Senate Finance

Tuesday, March 3, 2026·▶ Watch / Listen

Senate Finance killed a bid to cut Colorado's premium cigar excise tax after a hearing marred by satirical, hostile testimony, and — over a bipartisan four-vote objection — advanced a measure reining in the state Lottery's online expansion and barring credit-card play. A technical fix restoring roughly $21 million a year for 911 and 988 lines sailed through unanimously.

Key Actions

·Prepaid Wireless Telecom Services ModificationsPassed

+ 3 more actions

Notable Quotes

“A rose by any other name, right? This is addicting. This is dangerous. This is run by the same folks that use the algorithms to get folks addicted to sports betting.”
Jeff Bridges — Bridges, a bill sponsor, framing phone-based lottery play as akin to the addictive design of sports-betting apps.

+ 5 more quotes

Votes

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

Yes (8)Scott Bright, Lisa Frizell, Julie Gonzales, Kyle Mullica, Cleave Simpson, Marc Snyder, Janice Marchman, Cathy Kipp

Excused (1)Chris Kolker

Postponed indefinitely — bill killedAction

Yes (8)Scott Bright, Lisa Frizell, Julie Gonzales, Kyle Mullica, Cleave Simpson, Marc Snyder, Janice Marchman, Cathy Kipp

Excused (1)Chris Kolker

Referred to Committee on AppropriationsAction

Yes (5)Julie Gonzales, Kyle Mullica, Janice Marchman, Cathy Kipp, Chris Kolker

No (4)Scott Bright, Lisa Frizell, Cleave Simpson, Marc Snyder

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TranscriptPreview

Good afternoon. Welcome to Sunup Finance. Ms. Ruderbush, will you please take the roll? Senators Bright. Here. Brazil. Excused. Gonzalez. Present. Volker. Excused. Oh, Houston, right here. Sorry. Mullica. Excused. Simpson. Present. Snyder. Excused. Marshman. Here. Madam Chair. Here. Welcome, everybody, to Senate Finance. We are going to start off the day with a confirmation hearing for the Colorado Racing Commission. We have Dr. Laurie Scott, who should be remote, and she's going to be introduced by Christopher Schroeder, who I'm assuming, since it doesn't say remote, is here in person. And he is. Thank you. Oh, and please let the record reflect that Senator Snyder is here. Please, Mr. Schroeder, proceed. Thank you. Chair. Committee members, my name is Christopher Schroeder, director of the Colorado Division of Racing Events, and I'm here today to support the nomination of Dr. Laurie Scott to the Colorado Racing Commission. While Dr. Scott can give more specific information related to her expertise and experience, the division has had the pleasure of Dr. Scott serving on our commission over the last nine months. Dr. Scott has extensive experience related to the racing industry, including previously serving an eight year term with the Colorado Racing…

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