By Legislative Liaison Carolyn Martin
Updates on Bills
SB20-163 School Entry Immunizations
The journey of this bill began just three weeks ago and it has been a whirlwind from the beginning. One week was all we got to digest the impact of the seven sections in the original bill before the first committee hearing. Along the way, we found out that a multitude of groups were contacted for input into this bill, but none represented any groups that promote homeschooling, informed consent, parental rights, religious liberty, or medical freedom.
The Senate committee hearing lasted almost fourteen and a half hours. The sponsors of the bill had little knowledge of their bill and had trouble answering questions about it. Hundreds of brave parents pointed out the many holes in this proposed policy change. In the end, every single Senator on the committee expressed concerns about the bill. Yet, it passed on a 3-2 party line vote.
The next hurdle was the Senate floor debate on second reading. Seventeen amendments were brought forth with eleven passing. The problem was the amendments were not properly vetted. Despite our offering an amendment to exclude homeschoolers to the sponsor of the bill and to several other Senators, the sponsors brought forth their own. Their lack of knowledge of the intricacies of homeschooling in Colorado was apparent. Check out our Legislative Alert page for more information.
The bill, as amended, passed the Senate and has been assigned to the House Health and Insurance Committee. Begin now contacting the members of this committee. Ask them how they will vote and encourage them to vote no. When a committee hearing date is set, we will notify those on our email list. We will need as many people as possible to show up and be ready to testify.
HB20-1008 Health Cost-Sharing Consumer Protection
Don’t be fooled by the title. This is not about consumer protection. It is about putting Christian ministries under the thumb of the government. They are trying to place all Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) under the authority of the Division of Insurance and the Insurance Commissioner. This bill will be debated during second reading on the House floor on Friday, March 6th. Contact ALL the House Representatives, ask how they will be voting, and encourage a no vote.
Homeschool Day at the Capitol
Thursday, April 16th! Your presence is vital to homeschool freedom in Colorado. Registration is open for this annual event! Check out the event here.
Join Me!
Weekly Prayer Meeting at the Capitol: 11 am in room 351. All are welcome!
Colorado Homeschool Freedom Prayer Email: Pray with me about bills that are before the legislator. Join the team at chec.org/freedom!
Trusting in the mighty power and grace of Jesus,
Carolyn Martin, CHEC Legislative Liaison
carolyn@chec.org
About the Author: Carolyn Martin
Carolyn Martin serves as CHEC’s Homeschool Legislative Liaison, working for you and other liberty-loving families to protect homeschool freedom, parental rights, and religious liberty at the state capitol. Subscribe to the CHEC blog for Carolyn’s regular updates here, learn more about legal issues in Colorado here, and donate to support Homeschool Freedom here. Contact Carolyn directly at carolyn@chec.org.
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Our son and wife are a homeschool family to our 5 grandchildren. We support their beliefs in the matter of immunization and homeschooling. This should be a choice each family in Colorado should make. Let’s join together to make sure this bill gets squashed.