DENVER — The Colorado state Senate of Tuesday gave initial approval to a bill that would allow same-sex couples married outside of Colorado to jointly file their state tax return.
The measure would modify existing state statutes to link a couple’s state tax filings status to that of their federal tax filing.
Senate Bill 19 was approved on an initial 18-16 vote that split lawmakers down party lines with Democrats, who maintain a one-seat majority in the senate, voting yes and Republicans, one of whom was absent, all voting no, reported KDVR-TV.
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The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.Sen. Pat Steadman (D-Denver), the bill’s sponsor, said the legal change would enable same-sex couples who are legally married in other states, or who move to Colorado, to filing jointly as they would on their federal returns.
He says his bill would apply to legally married same-sex couples only, and not Colorado couples who enter into recently-legalized civil unions.
The bill needs a final vote in the Senate before moving on to the House.
