S1 EP 30: Colorado Legislative Session Wrap-Up

In this episode, we discuss the end of the Colorado legislative session, which big issues were tackled, and where there still remains work to be done. We’ll refer back to our January 10thpodcast on which issues were top priorities – that podcast can be found here.

Show Segments

Fixing Colorado’s Crowded Crumbling Roads – Governor Hickenlooper, in discussing last week the potential for a special sessions, had this to say about transportation: “If we don’t invest in transportation, if we don’t invest and make sure we’re out ahead of this, growth in Colorado will stop.” Clearly the governor does not view the transportation provisions of Senate Bill 267 to be sufficient. So can lawmakers claim any success on transportation? Construction Defects Overhaul – After Republican Rep. Cole Wist and Democratic Rep. Alec Garnett agreed to take the lead and partner on the issue, the legislature was able to pass House Bill 1279, which eases builders’ legal burden for construction defects. Energy vs. the Environment – In a move that would not have been anticipated at the beginning of the session, the legislature failed to pass a reauthorization bill for the Colorado Energy Office on the final day. Both the House and Senate also unsuccessfully attempted to pass new regulations regarding oil pipeline safety in the wake of the home explosion in Firestone last month. Funding Public Education – The school finance bill passed by lawmakers actually increases next year’s per pupil funding by an average of $242. House Bill 1375 was also passed, which requires school districts to develop a plan to equitably share voter-approved tax increases with charter schools Hospital Provider Fee – Lawmakers were able to achieve a major agreement within Senate Bill 267 to reclassify the hospital provider fee program that helps reimburse hospitals for uncompensated care. It is a notable accomplishment, aided by Republican lawmakers from rural areas like Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg who felt compelled to make a deal to avoid hospital cuts that would have hit rural areas the hardest. The agreement on the hospital provider fee gives an example of a feature of this year’s legislative session that has been touted by both major newspapers in the state in the aftermath of the legislative session: a willing to work across party lines and compromise.