Highlights from the Legislature on Friday:
— The House gave tentative approval to a bill that would punish motorists who drive slow and leave five or more cars stuck behind them in traffic. Under the proposed law (House Bill 1042), violators could be punished with a $50 fine and three points on their licenses. Opponents say large trucks would have a hard time complying on narrow mountain roads. It faces a third reading before it goes to the Senate.
— The House gave initial approval to a bill allowing military members and veterans to decide how to dispose of remains of their colleagues that have not been claimed (House Bill 1058).
— The Senate gave initial backing to a proposal (Senate Bill 1) that requires the state forester to detail which items must be covered in community wildlife preparation plans.
— Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, and Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, introduced a plan to raise more money for highway and bridge repairs by raising registration fees on all Colorado vehicles. The fees are based on weight and apply to everything from scooters to trucks and buses. Owners of passenger cars and smaller sport utility vehicles would pay $32 starting in July. The fee would rise to $41 a year later and then be adjusted according to inflation.
