Highlights from the Colorado Legislature on Wednesday:
— Republican Rep. Randy Baumgardner, who sponsored an Arizona-style crackdown on illegal immigration, said he’s backing off the effort because he worries it would cost taxpayers if it is challenged in court.
— The Senate Appropriations Committee restored money for free breakfasts for needy children. The move was cheered by Democrats and school nutritionists and now heads to the full Senate.
— The House approved a bill lawmakers say will make Colorado’s initiative process more transparent by requiring that a ballot proposal’s two representatives attend the meeting where the measure is cleared to be on the ballot. The proposal’s representatives would also have to specify when they collected signatures for the proposal and how much money they’ve spent on the process. House Bill 1072 now goes to the Senate.
— The House rejected a bill (House Bill 1054) to require the Regional Transportation District, which serves Denver, to contract out at least 50 percent of its bus service. RTD managers say contracting saves money, though some Democrats say the private contractors are given an unfair advantage.
— Newspapers in Colorado won another round in their battle to retain legal-notice requirements for county governments when the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee rejected Senate Bill 97, which would have allowed Colorado counties to publish legal notices online if they prefer, instead of paying a newspaper to print the ads.
— A GOP proposal to expand “Make My Day” self-defense laws to businesses as well as homes (Senate Bill 77) was rejected by the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
New bills:
— Prohibits edible medical marijuana (House Bill 1250).
— Allows law enforcement vehicles to exceed tinted-window limits (House Bill 1251).
— Sets up a review of Colorado’s regulations (Senate Bill 167).
— Allows the Secretary of State to investigate whether a voter is a citizen (House Bill 1252).
