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House Appropriations advances nine bills, sends most to Committee of the Whole
Summary
The House Appropriations Committee considered nine bills, adopted several sponsor amendments to remove appropriation pressures or reduce fiscal notes, and forwarded eight bills to the Committee of the Whole (votes largely unanimous or strongly favorable); one bill was laid over for a future date.
The House Appropriations Committee met and advanced the bulk of its docket, adopting sponsor amendments that sponsors said eliminated or reduced fiscal impacts and forwarding most bills to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.
Representative Taggart moved amendment L003 to House Bill 13 17 to remove compensation for travel and reimbursements; sponsors said the change reduced the fiscal note to zero. After unanimous consent on the amendment, the committee approved moving HB 13 17, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation (vote reported as 9–1 with one excused).
Representative Garcia and Representative Velasco described amendment L002 to House Bill 10 28, saying it struck references that would have required the Colorado Department of Education to act on a bilingualism/biliteracy seal and removed the appropriation. L002 passed and HB 10 28 as amended was advanced to the Committee of the Whole (9–1, 1 excused).
Representative Hamrick and Representative Smith moved J001 for House Bill 10 75 (a revised fiscal note); the amendment passed and the bill was forwarded to the Committee of the Whole (9–1, 1 excused).
On House Bill 10 78, Representative Smith said sponsors were running amendment J002 to fund “a 0.7 FTE at the Department of Education to audit new concurrent enrollment courses,” adding that the University of Colorado had agreed to “take an $80,000 budget cut for two years” to achieve a budget-neutral change. J002 passed and the committee sent HB 10 78 as amended to the Committee of the Whole (9–1, 1 excused).
The chair announced HB 12 2006 would be laid over to a later date. Sponsors Representative Gilchrist and Representative Bradfield presented amendment L006 to House Bill 12 27, saying they had worked with stakeholders and reduced the fiscal note to zero. Representative Gilchrist also stated on the record that the committee had confirmed the Office of Respondent Parent Council had not paid for a witness to testify. L006 passed and HB 12 27 as amended was advanced to the Committee of the Whole.
Representative Bottoms questioned why House Bill 12 87 extended a process to 11 years rather than eight, noting the eight-year representative term limit; sponsor Representative Bassenacker said the longer period reflected administrative cost and an intent to preserve institutional knowledge. The committee approved HB 12 87 (vote 9–2) and sent it to the Committee of the Whole.
Representatives Bridal and Kelty moved J001 for House Bill 12 98 to revise its fiscal note; the amendment passed and HB 12 98 proceeded to the Committee of the Whole on a unanimous vote.
House Bill 13 07 (sponsors Representative Gilchrist and Representative Bridal) and House Bill 13 38 (sponsors Representative McCormick and Representative Winter) were each moved to the Committee of the Whole without amendments and passed by the committee. The chair closed the meeting and said the committee would meet again next week.
Votes at a glance
- HB 13 17 (as amended with L003): Passed committee 9–1 with 1 excused; outcome: forwarded to Committee of the Whole. Amendment L003 removed travel/reimbursement compensation and sponsors said the fiscal note fell to zero. - HB 10 28 (as amended with L002): Passed committee 9–1 with 1 excused; outcome: forwarded to Committee of the Whole. Amendment L002 removed CDE duties and appropriation references related to a bilingualism/biliteracy seal. - HB 10 75 (with J001): Passed committee 9–1 with 1 excused; outcome: forwarded to Committee of the Whole. J001 revised the fiscal note. - HB 10 78 (with J002): Passed committee 9–1 with 1 excused; outcome: forwarded to Committee of the Whole. J002 funds a 0.7 FTE at CDE to audit concurrent enrollment courses; sponsors said CU will absorb an $80,000 cut for two years to make it budget-neutral. - HB 12 2006: Laid over to a future date; no action taken on the floor today. - HB 12 27 (with L006): Passed unanimously and forwarded to the Committee of the Whole; sponsors said L006 reduces the fiscal note to zero and that stakeholder concerns were addressed. - HB 12 87: Passed committee 9–2; outcome: forwarded to Committee of the Whole. Discussion focused on why sunset/extension language set 11 years rather than 8. - HB 12 98 (with J001): Passed unanimously; outcome: forwarded to the Committee of the Whole. J001 revised the fiscal note. - HB 13 07: Passed unanimously; outcome: forwarded to the Committee of the Whole. - HB 13 38: Passed and the committee adjourned.
What to watch next: Most bills were forwarded to the Committee of the Whole for further floor-level consideration; HB 12 2006 was specifically laid over to a future date. The committee said it expects to reconvene next week.
