Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 084

Yes. Let's do it. Mr. President. Let's do this.

Thank you, Mr. President. Please rise for 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.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate Journal of Monday, April 6, 2026 be approved and corrected by the secretary.

Aye. Opposed no.

Correctly printed Senate Joint Resolution 20, correctly engrossed Senate Joint Resolution 19. Correctly revised House Bill 1079, 1101, 1107, 1135, 1215 1216 1217 1218 1219 1220 1238 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 1303 and 3011 Correctly re House Bill 1044 1186 and 1234 Correctly enrolled Senate Bill 9 14 21 31 53 77 and 126 Mr. Schoffler, please add Senators Judah and Ball to the roll.

After consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following. Senate Bill 72 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation, and with a recommendation that would be placed on the consent calendar. Mr. Schauffler, please add Senator Cutter to the roll.

on the Senate Education Committee for the remainder of the 2026 legislative session.

personal privilege again. You have heard the motion all in favor please say aye.

Mr. President slash Senator Coleman.

Granted.

Thank you. Further moments of personal privilege? Seeing none. Committee reports.

Third reading of bills Consent count Mr Schaffler please read the titles of all the bills on the consent count

You've got to come up here.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the passage of all the bills on third reading of Bill's consent calendar, which are House Bill 1303, House Bill 1297, House Bill 1296, House Bill 1295, House Bill 1294, House Bill 1293, House Bill 1220, House Bill 1219, House Bill 1218, House Bill 1217, House Bill 1216, House Bill 1215, House Bill 1135, House Bill 1238, and House Bill 1079.

I wish to be recorded in a vote for House Bill 1135.

I would like to be recorded as a no vote on HB 26 1135.

Yes, I would like to be recorded as a no vote on the Ditto bill, House Bill 1135.

No, sir, Mr. President. That's exactly what I would prefer. No vote on 1135, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to be recorded as a no vote on House Bill 26, 1135.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to be a no vote on House Bill 26, 1135.

Thank you, Mr. President. Wish to be recorded as a no vote on 1135.

Wow. Maybe I shouldn't add my name here. Please add the president. I do what I can.

Man. There we go.

96. 96.

Go sponsors.

Priola. Oh, he's not here.

I'd like to support my senators. That's why.

Coker. And guess what?

third reading of the bills oh that's correct Mr. Schaffler please add Senator Gonzales to the roll you're welcome third reading of the bills final passage Mr. Schaffler Mr. Majority Leader thank you Mr. President I move to lay over Senate Bill 66 until Wednesday April 8th the motion is lay

Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of House Bill 1311. House Bill 1311 by Representatives Duran and Carter and Senators Bright and Snyder concerning the use of a bond in lieu of retainage and construction contracts.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move House Bill 26, 1311 on third reading, final passage.

There we go.

Yes. I'm sorry, man. I already know. I'd just be knowing.

Frizzell.

Mr. Schauffler, please read the title of House Bill 1107. House Bill 1107 by Representatives Ferre and Pascal and Senator Cutter concerning measures to increase access to services and facilities that provide medical care.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move House Bill 1107 on third reading and final passage.

Frizzell.

Rich. Kirkmeyer. Baisley.

Liston. Carson, Pelton R, Catlin, Sher-Hope. Oh, he's right there. Just making sure he had an opportunity to vote no. Thank you for voting aye on this bill, which is not yours. Ah Senator Pelton B I sorry y I just want to make sure we don have to recount Revote With a vote of 23 ayes 12 noes zero absences zero excuses House Bill 1107 is passed Co There we go. Senator Lindstadt.

And Judah.

Mr. Schauffler, please read the title of House Bill 1101. Thank you. House Bill 1101 by Representatives Espinosa and Soper and Senators Linstead and Pelton B. Concerning adding criminal offenses related to critical infrastructure components to criminal offenses involving commodity metals.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move House Bill 26-1101 for third reading and final passage.

What?

Yeah, Senator Baisley. With a vote of 33 eyes, 2 no, 0 abs, 0 excuse.

Frizzell. Roberts. Judah. Weissman. Kip. That is not a finger up. Okay.

Senadora.

When we say all those in favor say aye, will you listen to the people?

What up, Mr. President? I move the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for consideration of general order, second reading of Bill's consent calendar.

Committee will come to order and the coat rule is relaxed.

the department of agriculture majority leader rodriguez thank you madam chair i move the passage of the three bills on general or second reading bill consent calendar and the associated committee reports which is house bill 1237 house bill 1239 and the local government housing report and Senate Bill 136 in the Ag and Natural Resources Report.

Opposed no the ayes have it and those bills are adopted majority Leader Rodriguez Thank you Madam Chair I move the committee rise and report

The Senate will come to order. Senadora.

Mr. Schaffler, will you please read the report? April 7, 2026, Mr. President, the Committee of the Whole begs leave to report and has had into consideration the following tax bills being the second reading thereof. Makes the following recommendations thereon. Senate Bill 136, as amended, passed on second reading, in order to engrossed and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage. House Bill 1237, House Bill 1239, as amended, passed on second reading, in order to revise and place on the calendar for third reading and final passage.

Senate Bill 136 is amended, passed, second meeting, order of gross, place a count of third reading and final passage. House Bill 11, 1237 and 1239 is amended, passed, second meeting, order of gross, place a count of third reading and final passage. General orders, second meeting of the bill, Senator Dora Gonzalez.

You roll the motion. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? No. You guys have it. The motion is adopted. The Senate resolves itself into the Committee of the Whole for consideration of a general order of second reading of bills. The Senate, Dr. Gonzalez, will take the chair. Committee will come to order. Code rule is relaxed for everybody in the chamber.

Senator Heinrichson. Thank you, Madam Chair. I move for the indefinite postponement of Senate Bill 63, and if you will allow me a moment of explanation. Please proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair. There is significant concern in our non-emergency medical transportation space. We have all seen the reports of the fraud that has been rampant in the system and the exorbitant cost overruns that have come in accordance with that. That has been a critical focus of this legislature and of the executive branch of trying to bring that under control in an expeditious matter, and that is absolutely critical. The entire industry is going through a period of immense change right now. We're going back to a statewide broker system. The last time we had a statewide broker system, it did not work well. It did not work well, especially for providers and patients in the rural areas of our state. And so while we focus, rightfully so, on getting rid of the fraud and getting costs under control, we have to also be focused on the framework of the environment under which our providers operate and the environment that is provided to the patients, protecting things like patient's choice for preferred providers. providers, insuring timely payments when trips are properly completed, ensuring that there is a level playing field of what regulations apply to all the providers across the industry. That is what Senate Bill 63 sought to address. There are ongoing and I think productive conversations in this space. I want to thank HICPF and the governor's team for engaging in those conversations and working on the contours of ensuring those protections for our honest providers and for our rural patients. I want to thank the sponsors of House Bill 1328 who are also working to address this issue. And I think and my hope is that the concerns that we're seeking to address in 63 will ultimately be addressed in 1328. And so with that, Madam Chair, I renew my motion for the indefinite postponement of Senate Bill 63. The motion before the body is to postpone indefinitely Senate Bill 63. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. Senate Bill 63 is P.I.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move to lay over Senate Bill 134 until Wednesday, April the 8th.

Mr. Majority Leader.

I move to lay over House Bill 1071 until Monday, April the 13th.

Mr. Majority Leader.

I move to lay over House Bill 1084 until Wednesday, April the 8th.

Mr. Schoffler, you please read the title to Senate Bill 144. Senator Bill 144 by Senators Frizzell and Lindstedt concerning the collection of delinquent property taxes by tax lien sale and in connection therewith modifying the structure and authority for treasurers to charge certain fees, amending the processes for the sale of tax liens and recreating and reenacting with amendments the process for obtaining a treasurer's deed after public auction of a property subject to tax lien.

There's an amendment at the desk. Mr. Schaffler, you please read L6. Amendment L6. Amendment printed bill page 42, line 13, strike of option four, treasurer's deed.

Mr. Schaffler, will you please read the title to House Bill 1081. House Bill 1081 by Representatives Camacho and Duran and Senator Roberts concerning measures to optimize Colorado's electric transmission system.

Is there any further discussion on the T&E report? Seeing none, the motion before the body is the adoption of the T&E report. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Let's have it. And that report is adopted. To the bill.

Leader Simpson. Thank you, Madam Chair. This was an interesting bill, given the fact the good Senator from Frisco and I worked on this same bill. Last year we never could get to a comfortable spot to see all the effort and work that went into getting utilities to a neutral position is pretty impressive given how far apart I think we were last year working in this space. the whole conversation about advanced transmission technologies, lots of acronyms, ATTs and GETs,

Mr. Schaffler, please read the title to 1208. House Bill 1208 by Representatives Velasco and Senators Lindstedt and Exum concerning the continuation of the compliance advisory panel to the Air Pollution Control Division in the Department of Public Health and Environment.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move House Bill 1208.

Thank you, Madam Chair. House Bill 12A is a requirement under federal law. The federal government requires us to have this panel and to continue this panel to be in compliance with the Clean Air Act. So I encourage an aye vote.

Ditto. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to come down and remind the body that this committee evidently is required from somewhere, but we haven't had a meeting since 2020, and, you know, I don't know what their function is. I think we're doing this in case we need them, but it seems to me like the state of Colorado would be better off to take those actions when the time is necessary rather than continue to keep this on the books. So I would ask for a no vote.

Thank you, Madam Chair. While I appreciate the concerns raised, I would encourage those concerns to be brought to members of Congress who could change the Clean Air Act. So I still encourage an aye vote on this bill.

No. The ayes have it, and 1208 is adopted. Mr. Schauffler, please read the title to Senate Bill 103. Senate Bill 103 by Senators Colker and Marchman concerning public schools and in connection therewith, creating a specialized school policy for at-risk students and requiring subdivisions to set aside land for public schools.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move the committee report to Senate Bill 103.

And Senate Bill 103.

In the Committee report, we amended a lot out of the bill so that we just have one section left in the bill, and I encourage an aye vote.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So Colorado already defines what a community school is in statute with a rigorous four-pronged standard including 75% family engagement. But that definition only becomes operational after schools hit a priority or turnaround status. So it's after failure they go into this mode. So some of our larger districts have been able to move before that trigger, but most districts really don't have the capacity or the mandate to act early. What our bill does is create a proactive statutory pathway, the first time in Colorado law, that community school strategies are discussed and required before a crisis starts. So I'd urge an aye vote on Senate Bill 103.

Mr. Schauffler, please read the title to Senate Bill 90. Senate Bill 90 by Senators Carson and Snyder and Representative Hartzett concerning exempting critical infrastructure from the Consumer Repair Bill of Rights Act.

Thank you. I move Senate Bill 90.

Senator Snyder. Thank you. So, folks, this is really a continuation of past legislation. Colorado has been a leader and continues to be a leader in right to repair law. So just by recap, we first started with wheelchairs. Then we went on to lawn equipment. And then two years ago, we passed House Bill 24-11-21, which really became the most expansive and forward-thinking right-to-repair bill. But the one thing it lacked was some type of what we call a critical infrastructure exemption. So there are seven other states that have passed similar laws to Colorado. every one of them has some form of a critical infrastructure exemption. In fact, Minnesota law has the exact same language we have. They've had that in place for several years. It hasn't hindered the right to repair efforts in Minnesota at all. 1121 also had 15 exemptions in there, including motor vehicles. All autos are exempted from that. So it does have some exemptions. But what we're really trying to do is get in line with what's known as critical infrastructure. And granted, that is a very complicated space. I spent a whole weekend digging through the Federal Act. There are 16 categories of critical infrastructure. We looked at the Colorado definition of critical infrastructure. It was really just a mirror of the federal law. So we've been working with various groups that have concerns with what we're doing here. We've looked at several amendments. There was some thought that there was no oversight, that the companies would have the ability to just say, no, we refuse to give you the source codes or the passwords that you need in order to affect a repair. That is, in fact, not the case. The Attorney General currently, under current Consumer Protection Act law, has the ability to look into these. So the scenario would be, let's say a small repair shop decides they want to fix an IBM piece of equipment. They apply for the codes from IBM. IBM says, no, some parts of what you request are critical infrastructure. We're not going to give that to you. That company can go to the Attorney General's office and tell them, this is what happened. IBM refuses to give us what we need to fix. The Attorney General's office will investigate. They'll go to IBM and say, what's the problem here? Why are you not working with this third party repair person? And they'll have to, they say it's a critical infrastructure. They have to prove that up. They have to show the Attorney General, this is why this information is categorized as critical infrastructure, why we're not willing to present it and give it over to the third party. So there's already something in place. We are still working on perhaps a refinement of that maybe even an amendment that would codify exactly what happens But there was an amendment offered from some of the opponents to put this in The Attorney General's office actually rejected that amendment. They want a uniform process and a uniform standard for when they can get involved in these cases and when they shouldn't. They didn't want to create a separate standard just in this critical infrastructure space. So we really have worked hard with folks. It's one of those unfortunate situations where a lot of the opponents didn't really come to the table until it looked like we had the votes to get out of committee, and I'm glad they did. We've had really vigorous and good, helpful conversations. Unfortunately, I think if we had started, you know, two months earlier when we first met with them, you know, we probably could have gotten to a better place. But this bill will not affect the right to repair wonderful activity that's going on in Colorado right now. It just really creates an important necessary exemption for what's categorized broadly as critical infrastructure. There's a process in place for any disagreements to be resolved through the Attorney General's office. And I would ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to my colleague from Manitou Springs for that comprehensive overview of where we're at on Senate Bill 90. I won't go through that again, but I will just say that I think this basically puts us in a place where we can both be defenders and champions of consumer rights, consumer rights to repair, but also be responsible stewards of our critical infrastructure. and I will say and I think it's important that both the Attorney General's office and the Governor's office believe that we need to make this fix here in Senate Bill 90. They've been pretty clear about that. In fact, the Governor, when he signed the original right to repair bill back two years ago in his signing statement, made it clear that he felt this type of revision would be important to the bill. So with that, I would urge the body to approve Senate Bill 90.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's an honor to serve with you. We're not in the House. We don't do that. We're the upper chamber here. Thank you, Madam Chair. This bill is in its current form, I believe, far too broad. The definition of critical infrastructure, I think, is wide enough that a truck could drive through there. We are working on narrowing that definition in conversation with the sponsors and the folks on the other side of the glass who are working on this. We do think the best thing to do today is to move forward on second reading and to work on an amendment for third reading in partnership with the sponsors of this bill. for some reasons that have nothing to do with inside this building. There are people on the Internet who are very passionate about this and have, in fact, made death threats against folks involved with this bill. That's unbelievably inappropriate. It, I think, means the best thing to do today is to move forward here on second reading and work on a third reading amendment that, I think, it tightens up the definition of what critical infrastructure is so that we are indeed addressing critical infrastructure and not just sort of like anything that anyone says is really important and we just don want to be subject to this bill So having been one of the sponsors of the original right to repair bill, it is the only bill still in the United States that has support from both Google and Apple, which I'm extremely proud of. I don't think we need a major exemption in this bill, but I also don't want to be creating threats to national security because of what it is that we have passed here in Colorado. So we are working on that definition. We will come up with something tomorrow. I ask your indulgence on having a substantive third reading amendment along these lines. But again, I think just for reasons outside the building, it is better if we move forward on second reading today. Thank you.

Thank you. And I just want to remind the good senator from Greenwood Village that auto and trucks are exempt, so maybe a better analogy that he used as far as a hole he saw created to be able to drive a truck through there. I just was recommending a different analogy. Thank you.

Really? Thank you very much. I'm sure, like all of you, I am getting a lot of emails that are concerned specifically about the definition in this bill. So I really appreciate that my colleagues are working to find a solution that will make sure that we still have a good right to repair law, a law that I voted for, a law that many of you voted for. I do want to address that threats of violence, political violence in any form, are unacceptable inside or outside of this building. And if you are mad about a piece of legislation, send us an email, give us a phone call, but do not make death threats. That is completely, 100% inappropriate, and that is not going to get you what you want. Civil discourse is the answer to what we need to be doing. But anyway, thank you to my colleagues for working on a better solution for this bill.

Well, I would just thank my colleagues for that input, and as the senator from Manitou Springs made it clear, we're certainly willing to engage in any refinements. We just haven't seen those yet, So hopefully we will get some language that we can look at and work on for third reading.

Thank you. Yeah, we are not against right to repair. It is great. Personally, I fixed my electric lawnmower using a YouTube tutorial. And it saved me $247 on a new battery for my electric lawnmower. So believe me, it is thriving. In every other state that has adopted some form of a critical infrastructure exemption, it's thriving. It's doing wonderfully. This is not any attempt by some large corporations to limit their dispersing of their information. This is really just a necessary piece that, as my colleague said, the Governor's Office, the Attorney General's Office, feels we need to have something like this. So I would respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move the committee rise and report.

Thank you, Mr. President. The committee met and considered several bills, and we were wildly efficient.

Senator Gonzales.

The motion is the adoption of the Committee of the Whole Report. Are there any no votes? With a vote of 35-0, no, zero, absent, zero, excuse, Committee of the Whole Report is adopted. Senate Bill 144 is amended. Senate Bill 103 is amended. Senate Bill 90 passed. Second, convenient order of the world's place. Count of 30,000 in final passage. House Bill 1081 is amended. 1208 passed. Second, convenient order of the world's place. Count of 30,000 in final passage. Senate Bill 134. House Bill 1084 led over to 4-8-20-26. Returning to the place on the calendar. House Bill 1071 led over to 413-2026, retained its place on the calendar, Senate Bill 63, lost on second reading. Consideration of resolutions. Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of SJR 18.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Schaffler, please read SJR 18 at length. Whereas, Nohruz, meaning New Day, is the traditional Iranian New Year celebrated on the spring equinox and marks the beginning of the year on the Persian calendar, a holiday observed for more than 3,000 years by hundreds of millions of people across Iran, Central Asia, and the Middle East and the diaspora of the Middle Eastern communities around the world. And whereas Iranian Americans and members of the Iranian diaspora, including many Coloradans, celebrate No Roos and contribute greatly to the cultural, economic, and civic life of communities across the United States and the state of Colorado. And whereas No Roos is a celebration of renewal, hope, and the rebirth of nature, symbolizing the promise that each new year can bring greater peace, prosperity, and justice. And whereas the people of Iran continue to face profound challenges to their fundamental civil and human rights, including restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and equality under the law. And whereas the Women, Life, Freedom movement again in September 2022 has become a global call for gender equality, human dignity, and fundamental civil rights, highlighting long-standing discrimination against women and girls in Iran, including legal inequality and restrictions on personal freedom, and reflecting the extraordinary courage of Iranian women and girls who demand equality and bodily autonomy. And whereas students, journalists, activists, workers, and ordinary citizens across Iran have risked their safety and their lives in peaceful demonstrations, demanding democratic freedoms, bodily autonomy, and basic civil rights, even as escalating conflict and violence in the region have placed millions of civilians at risk and caused devastating harm to families and communities. And whereas the Colorado General Assembly recognizes Nouru's as a celebration of renewal, resilience, and hope for Middle Eastern communities across Colorado and the world. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate of the 75th General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein, that the Colorado General Assembly 1 recognizes the celebration of Nohruz and extends its warmest wishes for a year of renewal, hope, and peace to Iranian communities in Colorado and around the world. Two, affirms its solidarity with the Iranian people in their ongoing struggle for fundamental civil rights, democratic freedoms, and equality under the law. Three, recognizes the courage and leadership of Iranian women and girls and the global call for dignity embodied in the words women, life, freedom. Four, mourns the lives of civilians, especially children, lost to violence and war, calling for the protection of civilians, schools, and essential community institutions, and five, expresses its hope that the spirit of Nouruz, a new day, will bring a future in which all people in Iran can live with equality, freedom, justice, and the full protection of their civil and human rights.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Middle East and North African Caucus, I rise to recognize Nouruz. Though it began last week, we wanted to take a moment to honor this beautiful occasion. Noruz marks the arrival of spring, the rebirth of the earth, and the beginning of a new year, a new day. And for more than 3,000 years, families across the Middle East, and especially in Iran, have gathered around their tables, in their homes, and in their communities to celebrate this renewal, hope, and the triumph of light over darkness. But this year does feel different. The good representative from Fort Collins, an Iranian-American, and myself struggled to find a sense of hope. And while we recognize this moment of joy, I would be remiss, as a member of the Middle East Caucus, if I did not also acknowledge the realities facing the Iranian people today. because this year, Nauru's arrives under the shadow of war. Families who would normally be celebrating together are instead navigating fear, uncertainty, and loss. The reality of an actual black rain from strikes on oil deposits and refineries exposing millions of civilians to hazardous air. And let me be clear, burying thousands, including over 100 young girls while at school, cannot simply be veiled by the setting of a table This year is also about who will no longer be at that table I also want to recognize that many in this chamber have served in war and the toll of war weighs on everyone, from generations before to those that serve today. But I do think I stand alone as someone who has lived through war, who has held children in the middle of the night as our home shook, as windows shattered under the weight of shelling. And I know what it means to live under curfew, to pass through checkpoints, and to look down the barrel of a tank. And no one, no one should have to live through that. And I do not want a repeat of my lived experience for anyone. So I ask all of us to set aside the letters behind our names, set aside our political disagreements, even our perspectives of this moment, and instead hear a plea for our shared humanity to simply prevail. I support Noruz as the changing of the seasons, about the human spirit, the refusal to let current hardships extinguish hope, that we recognize something remarkable, resilience. So today we do honor NoRu's. We honor its beauty, its history, and its meaning, and we simply recognize those, even in the most difficult of circumstances, who continue to choose light over darkness, hope over despair, and light over fear. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. I ask that the current roll call be added as co-sponsors.

April 6, 2026. 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 4, expand list of petitioners for protection order approved on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 11 a.m. Senate Bill 39, Fire and Police Pension Association Disability and Survivor Benefits approved on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 11 a.m. Senate Bill 50, Child Care Center Required Policy Disclosures, approved on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 11 a.m. Senate Bill 74, Clarify Excessive Public Construction Bond Claim Penalty, approved on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 11 a.m. Sincerely, Jared Polis, Governor.

Thank you. Members of the Senate Finance Committee, we will be meeting at 2 p.m. today in SCR 357. We will be hearing HB 261053 SB 26151 HB 261102 and apologies everybody but SB 26116 will not be heard today We will push that off to another date. Thank you. I'm sorry about that. Very good. Senator Wallace.

The State Veteran and Military Affairs Committee will be meeting today at 2 p.m. in the old Supreme Court. We will hear Senate Bill 143 and then House Bills 1202, 1265, 1126, and 1302. Very good. Further announcements?

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, we will be recessing as we need to read some bills across the desk later. On that note, Mr. President, I move the Senate recess until 12 p.m. today.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you Thank you. Thank you. .