Highlights from the Colorado Legislature on Friday:
— Gov. John Hickenlooper signed 12 bills into law, including a new age limit for possession of electronic cigarettes (House Bill 1016) and new rules allowing schoolchildren to carry their own prescription medication at school under certain circumstances (Senate Bill 12).
— The governor also announced he would sign a youth concussion bill into law next week. Senate Bill 40 requires recreation youth sports coaches and middle school sports coaches to receive online training about recognizing possible head injuries.
— House and Senate budget negotiators announced they’re at an impasse over sales taxes and whether some should be returned to businesses. The delay prompted the Senate to cancel business Monday, and lawmakers were told the debate over next year’s budget will likely be delayed a week.
— Democrat Sen. Irene Aguilar was involved in a hit-and-run car accident on the way to the Capitol. She was unhurt, but her delay required a conference committee on exercise in schools to be delayed until next week.
— Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty assigned the Senate bill allowing same-sex civil unions to the House Judiciary Committee. The bill’s prospects weren’t clear.
— State lawmakers joined U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet in calling for additional federal aid to fight wildfires.
— An ethics review panel in the Senate reviewing Democratic Leader John Morse’s per diem requests met for the first time, but took no action. The panel has three more weeks to decide whether to dismiss the complaint against Morse or send it to the full Senate.
— Lawmakers from both chambers heard about Colorado air quality rules in a review requested by Republicans.
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New bills:
— Changes payday lending restrictions (House Bill 1290).
— Allows state health authorities to take over the water supply structures on the state register of historic properties or nominated for the register (House Bill 1289).
