ESGAR’S STATE FAIR BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

Governor also signs Esgar’s bill to create the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology at Colorado State University – Pueblo

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed Majority Leader Esgar’s bills to increase funding for the Colorado State Fair to implement the 2021 State Fair Master Plan and create the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology at CSU-Pueblo.

“What an exciting day for Pueblo and Southern Colorado!” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Today Governor Polis signed two of my bills into law to boost funding for the State Fair and create the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology at CSU-Pueblo. The State Fair supports our agriculture industry and is an economic driver for the entire state, and CSU-Pueblo is a critical part of our community. I’m proud to have sponsored these important bills for Southern Colorado that will boost our economy, help secure the long-term future and success of the State Fair, and make CSU-Pueblo a leader in transportation safety and innovation.”

SB22-134, sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Don Coram, would provide the state fair with $4 million to implement the master plan. The fairgrounds are currently facing many challenges common to fairs across the country, including older facilities, limited funding, competing venues, and a backlog of building deficiencies. The Colorado state fair authority board created a master plan that details the solutions to these challenges.

HB22-1365, sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar and Senator Hinrichsen, creates a new institute at CSU-Pueblo to research safety, security, and innovation of railroad, ground, and intermodal transportation and general issues related to surface transportation problems in the state. The institute will also offer funding to small businesses that are developing and testing surface transportation technologies.