Assault weapons ban, single-stair development, air-quality bills in the Colorado legislature this week

After final week was disrupted by the snowpocalypse, the Colorado Capitol is again on monitor this week, and it’s kicking off the latter half of March with what’s going to virtually actually be the longest committee listening to of the session.

A invoice to ban the acquisition and switch of so-called assault weapons (HB24-1292) is about for the Home Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Legislators stated that lots of of individuals have signed as much as testify for and towards the invoice, and the committee is scheduled to begin as quickly because the Home adjourns Tuesday morning (which can probably be by 9:30 or 10 a.m.).

Final 12 months’s listening to for the same invoice lasted greater than 12 hours, and the vote to defeat that measure occurred properly previous midnight — which, coincidentally, meant that the invoice died on the anniversary of the 1999 Columbine Excessive College taking pictures.

If the size of this 12 months’s listening to probably will mirror final 12 months’s, the result will probably be completely different. Two of the three Democrats who sank the invoice final 12 months are off the committee, changed by two progressive lawmakers who’re co-sponsoring the invoice. It’s extensively anticipated to clear the committee, which can ship it towards the complete Home ground.

There, it is going to be met with hours of debate and resistance from Republicans — although Democrats’ sizable majority means the invoice is more likely to clear the chamber.

Final week’s snowstorm pressured legislators to cancel hearings for different gun payments. These have but to be rescheduled. This week will see one other prolonged firearm-related listening to, although: A invoice to restrict the place weapons could be carried (SB24-131) will probably be heard within the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

Right here’s what else is going on this week within the Capitol:

Single-stair improvement and the return of two housing payments

On Tuesday, the Home Transportation, Housing and Native Authorities committee will hear HB24-1239, which might enable for taller single-stair buildings to be in-built Colorado. It’s a considerably area of interest coverage goal that’s widespread in Europe and beloved by land-use reformers and a few housing advocates in America. The invoice would enable for extra improvement on small heaps, however it’s additionally drawn some security considerations from fireplace chiefs.

That committee will even hear HB24-1308, which seeks to higher regulate how the state operates housing packages and works to bolster housing.

HB24-1175, which might give native governments the primary crack at shopping for for-sale reasonably priced housing, is scheduled for a vote earlier than the complete Home this week, and the varied development defects payments are all set for consideration throughout the Home and Senate this week.

A “for-cause eviction” invoice (HB24-1098), which might require that landlords have trigger earlier than evicting a tenant, can be scheduled for a primary ground vote this week within the Senate, the place it died on the calendar final 12 months. The invoice is a progressive and Home precedence this time round.