On May 10, the Colorado Senate passed HB 1271 on second reading, by a vote of 19-16. The Senate also amended it so that it takes effect immediately. The House had already passed the bill. But because the Senate amended it, it must go back to the House, and the legislature is almost ready to adjourn for the year. See this story in the Durango Herald.

HB 1271 is the bill that relaxes the prior disaffiliation law for independent candidates. Current law says an independent candidate cannot get on the ballot if the person had been registered into a qualified party at any time during the previous year before filing. The bill changes the disaffiliation rule, so that it only applies if the independent candidate had been a member of a qualified party during the election year.