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80FFFC30D2970E7E87258C0300632117 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON COLORADO OPEN MEETINGS LAW

JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Date Dec 30, 2024      
Location HCR 0107



Discussion and Public Testimony on Colorado Open Meetings Law - Committee Discussion Only
11:02:48 AM  
Speaker McCluskie, Chair, called the meeting to order and reviewed the day's agenda. Ed DeCecco, Director, Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided an overview of Colorado's open meetings law. He reviewed what constitutes an open meeting and the changes made by Senate Bill 24-157 (Attachment A).
11:09:49 AM  
Mr. DeCecco reviewed
the difference between a quorum and majority, prior notice requirements,
meeting minutes, serial communications, quadratic voting systems, and what
constitutes a single meeting versus separate meetings for public business.
He explained that electronic communications between two members are subject
to the Colorado Open Records Act but not to the open meetings law. Mr.
DeCecco answered questions from the committee about specific examples of
when prior public notice and meeting minutes are required. Speaker McCluskie
provided comments.
11:19:10 AM  
Speaker McCluskie
stated that each person providing public testimony would be limited to
three minutes each.
11:22:23 AM  
Missy Espinoza, representing themself, testified.
11:23:38 AM  
Kevin Dale, representing Colorado Public Radio, testified.
11:25:27 AM  
Jeff Roberts, representing Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, testified.
11:27:58 AM  
Cory Gaines, representing himself, testified.
11:30:24 AM  
The panel of witnesses answered questions from the committee.
11:37:51 AM  
Valdamar Archuleta, representing himself, testified.
11:41:42 AM  
Andrea Wilkins, representing League of Women Voters of CO, testified.
11:44:07 AM  
Beth Hendrix, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified.
11:46:31 AM  
Tim Regan-Porter, representing Colorado Press Association, testified.
11:50:14 AM  
Jimmy Smrz, representing himself, testified.
11:53:23 AM  
Kathleen Gegner, representing themself, testified.
11:56:32 AM  
Bart Miller, representing Colorado Channel Authority Board, testified.
11:59:56 AM  
The panel answered questions from the committee.
12:02:59 PM  
Shayne Madsen, representing the Independence Institute, testified.
12:07:37 PM  
Natalie Menten, representing themself, testified.
12:08:02 PM  
Linda Hutchinson,
representing League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified.
12:11:18 PM  
Valerie Leal, representing themself, testified.
12:13:50 PM  
William King, representing themself, testified.
12:15:50 PM  
Additional written
comments submitted can be found as Attachment B. Committee members made
final comments on next steps.






The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 6, 2025, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 7, 2025 (unless otherwise specified). Details

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