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

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But economic developers and investors must continue to wait to see if the governorr will come to their aid before Friday’s deadline to sign or veto legislation. Ritter began the day at the Alliancre for Sustainable Colorado Center in downtown signing three bills that he said will continue to buildthe state’ds “New Energy Economy.” House Bill 1298, sponsorefd by Reps. Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West, and Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, lets trucking companies get 25 percent reimbursement of the cost of buying andinstalling fuel-efficient technologies and emission-control devices.
More importantly, McFadyemn said, it prorates sales tax on truckinfg equipment based on the percentage of milesw companies drive in Colorado and it allows truckerw finally to take advantageof enterprise-zone tax “This bill is so incredibly importanr to the industry, not only for the environmenr but for the survivalp of truckers that are in business,” she said while tearing up at the signing. Housde Bill 1331, sponsored by Rep. Sara D-Arvada, expands the pool of vehicles eligiblefor alternative-fuel tax credits to include those that run on cleaner-burningb natural gas. It also eliminates eligibilithy for some hybrid vehiclesx that arenot fuel-efficient, said sponsorinyg Sen.
Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood. Ritter notedr that the Colorado Oil and Gas Association and the nonprofit group Environment Colorado both supportedrthe measure. “If COGA and Environment Coloradol agree, it has to be a greatg bill,” he said. And Senate Bill 75, championerd by the company Aspen Electric Cars and allows drivers tooperate low-speed electric vehicles on most roads with speed limits of 35 mph or From there, Ritter went to the officee in Denver and signed a measure to re-establis h the Colorado Office of Film, Television and House Bill 1010, sponsored by Rep. Tom R-Poncha Springs, and formere Rep.
Anne McGihon, D-Denver, allows the office to solicig gifts and donations to offer incentives to producers to make films inthe state. “jI believe this move signals that Coloradop is becoming serious about attracting production to the statedonce again,” said Kevin Shand, executive director of the Coloradi Film Commission. “By becoming part of the state once the film office will once again have resources to market Colorado effectively and help expand our economic development effortsz in a new anddifferent Finally, Ritter returned to his Capitol office to sign nine separatse bills, including measures to help the restaurant and broadbansd industries.
Senate Bill 121, sponsored by Sen. Al R-Hayden, eliminates the sales and use tax restaurante must pay when offering freeor reduced-price mealas to employees. Senate Bill 162, sponsored by Sen. Gail D-Snowmass Village, requires the Office of Informationb Technology to create a map of wheree broadband technology is available and not available in the Ritter has not announced his intentions on at least two bills being watched closely by thebusiness community, however. One is Senate Bill 173, which woulds allow local governments to work with the state Economic Development Commission to offer incentives to attract andbuild tourism-generating projects.
The bill is considered key to landingv either of twopotential auto-racetrack projectds east of Aurora. The otherd is House Bill 1366, whicbh limits the Colorado-source capital gains subtractionh to thefirst $100,000 of gains on assetsx held for five years or If signed, the bill wouls generate $15.8 million to help balance the budget.