Colorado
As Colorado legislative session winds down, property tax reform is still in the air, but progress on other fronts
![As Colorado legislative session winds down, property tax reform is still in the air, but progress on other fronts](https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TDP-L-legislation050324-cha-111.jpg?w=1024&h=681)
For the second year in a row, the sounds of Cinco de Mayo echoed into the Capitol as lawmakers toiled on a Saturday to find common ground on proposed reforms to state land use and property tax policy.
The 120-day legislative session ends Wednesday, and lawmakers are still wrestling with some of the marquee proposals of the session, though with some breakthroughs on issues that had threatened to chew up valuable time — while other potential hot spots emerged.
The Senate passed Saturday a significantly narrowed ban on minimum parking requirements, one of the proposed land use reforms that emerged from the failure of last year’s omnibus proposal. The original bill had aimed to ban parking minimums throughout many of Colorado’s cities and suburbs. To tone down opposition, sponsor Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, a Pueblo Democrat, limited the ban just to areas along transit corridors. (Senators also ribbed Hinrichsen by offering an amendment that would remove his parking spot at the Capitol.)
“It will save a lot of money for builders, and they’ll be able to offer more product in the form of affordable housing, to actually build housing, as opposed to building parking and housing for folks that don’t necessarily want any parking,” Sen. Kevin Priola, a Henderson Democrat and bill sponsor, said.
The proposal, House Bill 1304, will now need to return to the House for reconsideration. Meanwhile, two other major land use proposals — one to boost the number of accessory dwelling units through the state and another to increase density along transit corridors — still need to formally pass the Senate after passing the House. Some senators have raised concerns about both as possibly stepping on local control.
Meanwhile, lawmakers negotiating a proposed long-term reform to property taxes continued to run around the Capitol to find a deal in the waning days. It needs to be introduced on Monday at the latest to have enough time to clear the building before the end of the regular session — and stave off another potential special session on property tax.
In addition to filling a gap in tax policy left by the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment and giving property owners a break on rising property taxes, they’re trying to head off ballot initiatives that would severely cap property tax collections. Backers of the initiatives argue it’s about keeping the government from growing faster than paychecks and keeping homeowners solvent. But state officials, including some elected Republicans, warn it would lead to draconian cuts to state and local government services.
Parties on all sides of the negotiation say they’re closing in on a deal, but it is still being tuned — and not guaranteed.
“We’re pushing really hard,” said Dave Davia, president of Colorado Concern, a business group backing some of the initiatives, adding that they’re hoping for a legislative solution.
Other priority bills for Democratic leadership continued apace Saturday.
The Senate formally passed a pair of bills to reduce emissions from oil and gas production and levy a per-barrel fee to pay for transit and wildlife habitat. The bills were introduced this week to ease simmering tensions between environmental groups, legislators and the industry and end dueling legislation and ballot initiatives affecting the industry. They will now go to the House for consideration.
Another bill, to put a 6.5% excise tax on guns and ammo in Colorado, also cleared a key Senate committee after concerns about its movement through the chamber boiled over into the public. The tax would raise an estimated $39 million a year and go to victim services and behavioral health programs.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus of Colorado publicly accused Sen. Kyle Mullica, a Thornton Democrat, of holding up the bill and threatening to kill it. He called the letter full of “falsehoods” and said the bill was merely going through standard amendment negotiations. He praised advocates and bill sponsors before voting yes on the bill in committee.
Meanwhile, the amended bill raised the hackles of Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, a Highlands Ranch Republican, because it removed school security as a possible use for the excise tax. He promised “vigorous” debate on the Senate floor if it isn’t replaced — a potent threat as lawmakers race against the Constitutionally required end of the session.
Voters will also have the chance to remove defunct language in the Colorado Constitution defining marriage as between a man and woman, after the House approved a referred measure Saturday. It already cleared the Senate. Referred measures to amend the state Constitution need at least two-thirds support in each chamber to pass. It passed with bipartisan support in the Senate, but near party lines in the House, where Democrats hold a supermajority.
The proposed amendment would remove a ban approved by voters in 2006. It has been unenforceable since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide with its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. A majority of voters will need to approve the proposal this November for it to take effect.
Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Colorado
Son of fallen Colorado firefighter seeks community help to recover stolen truck
![Son of fallen Colorado firefighter seeks community help to recover stolen truck](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/06/24/4e248a3d-4512-4a68-8f13-988d0808895d/thumbnail/1200x630/3ad594d55d5e108c72b3f75aa6bbf2d7/1f13ecbebfe2f3e842fa0822f0304f96.jpg?v=cb1f2643a8816828741cfb3a3fb2d931)
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Colorado
PHOTOS: Pride Parade honors LGBTQ community as pro-Palestinian protesters gather at Denver event • Colorado Newsline
![PHOTOS: Pride Parade honors LGBTQ community as pro-Palestinian protesters gather at Denver event • Colorado Newsline](https://coloradonewsline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pride14.jpg)
About 250 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Franklin Street ahead of the annual Pride Parade in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood Sunday.
The protesters held signs, waved flags and chanted “No Pride in genocide,” referring to Israeli’s ongoing military assault in Gaza.
Denver Police Department officers parked a line of motorcycles along the curb in an effort to contain the protestors on the sidewalk ahead of the parade’s 9:30 a.m. start time. About an hour later, protestors moved onto the parade path and began walking the route to PrideFest at Civic Center Park. Police did not intervene, but they paused the parade for about five minutes to create a gap of space between protestors and the following parade participants.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The parade is a primary attraction of the annual Denver PrideFest, which included activities on Saturday and Sunday that honor the LGBTQ community. This year’s PrideFest was the 50th anniversary of the event. Organizers say it’s the third largest pride festival in the country.
The parade traveled 14 blocks along Colfax, from Cheesman Park and to Civic Center Park.
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue took place on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue took place on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Members of Denver’s Jewish community march in the Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue took place on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Pro-Palestinian protestors interrupt Denver’s Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Members of the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association ride along Colfax Avenue in Denver’s Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue was held on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver police officers blocked street access in front of pro-Palestinian protestors at the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver police officers blocked street access in front of pro-Palestinian protestors at the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Pro-Palestinian protestors lined Colfax Avenue towards the start of Denver’s Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
A vendor passes pro-Palestinian protestors along Colfax Avenue ahead of the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue was held on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, participates in the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver City Council member Shontel Lewis hands out candy at the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Pro-Palestinian protestors lined Colfax Avenue toward the start of Denver’s Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
The Center on Colfax, a primary organizer of the parade, said in a statement that the organization supports the rights of the protestors.
“The pride movement was born in protest. We support the rights of free speech and assembly. We ask that protestors remain non-violent in their right to protest. We support calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the region,” the statement reads.
The parade was able to continue.
Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip reportedly has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians. It was prompted by an October 2023 attack by Hamas that killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in about 250 hostages.
According to social media posts from protest organizer Students for a Democratic Society Denver, protesters say a genocide is occurring against Palestinians and that “this genocide is emboldened by business partnerships with corporations that participate in Denver Pride,” including Lockheed Martin and Hewlett Packard.
Besides the parade, PrideFest features attractions such as food, a 5K and live entertainment, including appearances by Alyssa Edwards, Shea Couleé, Pattie Gonia and Mirage.
Organizers expected the event to draw more than 500,000 attendees.
Colorado
Colorado Rockies Win First Game By Walk-Off Pitch Clock Violation in Baseball History
![Colorado Rockies Win First Game By Walk-Off Pitch Clock Violation in Baseball History](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4278,h_2406,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/fastball/01j11rrxjycw5qzcrc3k.jpg)
The Colorado Rockies beat the Washington Nationals on Saturday night in one of the most unique ways in baseball history: The Rockies won by a walk-off pitch clock violation, which is the first time that’s ever happened.
The Rockies walk it off… By pitch clock violation 😳
(via @TalkinBaseball_) pic.twitter.com/VBMPuuCdY0
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 23, 2024
Now, the pitch clock has only been around for a year so that’s a small total sample size, but still, it’s something we haven’t seen. Pitchers and hitters alike have tended to get a hold of the pitch clock and the timing associated with it but Nationals’ closer Kyle Finnegan couldn’t handle it on Saturday.
Finnegan was pitching against Rockies’ star Ryan McMahon, who was 3-for-4 with two RBI, so he likely wanted as much time to think about his impending 3-2 pitch, but he went too far with it.
It was a tough night all around for Finnegan, who took the loss after not getting an out in the ninth inning. He surrendered two runs on four hits and the walk, raising his ERA to 2.30 in the process. Despite that, he’ll still have a case for being an All-Star in the National League.
As for the Rockies, it was a much-needed win and marked another walk-off win for them this week. They also beat the Dodgers by walk-off on Wednesday. Colorado is now 27-50, which is the second-worst record in the National League. They are 0.5 games ahead of the Miami Marlins.
The Rockies will play the Nationals again on Sunday with first pitch coming at 3:10 p.m. ET. Jake Irvin (WASH) will pitch against Kyle Freeland (COL).
Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.
-
Politics1 week ago
Rule of law on ballot in NYC suburbs as cop, veteran trade barbs over border crisis, policing
-
News1 week ago
It's easy to believe young voters could back Trump at young conservative conference
-
World1 week ago
Swiss summit demands 'territorial integrity' of Ukraine
-
News1 week ago
Justice Department won't pursue contempt charges against Garland
-
World1 week ago
Switzerland's massive security effort at the Ukraine peace conference
-
Politics1 week ago
Biden looks to capitalize on star-studded Hollywood fundraiser after Trump's massive cash haul in blue state
-
World1 week ago
Election aftermath – MEPs to watch on economic and financial policy
-
Politics1 week ago
Judge rules Missouri abortion ban did not aim to impose lawmakers' religious views on others