Colorado lawmakers finish up 2019 legislative session

The Colorado Senate adjourned for the 2019 session just after 5 p.m., but the House continued their debates Friday evening with the final hours of the legislative session.

It was the first time in six years Democrats held the majority in the House, Senate, and Governor’s office. That resulted in some controversial bills passing, but not all. Of the hundreds of bills, here’s a quick look at the legislation that passed:

The red flag law, national popular vote, oil and gas regulations, reformed sexual education in schools and free full-day kindergarten — many of which passed with a Democratic majority.

Representative Daneya Esgar of Pueblo County said, “We’re not here to play politics, but we’re here to make policy. I really feel like we’ve been able to do some of that this year.”

Despite not having the majority, some Republicans have fought back, debating several bills.

Senator Owen Hill of El Paso County says, “I think I slowed things down and if we had not, if I had not stood strong, all of this would have passed through without rigorous debate.”

After long debates, here’s what didn’t make the cut.

Rent control, increased tobacco tax, and school immunization registration, repeal of the death penalty, and paid family leave.

Like we’ve seen in other sessions, some of those hot topic issues are bound to come back.

Controversial bills like drug decriminalization and legal sports betting passed their final hurdles hours ago.