ALL THE BILLS: Final tally for local lawmakers: 74 laws and 47 dead bills

 The Gazette  continuously tracked bills before the 2010 General Assembly in Denver that haf local lawmakers as primary sponsors. This list was updated on June 14, 2010 to show which bills passed the session that ended May 12 and which are dead.

Local lawmakers saw 74 bills passed into law against 47 killed.

To see the General Assembly's full slate of bills, go to the Legislature's site.
Below is the list so far. Click on the bill number to see the full text of the measure.

IT’S THE LAW

DOUSING TIRE FIRES: Rep. Marsha Looper’s HB1018 wnames the state’s Department of Public Health and Environment as the sole agency to oversee management of used tire piles and sets requirements including fire prevention. UPDATE: After lingering in the House, it gained momentum and passed in the General Assembly’s waning days. Signed into law June 10.

TIGHTER GRIP ON LOBBYISTS: Rep. Larry Liston’s SB87 tightens regulation over lobbyists, including requiring volunteer lobbyists to register with the state and increasing fines levied against lobbyists who fail to file state-mandated disclosure statements. UPDATE: Was signed by Ritter on June 10.

TAX REFUNDS: From Sen. Bill Cadman, SB212 limits the methods the state can use to refund excess revenue to taxpayers. The methods allowed are sales tax refunds, income tax rate reduction and earned income tax credits. UPDATE: Signed June 10. 

COLLEGE GYMNASTICS: Sen. John Morse’s SB03 gives state colleges more flexibility in dealing with state regulations and gives individual state schools more authority to determine financial aid eligibility for students. UPDATE: Signed June 9.

GOING GREEN: Rep. Marsha Looper’s SB177 gives tax breaks to biomass energy plants. The plants use forestry waste and other materials to generate electricity. UPDATE: Signed into law June 9.

REDISTRICTING: Sen. John Morse’s HB1210 makes technical changes to existing state laws on redistricting. The state will redraw political boundaries after the 2010 Census. UPDATE: Signed June 7.

THE EXTERMINATOR: Republican Rep. Marsha Looper’s SB34 updates state pesticide rules to comply with new federal mandates. UPDATE: Signed into law on June 7.

JUDGEMENT DAY: Rep. Bob Gardner’s HB1395 allows the state’s appellate courts to rule on questions of law in cases still engrossed in lower courts. These “interlocutory appeals” would allow technical issues to be dealt with without full-blown appeals of civil cases. UPDATE: Signed June 7.

INSURANCE REGULATION: Rep. Marsha Looper’s SB02 allows the state to appeal insurance company benefit denials on behalf of some Medicaid recipients. UPDATE: Signed June 7.

CLEARING COLLEGE HURDLES: Republican Sen. Keith King’s SB108 aims to smooth the transfer of credits from private colleges to state-run colleges. The measure would allow private schools to coordinate more closely with state colleges to ensure that credits will transfer. UPDATE: Signed May 27.

FIT AND TRIM: Rep. Amy Stephens’ HB1160 widens the ability of health insurance companies to establish incentive programs for healthy behavior by clients. UPDATE: This bill came back from the dead after a tie vote before the House Health and Human Services Committee. It was signed by Ritter May 26.

HEALTH TRANSPARENCY: Sen. John Morse’s HB1330 creates a state database of health insurance claims to show the public how claims are paid. It will be overseen by an advisory committee.  UPDATE:  Signed May 26.

FOOD BOARD CREATION: Rep. Marsha Looper’s SB106 createsa 17-member food systems advisory council. The council isharged with advising the government on policies to ”foster a healthy and available food supply.” UPDATE: Signed May 26.

RAISING THE BOOM: Sen. Mark Scheffel’s SB144 ends a requirement for vehicles that the vehicle itself and equipment attached the vehicle, like a lift-boom for a truck, must be registered separately with the state. UPDATE: Signed by Ritter May 26.

WOUNDED TROOPS SHOOT BACK: From Sen. John Morse and Rep. Marsha Looper, SB211 givesseverely wounded troops who served in Iraq or Afghanistan discounted hunting licenses. UPDATE: Signed May 26.

SENTENCING REFORM: Rep. Mark Waller’s HB1352 cuts entences for drug possession and funnel the resulting prison savings into treatment programs. UPDATE: Signed May 25.

CASH REFUND: Sen. John Morse’s SB143 changes rules so the state treasurer can refund $1.5 million in overpayments that have been hung up by red tape. The refunds are as large as $2,500. UPDATE: Signed into law May 25.

DRUNK TANK: Sen. John Morse’s HB1347 increases penalties for drunken driving, including the addition of a minimum 60-day sentence for those caught on their third DUI. UPDATE: Signed May 25.

BINGO: From Rep. Kent Lambert and Sen. Keith King, SB141 puts a measure on the ballot to ask voters whether they want the regulation of bingo games and raffles transferred from the Secretary of State’s Office to the state Department of Revenue. UPDATE: Signed May 21.

CHARTER COOPERATION: Sen. Keith King’s SB161 allows charter schools to sign cooperative service contracts with other charters or with a board of cooperative services. UPDATE: Signed May 21.

TAX LENDING: Rep. Dennis Apuan’s HB1400 regulates lenders that advance money on tax refunds. Those lenders must also be registered to electronically file taxes under Apuan’s bill. UPDATE: Signed May 19.

PARKS PASS FOR SENIORS: Sen. John Morse’s SB71 creates the “Aspen Leaf” lifetime pass to state parks for senior citizens. The pass will cost about $150. UPDATE: Signed May 19.

PLATES FOR WAR VETS: Rep. Dennis Apuan’s bill, HB1139, allows veterans with proof of service in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001 to pay a $50 one-time fee to get custom plates acknowledging their overseas service. UPDATE: Signed May 19.

MANDATED CREATIVITY: Rep. Mike Merrifield’s HB1273 requires schools to teach kids about visual and performing arts. The bill says art helps prevent drop-outs. UPDATE: Signed May 18.

UNIFORM FORMS: Rep. Dennis Apuan’s HB1242 requires a single form for people applying for certain insurance benefits paid out in cases of illness or accident. UPDATE: Signed into law May 10.

NO CASH FOR YOU: From Rep Kent Lambert, HB1384 makes it harder for those without citizenship to get money from the state’s Old Age Pension Fund. UPDATE: Signed by Ritter May 6.

BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL: Rep. Carole Murray’s HB1208 guarantees that students earning an associate degree in Colorado get to start as juniors at the state’s four-year schools. UPDATE: Signed May 6.

BUDGET FIX: Rep. Kent Lambert’s HB1385 moves money collected from insurance carriers as a fraud-fighting fee into a dedicated fund. UPDATE: Signed into law May 5.

MONEY TRANSFER RULES: Rep. Larry Liston’s HB1114 requires agents for money-transfer companies to be licensed by the state and allows the state’s Banking Board to discipline money-transfer agents who don’t follow the rules. UPDATE: Signed into law May 5

CUTTING RED TAPE: Rep. Marsha Looper’s HB1128 streamlines some state regulations, including eliminating some requirements now placed on sports agents. UPDATE: Signed April 29.

TELL US MORE: From Rep. Amy Stephens and Sen. Mark Scheffel, HB1178 requires state agencies to issue a report of where they’re getting grants and how that cash is used. UPDATE: Signed into law April 29.

CRIME TRACKER: Rep. Mark Waller’s HB1218 adds information to a state registry of protection orders, including whether charges are pending in the case and if the defendant is free on bail. UPDATE: Signed into law April 29.

IT’S NOT A GIFT: Sen. Bill Cadman’s SB99  clarifies state rules against lawmakers accepting gifts to allow state officials to accept travel money from “joint governmental agencies” including the National Conference of State Legislatures. UPDATE: Signed by Gov. Bill Ritter on April 29.

SOME RULES MAY GET BETTER WITH AGE: Sen. John Morse’s SB60 extends the expiration date of a pile of state rules and regulations indefinitely. Those rules would otherwise expire on May 15. UPDATE: Signed by Ritter on April 29.

HONORING THE FALLEN: Sponsored by Rep. Marsha Looper and Sen. Keith King, SB47 clarifies who can make funeral and burial decisions for Colorado troops who die. UPDATE: Signed by Ritter on April 29.

CHARTING CHARTERS: Sen. Keith King’s SB111 gives more privileges to publicly-funded, privately-operated schools authorized through the state’s Charter School Institute. UPDATE: Signed April 29.

ON THE BUS: Sen. Keith King’s HB1232 changes language in state laws from “school bus” to school vehicle. It means more than the big, yellow monsters are regulated by the state when they carry school kids. UPDATE: Signed into law April 28.

SURGERY FOR INMATES: Rep. Bob Gardner’s HB1083 authorizes the state’s prison system to acquire a day surgery center in Denver to care for inmates. UPDATE: Signed into law April 21

MORE CASH FOR NURSES: Sen. John Morse’s HB1138 expands a program that helps nurses and doctors repay education loans. To be eligible for the program, health care workers must serve in communities with a specified need. UPDATE: Signed by Gov. Bill Ritter on April 20.

VETERANS COURTS EXPANDED: Rep. Marsha Looper’s HB1104 allows creation of special veterans courts that allows vets charged with nonviolent crimes to get substance abuse and metal health treatment rather than jail time. UPDATE: Signed April 16.

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND: Rep. Mike Merrifield’s HB1165 allows the state Land Board to give some of its holdings to local governments under certain circumstances. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

WE JUST WANT THE MONEY: Rep. Mark Waller’s HB1215 requires courts to deduct fees and fines from a defendant’s cash bail if they’re found guilty at a trial. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

YOU AIN'T THE BOSS OF ME: Sen. John Morse’s HB1020  gives the state’s legislative branch more autonomy to enter into contracts without executive branch approval. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

LAWYERS GET SOME LAW: Rep. Mark Waller’s SB63 grants immunity from civil damages to attorneys  hired on contract to serve the Office of Alternative Defense Council. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

LIKE FACEBOOK, ONLY BORING: Sen. John Morse’s SB123 allows the state to move more of its technical publications onto the Internet. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

CHANGING OFFICES: Rep. Kent Lambert’s SB148 transfers a state facility to the Office of Information Technology and includes a funding mechanism to pay for the change. UPDATE: Signed April 15

MEDICAID CHANGES: Democratic Rep. Dennis Apuan’s HB1043 changes state Medicaid regulations and gives the state’s Medical Services Board broader authority to determine who qualifies for the state’s low-income health care plan. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

SPEECH THERAPY: Republican Sen. Keith King’s HB1034 allows the state Department of Education to issue emergency certifications to school speech-language pathology assistants who don’t meet some state requirements. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

FIXING PHRASES: Rep. Bob Gardner’s HB1137 changes how state laws refer to people with disabilities. For example, the phrase “disabled people” could be banned from the books because it “implies that a person as a whole is disabled.” UPDATE: Signed April 15.

CHARITABLE PARTNERSHIPS: Sen. John Morse’s HB1010 allows more program partnerships between state agencies and non-profit groups to deliver public services. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

FINGERPRINTING STATE WORKERS: Sen. Dave Schultheis’ HB1011 allows criminal background checks including fingerprinting for state employees with access to driver’s license information. UPDATE: The only measure Schultheis has sponsored this year to pass both chambers. It was signed April 15.

REWIRING THE STATE: Rep. Kent Lambert’s SB32 allows the state to modify existing computer services contracts with the goal of forming a central computing agency for the state rather than having each agency handle its own information technology issues. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

BOXING DAY: Rep. Larry Liston’s HB1245 changes the duties of the state’s Boxing Commission to include oversight of mixed martial arts and extends the commission’s state mandate through 2017. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

SPEECH THERAPY: Republican Sen. Keith King’s HB1034 allows the state Department of Education to issue emergency certifications to school speech-language pathology assistants who don’t meet some state requirements. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

FEE FIGHTER: Sen. Mark Scheffel’s HB1115 creates exceptions for a state program that charges fees for some child welfare services. It allows counties to waive the fees. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

SUBPOENAS MADE EASY: Rep. Bob Gardner’s HB1132 allows police to serve subpoenas for business records at a time deemed convenient by the business rather than during “normal business hours” as is now required by law. UPDATE: Signed April 15.

RETIREES GET LONGER TERMS: Rep. Mark Waller’s HB1016 extends the term from four to six years for retired cops and firefighters serving on the Fire and Police Pension Association’s board of directors. UPDATE: Signed April 5.

PENNING SEX OFFENDERS: Rep. Mark Waller’s HB1089 specifies that people found to be sexually violent predators who violate parole will go to a state prison rather than jail when their parole is revoked. UPDATE: Signed March 31.

HURRICANE DENVER: Republican Rep. Kent Lambert’s HB1080 lets a legislative committee now overseeing preparation for disease epidemics also examine disaster readiness. UPDATE: Signed into law March 31.

FELONS FOR HIRE: Rep. Mark Waller’s HB1023 changes how an employee’s criminal past can be used in court when an employer is being sued for damages. The law would allow the history of crimes to be used as evidence only if it had direct relationship on the issue that led to the lawsuit. UPDATE: Signed into law March 29.

YOU’RE FIRED: Sen. John Morse’s SB122 eliminates the Capitol Finance Corp., a state-run nonprofit holding company that existed to act as a lease agent for some state properties. UPDATE: Signed March 31.

NO ROLLING THE DICE: Sen. Mark Scheffel’s SB31, bans the use of financing under the Colorado Regional Tourism Act to be used for projects that would include casinos. UPDATE: Signed by Ritter March 31.

BUY SOME BLING: Pushed by Sen. Keith King and Rep. Mike Merrifield, SB18 allows schools to accept donations to buy trophies and banners earned in the state’s school awards program. UPDATE: Signed March 29.

GET OUT OF JAIL FREE: From Republican Rep. Mark Waller and Democratic Sen. John Morse, HB1090 eliminates mandatory jail sentences for people caught driving on a suspended or revoked license. UPDATE: Signed into law March 29.

MAKING THE MOVE: Rep. Marsha Looper’s HB1175 makes it easier for professionals who move here to transfer their health care licenses. It’s aimed at helping military families. UPDATE:  Signed March 29.

CUSTODY CASE CLARITY: Sen. John Morse’s HB1097 creates a temporary injunction that can be used in some child-custody and paternity cases. The injunction would bar parents from actions including removing the child from Colorado. UPDATE: Signed on March 25.

CAR DEALER RULES: Rep. Marsha Looper’s HB1049 changes some regulations for automobile dealers, granting car dealers more rights when an auto manufacturer closes dealerships. UPDATE: It wound up getting more popular after auto giant General Motors ran an advertising campaign to oppose it. Ritter signed it into law March 22.

LONG-DISTANCE DOCTORS: Rep. Kent Lambert’s HB1322 eliminates state telemedicine pilot programs, shaving the state budget. The programs used phones and the internet to connect doctors for consultations. UPDATE: Signed by Ritter March 18.

MONEY MOVER: Rep. Kent Lambert’s HB1325 transfers money earned on payments to the state for natural resources damage to a fund for responding to hazardous waste incidents.  UPDATE: Signed by Ritter March 18.

BUDGET TWEAKER: Sen. John Morse’s HB1110 makes changes to the budget to accommodate for audits required by the federal stimulus program. UPDATE: Signed into law on March 15.

DOUBLE-DIP DUMPER: Rep. Larry Liston’s SB23 tightens regulations over double-dipping by police and firefighters who retire and then return to work to collect both a government salary and a pension payment. UPDATE: Signed by Ritter on March 10.

FIREFIGHTER PENSIONS: Sen. John Morse’s SB21 changes some state regulations over pensions for volunteer firefighters including allowing retired firefighters to sit on the pension fund’s board of directors.  UPDATE: Signed by Ritter on March 10.

THE COVER OF THE LAW: Rep. Bob Gardner’s HB1039  allows the state’s soft-cover lawbooks to be recognized as the “positive and statutory law of the state of Colorado.” UPDATE: Ritter inked it into law Feb. 24.

.TRAINING TEACHERS: Rep. Mike Merrifield’s SB36 sets up a program to track how well colleges train teachers. It was the first bill passed by the Senate in 2010 as part of an effort to get federal grant money. UPDATE: Passed both chambers and was signed by Gov. Bill Ritter in January.

STONE COLD

JAIL BREAK: From Sen. Keith King, HB1421 would force the state prison system to part with one 500-bed facility. UPDATE: Killed  on the last day of the session.

COMMUTER COSTS: From Rep. Kent Lambert and Sen. Bill Cadman, HB1287 would ban use of state vehicles for commuting and other non-official trips. Cops and firefighter could still take home state cars, but they would be required to reimburse the state for commuting expenses. UPDATE: Passed on the session’s final day only to be vetoed by Ritter.

STUDYING STUDIES: From Sen. John Morse, HB1354 sets new rules for studies ordered by the General Assembly. It says studies cannot last longer than a year. UPDATE: Killed by a Senate procedural vote.

FOCUSING ON FORECLOSURE: Sen. John Morse’s SB45 would change foreclosure rules by adding a requirement for a 60-day notice on foreclosure filings and a requirement that lenders try to work with the debtor before they foreclose on the property. UPDATE: It was before the State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee for most of the session before it died in the General Assembly’s final days.

SHARING THE ROAD: Rep. Mike Merrifield’s SB40 would create a program to train car and truck drivers on how to share the road with motorcycles. It would funnel part of a motorcycle safety fund to the project. UPDATE: It passed the Senate 27-7 but is stalled in the House.

SLUM DOG BILL: From Rep. Michael Merrified, SB185 would strengthen renter’s rights laws. It would allow tenants to take action under the law for poor living conditions without having to file a written notice to the landlord.  It also would stiffen penalties against landlords who retaliate against tenants who report problems under the law. UPDATE: Passed the Senate but died in the House.

FIXING TYPOS: Rep. Bob Gardner’s HB1422 would clean up out-dated language in election law, including correcting a spelling error and changing the name of an agency to keep up with the times.  UPDATE: Since it doesn’t do anything substantive and doesn’t cost money, this bill passed the House with ease. The Senate amended it, with a portion that offended the House. Both sides refused compromise, so the bill died.

PETITION PREDATORS: Rep. Dennis Apuan’s HB1366 would ban sex offenders from gathering signatures for Colorado ballot measures. UPDATE: It passed the House, but was killed by the Senate.

PATIENTS IN CHARGE: Rep. Mike Merrifield’s HB1122 clarifies that a patient-executed medical directive has the same force as a doctor’s order. It also says health workers must comply with patient directives on scope of treatment, including those that would remove life-support. UPDATE: It passed the House and the Senate in different forms. But the chambers didn’t fix their differences and it was left to wither in the session’s closing days.

JUST SAY THAT: Rep. Carole Murray’s HB1047 would change phrases used in ballot measures put before voters. For example it would replace the phrase “and, in connection therewith” with the word “that.” UPDATE: It passed the House but died in the Senate.

LAND USE CLARITY: Rep. Carole Murray’s HB1292 would add a paragraph to existing state law to clarify the conditions under which cities can impose fees and requirements on property use. It’s basically clearing up arguments that can be used in court to fight city hall. UPDATE: Passed the House, but the Senate didn’t bite. It was postponed until the General Assembly adjourns.

CUTTING FINES: Rep. Kent Lambert’s SB44 would repeal late fees assessed to car and truck owners who don’t pay registration fees on time. The $100 fine would be cut to $10. UPDATE: The Senate’s State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee talked about the bill, reciting a brief eulogy.

PAY LATE, SAVE CASH: Sen. Bill Cadman’s SB57 would limit late fees charged to trailer owners who fail to renew their registrations on time. The maximum penalty on late trailer registrations would fall from $100 to $10. UPDATE: The State Affairs Committee members apparently paid their trailer fees on time, and saw no need for Cadman’s measure.

POLITICIANS PAY FOR THEIR OWN FAME: Sen. Bill Cadman’s SB105 would ban most state spending on print, broadcast and Internet communications featuring state officials for public relations purposes. The bill aims to prevent politicians from burnishing their images using taxpayer cash. Exceptions in the bill include allowing broadcasts of lawmakers in their official duties. UPDATE: Lawmakers like publicity, and that sealed the fate of this one.

TOUGH ON SOFTWARE: Rep. Carole Murray’s HB1270 would define which computer software would be subject to state personal property taxes. This is a hot topic as lawmakers lift tax some exemptions on businesses. UPDATE: Killed by the Finance Committee.

PHONE FRIENDY: From Rep. Larry Liston and Sen. Mark Scheffel, HB1289 would exempt telecommunications equipment, including machinery used to keep phones working, from state sales and use tax. UPDATE: It sneaked through one House committee on a 6-5 vote, but it hit a busy signal at the Appropriations Committee, where tax breaks are not going far this year.

TAXPAYER REVOLT: Sen. Bill Cadman’s HB1087 would drop state rules that make employers withhold the state’s income tax from worker paychecks. The bill says withholding “obscures taxpayer’s understanding of how much they pay annually in Colorado income taxes as well as their knowledge of the true costs of services provided by the state.” UPDATE: Took a House committee just a few minutes to pound a wooden stake into this one.

PRAYING FOR PASSAGE: Sen. Dave Schultheis’ SB89 would order the state Board of Education to create a “Religious Bill of Rights” outlining the rights of students and teachers to practice their faiths. It would also ensure that students are fee to talk of their beliefs in the same way they could discuss a secular viewpoint. UPDATE: Killed after a fractious 4-3 committee vote.

LOBBYIST EXPRESS LANE: Republican Rep. Larry Liston’s HB1092 would allow lobbyists to get a $100 identification card that lets them bypass metal detectors and other searches at the Capitol. UPDATE: This thing was killed in committee and its chances of resurrection equal those of The Macarena exploding again on the dance scene.

SPECIAL NEEDS CASH: Backed by Sen. Keith King and Rep. Amy Stephens SB17 would use grant money to set up a “weighted funding” program for students with extra needs. That means districts could get cash to help kids who need extra services. UPDATE: The Senate Education Committee buried this one somewhere near the Earth’s fiery core.

GOING OR GOLD: Rep. Kent Lambert’s HB1155 would require the state to buy gold as part of its emergency reserve fund and store the gold in the Capitol. UPDATE: It died in State Affairs.

BALLOT MEASURE REGULATIONS: Rep. Amy Stephens’ HB1100 would change rules about ballot measures, including making it a crime for backers of a measure to withdraw it from the ballot in exchange for money or other “valuable considerations.” UPDATE: It died in committee.

SAY HELLO TO HIS LITTLE FRIEND: Sen. Dave Schultheis’ SB92 creates a state loophole in federal weapons laws that now regulate machine guns and other types of rifles and pistols. The bill “exempts from federal laws and regulations all firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition that are manufactured in Colorado by persons who are not federally licensed and that are sold and remain in Colorado.” UPDATE: The State Affairs committee machine-gunned this one into oblivion.

VOTER REGISTRATION SQUARED: Rep. Carole Murray’s SB104 would regulate voter-registration drives with provisions including one requiring those signing up new voters to be registered with the state. UPDATE: Another bill killed by the State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

ANOTHER CAR LATE-FEE BILL: Rep. Carole Murray’s HB1102 would cut late fees on vehicle registrations. One part of the bill would set the maximum late fee at $25 for vehicles weighing less than 2,000 pounds. The bill also would remove penalties on vehicles that haven’t been driven since the last registration expired. UPDATE: Late-payers aren’t likely to catch a break this year -- this bill died and the other late-fee legislation will probably be buried shortly.

FIXING SCHOOL FUNDING: Sen. Keith King’s HB1015 would create a pilot program to give small school districts “stable funding.” Schools in the program would be guaranteed that their budgets wouldn’t drop below current levels. UPDATE: Killed by the Education Committee.

LEAN AND MEAN: Rep. Amy Stephens' SB164 would require audits of executive branch departments to find efficiencies, ferret out fraud and save the state cash. UPDATE: Killed by State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. 

FORCLOSE THIS: Sen. Bill Cadman’s SB127 would prohibit lenders from going after a debtor’s other assets before foreclosing on the property that’s securing the loan itself. UPDATE: The Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee voted 6-1 to foreclose on the bill.

INSURANCE WRANGLER: Sen. Mark Scheffel’s HB1163 would let insurance buyers get health plans from out-of-state companies. It’s designed to cut costs by increasing competition.  UPDATE: Killed by the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

BUDGET CUTTER: From Rep. Kent Lambert, SB164 would cut the state budget rather than raising taxes. UPDATE: The GOP has no chance of getting this passed, but you’ll hear all about it on the campaign trail later this year.

TAX BREAKER: From Sen. Mark Scheffel, SB85 would create a pilot program for counties that exempt business personal property from taxation. Counties involved could get some of the money they lose in the deal back from the state. UPDATE: Part of a twin-killing of Scheffel bills in