The first big floor fight of the legislative session could erupt as soon as Friday if lawmakers hold to their scheduled debate over sweeping new limits on what kind of guns can be sold in Colorado.
The state Senate is scheduled to take up Senate Bill 3 that day for its second reading — the most free-flowing step in the three-step process of a bill passing a legislative chamber, and the first involving the entire chamber.
The bill proposes to ban the sale or purchase of semiautomatic firearms that accept detachable magazines. It’s the latest entry in a long-running fight to target high-powered guns referred to as assault weapons.
By tradition, the Senate does not limit debate on second reading, giving opponents ample opportunity to delay the passage and, they hope, wear down proponents into offering concessions. Lawmakers can offer amendments to a bill at this step.
Scheduling it on a Friday gives lawmakers a relatively open-ended timeframe to debate the matter — except for their own wishes to get home for the weekend, of course.
The measure passed committee last week, where it drew hours of testimony before passing along party lines, with the Democratic majority backing it.
The schedule for any bill, as always, is subject to change. Debate in the Senate and in committee can be streamed live online.
Other matters of note this week at the Capitol:
Ethics committee
On Tuesday at 8 a.m., the Senate Ethics Committee will again meet to discuss allegations that Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, mistreated her aides. Jaquez Lewis has denied any wrongdoing.
The committee last met a week ago to determine its scope and procedures. Jaquez Lewis has since had the opportunity to present evidence to the committee in her defense.
Criminal justice matters
On Tuesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee will hear a bill to limit what evidence can be heard in a civil lawsuit involving sexual misconduct.
House Bill 1138 would prohibit the alleged victim’s manner of dress, hairstyle, lifestyle, and prior or subsequent sexual activity with the attacker from being used as evidence, except in certain circumstances. The measure mirrors a bill that added similar prohibitions on evidence in criminal cases and became law last year.
On Wednesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee will hear House Bill 1013, which would make it a right for prisoners at state correctional facilities to have social visitations.
Gun violence prevention
On Thursday, lawmakers will debate a carrot in the carrot-and-stick strategy of gun violence prevention. House Bill 1128 would create a $200 tax credit for the purchase of gun lockers. It is being heard by the House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee after the full House finishes its morning work.
Price gouging
An anti-price gouging measure will also receive its first hearing Thursday afternoon in the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee. House Bill 1010 would define the raising of prices of “necessities” by more than 10% within 90 days as an unfair act and subject to possible action by the state’s attorney general or local district attorneys.
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