Max's Minute | Blogspot

Senate Resolution ( SJR25-006 ) Condemning President Trump for the January 6 Issurection Pardons divided Colorado by turning justice into a partisan weapon. This resolution - introduced on the Colorado House floor on Friday - shifted the focus from real issues to political blame, distracting you from the challenges you face every day. It targeted a controversial pardons decision instead of addressing the costly errors of past legislation that have left many Coloradans struggling financially and unable to reach their full potential. Your government should work to fix policies that contribute to rising crime, unchecked illegal migration, and economic hardship. Lawmakers were elected to tackle these problems, not to engage in partisan finger-pointing that erodes trust and divides communities. Instead of confronting the practical issues that affect your safety and financial stability, the resolution fuels political battles that do nothing to solve the problems you and your neighbors experi...

The Colorado General Assembly passed HB25-1133 , a bill that would ban the sale of ammunition to anyone under 21 years old. As a staunch defender of constitutional rights and a representative of the people, I find it deeply troubling - not just because it's unconstitutional, but because a bipartisan amendment was added to the bill that exposes a fundamental truth that cannot be ignored. In a rare bipartisan effort, the Majority Leader, Representative Monica Duran (D-HD23), and the Minority Leader, Representative Rose Pugliese (R-HD14), introduced Amendment L.037. This amendment carves out an exemption for individuals under 21 who are identified as "protected persons" in a protection order.  In other words, if a young adult has a protection order against someone who may do them harm, they become the exceptions allowed to purchase ammunition for self-defense. This amendment, while intended as a compromise, actually highlights the very principle the Second Amendment was writ...

House Bill 25-1133 - a bill that prohibits the sale of ammunition to anyone under the age of 21 - should have died in the Business Affairs & Labor Committee. The votes were there to stop it. The arguments against it were clear and compelling. Yet, in a blatant act of political manipulation, the majority party ensured its passage by swapping out a "no" vote from their party for a member who had already signaled she would vote “yes.” When faced with losing a bill deemed “important” because its primary sponsor holds a leadership position in the majority party, they simply changed the committee’s makeup to guarantee the outcome they wanted. This is not how representative government should function. The bill itself is a direct infringement on the Constitutional rights of 18-20-year-old citizens. During the hearing, supporters argued that younger citizens could stand not exercising their rights in this instance. But that’s not how rights work. An 18-year-old can vote, enter in...

As the State Representative for District 45, I stand in unwavering support of Senate Bill 25-047 , a bill that restores common sense and accountability to Colorado's law enforcement agencies. This legislation is not about politics; it is about ensuring the safety of every law-abiding Colorado resident by empowering law enforcement to do their jobs without unnecessary state-imposed barriers. For too long, Colorado has been shackled by laws that have turned our state into a sanctuary for illegal migrants who commit crimes. These laws do not protect the hardworking men and women of our communities; they protect criminals who operate with impunity under the veil of sanctuary policies.  Senate Bill 25-047 seeks to correct this dangerous precedent by allowing law enforcement to communicate freely with federal immigration authorities when they arrest individuals who are in this country illegally and have committed crimes. This bill does not encourage or mandate racial profiling or mass de...

SB25-003, the so-called " Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices " bill, has passed its second reading in the Colorado Senate and is now on its way to a third. Along the way, it has been amended multiple times, adding layers of complexity and, critically, a massive price tag that now requires a fiscal note. This is where the bill will collapse under the weight of its own reckless ambition. The reality is this: SB25-003 is not just unconstitutional - it is fiscally indefensible. An Unaffordable Power Grab This bill is a sweeping attempt to criminalize law-abiding gun owners under the false pretense of public safety, but in doing so, it creates an entirely new law enforcement agency under the Department of Revenue - one that the state simply cannot afford to implement or sustain. Let’s look at the numbers: The Department of Natural Resources will need $550,000 in FY 2025-26 and another $275,000 annually after that. The Department of Public Safety will require $1.8 mill...

HB24-1353, titled " Firearms Dealer Requirements & State Permitting ," imposes additional regulations on firearm dealers within the state. The Department of Revenue (DOR) has requested 18 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions in this budget cycle to enforce the new law. This expansion comes with a price tag of over $2 million, contributing to the financial strain on an already overextended state budget. The redundancy of HB24-1353 becomes evident when considering existing federal regulations. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) already mandates stringent requirements for firearm dealers, including comprehensive background checks, meticulous record-keeping, and adherence to federal licensing standards. HB24-1353 essentially duplicates these federal protocols, creating unnecessary bureaucratic layers without delivering any measurable improvement in public safety. This brings us to my bill, HB25-1055 a straightforward repeal of HB24-1353. Contrary t...

The proposed Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) project has been touted by its supporters as a transformative initiative for Colorado's transportation system. However, a closer look reveals this is less about progress and more about wasteful spending, social engineering, and government overreach at taxpayers' expense. The fundamental question we must ask is: Do we even need this rail? The data says no. According to the U.S. Census, only 4% of Denver commuters currently use mass transit. Despite this, the FRPR has provided no concrete data to justify the necessity of a multi-billion-dollar passenger rail system. This is a solution in search of a problem - a costly endeavor being pushed without proven demand. A Partisan Push for Social Engineering Let’s be clear: the FRPR is a Democrat-driven initiative. Established by Governor Polis and state Democrats in 2021, it has been championed by Colorado's Democratic U.S. Senators and Representatives. Their vision isn't just about...