DENVER – When the state Legislature convenes Wednesday, Southwest Colorado lawmakers will be looking at water and transportation issues to top their list.

Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio, said addressing the state’s water shortage, especially how it affects rural Colorado, will be a priority.

Brown took back his seat from Durango Democrat Mike McLachlan in the November election.

He has proposed a measure for a water study concerning storage.

“If we keep that (water), then it relieves the pressure on bringing more water over from the Western Slope,” Brown said.

He would like to see the Front Range find ways to store water, so that issues like transmountain diversions from the Western Slope are not necessary. Communities outside the populated Front Range loathe the idea of emptying rural water sources to support metro Denver, where population growth is rapidly occurring.

Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, who is entering his third term, said he is closely watching Colorado’s Water Plan, which aims to offer a framework for how the state should grapple with shortfalls in the future.

Even though the plan does not get into transmountain diversions, Coram worries about that being the fallback for urban lawmakers.

“They certainly want transmountain diversion to be part of the public,” Coram said. “It’s certainly in Denver Water’s interest to try to get Western Colorado to take a bigger hit on this.”

Coram may also take a look at phreatophytes again this year, a deep-rooted plant that takes in significant amounts of water, draining resources.

In addition to water, Brown said transportation will be a focus. He points to crumbling roads and highways. He is currently trying to identify funding solutions, noting billions of dollars in needs.

“Let’s cut the malarkey with the politics, and let’s do what’s right for Colorado,” Brown said.

Brown has outlined several other measures for the year, including:

Allowing off-highway vehicles, like ATVs, to travel on county roads.

Repealing certain dietary mandates for school meals.

Easing a rural renewable-energy mandate passed by the Legislature in 2013.

Coram said he would also like to work on a bill this year that expands a teen pregnancy-prevention program.

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5 things to know as the session starts

DENVER – State lawmakers begin the 2015 session Wednesday. Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
New leaders
Opening day Wednesday will be marked by emotional farewells from departing lawmakers and ceremonial speeches by legislative leaders in each chamber. In the House, Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst of Boulder County will be taking over as speaker, the top post in the chamber. She will be the second woman in Colorado history to hold that position. In the Senate, where Republicans are taking control for the first time in 10 years, GOP Sen. Bill Cadman of El Paso County will lead the chamber as president. The division of powers at the Capitol means both parties will have to collaborate more to pass major legislation.
First bills
Also on Wednesday, the first bills are introduced. Possible bills to look for include a proposal to ban powdered alcohol, legislation to forbid schools from using Native American mascots unless they have permission from a tribe, and a measure to repeal a law that limits the size of ammunition magazines to 15 rounds. It’s possible those bills will be introduced later, if not on the first day.
Taxpayer refunds
The session also will be the first time in about a decade that lawmakers have to deal with refunds under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which calls for reimbursements to residents when revenue collections exceed a formula of inflation and population growth. For lawmakers to keep the money, the question must be referred to voters – a challenge, given the split Legislature. Democrats have entertained the idea of asking voters to let government keep the money to continue restoring recession-era cuts, while Republicans say the refunds should go forward and that lawmakers should be smarter when budgeting.
Fracking battle
Another big debate involves whether any new regulations are needed over hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Gov. John Hickenlooper assembled a task force to look at how to settle land-use clashes among homeowners local governments and the energy industry. The task force’s charge is to give lawmakers recommendations, but whether anything happens remains to be seen.
Marijuana
Perhaps a surprising area of agreement will be marijuana. Lawmakers from both parties say they’ll push to keep new taxes collected on recreational marijuana, even if lawyers say that means returning to voters this fall to ask permission. Lawmakers are almost certain to renew regulations on the medical marijuana industry, which sunsets this year if legislators do nothing.