On March 6, Colorado SB 83 passed the State Senate on 2nd reading. It will probably pass on 3rd reading on March 7. The bill expands who can circulate petitions, and it also gives qualified minor parties more freedom to nominate whom they please.

This seems to be the first ballot access improvement bill that has made any significant headway this year in any state legislative body. Ballot access improvement bills are also pending in Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia (this list doesn’t include bills to expand fusion).