Colorado lawmakers adjourned their regular session Tuesday night, a day before the mandatory deadline.

Among bills passed in the waning hours was a proposal to ask voters to make it more difficult to propose constitutional amendments.

They also approved a landmark plan by Governor Bill Ritter to update the state's curriculum standards from preschool through college and add tests to ensure high school graduates are ready for college and work.

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff says bills passed this year were aimed at helping children. The Denver Democrat points to a major investment to fix crumbling schools, preschool and kindergarten for another 25,000 children over the next six years.

Ritter praised lawmakers yesterday for their work but said he was disappointed that they backed off plans to provide more money for roads and bridges. He says the issue will remain on the agenda.