DENVER – Nineteen bills received third reading, 24 second reading and 15 were scheduled for committee hearing in the Colorado General Assembly on Wednesday.

Bills read on the chamber floors included:

House Bill 1256, which would alter the statute regarding the minimum distance between schools and oil and gas equipment by requiring the distance be measured from the property line of a school rather than the school’s buildings, passed the House on third reading on a 38-27 party-line vote.Substantial debate and Republican opposition for the measure has come because many view it as an attack on drilling and property rights in Colorado by limiting the access to the minerals on private and public properties.

The measure will next head to the Republican-held Senate, and based on the reception it from the GOP its future is bleak.

HB 1174, which would create an exemption allowing rural counties, defined as those with a population less than 60,000, to create local improvement districts for the purpose of raising funding for deploying broadband infrastructure, passed unanimously by the Senate. It heads back to the House for a final look before being sent to the governor.

HB 1174, which would create an exemption allowing rural counties, defined as those with a population less than 60,000, to create local improvement districts for the purpose of raising funding for deploying broadband infrastructure, passed unanimously by the Senate. It heads back to the House for a final look before being sent to the governor.Bills heard by committee included:

HB 1242, which asks voters to approve the use of a combination of existing revenue and an increased sales tax to generate more than $650 million annually for the next 20 years for the expansion and maintenance of Colorado’s transportation infrastructure, was heard by the House Appropriations Committee. It passed on a 8-5 party-line vote that saw Democrats vote in favor.The bill now heads to the House.

Senate Bill 213, which would allow for vehicles with automated driving systems to navigate Colorado’s roads provided they met all state and federal driving safety laws, was heard by the House Transportation and Energy Committee and passed 12-1.The measure has already passed the Senate and now heads to the House floor for consideration.

lperkins@durangoherald.com