The Senate passed a $265 million road- and bridge-repair plan Thursday, despite a threat that a lawsuit would be filed to overturn it.

The vote was 19-16 for the "Faster" bill, the most far- reaching transportation- funding proposal the legislature has considered in years.

If approved by the House and signed by the governor, it would increase vehicle-registration fees for most drivers $41 a year by 2011 for road and bridge work. It also would allow for easier tolling of roads.

Two Democrats who had opposed the increased-tolling provision - Sen. Morgan Carroll, of Aurora, and Lois Tochtrop, of Thornton - joined with Republicans in voting against Senate Bill 108.

Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R- Broomfield, warned that he expects the fees to be challenged in court as an unconstitutional tax hike, much like a 2007 bill that froze falling property tax rates was.

"This bill represents yet another step in the majority's march through (the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) to knock down its fiscal restraints," Mitchell said. "This bill will be challenged, and if the Supreme Court upholds its oath, it will be stricken."

Sponsoring Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, emphasized the positive qualities of the bill and areas of agreement between the two parties.

"Forty-seven thousand jobs were lost last year. We have over a 6 percent unemployment rate," Gibbs said, emphasizing that the bill could create some 10,000 jobs. "We have a great opportunity to do something good for all Coloradans today."

In other action Thursday

* FEE HIKE: A Democratic legislator would like to take the proposed $41 hike in vehicle-registration fees earmarked for road and bridge repair and add just a bit more to it.

Rep. Jeanne Labuda, of Denver, has introduced a bill that would impose a 60-cent fee on the registration of all new cars and trucks to be used to support the state titling and registration system.

* INSURANCE BILL: The Division of Insurance could investigate accusations that an insurer is providing incentives to workers to reject claims under a bill passed by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The practice is illegal now, but this would allow the state agency to look into it rather than require wronged clients to sue, said House Speaker Terrance Carroll, the sponsor.

Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, opposes it, saying the bill actually opens the door for more lawsuits against insurers.

* DRILL BILL: The House Education Committee killed a bill requiring public schools and colleges to conduct at least two disaster drills each year. State law already requires educational institutions to have disaster plans.