SENATOR TRIES NEW TACK FOR TRANSIT FUNDS
A Republican state senator said Monday that a plan to direct more money to transportation projects is blocked.
Republicans have been unable to get permission from Democratic legislative leaders to offer a bill late in the session for the plan, said Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction.
The proposal would use the money freed up when a provision in the state’s constitution expires. That provision requires K-12 education funding to grow every year by inflation plus 1 percent.
Now, Penry said he will try to attach the plan to another bill — SB 244 — which would charge new fees on car registrations and rental cars to generate transportation funding when that bill goes before the full Senate as early as today.
Builders would need to ensure water supply.
A bill that would require builders to document the water available to quench a new development’s thirst is a step closer to becoming law.
House Bill 1141 passed the state Senate on second reading. It needs one more vote in the Senate.
The bill would require companies planning new housing developments larger than 50 homes to submit information about the availability and reliability of water going to that proposed development. Local governments would then be able to use that information to determine whether to approve the development.
Bill gains on petition circulators.
A bill requiring those gathering signatures on ballot-initiative petitions to be Colorado residents and without a rap sheet for felony sex offenses cleared the state House on Monday.
House Bill 1406 also would require petition proponents to report how much they pay signature gatherers and educate the gatherers so they present information about the petition honestly.
It next goes to the Senate.
