Live updates: Lawmakers amend transgender rights bill again, labor bill nears full passage

On the penultimate day of the Colorado legislative session tense guidelines debates are still winding their way through the House and Senate Particular contentious debates have largely been resolved or in the incident of an artificial intelligence bill killed entirely Our reporters are providing updates on the action in the Capitol This story will be updated throughout the day a m update The Senate gave initial approval to House Bill late Monday night moving forward a much-debated proposal that would add more protections against antitransgender discrimination in state law The bill passed after several hours of Republican opposition and filibustering It now requirements a final vote in the Senate expected in current times and then for House sponsors to accept or reject Senate amendments Assuming none of that holds up the bill it will move to Gov Jared Polis desk The bill broadly would declare that intentionally not referring to a transgender person by their chosen name or their gender identity and expression is discriminatory in contexts like workplaces and school It would make it easier for people to change their names on marriage certificates and to reflect their gender identity on their driver s licenses And it would give students more flexibility in choosing clothing that conforms to their identities in schools with dress codes There was a survey done last summer where we located out from our trans locality especially those in rural areas what their lived experience was and the fear they face how they aren t recognized the challenges they face in learning and employment reported Sen Faith Winter a Westminster Democrat backing the bill on Monday We know trans folks are less likely to be employed she announced They re less likely to be effective in school They re more likely to commit suicide And you know what one of the easiest solutions to correct for that is to veritably be affirming and recognize them and use their chosen name The bulk of the bill s largest part contentious provisions have been stripped away Lawmakers previously removed a section that would ve required family courts to consider a parent s lack of promotion for their child s gender identity and they ve repeatedly changed the antidiscrimination language to assuage legal concerns from advocacy groups On Monday they also removed a shield law that would have attempted to protect children in Colorado from other states antitransgender laws Related Articles In cash-strapped Colorado lawmakers tap an unorthodox pot of money for priorities But is it too risky Live updates Functionaries react to killed AI bill hospitals-pharma fight nears end immigrant protections finalized Colorado House advances labor bill after negotiations collapse with business leaders Gov Jared Polis Colorado House passes immigrant protection bill amid new Trump lawsuit against state Is Colorado inviting Trump s retribution Plus book removals in schools and more from the legislature Those changes have brought large and skeptical advocacy organizations back into the fold One Colorado a leading LGBTQ group hedged its backing last month over legal concerns that it has not publicly described But the group has now switched to a full-support position Polis has also had concerns On Monday spokeswoman Shelby Wieman noted the governor appreciates the work of the bill sponsors and all the advocates involved in the bill s progression especially in removing the controversial changes to family law and that Polis will review the final version when it reaches his desk Elsewhere in the current era the House is expected to fully pass Senate Bill a pro-union bill that had been the subject of session-long and ultimately fruitless negotiations between labor organizations Polis and business leaders Once it passes the House it will be on a direct line to Polis for a veto showdown Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter The Spot