Update on “Urgent Legislative Call to Action Regarding HB18-1256”

On April 26, 2018, an email was sent asking you to contact all Senators in the Colorado Assembly concerning an upcoming vote on HB18-1256 Civil Rights Division Sunset Review with four amendments. First, thank you to those who were able to make contact!

The bill passed the Senate, but all four amendments did not. Only one amendment passed intact, and another was slightly changed. The most important amendment, the one that ensured all citizens due process as guaranteed by the Constitution, was stripped from the bill.

Because the Senate amended the bill, it had to go back to the House for another vote. They did not vote to accept the amendments. At that point, the House called for a conference committee to try to work out the differences between the two bills. On the last day of the session, May 9th, the conference committee met several times trying to come to an agreement, knowing that if they did not, the bill would die and with it, the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD).

During the conference committee, the bill was amended further. This final amended version of the bill was passed by both the House and the Senate. (Click here to view final version.) Unfortunately, none of the amendments addressed the concerns about the CCRD’s administrative power and its abuses.

Please pray that the Supreme Court’s opinion on the Masterpiece Cakeshop case will provide clarity for the legislature to take action to protect all citizen’s rights of conscience in the next legislative session.

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.