services, the House has introduced 462 bills, the Senate 211. The larger number for the House reflects not only its more members but also the fact that it took the lead on appropriations bills this year, including the state budget and dozens of related bills. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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House bill to add protections for victims of sexual assault signed into law
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

House bill to add protections for victims of sexual assault signed into law

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff A bipartisan bill offering increased protection for victims of sexual crime offenses has been signed into law by Lt. Gov. Diana Primavera, in the absence of Gov. Jared Polis. House Bill 1072, by Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, and Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, adds protections in law for victims of sexual assault. The bill passed the House by a rare 63-2 vote, with only Democrat Reps. Judy Amabile and Elisabeth Epps opposed. “I am proud to be a part of this expansion to broaden protections for victims of sexual assault,” Frizell said in a statement. “This is a crucial step in promoting a fair and just legal system for victims and ensuring the blame is placed on the perpetrator, not the victim." Under current law, criminal rape shield laws ar...
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Rep. Armagost complains House Bill 1460 is ‘blatantly punitive for officers’
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Armagost complains House Bill 1460 is ‘blatantly punitive for officers’

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Rep. Ryan Armagost, formerly a law enforcement officer, was critical Wednesday of a rushed process and lack of stakeholder involvement in House Bill 1460, titled "addressing measures to strengthen responses to law enforcement misconduct." The bill advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday and to the House floor by a 6-5 vote. "This bill was pretty blatantly designed to be punitive for officers," he said. "It is littered with punitive action without due process." The bill requires law enforcement agencies to respond to allegations of officer misconduct with an investigation, and officers are required to report allegations of misconduct by their peers. Should an officer fail to report, a Class 2 misdemeanor penalty could be a...
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