Max's Minute | Blogspot

As my first legislative session in the Colorado House of Representatives draws to a close, I’ve taken time to reflect on what this experience has revealed - both about the process of governance and the state of leadership in our Capitol. I came here with resolve, determined to serve the people of House District 45 with integrity, to bring forward thoughtful legislation, and to defend the values we hold dear. While I remain committed to that mission, this first session has been a sobering introduction to the dysfunction and deep partisanship that now pervade the People's House. There have been moments of genuine collaboration - instances where members across the aisle worked together to pass good legislation that will serve Colorado well. But those moments have been tragically few. More often, I’ve witnessed partisanship strangle commonsense bills, smothering solutions that could have eased burdens on families, safeguarded constitutional rights, and addressed real problems.  I’ve al...

On April 23, Governor Jared Polis raised the Mexican flag over the Colorado State Capitol. Just weeks earlier, on March 15, he raised the Canadian flag in the same place. These weren’t spontaneous gestures - they were the centerpieces of official proclamations declaring “Colorado-Mexico Friendship Day” and “Colorado-Canada Friendship Day.” But while the governor parades foreign flags above the people’s Capitol, Coloradans are drowning under rising costs, tax burdens, and constitutional infringements. Instead of focusing on the crises at home, Governor Polis is playing diplomat, using the Capitol - not as a symbol of the people’s sovereignty - but as a billboard for his personal political aspirations. Let’s call it what it is: a campaign stunt. While everyday Coloradans are worried about affording groceries, paying their property taxes, or holding onto their Second Amendment rights, the governor is busy setting the stage for his next political act - flirting with federal-level ambitions...

When SB25-003 was introduced, it was clear from the beginning that this legislation was not merely flawed - it was unconstitutional. This bill, now signed into law, criminalizes the future sale, transfer, and even possession of widely owned semiautomatic firearms and firearm components that law-abiding Coloradans use every day to protect themselves and their families. It redefines long-standing tools of self-defense as “dangerous weapons,” pushing the boundaries of both state and federal constitutional protections. Let me be clear: this was never a legitimate public safety bill. It was a political maneuver to erode your Second Amendment rights and test how far progressive lawmakers could push Colorado away from the Constitution. And House Republicans fought it every step of the way. What We Did We debated this bill for over 13 straight hours on the House floor - the longest debate of the session. We offered more than 30 substantive amendments to introduce real public safety measures, ...

Let’s call HJR25-1023 what it really is - a backdoor attempt to erase the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and overturn the will of the voters through the courts. TABOR has been upheld by Colorado voters time and again, and no resolution - however cleverly worded - should be used to nullify their voice.” This is the plain truth behind House Joint Resolution 25-1023, now under consideration at the Capitol. While its sponsors dress it up as a neutral legal inquiry into constitutionality, what it really seeks is permission from the courts to dismantle the very structure that protects Coloradans from unchecked government growth: the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR. Let’s be clear - this resolution isn’t about clarity. It’s not about good government. It’s about eliminating accountability and handing the State of Colorado a blank check. And that check will be drawn from the budgets of working families who are already living under the pressure of inflation, tax layering, and a cost of living that ke...

“Voters’ choice.” You’ve probably heard that phrase used over and over in this session to justify sweeping, top-down legislation at the State Capitol. But here’s the truth: the majority party only defends “voters’ choice” when it advances their agenda. When it comes to parental rights and local control, those same voices are quick to override the will of voters and communities across Colorado. Two bills this session - HB25-1309 and HB25-1312 - are clear and dangerous examples of how the Legislature is dismantling parental authority and local autonomy under the guise of progress. HB25-1309: Stripping Away Parents’ Say in School Curricula This bill effectively eliminates school board discretion over how comprehensive sexual education is taught in classrooms and cuts parents out of the conversation. It mandates what must be taught and how it must be taught and shuts down school districts that might want to reflect the values of their local communities. In Douglas County and Castle Rock,...

Governor Jared Polis has officially signed HB25-1003 into law, a bipartisan measure I was proud to co-sponsor alongside Representative Rebekah Stewart of Lakewood. This legislation represents a meaningful step forward in how Colorado supports children with complex medical needs and their families. HB25-1003 consolidates and simplifies two existing Medicaid waiver programs - the Children with Life-Limiting Illness (CLLI) Waiver and the Children’s Extensive Support (CES) Waiver - into a single streamlined waiver for children with complex health needs. This new waiver will provide continuous, coordinated care to children facing significant medical challenges while also reducing bureaucratic overlap and easing the burden on families navigating the system. Why It Matters Families caring for medically complex children already face a heavy emotional and financial load. Between juggling doctor visits, specialized therapies, medications, and in-home support, they often spend more time figh...