Wildfire Compensation Bill Clears Colorado House

The Colorado House approved legislation allowing victims of a deadly March wildfire to be compensated beyond what’s currently allowed in state law.

The bill is a compromise by state political leaders to let fire victims to seek compensation greater than the state limit of $600,000 under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. The bill keeps that cap in place but waives it in cases involving state-set prescribed fires, such as the Lower North Fork Fire.

Republicans initially proposed a bill forming a commission to oversee a claims process and make recommendations on how much the state should pay. The Attorney General’s office expressed concern about that bill and lawmakers crafted the compromise bill, which passed on a 59-5 vote Monday.

The Senate will now consider the measure.