Lawmakers sent a package of bills to Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday that would allow taxes to be collected on candy, soda, software, online sales and other items, The Denver Post reports. The eight bills are all part of the Democratic governor’s efforts to balance the state budget, which faces at least a $1.3 billion shortfall in the fiscal year that begins in July. The bills, which remove tax exemptions and tighten legal definitions of what is taxable, are expected to generate about $92 million under most recent estimates. But seven of the bills will take effect March 1, allowing the state to collect an estimated $14.1 million for the current fiscal year, which ends in June.

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The Pueblo Chieftain: A swipe of the governor’s pen is all that separates a bill from being enacted that would raise taxes at Pueblo’s steel mill and could result in layoffs. On Tuesday the House by a vote of 35-30 passed HB1190, which for two years suspends the tax exemption on energy use by manufacturers.