April 14, 2026 · 3,183 words · 19 speakers · 105 segments
Benavidez. Bridges. Bridges. Excused. Bright. Carson. Catlin. Cutter. Danielson. Doherty. Exum. Frizzell. Gonzalez. Gonzalez. Excuse. Hendrickson. Judah. Judah. Excuse. Kip. Kirkmeyer. Kirkmeyer. Excuse. Colker. Colker. Excuse. Lindstedt. Liston. Marchman. Marchman. Mullica. Pelton B. Pelton R. Rich. Roberts. Rodriguez. Simpson. Snyder. Sullivan. Wallace. Weissman. Weissman. Excuse. Zamora Wilson.
Bridges.
Colker.
Mr. President. Let's do this. The morning roll call is 31 presidents. Zero absent, four excuse. We have a quorum. Senator Wallace, would you please lead us in the, in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Approval of the Journal. Senator Carson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate Journal of Monday, April 13, 2026 be approved as corrected by the Secretary.
You've heard the motion. All those in favor say aye. Polls no. What? The eyes still have it, and that motion is adopted. Mr. Schaffler, please add Senator Judah to the roll. Members, before we move forward, we have a very special guest with us today. Please join me in welcoming former Senator Bob Schaefer. Welcome back. Welcome back. Senate Services.
Correctly printed Senate Joint Resolution 22 and 23. Senate Resolution 6 correctly re-engrossed. Senate Bill 20, 80, 137, 140, 141, 143. Correctly revised House Bill 1045, 1116, 1126, 1213, 1228, 1265, 1302, and 1305. House Joint Resolution 26. Correctly re-revised House Bill 1331, 1332, and 1333.
Committee reports. Oh, yeah.
Committee on transportation and energy. After consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following. Senate Bill 148 be amended as follows. And as so amended, be referred to the committee on appropriations with favorable recommendation. Senate Bill 101 be amended as follows. And if so amended, be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation. Committee on education after consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following. Senate Bill 145 be amended as follows. And if so amended, be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation and with the recommendation that it would be placed on the consent calendar.
Mr. Majority Leader. Senator O5. Senator O5.
Thank you.
Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate proceed out of order for moments of personal privilege.
Further motion. All those in favor, say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. Senate proceed out of order for moments of personal privilege. I want to just remind members that we can only acknowledge those who are currently on the Senate floor. and Senator Bright.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm going to ask for a moment of personal privilege.
Granted.
Thank you, Mr. President. On this day, the members of the Colorado Senate are pleased to recognize and commend the Liberty Common High School graduating class of 2026 for its exceptional academic achievement and distinguished accomplishments. students. Liberty Commons students have demonstrated a sustained commitment to excellence in scholarship, leadership, and character. The class of 2026 earned a composite SAT score ranking third in the state of Colorado, underscoring the rigor of the school's academic program and the diligence of its professional educators and students. Among this year's graduates are a state champion in wrestling, a student appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, two Daniels fund scholars to national merit finalists. These honors reflect both individual merits and a broader culture of high expectations and achievement. The accomplishments of Liberty Commons graduating class stand as a testament to the strength of its educational model and the dedication of its students, educators, and families. Through discipline and fortitude, these students have prepared themselves to contribute meaningfully to their communities, the state of Colorado, and the nation. Therefore, the Colorado Senate hereby recognizes and congratulates the Liberty Common High School Class of 2026 for its outstanding achievements and extends its best wishes for continued success. Thank you.
Senator Basin. Thank you, Mr. President. A moment of personal privilege, please. Grant. Thank you Mr President Thank you members for acknowledging the school And I just want to acknowledge the headmaster of the school who you just heard about a minute ago as a former state senator and former congressman but headmaster Bob Schaefer If we can welcome him. Thank you for being here. Welcome to the Senate. We know the students weren't able to stay on the floor very long, but in an interesting circumstance of appropriations going a little bit long, we thank you for all the work you're doing and thank the students. Congratulations.
Senatorial five. And before Senatorial five, Mr. Schaffler, please add Senators Gonzalez, Weissman to the roll. Committee reports. Pleasure? Committee reports.
Committee on Judiciary.
Mr. Schaffler, please add Senator Kirkmeyer to the roll. Introduction of resolutions. Mr. Schaffler, please do the title of SJR 24.
Senate Joint Resolution 24 by Senator Hendrickson and Representative Bradley concerning the designation of May 2026 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Senate Joint Resolution 24 lay over until Friday, April the 24th, 2026.
The motion is to lay over SJR 24 to Friday, April 24, 2026. All those in favor, say aye.
Aye.
Polls, no. You guys have it. And Senate George Resolution 024 will lay over until Friday, April 24, 2026. Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of SR007.
Senate Resolution 007 by Senator Marshman concerning designating April 2026 as second chance month.
Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Senate Resolution 007 lay over until Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
The motion is to lay over SR007 on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. You guys have it. And SR007 will lay over until Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. Consideration of resolutions, Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to lay over Senate Joint Resolution 23 layover until Monday, April 20th, 2026.
Yeah. Would you like to move the Senate to proceed out of order? Mr. Majority.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate to proceed out of order to take up consideration of resolutions.
The motion is proceeded out of order for consideration of resolutions. All those in favor, say aye.
Aye.
Opposed, no. The ayes have it, and that motion is adopted. It will proceed out of order. Majority Rodriguez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate joint resolution, SJR 023, layover until Monday, April 20, 2026.
The motion is laid over SJR 23 to Monday, April 20th, 2026. All those in favor, say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. SJR 23 will lay over until Monday, April 20th, 2026. Third reading of bills, consent calendar. Mr. Schaffler, please read all the bills on the consent calendar.
House Bill 1228 by Representatives Stuart R. and Ferre and Senator Danielson concerning measures to increase access to licensure as a marriage and family therapist. House Bill 1116 by Representatives Reiden and Gonzalez and Senator Ball. concerning processes related to individuals with behavioral health disorders. House Bill 1213 by Representative Smith and McCormick and Senator Wallace concerning the continuation of the Biomass Utilization Grant Program and in connection therewith implementing the recommendation contained in the 2025 Sunset Report by the Department of Regulatory Agencies to repeal the Biomass Utilization Grant Program.
Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the passage of all the bills on third reading of bills, final passage consent calendar, which are House Bill 1228, House Bill 1116, and House Bill 1213.
Any discussion on any of the bills? Seeing none, the motion is the passage of all the bills on Third Union of Bills consent calendar. Are there any no votes? Senator Zamora Wilson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to be a no vote for House Bill 1116.
Senator Zamora Wilson records a no vote for House Bill 1116. Senator Baisley.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would also like to be considered a no vote on House Bill 1116.
Senator Baisley will be recorded as a no vote for House Bill 1116. Further no votes? Seen none. With a vote of 35-0-0-0, House Bill 1228 is passed. Co-sponsors. House Bill 1228. Senators. Marchman. Judah. Cutter. Sullivan. Kip. Henrickson. Carson. Please add the president. With a vote of 33 ayes, 2 noes, 0 opposite excuse, House Bill 1116 is passed. Cosponsors. Senators. Kip. Judah. Please add the president. With a vote of 35 I 0, no 0, absence or excuse, House Bill 1213 is passed. Cosponsors. Let's move on. I'm just joking. Please add the president. And anyone else for cosponsors on 1213? Anyone else? You almost got somebody in the front row here. Are you all going to have a conversation about it? Are you all having a... All right, Senator Cutter is the co-sponsor on 12-13. Third reading of bills. Final passage. Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to lay over Senate Bill 90 until Thursday, April the 16th.
Motion is layover from Senate Bill 90 to Thursday, April 16th. All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Opposed, no. The ayes have it. Senate Bill 90 will layover to Thursday, April 16th. Mr. Schauffler, please read the title of House Bill 1126.
House Bill 1126 by Representatives Sirota and Woodrow and Senator Kipp concerning requirements for dealing firearms.
Senator Kipp.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move HB 26, 1126 on third reading and final passage.
Further discussion. There is discussion on 1126. Senator Zamora Wilson.
Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, this bill is presented as a modest dealer regulation. It is, in fact, a multi-pronged assault on the constitutional rights of Colorado's law-abiding gun owners and the small business owners who serve them. It builds without using the word a functional firearm registry, accessible to state agents without warrant or cause. It imposes compliance costs that will drive small dealers out of business and reduce access to lawful firearm purchases in rural communities. It expands the definition of regulated persons to a degree that makes flexible dealer operations impossible and it concentrates extraordinary enforcement authority in a revenue agency with no adequate legislative oversight I urge a no vote on House Bill 261126. Thank you.
Further discussion. Seeing none in the motion is the passage of House Bill 1126. Are there any no votes? Senators, Mr. Minority Leader, Kirkmeyer, Frizzell, Zamora Wilson, Rich, Pelton B, Baisley, Bright, Liston, Roberts, Carson, Pelton R., Catlin, Henriksen, Snyder. With a vote of 20 eyes, 15, no, zero, absolute excuse. House bill 1126 is passed. Co-sponsors, senators, Cutter, Wallace, Gonzalez, Judah, Danielson, Amabile, Doherty, Benavidez, Sullivan, Weissman, Lindstedt, Colker. Please add the president. Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of House Bill 1265.
House Bill 1265 by Representatives Rutanel and Clifford and Senators Wallace and Linstead concerning a law enforcement agency's use of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives of National Electronic Tracing System.
Senator Wallace.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move House Bill 26-1265 on third reading and final passage.
Further discussion. Senator Zamora Wilson. Thank you, Mr. President. So this bill is presented as a straightforward law enforcement coordination measure.
And in isolation, the argument for it has some surface appeal. The E-trace is a real tool. Firearm tracing provides real investigative value. But the question before this chamber is not whether firearm tracing can be useful. The question is whether the state of Colorado should mandate universal participation in a federal agency's data system by every law enforcement agency in the state. overriding the discretion of elected sheriffs, conscripting local agencies into a federal data collection program and simultaneously funneling all that data into a state bureau in the same session that it mandates electronic transaction records for every gun sale in the state. We see the quiet, incremental construction of a state-level firearm surveillance system accomplished through bills that are individually defensible but collectively transformative. And the people of Colorado deserve to know what is being built in their name, and we should decline this. I ask for a no vote on HB 26-1265. Thank you.
Further discussion on 1265? Seeing none, the motion is the passage of House Bill 1265. Are there any no votes? Senators, Mr. Minority Leader, Rich, Samora Wilson, Frizzell, Kirkmeyer, Liston, Helton B, B. Baisley. Bright. Pelton R. Catlin. Carson. With a vote of 23 ayes, 12 no, zero absolute excuse. House vote 1265 is passed. Co-sponsors, senators, Kip, Judah, Cutter, Gonzalez, Benavidez, Sullivan, Weissman, Amabile, Colker. Please add the president. Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of House Bill 1302.
House Bill 1302 by Representatives Basnicker and Duran and Senator Kipp concerning the Colorado Bureau of Investigations Firearm, background check, operating hours.
Senator Kipp.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move HB 26, 1302 on third reading and final passage.
Further discussion? Seeing no further discussion, the motion is the passage of House Bill 1302. Are there any no votes? Senators, Mr. Minority Leader, Rich, Kirkmeyer, Zamora Wilson, Frizzell, Roberts, Pelton B, Baisley, Carson, Catlin, Liston, Bright, Pelton R. With a vote of 22 eyes, 13-0, 0 absence, 0 excuse. House Bill 1302 is passed. co-sponsors, Senators Danielson, Gonzalez, Judah, Cutter, Amabile, Doherty, Sullivan, Lindstedt. Please add the President. Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of House Bill 1045.
House Bill 1045 by Representative Clifford, Enzakai, and Senators Danielson and Kipp concerning housing protections for individuals with disabilities.
Senator Danielson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move House Bill 1045 on third reading and final passage.
Further discussion. Seeing none of the motion is the passage of House Bill 1045. Are there any no votes? Senators, Mr. Minority Leader, Rich, Frizzell, Zamora Wilson. Bright, Kirkmeyer, Baisley, Pelton R, Liston, Carson, Catlin, Pelton B. With a vote of 23 ayes, 12 no, 0 abs, 0 excuse. House Bill 1045 is passed. God bless you. And co-sponsors. Senators. Wallace. Judah. Gonzales, Benavidez, Amabile, Exum, Cutter, Colker, Weissman, Marchman. Please add the president. Mr. Schauffler, please read the title of House Bill 1305.
House Bill 1305 by Representative Lukens and Senator Roberts concerning enhancing access to inpatient behavioral health by aligning state and federal statutes.
Senator Roberts. Senator Roberts.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move House Bill 1305 on third reading and ask for an aye vote Further discussion Seeing none of the motion is the passage of House Bill 1305 Are there any no votes
Look at that work, man. Amazing work. With a vote of 35 ayes, 0 no, 0 absence or excused, House Bill 1305 is passed. Co-sponsors. Senators. Doherty. Amabile. Cutter. Wallace. Gonzales. Marchman. Gonzales again. Judah. Gonzales. Benavidez. Gonzales. Kip. Gonzales. Mullica. Gonzales. I'm sorry. Snyder. Weissman. Exum. Lindstedt. Pelton B. Liston. Bridges. Colker. Catlin. Please add the President. Message from the House. How come we can't be more like you?
Mr. President, the House is adopted and transmits herewith. House Joint Resolution 1027 is printed in House Journal April 14, 2026. The House has voted to concur in Senate amendments to House Bill 1095, House Bill 1007, House Bill 1120, House Bill 1044, House Bill 1135, House Bill 1081, House Bill 1268, House Bill 1331, House Bill 1332, and House Bill 1333, and has repassed the bills as so amended.
Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to lay over the balance of the calendar until Thursday. April 16th.
Are you good? Lifesaver. The motion is a layover of the balance of the calendar Wednesday, April 15th. Not 16th. Oh, Thursday, April 16th. I'm sorry, I'm getting older. The older I get in my hearing. Just read the script. The script says Wednesday, April 15th, which is why I'm Ron Burgundy. All right. The motion is laid with a balance of the calendar to Thursday, April 16th, 2026. All those in favor, say aye.
Aye.
Opposed, no. All right. But the ayes have it. The balance of the calendar will lay over until Thursday, April 16th, 2026. Announcements. Senator, stay classy.
Senator Pelton B. Thank you, Mr. President. to my caucus over here, we are going to meet at noon at Independence Institute. Please bring, as according to Senator, the good Senator from Weill County, please bring this book and this book with you. Okay? Bring those two books when we go meet at noon at Independence Institute. Thank you.
Senator Pelton B., when you say over here, are you talking about this whole side or only a portion? The whole side.
I was just checking. Including the back road can come, too, if they want to.
I mean, you said this side. I just want to be clear on who we're talking about. Terrible. Senator Roberts.
Thank you, Mr. President. To this side and the back row over there. Come on. We will be meeting at noon as well in the old Supreme Court. The good senator from Boulder and the good senator from Glenwood Springs would like you to bring this book and the fiscal notebook that is on your desk as well. Noon in the Old Supreme Court.
Glenwood Springs, huh?
Did I say Glenwood Springs?
Greenwood Village?
Greenwood Village. Two names, starts with G. The Good Center from Boulder, the Good Center from Greenwood Village. We'll see you there.
Very good. Further announcements, Senator Judah.
Thank you, Mr. President. Members, just a reminder, tomorrow is Seek Day at the Capitol, a.k.a. Amazing Food. So we get double lunch from nonpartisan staff and downstairs. Save your appetite. We'll tell you more tomorrow. Thanks.
Very good. Senator Kipp.
Thank you, members of Senate Finance. We will be meeting at 2 p.m.-ish in SCR 357 to hear HB 26-1188, SB 26-116, SB 26-049, and SB 26-155. We will see you there.
And Senator Liston.
Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I want you to remind your aides or other interested people tomorrow for the nanonuclear lunch and learn across the street in the cafeteria annex. Not in the state services building, but the cafeteria annex. You're all invited, but if you can't make it, please send your aides. Lunch will be provided, and you'll be hearing from a very learned person on the latest, newest, best technology in the nuclear field. Thank you.
Senator Danielson, the greatest BLT chair of all time. I mean, I'm so sorry, Robert. It's a fact. Mr. Majority Leader, I'm sorry.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee will meet at 2 p.m. We have a number of appointments and then one bill as printed on the calendar. See you then.
Very good. Seeing no further announcements, Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, colleagues. We will be recessing as we need to read some bills across the desk. There's no need to return. On that note, Mr. President, I move the Senate recess until 12 p.m. today.
Give her the motion. All those in favor, say aye.
Aye.
Oppose, no. What? The eyes have it. Senate recess until 12 p.m. today. Thank you. Thank you.