Colorado: Ellen Roberts

Unwed couples could share some of the same legal benefits and estate-planning tools as married couples under a bill that survived a GOP-led effort to beat back new rights for gay partners.

Any two unmarried people would be able to drop into their county clerk's office and designate each other as legal beneficiaries and decision-makers in times of crisis under House Bill 1260.

The bill, which largely consolidates rights already in state law, would extend new rights to unwed couples such as giving one partner standing to sue for wrongful death or collect worker's compensation should the other be killed.

While sponsor Rep.

Colorado lawmakers return to the golden dome today in a somber mood as they kick off a 2009 legislative session dominated by a bleak budget. But they're holding out hope they can pass a plan to fix the state's roads and craft a proposal that could boost health care coverage for the uninsured poor. Some see that hope coming by way of appeals to bipartisanship from leaders on both sides.

"I'm a firm believer that when you have great challenges," new House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, said, "you also have great opportunities."

Here are previews of six areas expected to provide the most action this legislative session.

In a nearly unanimous vote Thursday, the House adopted a resolution supporting a four-day recess that also urges legislators to forgo their per diem compensation during the break. Rep. Paul Weissman, D-Longmont, sponsored the resolution and presented it as a way for legislators to go home and work with constituents. Rural legislators, meanwhile, expressed concerns about personal finances.

"I've thought about doing this for years, but I've never been in a position to do it," said Weissman. "Somewhere mid-session we need a chance to catchup and [have] time to reconnect with our districts. This will allow us the opportunity to do both."

Weissman speculated that if every representative were to give up their per diem, total cost savings could be as high as $20,000.

The House voted 52-12 for a bill that would make Sept. 11 an optional holiday.

Rep. Ed Casso, D-Thornton, ran the bill after realizing the overwhelming emotions that people feel about the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001. The measure would allow state employees to take off Sept. 11 if they work on one of the other state holidays that falls during the week.

Seven Democrats - Debbie Benefield, Claire Levy, Beth McCann, Jack Pommer, Joe Rice, Jim Riesberg and Sue Schafer - and five Republicans - Laura Bradford, Larry Liston, Ellen Roberts, Ken Summers and Spencer Swalm - voted against the bill.