Pandemic bill, Sonnenberg's SB 53, gains approval in State Senate

Emotional stories from Democratic lawmakers who lost loved ones to COVID-19 was enough to garner a preliminary voice of approval on March 25 on a hospital visitation bill from Senator Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling,

Senate Bill 53 was approved on a voice vote in the state Senate and is currently awaiting a final vote. Sonnenberg told this reporter he believes the vote will be very close.

The bill would grant one visitor of a patient’s choosing the right to visit that patient in a nursing home or hospital during a pandemic. Those facilities would still have the right to enact policies on restrict...