March 26, 2026 · 4,118 words · 5 speakers · 77 segments
Senators, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Benavidez, Bridges, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Daniels excuse Doherty here Exum Frizzell Gonzales Hendrickson Judah Kirkmeyer. Colker. Lindstedt. Liston. Liston. Marchman. Marchman. Mullica. Pelton B. Pelton B. Feltner, Rich, Roberts, Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Zamora Wilson, Madam President.
Here.
Senator Coleman.
Excused.
Madam President.
Here.
Okay. Senator Zamora Wilson, would you please leave?
Oh, sorry.
The morning roll call is 33 present, 0 absent, 2 excused. And with that, we have a quorum. Senator Zamora Wilson, will you please leave us in the Pledge of Allegiance?
Thank you Madam President. On this Kirkmeyer Day will you please join me in the pledge. 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.
Thank you. Okay, thank you very much. Approval of the journal, Senator Kolker.
Senator Colker. Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Senate Journal of Wednesday, March 25, 2026, be approved as corrected by the Secretary.
You have heard the motion. All those in favor say aye. All opposed, no. No. The ayes have it, and that motion is adopted. Senate Services Correctly printed, Senate Bill 147 and 148 Correctly re-engrossed, Senate Bill 113, 121 and 128 Correctly re-revised, House Bill 1034, 1070, 1099 and 1205 Committee reports Committee on Education, after consideration on the merits Committee recommends the following House Bill 1259 be amended as follows and as so amended be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation House Bill 1050 be amended as follows and as so amended be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation Committee on Local, Government and Housing after consideration on the merits the committee recommends the following House Bill 1257 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 be placed on the consent calendar House Bill 1095 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 be placed on the consent calendar Committee on Judiciary after consideration on the merits a committee recommends the following House Bill 1058 be amended as follows and if so amended be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation House Bill 1089 be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. House bill 1134 be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation. Committee on Health and Human Services after consideration on the merits committee recommends the following House bill 1277 be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. Senate bill 99 be postponed indefinitely. Committee on Transportation and Energy after consideration on the merits committee recommends the following. House bill 1051 be referred favorably to the Committee on Appropriations. Committee on Transportation and Energy, after consideration of the merits, the Committee recommends the following. House Bill 1127 be amended as follows, and is so amended be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. Senate Bill 141 be amended as follows, and is so amended be referred to the Committee on Finance with favorable recommendation. House Bill 1007 be amended as follows, and is so amended be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, after consideration of the merits, the Committee recommends the following. House Bill 1198 be amended as follows, and as so amended be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that be placed in the consent calendar. Thank you very much. Introduction of bills. House Bill 1181 by Representatives Ricks and Richardson and Senators Marchman concerning the continuation of the Barber and Cosmetologist Act and in connection therewith implementing the recommendations of the Department of Regulatory Agencies and the Department's 2025 Sunset Report. Business, Labor, and Technology. House Bill 1184 by Representatives Lukens and Morrow and Senators Cutter and Marchman. Concerning the continuation of the Colorado Forest Health Council and in connection therewith, implementing the recommendation of the Department of Regulatory Agencies in the Department's 2025 Sunset Report. Agriculture and Natural Resources. House Bill 1186 by Representatives Mabry and Soper and Senators Ball and Weissman. Concerning the continuation of the regulation of bail bonding agents regulated by Article 23 of Title 10 Colorado Revised Statutes by the Division of Insurance. Judiciary. House Bill 1234 by Representatives Ryden and Soper and Senators Wallace and Frazell concerning access to records of child abuse or neglect. Judiciary.
Majority Leader Rodriguez. Thank you, Madam President. I move the Senate proceed out of order for moments of personal privilege.
You have heard the motion. All in favor, please say aye. All opposed, no. The ayes have it. We will proceed out of order for moments of personal privilege.
Senator Judah. Thank you, Madam President. Members, today is Purple Day or Epilepsy Awareness Day, and I, like 60,000 people in Colorado, live with epilepsy. But the question that we also live with always linger. When will be the next seizure? Will I be safe? and will I wake up tomorrow? A few weeks ago, this body passed Lincoln's Law in an effort to advocate for families who lose children to SUDEP or sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, a fatal seizure that usually happens at night. Today, we're joined by Kelly Werthmann from CBS, whose sister, Abby, lives with epilepsy, and Marci Addy from the Epilepsy Foundation. But we are also joined by Brian and Tracy Abeyta, who lost their son Lincoln to SUDEP at 10 years old. When Lincoln was just eight months old, their neurologist told them about SUDEP. They were fortunate enough to be informed. Many families are not. I was not informed about SUDEP until I had been living with epilepsy for over 20 years. From that day forward, Brian and Tracy knew they could one day face the most devastating loss a parent can endure, losing a child. And even more frightening was the possibility of losing a child to something that lacks research education and constant tracking to truly understand it After Lincoln diagnosis they made the decision They would give him the best life possible and they would not let Sudeb or the fear of Sudeb define his life or theirs. They monitored him constantly. They managed thousands of seizures over the course of his life, but they never knew if one would be his last. But they chose to live life fully anyways. Lincoln did not know the concept of Sudeb. He did not live with fear. He lived fully. Lincoln loved life as much as anyone ever could. He was the ultimate teammate and he was the ultimate friend. But on August 9, 2024, his father woke up like he had every morning for the previous 10 years. He checked both seizure monitoring systems. There were no alerts. He went to wake Lincoln up, and in that moment, their lives changed forever. Lincoln had died from his seizure. Lincoln had died for a seizure that lasted just 10 seconds. Their monitoring system... Sorry. Lincoln had died from a seizure that lasted 10 seconds. Their monitoring system alerts them after 15 seconds of movement of a seizure. 10 seconds, and he was gone. My seizures last for 30 seconds, and that is SUDEP. The Abytas consider themselves lucky to know it was SUDEP because they witnessed it and they were informed. Most families were left without answers, like the families of Carrie Ann Conflin and Marcus Cole and countless other families here in Colorado. But knowing does not bring peace. What is harder is knowing that there is nothing more they could have done and not understanding why it happens. We know its name, SUDEB, but we do not know its why, we do not know its how, and we do not know how it's prevented. People living with epilepsy should not have to live in fear of the unknown. Families deserve awareness, they deserve research, and they deserve answers, none of which is what's happening right now. If Lincoln's law prevents even one family from waking up to the morning they did, then Lincoln's law and Lincoln's life will continue to make a difference. On behalf of those living with epilepsy and their families, I want to thank both chambers for passing Lincoln's law. And if we could welcome the Abeyedas, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.
Senator Gonzalez.
Thank you, Madam President. May I please request a moment of personal privilege?
Granted.
Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, today we honor and welcome the leaders at Mile High United Way, and I invite them to stand up so that they can be recognized. This week, we honor the birthday of the founder of Mile High United Way, Frances Weisbart Jacobs. She was a leader here in Colorado who in the 1880s founded the organization that became Mile High United Way, the first of its kind in the state, the nation, and the world. And in this moment when things often can feel so fraught and tense and divided, Mile High United Way stands as an organization that always has its doors open, welcoming people in and helping people in their moments of crisis find their place. And so thank you so much as we honor the mother of charities, as we recognize that she is in one of these 16 stained glass windows here across the Capitol, as we recognize that you don't need a badge to be a leader in this moment. Thank you to Francis Weisbart Jacobs, but genuinely thank you to each and every person at Mile High United Way who does the work to unlock opportunity and connection and community for so many Coloradans across the state. Colleagues, please again join me in welcoming and honoring Mile High United Way. Thank you.
Thank you. Senator Movile.
Thank you, Madam President. I asked for a moment of personal privilege.
Granted.
So I have some special guests here today who, this came together here at the last minute, but they're very interested in some legislation that we're working on this session around the issues of competency. And that bill is getting introduced today, and they're here because they lost a loved one. their mother, as a result of the state not doing things that we should have been doing. And so I hope you all will take a moment to, if you wanted to stand, and these are the Bowmans, their brother and sister lost their mother, and we are working day and night to try to rectify the situation that resulted in that happening. And so thank you so much for being here.
Okay, third reading of Bill's final passage.
Majority Leader Rodriguez. Thank you, Madam President. I move that the third reading of Bill's final passage be laid over until Friday, March 27th.
The motion is to lay over the third reading of Bill's calendar until Friday, March 27th, 2026. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The third reading of Bill's calendar will lay over until Friday, March 27, 2026. Second reading of Bill's consent calendar, Senator Wallace.
Thank you, Madam President. I move the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for consideration of the General Order's second reading of Bill's consent calendar.
You have heard the motion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. No. The motion is adopted and the Senate will resolve itself into the committee of the whole for the consideration of the general order. Second reading of Bill's consent calendar and Senator Wallace will take the chair. The committee will come to order. The coat rule is relaxed. Will the clerk please read the titles to the bill on the general order second reading of bill's consent calendar? House Bill 1090 by Representative Luck and Martinez and Senator Gonzalez concerning teacher licensing requirements Majority Leader Rodriguez Thank you Madam Chair I move for the passage of the bill on general order second reading of bill consent calendar which is House Bill 1090 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the motion for the body is the adoption of the bill on the general order second reading of bill's consent calendar. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it and the bill on the consent calendar is adopted.
Majority leader Rodriguez. Thank you Madam Chair. I move the committee rise and report.
The motion is for the committee to rise and report. All those in favor please say aye. All those opposed no. The ayes have it and the motion is adopted. The committee will rise and report.
Senator Wallace. Thank you, Madam President. The committee. I'm going on. Sorry. Thank you.
The Senate will come to order.
Senator Wallace. Thank you, Madam President. The committee has had just one bill under consideration.
Will the clerk please read the report? March 26, 2026, Madam President, your committee of the whole begs leave to report it is had under consideration the following attached bills being the second reading thereof. It makes the following recommendation thereon. House Bill 1090, passed in second reading, in order to revise and place in the calendar for third reading and final passage.
Senator Wallace. Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the report.
The motion is the adoption of the committee of the whole report. Are there any no votes? Seeing none, with a vote of 33 ayes, 0 noes, and 2 excused, the committee of the whole report is adopted. HB 26-1090 passed on second reading and ordered revised and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage.
Second reading of bill, Senator Wallace. Thank you, Madam President. I move the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole once again for consideration of general orders, second reading of bills.
You have heard the motion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the motion is adopted. The Senate will resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of general orders, second reading of bills,
and Senator Wallace will once again take the chair.
The committee will come to order and the coat rule is once again relaxed. Will the clerk please read the, oh, sorry, excuse me, Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move the committee to proceed out of order to take up House Bill 1232.
The motion is to proceed out of order to take up House Bill 1232. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The committee will proceed out of order. Will the clerk please read the title to House Bill 1232? House Bill 1232 by Representatives Espinosa and Bacon and Senators Gonzalez and Lindstedt
concerning prohibition of certain monetary assessments against juveniles in the justice system.
Senator Gonzalez.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We move House Bill 1232 and the Judici Report.
To the Judiciary Committee Report.
Senator Gonzalez. Thank you, Madam Chair. We amended the bill to include a clarifying amendment, which is amazing because this bill is seeking to clarify a bill that was a clarification of a bill that we passed in 2021.
I believe. So hopefully, Madam Chair, the third time is the charm. I ask for an aye vote. Is there any further discussion of the clarification on the clarification on the clarification committee report? Seeing none, the motion is for the adoption of the Judiciary Committee report. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it and the report is adopted. To the bill, Senator Gonzales.
Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a good bill. We are trying to ensure that juveniles are no longer assessed or charged for restitution. For the love of everything, can we please finally get it right by passing House Bill 1232? I ask for an aye vote. Senator Linstead. Thank you, Madam Chair. House Bill 1315 eliminated these fees through wide bipartisan majorities in both chambers. And, you know, over the years, we've had to clarify several times that these fees should not be assessed or collected from juveniles. They serve no purpose. They do not contribute to rehabilitation or community safety. Let's get it right this time. Please vote aye.
Is there further discussion? Seeing none, the motion before the body is the adoption of House Bill 1232. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. No. The ayes have it and the bill is adopted.
Majority Leader Rodriguez. Thank you, Madam Chair. I move to lay over Senate Bill 63 until Monday, March 30th.
The motion is to lay over Senate Bill 63 until Monday, March 30th. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. The motion is adopted and the bill is laid over. Senator, excuse me, Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move to proceed out of order for Senate Bill 134. The motion is to proceed out of order to take up
Senate Bill 134. Is there any objections or excuse me all those in favor please say aye. Aye. All those opposed no. The ayes have it and we will proceed out of order. Mr. Majority Leader. Thank
you Madam Chair. I move to lay over Senate Bill 134 until Monday March 30th. The motion before the
body is to lay over house bill 11 senate bill 134 to monday march 30th all those in favor please say aye aye all those opposed no the motion is adopted and the bill will be laid over mr majority leader
thank you madam chair i move the balance of the calendar be laid over until friday march 27th
the motion is to lay over the balance of the calendar until friday march 27th all those in favor please say aye aye all those opposed no the ayes have it the balance of the calendar will be
laid over mr. majority leader thank you madam chair I move the committee rise and report
the motion is for the committee to rise and report all those in favor please say aye all those opposed no the ayes have it the committee will rise and report Yes. The Senate will come to order.
Senator Wallace. Thank you Madam President The committee has met and had a number of bills Under consideration will the clerk please read the report march 26 2026 madam president your committee of the whole begs leave to report has had in consideration the following tax bills being the second reading thereof makes following
recommendations thereon house bill 1232 as amended passed in second reading in order to revise and place in the calendar for third reading and final passage senate bill 40 house bill 1144 house bill 1071 senate bill 48 laid over until march 27 2026 and retaining their place in the calendar Senate Bill 63, Senate Bill 134, laid over until March 30, 2026, and retaining their place in the calendar.
Senator Wallace. Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the report.
The motion is the adoption of the Committee of the Whole Report. Are there any no votes? Seeing none, with a vote of 33 ayes, zero noes, two excused, the Committee of the Whole Report is adopted. HB 26 1232 as amended passed on second reading and ordered revised and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage SB 26 040 HB 26 1144 HB 26 1071 SB 26 048 laid over until 327 26 and retaining their place on the calendar SB 26 0 6 3 SB 26 1 3 4 laid over until 3 30 20 26 and retaining their place on the calendar introduction of bill Senate bill 149 by senators of mobile and Simpson and represented Caldwell McCluskey concerning pathways for individuals with mental health disorders. Judiciary. Okay, we are up to consideration of resolutions. Will the clerk please read the title of HJR 1021? House White Resolution 1021 by Representative Martinez and Senator Marchman concerning supporting farmers markets in Colorado. Senator Marchman. Thank you,
Madam President. I move HJR 26-1021 and I don't ask that it be read at length. Okay thank you Senator Merchman. Thank you Madam Chair and Mr. Schauffler as much as I love to hear you read things. We're going to give you a break on this one. This was actually an interim committee bill that we didn't have a fiscal for. We went to try to do things to try to support our farmers markets. We said CDA should really help with that, and they already are supposed to by law. And so this resolution just raises that up. As we know, Colorado farmers markets help families access fresh, local food and give farmers a direct path to sell what they grow. They're especially important for small and new producers, and they strengthen local economies by keeping dollars in our communities. But more than that, they connect people to where their food comes from and to the neighbors who grow it. This resolution helps ensure these markets don't just exist, but continue to grow by encouraging the Department of Ag to partner with the Farmers Market Association and expand access to more communities, especially in rural parts of our state. I ask for an aye vote. Thank you. Is there any further discussion
on HJR 1021? Seeing none, the motion is the adoption of HJR 1021. Are there any no votes? With a vote of 33 ayes, 0 noes, 2 excused, the HJR 1021 is adopted. Co-sponsors.
Senator Wiseman. Senator Amabile.
Senator Marchman, would you like to make a motion?
Senator Marchman. Thank you, Madam President, and I didn't want to be presumptuous, but I will say, would you please add the current roll call as co-sponsors to the House Joint Resolution?
Is there any objection? Seeing no objection, the current roll will be added as co-sponsors. Message from the Governor. Honorable members of the Colorado Senate, pursuant to the authority vested in the office of the Governor of the State of Colorado, I have the honor to inform you that I have approved and filed with the Secretary of State the following acts. Senate Bill 1, Workforce Housing and Housing Tax Credit, approved on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 1.30 p.m. Signing of bills. The President has signed House Bill 1017, 1042, 1146, House Joint Resolution 1022, House Joint Resolution 1023. Announcements. Oh, surely somebody has an announcement.
Senator, oh, Senator Mobile.
I'm sorry.
I knew I was standing there for a reason. So one more time. Well, there will probably be 10 more times, but we are. The Joint Budget Committee is meeting today on adjournment and then again at 1.30. Senator Wallace. Thank you, Madam President. The State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee will meet 15 minutes upon adjournment in the old Supreme Court. we will hear House Bill 1023 and Senate Bill 119. Senator Exum. Thank you, Madam President. Senate Local Government Housing Committee will be meeting this afternoon. It will be 15 minutes after the Parliament's adjournment committee's meeting. and we'll hear House Bill 1253, House Bill 1145, House Bill 1187, and House Bill 1339 was added. Thank you. Senator Roberts. Thank you, Madam President. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will meet today at 1.30 p.m. in room 352. We will hear a confirmation hearing for the State Board of Stock Inspection Commissioners, and then we will hear House Bill 1008. Thank you. Senator Mullica. Thank you, Madam President. Members, Senate Health and Human Services Committee will be meeting at 1.30 in the old Supreme Court to hear confirmations for the Colorado Health Care Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise, as well as House Bill 1002, House Bill 1044, and House Bill 1024.
Any further announcements?
Seeing none, Majority Leader Rodriguez. Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Senate adjourn until 9 a.m. Friday, March 27, 2026.
Thank you. You have heard the motion. All those in favor, say aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the Senate will adjourn until 9 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026. Thank you. Thank you.