Electric vehicle direct sales bill passes Senate

A bill to allow electric vehicle manufacturers to sell directly to consumers passed on second reading in the Senate on Friday.

Current law doesn’t allow vehicle manufacturers to be able to own or operate car dealerships, but Senate Bill 167 would change that, giving an exception to electric motor vehicles. 

The bill has bipartisan support and is sponsored by Sens. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Kevin Priola, R-Henderson.

Bill allowing collective bargaining for state workers assigned to Senate panel

After passing the House earlier this week, legislation allowing Colorado state employees to collectively bargain when it comes to wages and benefits was introduced in the Senate on Thursday.

House Bill 1153, which was opposed by House Republicans who failed to pass amendments to the legislation, was assigned to the Senate’s State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee and the Appropriations Committee.

Gov. Jared Polis said during the first week of the legislative session that he was in support of collective bargaining for state workers.

Daylight savings bill defeated

Republican-backed legislation to observe daylight savings time year-round in Colorado lost in committee on Wednesday. 

Senate Bill 105, sponsored by Sen. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, was postponed indefinitely by the Democratic-controlled Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.

Drugs in schools notification proposal passes Senate

Legislation requiring school districts to notify parents if a school employee is found to have provided a student with drugs or alcohol passed the Senate this week.

Senate Bill 016, sponsored by Sen. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, had bipartisan support and was passed by the Senate on third reading Wednesday.

The bill was part of a comprehensive education reform bill package introduced earlier this year by Republicans. 

Death penalty repeal moves in House

A proposal to ban the death penalty in the state this week moved in the state House.

Senate Bill 100, which passed the Senate last month, was referred by the House Committee on Judiciary Refer to the House Committee of the Whole.

The bill is among this session’s most controversial, with Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, opposing the measure as she did when a similar attempt to repeal the death penalty failed last session. The legislation has support from some Republicans this session.