H_JUD_2025A 02/26/2025 01:39:57 PM Committee Summary

No amendments were offered to HB 25-1181. Representatives Clifford and Pugliese provided closing remarks in support of the bill.

Jeanne Segil, representing
Korey Wise Innocence Project, testified in support of the bill. Noah Stout,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Holly Bennett,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Taylor Pruski,
representing The Korey Wise Innocence Project and Legislation Inside, testified
in support of the bill.



Discussion ensued
regarding field drug testing, and the process by which these tests are
used as evidence in the judicial process.

Chief Smith, representing Colorado Association of the Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to the bill. Chief Smith responded to questions regarding the use of field drug tests by his police department, and the efficacy of field drug tests.

Mr. Des Walsh, representing
Roadside Drug Test Innocence Alliance, testified in support of the bill.
Keli Young, representing Innocence Project, testified in support of the
bill. Mr. Michael Dougherty, representing District Attorney's Office, 20th
Judicial District and Colorado District Attorneys Council, testified in
support of the bill. John Walsh, representing 2nd Judicial District Attorney's
Office, testified in support of the bill.



Discussion ensued
regarding data surrounding the use and failure rate of field drug tests.
Discussion followed regarding a case discussed earlier, and the task force
duties created by HB 25-1183.

Representative Gilchrist explained the effect of amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

Representatives Bacon and Gilchrist provided closing remarks in support of HB 25-1183. Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.

Mr. Jonathan Jourdane,
representing Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel, testified in support
of the bill. Rebecca Wallace, representing Colorado Freedom Fund, testified
in support of the bill. Mr. Sean Maye, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill. Dr. Alexandra Natapoff, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill.



Discussion ensued
regarding equal protection and due process issues. Discussion followed
regarding how cases end up in courts of local jurisdiction, and the relationship
between police and courts of local jurisdiction. Discussion turned to deterrence
of criminal behavior, and the impact of sentencing discretion for local
courts.

Ms. Heather Graham,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Pete Schulte,
representing City of Aurora, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Chris
Noeller, representing City of Pueblo, testified in opposition to the bill.
Kala Beauvais, representing the 10th Judicial District, testified in opposition
to HB 25-1147.



Discussion ensued
regarding actions taken by local governments on property crimes, and equity
in criminal sentencing across jurisdictions. Discussion followed regarding
the deterrent effect of criminal laws, and potential unintended consequences
of the bill. Discussion turned to how criminal cases are assigned to courts
of local jurisdiction.

Mr. Sean Smith, representing
La Plata County Sheriff, testified in support of the bill. Matt Salka,
representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill.
Marsha Porter-Norton, representing La Plata County, testified in support
of the bill. Ms. Amy Trenary, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill.



Discussion ensued
regarding the merits of parity in sentencing between jurisdictions. Committee
members asked questions about housing municipal offenders. Discussion followed
regarding indigency and criminal offenses.

Bruce Eisenhauer,
representing Department of Local Affairs, testified in opposition to the
bill. Chief Bryce Current, representing Colorado Association Chiefs of
Police, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Carla Sikes, representing
City of Pueblo, testified in opposition to the bill. Victor Zerbi, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Shannon Chambers-Nelson,
representing Greenwood Village, testified in opposition to the bill.



Discussion ensued
regarding sentencing for property crimes at the local level. Committee
members asked questions regarding failure-to-appear rates and sentencing.

Ms. Alison Coombs,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Jack Johnson,
representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
Ms. Bonnie Hoffman, representing National Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers, testified in support of the bill. Sara Hildebrand, representing
Aurora Public Defender Commission, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked questions regarding certain services for those taken into custody
at the local level, and competency evaluation issues. Discussion ensued
regarding the impact of HB 25-1147 on law enforcement activities, and the
effect of mandatory minimum sentences. Witnesses responded to questions
about length of time individuals are incarcerated in municipalities.

Jeremy Schupbach,
representing Colorado Municipal League, testified to amend the bill. Ms.
Katie Kurtz, representing City of Arvada, testified to amend the bill.
Mr. Mark Gonzales, representing Colorado Municipal Judges Association,
testified to amend the bill. Ms. Brandi Adakai, representing RMSER - Rocky
Mountain SER, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Jill Hueser, representing
City of Fort Collins Municipal Court, testified in opposition to the bill.
Nancy McNally, representing City of Westminster, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Committee members
asked questions about costs, services available to municipal court defendants,
and the impact of HB 25-1147 on public safety. Discussion continued about
retail theft and failure-to-appear rates.

Kristi Englekirk,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Aubrey Wilde,
representing Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, testified in support
of the bill. Mr. Matt Kellond, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill. Ms. Ashley Telleen, representing The Office Of Alternate Defense
Counsel, testified in support of the bill.



Discussion followed
about the impact of certain convictions on immigration status.

Ms. Corin Flannigan, representing Colorado Municipal Judges Association, testified to amend the bill.

Colette Tvedt, representing
Office of the Municipal Public Defender-Denver, testified in support of
the bill. Ms. Rachel Mercer, representing Denver Office of the Municipal
Public Defender, testified in support of the bill. Jessica Jones, representing
Office of Municipal Public Defender Commission, testified in support of
the bill. Ms. Lindsey Webb, representing Denver Office of the Municipal
Public Defender (Commission Member), testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
raised questions about earlier testimony. Discussion ensued regarding a
pending court case that impacts HB 25-1147, and certain recommendations
made by the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.

Dr. Michael Neil, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Anne Moorhead, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mary Broderick, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Elizabeth Cadiz, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Yona Porat, representing Yona Porat Law, LLC, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members asked questions about equal protection.

Mx. Dana Steiner,
representing Colorado Freedom Fund, testified in support of the bill. Conor
Kane, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Anaya Robinson,
representing ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Tristan
Gorman, representing Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified in support
of the bill. Ms. Morgan de Haro-Brown, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill. Keri Williams, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill. Jennifer Jones, representing Solutions, testified
in support of the bill.



Written comments
are in Attachment B.

Representatives Velasco and Mabrey provided closing remarks in support of HB 25-1147. Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.

Audrey Elling, representing Together Colorado, testified in support of HB 25-1136. Deputy Chief Todd Reeves, representing Colorado Association of the Chiefs of Police, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Dawn Johnson, representing County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Tim Regan-Porter, representing Colorado Press Association, testified in support of the bill.



Discussion ensued regarding due process issues,



Written testimony about the bill is in Attachment I.

The bill sponsors provided remarks on HB 25-1136. The chair laid the bill over for action only at a later date.

Ms. Maureen Cain,
representing Colorado State Public Defender, testified in support of the
bill. Mr. James Karbach, representing Colorado State Public Defender, testified
in support of the bill. Mr. David Kaplan, representing Colorado State Public
Defender, testified in support of the bill. Patrick Crane, representing
Public defender, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
responded to questions regarding the difference between bond conditions
and protection orders for defendants.



Committee members
discussed arrest data.

Ms. Jamie Kearns,
representing Colorado State Public Defender, testified in support of the
bill. Ms. Sarah Moya, representing Colorado State Public Defender, testified
in support of the bill. Mr. Justin Bogan, representing Colorado State Public
Defender, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Ara Ohanian, representing
Colorado State Public Defender, testified in support of the bill. Katie
Wolf, representing Violence Free Colorado and CCASA, testified in a neutral
position on the bill. Ms. Ashley Ahlholm, representing Colorado State Public
Defender, testified in support of the bill.



Discussion ensued
regarding arrest data.

Representatives Bacon
and Carter provided closing remarks in support of HB 25-1148. Committee
members gave closing remarks.



Written testimony
about HB25-1148 may be read in Attachment M.