Highlights from the Legislature on Tuesday:
— The House rejected Senate amendments and formed a conference committee to work out differences over a measure (House Bill 1083) to give more money to communities trying to cope with record oil and gas drilling. Supporters said Senate attempts to expand criteria for distribution to affected communities by considering the number of permits and production should be phased in.
— The House rejected Senate amendments and formed a conference committee to discuss differences over a bill (House Bill 1358) that exempt parent-teacher organizations from paying sales tax on fundraisers like bake sales and silent auctions. Supporters said there are now three bills on taxes that need to be reconciled before they can become law.
New bills:
— Bar illegal immigrants from pleading guilty to a charge that will allow them to avoid deportation. The measure (Senate Concurrent Resolution 4) would refer the question to voters in this fall’s election.
— Requiring the preservation of DNA evidence in cases where a person is sentenced to life in prison (House Bill 1397).
— Take interest on the money in the unclaimed property tourism promotion trust fund and put it in agriculture-related funds, including promoting agrotourism. (House Bill 1399).
