Highlights from the Legislature on Tuesday.
— The House approved a measure that would require judges to review decisions by district attorneys to prosecute 14- and 15-year-olds as adults. Supporters argued that prosecutors are elected officials who are under public pressure to be tough on crime. Opponents said judges also have to face voters, and there’s no evidence they would treat cases differently. The bill (House Bill 1208) goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments.
— The House approved a bill (House Bill 1269) that would create sales and use tax exemptions to encourage the harvesting of wood from salvaged trees killed by beetles. Supporters said such trees, which are dying from the infestation sweeping the state, are commercially viable for only three years. The bill goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments.
— The House approved to a bill that would require publishers to disclose the price of college textbooks, the history of substantive revisions to the textbooks and the estimated time the publisher intends to keep the textbooks on the market. The College Textbook Affordability Act (Senate Bill 73) goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments.
— The Senate gave final approval to requiring all pet shelters and rescue groups to spay or neuter cats and dogs before turning them over to new owners (House Bill 1185). New owners can also pledge to have the animal sterilized within 90 days but, if they fail to, the shelter can take the animal back.
— The Senate killed a measure (House Bill 1030) which would have freed farmers along the South Platte River from having to make up for water their wells took from the river before 1974. Without the bill, they’re responsible for replacing the water taken before and after 1974. It was the last of two bills proposed to help farmers along the river.
