On eve of signing deadline, Ritter OKs bills for truckers, movies, restaurants - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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But economic developers and investors must continue to wait to see if the governod will come to their aidbefore Friday’s deadline to sign or veto Ritter began the day at the Alliancee for Sustainable Colorado Center in downtown signing three bills that he said will continue to build the state’sw “New Energy Economy.” Housw Bill 1298, sponsored by Reps. Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West, and Cory Gardner, lets trucking companies get 25 percenrt reimbursement of the cost of buyiny andinstalling fuel-efficient technologies and emission-controo devices.
More importantly, McFadyen said, it prorates salese tax on trucking equipmenf based on the percentagr of miles companies drive in Colorado and it allows truckerzs finally to take advantageof enterprise-zone tax “This bill is so incredibly important to the industry, not only for the environmenr but for the survival of truckere that are in business,” she said while tearin g up at the signing. House Bill sponsored by Rep. Sara Gagliardi, expands the pool of vehicles eligiblefor alternative-fuel tax creditw to include those that run on cleaner-burning natural gas. It also eliminates eligibility for some hybridr vehicles that arenot fuel-efficient, said sponsorinvg Sen.
Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood. Ritter noted that the Coloradpo Oil and Gas Associatiohn and the nonprofit group Environment Colorado both supportecthe measure. “If COGA and Environmeng Colorado agree, it has to be a greayt bill,” he said. And Senate Bill 75, championed by the companyy Aspen Electric Carsand Carts, allows driverz to operate low-speed electric vehicles on most roadds with speed limits of 35 mph or From there, Ritter went to the offices in Denver and signedd a measure to re-establish the Colorado Officse of Film, Television and Media. House Bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, and formerd Rep.
Anne McGihon, D-Denver, allows the office to solicit giftds and donations to offer incentives to producersz to make films inthe state. “I believe this move signalsx that Colorado is becoming serious about attractingh production to the stateronce again,” said Kevin Shand, executive director of the Coloradl Film Commission. “By becoming part of the state once again, the film offics will once again have resources to market Colorado effectivelh and help expand our economic development effortas in a new anddifferent Finally, Ritter returned to his Capitol office to sign nine separat bills, including measures to help the restaurantf and broadband industries.
Senate Bill 121, sponsored by Sen. Al R-Hayden, eliminates the sales and use tax restaurants must pay when offeringg freeor reduced-price meals to Senate Bill 162, sponsored by Sen. Gail D-Snowmass Village, requires the Office of Informatiob Technology to create a map of where broadband technology is available and not available inthe state. Ritte has not announced his intentions on at leasty two bills being watched closely by thebusines community, however. One is Senate Bill 173, which would allow local governments to work with the states Economic Development Commission to offer incentives to attract andbuild tourism-generating projects.
The bill is considereds key to landing eithefr of twopotential auto-racetrack projects east of The other is House Bill which limits the Colorado-source capital gains subtraction to the firsr $100,000 of gains on assetas held for five years or If signed, the bill would generat $15.8 million to help balance the budget.