House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Monday, April 6, 2026·2h 20m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee advanced SB 48 — a child marriage restriction bill — to appropriations on a narrow 6-5 vote after a contentious amendment fight pitting anti-child-marriage advocates against the ACLU and bill sponsors seeking a 'middle ground,' then killed a charitable gaming constitutional resolution (HCR 1001) 8-3 before postponing it indefinitely.

Key Actions

·SB 48 – Remove Exception to Marry with Judicial ApprovalPassed

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Controversies

Disputed statistics on minor marriages in Colorado since 2019

Anaya Robinson (ACLU) cited approximately five marriages outside the 10-year age difference scope since 2019. Frady Reese directly challenged this, citing state health department data showing 139 minors were married between 2000 and 2023 under the updated law, stating the ACLU figure was 'off by 134.'

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Notable Quotes

“SB48 harms no one, costs nothing, ends a human rights abuse. The amendment is a ridiculous, performative piece of garbage. It does absolutely nothing.”
Frady Reese, forced marriage survivor and founder/executive director of Unchained at Last, on Amendment L002 — Reese testified that 76% of minors married in Colorado since 2020 were married to someone less than 10 years older, making the amendment's age-gap threshold largely ineffective.

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Votes

Amendment L002 to SB 48 — prohibiting marriage where age difference violates CRS 18-3-402(1)(e)Passed

Yes (7)Carter, Froelich, Wynn, Ricks, Bradley, Clifford, Madam Chair

No (3)Bottoms, Espenoza, Luck

SB 48 as amended — refer to Committee on Appropriations with favorable recommendationPassed

Yes (6)Carter, Wynn, Ricks, Clifford, Madam Chair, one additional member — outcome unclear from roll Ball

No (5)Bottoms, Bradley, Froelich, Luck, Espenoza

HCR 1001 as amended — refer to Committee on Appropriations with favorable recommendationFailed

Yes (3)Carter, Wynn, Ricks

No (7)Bottoms, Bradley, Espenoza, Froelich, Luck, Clifford, Madam Chair

HCR 1001 — postpone indefinitely (reverse roll call, no objection procedure)No Vote

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TranscriptPreview

Good to go. The State Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee will come to order. Ms. King, please call the roll representatives. Bottoms. Here. Bradley. Here. Carter. Espinosa. Here. Gray. Here. Froelich. Here. Locke. Surprised to be here so early, but present when excused. Ricks. Excused. Clifford. Here. Madam Chair. Here. We have two bills on the calendar from or for today's hearing. Senate Bill 48 and House Concurrent Resolution 10 01. I do want to acknowledge that there is written testimony in your box on the first bill, and we are missing our bill sponsors. Excellent. Wonderful. Okay, But he's the second bill up, but. Yeah. Can somebody pop out and see if our bill sponsors are in the hallway, please? Thanks. I think so. I had pants that match, and my husband told me that it looked like I was wearing pajamas, so I'm gonna wear the coat today. There's. There's still time for the pants. Welcome, bill sponsors. We are completely ready for you. Who would like to begin? Representative Joseph. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Members of the committee, It's a pleasure to be here before you to present Senate Bill 48. I am grateful…

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