Well, they’re back. Here are just a few of the first 67 bills introduced in the House Thursday and Friday. Who knew that we needed to add to the many thousands of laws already on the books? Senate review will follow in a day or two.
HB22-1001 Reduce Fees For Bus(iness) Filings
This bill does nothing to reduce business related fees that does not already exist in law
HB22-1002 Fifth Year High School Concurrent Enrollment
Raises the number of enrollees and reduces eligibility requirements
HB22-1004 Driver License Fee Reduction
We will discuss this at the end of these brief summaries
HB22-1008 Implementation Of Fertility Coverage
Requires insurance carriers to cover fertility treatments. Those of us beyond the need will pay a higher premium. For what?
HB22-1015 Off-label Use Of Approved Drugs To Treat COVID-19
Allows for prescriptions of off-label use for COVID. Prescribers may not be disciplined for doing so.
HB22-1021 Reduce State Income Tax Rate To reduce State income tax rate from 4.55 to 4.4
HB22-1025 Repeal Of Infrequently Used Tax Expenditures
This bill eliminates some tax exemptions. Only a legislator or bureaucrat sees an exemption as a ‘tax expenditure’
HB22-1026 Alternative Transportation Options Tax Credit
Changes employer transportation costs from tax deduction to tax credit
HB22-1033 Constitutional Carry Of A Handgun
This bill is excellent. CC permitting process remains for those needing one in other States. Makes a permit permanent. Repeals local authority to regulate open or concealed carry. Surprisingly, not assigned to the ‘kill committee’
HB22-1047 Protecting Human Life At Conception
Another no-brainer doomed for failure; again, surprisingly not assigned to the ‘kill committee.
HB22-1059 Two-thirds Voting Requirement For Bills With Fees
Requires 2/3 vote of the whole membership in each chamber of the legislature—-not just of those present and voting.
SB22-006 Sales Tax Assistance For Small Bus
Increases the vender fee for the collection of State sales taxes.
We will use ‘HB22-1004 Driver License Fee Reduction’ as an example of the lawlessness of the legislature. And this is NOT a rare occurrence.
The Colorado Constitution requires a bill to be of a single subject and the title must reflect that purpose.
Section 21. Bill to contain but one subject – expressed in title. No bill, except general appropriation bills, shall be passed containing more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title; but if any subject shall be embraced in any act which shall not be expressed in the title, such act shall be void only as to so much thereof as shall not be so expressed.
While this bill does meet the ‘single subject’ requirement, the title fails. Here is the Bill in its entirety.
HB22-1004 Driver License Fee Reduction
42-2-114.5. Licensing services cash fund – fee setting procedures – rules. (5) ON JULY 1, 2022, THE STATE TREASURER SHALL TRANSFER THREE MILLION NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE LICENSING SERVICES CASH FUND. SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety
Notice that no language requires a ‘Driver License Fee Reduction’ nor prohibits a raise.
So how would they justify this? The DMV is proposing a $2.00 fee increase, from $30.87, for your driver’s license. If this bill passes, the legislative desire is that the $3.9 million might prevent that hike. So if the desired increase is not imposed that is called a cut in government circles.
And why the ‘safety clause’? For the preservation of peace OR health OR safety? NO. This clause, included in many Bills unnecessarily for that purpose, is to prevent the filing of a citizen-initiated referendum.