Now that the legislative session is over, and the deadline for the Governor’s action is two weeks past, let’s take a look at the results. We will not revisit the past reports—you can scroll down a little to re-view the ones not highlighted here..
First, here are the bills we noted that have become law by the Governor’s signature.
HB17-1174 Exempt Rural Telecommunications Local Improvement District Requirements WE OPPOSED—Government interference in private sector
HB17-1313 Civil Forfeiture Reform ANOTHER SAMPLE OF MISLEADING TITLE—THIS DEALS WITH REPORTS, NOT THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAW
HB17-1346 Land Sale To Fort Logan Cemetery A rare example of following the U.S. Constitution, Art.1 Sec.8, Clause 17b
HB17-1369 Bonds Persons Fail Appear Due Immigration Issues WE OPPOSED
SB17-062 Student Free Speech Public Higher Education Campuses WE APPROVED
SB17-260 Severance Tax Cash Fund Transfers To General Fund WE OPPOSED—REDUCES FUNDS MEANT TO AID LOCALITIES AFFECTED BY RESOURCE EXTRACTION
SB17-267 Sustainability Of Rural Colorado WE OPPOSED—TITLE IS MISLEADING—MAKES HOSPITAL USER FEE (A HIDDEN TAX) AN ENTERPRISE FUND, EXEMPT FROM TABOR
SB17-296 Financing Public Schools $6.585 BILLION OR OVER $7200 PER STUDENT, PLUS YOUR LOCAL ‘CONTRIBUTION’
SCR17-002 Real Estate Transfer Tax For Affordable Housing WE OPPOSED—WOULD PUT TO THE VOTERS A 1/10% TAX ON RECORDING A REAL ESTATE DEED, EXEMPT FROM TABOR, AND WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO ADJUST FUTURE RATES WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL
Two bills we took an interest in were ‘laid over to 5-11-2017’. Do you remember that the session ended on 5-10-2017?
SB17-303 State Highway System Funding And Financing WE OPPOSED
SB17-003 Repeal Colorado Health Benefit Exchange WE APPROVED
All the rest, good or bad, either died on the floor or were ‘postponed indefinitely’ in committee.