The state Senate on Saturday made several changes to the Democratic solution to soaring property taxes, notably by increasing the revenue growth rate under which a local government would be eligible to receive a “backfill.”

“Backfill” means state money that would go a local entity that, as a result of the Democrats’ proposal, won’t collect as much in property tax revenue.

In addition, Senate Democrats added ambulance and emergency services to the entities that would get backfill dollars. They also increased the amount that residential and multifamily homes can exempt when calculating property-tax liability.

Meanwhile, the House advanced several measures, but not before pro-Palestinian protesters filled the gallery and disrupted the proceedings. They waved flags and shouted at lawmakers. House sergeants and state patrol officers removed the protesters, but they reconvened on the third floor outside the Senate chamber, where they again waved flags and shouted.

State patrol officers then escorted the protesters out of the building.

Once underway, the House’s took final votes on three bills.

They included House Bill 23B-1008, a supplemental appropriations to the Treasury Department to pay the department to administer a property-tax deferral program.

The long-standing program allows residential property owners to defer a portion of their property taxes if their taxes have increased above a specified amount. The deferral is a loan that accrues interest and is administered by the Treasury Department. The Legislature reimburses local governments for any revenue lost through the loan program.

The program has drawn 1,000 more applicants in the past year, according to the bill’s fiscal analysis.

The appropriation less than $90,000.

Republicans tried to persuade their colleagues to vote against it.

“Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program,” said Rep. Kenneth DeGraaf of Colorado Springs, adding the majority party is not serious about tax relief. is small,