DENVER – The Colorado Senate was stricken with a series of tasty puns Tuesday morning while discuss a hot piece of legislation that is sure to burn our New Mexican neighbors.
House Bill 1012, which would create a special Pueblo green chile license plate, was passed on a 29-6 vote despite groans of dissatisfaction at the lack of the Senate’s traditional decorum.
Perhaps Sen. Matt Jones, D-Louisville, said it best. “I must regretfully say I’m going to vote yes for this saucy number.”
Besides sending a shot across New Mexico’s bow, Tuesday’s work included seven bills passing third reading, 24 receiving second reading and 28 going before committees.
HB 1203, which would allow local governments to level a special tax on retail marijuana if voters approved it, was passed by the Senate, 19-16, and heads back to the House for a final look before being sent to the governor to be signed into law.HB 1188, which would update bias-motivated crime statute by including harassment based on sexual orientation and physical or mental disability, is also headed to the governor after it was passed by the Senate, 23-12.HB 1186, which would require insurers to cover a year supply of contraceptive medicines, and Senate Bill 202, which would transfers funds from the Species Conservation Trust Fund to programs looking to protect native species that are endangered or at risk, were adopted by the Senate upon second reading and will receive a final vote in the coming days.In the House, two bills dealing with campaign financing, HB 1261, which would require all electioneering ads list who funded them, and HB 1262, which would expand the period during which expenditures on advertising must be reported, were approved upon second reading despite Republican opposition.The GOP argued that the bills would negatively affect Coloradans free speech by removing their ability to promote, or criticize, a candidate anonymously.
Included in the bills heard by committees was HB 1242, which uses a combination of existing revenue and a sales tax increase to raise money for transportation infrastructure expansion and maintenance.HB 1242 was heard by the Senate Transportation Committee and passed on a 3-2 vote, which saw Sen. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs, side with Democrats in favor of the measure.
While in committee the transportation measure faced multiple amendments, including one to reduce the sale tax increase from .62 percent to .50 percent, and a reduction on the percentage of the revenue the bill generates that is earmarked for multimodal projects.
HB 1242 heads to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.
lperkins@durangoherald.com
