State Budget

Gov. Polis implemented a hiring freeze for state agencies in response to the billion-dollar revenue loss for Colorado created by Congressional Republicans’ One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. But workers are concerned the freeze will make their jobs even harder.

President Trump’s so-called “big beautiful bill” created some unintended consequences for Colorado: It changed how much revenue state lawmakers can expect in the year ahead, and created a $750 million shortfall. So – as state lawmakers prepare for a special session beginning later this week – how will they try to plug that $750 million hole?

Democrats at the Capitol defied Gov. Jared Polis and took steps to push back against the Trump administration. A big slate of gun bills passed. Lawmakers tried to clear hurdles halting sex assault investigations.

State lawmakers had to find more than $1 billion in savings in order to balance the state budget this session.

The cuts will enable the state to absorb the rising costs of Medicaid and fully fund K-12 for another year. But they didn’t eliminate the state’s structural deficit, which will require ongoing cuts for years to come.

Most of the cuts have barely made a dent in the state’s $1.2 billion budget gap. But every dollar saved is a dollar they won’t have to cut this week from the big expense — Medicaid providers, education and the state workforce. Listen to "Morning Edition" host Michael Lyle, Jr. discuss this story with Colorado Sun reporter Brian Eason and then read The Colorado Sun story at the link below.

Most of the cuts have barely made a dent in the state’s $1.2 billion budget gap. But every dollar saved is a dollar they won’t have to cut this week from the big programs — Medicaid providers, education and the state workforce.

With less than 60 days left to go and plenty of big, controversial bills still in play, it’s crunch time for state lawmakers.

The legislature planned to ax the Colorado Youth Advisory Council to save $50,000 annually amid a tight state budget.

Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic lawmakers want to cap state insurance payments to hospitals, but providers say they're already operating in the red.