| We are involved in approximately 90 pieces of legislation. It is a busy legislative agenda but not outside the norm for the association to engage in. We advocate on a variety of issues from banking to business to employment. The issues that impact banks and bank customers.
Occasionally, there is the opportunity to sit back and watch the events surrounding legislation that we are not engaged in. Wednesday, April 19 was one of those days as the House heard testimony on one of its more polarizing pieces of legislation. The citizen-driven process works because everyone comes out to testify; the Capitol is crowded and chaotic. As of the morning of the hearing over 500 citizens had signed up to testify. For this hearing, two hearing rooms were set aside, one as an overflow room. The hearing was to start at 9:30 a.m. but was running a little behind. Usually, the House or Senate will conduct floor work then recess for committee hearings. In this case, the Speaker excused the committee members and House floor work continued while the committee convened. To add to the drama of the day, the minority party promised the hearing would last 24 hours. In this case, the hearing lasted about 15 hours, close enough to 24.
HB 1190 First Right of Refusal is sitting on the Senate Calendar. Rumor has it this bill is in trouble. The bill as introduced would give local governments Right of First Refusal on the sale of any multi-family properties for the opportunity to preserve or develop affordable housing properties. The bill was amended in the House for timelines for notices and responses from Local Government on foreclosures. This was CBA’s amendment. The bill was significantly amended in the Senate including the foreclosure provisions being completely amended out of the bill. Even with the additional amendments to this legislation, the bill has been laid over for action each day. This means the Senate sponsor has pushed it down the calendar and has not brought it forward for floor debate. This is a strong signal the bill does not have the votes to pass floor debate. The bill as amended is not ideal but tolerable. If the bill dies, this idea will resurface next year.
End of Session Math: Legislators continue to introduce new bills this week. As of April 19, the Senate has introduced 294 bills, and the House has introduced 302 bills. The governor has signed over 100 bills. A few more bills were killed in committee. The math does not work to clear the calendars before the last day. It will be interesting to watch which bills leadership prioritizes and which bills may be sacrificed.
A final thought: Our friends to the south in NM passed legislation, SB23-188, signed by their governor, for an official state scent or aroma. Chilis roasting in autumn is now the official scent for the State of NM. Colorado has an official state bird, the lark bunting, and an official state flower, the Rocky Mountain columbine. Colorado even has an official state fish, the greenback cutthroat trout. There is nothing better than cool crisp Rocky Mountain air on a winter day. Legislation? No, we’re good.
-Alison Morgan, Director of State Government Relations |
