Highlights from the Legislature on Tuesday.
— Republican and Democratic lawmakers sent Gov. Bill Ritter a strongly worded letter on Tuesday saying that proposed regulations for oil and gas production are “unacceptable” and would cripple the industry, which brings in $23 billion a year and employs 70,000 people in Colorado.
— Colorado lawmakers voted to tighten the rules for off-road vehicles despite objections that the state is taking away access to federal lands. The measure (House Bill 1069) would prohibit motor vehicles from using public lands, trails, or roads unless it’s authorized by a sign or other means. A violation would be a misdemeanor with a $100 fine. People who violate the law while hunting, fishing, trapping would also have 10 suspension points applied to their licenses.
— The House approved on a 55-10 vote a measure (House Bill 1111) requiring government agencies to display flags made in the United States.
— The House gave initial approval to a measure (House Bill 1189) to bar state employees from striking but doesn’t require violators to be fired.
— The Senate gave final approval to a proposal (Senate Bill 42) to give public trustees in 10 counties a $24,000 raise over three years because of the increase in their workload. They now earn $48,500. The raises would be for trustees in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pueblo, and Weld counties. The bill now goes to the House.
— The Senate approved the appointments of three people to the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority—Gregory J. Higel of Alamosa, Steven C. Harris of Durango and Stephen T. LaBonde of Grand Junction.
— The Senate approved the appointment of Eugene Lucero of Denver and Karen Weitkunat of Fort Collins to the State Housing Board.
— The Senate approved the appointment of Vicki Cowart of Denver and James R. Spaanstra of Lakewood to the Colorado School of Mines’ board of trustees.
New Bills Introduced
— Create the North American Aerospace Defense command commemorative license plate for NORAD based in Colorado Springs.
