The big game this week will strut into the open on Tuesday at 8:40 a.m., when the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to hear Senate Bill 267, the forebodingly titled “Sustainability of Rural Colorado” proposal. The bill would rescue the proposed state budget from its wretchedness by refilling $500 million in hospital cuts and generating revenue for desperately needed transportation upgrades. It is sponsored by Sterling Republican Jerry Sonnenberg and Denver Democrat Lucia Guzman, Senate minority leader. Dear 2017 legislative session, this is your make or break moment. Breathe deeply. Count backwards from ten. Make it count.

There are one and a half weeks left in the session, seven working days.

All committee hearing scheduled times listed below subject to change.

Tuesday

See above.

Plus: In the Senate Finance Committee, one of several transportation proposal to rush into the void after leadership’s House Bill 1242 crashed and burned. Senate Bill 303 sponsored by Sens. Tim Neville from Littleton and John Cooke from Greeley, is called the “State Highway System Funding and Financing” act.

Wednesday

As national health care policy hangs in the balance, the Senate Health Committee will hear Senate Resolution on “High-Risk Health Care Coverage Program.” The old high risk pools are threatening to make a comeback in a potential “Ryancare” era. The resolution, SCR 354, is sponsored by Republican Sen. Kent Lambert from Colorado Springs and Democratic Rep. Chris Kennedy from Lakewood.

Senate State Affairs will hear House Bill 1336, an all-Democratic bill, naturally, because it asks the state to step in on the side of the interests of some state residents who are pushing against the interests of the oil and gas industry. There are some subjects that will always be partisan at the Capitol. For years now, and increasingly so, anything having to do with oil and gas is one of those subjects.

House Local Government Committee members will consider House Bill 1327, Thornton Democratic Rep. Joe Salazar’s proposal to repeal Columbus Day.

House State Affairs will hear Senate Bill 281, Colorado Springs Republican Rep. Dave Williams’s proposal to hold “sanctuary city” lawmakers accountable for any crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

Thursday

The Senate Finance Committee will consider a number of bills.

House Bill 1227, sponsored in the Senate by Henderson Republican Kevin Priola and Boulder Democrat Steve Fenberg, would reauthorize a popular electric utility energy efficiency program for another ten years.

Bipartisan infrastructure proposal House Bill 1362, sponsored by West Slope lawmakers Democratic Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush and Republican Sen. Randy Baumgardner.

A bill that drew a lot of debate in the House, HB 1321, sponsored in the Senate by Durango Republican Don Coram and Boulder’s Fenberg. It would allow state parks to raise fees for visitors and charge users such as rafters and mountain bikers to help with park upkeep in a state that struggles to raise taxes.

— john@coloradostatesman.com