Lawmakers consider changes to ballot initiative process

Colorado residents would have a much harder time adding laws to the state constitution or making changes to it with a pair of proposals legislators are considering this week.

A bill up for a vote in a House committee Monday would require citizen petitions to add fiscal impact estimates when they’re gathering signatures, instead of the current practice of making those estimates right before the vote.

Another measure being considered Wednesday in a Senate committee would require two consecutive votes on the ballot, not one, to make a change.

Lawmakers from both parties say it’s too easy to amend the constitution and that voters aren’t always properly informed before they make a change.