The 2023 Legislative Session
BILLS WE SUPPORT:
HB23-1165 Firearm Discharges in Counties
Status: Passed Transportation, Housing and Local Govt. Passed House on 3rd reading on 2/16/2023 36-27-2.
(Rep. Judy Amabile). Expands the capabilities of county commissioners to designate unincorporated areas of a county where it is unlawful to discharge firearms. This is both a safety and noise issue.
HB23-1219 Waiting Period to Deliver a Firearm – Strongly Support
Status: Introduced, Assigned to State Affairs 2/23/2023. Status: Committee Passed 7-4 Vote. (Reps. Meg Froelich and Judy Amabile, Sens. Tom Sullivan and Chris Hansen). Requires a 3-day waiting period before transfer of a firearm.
HB23-1230 Assault Weapons Ban – Strongly Support
Status: Introduced, Assigned to Judiciary 3/3/2023. (Rep. Elizabeth Epps, Sen. Rhonda Fields). Prohibits the manufacture, sale, importation, purchase or transfer of an assault weapon and prohibits the possession of a rapid-fire trigger activator.
SB23-022 Add vehicular theft to POWPO-eligible felonies – Support
Status: Passed Senate Judiciary on 4-1 vote on 2/13/2023. Hearing, Wednesday, March 8, upon adjournment, Old Supreme Court Chambers. (Sen. Nick Hinrichsen) Adds aggravated vehicular theft to the list of felonies that are POWPO-eligible (Possession of Weapon by a Previous Offender).
SB23-168 Repeal of Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Judicial System – Strongly Support
Status: Passed Senate State Affairs 3/8/2023 on 3-2 party-line vote. (Sens. Sonya Jaquez-Lewis and Chris Kolker, Reps. Javier Mabrey and Jennifer Parenti). Repeals the Gun Industry Immunity law of 1986 and 2000. It further requires the industry to implement reasonable controls related to its product and enables persons to seek legal recourse for violation of those standards.
SB23-169 Increasing Minimum Age to Purchase Firearms – Strongly Support
Status: Passed Senate State Affairs 3/8/2023 on 3-2 party-line vote. (Sens. Kyle Mullica, Jessie Danielson, Reps. Monica Duran and Eliza Hamrick). Increases the legal age to purchase, possess, sell or transfer a firearm.
SB23-170 Extreme Risk Protection Orders Expansion – Strongly Support
Status: Passed Senate State Affairs 3/8/2023 on 3-2 party-line vote.
To learn more with talking points, click on 2023 CO Ceasefire Fact Sheet.SB23-170.Expand ERPO Reporters
(Sens. Tom Sullivan and Stephen Fenberg, Reps. Jennifer Bacon and Mike Weissman). Expands list of ERPO petitioners to include DA’s and designees, AG and designees, health and mental health professionals, and educators.
No bills with neutral position at this time during the 2023 Colorado Legislative Session.
BILLS WE OPPOSE:
HB23-1044 Second Amendment Preservation Act – Strongly Oppose
Status: PI’ed* on 8-2-1 party-line vote on 2/6/2023. (Rep. Ken DeGraaf). Moves interpreting the second amendment from the Supreme Court to the state legislature. Provides $50,000 fines to jurisdictions that enforce laws that tax, prohibit, register or confiscate firearms or accessories. Would thereby nullify large capacity magazine ban and ERPO (red flag) laws. Violates U.S. Constitution Supremacy Clause.
HB23-1050 – Use of Deadly Force in Business – Strongly Oppose
Status: PI’ed on 8-2-1 party-line vote on 2/6/2023. (Rep. Ty Winter). Would allow a manager, employee or anyone with in lawful possession of a firearm to use deadly force against an intruder in a business location if they felt threatened, no matter how slight. This is a Stand Your Ground bill. Think of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida, and you’ve got the idea. This is the seventeenth year this type of bill has been defeated.
HB23-1092 – Limitating Use of State Monies – Oppose
Status: PI’ed in Finance 11-0 on 2/6/2023 at Sponsor’s request. (Rep. Rod Bockenfeld). Would prohibit state money from being used to further social, political, or ideological interests, and would effect PERA investment decisions. Furthermore, it would require a government contract to verify that it would not engage in economic boycott of another company for those same interests. Included firearms as an issue.
*PI means Postponed Indefinitely. A PI’ed bill is done, it cannot be brought back up under the same bill number.