Colorado House advances bill to let anyone challenge Sunshine Law violations
The House moved quickly to advance legislation making it clear that any person has legal standing to challenge violations of Colorado’s Open Meetings Law.
Colorado Legislature
Bill introduced clarifying citizens’ legal standing to challenge Sunshine Law violations
Following outcry over the dismissal of a lawsuit against Arvada for allegedly violating a 2012 ban on the use of secret ballots, state lawmakers introduced legislation to clarify that any citizen has legal standing to challenge violations of Colorado’s Open Meetings Law.
Senate advances revived but weaker school board transparency measure
A second attempt at boosting school board transparency this session won initial approval in the Colorado Senate. SB 14-182 is a weaker version of an unsuccessful House bill that would have required the electronic recording of all portions of school board executive sessions, including attorney-client discussions.
Senate Education Committee passes weaker school board executive sessions bill
The Senate Education Committee approved a weaker version of the school board transparency bill that died earlier in the legislative session. A requirement that all portions of school board executive sessions be electronically recorded, the most controversial element of the unsuccessful legislation, is not part of the revived proposal.
Bill standardizing CORA fees sent to Hickenlooper
The House re-passed HB 14-1193, sending it to Gov. John Hickenlooper. If it becomes law, the Colorado Open Records Act will specify research-fee parameters for the first time since it was enacted in 1969.
Lawmakers try again to add school board transparency
Two state lawmakers are trying again to give the public a bit more information about local school board discussions that take place behind closed doors.
School finance bill includes provisions for spending transparency
A school-spending transparency measure is part of HB 14-1292, one of two public education finance bills that passed the House on voice votes.
Sponsor of 2012 ban on secret ballots wants new legislation to clarify citizens’ legal standing
The sponsor of a 2012 ban on the use of secret ballots by public bodies in Colorado wants to introduce a bill this session making it clear that any citizen has legal standing to challenge violations of the law.
House rejects Senate amendments to CORA fees bill, appoints conference committee members
On a 56-8 vote, the Colorado House rejected Senate amendments to a bill that regulates how much the state and local governments can charge to research and compile public records.
House panel passes bill to let state lawmakers hear public testimony from remote locations
For Colorado residents who live far from the state Capital, testifying on proposed legislation wouldn’t necessarily mean a long and sometimes perilous drive to Denver under a bill unanimously approved by a panel of state lawmakers.