State & Federal Update – January 15, 2024

It’s Wednesday, January 15, 2025. There are 112 days left in the 2025 Colorado General Assembly and 143 items introduced thus far (bills, resolutions, rules, etc.) according to StateBill Colorado.

These updates are curated from multiple news sources and designed to be a “choose-your-own-adventure.” Please read any coverage of interest and skip anything you deem to be irrelevant. Hyperlinks are provided to add additional context. With the 24/7 news-cycle I hope to keep us all in the loop on items we may want to know about or better understand. Please feel free to share if you think someone outside FGMC needs to be aware of this information.

Disclaimer – The news and articles contained within this update do not represent any political positions or policy opinions of Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP. This update is designed for informational purposes only.

Exciting Update: In the coming weeks, I will be rebranding this newsletter with a catchier title! Stay tuned for a fresh new name, coming soon.

What am I watching today? Colorado Republicans are making bold moves with a new set of proposals aimed at cutting costs for families.

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans unveiled a plan they say could save households thousands of dollars annually by reducing what they consider ineffective energy and housing regulations. During a press conference at the Colorado State Capitol, they called for a comprehensive review of energy codes and changes to state laws protecting homeowners from construction defects. The plan also includes rolling back taxes on gasoline and cigarettes and eliminating the fee on shopping bags.

The proposals, which reflect key Republican priorities, focus on four main areas: lowering housing costs, reducing grocery and utility expenses, cutting transportation costs, and easing regulatory burdens. Republicans argue that if passed, the measures could slash taxes and fees in Colorado by billions of dollars each year, while also indirectly reducing the cost of living through lower utility bills and mortgage payments.

The reality is that many of these proposals are likely to encounter strong opposition in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly. However, Republicans remain hopeful that some of their ideas will gain traction with the Democratic majority.

One surprising area where there may be potential for compromise is a revision of Colorado’s construction defects law. A similar measure passed the Senate last year but was not considered in the House. Democratic Governor Jared Polis has called on lawmakers to revisit the issue this year, arguing that reforming the law could help boost Colorado’s stalled condominium construction. This should be an interesting issue to watch this session.

And now

Today’s Big Three Things-To-Know:

1. Mayor Johnston says no to needles. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston vetoed a new law in Denver on Tuesday that would have expanded access to needle exchanges, just a day after the City Council approved it. In his veto letter, Johnston called the ordinance “the wrong solution at the wrong time,” stating his support for harm reduction strategies but emphasizing the need for better connections between needle exchange programs and addiction services. The proposed law would have allowed an unlimited number of needle exchanges in medical office zones and removed the 1,000-foot buffer between these sites and schools or daycares. Johnston argued there was no need to lift the cap on needle exchange locations and questioned whether residents or providers actually wanted more sites. He also noted that the number of drug-related syringe uses had decreased and that the current programs could meet existing demand. Additionally, Johnston opposed removing the “common sense setbacks” for these sites. Councilwoman Sarah Parady criticized the veto, arguing it ignored a city study and key endorsements from public health organizations. She said it was a missed opportunity to expand services critical for addressing Denver’s opioid crisis and preventing public health risks related to needle disposal. To override the mayor’s veto, the City Council would need a supermajority of nine votes, but it was approved with just eight votes.
2. Lakewood limits gas stations and car washes. The Lakewood City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Monday night to limit the locations of new gas stations and car washes in an effort to reduce their “environmental and health impacts.” Starting next month, new gas stations must be at least 2,640 feet from existing stations and 1,056 feet from residential areas. The city will also remove two pedestrian-focused mixed-use zones from areas where gas stations can be located. Car washes will no longer be allowed within 2,640 feet of an existing facility, and new car washes can only open in certain districts with a special-use permit. The city cites concerns about water contamination and conservation related to car washes. Council members emphasized the need to reduce harmful emissions and protect air quality, noting that the region struggles to meet federal air quality standards. While some businesses voiced opposition to the ordinance, arguing it could lead to higher gas prices and reduced market entry, city officials are focused on limiting overconcentration of these businesses in certain areas, like the problematic intersection of Kipling Street and West Colfax Avenue. Lakewood’s new regulations will not affect existing stations, which will continue as legal, non-conforming uses. The ordinance also requires new fueling stations to include at least three electric vehicle charging stations, one of which must be a rapid charger.
3. The new Congress continues their work.  For better or for worse, Congress is back in session and making strides on several important bills and procedures. As lawmakers resume their work, they have begun advancing key pieces of legislation. However, the road ahead is uncertain. Lawmakers will need to navigate partisan divides, balance the demands of their constituencies and the new president, and manage the growing pressures of the 2026 election cycle. The decisions made in these early stages will shape the direction of the legislative year. Here are some key highlights of what’s currently on the agenda:
4. • A measure banning transgender students from participating in women’s school sports teams in accordance with their gender identity passed the U.S. House on Tuesday. The legislation, which advanced with a 218-206 vote, comes amid a growing number of states enacting laws prohibiting trans athletes from competing in K-12 and college sports aligned with their gender identity, as part of a broader GOP-led effort to pass anti-trans legislation. President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office on January 20, had pledged during his campaign to implement a ban on transgender youth participating in school sports that match their gender identity. While nearly all House Democrats opposed the bill, two Texas Democrats, U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, voted in favor. North Carolina Rep. Don Davis voted “present.”
   • Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate voted 82-10 on Monday to proceed with a bill, S. 5, that would impose mandatory immigration detention for immigrants charged with property crimes and grant broad legal standing to state attorneys general. The bill, named after 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, garnered support from a majority of Senate Democrats (32) and Republicans. Nine Democrats, including Sens. Tina Smith, Ben Ray Luján, Jeff Merkley, and Bernie Sanders, voted against it. Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper both voted in favor of the bill. Colorado Representatives also voted along party lines on the House version, with Republicans generally supporting it and Democrats opposing it. The bill follows the case of Jose Antonio Ibarra, a migrant from Venezuela charged with the murder of Riley, who was allegedly released from custody after a previous arrest. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the bill a “common sense measure,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the need for debate and amendments.
   • The votes come as Senate hearings are scheduled this week for several of Trump’s cabinet picks including Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Pam Bondi for attorney general. Many nominees have met with senators individually. Now, they’ll go before the committees overseeing the agencies Trump wants them to run. Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary, had his hearing on Tuesday. It came after weeks of meetings during which some senators have questioned his fitness for the role amid allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct.

***Bonus Story – The future of Park Hill.  After years of controversy surrounding Park Hill Golf Course, a large undeveloped tract of land in northeast Denver is set to open as a public park this summer, following a deal announced by city officials on Wednesday. Under the agreement, the city will acquire the 155-acre property from its current owner, Westside Investment Partners, by swapping it for a 145-acre, city-owned industrial parcel in Adams County near Denver International Airport. While the specific location of the Adams County land was not disclosed, it is described as undeveloped. Mayor Mike Johnston, City Councilwoman Shontel Lewis, and community leaders announced the deal at the former golf course during a late morning news conference. The new park, which would be one of the largest in the city, will be managed by Denver Parks and Recreation. However, the land exchange still requires formal approval from both the Adams County commissioners and the Denver City Council.

***Bonus, Bonus Story – A deal reached in the Middle East. Israel and Hamas have agreed to a deal that will pause the fighting in Gaza and initiate the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, according to Qatar’s prime minister. The deal is expected to begin on Sunday, with Hamas set to release 33 hostages in the first phase. Concurrently, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed from Israeli prisons. The first phase of the deal focuses on the release of hostages. Negotiations for the second phase, which aims to bring an end to the war, will begin 16 days after the deal’s implementation. President Joe Biden detailed that talks will go beyond the temporary ceasefire that could include “a permanent end of the war.” “During the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements to get phase two, which is a permanent end of the war. Let me say it again: A permanent end of the war,” Biden said.

***Triple Bonus – How’s the economy doing? That’s a complicated question. Markets responded positively to the December inflation report, which indicated that underlying price pressures may be easing. However, the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates anytime soon, especially with President-elect Donald Trump’s economic plans on the horizon. The overall consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.9% year-over-year, according to the Labor Department on Wednesday. The index increased by 0.4% from the previous month, largely due to a 4.4% jump in gas prices. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.2%, marking its smallest monthly gain since July and coming in below the 0.3% increase economists had expected. Investors focused on the core CPI, pushing stocks and bonds higher. However, the data is not significant enough to alter the Federal Reserve’s stance, with officials still planning to hold interest rates steady as they await the impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs, tax cuts, and immigration policies. The Fed is scheduled to meet in two weeks and has signaled it is unlikely to cut rates for now. Wednesday’s report underscores a challenging year for U.S. policymakers, who are eager to declare victory over the inflationary pressures that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. While the numbers showed some easing, overall inflation remains well above the Fed’s 2% target, suggesting that significant economic challenges remain.

And now, more news…

From Denver…Mayor Johnston vetoes bill expanding needle exchange programs.

Via Axios, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on Tuesday vetoed a bill passed by the Denver City Council one day prior expanding the city’s needle exchange programs, per to a statement from his office.

The measure would have eliminated a cap on the number of syringe access programs in the city and removed a 1,000-foot restriction from schools and daycares. It’s the second time Johnston has issued a veto, one the most powerful tools available to him as the city’s chief executive, since taking office in July 2023. Council passed the bill 8-5 on Monday — a margin that would not be enough to override the mayor’s decision if council considered reversing his veto. In his veto letter to city council, Johnston called the bill, “the wrong solution at the wrong time.” He said he wants to connect people using needle exchange programs to more substance use services.

You can read more from the Denver Mayor’s Office here, Denverite here, The Denver Post here, and Axios here.

Also from Denver…Denver announces deal to acquire Park Hill Golf Course in a land swap.

According to The Denver Post, after years of controversy over Park Hill Golf Course, the vast piece of undeveloped land in northeast Denver is set to open to the public as a park this summer under the terms of a deal announced Wednesday by city officials.

The city plans to acquire the 155-acre property from its owner, Westside Investment Partners, by trading the open space for a 145-acre, city-owned parcel in Adams County near Denver International Airport. The city didn’t specify the parcel’s location but says it is an undeveloped industrial property. Mayor Mike Johnston was set to announce the deal with Westside during a late morning news conference at the former golf course along with City Councilwoman Shontel Lewis and community leaders.

The park would be one of the largest in the city and would be managed by Denver Parks and Recreation under the deal. The exchange still needs formal approval from the Adams County commissioners and the Denver City Council, according to details shared with The Denver Post ahead of the announcement.

You can read more from The Denver Post here and Denver 7 here.

Around the metro…Colorado Springs leaders may try recreational pot measure again, claiming voters who approved it were “confused.”

As reported by The Colorado Sun, weeks after residents voted in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana sales in Colorado Springs, elected leaders are considering putting the issue back on the ballot in April, saying people who voted “yes” could have been mistaken. The city council is expected to vote at its next meeting Jan. 28 whether to re-refer the issue to the April 1 ballot, when voter turnout is historically lower than general elections, claiming that “confusing” language had muddied the issue.

The move marked a further show of resistance to recreational marijuana in a city whose officials have long argued that it contributes to crime and increased drug use. Colorado Springs is the largest city in Colorado that has refused to allow the sale of recreational marijuana since it became legal in January 2014. “It boggles my mind that we want to put it on the ballot again,” Councilwoman Yolanda Avila said Tuesday, adding that she would not support pushing the measure to another vote.

You can read more from The Colorado Sun here.

More from around the metro…Lakewood limits gas stations, car washes in the city.

Via Denver Business Journal, the Lakewood City Council voted unanimously to limit where gas stations and car washes can be located in the city in an effort to reduce the impacts the businesses have on health and the environment.

Starting next month under the ordinance, approved through a 9-0 vote on Monday night, new fueling stations must be at least 2,640 feet from other gas stations and may not be located within 1,056 feet of residential uses. Lakewood is also reducing the areas where a new station can open, removing two pedestrian-focused mixed-use zoning districts from where gas stations will be allowed.

You can read more from DBJ here.

From our neighbors…Aurora to try new photo speed enforcement program.

According to Colorado Politics, Aurora officials are making another run at a speed enforcement camera program in the city after a previous program lost the city several hundred thousand dollars.

This time around, they’re changing some of the requirements for the program operator, officials said in a council meeting Monday night — most importantly getting rid of the need for someone to staff the cameras from inside a van. The first time city officials attempted to run a program using cameras to enforce speed — a program that started in 2022 and was ended by a council vote in April — it cost the city over $500,000 and only generated about $115,000 in revenue, according to Police Sgt. Chris Amsler.

One of the main things driving the lack of success in the program was hiring challenges, City Manager Jason Batchelor said. Officials found it difficult to hire people to sit in a van all day and the process of staffing the vans was expensive, he added.

You can read more from Colorado Politics here.

From the Gold Dome…Poll – 70% of voters oppose changes to Labor Peace Act.

As outlined in The Sum & Substance, less than a week before the first scheduled hearing of a bill to rewrite Colorado’s Labor Peace Act, a coalition of business groups has released a poll that it argues shows voters of all stripes are overwhelmingly opposed to the proposed changes.

The 82-year-old law is unique among states in that it requires two votes for workers to unionize a company and then to allow automatic paycheck deductions to fund union negotiating activities. The first vote to unionize requires a simple majority, but the second vote to allow fee deductions needs 75% support — a provision that unions call an unnecessary barrier and that business leaders say keeps union-opposed workers from having to pay the organizations.

Senate Bill 5 — which is scheduled for a 2 p.m. hearing Tuesday before the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee and, as such, is the first bill that will get a hearing in the Senate this session — would remove the mandatory second election. That would allow labor leaders to begin negotiating with a company upon the first unionization vote to ask for fee deductions to be taken from all paycheck

You can read more from TS&S here.

A Republican proposal…$4,500 extra cash a year for all? Colorado Republicans propose a plan for that.

Via Colorado Newsline, Colorado Senate Republicans claim that a collection of bills they plan to introduce will save an average family about $4,500 per year by repealing numerous fees and regulations.

The bills target housing, transportation, groceries, utility bills and other everyday expenses. “People are facing an economic reality that grows more daunting by the day,” Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Monument Republican, said Tuesday during a press conference at the Capitol. “This affordability crisis is a direct result of the misguided policies that were created in this very building.”

Part of the solution, he said, is to claw back the various fees Democrats in the Legislature have passed in recent years. Fees are distinct from taxes in Colorado because they are not subject to voter approval under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. Colorado collected about $23.3 billion in fee revenue in the 2023 fiscal year, according to the right-leaning Common Sense Institute. Lundeen unveiled a literal pile of cash at the press conference — $4,500 stacked in a neat tower — to illustrate the potential savings Republicans want to see.

You can read more from Colorado Newsline here and CPR here.

Also from the Gold Dome…State Rep. suing Lyft to do more for passenger safety, after assault by driver.

According to CPR, Democratic State Rep. Jenny Willford of Northglenn is suing the ride share company Lyft in an effort to improve passenger safety after she said she was raped by a Lyft driver last year. Willford told the details of her story for the first time publicly during a press conference announcing the suit in the Capitol’s west foyer on Tuesday. She wants to force the company to enact new security measures to guard against counterfeit drivers in particular.

Willford’s attorney, former Democratic Senate President Morgan Carroll, said the company has failed to address a systemic problem of imposter and fake drivers’ accounts. She described a practice known as “account renting,” when one person goes through a background check to create a legitimate account that is then used by a different driver.  “It is usually exactly because a person cannot pass the background check that they’re using these imposter or rented accounts in order to pick people up for money,” said Carroll.

In a statement to CPR News, a spokesperson from Lyft said “Safety is fundamental.”

You can read more from CPR here and CBS News here.

Even more from the Gold Dome…Colorado House committee advances psilocybin bill, pending FDA approval.

Via Colorado Politics, a panel of Colorado lawmakers approved a bill that would legalize synthetic psilocybin medications for certain conditions, contingent upon approval by the FDA.

Crystalline polymorph psilocybin has been proven effective at treating conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and treatment-resistant depression, according to bill sponsors Reps. Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, and Kyle Brown, D-Louisville.  Hartsook, a retired lieutenant colonel, said he has known several soldiers who have been helped by psilocybin treatments.

“I’ve seen firsthand the cutting-edge technology in the military that’s been passed on to the civilian sector to work in treating PTSD and TBIs. There’s a whole laundry list,” he told the House Health and Human Services committee. “This bill is designed to add another tool to the toolkit for psychiatrists, psychologists, MDs, and counselors in the treatment of PTSD and TBIs.”

You can read more from Colorado Politics here.

From the great outdoors…New Colorado wolf capturing effort begins amid objections to reintroduction program.

As reported by Colorado Newsline, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff have started capturing a second round of gray wolves to be released in Colorado in the coming weeks.  The state can capture up to 15 wolves from British Columbia, Canada. They will then be distributed in Garfield, Eagle or Pitkin counties. Capture operations started on Friday and can last for up to two weeks.

A news release from CPW said adding more wolves to the existing population in Colorado will increase the likelihood of pairing, breeding and pack formation. When established packs start to defend territories, CPW will be able to better monitor the wolves’ patterns and better collaborate with livestock producers.

You can read more from Colorado Newsline here.

Around the state…Colorado’s top-performing cities, ranked.

According to Axios, five Colorado cities are among 2025’s 50 best-performing nationwide, according to Milken Institute’s annual report ranking metros across a range of economic factors.

These metros boast strong job and wage growth, thriving tech sectors and access to economic opportunities. Colorado Springs again led the state’s list at No. 5 among best-performing large cities in the U.S. — its highest ranking yet — up from 15th in 2024. The study credited its labor market, tourism industry (boosted by its natural beauty), economic resilience and broadband coverage.

• Fort Collins climbed to 21st from 29th last year.
• Denver landed at 29th, falling from 20th in 2024.
• Boulder improved to 41st from 47th.
• Greeley made a major leap, coming in at 48th from 93rd the year prior.

Despite the strong performance of its cities, the report noted “the state of Colorado suffers from deteriorating availability of affordable housing.”

You can read more from Axios here.

Also from Colorado…Colorado’s home insurance market faces uncertain future.

Via Axios, wildfires raging in California are amplifying concerns surrounding Colorado’s already fragile home insurance market.

Colorado homeowners face some of the steepest home insurance rates in the nation — and growing threats of wildfires and other extreme weather could trigger higher costs or coverage loss altogether. Colorado homeowners face the fourth-highest insurance price tags nationwide, averaging about $4,600 annually, per Insurify, an insurance shopping and comparison website. Premiums jumped 58% from 2018 to 2023, data from the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association shows. Meanwhile, more than 321,000 Colorado homes face moderate or higher wildfire risk, with potential reconstruction costs of $141 billion, according to analytics firm CoreLogic.

A new University of Colorado Boulder study on the 2021 Marshall Fire revealed 74% of affected homeowners were underinsured, with 36% severely underinsured — covering less than 75% of replacement costs.

You can read more from Axios here.

From Colorado via DC…Colorado Republicans condemn Canadian wolf relocation, say state program is ‘dysfunctional.’

As reported by Colorado Politics, Colorado’s GOP caucus in Washington, D.C. and Republicans at the state Capitol in Denver sharply criticized the state’s wildlife officials over news that Canadian wolves have been brought into the state over the weekend, decrying the move as “rushed” and “dysfunctional.”

A plane believed to be carrying wolves from Prince George, British Columbia, to the Eagle County Airport landed on Sunday and returned to British Columbia.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials will neither confirm nor deny that Sunday’s cargo included wolves, but videos shot by observers showed three CPW trucks, including two with animal cages, along I-70 west of Glenwood Springs on Sunday evening. The wolves’ whereabouts are unknown, but CPW had previously said the second round of relocations would be in one of three counties — Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin.

You can read more from Colorado Politics here.

Here we go…Rubio, Ratcliffe, Bondi and Duffy appear for Senate confirmation hearings.

Via The Associated Press, Senate hearings are scheduled this week for several of Trump’s cabinet picks including Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Pam Bondi for attorney general. Many nominees have met with senators individually. Now, they’ll go before the committees overseeing the agencies Trump wants them to run.

Who’s expected today? Wednesday’s hearings include Pam Bondi for the Justice Department, Sean Duffy for the Transportation Department, John Ratcliffe for the CIA, Marco Rubio for the State Department, Chris Wright for the Energy Department and Russell Vought for the Office of  Whose hearings have already happened? Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary, had his hearing on Tuesday. It came after weeks of meetings during which some senators have questioned his fitness for the role amid allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct.

You can read more from AP here.

From Washington DC…Four takeaways from Hegseth’s confirmation hearing.

According to The New York Times, Pete Hegseth’s four-hour hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday was strikingly contentious.

Democrats derided him as blatantly unqualified to oversee the Defense Department’s three million employees and $849 billion budget. Republicans acknowledged that he was an unconventional pick, but said he was just what the Pentagon needed. And Senator Joni Ernst, the Iowa Republican who is an influential member of the panel, said after the hearing that she had been won over.

Here are four takeaways from the hearing:

• Hegseth looks as if he has the votes to get out of committee.
• Hegseth portrayed his life as a redemption story.
• He faced fierce queries about his views on women in combat.
• Republicans praised his communication skills, honed as a television anchor.

You can read more from NYT here and The Hill here.

From Congress…U.S. Senate moves ahead with immigration bill expanding detention for theft, shoplifting.

Via Colorado Newsline, the U.S. Senate Monday voted to proceed with consideration of a bill that would impose new mandatory immigration detention requirements for immigrants charged with property crimes and give broad legal standing to state attorneys general.

In an 82-10 vote, a majority of Senate Democrats, 32, and one independent, joined Republicans.

Nine Democrats voted against the bill, S. 5, including Sens. Tina Smith of Minnesota, Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Andy Kim and Cory Booker of New Jersey, Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders also opposed it.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on the Senate floor that the bill, named after 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, is “a common sense measure that should be an unquestioned yes for every senator.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor that Democrats are “gonna ask our Republican colleagues to allow for debate and votes on amendments. I hope my Republican colleagues will allow for it.”

You can read more from Colorado Newsline here.

Also from Congress…California Democrat hits FEMA over assistance claim denials.

As reported by The Hill, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), whose district has been damaged by the Eaton Fire, criticized FEMA for reportedly rejecting disaster assistance claims because of a lack of insurance information.

“I am hearing about frustrations with FEMA because they have done what we asked, which is to sign up on the disasterassistance.gov site, and then some of them have gotten denied approvals or non-approvals,” Chu said about her constituents in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill” on Tuesday. In the interview, Chu sought to reassure her constituents that FEMA does, in fact, have the resources to help them, and she encouraged residents to continue trying to get the help they need.

You can read more from The Hill here.

A contentious House vote…U.S. House passes bill banning trans athletes from competing in women’s school sports.

Via Colorado Newsline, a measure that would bar transgender students from participating on women’s school sports teams consistent with their gender identity passed the U.S. House on Tuesday.

The legislation — which advanced 218-206 — came as an increasing number of states have passed laws banning trans athletes from participating in sports in K-12 schools and colleges that align with their gender identity and amid a wider GOP-led push to enact anti-trans legislation. President-elect Donald Trump, set to be sworn in Jan. 20, repeatedly pledged on the campaign trail that he would ban transgender youth from participating in school sports that align with their gender identity.

Almost all U.S. House Democrats opposed the measure, but two Texans — U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez — voted for it. North Carolina Democratic Rep. Don Davis voted “present.”

You can read more from Colorado Newsline here.

On immigration…Immigration lawyers fear Laken Riley bill could have broad impact as Trump takes office.

According to Colorado Newsline, the U.S. Senate this week is moving to pass a bill that immigration attorneys and experts warn could have far-reaching ramifications, such as swamping federal courts with challenges by state attorneys general and subjecting some migrants — including children and teens — to rapid detention and deportation.

The legislation, the Laken Riley Act, S. 5, would greatly expand detention of immigrants and give state attorneys general broad discretion to challenge federal immigration policy if enacted into law.

Experts are concerned that the bill would aid President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promise to enact mass deportations by requiring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to detain a noncitizen on an arrest, charge or conviction of petty theft — a response to the murder of the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student for whom the measure is named.

You can read more from Colorado Newsline here.

On the economy…Inflation ticks up to 2.9%, but underlying price gains are muted.

Via The Wall Street Journal, markets cheered a December inflation report that suggested underlying price pressures are easing, but the Federal Reserve still isn’t likely to cut interest rates anytime soon given President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for the economy.

The overall consumer-price index came in relatively hot, rising 2.9% over the year, the Labor Department said Wednesday. The index rose 0.4% from the previous month, driven by a 4.4% jump in gas prices. The so-called core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.2%, its smallest gain since July and less than the 0.3% increase expected by economists.

Investors homed in on the core prices, sending stocks and bonds higher. But the data aren’t significant enough to change Fed officials’ plan to hold interest rates steady while they await the tariffs, tax cuts and immigration crackdown that Trump has promised to deliver. The Fed meets in two weeks and has widely telegraphed that it is taking a break from rate cuts.

Wednesday’s numbers punctuate a challenging year for U.S. policymakers anxious to declare victory over the high inflation that followed the Covid-19 pandemic. The report was, in some ways, an example of investors excited over numbers that were less bad than feared, rather than outright good. Overall inflation remains well above the Fed’s 2% target.

You can read more from WSJ here.

From the courts…Takeaways from the special counsel’s report.

As reported by Politico, Special counsel Jack Smith’s just-released report provides fresh insights into his bid to hold Donald Trump responsible for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Smith insisted he amassed enough evidence to win a conviction if the case had made it to trial, and he laid out a comprehensive compendium of the facts he might have presented to a jury. At the same time, his report struck a defensive tone, as he sought to explain why the case never made it that far.

You can read more from Politico here

From elections…The smallest initial Senate battleground ever?

Via Roll Call, the smallest initial Senate battleground in history (probably) is good news for Republicans (probably).

At this early stage of the 2026 cycle, Inside Elections rates just five senators as vulnerable, including three Democrats (Georgia’s Jon Ossoff, Michigan’s Gary Peters and New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen) and two Republicans (Maine’s Susan Collins and North Carolina’s Thom Tillis).

Recent cycles have shown a strong correlation between how a state votes for president and who it sends to the Senate, putting Ossoff, Peters and Collins in electoral danger because of the 2024 results (Donald Trump won Georgia and Michigan, while Kamala Harris won Maine). Harris won New Hampshire and Trump won North Carolina, but both states remain competitive.

You can read more from Roll Call here.

The latest from California…Los Angeles area on alert as high winds fan the flames.

As reported by NBC News, Southern California is braced for “extremely critical fire conditions” caused by a new period of Santa Ana winds today through tomorrow across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties as the battle to contain the raging blazes goes on.

The fires have killed at least 25 people and swept through 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area, destroying more than 12,300 structures. Firefighters are still working to contain the blazes. See maps of the fire areas and evacuation zones. The causes of the fires remain unknown, but investigators are focusing on a specific scorched slope to discover the origins of the largest of the blazes, the Palisades Fire. Los Angeles County has declared a public health emergency, warning that smoke and particulate matter could pose immediate and long-term threats.

You can read more from NBC News here.

Across the globe…The arrest of South Korea’s president will not end its crisis.

According to The Economist, The presidency of South Korea can be a treacherous job. Past office-holders have been impeached and even assassinated. But until January 15th, when investigators took Yoon Suk Yeol into custody, a sitting president had never been arrested.

Yoon’s detention on insurrection charges stems from his brief attempt to impose martial law early last month. Since that self-coup failed, Yoon has barricaded himself inside the presidential residence in central Seoul. The National Assembly impeached him on December 14th, temporarily suspending him from office and triggering a trial at the constitutional court. Separately, investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) also opened a criminal case against him. (Insurrection is an exception to presidential immunity in South Korea.)

The arrest brings the embarrassing standoff between different branches of the South Korean state to an end. But it is far from the finale in the unfolding drama.

You can read more from The Economist here.

And around the world…US, Qatar announce deal to halt fighting between Israel and Hamas.

As reported by Politico, the U.S. and Qatar announced Wednesday that Hamas and Israel have reached a deal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages.

In a statement, President Joe Biden said “it is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin” and celebrated that Americans kept hostage in Gaza “are being reunited with their families.” At a press conference in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani explained that the deal will take effect on Sunday and be implemented over the course of six weeks, or 42 days, as Israel withdraws militarily from Gaza toward positions near the border and humanitarian aid surges into the territory. Palestinian prisoners will also be released as part of the deal.

Multiple officials had reported that a deal had been clinched earlier Wednesday, only to be followed by a statement from Israel saying there were still details being negotiated.

You can read more from Politico here and CNN here.

That’s all for today. Please reach out with any questions. 

Best,

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