Highlights from the Legislature on Tuesday:
— The House Transportation & Energy Committee approved a bill that would bar adults from talking on cell phones without handsfree devices while driving. The bill (House Bill 1094) would also impose a total ban on cell phone use for drivers younger than 18. It now goes to the Appropriations Committee to review the estimated $613,000 cost of enforcing the measure, which will be offset by $430,000 in revenue the first year.
— The House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee approved a bill (House Bill 1112) that would require state agencies to submit accurate financial estimates after Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton, said he and other lawmakers voted for a bill without knowing the true cost. The bill now goes to the full House for debate.
— The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill requiring carbon monoxide alarms to be installed on residential properties. The measure (House Bill 1091) would require all new homes and apartments to install CO detectors.
— The Senate Appropriations Committee backed a proposal to raise vehicle registration fees to pay for road and bridge repairs. Owners of passenger cars and many SUVs would pay an extra $32 this year and $41 the following year. After that, the fee would automatically increase with inflation. The measure (Senate Bill 108) now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
New bills:
— Extend health insurance coverage for an unmarried child from age 25 to 30 (Senate Bill 159).
— Make criminal justice records public unless authorities determine it would be contrary to the public interest (House Bill 1251).
— Allow residents to purchase out-of-state health insurance (House Bill 1256).
— Require disclosure of an existing home’s energy usage if the home is for sale (House Bill 1247).
— Create an office of dropout prevention in the state Department of Education (House Bill 1293).
— Order the Department of Revenue to immediately suspend the driver’s license of a person who fails to appear for a license suspension hearing (House Bill 1234).
— Allow neighbors to remove weeds, brush and trash from unoccupied residential property (House Bill 1235).
