Highlights from the Colorado Legislature on Wednesday:
— The Senate gave final approval to a bill setting up a state health insurance exchange on a 20-15 party-line vote (Senate Bill 200).
— The Senate rejected a bill to regulate roofers (Senate Bill 207).
— The House Finance Committee voted 7-6 to prohibit any future estate tax (House Bill 1299). Colorado currently doesn’t collect an estate tax. The committee also approved a bill 7-6 to limit future general fund growth (House Bill 1280).
— Sponsors of this year’s medical marijuana regulation bill (House Bill 1043) said they’ll move ahead despite a warning from U.S. Attorney John Walsh that state marijuana regulation may put state employees afoul of federal law.
— The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to require tow-truck drivers to attach stickers to drivers’ windows alerting drivers that the vehicle is being towed after a tow truck driver was dragged to his death by a woman who drove off in her car (Senate Bill 260).
— A Senate committee rejected a Republican resolution making a declaration that the Legislature would oppose all tax increases.
