Committee adopts amendments to HB11-77 tightening economic-development rate reviews and GHG compliance

House Bill 11-77, a measure to update how regulated electric utilities propose economic-development rates for large projects, advanced out of the Colorado House Energy and Environment Committee on a favorable recommendation after the committee adopted five amendments addressing review timelines, redundancy, greenhouse‑gas obligations and economic-benefit disclosures.

The committee adopted motions to add amendments labeled L002, L3, L4, L5 and L6 before approving the bill as amended. Representative Camacho moved L002 and the committee adopted it without objection. Representative Morrow described L3 as drafted "to address the concern brought to us by the conservation community and ensures that regulated electric utilities utilizing economic development rates must still comply with their GHG emission reduction requirements," and L3 was adopted. An amendment described by the assistant minority leader as L4 limited expedited Public Utilities Commission review for large projects to a 120‑day timeline for projects at or below a 150‑MW threshold, while projects over that threshold would follow the current 210‑day review process; the committee adopted L4. L5 expanded the societal economic‑benefit test to require additional information — including economic benefits across utility customer classes, local and state tax revenue, and full‑time jobs created — and L6 added further customer protections; both were adopted. Representative Camacho then moved the bill, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.

Representative Morrow urged an "aye" vote, saying the sponsors had worked with stakeholders and "addressing concerns of the community." The assistant minority leader argued the state and regions "need more economic development" and said modernizing statutes would help attract new businesses to Colorado. The committee recorded the roll call and reported the bill passed out of committee by an 11–1 vote.

The committee did not take up detailed text changes on the floor beyond the five amendments and did not take testimony during this action‑only segment. No formal fiscal or implementation directives to staff were recorded during the committee’s action. The vote record shows one recorded “no” vote; the committee chair announced the motion "passes 11 to 1."