Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 065

Thursday, March 19, 2026·50m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Colorado Senate on Legislative Day 065 passed HB 1136 (Pathways to Public Service) 22-12 over sharp Republican opposition on fiscal and free-enterprise grounds, adopted a partisan 22-12 Latino/a Advocacy Day resolution referencing mass deportations, and concurred unanimously with House amendments to SB 74 on public construction bond penalties, while laying over approximately 300 bills to Friday.

Key Actions

·HB 1136 – Pathways to Public Service ProgramPassed

+ 14 more actions

Controversies

HJR 1023 – Latino/a Advocacy Day resolution including immigration language

The resolution included language referencing 'indiscriminate mass deportations violently separating Colorado immigrant families' and a commitment to 'creating a Colorado that will work for all regardless of immigration status.' Twelve Republican senators voted no. No senator who voted no spoke against the resolution on the record during debate.

Notable Quotes

“I didn't think it was appropriate to have students in college learn how to be lifetime bureaucrats. Because I know it sounds good when you say public service, but this is about working in state government for their job. This is not really public service. What we do as legislators is public service. But it sounds nice to say that in the title of this bill.”
Sen. Janice Rich — Sen. Rich was explaining her opposition to HB 1136, the Pathways to Public Service Program, which she said she opposed from the time it was heard in the Education Committee.

+ 2 more quotes

Votes

Committee of the whole report adoption (including HB 1136 passage on second reading)Passed

No (12)Minority Lieder (name not stated in transcript), Lisa Frizell, Janice Rich, Barbara Kirkmeyer, Lynda Zamora Wilson, Byron Pelton (B.), Mark Baisley, Scott Bright, Larry Liston, John Carson, Marc Catlin, Rod Pelton (R.)

Adoption of HJR 1023 – Latino/a Advocacy DayPassed

No (12)Minority Lieder (name not stated in transcript), Barbara Kirkmeyer, Lisa Frizell, Lynda Zamora Wilson, Janice Rich, Mark Baisley, Byron Pelton (B.), Larry Liston, Scott Bright, Rod Pelton (R.), John Carson, Marc Catlin

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TranscriptPreview

Amabile, baisley. Ball. Excuse. Benavidez. Bridges. Bright. Carson. Catlin. Cutter. Danielson. Daugherty. Here. Exum. Frizzell. Gonzalez. Gonzalez. Excused. Henriksen, judah. Kip. Kirkmeyer. Kolker. Linstead. Linstead. Liston, marchman, mullica, pelton, b. Pelton, r. Rich. Roberts. Roberts. Excused. Rodriguez, simpson. Snyder. Sullivan. Wall. Weissman. Zamora. Wilson. Roberts. Mr. President. Let's do this. The morning roll call is 33 present. Zero absent to excuse. We have a quorum. Senator Kip, would you please lead us in the Pledge of allegiance? Thank you, Mr. President. Will everybody in the chamber please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge 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 rich. Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate Journal of Wednesday, March 18, 2026 be approved as corrected by the Secretary. You've heard the motion. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? No. What? The ayes have it, and that motion is adopted. Senate services correctly engrossed. Senate Joint Resolution 16 correctly re. Engrossed. Senate Bill 35, 60, 62, 98 and 105 correctly re. Revised. House Bill…

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