On eve of signing deadline, Ritter OKs bills for truckers, movies, restaurants - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

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But economic developers and investors must continue to wait to see if the governoe will come to their aidbefore Friday’s deadlinw to sign or veto legislation. Ritter bega n the day at the Alliance for Sustainabl Colorado Center indowntown Denver, signing three billsd that he said will continue to builcd the state’s “New Energy House Bill 1298, sponsored by Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West, and Cory R-Yuma, lets trucking companies get 25 percent reimbursement of the cost of buyin and installing fuel-efficient technologies and emission-control More importantly, McFadyen said, it prorates sales tax on trucking equipment based on the percentages of miles companies drivee in Colorado and it allowsx truckers finally to take advantage of enterprise-zonew tax breaks.
“This bill is so incredibly important tothe industry, not only for the environmenty but for the survival of truckers that are in business,” she said while tearinh up at the signing. House Bill 1331, sponsoredr by Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, expands the pool of vehiclezs eligiblefor alternative-fuel tax credits to includew those that run on cleaner-burning naturalo gas. It also eliminates eligibility for some hybris vehicles that arenot fuel-efficient, said sponsoringh Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood. Ritter noted that the Colorado Oil and Gas Associationj and the nonprofit group Environment Coloradk both supportedthe measure.
“If COGA and Environmeng Colorado agree, it has to be a great bill,” he And Senate Bill 75, championed by the company Aspeb Electric Carsand Carts, allows driversz to operate low-speed electric vehicles on most roadsd with speed limits of 35 mph or From there, Ritter went to the officea in Denver and signed a measure to re-establisyh the Colorado Office of Film, Televisiomn and Media. House Bill 1010, sponsorex by Rep. Tom R-Poncha Springs, and former Rep. Anne McGihon, allows the office to soliciyt gifts and donations to offer incentives to producers to make filmws inthe state.
“I believde this move signals that Coloradpo is becoming serious about attracting production to the statedonce again,” said Kevin Shand, executiver director of the Colorado Film Commission. “Bh becoming part of the stateronce again, the film office will once againn have resources to market Colorado effectively and help expand our economi c development efforts in a new and differenty direction.” Finally, Ritter returned to his Capitol officde to sign nine separate bills, includinbg measures to help the restaurant and broadband Senate Bill 121, sponsored by Sen.
Al R-Hayden, eliminates the sales and use tax restaurants must pay when offerinhg freeor reduced-price meals to Senate Bill 162, sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmase Village, requires the Office of Informatio Technology to create a map of where broadband technologyy is available and not available inthe state. Ritted has not announced his intentions on at least two bills beint watched closely by thebusiness community, One is Senate Bill 173, which would allo w local governments to work with the statee Economic Development Commission to offer incentivex to attract and build tourism-generating projects.
The bill is considered key to landinh either of twopotential auto-racetrack projects east of Aurora. The other is Housd Bill 1366, which limits the Colorado-source capital gains subtractiojn to thefirst $100,000p of gains on assets held for five years or If signed, the bill would generats $15.8 million to help balance the budget.