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Bill:
HB21-1007
|
Title: |
State Apprenticeship Agency |
Position | Oppose | Status | Governor Signed (06/23/2021) | Category |
Education: Dan Defibaugh, Dan Grange
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning a state apprenticeship registration program in the department of labor and employment, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill creates the state apprenticeship agency (SAA) in the
department of labor and employment (department) as a type 1 agency. The executive director of the department is required to appoint a director of the SAA (director). The purpose of the SAA is to:
Serve as the primary point of contact with the United States department of labor's office of apprenticeship concerning
apprentices and registered apprenticeship programs; and
Oversee apprenticeship programs, including registration, required standards for registration, quality assurance, the promotion of apprenticeships, and the provision of technical assistance.
The director shall establish the state apprenticeship council (SAC)
and an interagency advisory committee on apprenticeship (IAC). The governor and the director appoint the members of the SAC and the IAC. The SAC is charged with overseeing registered apprenticeship programs for the building and construction trades in this state and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and standards. The IAC is charged with the same responsibilities for all other apprenticeships not in the building and construction trades.
The bill requires the SAA to accept applications for registration of
apprenticeship programs beginning July 1, 2023. The SAA may deregister an apprenticeship program for noncompliance with the requirements in the bill. The SAA shall conduct a hearing upon request of the SAC or the IAC regarding issues of noncompliance and deregistration.
The director of the SAA is authorized to promulgate rules to
implement the state apprenticeship registration program.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | T. Sullivan (D) D. Ortiz (D) | House Committee | Business Affairs and Labor | Senate Sponsors | J. Danielson (D) R. Rodriguez (D) | Senate Committee | Business, Labor and Technology | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/05/2021) |
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Bill:
HB21-1042
|
Title: |
Water Storage Tanks Grant Program |
Position | Monitor | Status | House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Water Postpone Indefinitely (03/01/2021) | Category | | Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the creation of the water storage tank wildfire mitigation grant program. | Background | | Summary | The bill establishes the water storage tank wildfire mitigation grant
program (grant program) within the forest service. Grant recipients may use grant money to purchase water storage tanks for wildfire firefighting efforts. The grant program only awards grants to entities that are an agency of local government, a county, a municipality, a special district, a tribal agency or program, or a nonprofit or not-for-profit organization
that is registered and in good standing with the secretary of state's office. In awarding grants, the forest service considers the potential impact of additional water storage tanks in the applicant's jurisdiction or area.
Grant recipients are required to report to the forest service, and the
forest service is required to annually report on the grant program to the wildfire matters review committee.
The bill also creates the water storage tank wildfire mitigation cash
fund. Money in the fund is used to implement the grant program. The general assembly is required to transfer $5 million into the fund beginning September 1, 2021, through and including the 2024-25 fiscal year.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | R. Hanks (R) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | | Senate Committee | | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (06/23/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1043
|
Title: |
Study Underground Water Storage Maximum Beneficial Use |
Position | Monitor | Status | House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed (06/15/2021) | Category |
Water: Jeff Echter, Glenda Mostek
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning a study of underground water storage to maximize the beneficial use of water within Colorado. | Background | | Summary | The bill directs the Colorado water conservation board (board), in
consultation with the state engineer, to contract with a Colorado institution of higher education (institution) to conduct a study to:
Evaluate ways to maximize the beneficial use of water within Colorado and implement the storage recommendations of the Colorado water plan by storing
water underground when water is available;
Evaluate ways to minimize the amount of water that flows out of Colorado to downstream states, without risking noncompliance with applicable interstate compacts, United States supreme court rulings, other federal law, decreed absolute and conditional water rights, the prior appropriation system, and Colorado's anti-speculation doctrine;
Identify:
Specific aquifers that are hydrologically and legally available to be used for underground storage and subsequent beneficial use;
Sources of revenue that could be used to pay for the underground storage projects; and
Planned potential or existing underground storage projects that would meet the objectives identified in the study;
Examine the role that various water entities might play in financing and implementing underground storage projects; and
Recommend legislative changes needed to implement managed underground storage projects in the identified aquifers.
The bill directs the board or the institution to submit a report
summarizing the results of the study to the water resources review committee by August 1, 2022, which shall either have legislation drafted to implement the study's recommendations or submit the study along with its own recommendations to the committees of the general assembly with jurisdiction over water resources by January 1, 2023.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | R. Holtorf (R) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | J. Sonnenberg (R) | Senate Committee | | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (07/26/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1045
|
Title: |
Invasive Pest Control Administration |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (05/20/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the department of agriculture's authority to control pests. | Background | | Summary | The bill creates the emergency invasive-pest response fund (fund),
which is subject to annual appropriation. The commissioner of agriculture (commissioner) may expend money from the fund to implement the bill and emergency measures to control or eradicate invasive pests. The state agricultural commission (commission) may request that, at the end of each fiscal year, money in the plant health, pest control, and
environmental protection cash fund be transferred to the fund. The commissioner is authorized to seek and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the new fund.
The commissioner may:
Enter into an agreement with any person or local government to provide pest control services. The department of agriculture may provide pest control services directly or through a local government and may require remuneration for providing pest control services. The remuneration is deposited in the fund.
Work cooperatively with the United States secretary of agriculture to implement a joint phytosanitary program if the program would economically or environmentally assist with mitigating or eradicating the spread of a regulated nonquarantine pest; and
Quarantine anything that harbors a pest if the pest has an economically unacceptable impact and if the measures to control the pest may achieve an acceptable level of official control.
If the commissioner determines that a public nuisance creates an
unacceptable risk of spreading a pest, the commissioner may coordinate with industry to, support local governments to, and make grants to take emergency action to quarantine, control, or eradicate an invasive pest.
The commission may establish procedures for determining what
is a public nuisance.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | D. Valdez (D) M. Young (D) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | R. Fields (D) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/17/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1046
|
Title: |
Water Share Right Mutual Ditch Corporation |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (05/20/2021) | Category |
Water: Jeff Echter, Glenda Mostek
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the use of a water right obtained through a mutual ditch corporation. | Background | | Summary | For a mutual ditch corporation, the bill creates a presumption,
which may be changed by changing the corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws, that the shares of stock owned by a stockholder in the corporation represent:
The right to use the water rights appropriated or purchased by the corporation; and
Corresponding rights to divert and deliver the stockholder's water rights through a ditch, canal, reservoir, or other works.
The bill also authorizes these water rights to be limited to a pro
rata amount at times when shareholder demand exceeds available supply. A mutual ditch corporation may operate using traditional ditch operating practices.
The bill clarifies that:
When a shareholder is not using some of or all of the available water under the shareholder's rights, the right to use the water rights does not include the right to prevent other stockholders from using any portion of the corporation's water rights; and
The statutes covering ditch and reservoir companies do not prevent a stockholder from changing the use of the stockholder's shares or change the standards for water court approval to change a water right.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Catlin (R) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | J. Sonnenberg (R) R. Fields (D) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/16/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1050
|
Title: |
Workers' Compensation |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/30/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the "Workers' Compensation Act of Colorado", and, in connection therewith, making changes that affect the timely payment of benefits, guardian ad litem and conservator services, benefit offsets related to the receipt of federal disability or retirement benefits, the reduction of benefits based on apportionment, the selection of independent medical examiners, limits on temporary disability and permanent partial disability payments, the withdrawal of admissions of liability, mileage expense reimbursement, the authority of prehearing administrative law judges, the reopening of permanent total disability awards, and petitions for review and appeals of orders. | Background | | Summary | The bill:
Adds guardian ad litem and conservator services to the list of medical aid that an employer is required to furnish to an employee who is incapacitated as a result of a work-related injury or occupational disease (section 1 of the bill);
Requires an injured worker who is claiming mileage reimbursement for travel related to obtaining compensable medical care to submit a request to the employer or insurer within 120 days after the expense is incurred, and requires the employer or insurer to pay or dispute mileage within 30 days after submittal and to include in the brochure of claimants' rights an explanation of rights to mileage reimbursement and the deadline for filing a request (sections 1 and 7);
Clarifies that offsets to disability benefits granted by the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Amendments of 1965 only apply if the payments were not already being received by the employee at the time of the work-related injury (section 2);
Prohibits the reduction of an employee's temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, or medical benefits based on apportionment under any circumstances; limits apportionment of permanent impairment to specific situations; and declares that the employer or insurer bears the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, at a hearing regarding apportionment of permanent impairment or permanent total disability benefits (section 3);
Adds the following conditions that must be met for an employer or insurer to request the selection of an independent medical examiner when an authorized treating physician has not determined that the employee has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI): An examining physician must have examined the employee at least 20 months after the date of the injury, have determined that the
employee has reached MMI, and have served a written report to the authorized treating physician specifying that the examining physician has determined that the employee has reached MMI; and the authorized treating physician must have responded that the employee has not reached MMI or must have failed to respond within 15 days after service of the report (section 4);
Changes the whole person impairment rating applicable to an injured worker from 25% to 19% for purposes of determining the maximum amount of combined temporary disability and permanent partial disability payments an injured worker may receive (section 5);
Clarifies when benefits and penalties payable to an injured worker are deemed paid (section 6);
Prohibits an employer or insurer from withdrawing an admission of liability when 2 years or more have passed since the date the admission of liability on the issue of compensability was filed, except in cases of fraud (section 7);
Prohibits the director of the division of workers' compensation or an administrative law judge from determining issues of compensability or liability unless specific benefits or penalties are awarded or denied at the same time (section 8);
Clarifies the scope of authority of prehearing administrative law judges (section 9);
Increases the threshold amount that an injured worker must earn in order for permanent total disability payments to cease and allows for annual adjustment of the threshold amount starting in 2022 (section 11); and
Clarifies the orders that are subject to review or appeal (sections 10 and 12).
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | K. Van Winkle (R) M. Gray (D) | House Committee | Business Affairs and Labor | Senate Sponsors | J. Cooke (R) J. Bridges (D) | Senate Committee | Business, Labor and Technology | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/01/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1074
|
Title: |
Immunity For Entities During COVID-19 |
Position | Monitor | Status | House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Postpone Indefinitely (03/11/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning civil immunity for entities that comply with applicable health guidelines related to COVID-19. | Background | | Summary | The bill establishes immunity from civil liability for entities for
any act or omission that results in exposure, loss, damage, injury, or death arising out of COVID-19 if the entity attempts in good faith to comply with applicable public health guidelines.
The bill is repealed 2 years after the date the governor terminates
the state of disaster emergency declared on March 11, 2020.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Bradfield (R) | House Committee | State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs | Senate Sponsors | | Senate Committee | | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (06/15/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1095
|
Title: |
811 Locate Exemption For County Road Maintenance |
Position | Support | Status | Governor Signed (05/21/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning excavation notification requirements for underground facility location in connection with county road maintenance. | Background | | Summary | Current law requires an individual or entity to notify the statewide
notification association of all owners and operators of underground facilities of its intent to engage in excavation so that any underground facilities that the excavation might affect, such as water and sewer pipes, gas lines, and electric or cable lines, can be located and marked before excavation begins. Underground facilities are often located beneath county gravel and dirt roads, normally at a depth of at least 18 inches below the road surface. Counties maintain the profile and surface condition of such county roads and county road rights-of-way by engaging in routine and emergency maintenance activities that do not disturb more than 6 inches in depth. These maintenance activities currently trigger the excavation notification requirement, and the related requirement that the location of underground facilities be marked, even though they occur above the levels where underground facilities are located. To prevent such activities from triggering the excavation notification requirement, the bill specifies that excavation does not include routine or emergency maintenance of right-of-way on county-owned gravel or dirt roads performed by county employees that:
Does not lower the existing grade or elevation of the road, shoulder, and ditches; and
Does not disturb more than 6 inches in depth during maintenance operations.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Baisley (R) C. Kipp (D) | House Committee | Transportation and Local Government | Senate Sponsors | J. Ginal (D) R. Woodward (R) | Senate Committee | Local Government | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (07/14/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1145
|
Title: |
Support Pollinator Special License Plate |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/22/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the creation of a special license plate to support pollinators, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill creates the support pollinators license plate for vehicles.
A person qualifies for issuance of the plate if the person makes a donation to a designated nonprofit organization that supports pollinators. The organization must use the donation for pollination programs and education.
In addition to the normal fees for a license plate, a person must pay
2 additional one-time fees for the issuance of the plate. One of these fees is credited to the highway users tax fund and the other fee is credited to the licensing services cash fund.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Soper (R) C. Kipp (D) | House Committee | Energy and Environment | Senate Sponsors | S. Jaquez Lewis (D) C. Simpson (R) | Senate Committee | Finance | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/12/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1158
|
Title: |
Special Fuel Farm Equipment Sales Use Tax |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (05/07/2021) | Category |
Tax & Budget: Gene Pielin, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning nonsubstantive modifications to sales and use tax exemptions, and, in connection therewith, reorganizing sales and use tax exemptions for agriculture, livestock, and special fuels. | Background | | Summary | Statutory Revision Committee. The bill removes an unused
definition of agricultural compounds and a redundant reference to a sales and use tax exemption for poultry and livestock. The bill also
reorganizes special fuel and farm equipment sales and use tax exemptions so that they are in the same location.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | D. Valdez (D) M. Lynch (R) | House Committee | Finance | Senate Sponsors | B. Kirkmeyer (R) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/17/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1162
|
Title: |
Management Of Plastic Products |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (07/06/2021) | Category | | Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the management of plastic products. | Background | | Summary | Under current law, local governments are prohibited from
requiring or banning the use or sale of specific types of plastic materials or products. Section 1 repeals the prohibition on July 1, 2023.
Section 2 prohibits stores and retail food establishments, on and
after September 1, 2022, from providing single-use plastic carryout bags to customers. The prohibition does not apply to inventory purchased before September 1, 2022, and used on or before March 31, 2023, which may be supplied to a customer at the point of sale for a 10-cent fee.
Between September 1, 2021, and September 1, 2022, a store may
furnish a recycled paper carryout bag or a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer at the point of sale if the customer pays a fee of 10 cents per bag or a higher fee adopted by the municipality or county in which the store is located.
On and after September 1, 2022, a store may furnish only a
recycled paper carryout bag to a customer at the point of sale at a fee of 10 cents per bag or a higher fee imposed by the municipality or county in which the store is located.
A store is required to remit, on a quarterly basis beginning January
1, 2022, 60% of the carryout bag fee revenues to the municipality or county within which the store is located and may retain the remaining 40% of the carryout bag fee revenues. A municipality or county may use its portion of the carryout bag fee revenues to pay for its administrative and enforcement costs and any recycling, composting, or other waste diversion programs or related outreach or education activities.
The carryout bag fee does not apply to a customer that provides
evidence to the store that the customer is a participant in a federal or state food assistance program.
Section 2 also prohibits a retail food establishment, on and after
January 1, 2022, from distributing an expanded polystyrene product for use as a container for ready-to-eat food in this state. The prohibition does not apply to retail food establishments located within certain schools until January 1, 2023; except that the prohibition does not apply to a high school until January 1, 2024.
Retail food establishments that purchase expanded polystyrene
products before January 1, 2022, may continue to use the products until their supply is depleted.
Section 2 also authorizes a local government to enforce against a
violation of section 2 and expressly authorizes a county to impose a civil penalty against a store or retail food establishment of $500 for a second violation or $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation.
On and after July 1, 2023, a local government may enact,
implement, or enforce an ordinance, resolution, rule, or charter provision that is as stringent as or more stringent than the requirements set forth in the bill.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | L. Cutter (D) A. Valdez (D) | House Committee | Energy and Environment | Senate Sponsors | L. Garcia (D) J. Gonzales (D) | Senate Committee | State, Veterans and Military Affairs | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/27/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1163
|
Title: |
Allow Retailers To Absorb Sales Or Use Tax |
Position | Monitor | Status | House Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely (05/17/2021) | Category |
Tax & Budget: Gene Pielin, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the authority of a retailer to advertise that it will absorb sales or use tax on purchases made by consumers. | Background | | Summary | The bill allows a retailer to advertise, directly or indirectly, or
imply, that the retailer will absorb or pay any or all sales or use tax on purchases of tangible personal property or services sold.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | P. Neville (R) M. Snyder (D) | House Committee | Business Affairs and Labor | Senate Sponsors | | Senate Committee | | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/23/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1167
|
Title: |
Private Construction Contract Payments |
Position | Support | Status | Governor Signed (05/17/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning retainage in construction contracts governing improvements to private real property. | Background | | Summary | The bill prohibits a property owner from withholding from a
contractor more than 5% of the price of completed work to ensure the work is satisfactorily completed. The contractor and subcontractors are also prohibited from withholding more than 5% from subcontractors and suppliers. The bill also clarifies that these prohibitions do not apply to other types of contractual conditions made before payment is due.
The contract may require lien waivers to be executed before
payment is made.
The bill applies to:
A contract that has a price of at least $150,000; and
A subcontract or supply agreement to such a contract.
The bill does not apply to a single contract that governs:
The building of:
A single-family dwelling;
A multifamily dwelling with 4 or fewer family dwelling units; or
A contract with a public entity.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Duran (D) P. Will (R) | House Committee | Business Affairs and Labor | Senate Sponsors | R. Scott (R) J. Gonzales (D) | Senate Committee | Business, Labor and Technology | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/05/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1181
|
Title: |
Agricultural Soil Health Program |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/21/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the creation of a voluntary soil health program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill creates the Colorado soil health program in the department
of agriculture (department). The soil health program is voluntary. The department, commissioner of agriculture (commissioner), and state agricultural commission will administer the soil health program.
The department may establish the following:
A system for monitoring the environmental or economic
benefits of soil health practices;
A state soil health inventory and platform;
A soil health testing program; and
Other programs the department deems appropriate or necessary.
Before establishing a system, inventory and platform, or program,
the department must provide public notice and afford the public an opportunity to submit written comments.
The department may also:
Seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations;
Administer and expend the money from public and private sources;
Provide grants, loans, and other resources to perform soil health activities; and
Cooperate and collaborate with other people.
The bill also creates a soil health advisory committee (advisory
committee). The commissioner is required to appoint members who represent the different geographic areas, political diversity, and demographic diversity of the state and include agricultural producers of diverse production systems.
The advisory committee will make recommendations to the
department and assist in the development of the soil health program. The advisory committee is also authorized to solicit input, review proposals and agreements, and evaluate the soil health program.
The department shall maintain the confidentiality of information
related to private lands that identify landowners, land managers, agricultural producers, or lands.
No later than January 31 of each year, the department shall prepare
and make available to the public a report of its activities on its official website.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | P. Will (R) K. McCormick (D) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | F. Winter (D) C. Simpson (R) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/20/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1199
|
Title: |
Consumer Digital Repair Bill Of Rights |
Position | Monitor | Status | House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Postpone Indefinitely (03/25/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning a requirement that a manufacturer of digital electronic equipment facilitate the repair of the equipment by providing persons other than authorized repair providers affiliated with the manufacturer with the resources needed to repair the equipment. | Background | | Summary | Usually, an owner of digital electronic equipment (equipment),
such as cell phones and tablets, must seek diagnostic, maintenance, or
repair services of the equipment from the original equipment manufacturer (manufacturer) or an authorized repair provider affiliated with the manufacturer.
The bill requires a manufacturer to provide parts, embedded
software, firmware, tools, or documentation, such as diagnostic, maintenance, or repair manuals, diagrams, or similar information, to independent repair providers and owners of the manufacturer's equipment to allow an independent repair provider or owner to conduct diagnostic, maintenance, or repair services. A manufacturer's failure to comply with the requirement is an unfair or deceptive trade practice. Manufacturers need not divulge any trade secrets to independent repair providers and owners.
The bill does not apply to motor vehicle manufacturers or dealers
acting in that capacity, powersports vehicle manufacturers or dealers acting in that capacity, or medical devices; except that the bill does apply to class 2 powered wheelchairs.
Any contractual provision or other arrangement that a
manufacturer enters into that would remove or limit the manufacturer's obligation to provide these resources to independent repair providers and owners is void and unenforceable.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | B. Titone (D) S. Woodrow (D) | House Committee | Business Affairs and Labor | Senate Sponsors | R. Rodriguez (D) | Senate Committee | | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/20/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1207
|
Title: |
Overpayment Of Workers' Compensation Benefits |
Position | Oppose | Status | Governor Signed (05/17/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the overpayment of workers' compensation benefits. | Background | | Summary | The bill limits the definition of overpayments of workers'
compensation benefits to include only benefits paid as a result of fraud or duplicate benefits that result from offsets that reduce disability or death benefits paid to a claimant. The bill also:
Clarifies that this limit does not prevent an insurance carrier from receiving a credit against permanent disability
benefits for temporary disability benefits paid beyond the date of maximum medical improvement; and
Prohibits the director of the division of workers' compensation or an administrative law judge from reopening an award of benefits paid to a claimant due to an overpayment except in limited, specific circumstances.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | A. Benavidez (D) L. Daugherty (D) | House Committee | Business Affairs and Labor | Senate Sponsors | P. Lee (D) R. Fields (D) | Senate Committee | Business, Labor and Technology | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (06/14/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1213
|
Title: |
Conversion Of Pinnacol Assurance |
Position | Monitor | Status | House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Postpone Indefinitely (03/22/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the conversion of Pinnacol Assurance from a political subdivision of the state into a stock insurance company owned by a mutual insurance holding company. | Background | | Summary | Section 2 of the bill:
Sets forth a process and deadlines for and requires the conversion of Pinnacol Assurance from a political
subdivision of the state to a stock insurance company owned by a mutual insurance holding company, the initial members of which are the policyholders of Pinnacol Assurance immediately prior to the conversion, and also sets forth a process and deadlines for the disaffiliation of Pinnacol Assurance from the public employees' retirement association (PERA), with details as to how the disaffiliation is to be accomplished;
Requires the transfer of a specified amount from Pinnacol Assurance to the state within 5 days of the effective date of the conversion and requires the money transferred to be allocated in equal shares to the controlled maintenance trust fund and to the just transition trust fund; and
Requires the commissioner of insurance to contract with an insurance company as the carrier of last resort for employers seeking workers' compensation insurance and for the successor stock insurance company to serve in that capacity for a transitional period.
Section 3 repeals the existing statutes concerning Pinnacol
Assurance in its current form as a political subdivision of the state.
Sections 4 to 35 make conforming amendments necessitated by
the conversion of Pinnacol Assurance from a political subdivision of the state to a stock insurance company owned by a mutual insurance holding company and the disaffiliation of Pinnacol Assurance from PERA.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Soper (R) | House Committee | State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs | Senate Sponsors | | Senate Committee | | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/20/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1242
|
Title: |
Create Agricultural Drought And Climate Resilience Office |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/24/2021) | Category |
Water: Jeff Echter, Glenda Mostek
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the creation of an agricultural drought and climate resilience office in the department of agriculture, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | Section 1 of the bill creates in the department of agriculture the
agricultural drought and climate resilience office (office). The office may provide voluntary technical assistance, nonregulatory programs, and incentives that increase the ability to anticipate, prepare for, mitigate, adapt to, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related
to drought or the climate. The office may accept gifts, grants, and donations for these purposes. On July 1, 2021, the state treasurer shall transfer all unobligated money in the agriculture value-added cash fund to the newly created agriculture drought and climate resiliency cash fund. The commissioner of agriculture shall appoint the head of the office and may promulgate rules necessary for the administration of the office's assistance, programs, and incentives.
Section 2 annually transfers $500,000 from tier 2 of the severance
tax operational fund to the new cash fund until July 1, 2029.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | B. McLachlan (D) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | K. Donovan (D) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/21/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1260
|
Title: |
General Fund Transfer Implement State Water Plan |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/24/2021) | Category |
Water: Jeff Echter, Glenda Mostek
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning transfers of money from the general fund to implement the state water plan, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill allocates $20 million from the general fund to the
Colorado water conservation board (CWCB) to be spent to implement the state water plan as follows:
$15 million, which is transferred to the water plan implementation cash fund for expenditures and grants
administered by the CWCB to implement the state water plan; and
$5 million, which is transferred to the water supply reserve fund for CWCB to disperse to the basin roundtables.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | A. Garnett (D) M. Catlin (R) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | K. Donovan (D) C. Simpson (R) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (07/28/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1268
|
Title: |
Study Emerging Technologies For Water Management |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/18/2021) | Category |
Water: Jeff Echter, Glenda Mostek
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning a requirement that Colorado institutions of higher education study potential uses of emerging technologies to more effectively manage Colorado's water supply, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation conditioned on the receipt of matching funds from gifts, grants, and donations. | Background | | Summary | The bill declares that new technologies, such as blockchain,
telemetry, improved sensors, and advanced aerial observation platforms, can improve monitoring, management, conservation, and trading of water and enhance confidence in the reliability of data underlying water rights transactions. To advance the potential use of these new technologies, the bill:
Authorizes and directs the university of Colorado and Colorado state university, in collaboration with the Colorado water institute at Colorado state university, to conduct feasibility studies and pilot deployments of these new technologies to improve water management in Colorado; and
Appropriates $20,000 to each university from the general fund, contingent on the universities' receipt of a matching $40,000 in gifts, grants, and donations, for the purpose of funding the feasibility studies and pilot deployments.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | B. Titone (D) P. Will (R) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | C. Hansen (D) C. Simpson (R) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/27/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1286
|
Title: |
Energy Performance For Buildings |
Position | Oppose | Status | Governor Signed (06/24/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller, Will LaPoint
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning measures to improve energy efficiency, and, in connection therewith, requiring owners of large buildings to collect and report on energy-use benchmarking data and comply with rules regarding performance standards related to energy and greenhouse gas emissions and modifying statutory requirements regarding energy performance contracts. | Background | | Summary |
Section 1 of the bill requires owners of certain large buildings
(covered buildings), on an annual basis, to collect and report to the Colorado energy office (office) the covered building's energy use. The bill establishes a process requiring certain electric and gas utilities to provide energy-use data to a covered building owner when requested by the covered building owner.
Section 1 also requires that, on or before June 1, 2027, a covered
building owner demonstrate that, in 2026, the covered building met performance standards set forth in the bill. A covered building owner must demonstrate compliance with the performance standards every 5 years after June 1, 2027. The air quality control commission (commission) is required to adopt rules in 2026 or 2027 that extend or modify the performance standards. Thereafter, the commission may, as the commission deems necessary, modify the performance standards by rule.
Section 2 requires the office to assist covered building owners
with the reporting requirements set forth in section 1 by:
Creating a database of covered buildings and owners required to comply with section 1;
Developing publicly available, digitally interactive maps and lists showing the energy-use and performance-standard data reported;
Coordinating with any local government that implements its own energy benchmarking requirements or energy performance program, including coordination of reporting requirements; and
Collecting an annual fee from owners of covered buildings of $100 per covered building. The office is required to transfer the fees collected to the state treasurer, who will credit the fees to the climate change mitigation and adaptation fund (fund) created in section 2.
Section 3 imposes penalties for violations of section 1, ranging
from $500 to $5,000, depending on whether the violations are first violations or subsequent violations, and requires that the civil penalty payments be credited to the fund. Certain subsequent violations are also subject to a penalty of 2 cents per square foot of gross floor area of the covered building for each day that the violations continue.
Section 4 modifies the definition of an energy performance
contract that a governing body of a municipality, county, special district, or school district (board) enters into for evaluation, recommendations, or implementation of energy-saving measures to remove requirements that a board's payment for goods and services pursuant to the contract be made within a certain number of years of the contract's execution.
1
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | A. Valdez (D) C. Kipp (D) | House Committee | Energy and Environment | Senate Sponsors | K. Priola (R) B. Pettersen (D) | Senate Committee | Finance | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (07/29/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1303
|
Title: |
Global Warming Potential For Public Project Materials |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (07/06/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller, Will LaPoint
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning measures to limit the global warming potential for certain materials used in public projects, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The department of personnel and the department of transportation
are each required to establish policies regarding the global warming potential for specific categories of eligible materials used to construct certain public projects.
The department of personnel is required to establish a maximum
acceptable global warming potential for each category of eligible material
used in certain public projects under its purview. The bill specifies which building materials are eligible materials. The department of personnel is required to set the maximum acceptable global warming potential at the industry average of global warming potential emissions for that material and to express it as a number that states the maximum acceptable global warming potential for each category of eligible material.
Specifications for solicitations for a public project requested by the
department of personnel are required to include that the global warming potential for any eligible material that will be used in the project shall not exceed the maximum acceptable global warming potential for that material determined by the department.
The department of transportation is required to develop policies to
determine, track, and record greenhouse gas emissions for each category of eligible materials used in certain public projects under its purview in a manner consistent with criteria in an environmental product declaration.
The department of personnel and the department of transportation
are both are required to strive to achieve continuous reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in construction materials over time for the projects under their purview.
For solicitations for certain public projects under the purview of
the department of personnel or the department of transportation issued after certain dates, the contractor that is awarded the contract is required to submit a current environmental product declaration for each eligible material proposed to be used in the public project.
A contractor that is awarded a contract for a public project is
prohibited from installing any eligible material on the project until the contractor submits an environmental product declaration for that material.
The department of personnel and the department of transportation
are required to annually report to the general assembly regarding the implementation of the bill.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | B. McLachlan (D) T. Bernett (D) | House Committee | Energy and Environment | Senate Sponsors | C. Hansen (D) | Senate Committee | Transportation and Energy | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/24/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1311
|
Title: |
Income Tax |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/23/2021) | Category |
Tax & Budget: Gene Pielin, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning income tax, and, in connection therewith, requiring additions to Colorado taxable income in amounts related to limiting certain federal itemized deductions, extending the limit on the federal deduction allowed under section 199A of the internal revenue code, limiting the deduction for contributions made to 529 plans, disallowing an enhanced federal deduction for food and beverage expenses at restaurants, and limiting the capital gains subtraction; allowing a subtraction from Colorado taxable income in amounts related to repealing the cap on the deduction for certain social security income; reducing state income tax revenue by increasing the earned income tax credit, funding the child tax credit, and allowing a temporary income tax credit for a business equal to a percentage of the conversion costs to convert the business to a worker-owned coop, an employee stock ownership plan, or an employee ownership trust; increasing state income tax revenue by modifying the computation of the corporate income tax receipts factor to make it more congruent with combined reporting; preventing corporations from using tax shelters in foreign jurisdictions for the purpose of tax avoidance; clarifying that certain captive insurance companies are not exempt from income tax; and making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | Section 2 of the bill modifies how taxable income is determined
for individuals for purposes of the state income tax. Specifically, it:
Imposes a cap for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes equal to or exceeding $400,000 on certain itemized deductions claimed under the internal revenue code;
Repeals, for social security income that is included in federal taxable income only, the cap on the deduction for pension and annuity income received;
Adds a cap, per taxpayer per beneficiary, on the deduction for contributions made to 529 plans;
Requires individual taxpayers to add amounts of federal taxable income that are equal to the enhanced federal deductions for food and beverage in a restaurant for the 2022 income year; and
Extends the limit on the federal deduction allowed under section 199A of the internal revenue code.
Section 3 increases the earned income tax credit to 20% for
income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2022, and applies the lowered minimum age for individuals without a qualifying child in the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the state credit for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2022.
Section 4 funds the child tax credit for income tax years
commencing on or after January 1, 2022, and allows a child tax credit in the state regardless of the federal requirement that a qualifying child must have a social security number for the federal child tax credit. Section 4 also specifies that if the changes to the federal child tax credit in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 are no longer in effect, the percentages of the state child tax credit are increased.
Sections 5 through 7 make the state's corporate income tax more
uniform compared to other states by replacing the current combined reporting standard with the multistate tax commission's standard. In addition, these sections modify the computation of the receipts factor to make it more congruent with the unitary business principle.
In addition to making the state's corporate income tax more
uniform compared to other states, section 6 also prevents corporations from using tax shelters in foreign jurisdictions for the purpose of tax avoidance.
Section 7 also modifies how taxable income is determined for C
corporations for purposes of the state income tax. Specifically, it requires corporate taxpayers to add amounts of federal taxable income that are equal to the enhanced federal deductions for food and beverage in a restaurant for the 2022 income year.
Section 8 repeals a state subtraction for certain capital gains
incurred.
Section 9 creates a temporary income tax credit for a business for
a percentage of the conversion costs to convert the business to a worker-owned coop, an employee stock ownership plan, or an employee ownership trust.
Sections 10 through 13 address the avoidance of income tax by
certain captive insurance companies.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Weissman (D) E. Sirota (D) | House Committee | Finance | Senate Sponsors | D. Moreno (D) C. Hansen (D) | Senate Committee | Finance | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/31/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-1312
|
Title: |
Insurance Premium Property Sales Severance Tax |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/23/2021) | Category |
Tax & Budget: Gene Pielin, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning taxation, and, in connection therewith, narrowing the scope of the home office insurance premium tax rate reduction and the annuities consideration exemption for the insurance premium tax; for purposes of the property tax, requiring the actual value of real property to reflect the value of the fee simple estate and requiring personal property to be based on the property's value in use; increasing the per-schedule exemption for business personal property tax and reimbursing local governments for the lost tax revenue; for purposes of the sales and use tax, codifying that the definition of tangible personal property includes digital goods and specifying that the tax on sales and purchases of tangible personal property includes amounts charged for mainframe computer access, photocopying, and packing and crating; disallowing the sales tax vendor fee for retailers with a substantial amount of taxable sales during the filing period; for the severance tax on oil and gas, requiring the net-back deductions used to determine gross income be direct costs actually paid by the taxpayer; phasing-out tax credits and exemptions for the severance tax on coal; and making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill makes changes to several state and local government
taxes.
Insurance premium tax. Currently, the insurance premium tax is
equal to 2% of premiums collected or contracted for covering property or risks in this state; except that a company that is deemed to maintain a home office or regional home office in this state pays tax of 1%. Section 2 of the bill requires a company to have at least 2.5% of its total domestic workforce in the state in order for the company to be deemed to maintain a home office or regional home office. This section also narrows the tax exemption for annuities considerations to those that are purchased in connection with a qualified retirement plan, a Roth 401(k), or an individual retirement account. For the purpose of auditing a company's tax statement, section 2 also authorizes the commissioner of insurance to appoint an independent examiner to conduct an examination on behalf of the commissioner.
Property tax. For purposes of imposing the property tax, section
4 requires the actual value of real property to reflect the value of the fee simple estate. Section 5 requires that the actual value of personal property be determined based on the property's value in use, which will be defined by the property tax administrator.
There is an exemption from property tax for business personal
property that would otherwise be listed on a single personal property if
the property is less than a certain amount, which increases with inflation each property tax cycle. For the next property tax cycle, section 6 increases the exemption from $7,900 to $50,000. Similar to the reimbursement for the homestead exemption, the state is required to reimburse local governments for lost property tax revenue caused by the increase. The first reimbursement will be based on actual property tax schedules filed, and future reimbursements will be adjusted estimates based on the initial amount.
Sales and use tax. The state sales and use tax is imposed on the
sale and use of tangible personal property. Section 7 codifies the department of revenue rule that the definition of tangible personal property includes digital goods. Section 8 specifies that the state sales tax applies to amounts charged for mainframe computer access, photocopying, and packing and crating.
A retailer who collects state sales tax is currently allowed to retain
4% of the state sales taxes collected, with a monthly cap of $1,000, as compensation for the retailer's expenses incurred in collecting and remitting the tax (vendor fee). Beginning January 1, 2022, section 9 eliminates the vendor fee for any filing period that the retailer's total taxable sales were greater than $1 million.
Severance taxes. The severance tax on oil and gas is currently
imposed on gross income, which is equal to the net amount realized for the sale of the oil and gas. The net amount realized is equal to the gross lease revenues, less deductions for any transportation, manufacturing, or processing costs by the taxpayer borne by the taxpayer (netback deductions). Section 10 limits the netback deductions to direct costs actually paid by the taxpayer for those purposes, which disallows costs of capital and other indirect expenses.
Currently, the first 300,000 tons of coal produced in each quarter
is exempt from the property tax. There is also a tax credit equal to 50% for coal produced from underground mines and another credit in the same amount for lignitic coal. Beginning with the 2022 taxable year, section 11 phases out the quarterly exemption and both tax credits. The additional severance tax that results from these changes is credited to the just transition cash fund under section 12.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Weissman (D) E. Sirota (D) | House Committee | Finance | Senate Sponsors | D. Moreno (D) C. Hansen (D) | Senate Committee | Finance | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/24/2021) |
|
Bill:
HB21-HJR1002
|
Title: |
Water Projects Eligibility Lists |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (03/21/2021) | Category |
Water: Jeff Echter, Glenda Mostek
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning approval of water project revolving fund eligibility lists administered by the Colorado water resources and power development authority. | Background | | Summary | CONCERNING APPROVAL OF WATER PROJECT REVOLVING FUND
ELIGIBILITY LISTS ADMINISTERED BY THE COLORADO WATER
RESOURCES AND POWER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | K. Donovan (D) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | |
|
Bill:
SB21-005
|
Title: |
Business Exempt From Public Health Order To Close |
Position | Monitor | Status | Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely (03/16/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning exemptions from orders requiring businesses to close. | Background | | Summary | The bill exempts a business from a public health agency order or
executive order requiring businesses to close if:
The products sold or services offered by the business are also available at a business that has not been required by the applicable order to cease or limit operations and the open business is operating at a physical location in the
geographical area that is subject to the order; and
The business that is required by the applicable order to limit or cease operations complies with any safety precautions that the order requires of businesses that are permitted to continue operations.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | C. Larson (R) | House Committee | | Senate Sponsors | R. Woodward (R) | Senate Committee | State, Veterans and Military Affairs | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (06/16/2021) |
|
Bill:
SB21-080
|
Title: |
Protections For Entities During COVID-19 |
Position | Monitor | Status | Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Postpone Indefinitely (03/08/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning protections for entities that comply with public health guidelines related to COVID-19. | Background | | Summary | An entity is not liable for any damages that result from exposure,
loss, damage, injury, or death arising out of COVID-19 unless:
A claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the exposure, loss, damage, injury, or death was caused by the entity's failure to comply with public health guidelines; or
The exposure, loss, damage, injury, or death was caused by gross negligence or a willful and wanton act or omission of the entity.
The bill is repealed 2 years after the date the governor terminates
the state of disaster emergency declared on March 11, 2020.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | S. Bird (D) M. Bradfield (R) | House Committee | | Senate Sponsors | R. Woodward (R) | Senate Committee | Business, Labor and Technology | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (06/16/2021) |
|
Bill:
SB21-087
|
Title: |
Agricultural Workers' Rights |
Position | Oppose | Status | Governor Signed (06/25/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning agricultural workers' rights, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill:
Removes the exemption of agricultural employers and employees from the Colorado Labor Peace Act and authorizes agricultural employees to organize and join labor unions; engage in protected, concerted activity; and engage in collective bargaining;
Removes the exemption of agricultural labor from state and local minimum wage laws;
Requires the director of the division of labor standards and statistics to promulgate rules to establish the overtime pay of agricultural employees for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week or 12 hours in one day;
Grants agricultural employees meal breaks and rest periods throughout each work period, consistent with protections for other employees;
Requires agricultural employers to provide agricultural employees with access and transportation to key service providers;
Authorizes agricultural employees to have visitors at employer-provided housing without interference from other persons;
Requires agricultural employers to provide overwork and health protections to agricultural employees;
Prohibits the use of the short-handled or long-handled hoe for agricultural labor except in specific circumstances;
During a public health emergency, requires an agricultural employer to provide extra protections and increased safety precautions for agricultural employees;
Creates the agricultural work advisory committee to study and analyze agricultural wages and working conditions; and
Creates rights, remedies, and enforcement actions for aggrieved agricultural employees, whistleblowers, relators, and key service providers.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | Y. Caraveo (D) K. McCormick (D) | House Committee | State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs | Senate Sponsors | D. Moreno (D) J. Danielson (D) | Senate Committee | Business, Labor and Technology | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/07/2021) |
|
Bill:
SB21-119
|
Title: |
Increasing Access To High-Quality Credentials |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/30/2021) | Category |
Education: Dan Defibaugh, Dan Grange
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning increasing access in high school to high-quality credentials within the career development success program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The career development success program provides financial
incentives for participating school districts and participating charter schools to encourage pupils enrolled in grades 9 through 12 to enroll in and successfully complete qualified industry-credential programs; qualified internship, residency, or construction industry
pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship programs; and qualified advanced placement courses (programs and courses). The bill amends the list of qualified programs by removing residency programs and expanding pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs to include any industry program, not just construction industry programs.
The bill expands the definition of a qualified industry-credential
program to include a career and technical education program that, upon completion, results in an industry-recognized credential with labor market value aligned with a high-skill, high-wage, in-demand job.
Current law requires the work force development council (council)
to identify the programs and courses by identifying the jobs included in the Colorado talent report with the greatest regional and state demand, including jobs in in-demand industries. The bill requires the council to consult with relevant industries to identify the programs and courses by identifying high-skill, high-wage jobs in in-demand industries that have labor market value. Any programs and courses the council determines do not demonstrate labor market value may be removed from the council's website.
Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, and each school year
thereafter, the department of education (department), in coordination with the department of labor and employment, the department of higher education, the Colorado community college system, and employers from in-demand industries, shall identify the top 10 industry-recognized credentials that may be awarded to high school students. For each identified credential, the department shall specify how the courses taken to earn the credential align with the state academic standards.
The bill requires each participating school district, each
nonparticipating school district on behalf of its participating charter schools, and the state charter school institute on behalf of each participating institute charter school to report to the department the total number of pupils who successfully complete a program or course, disaggregated by the student's race, ethnicity, and gender, and whether the student is a student with a disability, an English language learner, or eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Current law requires each participating school district and each
participating charter school to regularly communicate to all high school students the availability of programs and courses and the benefits a student receives as a result of successfully completing one of the programs or courses. The bill expands this requirement to all middle school students and the students' families.
The bill requires each participating school district and each
participating charter school to communicate how industry-recognized credentials and guaranteed-transfer pathways courses that are included in such credentials are aligned with postsecondary degrees and high-skill, high-wage, in-demand jobs, and the top 10 industry-recognized
credentials identified by the department. The communications must be provided in a language that the students and the students' families understand.
The bill updates the department's annual reporting requirements to
the general assembly to include:
Whether the students participating in the programs and courses enlisted in the military or entered the workforce after graduation;
How money received under the career development success program was used to promote the availability of programs and courses; and
How the participating school district or participating charter school determined which programs and courses to offer, including how the programs and courses are aligned with local workforce needs.
No later than July 1, 2022, the department, in collaboration with
the Colorado community college system, shall publish and disseminate materials through existing and relevant platforms used to engage with districts that include, at a minimum, the top 10 industry-recognized credentials and a sample communications plan for how a participating school district or participating charter school may communicate the value of credentials and experiences to students and families.
The bill requires participating school districts and participating
charter schools to utilize program funding to promote access to programs and courses.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | D. Esgar (D) T. Geitner (R) | House Committee | Education | Senate Sponsors | P. Lundeen (R) J. Bridges (D) | Senate Committee | Education | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/26/2021) |
|
Bill:
SB21-130
|
Title: |
Local Authority for Business Personal Property Tax Exemption |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (04/29/2021) | Category |
Tax & Budget: Gene Pielin, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning authorization for local governments to exempt business personal property from taxation. | Background | | Summary | The bill allows counties, municipalities, and special districts to
exempt up to 100% of business personal property from the levy and collection of property taxation for the 2021 property tax year.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | K. Van Winkle (R) S. Bird (D) | House Committee | Transportation and Local Government | Senate Sponsors | C. Holbert (R) B. Pettersen (D) | Senate Committee | State, Veterans and Military Affairs | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/23/2021) |
|
Bill:
SB21-176
|
Title: |
Protecting Opportunities And Workers' Rights Act |
Position | Oppose | Status | House Committee on Judiciary Postpone Indefinitely (06/07/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning protections for Colorado workers against discriminatory employment practices, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | For purposes of addressing discriminatory or unfair employment
practices pursuant to Colorado's anti-discrimination laws, the bill:
Allows an employment discrimination claim to be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county or district where the alleged discriminatory or unfair employment practice occurred and allows an individual to
file a civil action, without otherwise exhausting administrative proceedings and remedies, as long as the individual either files a charge with the Colorado civil rights commission (commission) or serves a written demand for the relief on the individual's employer and allows the employer 14 days to respond;
Expands the definition of employee to include individuals in domestic service; individuals who perform a service for a price, including independent contractors, subcontractors, and their employees; and individuals who offer services or labor without pay;
Adds new definitions of caregiver, care recipient, child, minor child, harassment, hostile work environment, and independent contractor;
Adds protections from discriminatory or unfair employment practices for individuals based on their marital status or caregiver status;
Specifies that it is a discriminatory or unfair employment practice for an employer to fail to initiate an investigation of a complaint or fail to take prompt remedial action if appropriate;
Prohibits certain preemployment medical examinations, imposes limitations on inquiries and examinations about an employee's disability during employment, and specifies that violations of these prohibitions and limitations constitute discriminatory or unfair employment practices;
Expands the time limit to file a charge with the commission from 6 months to 300 days after the alleged discriminatory or unfair employment practice occurred;
Repeals the limits on remedies in cases involving age discrimination; and
Limits the ability of an employer to require confidentiality of claims once a charge is filed with the commission.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | S. Lontine (D) M. Gray (D) | House Committee | Judiciary | Senate Sponsors | B. Pettersen (D) F. Winter (D) | Senate Committee | Judiciary | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/08/2021) |
|
Bill:
SB21-197
|
Title: |
Workers' Compensation Physician |
Position | Oppose | Status | House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Postpone Indefinitely (05/27/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the treating physician in workers' compensation cases. | Background | | Summary | The bill provides injured workers control over the selection of the
primary treating physician in workers' compensation cases, allowing them to choose from any level I or level II accredited physician through the division of workers' compensation. The bill creates the mechanism by which the injured worker may select the treating physician, and requires the employer or insurer to choose the physician when an injured worker
is unable or unwilling to select the treating physician.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | S. Woodrow (D) A. Boesenecker (D) | House Committee | Business Affairs and Labor | Senate Sponsors | R. Rodriguez (D) | Senate Committee | Business, Labor and Technology | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (05/17/2021) |
|
Bill:
SB21-234
|
Title: |
General Fund Transfer Agriculture And Drought Resiliency |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/15/2021) | Category |
Water: Jeff Echter, Glenda Mostek
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning creation of the agriculture and drought resiliency fund, and, in connection therewith, transferring money from the general fund to the fund and making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill creates the agriculture and drought resiliency fund and
directs the state treasurer to transfer $3 million from the general fund to the fund. The department of agriculture will use the fund to engage in
activities that promote the ability of the state to anticipate, prepare for, mitigate, adapt to, or respond to any event, trend, or climatological disturbance related to drought or climate. The fund is repealed, effective September 1, 2022.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | L. Cutter (D) R. Holtorf (R) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | J. Sonnenberg (R) S. Jaquez Lewis (D) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/22/2021) |
|
Bill:
SB21-246
|
Title: |
Electric Utility Promote Beneficial Electrification |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/21/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller, Will LaPoint
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning measures to encourage beneficial electrification, and, in connection therewith, directing the public utilities commission and Colorado utilities to promote compliance with current environmental and labor standards and making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill directs the public utilities commission (PUC) to establish
energy savings targets and approve plans under which investor-owned
electric utilities will promote the use of energy-efficient electric equipment in place of less efficient fossil-fuel-based systems. This directive would substantially follow the model of existing demand-side management (DSM) policies established by the PUC.
Section 1 of the bill declares that DSM has provided substantial
economic and environmental benefits, and the PUC's administration of DSM has successfully carried out legislative intent; therefore, the PUC is directed to implement the beneficial electrification programs and plans using the same approach.
Sections 2 and 4 specify the parameters for these programs and
plans, including the types of systems and appliances that are eligible for installation, the criteria to be considered when the PUC evaluates plan proposals, the implementation of plans, utility cost-recovery mechanisms, and performance incentives. Section 4 also requires that any installation, upgrade, or new construction under a beneficial electrification program must be performed either by utility employees or by qualified, Colorado-licensed contractors.
Section 3 directs the PUC to apply current standards for
measurement of the social cost of carbon emissions, including methane, in evaluating the cost, benefit, or net present value of utility plans and proposals for beneficial electrification.
Section 5 makes a conforming amendment.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | M. Froelich (D) A. Valdez (D) | House Committee | Energy and Environment | Senate Sponsors | S. Fenberg (D) | Senate Committee | Transportation and Energy | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (08/30/2021) |
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Bill:
SB21-248
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Title: |
Loan Program For Colorado Agriculture |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/29/2021) | Category | | Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning assistance for agriculture in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, establishing a loan program in the department of agriculture, transferring money from the general fund to a new agricultural future loan program cash fund to be used for the loan program, and making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill creates the Colorado agricultural future loan program
(loan program) in the department of agriculture (department) to provide:
Farm-to-market infrastructure loans to eligible applicants; and
Low-interest loans to eligible farmers or ranchers and eligible businesses in Colorado.
The department shall administer the loan program and provide
loans from the Colorado agricultural future loan program cash fund (fund), which is also created in the bill.
In administering the loan program, the department, to the extent
practicable, shall attempt to award:
A total of at least $5 million but no more than $10 million in the form of farm-to-market infrastructure loans by June 30, 2022; and
A total of at least $10 million but no more than $20 million in the form of low-interest loans to eligible farmers or ranchers and eligible businesses by December 31, 2022.
In administering the loan program on and after January 1, 2023, to
the extent practicable, the department shall prioritize the provision of loans to eligible farmers or ranchers who apply for loans from the loan program and who have owned or operated a farm or ranch for less than 10 years or represent a population that is underserved or underrepresented in Colorado agriculture.
The commissioner of agriculture is required to promulgate rules
to implement the loan program, and the department is required to submit an annual report to the general assembly concerning the loan program.
The bill requires the state treasurer to transfer $30 million from the
general fund to the fund for use by the department to implement and administer the loan program. The money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the department to expend for the loan program.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | R. Holtorf (R) K. McCormick (D) | House Committee | Agriculture, Livestock, and Water | Senate Sponsors | K. Donovan (D) C. Simpson (R) | Senate Committee | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/22/2021) |
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Bill:
SB21-260
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Title: |
Sustainability Of The Transportation System |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/17/2021) | Category | | Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning the sustainability of the transportation system in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, creating new sources of dedicated funding and new state enterprises to preserve, improve, and expand existing transportation infrastructure, develop the modernized infrastructure needed to support the widespread adoption of electric motor vehicles, and mitigate environmental and health impacts of transportation system use; expanding authority for regional transportation improvements; and making an appropriation. | Background | | Summary | The bill creates new sources of dedicated funding and new state
enterprises to enable the planning, funding, development, construction, maintenance, and supervision of a sustainable transportation system by preserving, improving, and expanding existing transportation infrastructure, developing the modern infrastructure needed to support the widespread adoption of electric motor vehicles, and mitigating adverse environmental and health impacts of transportation system use as follows:
Section 6 of the bill creates the community access enterprise within the Colorado energy office (CEO) for the purpose of supporting the widespread and equitable adoption of electric motor vehicles and electric alternatives to motor vehicles in an equitable manner. The community access enterprise is authorized to impose a community access retail delivery fee to fund its business purpose. The governance and powers and duties of the community access enterprise are specified.
Section 7 makes various general fund transfers to the state highway fund, the highway users tax fund (HUTF), and the multimodal transportation and mitigation options fund, including limited contingent transfers of a portion of any additional general fund revenue made available due to the restoration of the excess state revenues cap (Referendum C cap) by Section 8.
Section 8 restores the Referendum C cap, which the general assembly reduced in 2017, to its maximum voter-approved level.
Section 11 creates the clean fleet enterprise within the department of public health and environment (CDPHE) for the purpose of incentivizing and supporting the use of electric motor vehicles and other clean fleet technologies by owners and operators of motor vehicle fleets. The clean fleet enterprise is authorized to impose a clean fleet retail delivery fee to be paid by the purchaser of tangible personal property delivered to the purchaser by motor vehicle and a clean fleet per ride fee to be paid by a transportation network company (TNC) on each ride offered and accepted by the TNC to fund the clean fleet enterprise's business purpose. The governance and powers and duties of the clean fleet enterprise are specified.
Section 25 requires the department of revenue (DOR) to
collect the per ride fees imposed by the clean fleet enterprise and the nonattainment area air pollution mitigation enterprise as authorized by sections 11 and 50 Both fees are first imposed for rides offered and accepted in state fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 and are annually adjusted for consumer price index (CPI) inflation thereafter.
Section 26 indexes the existing $50 registration fee imposed on electric motor vehicles to national highway construction cost index (NHCCI) inflation and imposes additional electric motor vehicle road usage equalization fees on battery electric motor vehicles at a specified level and on plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicles at a lower level, with both additional fees being phased in on a set schedule from state FYs 2022-23 through 2031-32 and thereafter indexed to NHCCI inflation. Section 26 also imposes a commercial electric motor vehicle fee. The increase and new fee revenue is credited to the HUTF for allocation to the state, counties, and municipalities; except that 40% of the revenue generated by inflation indexing of the existing $50 registration fee is credited to the electric vehicle grant fund and 30% of the revenue generated by the commercial electric motor vehicle fee is credited to the state highway fund for freight-related projects. In 2026, specified executive agencies must jointly review the fees and make recommendations to the transportation legislation review committee of the general assembly as to whether the fees should be adjusted to ensure continued equalization of the average aggregate amount of registration fees and motor fuel charges annually paid by owners of electric motor vehicles and owners of motor vehicles powered exclusively by internal combustion engines.
Section 33 imposes road usage fees on gasoline and diesel purchases that are phased in from state FYs 2022-23 through 2031-32 and thereafter indexed to NHCCI inflation, with the road usage fees also being adjusted beginning in state FY 2032-33 in a manner calculated to generate the same amount of additional revenue as would be generated by indexing the existing state excise taxes imposed on gasoline and diesel to construction cost inflation. The fee revenue is credited to the HUTF for allocation to the state, counties, and municipalities.
Section 33 also imposes a retail delivery fee on retail deliveries by motor vehicle that include tangible personal property subject to the state sales tax, requires the fee to be collected from the purchaser by the retailer, and requires
simultaneous collection of community access, clean fleet, bridge and tunnel, clean transit, and air pollution mitigation retail delivery fees imposed, respectively, by the community access, clean fleet, statewide bridge and tunnel, clean transit, and nonattainment area air pollution mitigation enterprises. The fees are first collected in state FY 2022-23 and are annually adjusted for CPI inflation thereafter. Retail delivery fee revenue is credited to the HUTF for allocation to the state, counties, and municipalities and to the multimodal transportation and mitigation options fund and each enterprise's retail delivery fee revenue is collected by DOR on behalf of and credited to the cash fund controlled by the enterprise.
Sections 43, 44, and 46 change the name of the statewide bridge enterprise to the statewide bridge and tunnel enterprise, authorize the enterprise to complete tunnel projects, and authorize the enterprise to impose a bridge and tunnel impact fee on diesel fuel and a bridge and tunnel retail delivery fee to fund its business purpose. The bridge and tunnel impact fee is phased in from state FYs 2022-23 through 2031-32 and thereafter indexed to NHCCI inflation.
Section 45 indexes the existing $2 short-term daily vehicle rental fee to CPI inflation and, on or after July 1, 2022, requires a car sharing program to collect the daily vehicle rental fee for any short-term vehicle rental of 24 hours or longer that is enabled by the car sharing program.
Sections 47 through 49 change the name of the multimodal transportation options fund to the multimodal transportation and mitigation options fund and make greenhouse gas mitigation projects eligible for funding from the fund.
Section 50 creates the clean transit enterprise within the department of transportation (CDOT) for the purpose of supporting clean public transit through electrification planning efforts, facility upgrades, fleet motor vehicle replacement, and construction and development of associated electric motor vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure. The clean transit enterprise is authorized to impose a clean transit retail delivery fee of up to a specified amount to fund its business purpose. The governance and powers and duties of the clean transit enterprise are specified. Section 50 also creates the nonattainment area air pollution mitigation enterprise for the purpose of mitigating transportation-related emissions in ozone nonattainment
areas. The nonattainment area air pollution mitigation enterprise is authorized to impose air pollution mitigation per ride and retail delivery fees to fund its business purpose.
Section 1 makes legislative findings and declarations that explain
the purpose of the bill and the reasons why it includes the new sources of dedicated funding and new state enterprises that it does. Section 2 clarifies that an existing fee may be used to fund the functions of the freight mobility and safety branch created in section 27. Sections 3 and 4 respectively clarify that the clean fleet enterprise operates as a type 1 agency within CDPHE and that the clean transit enterprise and the nonattainment area air pollution mitigation enterprise operate as type 1 agencies within CDOT.
Section 5 requires the CEO and CDPHE, after consultation with
CDOT, to jointly and annually prepare a report for specified legislative committees that details the progress made toward the electric motor vehicle adoption goals set forth in the Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan 2020 and the transportation sector greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals set forth in the Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap. Section 5 also specifies a methodology to be used by the CEO, CDOT, and CDPHE to estimate the social costs of greenhouse gas pollution.
Sections 9, 32, 42, and 51 effectuate the repeal of the requirement
that a ballot question seeking approval for the issuance of transportation revenue anticipation notes be submitted to the voters of the state at the November 2021 statewide election.
Section 10 requires CDOT to comply with specified transparency
and contractor short-listing requirements when using the integrated project delivery method of contract procurement for a public project. Section 14 clarifies that sales and use tax is not levied on the retail delivery fees imposed by or as authorized by the bill. Sections 16 through 21 provide legal authority for collection under an existing multistate agreement of the motor fuel road usage and bridge and tunnel impact fees imposed by or as authorized by the bill. Section 22 requires the public utilities commission to conduct a certificated taxi carrier parity study.
Section 27 creates the freight mobility and safety branch in
CDOT's transportation development division. Section 28 requires CDOT and metropolitan planning organizations to engage in an enhanced level of planning, analysis, community engagement, and monitoring with respect to transportation capacity projects and specifies what that entails and also requires CDOT to conduct a road usage charge study and an autonomous vehicle study. Section 29 allows some of the general fund money transferred to the state highway fund pursuant to section 7 to be used for multimodal transportation projects. Section 31 specifies the
manner in which revenue credited to the HUTF as required by the bill is allocated and expended.
Sections 34 through 41 authorize a transportation planning
organization (TPO), subject to territorial restrictions and TPO member jurisdiction approval requirements, to exercise the powers of a regional transportation authority (RTA). Among other powers, the powers of a RTA include the power to impose various charges, fees, and, with voter approval, visitor benefit, sales, and use taxes to generate transportation funding for the purpose of financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining regional transportation systems.
Any additional transportation funding obtained by a TPO
exercising the power of a RTA is intended to supplement and not supplant state and federal transportation funding allocated within the boundaries of the TPO. Therefore, the transportation commission and CDOT are prohibited from taking such additional transportation funding into account when determining the amount of state and federal transportation funding to be allocated within the boundaries of a TPO, and CDOT, when submitting its annual proposed budget allocation plan, is required to provide evidence that the proposed allocation of state and federal transportation funding within the boundaries of any TPO that has obtained such additional transportation funding has not been reduced in any way on account of the additional transportation funding.
Section 45 reduces the amount of each road safety surcharge
imposed on motor vehicle registration for registration periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022, but before January 1, 2024, by $5.55.
| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | A. Garnett (D) M. Gray (D) | House Committee | Finance | Senate Sponsors | F. Winter (D) S. Fenberg (D) | Senate Committee | Finance | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/09/2021) |
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Bill:
SB21-262
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Title: |
Special District Transparency |
Position | Monitor | Status | Governor Signed (06/28/2021) | Category |
Business Practices: Hunter White, Troy Tinberg, Dan Grange, Steve Steele, Dot Miller, Will LaPoint
| Bill Position | | | | Description | Concerning transparency for special districts. | Background | | Summary | The bill makes various changes to statutory provisions to promote
transparency for special districts. Specifically:
Under current law, the designated election official is required to provide notice by publication of a call for nominations for a regular local government election. Section 1 of the bill eliminates the requirement that notice be made exclusively by publication and allows the notice to be made by any 2 of 5 means, including publication,
specified in the bill.
Section 2 exempts inactive special districts from new requirements under the bill concerning maintenance of a district's website and a district's annual report;
Section 3 requires a metropolitan district, by a certain date, to establish, maintain, and annually update an official website in a form that is readily accessible to the public that contains information that is specified in the bill;
Section 4 adds to existing statutory requirements regarding the annual report to be filed by a special district and, among other things, supplements the type of information to be included in the annual report;
In the case of any contracts or agreements entered into by the special district with a person or private entity for the person or private entity's advance of funds on behalf or for the benefit of the special district for the design or construction of public improvements that is anticipated to result in a future reimbursement of the person or private entity by the special district for the costs associated with the design or construction, section 5 requires that, prior to payment or reimbursement of the advance of funds by the special district, a professional engineer registered in the state of Colorado prepares a written certification attesting to various statements enumerated in the bill;
Section 6 prohibits a metropolitan district from exercising its power of dominant eminent domain within a municipality or the unincorporated area of a county, other than within the boundaries of the jurisdiction that approved its service plan, without a written resolution approving the exercise of dominant eminent domain by the governing body of the municipality in connection with property that is located within an incorporated area or by the board of county commissioners of the county in connection with property that is located within an unincorporated area; and
Section 7 requires, on and after January 1, 2022, each owner of real property that sells real property that includes a newly constructed residence that is located within a metropolitan district, concurrently with or prior to the execution of a contract to sell the property, to provide to the purchaser of the property certain information or statements specified in the bill relating to the finances of the metropolitan district, including information about the debt obligations of the district and an estimate of property taxes applicable to the property at the time of the sale.
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| Hearing Date | | House Sponsors | H. McKean (R) S. Bird (D) | House Committee | Transportation and Local Government | Senate Sponsors | R. Zenzinger (D) R. Gardner (R) | Senate Committee | Local Government | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (09/14/2021) |
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