Colorado Capitol Report

Dust Settles on Controversial 2015 Legislative Session


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State Policy News

Dust Settles on Controversial 2015 Legislative Session

It has been more than a week since the legislature adjourned on Wednesday, May 6th.  The news media have issued post-session analyses (see below), and lawmakers have scattered to the four corners of the state, returning to their homes and private lives.

On Tuesday, CACI issued its post-session review and the complete listing of the bills that it lobbied.

Thanks to the CACI lobbying team!

A huge thank-you goes to CACI’s veteran lobbying team for its tireless work during the 2015 legislative session:

And a big thanks also goes to the following CACI Council Chairs and active members!

  • Energy and Environment Council–John Jacus, Partner, Davis, Graham & Stubbs;
  • Governmental Affairs Council–Loren Furman, CACI Senior Vice President, State and Federal Relations;
  • HealthCare Council–Cindy Sovine Miller, President and CEO, Sovine Miller and Company;
  • Labor and Employment Council–Stacey Campbell, Shareholder, Campbell Litigation; and
  • Tax Council–Rhonda Sparlin, Partner, RubinBrown

News Media Coverage

For news media coverage of the end of the session, see:

The 2015 General Assembly: winners, losers and in the middle,” by Lynn Bartels, John Frank and Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 10th.

2015 legislature’s winners and losers,” by the Editorial Board, The Denver Post, May 10th.

Colorado legislative session: the good, the bad and the snug,” by Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post, May 10th.

Legislative promises for Colorado’s middle class largely not kept,” by Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 10th.

Sine Die,” by Marianne Goodland, The Colorado Statesman, May 8th.

Compromise struck on student testing bill,” by Vic Vela, The Colorado Statesman, May 8th.

Fracking foes hit wall with legislature as Democrats sidestep fractious debate,” by Valerie Richardson, The Colorado Statesman, May 8th.

Making ‘statements’ at the Colorado statehouse,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 8th.

Modest progress for 2015 Colorado General Assembly,” by the Editorial Board, The Denver Post, May 7th.

Hickenlooper vows to continue fighting for hospital-fee road-funding plan” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 7th.

Legislative leaders vow to bring back construction-defects reform, ag-land bills,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 7th.

Hickenlooper suggest vetoes for red-light camera bills, touts agenda,” by John Frank, The Denver Post, May 7th,

2015: The Colorado Legislative session that did little for business,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 7th.

Testing, photo radar add to busy last day at Colorado legislature,” by John Frank, Lynn Bartels and Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 6th.

Colorado lawmakers conclude work with testing compromise,” by Ivan Moreno and Kristen Wyatt, The Associated Press, The Pueblo Chieftain, May 7th.

Flurry of votes as lawmakers call it a wrap,” by Peter Marcus, The Durango Herald, May 6th.


News Media Coverage

Below is recent news-media coverage of state and federal political, policy and governmental issues of interest to CACI:

Governor authorizes I-70 study, but what’s next for winter drivers?” by Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 14th.

Colorado health insurance exchange seeks reimbursement from Medicaid,” by Electa Draper, The Denver Post, May 14th.

New Colorado law increases tax incentives for rural economic development,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 14th.

Colorado health insurance exchange questioned by oversight committee,” by Electa Draper, The Denver Post, May 13th.

Michael Williams seeks to replace Kathleen Conti in House District 38,” by Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 12th.

State Sen. Ellen Roberts considers U.S. Senate bid in 2016,” by John Frank, The Denver Post, May 12th.

Colorado health exchange proposes major fee hikes,” by Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, Health News Colorado, The Denver Business Journal, May 11th.

Court ruling offers help for condo builders burned by construction defects lawsuits,” by Valerie Richardson, The Colorado Statesman, May 11th.

Former EPC GOP vice chair Dave Williams to seek Gordon Klingenschmitt’s seat in the House,” by Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post, May 9th.

Testing bill the one notable achievement in education policy,” by Todd Engdahl, Chalkbeat Colorado, May 9th.

Coffman settling in as state’s chief lawyer,” by Ernest Luning, The Colorado Statesman, May 8th.

Tense debate precedes re-up of consumer watchdog office,” by Vic Vela, The Colorado Statesman, May 7th.

Testing agreement comes in session’s final hours,” by Todd Engdahl, Chalkbeat Colorado, May 6th.

Mixed bag of education bills crosses finish line as session ends,” by Todd Engdahl, Chalkbeat Colorado, May 6th.

Hospital Provider fee bill dies, but it’ll be back,” by Marianne Goodland, The Colorado Statesman, May 6th.

Workforce-development package heads to Hickenlooper largely intact,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 6th.

Morgan Carroll considering run for Mike Coffman seat,” by Mark K. Matthews, The Denver Post, May 6th.

Last-minute agreement means change for Colorado urban-renewal laws,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 6th.

Bill defining independent contractors dies in Colorado House,’ by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 5th.

Final road-funding efforts crash in Colorado Legislature,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, My 5th.

A rush to pass Senate leader’s bill showcases session’s final hours,” by John Frank, The Denver Post, May 5th.

Colorado can track ROI for big tourism marketing budget, governor says,” by Jason Blevins, The Denver Post, May 5th.

$3.5 billion Colorado highway bonding bill dis: another road measure in limbo,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 5th.

Unions file 140 petitions for ‘ambush elections’ under new NLRB rule,” by Kent Hoover, The Denver Business Journal, May 5th.

Bill for creating hurdles for cutting CO2 in Colorado dies at Legislature,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 4th.

Efforts to tackle Colorado’s affordable-housing crisis fail in Legislature,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 4th.

Export-Import Bank exec visits Colorado, argues for bank’s survival,” by Monica Mendoza, The Denver Business Journal, May 4th.