Capitol Coverage: Final Bills Signed Into Law

Friday was the last day for Governor John Hickenlooper to sign, veto, or let bills become law without his signature. As Bente Birkeland reports, he only vetoed two bills passed during the legislative session, and the final bill he signed was controversial.

The last measure was a bipartisan bill to reform how police departments seize property when someone is suspected of committing a crime. The new law still allows the practice – but it gives people more rights to get their property and assets returned if they are not convicted. Democratic Senator Daniel Kagan of Cherry Hills Village says it’s about fairness.

Asset forfeiture should never be used as a tool as an easy tool to boost law enforcement funding.

But law enforcement and local groups say it will hamper their ability to combat crimes. Overall State lawmakers passed 423 bills during the legislative session. That was more than 60 percent of the bills introduced and it was a higher success rate for bills than the previous session. I’m BB at the state capitol.