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Colorado’s legislative session comes to a close Jackie Sedley
Legislative Session Finale
The Colorado legislature has wrapped up its 2025 session.
Lawmakers concluded their work yesterday by approving a series of measures, including House Bill 1320, a school funding plan. It received final House approval with a 57-to-eight vote, and goes next to Governor Jared Polis.
Under 1320, the state will spend more money on public education next year than it spent this year, according to The Colorado Sun. More than $10 billion will go toward schools for the 2025-26 school year.
But that’s $16 million less than lawmakers had promised last year, according to The Sun. That’s reportedly because of the state’s $1.6 billion budget deficit.
Lawmakers also gave final approval to SB-5. That bill changes labor law in the state by removing a second election requirement. Its supporters say it will make it easier to form unions. Governor Polis had sought compromise between labor and business groups, but negotiations failed last weekend. While it still ended up passing, The Denver Post says the Governor may veto it.
House Bill 1291 is also on its way to Polis’ desk, after legislators okay’ed it yesterday. It will establish new regulations for ride-hailing businesses like Uber and Lyft. Democrat Representative Jenny Willford, who was sexually assaulted by a driver last year, urged Polis to “stand with survivors, not just in words, but in law,” according to The Denver Post.
Trans Protections Bill Passes
House Bill 1312 is also on its way to Governor Polis, after receiving final approval in the state House late Tuesday night.
The measure extends protections for trans people in Colorado. That includes a prohibition against deliberately using the wrong pronouns with a trans person, or “deadnaming” them, which is calling them by the birth name they no longer identify with, according to The Denver Post.
If the governor signs it into law, the protections would only apply in certain settings, such as in schools or the workplace. It would also make it easier for trans people to change their names on legal documents, and require schools to be more adaptable in dress codes and in accepting peoples’ names.
Supporters of the bill say it is more important than ever to protect trans rights at the state level, due to the anti-trans policies of the current presidential administration.
DPS Contract Talks Stall
Stalled contract talks between Denver Public Schools and the teacher’s union will resume on May 28th, with the help of a mediator.
The Denver Post says that progress in the negotiations between the district and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association deadlocked late last month. The school district declared they were at an impasse and a mediator was brought on board.
The district said in a statement that mediation could help the two sides reach an agreement by the end of June. The union, however, said in a press release that “the district has refused to offer real solutions” to issues like classroom and staffing sizes.
The current teacher contract expires on August 31st.
Boulder City Council Weighs Budget Measures
The Boulder City Council is expected to review a series of issues tonight that could end up on the ballot this November. Three of those issues involve taxes.
One measure seeks to extend an existing Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety Sales and Use (CRSS) tax for capital infrastructure.
Another would expand on an existing property tax for parks and recreation projects by allowing for debt issuance. That money would go toward parks funding, open space, and public right-of-way like sidewalks.
The third tax-related issue concerns residential and commercial vacancies. Councilmembers already spoke about vacancy taxes in a recent meeting, showing concern on the impact second homes have on Boulder’s housing supply.
KGNU will keep you updated on the results of tonight’s council meeting, related to these issues.
