Date: 03/16/2016
Location: LSB A

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Postpone House Bill 16-1180 indefinitely. The moti Refer House Bill 16-1180 to the Committee of the W	PASS FAIL

11:49 AM -- HB16-1180

Representative Humphrey, sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1180 to the committee. The bill prohibits any state action from directly or indirectly constraining the exercise of religion, except in cases involving a compelling government interest. State action includes state and local laws, ordinances, policies, rules, regulations, or other actions by a state or local government, political subdivision, or public official. State and local governments must use the least restrictive means of furthering a government interest. Persons whose exercise of religion is burdened, or likely to be burdened, may assert this violation as a claim or defense in court. The bill authorizes various remedies, including damages, injunctions, costs, and attorney fees.

11:52 AM -- Jacki Cooper Melmed, Chief Legal Counsel for Governor Hickenlooper, testified against the bill and responded to committee member questions.

12:05 PM -- Natalie Decker, representing the Colorado Freedom Institute and Colorado Family Action, testified in support of the bill and responded to committee member questions.

12:22 PM -- Mizraim Cordero, representing the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified against the bill and responded to committee member questions.

12:30 PM -- Bryan Neihart, representing the Colorado Community for the Protection of Constitutional Rights, testified in support of the bill and responded to committee member questions.

12:36 PM -- Kenneth Boyd, representing himself, testified against the bill and responded to committee member questions.

12:47 PM -- David Armstrong, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

12:52 PM -- Rabbi Stephen Booth Nadev, representing the Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council, testified against the bill.

12:57 PM -- Rev. Jasper Peters, a pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church, testified against the bill.

12:59 PM -- Dilpreet Jammu, representing Colorado Sikhs, testified against the bill.

01:04 PM -- Morgan Cullen, representing the Aurora Economic Development Council, testified against the bill.

01:07 PM -- John Brackney, representing himself, testified against the bill.


01:11 PM

Mr. Cullen and Mr. Brackney responded to committee member questions.

01:16 PM -- Peg Perl, representing the Women's Lobby of Colorado, testified against the bill.

01:20 PM -- Barry Roseman, representing the Colorado Plaintiff Employment Lawyers' Association, testified against the bill.

01:22 PM -- Stephen Mesward, representing himself, provided a letter from five district attorneys from around the state opposed to the bill (Attachment A). He also noted that ACLU of Colorado opposes the bill.

16HouseState0316AttachA.pdf

01:23 PM -- Mark Lewis, representing himself, testified against the bill.


01:25 PM

Representative Humphrey wrapped up his presentation of the bill.

BILL:	HB16-1180
TIME:	01:27:25 PM
MOVED:	Humphrey
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 16-1180 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 4-5.
SECONDED:	Neville P.
		VOTE
	Foote	No
	Humphrey	Yes
	Leonard	Yes
	Neville P.	Yes
	Primavera	No
	Tyler	No
	Wist	Yes
	Lontine	No
	Ryden	No
YES: 4 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

BILL:	HB16-1180
TIME:	01:28:22 PM
MOVED:	Lontine
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 16-1180 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 5-4.
SECONDED:	Foote
		VOTE
	Foote	Yes
	Humphrey	No
	Leonard	No
	Neville P.	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Tyler	Yes
	Wist	No
	Lontine	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:29 PM

House Bill 16-1208 was laid over to a later date.


01:29 PM

The committee adjourned.