Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 066

Benavidez.

Bright.

Catlin.

Danielson. Danielson.

Here.

Frizzell.

Hendrickson.

Excuse.

Kirkmeyer. Good morning.

Lindstedt.

Marchman.

Mullica.

Roberts.

Simpson.

Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Zamora Wilson, Mr. President. Let's do this. The morning roll call is 32 present, zero absent, three excused. We have a quorum. Senator Kipp, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Approval of the journal.

You've heard the motion. All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, no.

The ayes have it, and that motion is adopted. Senate Services. Correctly printed, Senate Bill 142 and 143. Correctly revised, House Bill 1136 and 1185. House Joint Resolution 1023. Correctly enrolled, Senate Bill 74. Committee reports. Committee on State Veterans and Military Affairs. After consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following. House Bill 1144 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 1099 be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. Senate Bill 129 be postponed indefinitely. House Bill 1071 be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. Committee on Health and Human Services. After consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following. House Bill 1070 be referred to the committee as a whole with favorable recommendation and with the recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. Mr. President, the Committee on Health and Human Services has had under consideration a hearing on the following appointments and recommends that the appointments be placed on the consent calendar and confirm members of the Colorado Child Abuse Prevention Trust Fund for terms expiring November 7, 2028. Lindsay Spraker of Littleton, Colorado, to serve as a subject matter expert with knowledge of a child abuse prevention reappointed. Antonio Chiesa of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a subject matter expert with knowledge of child abuse prevention appointed. Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, after consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following. House Bill 1034 be amended as follows, and if so amended, be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. Mr. President, the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources has had her into consideration and had her hearing on the following appointments and recommends that the appointments be placed on the consent calendar and confirmed. Member of the State Board of Land Commissioners, effective July 1st, 2025, for a term expiring June 30th, 2029. Deborah Frobe of Denver, Colorado serves as a representative of natural resource conservation and as an unaffiliated reappointed. Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources after consideration on the merits. Committee recommends the following. House Bill 1205 be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that will be placed on the consent calendar. Committee on Appropriations after consideration on the merits. Committee recommends the following. Senate Bill 48 be amended as follows and if so amended be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation. and Senate Bill 113 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the committee of the whole with favorable recommendation. Third reading of bills. Consent calendar.

Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the passage of the bill on third reading of bill's final passage consent calendar, which is House Bill 1185.

Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of House Bill 1038. House Bill 1038 by Representatives Pascoe and Clifford and Senator Snyder. concerning County Commissioner redistricting.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move House Bill 1038 on third reading and final passage.

Thank you again, Mr. President. Members, an amendment L016.

I was getting to that.

I just wanted to inform everybody a copy of MMML 016 was placed on your desk yesterday. And with that, Mr. President, I request permission to offer a third reading amendment.

So, folks, this was actually an amendment I considered running on second reading. Ultimately didn't do that, but on retrospect, it's something we need to do. All this does is really protect the nonpartisan staff at the county level from being involved in any political nature of a lawsuit. So it says that the staff is, they're required statutorily to administer and staff the redistricting process. This bill, of course, will create an independent redistricting commission, so we're making sure that staff is doing their job and they're not subject to the whims of political discourse. And this works both ways, folks. It's just as important to a Republican county as it is to a Democratic county. So we really just trying to make sure that the nonpartisan staff is very clear that they not involved in the political side of this It also says down here you know any qualified elector can bring a suit in district court to challenge the redistricting Later on it says that the county commissioners or the independent commission shall be named as defendants, But the clerk and recorder and staff are not necessary and proper parties unless the actions specifically allege violations of duties expressly signed to the clerk and recorder by statute. So it's really just a clarification that nonpartisan staff should be allowed to do their jobs and not be subject to politics.

Aye.

Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of L16 to 1038. Amendment L16, amend re-engross bill page 4, line 4, strike 6B, and substitute 6B and 6I, page 5 after line 14, insert.

Very good. To the amendment. Ah, now is when we talk about the amendment. We're learning.

Very good. The motion is the adoption of L16 to 1038. Are there any no votes? With a vote of 32 eyes, zero no, zero absentee, excuse, L16 to 1038 is adopted. Further discussion on the bill? Seeing none, the motion is the passage of House Bill 1038. Are there any no votes? After all that, Senators, Mr. Minority Leader,

With a vote of 20 ayes, 12 noes, 0 absent. Please mark Senator Kirkmeyer as an aye vote on House Bill 1038. With a vote of 21 ayes, 11 noes, 0 absent, Three. Excuse. House Bill 1038 is passed. Co-sponsors.

Please. Add Senator Gonzalez as the co-sponsor on 1038. Please add the President.

Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. President. I move to lay over Senate Bill 66 until Monday, March 23rd.

Aye.

Mr. Schauffler, please read the title of House Bill 1136. House Bill 1136 by Representatives Lukens and Martinez and Senator Linstead and Wallace concerning the creation of the Pathways to Public Service Program in the Department of Personnel.

Further discussion? Seen none. The motion is the passage of House Bill 1136. Are there any no votes?

With a vote of 20 I's, 12 no's, 0 absent, 3 excuse. House Bill 1136 is passed. Co-sponsors. Senators.

Please add the President.

Thank you, Mr. President. Pursuant to Senate Rule 21C, I move that the Senate grant leave for the Joint Budget Committee to meet while the Senate is in session.

Majority to Rodriguez, moments of personal privilege. Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate proceed out of order for moments of personal privilege.

Senator Mullica. Thank you, Mr. President. I request a moment of personal privilege.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, we have a special guest with us today, Don Mosley. In my community, we have the Ralston House. It's a child advocacy center. and if you don't know what a child advocacy center is it's it's a really important thing to a community when a child is abused either physically or sexually or witnesses something traumatic what this what the Ralston house does is it gives a place for that child to go and be interviewed and to talk about what happened to them rather than go to a police station that could often be cold, that could often be unwelcoming. It's a warm place with trained professionals who can provide that support, to provide that support to that child who oftentimes thinks they're alone, that no one else has experienced that. And that's the services that Ralston House offers to my community, to the children who go through these experiences. it's a powerful thing to visit it it's a powerful thing to talk to the staff who do this work every single day who serve over 1200 children every single year going through this traumatic experience when you go and talk to them a unique thing at the Ralston houses every child that leaves the Ralston House gets a marble and they put that marble in a jar full of other marbles so that that child knows that they're not alone so that they know that they have that support Don Mosley has been the executive director of that organization for 20 years and I wanted to make sure that he's retiring this year and I want to make sure that we had the opportunity to honor him and so with your permission mr. president I'd like to read a tribute that you signed you

The Senate of the Colorado Legislature convened in the second regular session of the 75th General Assembly hereby extends heartiest congratulations and commendation to Don Mosley Today we recognize the remarkable leadership and lifelong service of Don Mosley whose dedication has helped transform the lives of countless children and families in our community. Since becoming Executive Director of Ralston House in 2006, Don has guided the organization with compassion, vision, and an unwavering commitment to protecting children. Across his two decades of leadership, the Ralston House expanded its services from one forensic interviewer and one victim advocate, providing 396 forensic interviews in 2007, to the team of eight forensic interviewers and five victim advocates, providing nearly 1,200 forensic interviews today. Because of his vision, the organization is able to support hundreds of children and teens across the North Glen, Lakewood, and Arvada locations, locations, providing a safe and supportive place for young victims of abuse to heal. Since 1981, Don has devoted his career to serving vulnerable populations through nonprofit work. He devoted his life to community leadership, working with victims of crime, homeless families, abused and neglected children, and individuals facing serious mental health challenges. His work has extended beyond Ralston House through service on numerous boards and councils, like the Colorado Children's Alliance Board, Colorado Department of Human Services Child Fatality Review Team, and the Colorado Human Trafficking Council, to name a few. His passion for protecting and advocating for victims has never wavered throughout the years. Don's leadership has never been about recognition. It has been about ensuring that children who have experienced unimaginable trauma are met with dignity, compassion, and care. Because of his work, thousands of children have found safety, support, and a path forward toward healing. Today, we honor Don for his decades of service and thank him for his steadfast commitment to protecting our most vulnerable. We recognize the lasting impact he has made on children, families, and communities throughout Colorado. Thank you, Don. You will be missed. On request of Senator Kyle Mullica, given this 20th day of March, 2026, State Capitol, Denver, Colorado, signed by James Rashad Coleman, Sr., President of the Senate.

Welcome to the Senate and thank you for all your hard work.

Granted.

Thank you, Mr. President. You got it. Welcome to the Senate.

The motion is proceed out of order for consideration of resolutions. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. As have it, that motion is adopted. We will proceed out of order.

Senator Rich. Thank you, Mr. President. I move SR 26005 and ask that it be read at length.

Further discussion.

Senator Rich. Thank you, Mr. President, and it is very nice to have Ms. Moglin here with us. As was pointed out, in 1993, Colorado became the first state to formally recognize March 21st as Single Parents Day. And the day is dedicated to acknowledging the hard work of single parents who had over 10 million households in the United States. The efforts are often supported by advocates like Janice Moglin, who have long promoted recognition of single parents. and I hope that you will join us in supporting this resolution.

Senator Snyder. Thank you, Mr. President. I request the current roll call be added as co-sponsors.

Senator Mr Majority Leader Thank you Mr Chair Mr President I move that Senate Bill 128 be removed from the consent calendar It will be placed one second.

Senator Roberts. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of general order, second reading of bills, consent calendar.

Will the clerk please read the title of all the bills on the general order of second reading of bills consent calendar? House Bill 1191 by Representatives Johnson and Bacon and Senators Frizzell and Weissman. Concerning the examination of a school district that receives state education fund money for capital construction projects for qualified charter schools in the district and in connection therewith, making the state auditor's examination of the school district's records discretionary rather than mandatory.

Is there any discussion? The motion before us is the adoption of the bill on the general order second reading of the bill's consent calendar. All those in favor say aye.

Those opposed no. The ayes have it and the bill, the consent calendar is adopted.

The motion is for the committee to rise and report. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed no. The ayes have it and the committee will rise and report. The Senate will come to order.

March 20, 2026. Mr. President, your committee of the whole begs leave to report and has had under consideration the following attached bills, being the second reading thereof, and makes the following recommendations thereon. House Bill 1191, passed on second reading, in order to revise and place on the calendar for third reading, final passage.

The motion is the adoption of the Committee of the Whole Report. Are there any no votes? With a vote of 32 ayes, 0, no, 0, absent, 3, excused. Committee of the Whole Report is adopted. House Bill 1191 passed the second reading of the order revised and placed. On the counter for third reading and final passage. General orders.

The motion is to lay over general order of secondary bills until Monday, March 23rd. All in favor say aye.

Opposed, no. The ayes have it, and general orders will be laid over until Monday, March 23rd. Consideration of governor's appointments. Consent calendar.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of all the appointments on the governor's appointment consent calendar, which is Megan Harmon of Colorado Springs and Kimberly Gardner of Centennial for the Colorado Banking Board. Any discussion? Seeing none of the motion,

I'm not going to be in the middle near the mic. Tony, be in the middle. Yeah, and I'll do it together. Somebody can sing. Three, two, one. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, Senator Bright. Happy birthday to you.

Senator Lindstadt. Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to remind folks that the annual Nauru's Breakfast with the Persian Cultural Circle and many of my constituents is on Monday from 8 to 10 in the West Boyer. Hope to see you there.

Senator Pelton B. Thank you, Mr. President. Members, tomorrow is the great meet-in day in Logan County. We have about 3,500 people that show up to our meet-in day to celebrate agriculture. And this all started when the governor came out with his meet-out day. So we decided to have our own meet-in day, and we raised a lot of money for nonprofits and to help our community. So please, you're all welcome to come to Sterling tomorrow at 11 o'clock and to the fairgrounds. And please have a free hamburger and some adult beverages and enjoy the day.

Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, colleagues, for an extremely productive day. we will be recessing as we need to read some bills across the desk later today that is all we have so no need to return on that note Mr. President I move the Senate recess until 12pm today

Thank you. Thank you.