DENVER—Highlights from the Colorado Legislature on Thursday:
— Democrats and Republicans held rival public hearings on congressional redistricting after bipartisan talks broke down. Meanwhile, top members of both parties huddled behind closed doors in hopes of compromising on new district lines by the end of session next week.
— A health insurance exchange awaits the signature of Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper. The Senate agreed to small changes made by the House to the bill setting up a marketplace for individuals and small businesses shopping for health insurance (Senate Bill 200).
— A bill moving Colorado primaries to June, instead of August, is also headed to the governor. Senate Bill 189 is needed to give overseas and military voters more time to vote.
— The Republican House sided with Hickenlooper on a proposal to reorganize the Governor’s Energy Office so that fossil-fuel industries are included (House Bill 1312). Environmental groups oppose the change.
— The Senate gave final approval to a bill allowing farmers to prepare some foods for sale in home kitchens without having to use a commercial kitchen for food at low risk for contagion such as breads and jellies. Senate Bill 258 now heads to the House.
— A Senate committee approved a bill that would help some landowners appealing conservation-easement tax credits that were later denied. The Senate Finance Committee approved a measure (House Bill 1300) that would allow property owners to go directly to district court to dispute the state’s assessment, or give the state Department of Revenue three years to settle disputes administratively.
— The House gave preliminary approval to allow the secretary of state to create a training program for judges to handle business litigation (House Bill 1302). The proposal needs one more vote before going to the Senate.
— A Senate committee controlled by Democrats voted 3-2 to reject a GOP measure allowing payday lenders to charge nonrefundable loan origination fees (House Bill 1290).
