10 SEPTEMBER 12-18, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | rule. The legislature approved the resolution nearly unanimously in March, with only fi ve out of 100 legislators voting against it. “We have seen harrowing examples in Colorado of fi rst-degree murder defendants posting bail and committing further violent crimes before their court date,” says Senator Rhonda Fields, a sponsor of the resolution. “Making fi rst-degree murder defendants ineligible for bail would give victims and their families peace of mind and help keep our communities safe.” Repealing the Defi nition of Marriage in the Constitution Amendment J would remove language from Colorado’s constitution that bans same- sex marriage. A sentence in the constitution currently reads: “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” The ban hasn’t been enforced since Colorado legalized gay marriage in 2014, and the U.S. Su- preme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage in 2015. But some proponents of the ballot measure have expressed concern that the court could reconsider the ruling, putting same-sex marriage in jeopardy in Colorado. “I couldn’t imagine a life where I didn’t have the ability to get married [to my wife],” said Representative Brianna Titone, a spon- sor of the measure, during the House debate. “This amendment, it’s not going to change anything, but it will, however, tell the same- sex couples who are your constituents, your family members, your friends...that their love is valid. It’s important that they have the freedom to participate.” Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Proposition KK would create a 6.5 per- cent excise tax on gun and ammo purchases to fund mental health services, gun violence prevention and victim services. The tax would apply to gun dealers, gun manufacturers and ammunition vendors begin- ning in April 2025, with exemptions for retail sales to law enforcement and military members and for small businesses with less than $20,000 in annual retail sales. The bulk of the revenue — $30 million — would go to the Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund, followed by $8 million to the Behavioral Health Administration and $1 million to support school safety. Proponents say the tax would help make up for funding shortages caused by federal funding for the Victims of Crime Act de- creasing in Colorado by 40 to 50 percent in the next year. “When I was a young and homeless single mother, victim support services played a signifi cant role in helping me navigate the judicial system so I could safely escape my abuser,” says Majority Leader Monica Duran, a sponsor of the proposal. “I would not be where I am today without these services, and by creating this excise tax, we can ensure that other survivors will have the resources they need to put their lives back together.” Retain Additional Sports Betting Tax Revenue Proposition JJ would let the state keep all sports betting tax revenue to fund water and conservation projects instead of refunding excess revenue back to taxpayers. In 2019, Coloradans voted to let the state collect up to $29 million annually in sports betting tax revenue, but state economists project that the revenue will exceed that cap by $2.8 to $7.2 million annually over the next three years. If voters don’t opt to let the state keep the excess funds, the money will have to be refunded to taxpayers as required by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The initiative is a bipartisan-sponsored effort that received near-unanimous support from the legislature, with only three of 100 lawmakers voting against the proposal. “We had no idea how successful sports betting might be,” said Representative Marc Catlin, a sponsor of the proposal, during the House debate. “What we are trying to do is to fi nd a source of revenue where the state of Colo- rado can march forward into a future where we have the water that we need.” Modify Constitutional Election Deadlines Amendment K would adjust certain elec- tion fi ling deadlines, including moving up deadlines by one week for fi ling initiative petitions, referendum petitions and declara- tion of intent for judges and justices. According to Senate President Steve Fenberg, county clerks expressed concern that new regulations like ballot translation requirements make it more diffi cult to make their current deadlines. “Essentially, what it does is it provides one more week for a lot of the work that needs to be done to prepare for an election,” Fenberg said during a com- mittee hearing. Modify Property Tax Exemption for Veterans With Disabilities Amendment G would expand eligibil- ity for the state’s homestead property tax exemption to veterans who are assessed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having individual unemployability status. This initiative was passed by state leg- islators back in 2023 after proponents said thousands of veterans were inadvertently left out of the tax exemption. As it is, the exemption only applies to veterans with a service-related disability rated as 100 percent permanent. This measure would expand the exemption to include veterans with individual unemployability status, meaning they are unable to work even if they do not have a 100 percent rating from the VA. Judicial Discipline Procedures and Confi dentiality Amendment H would create an inde- pendent discipline board to oversee judicial misconduct, responsible for conducting disciplinary hearings and hearing appeals of informal sanctions. Also passed by legislators in 2023, this initiative came on the heels of a series of scandals and increasing complaints alleging professional misconduct by Colorado judges. Under the measure, the judicial discipline board would comprise four district court judges, four attorneys and four citizens. Email the author at hannah.metzger @westword.com. News continued from page 9 Call Elaine Lustig, PhD .......................................................... at 303-369-7770 Needing Your Emotional ....... Animal W/ You? 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