The Gold Miner #14

March 13, 2025

THE MOTHER LODE

A short, sweet, and rich summary of what’s happened at the Capitol

We have officially passed the midpoint of the 75th Colorado State Legislative Session, with one significant bill, the Long Bill, still looming on the horizon.

Tomorrow, Friday, March 14th, marks the deadline for the final passage of House bills in the House and Senate bills in the Senate. This has led to long floor debates and late committee nights recently, particularly on the House side. The looming $1.4 billion deficit has also hindered the introduction of bills with fiscal implications.

It’s worth noting that several other bills have been introduced that could impact Colorado’s Home Rule, including HB25-1147. This bill seeks to remove Home Rule authority over sentencing, a move some view as targeting Aurora’s crime-fighting strategies within its city limits. On the House floor, Representative Taggart argued that state law should not impose a one-size-fits-all approach to local governance.

Lastly, gun legislation remains a deeply divisive issue under the Gold Dome. Last week, the House Judiciary Committee convened until just before midnight to consider HB25-1232, “Liability When Means of Self-Defense Are Prohibited,” sponsored by Representative Luck. Ultimately, the bill was postponed indefinitely. On Tuesday, the committee heard SB25-003, commonly known as the ban on semi-automatic firearms, with over 250 individuals signing up to testify. Among those who spoke, opponents of the bill significantly outnumbered supporters. The bill has undergone substantial amendments since its introduction in the Senate. It passed the Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote and will next be heard by the House Finance Committee.

On the political horizon, another Republican, Senator Mark Baisley, has joined Representative Scott Bottoms as a Republican nominee for Colorado Governor in 2026. Senator Baisley previously served in the House and currently is on the Senate’s Business, Labor, & Technology Committee, the Local Government & Housing Committee, and the Joint Technology Committee. He also serves on the Artificial Intelligence Task Force. Currently, Attorney General Phil Weiser is the only candidate filed as the Democratic nominee. However, late last week, United States Senator Michael Bennet confirmed his interest in running for the position as well.

THE BILLFOLD

Updates on impactful legislation

House Bill 25-1291
Title: Transportation Network Company Consumer Protection
Sponsors: Rep Willford, Rep Froelich, Sen Winter, Sen Danielson
Last Action: Introduced In House – Assigned to Business Affairs & Labor
Summary: Concerning Measures to Increase Protections for Persons Engaged with Transportation Network Companies

Senate Bill 25-199
Title: Suspend Legislative Interim Activities
Sponsors: Sen Lundeen, Sen Rodriguez, Re McCluskie, Rep Pugliese
Last Action: Passed Senate and moves to the House
Summary: Concerning Suspending Legislative Interim Activities

BUDGET BONANZA

A phrase frequently heard during this legislative session’s Joint Budget Committee (JBC) discussions has been, “We will revisit this later.” In the coming days, the March Economic and Revenue Forecast will be released, giving the JBC a clearer understanding of the state’s deficit. Current projections estimate Colorado’s budget shortfall at $1.4 billion. The JBC is set to begin finalizing the Long Bill on March 14, with the completed legislation slated for introduction in the Senate on March 24 and final passage expected by March 28. It will then move to the House for finalization.