May 12, 2026 · 4,166 words · 15 speakers · 144 segments
Bridges, Bright, Carson, Gatlin, Cutter, Danielson, Doherty, Exum, Exum.
Excuse.
Frizzell.
Gonzalez.
Henriksen.
Judah.
Judah.
Excuse.
Kip.
Kirkmeyer.
Kolker.
We could be done by now.
Yes.
Linstead.
Yes.
Liston.
Yes.
Marchman.
Mullica.
Pelton B.
Pelton R.
Rich.
Roberts.
Rodriguez.
Simpson.
Snyder.
Sullivan.
Wallace.
Weissman.
Zamora Wilson.
Mr. President.
Judah.
Judah.
Mr. President.
Let's do this. The morning roll call is 34 present, zero absent, one excuse. We have a quorum. Senator Ball, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?
Colleagues, please rise and 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 Liston.
Mr. President, in honor of the John Carson Day calendar, in case you don't know, it's brought to my attention is today is National Limerick Day. So in honor of Senator Carson and the rest of you, Mr. President, colleagues, we've had a lot of highs and lows this year. There have been a lot of fights galore. No one wants to hear. Vote for my bill. It's the best. Don't ask me for a favor. You're a pest. But after this session, let's make up and have a beer.
Ha ha.
I guess you guys don't get it. So anyways, Mr. President, I move that the Senate Journal of Monday, May 11, 2026, be approved as corrected by the Secretary.
You've heard the limerick day motion. All those in favor say aye.
Pose no.
Wow. The ayes have it, and that motion is adopted. Senate Services.
Correctly engrossed, Senate Bill 192. Correctly re-engrossed, Senate Bill 183 and 190. correctly revised house bill 1029 1033 1063 1065 1102 1138 1141 1223 1236 1255 1272 1274 1286 1306 1307 1315 1324 1326 1424 1426 1427 1431 and 1432 house joint resolution 1028 correctly re-revised house bill 1016 1043 1059 1075 1077 1100 1139 1147 1195 1206 1230 1263 1276 1298 1328, 1340, 1345, 1417, 1419, and 1421. Correctly enrolled. Senate Bill 114, 116, 117, 145, 149, 154, 156, 157, 167, 171, 173, 175, and 181.
Nicely done. Special orders. Seconded Bill, Senator Bridges.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate resolve itself and the Committee of the Whole for the consideration. of special orders second reading of bills.
Give me the motion. All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Oppose no. The ayes have it. The motion is adopted. The Senate will resolve itself. The Senate will take the chair.
The committee will come to order and the code rule is relaxed for all it can be relaxed for. Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to lay over Senate Bill 82 until Thursday, May the 14th. The motion is to lay over Senate Bill 82 until Thursday. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose no. Ayes have it. That bill will lay over.
Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to proceed out of order for Senate Bill 1325.
The motion is to proceed out of order for Senate Bill 1325. All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Opposed, no. Ayes have it. We will proceed out of order. Will the clerk please read the title of House Bill 1325.
House Bill 1325 by Representatives Caldwell and Furray and Senators Ball and Pelton are concerning natural medicine.
Senator Ball.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Bill 26, 1325, and the Health and Human Services Committee report. To the committee report. Thank you, Mr. Chair. In committee, we adopted three amendments that made both technical changes and some changes to other parts of the natural medicine statute that were informed by the Department of Revenue. I ask for an aye vote. The motion before us is the adoption of the Health and
Human Services Committee report. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have it. That report is adopted. To the bill. Any discussion? Seeing none, the motion before us is the adoption of House Bill 1325. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have it. That bill is adopted. Will the clerk please read the title to House Bill 1416.
Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move the Senate proceed out of order to pull up House Bill 1416.
The motion is to proceed out of order to pull up House Bill 1416. All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Opposed, no. Ayes have it. We will proceed out of order. Will the clerk please read the title to House Bill 1416?
House Bill 1416 by Represives Wynn and Brown and Senators Amabile and Carson concerning transfers from the Universal High School Scholarship Cash Fund.
Senator Amabile.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move House Bill 1416.
Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the motion before is the adoption of House Bill 1416. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have it. That bill is adopted. Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move the Senate proceed out of order to take up House Bill 1422.
Motion is to proceed out of order for House Bill 1422. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have it. We'll proceed out of order. Will the clerk please read the title to House Bill 1422?
House Bill 1422 by Representatives Clifford and Senators Coleman and Frazell concerning security measures for certain governmental entities Mr President Thank you Mr Chair We move House Bill 1422 and ask for an aye vote
Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the motion is the adoption of House Bill 1422. All those in favor say aye. Aye! All those who dare to say no. No! The ayes have it, and that bill is adopted. Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move the committee to proceed out of order to take up House Bill 1425.
Motion is to proceed out of order for 1425. All in favor say aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have it. We will proceed out of order. The clerk, please read the title of the House Bill 1425.
House Bill 1425 by Representatives Gilchrist and Brown and Senators Doherty and Bright concerning the regulation of applied behavioral analysis services and in connection therewith making an appropriation.
Senator Doherty.
I move House Bill 1425 and ask for an aye vote.
The motion is to the bill. Any discussion? Seeing none, the motion is the adoption of House Bill 1425. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Ayes have it. That bill is adopted. Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move the Senate to proceed out of order to take up House Bill 1433.
The motion is proceeded out of order to House Bill 1433. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Ayes have it. We will proceed out of order. Will the clerk please read the title of the House Bill 1433. Jeez.
House Bill 1433 by Representatives McCluskey and Velasco and Senator Cutter and Roberts concerning funding to sustain the Firefighter Behavioral Health Benefits Program.
Senator Cutter.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move House Bill 1433 and the appropriations report.
There are no reports. Is there any discussion of House Bill 1433? Seeing none, the motion before us is the adoption of House Bill 1433. All those in favor say aye. I. I. Opposed, no. Ayes have it. That bill is adopted. Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move the Senate proceed out of order to take up House Bill 1418.
The motion is proceeded out of order to take up House Bill 1418. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have it. We will proceed out of order. Will the clerk please read the very long title to House Bill 1418. Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
House Bill 1418 by Representatives Zakai and Camacho and Senators Amabile and Roberts. Concerning the provision of services to young people and in connection therewith requiring certain social media platforms that provide online gaming services, products, and features to young people to impose a fee on each add-on transaction and remit the fee to the Youth Mental Health Services Access Enterprise, which enterprise is created in the bill into the youth programming and protections enterprise, which enterprise is also created in the bill to be used to fund programs that provide services to young people in making an appropriation.
Senator Mobley.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move House Bill 1418, the Finance Committee report and the Appropriations Committee.
To the Finance Report. Any discussion?
We ran an amendment in the Finance Committee that adjusted some dates in order to save money.
Seeing no further discussion, the question before us is the adoption of the Finance Committee report. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? The ayes have it. The report is adopted. To the Appropriations Committee report. Aye. Is there discussion? Yes, Senator Mobley.
We ran an amendment in appropriations also to reduce the appropriation.
Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the motion before this is the adoption of the Appropriations Committee report. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? No. Ayes have it. The Appropriations Committee report is adopted. There is an amendment at the desk. The clerk Please read L33.
Amendment L33.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move L33.
To the amendment.
This amendment just clarifies the definition of a covered platform. After working with a few of the technology companies, we ask for an aye vote.
Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the motion before is the adoption of L33. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have it. 33 is adopted. To the bill, any discussion? Senator Bazley.
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Mr. Chairman, House Bill 1418 would impose a new 5% tax on in-game video game purchases layered on top of Colorado's existing sales tax framework. So while Colorado already taxes digital goods under current law, this bill departs from existing law in ways that raise serious legal and policy concerns. The proposal highlights the increasingly artificial distinction between physical and digital products. Whether a consumer purchases a game on a physical disc or via digital download, the modern gaming experience is largely identical and often includes online functionality and optional in-game purchases. By imposing an additional tax, only when consumers engage in in-game transactions, the legislation does not meaningfully distinguish between physical and digital goods. Instead, it targets a specific business model within one industry. This reinforces the conclusion that the measure is not a neutral tax on digital commerce, but a targeted surcharge on a particular category of activity. Colorado law already treats digital goods consistently with physical goods by including them within the definition of taxable, tangible personal property, regardless of the method of delivery. As a result, digital games, downloadable content, and other electronically delivered products are already subject to state and local sales tax in the same manner as their physical counterparts. This reflects a deliberate policy choice to maintain neutrality between physical and digital commerce. House Bill 1418 would disrupt that neutrality by imposing an additional industry-specific tax that applies only to in-game video game transactions. Consumers would continue to pay existing sales tax on both the initial purchase of a game, whether physical or digital, and subsequent in-game purchases, but would also be subject to an additional 5% surcharge solely because those transactions occur within a video game environment. This creates a stacked tax structure that does not apply to comparable digital goods, such as streaming media, e-books, or other downloadable contexts, all of which remain subject only to the generally applicable sales tax. This type of selective taxation raises concerns under the Federal Internet Tax Freedom Act, which prohibits discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce, a tax that singles out a narrow category on digital transactions while leaving functionally similar digital purchases untaxed at the same rate, risks being characterized as discriminatory. Federal law does not prohibit states from taxing digital goods broadly, but it does prohibit imposing taxes that treat one form of electronic commerce less favorably than others. The bill departs from basic principles of sound tax policy. Colorado's current system taxes transactions on a neutral per-sale basis. By contrast, this legislation would layer an additional tax on a specific type of transaction within a single industry, effectively subjecting the same consumer activity to a higher cumulative tax burden than comparable purchases in other sectors This form of tax pyramiding where multiple taxes apply to closely related transactions within the same user experience distorts consumer behavior and creates unequal treatment across industries. If the state can single out one category of digital content for additional taxation today, it could apply similar targeted taxes to other forms of digital commerce in the future. Such an approach undermines the predictability and neutrality that are essential to a stable tax system. Members, I urge a no vote on House Bill 1418.
Senator Liston.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to rise and bring up a few points, myself, members. House Bill 1418 creates difficult burdens for companies who do not already or are not interested in collecting geographic data on customers. They would now be required to determine if people are geographically present in Colorado. Moreover, companies outside the U.S. are now expected to remit and transmit sales tax to the state of Colorado. And lastly, I won't go on to everything else, But this tax raises concerns under the Federal Internet Tax Freedom Act, otherwise known as IFTA, I-F-T-A. That act prohibits discriminating taxes on electronic commerce, a tax that now singles out a narrow category of digital transactions and risk litigation under this law. Members, I would urge a no vote on House Bill 1418. Thank you.
Senator Roberts.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to my colleagues for their comments. I just want to make sure we don't let this pass by without noting the opportunity that this bill provides. We hear from this well and in this building all the time about the need to do more for mental health, especially for our kids, and that's often the reason to not do other bills related to other topics that cause pain in our communities. Here's an opportunity to do something about youth mental health. health. This bill generates significant and important revenue for very vital youth mental health programs in our state. I ask for an aye vote. The motion before
the body is the adoption of House Bill 1418. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and that bill is adopted. Mr. Majority Leader. Thank
you Mr. Chair. I move to lay over the balance of the calendar until later in
the day. The motion is to lay over the balance of the calendar until later today. day all those in favor say uh Mr. Majority Leader that thank you Mr.
Chair I move the committee rise report oh sorry no I thought you were the motion
is to lay over the balance of the calendar until later in the day all those in favor say aye it's the day opposed no what the eyes definitely
have that one and Mr. Majority Leader thank you Mr. chair I move the committee
rise and report. Motion is to rise and report. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. That's what I thought. Ayes have it. We will rise and report. The Senate will come to order. Senator Brayden.
Thank you, Mr. President. The committee has met and had a number of bills under consideration. The clerk please read the report.
May 12, 2026. Mr. President, the Committee of the Whole Begs leave to report it has had in consideration the following attached bills being the second reading thereof and makes the following recommendations thereon. House Bill 1325 as amended. House Bill 1416. House Bill 1422. House Bill 1425. House Bill 1433. House Bill 1418 as amended. Passed on second reading. In order to revise and place in the calendar for third reading and final passage. House Bill 1335. House Bill 1281. House Bill 1289. House Bill 1309. House Bill 1429 laid over until later in the day on May 12, 2026, retaining its place in the calendar. Senate Bill 82 laid over until April 14, 2026, retaining its place in the calendar.
Senator Bridges. Thank you, Mr. President. I move the report.
The motion is adopted to the committee to the whole report. Are there any no votes? With a vote of 34 ayes, 0 no, 0 absent, 1 excuse, the committee to the whole report is adopted. House Bill 1325 is amended. House Bill 1416, 1422, 1425, 1433, 1418 is amended. Packed on second reading or revised, placed on third reading, final passage. House Bill 1335, 1281, 1289, 1309, 1429, later on until 512, 226, retain the place on the counter. And Senate Bill 82, later on until 514, 226, retain the place on the counter. Mr. Schoffler, please add Senator Exum to the roll. I can read it again. What happened? Questions. Do you want to proceed out of order? I said May. We could. Who is that voice back there? Please add Senator Exum. Are we going to read the motion again? The last thing we just did was committee the whole report. We have to go back into the special order. Senator 5. We're back in the game. And please ask Senator Exum to the roll. Yeah. All right.
Majority of the robbery, yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate proceed out of order for consideration of House amendments and Senate bills.
The motion to proceed out of order for consideration of House amendments and Senate bills. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Guys have it. The motion is adopted. We will proceed out of order. Consideration of the House Amendment Senate bills. Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of Senate Bill 48.
Oh, Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate to proceed out of order for Senate Bill 189.
The motion is to proceed out of order for Senate Bill 189. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it, and we will proceed out of order for Senate Bill 189. Mr. Schaffler, please read the title of Senate Bill 189.
Senate Bill 189 by Senators Rodriguez and Coleman and Representatives Duran and Bacon. and concerning the use of automated decision-making technology and consequential decisions and any connection there with making an appropriation.
Mr. Majority Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate concur with the amendments done in Senate Bill 189 in the House. Please tell us why Thank you guys It was a technical draft Nothing in the bill changes substantially The amendment in the House made sure that the safety clause was exempt from the safety clause It was a technical catch from the drafter Probably needed AI to find it Senior for discussion
the motion is that the Senate concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 189. Are there any no votes? Senators Amor Wilson. With a vote of 34 ayes, 1 no, 0, absolute or excused, that motion is
adopted. Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We'll repass the Senate Bill 189.
Mr. Chairman. Mr. President, it's April. It's all good. Seeing no further discussion, the motion is repass the Senate Bill 189. Any no votes? Senators Moore Wilson again. What's going on here? With a vote of 34 ayes, 1 no, 0 absent, and 0 excused, Senate Bill 189 is repassed. Co-sponsors. Senators Marchman. Who is already co-sponsored? Yep, everybody that's already on there is on there.
Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate to proceed out of order for Senate Bill 135.
The motion is seated out of order for Senate Bill 135. All in favor say aye. Aye. Polls no. The ayes have it. Proceed out of order for Senate Bill 135. Mr. Schauffler, please your title of Senate Bill 135.
Senate Bill 135 by Senators Bridges and Kip and Representatives Bacon and Lukens. concerning state public education K-12 funding and in connection therewith, increasing appropriations for state public education K-12 for 10 years, allowing the state to retain an amount of state revenue in excess of the limitation on state fiscal year spending equal to state public K-12 education funding and submitting a ballot question to the registered electors of the state.
Senator Bridges. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 135.
Please tell us why.
So the amendments that we had in the House, I think page 10 of the re-revised really covers a lot of it. We essentially changed the distribution formula away from accelerating implementation of the new funding formula and instead distributed according to the funding formula. This is because as the new funding formula is being put into place, there are some districts, for instance, Poudre Valley would have only received $64,000, as opposed to the $3.6 million that they receive under this new distribution formula, shared in 2100 to 120,000. Given that we don't know what the economic conditions are going to be over the next 10 years, we thought more money out to more districts more rapidly was the right way to do this. We also changed the use of the funds that are above what it is that go to fund that positive factor and make it so that it is limited to programs that support Colorado's children, prioritizing child care, full-day preschool, and other programs that prepare children to be successful in school, and that all of this money, at least half of it, more than half of it, over the next 10 years will be going directly to districts. Ask for an aye vote.
The motion is going to concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 135. Are there any no votes? With a vote of 35 ayes, 0 noes, 0 absences, or excused, that motion is adopted.
Senator Bridges. Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the repassage of Senate Bill 135.
The motion is repassed of Senate Bill 135. Are there any no votes? Senators, Mr. Minority Leader, Kirkmeyer, Frizzell, Zamora Wilson, Rich, Pelton B, Bright, Carson, Pelton R, Catlin, Liston, Baisley. With a vote of 23 ayes, 12 noes, 0 abs, 0 excuses. Senate Bill 135 is repassed. As opposed sponsors?
Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you. Mr. President. I move to lay over consideration of House amendments to Senate bills later in the day.
The motion is to lay over consideration of House amendments to Senate bills later in the day. All is favor to say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. And we will lay over consideration of House amendments to Senate bills later in the day.
Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you. Mr. President. I move to lay over the balance of the calendar until later in the day.
The motion is motion of the balance of the calendar later in the day. All is favor to say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is adopted. We will live with a balance counter later today. Announcements.
Senator Mabley. Thank you, Mr. President. We will be having appropriations tomorrow at 8.30. Today. I'm sorry. I meant to say today. Later today at 8.30 this morning, Senator Probst will be meeting in SSBB, and we will be hearing LSBB. LSBB. And we will be hearing 1430 and other bills as assigned. Yeah.
Senator Pelton R.
Thank you, Mr. President. Tomorrow morning is the last Bible study. This morning. This morning, that's right. I was thinking that when I was over there. So this morning, come down to the basement, feed your soul, and then we'll feed your belly too.
Amen.
Senator Baisley. Thank you, Mr. President. I'll be quick. Just a reminder, there was a note on your desk. It will be another one in the morning or later on today. Reminding about 12 to 12.30 on the Western Steps, or in the West Foyer, excuse me, we will have consul generals, diplomats, and business leaders from nations doing business with Colorado. You are invited to attend. Thank you.
Very good.
Mr. Majority Leader. Thank you. Mr. President, colleagues, thank you for all your work today. We've had a very productive session this year. This was our first one late. I know it's new for all of us, but we're almost done. Technically, we have one more day to go. On that, Mr. President, I move the Senate recess until 9 a.m. today. You heard the motion. All in favor say aye.
Opposed, no. The ayes have it. So we're recess until 9 a.m. today. Thank you. Thank you.