Follow up:

Bill deadlines — Wednesday marks the first deadline for bills to move out of their original chambers, unless they are granted late bill status or otherwise had deadlines extended. This session looks to be off to a slow start in getting bills to the governor, highlighting the divisive nature of this year’s General Assembly.

SB 15-072 — One bill still alive from the opening weeks of the session, sponsored by Sen. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs. It would change the admissions requirements of Metropolitan State University of Denver from a modified open admission standard to a modified standard. Under the modified open admissions standard, anyone over the age of 21 with a high school diploma or GED would be eligible for admissions. Under the modified admissions standard, the applicant would have to meet more stringent requirements. The bill was scheduled for a hearing with the Senate Education Committee in January, but was opposed by both the university and the governor’s office and the hearing was postponed. However, Lambert did get the deadline waived and the bill is still awaiting its first hearing.

Bills in Action — The House has so far introduced 246 bills; the Senate has 186 bills. In the House, 45 bills have been postponed indefinitely; with 19 PIs coming from the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. In the Senate, 35 bills have been killed, 11 in the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Thirty-six bills have made it all the way through both chambers, 26 of them supplementals.

Governor’s Signature — On Wednesday, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed two bills and a resolution into law: SB 35, which enacts the 2014 Colorado Revised Statutes; House Joint Resolution 15-1006, a water projects list measure, and SB 98, which codifies phrases used in appropriations clauses.

By the end of February last year, the governor had already signed 29 bills, including the supplementals and the enactment bill.

Coming up:

Renewable Mandates — Rep. Dan Thurlow, R-Grand Junction, will present a bill to reduce the state’s renewable energy standard. SB 44 passed the Senate on February 5 but its chances in the House are remote, given that it’s been assigned to the House State Affairs Committee. The bill is calendared for Monday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m.

Water — The House and Senate agriculture committees will be up to their eyebrows in water next week, with five water bills scheduled. The House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources committee will hear three bills, including bills that deal with groundwater and instream flow tax incentives; the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee will take up two bills, including a bill on historical water rights which is likely to generate a full committee room.

— Marianne@coloradostatesman.com