After the federal and state observance of Presidents Day delayed the start of the Colorado legislature’s week, a pair of Democrat-backed gun control bills are set to pass through key steps in the process this week.
The first scheduled to be heard is Senate Bill 43, a measure that would restrict the sale of gun barrels to in-person transactions with federally licensed firearm dealers. That measure is set for debate by the full Senate on Wednesday, with a formal vote possible at the end of the week.
Later that day, the House Judiciary Committee is set to hear House Bill 1144, which would prohibit using 3D printers to manufacture firearms, large-capacity magazines and rapid-fire devices.
The prohibition would not apply to federally licensed firearm manufacturers. The bill would also prohibit the distribution of instructions for 3D-printed firearms and components to unlicensed individuals. First-time violations would be misdemeanors, while second offenses would be felonies.
The bills represent the latest efforts by majority Democrats to restrict firearm access in the state. Earlier this year, the Senate approved Senate Bill 4, which would expand who can request extreme risk protection orders. That measure is slated for a House committee hearing on March 2.
Also on the legislature’s docket this week:
Teacher licensing
House Bill 1090, a measure that would require applicants for teacher licenses to disclose all misdemeanor convictions for crimes committed against at-risk people or children, regardless of the date of conviction. That bill is slated for full debate by the House on Wednesday.
Trans youth
Senate Bill 18, a measure that would require courts to consider in custody disputes whether a parent recognizes a child’s identity in terms of a legally protected class, which under state law can include race, disability, sexual orientation, and gender expression and identity.
A law passed by lawmakers last year that prohibits the misgendering of trans people in certain places initially included a similar provision, but it was removed amid political wrangling and pushback. This bill is slated for a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
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