DENVER—Highlights from the Colorado Legislature on Wednesday:
— House Republicans gave preliminary approval to a bill exempting businesses from paying taxes on equipment bought in 2012 and 2013 (House Bill 1141). Democrats strongly objected to the bill, which faces another vote before going to the Senate.
— The Senate spent most of the day in separate Democratic and Republican caucuses to review the proposed 2011-12 state budget. The Senate Appropriations Committee planned to start work on the bill Thursday, with final passage possible as soon as next week.
— The House gave final approval to a bill allowing counties to seek federal money for social services. House Bill 1196 also requires the state Department of Human Services to consider a county’s expenditures on preventative services and the number of families served when determining the annual child welfare funding allocation to counties. The bill now heads to the Senate.
— The House rejected a bill authorizing local governments to include a community health element in their master land use plan or comprehensive plan. Republicans called Senate Bill 63 unnecessary.
— Several cancer survivors gathered outside the Capitol to decry the budget agreement to steer tobacco tax money used on preventive cancer screenings to the large general fund for use on Medicaid. A final decision on the tobacco money has not been made.
— House members wore plaid—and some men even wore kilts—to honor Scottish heritage in an annual observance. House members opened the session with live bagpipes.
— Both chambers paused in remembrance of World War I.
