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Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 030

Thursday, February 12, 2026·1h 14m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Colorado Senate advanced bills on early childhood infrastructure, pre-production plastic pollution, and Auraria Board governance while unanimously adopting a memorial highway resolution honoring World War II veteran Sergeant John Jack Thurman and confirming ten gubernatorial appointments.

Key Actions

·SJR 11 – Sergeant John Jack Thurman Memorial HighwayPassed

+ 7 more actions

Controversies

Whether SB 16 is necessary given existing criminal pollution statutes

Senator Catlin argued SB 16 is 'really not necessary because we already have statutes that deal with this,' citing CRS 25-8-609, which already mandates criminal pollution charges for any person who recklessly, knowingly, intentionally, or with criminal negligence discharges any pollution into state waters. Senator Cutter directly responded that 'all we are doing is defining plastic pellets under that same statute. So we're not creating anything new, not not extra. It's just another definition of what constitutes pollution.'

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Every single plastic pellet that has entered our environment is still present in some form. Every single piece of plastic that's ever been created. It can take anywhere from hundreds to thousands of years to break down.”

Senator Cutter — Senator Cutter, co-prime sponsor of SB 16, made this statement during floor debate to explain the environmental stakes of pre-production plastic pellet pollution and the urgency of prohibiting their discharge into Colorado waterways.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Final passage of Senate Bill 19 – Local Early Childhood Infrastructure (third reading)Passed
No (4)Senator Zamora, Senator Wilson, Senator Baisley, Senator Carson
Adoption of SB 74 committee of the whole report – Public Construction Performance Bond Penalty ClarificationPassed
Adoption of SB 16 Transportation and Energy Committee reportPassed
Adoption of SB 34 Education Committee reportPassed
Adoption of committee of the whole report (SB 16 and SB 34)Passed
No (12)Senator Simpson, Senator Frizell, Senator Pelton B., Senator Kirkmeyer, Senator Bright, Senator Zamora, Senator Wilson, Senator Carson, Senator Catlin, Senator Pelton R., Senator Rich, Senator Liston
Confirmation of Governor's appointments on the consent calendarNo Vote
Approval of the Senate journal of February 11, 2026 as corrected by the SecretaryPassed
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TranscriptPreview
Senate will come to order. Mr. Shoffler, please call the roll. Senators amabile. Baisley. Ball. Bridges. Bright. Carson. Catlin. Cutter. Danielson. Doherty. Excused. Exum. Frizzell. Gonzalez. Gonzalez. Henriksen. Judah. Kip. Kirkmeyer. Kirkmeyer. Kirkmeyer. Kolker. Linstead. Liston. Marchman. Michelson. Genet. Mullica. Pelton. B. Pelt. Nar. Rich. Roberts. Roberts. Rodriguez. Simpson. Snyder. Sullivan. Wallace. Weissman. Zamora. Wilson. Mr. President. Let's do this. The roll call is 34 present. Zero absent, one excused. We have a quorum. Senator Cutter, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Good morning. Please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, for which stands one nation under all indivisible, with liberty and justice. For all approval of the journal, Senator catlin. Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate journal of February 11, 2026 be approved as corrected by the Secretary. Y' all heard the motion or maybe did not hear the motion, but all those in favor say aye. Opposed? No, but the ayes have it. That motion is adopted. Senate services correctly printed. Senate Bill 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 1011-021031-04105, 1061-071081-09110, 111 and 112 correctly engrossed.…
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