Highlights from the Legislature on Friday:
— The House approved and sent to the Senate a measure (House Bill 1001) that would require large utility companies to generate nearly one-third of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. The bill is one of the top priorities this year for Gov. Bill Ritter.
— The House gave initial approval to a proposal to overhaul the Public Employees Retirement Association. The proposal (Senate Bill 1) would require employers and employees to pay more into the system, increase the retirement age for new workers from 55 to 60 years and limit annual cost of living increases for retirees. The bill faces a third reading.
— The House gave initial approval to a bill (House Bill 1188) that would ensure that licensed river outfitters can legally raft on historically floated rivers in Colorado.
— The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill (House Bill 1002) that would make it easier for low-income people to qualify for the earned income tax credit refund when the state has a tax surplus.
