H_FIN_2023A 02/06/2023 01:33:44 PM Committee Summary

Majority Leader Duran and Minority Leader Lynch, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1041. The bill prohibits wagering on greyhound races and changes the funding mechanism for the Greyhound Welfare and Adoption Fund. Amendments L.003 (Attachment A) and L.004 (Attachment B) were distributed and explained.

Carey Theil, representing GREY2K USA Worldwide, testified in support of the bill.

The sponsors provided a wrap-up of their presentation and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Representatives Bird and Evans, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1106.  The bill updates the Fire and Police Pension Association statutes pertaining to cost of living adjustments for its beneficiaries.

Mr. Chip Weule, representing the Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado , testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Adam Franklin, representing the Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Bird, prime sponsor, presented amendment L.009 (Attachment C) to House Bill 23-1015, which strikes everything below the enacting clause. She also discussed amendment L.011 (Attachment D), which amends L.009.  The bill and amendments concern the remittance of taxes on tobacco and nicotine products.

Representative Bird responded to questions from the committee.

Nick Torres, representing the American Lung Association, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms Jodi Radtke, representing the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. RJ Ours, representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Mark Triplett, representing the Cigar Association of America, testified in support of the bill.

The committee discussed the bill with the witnesses.

Representative Bockenfeld, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 23-1092. The bill prohibits state money from being used to further certain social, political, or ideological interests beyond what controlling state and federal law require.

Ron Baker, representing the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Gary McMurtrey, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Mike Foote, representing 350 Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

Jack Teter, representing Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, testified in opposition to the bill.

Representative Bockenfeld made closing comments and asked the committee to postpone the bill indefinitely.

Representatives Bockenfeld and Kipp, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1017. The bill requires the Department of Revenue to make modifications to the electronic Sales and Use Tax System and initiate a promotional campaign for the system, and it prohibits collection of certain fees for payments through the system.

Mr. Paul Archer, representing the Coalition to Simplify Colorado Sales Tax, testified in support of the bill.

Jaclyn Terwey, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill and indicated the support of Colorado Counties, Inc.

Mr. Ryan Woods, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and Xcel Energy, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

The sponsors wrapped up their presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Representative Armagost, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 23-1046. For tax years 2024 through 2028, the bill creates a state income tax credit for an employer that provides pre-adoption paid leave to their employee.

Representative Armagost responded to questions from the committee about the bill.

Discussion continued with Representative Armagost.

Mr. Justin Burns, representing the Colorado Springs Chamber of and Economic Development Council, testified in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

The committee continued to discuss the bill with Representative Armagost. Representative Snyder announced that the bill would be laid over.