Both Data Center Bills Killed

Lawmakers have rejected two dueling data center bills, leaving Colorado with no regulatory changes to the controversial industry after nearly a year of debate.

SB 26-102, an environmentalist-backed bill, would have required data centers to source up to 100% of their electricity from renewable energy, among other guardrails. The bill’s sponsor added a limited tax incentive as a compromise, but the effort died in committee Monday.

HB 26-1030, an industry-backed bill, would have paired more competitive incentives with less stringent energy requirements. That bill met a similar fate last week, when lawmakers voted to postpone it indefinitely.

There are 56 data centers in Colorado, though experts say the state does not have many of the large-scale facilities seen in neighboring states.

AI Compromise Law Passes

After two years of debate, delays, and revisions, lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a scaled-back rewrite of Colorado’s first-in-the-nation law regulating artificial intelligence, sending the measure to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk.

The updated bill requires businesses to notify consumers when AI is used for consequential decisions, such as hiring, loans, or housing, and give them a chance to appeal such decisions. The law would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, delayed from this June.

In its original form, the 2024 law mandated companies disclose how AI is used and conduct risk assessments aimed at preventing algorithmic discrimination, requirements the tech industry called unworkable. Failed attempts at revision led Polis to convene a working group, which recommended the framework in the new bill.

The bill passed the House and Senate in 57-6 and 34-1 votes, respectively, with broad bipartisan support. A spokesperson for Polis’ office said he plans to sign it into law.

Former Broncos QB Dies at 83

Craig Morton, a former Broncos quarterback who led the team to its first playoff appearance and Super Bowl, died in Mill Valley, California, on Saturday. He was 83.

Morton played 18 seasons in the NFL, quarterbacking the Broncos from 1977-82. In the 1977 season, he played through a painful hip injury during the AFC Championship win that sent Denver to Super Bowl XII.

In 1988, six years after retiring, Morton was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame. He’s third on the team’s all-time passing yards list, trailing only John Elway and Peyton Manning.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ DIA: In an update Tuesday, authorities identified the man killed by a Frontier Airlines jet Friday night as Michael Mott, 41, and said he died by suicide after walking onto the runway. (More)

➤ Statewide: Democrats abandoned a legislative effort to blunt a proposed ballot measure that would give Coloradans a constitutional “right to natural gas.” (See Details)

➤ Commerce City: Thick, black smoke could be seen across the metro Monday due to an electrical outage at the Suncor Energy refinery. (See Photos)

➤ Parker: A Denver lawyer says a jury awarded her client, a financial services executive, more than $24 million in a police misconduct lawsuit over his arrest by the town’s police department—possibly the largest police misconduct verdict in state history. (See Details)

➤ Denver will conduct a three-minute test of its outdoor warning sirens and wireless emergency alert system at 11 a.m. this morning. (See Details)

➤ Fruita: Police arrested a man around 2 a.m. Monday for allegedly using a sledgehammer to smash a store counter, food displays, and a glass display case inside a Maverik convenience store. (More)

Enjoy reading The Colorado Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ The Colorado Avalanche will advance to the Western Conference Finals tonight with a win over the Wild in Game 5 at Ball Arena. (How to Watch)

➤ The Denver Broncos will open the 2026 Monday Night Football schedule on Sept. 14 against the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes’ status remains uncertain after tearing his ACL and LCL last season. (More)

➤ Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland was named a finalist for the NHL’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award after building Colorado into a Stanley Cup contender and guiding the team to a 7-1 playoff start. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Homeowners are sitting on record levels of equity—averaging about $315,000—and many are using HELOCs to consolidate debt, fund renovations, or cover major expenses. But lender rates and fees can vary significantly. That’s why we created a simple HELOC matching tool that helps you find the right provider in under a minute. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Two bills that would have rolled back roughly $450 million in business tax breaks to fund a new family affordability credit were killed by the Senate Finance Committee on Monday. (See Details)

➤ The Kindred Resort, a $300 million luxury hotel and condominium project in Keystone, is expected to open by Memorial Day weekend. It features a 107-room hotel, 97 condos, four new restaurants, and a banquet hall. (See Details)

➤ Taco Bell Cantina, a Taco Bell brand with a unique menu, modern design, and alcoholic beverages, soft-opened its first-ever Colorado location at Denver International Airport last week. Alcohol service is expected later this summer, and an official ribbon-cutting is planned for June. (See Details)        

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ SpaceX is expected to go public in June, but most investors won’t get direct IPO access. That’s why the Trading Tips Research Team created a free report highlighting seven publicly traded space stocks positioned to benefit from a potential $1.5 trillion SpaceX valuation. Discover the companies with real revenue, catalysts, and upside potential before the IPO.  

*By clicking this link you agree to receive emails from Trading Tips and our affiliates. You can opt out at any time. – Privacy Policy

Flying together with our sponsor

Lithium prices are up 2X+ since last summer, and Morgan Stanley forecasts an 80,000-ton shortage in 2026. In other words, those with a reliable supply are sitting pretty.

So it’s a big deal that EnergyX just commissioned the single biggest lithium production facility of its kind in the United States.

EnergyX’s patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods at 500X the speed of evaporation ponds. With this facility, they’re preparing to produce it at scale.

They’ve got nearly 150,000 acres of lithium-rich land spread across the Americas, including the rights to up to 9.8M tons in Chile alone.

➤ Littleton and Lafayette made a national list of the hottest suburbs attracting city dwellers. The 20 featured communities offer more space, a lower cost of living, a connection to city life, and more. (See List)

➤ Civic Center EATS, a food truck rally in Denver, kicks off its spring season today, showcasing 54 food trucks, up to 17 drop-ins, and a wide variety of cuisine every Wednesday and Thursday through June 25. (See Details)

➤ A man and his golden retriever service dog are traveling across the U.S. to bring hope and comfort to communities in distress. They arrived in Colorado last month and have made stops across the state. (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Your Joints Can Still Rebuild After 50. Most people accept joint pain as normal aging—but research says otherwise. A Tufts study found adults over 49 actually regrew knee cartilage using one natural peptide. By middle age, collagen drops by half. This helps your body rebuild what’s lost. Learn More

Do you remember the Broncos’ first Super Bowl appearance?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Which racquet sport would you rather play?

1. None: 21%
2. Pickleball: 17%
3. Table tennis: 15%
4. Tennis: 14%
5. Racquetball: 13%
6. Badminton: 12%
7. Other (tell us): 8%

In what Colorado city can you find a Taco Bell inside a remodeled 1930 home?

Show me the answer