Last week was extremely productive for me. I took seven bills to Committee, most of which were sent to Appropriations and then approved to head to the Senate floor for debate.
Bill Signing Ceremony for SB19-144 on Motorcycles and Malfunctioning Lights
The bill that will direct 100% of the marijuana excise tax to the BEST program for public school capital construction,
HB19-1055, passed unanimously out of the Senate and will now head to the Governor.
The bill that will increase the Affordable Housing Tax Credit,
HB19-1228, also passed out of the Senate and will head to the Governor's desk. I was extremely pleased to see the
forty mayor members of the Metro Mayors Caucus endorse this legislation.
And finally, HB19-1255, to create a Mesa Verde License Plate, also passed out of the Senate this week. Members of the Mesa Verde Foundation Board were in the Senate Gallery and witnessed the bill's passage. The Foundation wrote about their enthusiasm for the bill in their Spring Newsletter.
Two other bills, HB19-1085, Grants for Property Tax, Rent and Heat for Low-income Seniors and Individuals With Disabilities, and HB19-1002 Leadership Development for School Principals, passed out of the Appropriations Committee and will be heard on the Senate floor this week.
I am also carrying a number of bills on behalf of the JBC, as well as two clean-up bills, that will either head to committee or the floor this week, including:
The clock is ticking down to Sine Die, with 212 bills to go
For the first time in recent memory, the legislature convened over the weekend. That's because, according to the latest count, there are approximately 212 bills remaining with only five more legislative days to go. This includes the bills that have been laid over daily. This figure does not include the bills that were recently postponed indefinitely, already sent to the Governor and are awaiting his signature, signed by Governor, or have passed on Third Reading with no amendments.
Final Joint Budget Committee meeting of session
As I've mentioned before, any bill with a fiscal note or appropriation must wait until after we pass the state's budget before they can be heard. The main reason we have so many bills left is because a number of these bills have been stacking up in the Appropriations Committees waiting for the green light. So far, we have been able to approve of all the bills that have come to Appropriations. At some point this week, however, we will hit our $40 million limit for legislative bills, and several bills will be postponed indefinitely.
The Senate has a Consent Calendar, which makes our workflow this week somewhat manageable. Bills that are sent to the Consent Calendar are called up all at once and passed all at once without debate. These are the bills that come out of committee unanimously and don't appear to be controversial. However, any Senator can request that an item be pulled off the Consent Calendar and then the bill is placed on the general orders calendar.
Since the legislature began on a Friday (January 4) we will finish on a Friday (May 3). Any bill that has not been debated and passed by both chambers and on its way to the Governor by midnight will "die on the calendar." Bills cannot be heard on Second and Third Reading on the same day, which means that all bills must be heard on Second Reading by Thursday in order to be brought up for Third Reading on Friday. I predict we will see a lot of late nights this week!
SB19-144 Motorcycle bill signing ceremony
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She also served as Senator for SD19 in 2014. Sen. Zenzinger is a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a member of the Statutory Revision Committee, a member of the Interim School Finance Committee, and a board member of the Statewide Internet Portal Authority.
Session wrap-up at next 'Coffee With Constituents'
Our last 'Coffee With Constituents' event will be on Thursday, May 9 from 8 - 9 am. Please note this will be an hour later than usual. We will meet at the Morning Story Restaurant,
8025 Sheridan Boulevard, Arvada, CO 80003. We will discuss the conclusion of the legislative session. Hope to see you there!
JBC staff and Sen. Nancy Todd posing after passing Read Act bill
May town hall to feature Capitol journalists
Our joint town hall in May will feature several journalists who cover politics at the Capitol. They will offer their perspective on the legislative session which end this coming Friday. Please join Reps. Kraft-Tharp and Titone, as well as myself, for a legislative wrap-up on Saturday, May 18 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Standley Lake Library,
8485 Kipling St, Arvada, CO 80005.
Supporters who testified on Affordable Housing Tax Credit bill
On Monday, we recognized
Earth Day with a Tribute in the Senate...
On Tuesday, I chaired
Senate Appropriations... My bill
SB254 on the Nursing Home Penalty Fund passed out of Appropriations... It was
Concrete Day at the Capitol... My bill
HB19-1255 on Mesa Verde License Plates passed out of the Finance Committee... My bill
HB19-1228 on the Affordable Housing Tax Credit program passed out of the Finance Committee... My bill
SB19-144 on Motorcycles and Inoperable Lights was signed into law by the Governor...
On Wednesday, I chaired the
Senate Appropriations Committee... It was
Senior Day at the Capitol...
Appropriations met again upon adjournment... My bill
HB19-1002 on Leadership Development for School Principals passed out of State Affairs unanimously...
On Thursday, My bill
HB19-1085 on Property Tax, Rent and Heat Rebates for Low-income and Disabled Seniors passed out of the Finance Committee... My bill
HB19-1055 on Marijuana Excise Tax for the BEST Program passed out of the Finance Committee... The
Joint Budget Committee met for the last time this session...
On Friday, I chaired the
Senate Appropriations Committee... My bill
SB19-260 on Peace Officer Retirement Plans passed out of the Finance Committee unanimously... We recognized
Holocaust Memorial Day with a Resolution...
On Saturday, the Senate convened... The Senate Appropriations Committee met... My bill SB19-262 and SB19-263 on Transportation passed out of the Appropriations Committee unanimously.
Passing the Mesa Verde License Plate bill with Sen. Coram
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
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Rachel For Colorado
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