A bill to make a third drunken-driving offense a felony in Colorado was killed Monday by a House committee that questioned the potential prison costs.

The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said the estimated $22 million cost could be covered by state agencies cutting less than 1 percent of their spending. His bill drew support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which said Colorado is one of only four states without a felony DUI.

But Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, who is chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, said a state facing a $1.2 billion shortfall can’t afford a felony DUI bill this year. The bill died 7-4, with Republicans supporting it, and Democrats opposing it.

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