Colorado Senate panel OKs bills on overregulation, electrical service, child care

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(The Center Square) - The Colorado Senate Appropriations Committee passed a series of bills Friday for the Senate to consider, including legislation on electrical service, child care and bureaucratic bloat.

The bills aim to establish a cheaper energy program for low-income residents, simplify the state’s child care provider system and create more checks to minimize unnecessary regulations.

All three of the Senate-introduced bills received minimal discussion in the appropriations committee Friday, with comments largely reserved for clarifying questions on the bills' content.

Senate Bill 26-002, the Energy Affordability bill introduced by Democrats, narrowly passed the appropriations committee Friday by a vote of 4-3 along party lines. Despite the disagreement, no comments were made by the committee members on the legislation beyond clarifying the contents of the bill.

If passed, the bill would require an investment-owned electric utility to propose a program for a lower cost electricity plan for qualifying low-income residents. The bill does not specify what the qualifying income level would be nor how much the electricity discount would be.

“It is in the public interest for investor-owned electric utilities to provide the first allotment of residential electricity service to income-qualified utility customers, which service represents a minimum level of electricity at a marginal cost rate to customers,” read the bill’s declaration.

The Energy Affordability bill now heads to the Senate Committee of the Whole to be discussed by the full Senate before a vote.

SB26-020, the Child Care Provider Licensing and Quality bill, would establish a task force to find ways to simplify the process for and reduce unnecessary regulation of the state’s child care provider system.

The Child Care Provider Licensing and Quality bill passed the appropriations committee in a unanimous vote Friday to be moved to the Senate consent calendar, which will allow the bill to be passed more quickly.

Child care affordability and access is considered a major issue in Colorado, with SB26-20 one of the ways the state is trying to reduce the cost for young parents. The task force would be fully funded through donations and grants until the end of 2026, when it would have to be reconsidered for renewal, potentially with state funds.

Colorado already pays for child care licensing specialists, with one of the largest changes in this bill being to turn those specialists into state employees.

“There will be some savings achieved by bringing those staff in-house,” said Sen. Scott Bright, a Republican representing the 13th District. “Essentially, they're the same individuals. They'll be just rehired as state employees, at a total less expense.”

SB26-137, the Measures to Reduce Administrative Burdens bill, passed the appropriations committee with bipartisan unanimous approval. The bill also received recommendation to be placed on the consent calendar, potentially allowing for an easier passage.

The bill, which received no comments or discussion in committee by either party, would require department rules be reviewed at least every five years. The administrative-focused bill would aim to root out repetitive, obsolete or ineffective rules.

Colorado has been criticized as an overregulated state in recent years, with a report by the Colorado Chamber Foundation finding the state to be the sixth-most regulated in the country.