Senate Education

Wednesday, May 6, 2026·▶ Watch / Listen

Senate Education advanced a consensus higher-education funding-formula overhaul and a long-running open-textbook program on May 6, but the day's sharpest moment came when Sen. Jeff Bridges asked the committee to kill his own workforce-housing bill for teachers. Members also closed an accommodations gap for disabled test-takers.

Key Actions

·Continuation of Open Educational Resources ProgramPassed

+ 3 more actions

Notable Quotes

“There, however, with bills of this nature, still lots of questions that folks had that more stakeholding work that needs to be done. We are going to do that work. This bill will be back. Better luck next year.”
Jeff Bridges — The prime sponsor explaining why he was asking the committee to kill his own workforce-housing measure rather than advance it.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Referred to Committee on AppropriationsAction

Yes (7)Jeff Bridges, Cathy Kipp, Rod Pelton, Janice Rich, Cleave Simpson, Janice Marchman, Chris Kolker

Referred to Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendarAction

Yes (7)Jeff Bridges, Cathy Kipp, Rod Pelton, Janice Rich, Cleave Simpson, Chris Kolker, Janice Marchman

Referred to Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendarAction

Yes (6)Cathy Kipp, Rod Pelton, Janice Rich, Cleave Simpson, Janice Marchman, Chris Kolker

Excused (1)Jeff Bridges

Postponed indefinitely — bill killedAction

Yes (6)Jeff Bridges, Cathy Kipp, Rod Pelton, Janice Rich, Chris Kolker, Cleave Simpson

Excused (1)Janice Marchman

Unlock the full summary

Subscribe to see every key action, the full discussion, amendments, and notable quotes.

TranscriptPreview

Miss Chapman, please call the roll. Senator Bridges, I'm sorry you're here, but I'm also glad you're here, and I know why. And you're a mensch. Kip. Here. Helton, R. Here. First time in education in eight years. Rich. Here. Simpson. Present. Marchman. Excused. Mr. Chair. Here we have a quorum, and we have our first bill sponsors here ready to go on 1345. I am going to make a quick announcement. I'm going to hear 10, 16, second, and then 14, 17, and then we'll have Senator Bridges discuss 139 at the end. You want to do something? Okay, let's. Let's real quick. Senator Bill 139. Senator Bridges. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have had a lot of conversations with folks about this bill. I think fundamentally it would be transformative for education, for teachers, for housing in this state. There, however, with bills of this nature, still lots of questions that folks had that more stakeholding work that needs to be done. We are going to do that work. This bill will be back. Better luck next year. We look forward to that conversation and ask that the committee postpone indefinitely the Senate bill. Any emotion? I move…

Subscribe to unlock the full transcript, summary, and search across all Colorado committee hearings.