This Week at the Capitol: March 26-30
Here are the legislative committee hearings of note for the week ahead at the Colorado Capitol. Committee schedules are subject to change. The daily schedule is available on the legislature’s website. Click here and scroll down to committee hearings to listen online.
This week, the House will take up the Long Appropriations Bill, which is scheduled to be introduced on Monday, March 26.
MONDAY
House Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources Committee, 1:30 p.m., Room 271
Senate Bill 143, increasing fees on hunting, fishing and state parks to increase revenue to the state division of parks and wildlife.
House Education Committee, 1:30 p.m. Room 112
Two bills that directly conflict with each other. These bills both relate to a change in tax law that was included in the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in December.
House Bill 1209: to bar the use of 529 accounts for K-12 expenses.
House Bill 1221: to allow an income tax deduction for 529 accounts for K-12 expenses.
House Finance Committee, 1:30 p.m., Room LSB-A
Senate Bill 146, requiring consumer notices, including the cost of services, for freestanding emergency rooms.
TUESDAY
House Appropriations Committee, 7:30 a.m., Room LSB-A
Any bills referred to the committee, likely the Long Appropriations Bill and accompanying bills sponsored by the Joint Budget Committee.
House Judiciary Committee, 1:30 p.m., Room 112
House Bill 1206: “Live and Let Live,” a bill to allow the free exercise of religion, including the right to discriminate based on religious beliefs.
WEDNESDAY
Senate Judiciary Committee, 1:30 p.m., SCR 352
Appointment to Juvenile Parole Board of Heidi Jeanne Hess of Clifton, Colorado, to serve as a public member not employed by the State of Colorado. Hess’s re-appointment last year to the Colorado Civil Rights Commission was rejected by Senate Republicans and plays a role in the decision to offer Senate Bill 43.
Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee, 1:30 p.m., SCR 357
House Bill 1046, to allow transgender individuals to change birth certificates without reassignment surgery.
Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee, 2 p.m., SCR 354
Senate Bill 193, which would enact sweeping changes to the state’s ability to dictate licensing for professional occupations. For action only.
THURSDAY
Senate Education Committee, 1;30 p.m., SCR 352
Senate Bill 215, to add $10 million to funding for rural schools in 2018-19.
Senate Bill 206, requires the University of Northern Colorado and Colorado School of Mines to admit 100 percent of academically qualified first-year students (CU and CSU are already required to do so). Increases the limit on the admission of foreign students at these institutions to 15 percent.
House Health Insurance & Environment Committee, 1:30 p.m., Room 107
House Bill 1263, adding autism and acute pain to the categories for medical marijuana prescriptions.
House Bill 1286, allowing school nurses to give medical marijuana to students for which it is prescribed.
House Judiciary Committee, 1:30 p.m., Room 112
Senate Bill 55, increasing court fines for trafficking of children.


