Colorado committee rejects measure to cap number of bills legislators may file

Representative Weinberg urged the House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee to adopt a limit on the number of bills individual legislators may introduce, arguing the current pace imposes an undue burden on taxpayers and the legislative process. The committee voted against the bill and later agreed to postpone it indefinitely.

Weinberg introduced the proposal as an efficiency and taxpayer-protection measure, saying it would “reduce the number of bills that us as legislators would be able to impose onto the public and to the state of Colorado.” She told colleagues the current volume of legislation is excessive and asked for an affirmative vote in the interests of constituents.

Supporters at the hearing emphasized workload and public accessibility. Representative Kelty called the proposal “one of my favorite bills” and said limiting introductions would force more focused, deliberative lawmaking. Remote witness Jim Blanchard, who identified himself as a Colorado resident, told the committee he follows state legislation and supports measures to slow expansion of government and reduce the volume of new laws.

Opponents cautioned that existing practice and budgeting processes make simple characterizations—such as “700 new laws a year”—misleading. Vice Chair Clifford noted that supplemental budgets and other routine legislative actions are also carried on bill paper and that the legislature’s processes are more complex than a single numeric cap suggests.

The committee moved HB 10 73 to the Appropriations Committee but on a committee roll call the bill failed on a vote of 5 yes to 6 no. After that vote Vice Chair Clifford moved to postpone the bill indefinitely; the motion was seconded and, with no objection, the committee agreed to postpone HB 10 73 indefinitely.

The committee took no further action on the measure and adjourned.