DENVER – Colorado lawmakers had a busy day Tuesday, as the session approaches its May 6 close.
The Native American bill saw some of the most controversy, as a Democrat, Rep. Ed Vigil of Pueblo, bucked his party in stating his opposition to the measure.
The legislation would create a panel to approve or reject the use of Native American mascots by schools. Vigil worries about costs to schools, especially as the bill has been stripped of funding.
With another Democrat not present, it became apparent that the bill would have died. Republicans oppose the effort. The fate of the bill remains uncertain, as other Democrats have expressed hesitation. A final vote could come as early as Wednesday.
On the police-reform front, the House gave final approval to a bill that would expand the state’s prohibition against profiling, sending the measure off to the Senate. A bill that would prohibit police officers from interfering with residents’ recordings also squeaked through a House committee on Tuesday.
Lawmakers in the House gave consideration to repeat DUI offenders as well, giving preliminary approval to a measure that would create a felony penalty on a fourth offense.
And the House also gave preliminary approval to a measure that would set aside $600,000 for technology that can predict the intensity and direction of wildfires as much as 12 hours ahead of time. Sponsors, including Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, acknowledged budget constraints and stripped money for the flood portion of the technology.
Over in the Senate, the chamber gave final approval to a measure that would curb construction-defect lawsuits by requiring mediation and the majority of homeowners in an association to agree to file a lawsuit before legal action can be taken.
The Senate also gave preliminary approval to a measure that would require people who grow more than 99 plants for medical marijuana patients to get licenses and for caregivers to verify that they have valid patients.