Be On The Record
BlogSign inSubscribe
HearingsBillsAlerts
← Hearings

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 044

Thursday, February 26, 2026·▶ Watch / Listen

The Colorado Senate passed three bills unanimously, elected Senator Kathy Kipp as President Pro Tem on a 21-12 party-line vote, adopted a joint resolution recognizing Youth Mental Health Action Day, and confirmed four appointments to the Institute of Cannabis Research Governing Board, while laying over several other items until February 27, 2026.

Key Actions

·SJR 013 – Recognition of Youth Mental Health Action DayPassed

+ 14 more actions

Controversies

Election of Senator Kathy Kipp as President Pro Tem

Majority Leader Rodriguez nominated Senator Kathy Kipp and moved her election, seconded by Mr. Minority Leader. Twelve named senators voted no: Mr. Minority Leader Frizell, Zamora, Wilson, Rich, Pelton B., Bright, Kirkmeyer, Carson, Pelton R., Catlin, Liston, and Bazley. No floor argument against the nomination was recorded; the dissent is evidenced solely by the 12 no votes against 21 ayes.

Notable Quotes

“Mental Health America. And whereas pediatric professionals who support youth found in the 2023 Healthy Kids Colorado survey that about one in four Colorado high school students reported feeling consistently sad or hopeless. And whereas, despite the Department of Public Health and Environment's Office of Suicide Prevention finding decreases in Colorado youth seriously considering suicide and planning suicide attempts in recent years, our state still sees disproportionately higher rates of suicide compared to the rest of the country, with suicide being a leading cause of death among Colorado children under 18 and whereas data from the National Library of Medicine shows that between 10% and 16% of young children ages 2 to 8 have a diagnosed mental,”

Senator Simpson [Mr. Minority Leader — Senator Simpson explained his personal motivation for championing youth mental health legislation during floor debate on SJR 013, which recognized February 26, 2026 as Youth Mental Health Action Day.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Approval of Senate Journal of February 25, 2026Passed
Election of Kathy Kipp as President Pro Tem for the second regular session of the 75th General AssemblyPassed
No (12)Mr. Minority Leader Frizell, Zamora, Wilson, Rich, Pelton B., Bright, Kirkmeyer, Carson, Pelton R., Catlin, Liston, Baisley
Adoption of SJR 013Passed
Passage of Senate Bill 37 on third reading and final passagePassed
Passage of Senate Bill 84 on third reading and final passagePassed
Layover of Senate Bill 53 until Friday, February 27thPassed
Adoption of committee of whole report including HB 1035Passed
Adoption of Amendment L004 to House Bill 1064Passed
Adoption of House Bill 1064 on second reading as amendedPassed
Adoption of committee of whole report including HB 1064 as amendedPassed
Confirmation of Angela Bryan, Chuck Smith, Joanna Zeiger, and Sherrard Marshawn Rogers to the Institute of Cannabis Research Governing BoardNo Vote
Layover of balance of calendar to Friday, February 27, 2026Passed
Senate recess until 11:30amPassed
Unlock the full summary

Subscribe to see all key actions, controversies, quotes, and what's next.

Sign in to subscribe
TranscriptPreview
Senate will come to order. Mr. Schoffley, please call the roll. Senators Mobile. Baseley. Ball. Bridges. Bright. Good to see you. Carson. Catlin. Cutter. Danielson. Daugherty. Doherty. Excused. Exum. Frizzell. Gonzalez. Gonzalez. Henriksen. Judah. Kip. Kirkmeyer. Kolker. Linstead. Liston. Marchman. Mullica. Pelton. B. Belt. Narrator. Belton, r. Excused. Rich. Roberts. Roberts. Excused. Rodriguez. Simpson. Snyder. Sullivan. Wallace. Weissman. Zamora. Wilson. Roberts. City district 21 vacant. Mr. President. Let's do this. The morning roll call is 32 present. Zero absent. Two excused. One vacant. We have a quorum. Senator Basley, would you please lead us in the Pledge of allegiance? Thank you, Mr. President. I will. Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the wife 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 Roberts. Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning, everyone. I move that the Senate Journal of February 25, 2026 be approved as corrected by the secretary. You've heard the motion. All those in favor say aye. That was weak. Opposed? No. Somehow the ayes still have it. And that motion is…
Continue reading

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

Sign in to subscribe