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S_JUD_2025A 03/31/2025 05:31:54 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date 03/31/2025
Attendance
Ball *
Carson X
Daugherty X
Frizell X
Roberts X
Weissman X
Gonzales J. X
Time 05:31:54 PM to 11:37:40 PM
Place Old Supreme Court
This Meeting was called to order by Gonzales J.
This Report was prepared by Juliann Jenson
Hearing Items Action Taken
Conf 25-Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent Calendar
HB25-1172 Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
HB25-1148 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB25-1168 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB25-1185 Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
HB25-1147 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB25-155 Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations

Conf 25-Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board - Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent Calendar
05:53:23 PM  
Nikky Patel, Director
of Boards and Commissions, Governor's Office, introduced the appointees
to the Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board.



Appointees Jeff
Swanty, Jeff Chostner, and Tyrone Glover gave a brief overview of their
experience and reasons for wanting to serve on the board. Committee members
asked the appointees questions.


05:53:24 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Jeff Swanty, Jeff Chostner, Jeannie Valliere, Tyrone Glover to the Conf 25-Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball Yes
Carson Yes
Daugherty Yes
Frizell Yes
Roberts Yes
Weissman Yes
Gonzales J. Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1172 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
05:54:46 PM  
Senator Amabile,
bill sponsor,  presented House Bill 25-1172, concerning allowing a
state-owned psychiatric residential treatment facility to use a secure
perimeter fence.
06:00:11 PM  
Perry May, representing
Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.
Dennis Desparrois, representing Colorado Department of Human Services,
was available to answer committee questions. Mr. Stephen Fisher, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Vincent Atchity, representing
Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked about criteria used for detaining a youth in the facility in the
bill.  Discussion ensued about diagnostic tools and levels of care.
06:13:00 PM  
No amendments were
offered on the bill.  Senator Amabile made closing remarks.


06:15:06 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1172 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball Yes
Carson Yes
Daugherty Yes
Frizell Yes
Roberts Yes
Weissman Yes
Gonzales J. Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1148 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole
06:15:29 PM  
Senators Gonzales
and Weissman, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 25-1148, concerning protection
orders.
06:21:18 PM  
Ms. Maureen Cain,
representing Office of the State Public Defender, testified in support
of the bill. She distributed document with arrest rates (Attachment A).
Mr. James Karbach, representing Colorado Public Defender's Office, testified
in support of the bill. Mr. David Kaplan, representing Office of the State
Public Defender, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Patrick Crane, representing
Colorado State Public Defender, testified in support of the bill.
06:32:00 PM  
Mr. Jimmy Valenti,
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. Ara Ohanian, representing Colorado State Public
Defender, testified in support of the bill. Katie Wolf, representing Violence
Free Colorado/ Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in
a neutral position on the bill.



Committee members
asked questions about how the bill applies to competency cases. Further
questions were raised about changes made in the House.
06:42:43 PM  
No amendments were
offered on the bill. The bill sponsors made closing remarks.



Committee members
made closing remarks.


06:46:59 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1148 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball Yes
Carson No
Daugherty Yes
Frizell No
Roberts No
Weissman Yes
Gonzales J. Yes
Final YES: 4   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1168 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

06:47:53 PM  

Senator Weissman, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1168, concerning housing protections for victim-survivors of gender-based violence.



He distributed amendments L.008, L.009 and L.010 (Attachments B, C, and D).
06:52:15 PM  
Ariane Frosh, representing
Colorado Poverty Law Project, testified in support of the bill. Andrew
West, representing Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, testified in support
of the bill.Alison  Phillips, representing The Women's Foundation
of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
06:59:57 PM  

Ms. Onnastasia Cole, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Ms. T'Shana McClain, representing Colorado Fiscal Institute, testified in support of the bill. Eunice Brownlee, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
07:08:22 PM  
Jack Regenbogen,
representing Colorado Poverty Law Project, testified in support of the
bill. Andrew Hamrick, representing Colorado Apartment Association, testified
to amend the bill. Mr. William Mutch, representing Colorado Housing Coalition,
testified to amend the bill. Carl Roberts, representing Colorado Resilience,
testified to amend the bill.



Written comments
about the bill are in Attachment E.
07:17:54 PM  

Senator Weissman explained amendment L.008, which adjusts the timeline, among other changes (Attachment B).


07:19:15 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment B)
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball
Carson
Daugherty
Frizell
Roberts
Weissman
Gonzales J.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:19:29 PM  
Senator Weissman
explained the effect of amendment  L.009 (Attachment C).


07:20:15 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment C)
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball
Carson
Daugherty
Frizell
Roberts
Weissman
Gonzales J.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:20:29 PM  
Senator Weissman
explained the effect of amendment  L.010 (Attachment D).


07:21:09 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.010 (Attachment D)
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball
Carson
Daugherty
Frizell
Roberts
Weissman
Gonzales J.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:21:11 PM  
Senator Weissman
made closing remarks.


07:30:05 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1168, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball Yes
Carson No
Daugherty Yes
Frizell No
Roberts Yes
Weissman Yes
Gonzales J. Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1185 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
07:30:26 PM  
Senator Weissman,
bill sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1185, concerning court proceedings
for a parent-child legal relationship when the child was conceived as a
result of a sexual assault.
07:34:54 PM  
Ms. Onnastasia Cole,
representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support
of the bill. Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against
Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Melani Jordan, representing
Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, testified in support of the bill.
Jennifer Eyl, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
07:48:21 PM  
Senator Lundeen replaced
Senator Frizell for the remainder of the hearing.



No amendments
were offered.  The bill sponsor and committee members made closing
remarks.


07:50:59 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1185 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball Yes
Carson Yes
Daugherty Yes
Lundeen Yes
Roberts Yes
Weissman Yes
Gonzales J. Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1147 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
07:51:12 PM  

Senators Weissman and Amabile, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 25-1147, concerning measures to ensure that municipal court defendants are subject to similar conditions as state court defendants. The bill sponsors discussed the merits and need for the bill, including parity in sentencing.



Committee members asked questions about home rule, public defenders, and fiscal impact.



The bill sponsors distributed a fact sheet about the bill (Attachment F).

08:11:38 PM  
Aubrey Wilde, representing
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, testified in support of the bill.
Sean Smith, representing La Plata County Sheriff, testified in support
of the bill. Mr. Matt Salka, representing Colorado Counties Inc. / La Plata
County, testified in support of the bill. Alison Birchard, representing
Boulder County, testified in support of the bill.



Witnesses responded
to questions from the committee.
08:28:34 PM  
Chief Ed Brady, representing
Colorado Association of the Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to
the bill. Chief Noeller, representing Colorado Association of the Chiefs
of Police - Pueblo Police Department, testified in opposition to the bill.
Ms. Carla Sikes, representing City of Pueblo, testified in opposition to
the bill. Chief Brice Current, representing Colorado Association of the
Chiefs of Police - Durango Police Department, testified in opposition to
the bill.



Committee members asked questions about differences between municipal and
state sentencing structures. Discussion ensued about crimes that may need
longer jail sentences than those outlined in state statute. Further questions
were raised about equal protection and due process.  Conversation
followed about differentiating between a municipal and state crime. Additional
inquiries were raised about low level and repeat offenses. Committee members
asked about contempt charges and the reimbursement rate for state inmates
in county jails.
09:09:38 PM  
Rebecca Wallace,
representing Colorado Freedom Fund, testified in support of the bill. Matt
Kellond, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Alexandra
Natapoff, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Amy
Trenary, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked questions about the bill's application and requested examples of
sentencing disparities between municipalities.
09:29:47 PM  
Amy Padden, representing
themself, testified to amend the bill. Rhonda Fields, representing Arapahoe
County, testified to amend the bill. Commissioner Jessica Campbell, representing
Arapahoe County, testified to amend the bill.



Committee members
asked the panelists fiscal related questions.
09:54:51 PM  
Linda Loflin Pettit,
representing Denver City Attorney's Office Victim Resource Program, testified
in opposition to the bill. Mr. Reginald Nubine, representing Denver City
Attorney's Office, testified in opposition to the bill. Victoria Kelley,
representing Denver District Attorney, testified in opposition to the bill.
Shawn Day, representing City of Aurora, testified in opposition to the
bill.



Committee members
asked about the work it would take to correspond municipal and state laws.
 Further questions were raised about charges that have no corresponding
state laws.
10:11:22 PM  
Elizabeth Cadiz,
representing Aurora Public Defender, testified in support of the bill.
Mrs. Lisa Powell-DeJong, representing themself, testified in support of
the bill. Ms. Alison Coombs, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill. Councilwoman Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill.
10:24:48 PM  
Jeremy Schupbach,
representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in opposition to the
bill. Natasha Adler, representing SafeHouse Denver, testified in opposition
to the bill. Dr. Anne DePrince, representing themself, testified to amend
the bill. Marissa Harmon, representing City of Lone Tree, testified in
opposition to the bill.
10:37:04 PM  
Dr. Michael Neil,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mary Peckham,
representing League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of
the bill. Ms. Keisha Sarpong, representing themself, testified in a neutral
position on the bill.
10:51:22 PM  
Tonya Haas Davidson,
representing City of Greenwood Village, testified in opposition to the
bill. Laura Bates, representing SafeHouse Denver, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Committee members
asked about retail theft and other municipal crimes.
11:02:06 PM  

Colette Tvedt, representing Office of the Municipal Public Defender-Denver, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Rachel Mercer, representing Denver Officer 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.



Committee members asked questions about pretrial, bond setting, and the domestic violence docket.



Written testimony about the bill is in Attachment G.
11:16:28 PM  
Senators Weissman
and Amabile presented amendment L.013 allowing local governments to impose
monetary funds (Attachment H).


11:19:35 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.013 (Attachment H)
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball
Carson
Daugherty
Lundeen
Roberts
Weissman
Gonzales J.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
11:19:36 PM  
The bill sponsors
presented amendment L.015 to adjust related implementation timelines (Attachmennt
I).


11:21:12 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.015 (Attachment I)
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball
Carson
Daugherty
Lundeen
Roberts
Weissman
Gonzales J.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
11:21:14 PM  
The bill sponsors
made closing comments. Committee members made closing comments.


11:33:11 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1147, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Weissman
Seconded
Ball Yes
Carson No
Daugherty Yes
Lundeen No
Roberts Yes
Weissman Yes
Gonzales J. Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB25-155 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
11:33:24 PM  
Senator Gonzales
presented amendments to SB25-155, concerning the creation of an advisory
council for persons who are incarcerated.  The bill was first heard
in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3, 2025 and on the agenda for
action only.



Senator Gonzales
explained the effect of Amendment L.001 (Attachment J).


11:35:48 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment J)
Moved Gonzales J.
Seconded
Ball
Carson
Daugherty
Lundeen
Roberts
Weissman
Gonzales J.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
11:36:03 PM  
Senator Gonzales
explained the effect of amendment L.002 (Attachment K).


11:36:13 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment K)
Moved Gonzales J.
Seconded
Ball
Carson
Daugherty
Lundeen
Roberts
Weissman
Gonzales J.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
11:36:15 PM  
The bill sponsor
made closing remarks.


11:37:29 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-155, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Gonzales J.
Seconded
Ball Yes
Carson No
Daugherty Yes
Lundeen No
Roberts Yes
Weissman Yes
Gonzales J. Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


11:37:40 PM   The committee adjourned.






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