{"id":13941,"date":"2026-01-15T20:17:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T03:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-governor-delivers-his-final-state-of-the-state-speech\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T19:32:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:32:27","slug":"colorado-governor-delivers-his-final-state-of-the-state-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-governor-delivers-his-final-state-of-the-state-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado governor delivers his final State of the State speech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Gov.
Gov. Jared Polis delivered his final State of the State address in the House chamber of Colorado State Capitol building on Thursday in Denver. Polis used his final State of the State speech to highlight achievements made on housing, education and transportation over his tenure, work that he said would continue through his final year. (Hyoung Chang\/The Denver Post, pool)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

DENVER \u2012 Colorado Gov. Jared Polis delivered his final State of the State speech to the Legislature on Thursday morning, simultaneously taking a victory lap for his two terms in office and laying out his priorities for this year\u2019s lawmaking session.<\/p>\n

His 82-minute address covered the strides his administration made in housing, education, health care and the environment. As he spoke in front of a House chamber packed with lawmakers and state officials, his husband, child, parents, sister and dog, Gia, sat in the front row.<\/p>\n

Among achievements he touted were the establishment of universal preschool in the state, the Sundance Film Festival\u2019s upcoming move to Boulder, the elimination of a budget gap for public schools, housing affordability policies and the cutting of the state\u2019s income tax rate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to turning my bold agenda into a better daily life for Coloradans, we haven\u2019t always succeeded on our first try,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we\u2019ve always stepped back up to the plate, because that\u2019s what we do in Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Gov.
Gov. Jared Polis delivered his final State of the State address Thursday in Denver. (Hyoung Chang\/The Denver Post, pool)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cThe state of our state is strong,\u201d he said. \u201cResilient, loving, kind, innovative, free and ever bright with the promise of a Colorado for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Polis blasted the tenor of politics in Washington, D.C., and the decisions of the Trump administration when it comes to tariff policy and withholding federal money to the state. He said that while the state has defended about $900 million through the courts, there is still $1 billion lost or at risk from \u201cillegal Trump administration cuts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWashington Republicans, once the self-proclaimed party of states\u2019 rights and small government, today are too often the party of socialism, overreach and intrusion into people\u2019s daily lives in ways wholly out of the scope of government,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also criticized Trump\u2019s recent veto of a bipartisan bill to fund the Arkansas Valley Conduit project, which is planned to deliver clean water to cities east of Pueblo, and his denial of disaster relief funding for wildfires and flooding.<\/p>\n

Polis, who is term-limited, said he hopes his \u201ccommitment to a compassionate, kind Colorado for everyone\u201d will continue beyond his tenure as governor. Voters will choose his replacement this fall, and two heavyweight Democrats \u2013 Attorney General Phil Weiser and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet \u2013 are running for the seat. Whoever wins the Democratic primary election is likely to win the general election.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn words and actions, we must reject the politics of division and the poison of blind hatred by doubling down on respect, kindness, compassion and truly learn to disagree better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Trump administration\u2019s \u201ccostly and cruel immigration agenda is not the Colorado way,\u201d he said, noting that the majority of immigrants in detention centers do not have criminal convictions. In his address to lawmakers last year, he said he welcomed detention and deportation against immigrants with violent and dangerous criminal histories, but that was before Trump\u2019s mass deportation effort began.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our Colorado for all, we welcome immigrants and refugees who follow our laws and seek to build a better life here, who strengthen our economy and enrich our communities under the shelter of our democracy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Gov.
Gov. Jared Polis, center, leaves the House chamber after delivering his final State of the State address Thursday in Denver. (Hyoung Chang\/The Denver Post, pool)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Housing agenda<\/div>\n

Polis is once again hoping the Legislature can pass land-use and housing policy that would encourage more residential construction and ease the development process. Addressing the state\u2019s housing shortage has been a major theme for him, especially since winning reelection in 2022. A state analysis last year estimated Colorado has a shortfall of more than 100,000 homes, which leads to escalating costs.<\/p>\n

In previous years, he has signed laws that automatically allow accessory dwelling units on many properties, alter the construction defect liability statute, ease the construction of modular housing and authorize a single staircase in apartment buildings.<\/p>\n

This year, he wants to give local governments resources to build housing near transit and also improve local bus and train stations. He also gave a shoutout to a bill that would let schools, transit agencies and certain nonprofits build housing on unused land they own. A similar bill that also would have included faith organizations like churches did not pass last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe so often hear folks saying, \u2018Yes we need more housing, but it needs to be affordable,\u2019\u201d Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Fort Collins Democrat running this year\u2019s bill, said Thursday at the Capitol. \u201cWhat we\u2019ve done this year is really prioritize those pieces to empower nonprofits or public housing authorities to utilize the administrative review process to build housing at a process that is faster.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rising Medicaid costs<\/div>\n

Polis doubled down on his pitch to sell Pinnacol Assurance, the state\u2019s workers\u2019 compensation insurer, in order to raise money for programs at risk during a tight budget year, such as the senior homestead exemption. Lawmakers did not go for the privatization plan last year.<\/p>\n

On health care, he emphasized that Colorado cannot afford to grow its Medicaid program at its current rate. The program is a primary driver in the state\u2019s budget shortfall. Since last year\u2019s legislative session Polis tapped a consulting agency to study the state\u2019s strategy and suggest policy ideas to ease the fiscal burden. He also wants lawmakers to raise the Medicaid budget next fiscal year by less than it needs to maintain current service.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is that health care expenses are rising far faster than the rest of our budget,\u201d he said. \u201cWe must take action to bring Medicaid costs to a sustainable level and protect access for the 1.2 million Coloradans who rely on Medicaid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Gov.
Gov. Jared Polis, center right, hugs his partner, Marlon Reis, Thursday in the House chamber of Colorado State Capitol building in Denver. (Hyoung Chang\/The Denver Post, pool)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

At the same time, he said states cannot solve the problem on their own, and he called for Congress to work toward a structural change to the nation\u2019s health care system, such as a social insurance model like the proposed Medicare for All.<\/p>\n

Declines to answer Tina Peters questions<\/div>\n

Regarding the state\u2019s environmental policy, Polis reaffirmed his commitment to achieving 100% clean energy, and he said emerging technologies will need to be considered to meet environmental goals. Colorado did not meet its greenhouse gas emission goal at the end of last year. He tied climate issues with transit needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve made progress, but the reality is that until we have a world-class metro-area transit agency, we cannot meet our climate or affordability goals,\u201d he said. \u201cThis begins with governance changes, increased accountability and transparency and a stronger partnership between the cities it serves and the transit agency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Polis finished his final speech at the Capitol by encouraging lawmakers to pass bills they know he will agree with, such as lowering the state income tax and supporting cryptocurrencies. He vetoed a personal record-setting 11 bills last session, and he joked about handing out commemorative veto pens to bill sponsors.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn issues you know I disagree with you on, let\u2019s work together to find agreement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

One topic he did not mention during his address was whether he is considering granting clemency to Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk convicted of felonies related to a breach of the security of her election system. He told CBS News last week that Peters\u2019 nine-year sentence is \u201charsh.\u201d Trump has repeatedly called for Peters\u2019 release from state prison and even issued her a pardon, despite not having the power to forgive state-level convictions.<\/p>\n

Polis repeatedly declined to answer reporters\u2019 questions after his speech about whether he has spoken with the Trump administration about a pardon or sentence reduction for Peters. He did say he had not spoken with the administration about releasing Peters in exchange for something else.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so many people who have opinions on clemency, but I\u2019m the one who decides and weighs the actual factors in the crime and sentence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell, a Colorado Springs Republican, said the speech\u2019s tone was misaligned with the everyday experience of Coloradans. Polis made repeated pop-culture references, as he often does, and the overall mood was retrospective and celebratory.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hear farmers and ranchers mentioned two times in the whole speech, but Taylor Swift getting mentioned three times. Our constituents aren\u2019t OK with that,\u201d he said. \u201cThey see the governor making jokes while they\u2019re struggling to pay bills, they can\u2019t afford their utilities and they\u2019re losing their jobs. They don\u2019t find it funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

To read more stories from Colorado Newsline, visit www.coloradonewsline.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Gov.
Gov. Jared Polis delivered his final State of the State address Thursday in Denver. (Hyoung Chang\/The Denver Post, pool)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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