DENVER—Summary of major bills this session, according to Gov. Bill Ritter and state lawmakers:
Budget Reform
— House Bill 228—Increases the state’s rainy day reserve fund, allows for investment in transportation and infrastructure projects and replaces the existing 6 percent allocation formula with a new 5 percent personal income limit, which is tied to the economy so that when the economy recovers from a downturn, state services can recover. Pending.
Jobs and the Economy
— House Bill 1001—Provides tax incentives to businesses that create 20 or more jobs. Pending.
— Senate Bill 67—Provides small businesses with direct access to capital. Pending.
— Senate Bill 171—Strengthens the relationship between businesses, industry and community colleges by improving job training and retraining programs. Pending.
— House Bill 1276—Gives homeowners and their lenders 90 days to avoid foreclosure by working with certified mortgage counselors to regain solid financial footing. Pending.
Health Care
— House Bill 1293—The Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act provides coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans and makes healthcare more affordable by reducing uncompensated care and cost-shifting. Signed into law.
Transportation
— Senate Bill 108—Known as FASTER, dedicates $250 million a year to repairing unsafe bridges and maintaining roadways all across the state while creating alternative financing options to build new roads. Signed into law.
New Energy Economy
— House Bill 1149—Requires homebuilders to offer prospective homebuyers the option of having their home prewired for solar or having a system installed, making it easier to finance renewable energy with a home mortgage. Pending.
— House Bill 1312—Creates a loan program to help schools pay for renewable energy projects, as well as hybrid and electric buses. Pending.
— House Bill 1331—Provides tax credits for fuel-efficient vehicles. Pending.
— Senate Bill 51 – Provides treasury bonds to participating banks and lenders for renewable energy and efficiency projects. Signed into law.
Education
— House Bill 1319—Creates the nation’s first statewide dual enrollment plan that allows high school students to simultaneously earn a high school degree and a college associate’s degree. Pending.
House Bill 1243—Creates the Office of Dropout Prevention and Student Re-engagement to reduce the student dropout rates and increase graduation rates. Pending.
House Bill 1057—Allow parents to take time off from work to attend school functions for their children. Pending.
