The House Judiciary Committee voted on Tuesday to pass a reworked version of a failed bill from last session that sought to protect law enforcement whistleblowers from retaliation.
The bill, House Bill 1031, is the result of months of meetings sponsors Reps. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, and Chad Clifford, D-Greenwood Village held with stakeholders, including members of law enforcement, whistleblowers, and legal professionals.
The revamped measure passed through the House Judiciary Committee on a 9-2 vote, with all Democrats and two Republicans voting in favor. Two Republicans, Reps. Ryan Armagost of Berthoud and Jarvis Caldwell of Colorado Springs, voted against it.
Armagost, a former law enforcement officer who said he and former Rep. Gabe Evans "led the charge" against 1460, said he appreciated the sponsors' efforts to engage with stakeholders, but wished he could have been part of those conversations himself.
"Maybe it's a little bit of trust issues after last year, but I don't feel comfortable being a yes today before seeing where we are on seconds and making sure that this bill, if it doesn't improve to get everyone on board by then, is at least something that is what has been agreed upon by everybody to move forward to seconds and third reading before it leaves our chamber," he said.
House Bill 1031 will next be heard on the House floor for second reading.
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