There is no doubt that most of our attention is currently turned toward Washington, D.C. On Monday, Donald Trump was sworn into office for the second time and immediately got to work upending many political and societal norms. The barrage of breaking news updates from the White House has been ceaseless since then.

But lest we forget, Colorado’s own legislative session kicked off earlier this month — and there is a lot more hope for a productive and civil term in Denver’s Capitol.

To be sure, divisive partisan politics are certainly present in our state politics. Thankfully, though, they have not fully taken over like they seem to have at the national level. Meaning it is, generally speaking, much easier to be hopeful about our local politics than it is to be about anything under Trump’s reckless purview.

That is one reason why it is as important as always to keep a close eye on Colorado’s Capitol to ensure our leaders do as much as they can for us in their short legislative window.

One of our lawmakers’ top priorities must be to do what they can to protect Coloradans from any of Trump’s initiatives that might prove harmful. Making sure our state is prepared to push back against any egregious and dehumanizing deportation efforts is vital. So too is ensuring that women have equitable access to the reproductive care they need and that LGBTQ and trans individuals are treated with dignity and respect and that their rights are protected. Similarly, finding ways to maintain Colorado’s status as a climate leader is essential, no matter how much political inertia is put into Trump’s “drill, baby drill” policy.

The list of individuals and communities that might end up needing protection from harmful federal policies is likely to expand — Trump has been signing executive orders at a rate so overwhelming it is hard to keep track of them all. But as his policies and initiatives take shape, it is imperative that our state leaders do whatever possible to protect the most vulnerable among us and to fight to safeguard the health of our planet for future Coloradans — no matter what Washington attempts.

Beyond remaining reactive to the new presidential administration, the Legislature must also be proactive in addressing Colorado’s budget shortfall — without decimating funding to the departments and institutions that are essential to residents. A quarter of a billion dollars is a big hole, but for a state our size, it is not unmanageable. Still, when it comes to many programs and services the government provides, no cuts are easy.

Finding common sense cuts that minimize impacts on Coloradans is imperative. But even more important is taking the time to step back and examine the very nature of our state budget to prevent such cuts from being necessary in the future.

Other priorities that lawmakers must address this term are more perennial issues: housing affordability, property insurance, firearms and workers’ rights.

One persistent roadblock in our housing market is Colorado’s construction defects laws.

The Construction Defect Action Reform Act was signed into law in 2003 and led to a massive decrease in the construction of condos around the state. Condos, of course, are among the best housing options for first-time buyers.

The purpose of the Construction Defect Act was to protect homebuyers and lower the number of construction defect lawsuits. Such consumer protection is vital and lawmakers should be careful not to do away with it completely. But the reality is that the increased construction insurance costs associated with the defect act has made building condos unappealing. Twenty-one years since it was passed, we are desperately hurting for just the sort of middle housing that condos can provide.

Despite failing on the House floor last year, construction defect reform has bipartisan support. Lawmakers must find a well-balanced fix to this law to remove red tape and bring condos back to Colorado.

Before wildfire season returns this summer, our leaders must also start exploring how to address our state’s burgeoning property insurance crisis. Insurance rates have shot up nearly 60% in five years and some insurers have simply jumped ship and exited our wildfire-prone state.

Last session, lawmakers created the FAIR Plan, an insurance plan of last resort, which will cover up to $750,000 for property owners who can’t get insurance elsewhere. Now, in the wake of several devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Colorado leaders must closely watch how things shake out for California’s insurer of last resort (which is also called the FAIR Plan) to make sure our FAIR Plan is prepared for the next disaster.

And with any new legislative session, it is worth our representatives vying to make more progress on gun control. Several firearms-related bills have already been introduced, but one piece of common sense legislation stands out: House Bill 1062.

Current Colorado law bases penalties for firearm theft on the value of the gun. This bill would make the theft of any firearm a Class 6 felony. Research has shown that lost or stolen guns are more likely to be used in crimes than guns obtained legally. It’s a small detail bill, but one that could have a meaningful impact on gun violence in Colorado.

Finally, with the new session underway, it is essential that our lawmakers lead with civility and remember that in their service they are role models for how we as a society should conduct ourselves in politics. Some recent legislative sessions have been bogged down with toxicity, which limits productivity and only serves to reinforce needless partisan divisions.

It is a fundamental truth that not everyone will agree on everything. But it cannot be a sin to compromise. It cannot be a failure to work together. Democrats in Colorado’s Legislature may have a strong majority, but that does not mean that our government cannot be one of collaboration and compromise. Ideas and initiatives are sharpened by dissent and disagreement.

The road ahead is both promising and potentially perilous. Colorado is facing real issues — the whims of an imprudent presidential administration, a budget deficit, a housing crisis, a changing climate — but if we work together, we have the ability to address problems and ensure that our state continues thriving.

— Gary Garrison for the Editorial Board