Two Alaska state representatives plan to reintroduce separate bills that would make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation.

KTOO reports (http://is.gd/5B4JRG) former Juneau Rep. Beth Kerttula, a Democrat, introduced the same bill in 2011 and 2013. Rep. Cathy Munoz, a Juneau Republican, was a co-sponsor in 2013.

Munoz is hopeful the bill will carry more weight with her Republican majority colleagues this time.

Rep. Andy Josephson, an Anchorage Democrat, says in a release he also will sponsor legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Josephson is also sponsoring an amendment to the state constitution to legalize gay marriage in Alaska. A federal court in October struck down Alaska's former constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, but an appeal is pending.