Pitkin County staff outlines top Colorado bills and federal items as session passes midpoint

Pitkin County management analyst Levi Vorst updated the Board of County Commissioners on March 25 on a range of bills in the Colorado legislative session and related federal policies now moving through committees. Vorst said the session entered day 75 with 511 bills introduced and that the Long Bill (state budget) remains the hinge for many outcomes.

The update focused on several bills where local governments could weigh in. Vorst described a proposed automated-solar-approval bill that originally would have required local governments to implement automated approval software; after local opposition the measure was largely gutted in committee and now contains only permissive language and a grant program. Vorst recommended moving Pitkin County’s position from “oppose” to “monitor” and possibly to “support” if remaining language has no mandatory requirements.

Vorst also reviewed a lodging-tax expansion bill (referred to in materials as 12‑47) that would raise the maximum…