The Legislature continues to review hundreds of bills as it works to a scheduled adjournment date of September 11, 2015 for the 2015 Regular Session. A number of bills received their final fiscal review in their respective Appropriations Committees this week. During this review process, dozens of bills failed while a near equal amount proceeded forward.
Of importance to RCRC member counties are legislative measures dealing with medical marijuana, transportation, groundwater adjudication, cap-and-trade, surface mining, and others. It is important to note that the Legislature has yet to resolve the resources-related portions of cap-and-trade allocations that were deferred from budget talks.
The Legislature has begun to send a significant number of bills to the Governor for his consideration. Bills presented to the Governor before Monday, August 31, 2015 have a 12-day period for his consideration. For all bills passed after August 31, 2015, the Governor has until October 11, 2015 to sign, veto, or let a bill become law without his signature.
In addition to actions in the 2015 Regular Session, legislation is also moving forward in two separate Special Sessions – one for health care and one for transportation. Those Special Sessions are not subject similar requirements for consideration, and have an unknown adjournment date.