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H_JUD_2025A 02/04/2025 01:33:16 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date 02/04/2025
Attendance
Armagost X
Bacon *
Caldwell X
Clifford X
Espenoza X
Garcia *
Keltie X
Soper *
Zokaie X
Carter X
Mabrey X
Time 01:33:16 PM to 04:36:34 PM
Place HCR 0107
This Meeting was called to order by Mabrey
This Report was prepared by Bo Pogue
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB25-1138 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB25-1104 Postponed Indefinitely

HB25-1138 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
01:33:37 PM  
The committee was
called to order. A quorum was present. Representatives Pugliese and Lukens,
prime sponsors, presented House Bill 25-1138, concerning evidentiary requirements
to protect victims of sexual misconduct in civil suits. Representative
Pugliese explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative
Lukens provided further input on the merits of the bill.
01:38:44 PM  
Wendy Buxton-Andrade,
representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
Iris Halpern, representing Colorado Women’s Bar Association, testified
in support of the bill. Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition
Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Courtney Sutton,
representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA), testified
in support of the bill. Ms. Onnastasia Cole, representing Colorado Coalition
Against Sexual Assault (CCASA), testified in support of the bill.  Ms.
Cole read the testimony of Deborah Simer.
01:55:44 PM  
Representative Pugliese explained the effect of amendment L.001 (Attachment A).


01:58:13 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Soper
Seconded Carter
Armagost
Bacon
Caldwell
Clifford
Espenoza
Garcia
Keltie
Soper
Zokaie
Carter
Mabrey
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:58:15 PM  
Representatives Pugliese and Lukens provided closing remarks in support of HB 25-1138.


02:00:47 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1138, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Soper
Seconded Clifford
Armagost Yes
Bacon Yes
Caldwell Yes
Clifford Yes
Espenoza Yes
Garcia Yes
Keltie Yes
Soper Yes
Zokaie Yes
Carter Yes
Mabrey Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1104 - Postponed Indefinitely

02:01:00 PM  
Representative Keltie,
prime sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1104, concerning the right of a
landowner to stop the occurrence of squatting on a premises. Representative
Keltie explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative
Keltie responded to questions regarding the scope of the squatting problem
in Colorado, and the population that may be committing such acts. Discussion
ensued regarding trends in certain crimes in Colorado, and the time it
takes evict someone from a property. Representative Keltie responded to
questions regarding the potential impact of the bill on current eviction
laws in Colorado, and the sufficiency of current trespassing laws to combat
the problem the bill seeks to address. Representative Keltie responded
to further questions regarding the rental market in Colorado.  Public
comment on HB 25-1104 may be found at Attachment B.
02:19:35 PM  
Ms. Sunny Banka,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Karen Esquibel,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Desiree Banka-Rothenberger,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Sarah Windholz,
representing Colorado Housing Coalition, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Banka responded
to questions regarding how HB 25-1104 would have impacted a fact pattern
she she described during testimony.  Discussion ensued regarding laws
currently in place prohibiting the acts described during testimony, and
trends for certain statistics that might be associated with squatting.
 Discussion followed regarding the outcome of cases described during
testimony.
02:49:26 PM  
Ms. Paige Haderlie,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Jonathan Post,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Jay Berger, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Post responded
to questions regarding his experiences as a police officer with respect
to squatting.
03:05:49 PM  
Andrew Hamrick, representing Colorado Apartment Association, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Mr. Hamrick cited some figures regarding the housing rental market in Colorado, and the timeline for initiating the eviction process. Mr. Hamrick responded to further questions regarding what constitutes a squatter, and addressing the problem civilly versus criminally. Discussion returned to police treatment of alleged squatters.
03:32:52 PM  
Ms. Kinsey Hasstedt,
representing Enterprise Community Partners, testified in opposition to
the bill. Andrew West, representing Colorado Coalition for the Homeless,
testified in opposition to the bill. Tristan Gorman, representing Colorado
Criminal Defense Bar, testified in opposition to the bill. James Karbach,
representing Colo. St. Pub. Defender, testified in opposition to the bill.
Ms. Shannon Johnson, representing themself, testified in support of the
bill. Annette Mitchell, representing themself, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Discussion ensued
regarding eviction under current criminal law, and various crimes that
implicate activities by so-called squatters.  Discussion followed
regarding how to reduce problems that drive squatting.
04:03:48 PM  
Representative Keltie
explained the effect of amendment L.001 (Attachment C).


04:07:47 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Keltie
Seconded Carter
Armagost
Bacon
Caldwell
Clifford
Espenoza
Garcia
Keltie
Soper
Zokaie
Carter
Mabrey
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
04:08:08 PM  
Representative Keltie
explained the effect of amendment L.002 (Attachment D).


04:09:36 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002
Moved Keltie
Seconded Soper
Armagost
Bacon
Caldwell
Clifford
Espenoza
Garcia
Keltie
Soper
Zokaie
Carter
Mabrey
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
04:09:38 PM  
Representative Keltie provided closing remarks in support of HB 25-1104. Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.


04:35:37 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1104, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Keltie
Seconded Soper
Armagost Yes
Bacon No
Caldwell Yes
Clifford No
Espenoza No
Garcia No
Keltie Yes
Soper Yes
Zokaie No
Carter No
Mabrey No
YES: 4   NO: 7   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


04:36:22 PM
 Motion Postpone House Bill 25-1104 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Bacon
Seconded Mabrey
Armagost No
Bacon Yes
Caldwell No
Clifford Yes
Espenoza Yes
Garcia Yes
Keltie No
Soper No
Zokaie Yes
Carter Yes
Mabrey Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


04:36:34 PM   The committee adjourned.






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