Colorado lawmakers will continue working on the second part of the budget this week, as the state’s budget for next year is expected to be approved by the House on Monday and then go through the process again in the Senate.
The House spent all day and into the night on Thursday, before taking Good Friday off, to give initial approval to the budget and a bunch of “orbital” spending bills. The Senate is also expected to approve it in the next few days. Like the House last week, the Senate will probably add changes to the budget, which means the same group of lawmakers who initially created the document will need to meet and decide whether to remove any of the changes. After that, the budget will go to Gov. Jared Polis.
The budget passing in early April usually marks the beginning of the final stretch of the legislative session. This year is no different, with a number of gun, environment, tax and housing bills still to be debated in one or both chambers, with about six weeks left in the session.
Here’s what to watch this week:
Tax credits
Two progressive tax bills will have their first committee hearings in the next seven days. First is HB24-1312, which aims to provide a $1,500 tax credit to middle income earners who are care workers. It will be discussed in the House Finance Committee on Monday.
The next bill will be presented a week later, on April 8, also in House Finance. That bill — HB24-1311 — aims to offer tax credits to working families.
Criminal justice measures
On Tuesday, HB24-1372 will have its first hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. The bill aims to restrict when law enforcement can use prone restraint to subdue someone. The measure will also require the state to create a model policy on the use of prone restraint.
On Monday, a bill will be introduced to impose an 11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition dealers and manufacturers. The bill — HB-24-1349 — is primarily intended to allocate the funds to various crime victims assistance funds.
Other notable bills this week
On Monday, the House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee will discuss SB24-053, which aims to launch a study to examine the disparities negatively affecting Black Coloradans. This bill has already been approved by the Senate.
SB24-094, which aims to simplify the process for renters to take action under the state’s safe housing law, will be discussed for the first time in the House on Tuesday, in the Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee. HB24-1057, which aims to prohibit the use of rent-setting algorithmic devices, will begin its journey in the Senate in that chamber’s Local Government and Housing Committee on Tuesday. It has already passed the House.
SB24-189, which aims to add gender identity and expression to the state’s bias-motivated crime laws, will be introduced in Senate Judiciary on Monday afternoon. The same goes for SB24-182, which aims to allow the state to issue driver’s licenses or identification to people who are in the country illegally.
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