Highlights from the Legislature on Tuesday:
— The Senate Appropriations Committee backed a proposal to spend $325,000 to study whether water from the Canterbury tunnel in Leadville is leaking into a mine pool that may lead to the contamination of a public water source (House Bill 1396). The state would review previous studies about the hydrology and geology there and research who owns what. Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Sedalia, said a fix, which could cost another $1 million or $2 million, wouldn’t be proposed until after the study is done in November. The bill now heads to the full Senate.
— The Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee killed a proposal (Senate Concurrent Resolution 8) that would have asked voters to get rid of the $5 bet limit at the state’s casinos. Casinos are working on a ballot initiative of their own that would open the door to raising the limit up to $100, expanding gambling hours and adding two new games—craps and roulette.
— Car insurance companies would have to offer $5,000 in medical coverage to their customers under a proposal (Senate Bill 11) given final backing by the Senate. It now heads to the House.
— The House Judiciary Committee without debate effectively killed a proposal (Senate Bill 164) that would have increased the amount juries can award in some medical malpractice suits. People who have been disfigured or impaired would have been able to sue for up to $1 million for their injuries although judges could allow jurors to award more money.
— Developers building subdivisions with 50 or more houses would have to show there is enough water to support the development under a measure (House Bill 1141) backed by the Senate. It now heads back to the House because of changes made in the Senate.
— The Senate gave initial approval to creating a donation checkoff on state tax forms to promote umbilical cord blood collection for blood banks (House Bill 1372). The blood would be used to help cure life-threatening diseases.
— The Senate voted 19-16 to back allowing people to register to vote online as long as their signature is already on record with the state, such as in the drivers license database. The bill, which now heads to the House, would also allow people to go online to change their address on their voter registration record, change their party or apply to be a permanent mail-in voter.
