House OKs sex-bias prohibition
After emotional debate, the House passed a bill 42-18 that would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, ended up voting for Senate Bill 25 after weeping at the microphone talking about her religious beliefs.
Rep. Al White of Winter Park was another Republican who supported the measure.
It now returns to the Senate.
More kids may get free breakfast
The House endorsed a measure that would give breakfast free to Colorado schoolkids now eligible for reduced-price breakfast.
Senate Bill 59 from Sen. Paula Sandoval, D-Denver, and Rep. Alice Madden, D-Boulder, would eliminate the 30-cent fee for reduced-price breakfast.
The bill needs final approval in the House before going to the governor.
Absentee-ballot bill clears hurdle
The House gave initial passage to a measure that would give voters the option of having permanent absentee-ballot status.
Under Senate Bill 234, voters who want to mail in their ballots would not have to sign up each year for an absentee ballot.
The measure needs final approval in the House before going to the governor.
Per-diem raise needs final OK
The House gave initial approval to a measure that would raise the per diem pay for Colorado’s 42 rural lawmakers from $99 to $150.
The rate, which is supposed to cover hotel and meal expenses while the legislature is in session, has not been increased in 18 years.
Senate Bill 139, which already passed the Senate, needs final approval in the House before going to the governor.
Presidential-caucus bill in Senate
The Colorado House approved and sent to the Senate a plan to move the state’s presidential caucuses from March to Feb. 5 along with several other states, hoping to cash in on the national attention it would bring from candidates.
House Bill 1376 would allow political parties to decide whether to move the caucuses from the third Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in February during presidential election years.
