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Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 035

Tuesday, February 17, 2026·1h 1m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Colorado Senate on Legislative Day 035 passed several bills and confirmed gubernatorial appointments unanimously, while the most contested action was the adoption of SR 001 — a resolution demanding CDOT reprioritize road improvement funding in Morgan County — which passed 18-12 after sharp debate over whether it amounted to legislative earmarking.

Key Actions

·SJR 12 – Colorado FFA Day DesignationNo Vote

+ 9 more actions

Controversies

Whether SR 001 constitutes inappropriate legislative earmarking for Morgan County road funding

Senator Bridges called SR 001 'a give money to my district bill,' comparing it to Washington-style earmarks and the Bridge to Nowhere, and argued Colorado uses a district-based system where regions decide their own transportation priorities without legislators directing specific spending. Senator Pelton B. and supporters argued the resolution is simply a message asking CDOT to reevaluate priorities on state highways, not a spending mandate. Senator Baisley specifically emphasized: 'This is not a law. This is a resolution.'

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“I have 17 dairies in Morgan County. 17. We got to get the milk to market. We got to get the milk to make the cheese. These are things that need to happen. That's why this is so important. $4.6 billion comes out of my district just for agriculture. And the roads and infrastructure are 70% in low drivability.”

Senator Pelton B. — Senator Pelton B. was arguing for SR 001, which demands CDOT reprioritize road funding in Morgan County, by emphasizing the county's agricultural economic output and the condition of its roads.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Approve Senate journal of February 13, 2026Passed
Lay over SJR 12 until Friday, February 20, 2026Passed
Adoption of committee of the whole report (covering SB 11 and SB 76 on general orders second reading consent calendar)Passed
Adoption of SR 001Passed
No (10)Senator Cutter, Senator Kipp, Senator Jodeh, Senator Amabile, Senator Wallace, Senator Henriksen, Senator Snyder, Senator Bridges, Senator Sullivan, Senator Ball
Confirmation of governor's appointments to the Advisory Committee on Governmental AccountingPassed
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TranscriptPreview
Senators Amabile, Paisley, Ball, Bridges, Wright, Carson, Catlin. Excused. Cutter. Danielson. Excused. Doherty. Excused. Exum. Frizzell, Gonzalez. Henriksen. Judah. Kip. Kip. Kirkmaier. Kolker. Excuse. Linstead. Liston. Marchman. Mullica. Pelton, B. Pelton, R. Rich. Roberts. Rodriguez. Simpson. Snyder. Sullivan. Wallace, Weissman, Zamora, Wilson. Senate District 21 vacant. Mr. President, let's do this. The morning roll call is 30. Presents 0 absent four excused. We have a core and one vacant. We have a quorum. Senator Mullica, would you please lead us in the Pledge of allegiance? Thank you, Mr. President. Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice. For all. Approval of the Journal. Senator Liston. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, there once was a Senate in Denver who tackled the calendar to remember with a grin and a bang. They approved the whole gang. Now the session's in motion forever. Come on, let's hear a little and. Okay, people, I'll read it five more times. Mr. President. Okay. All right. We'll have a better one tomorrow. Mr. President,…
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