Skip to main content
First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB25-062

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date Mar 18, 2025       Location HCR 0107

SB25-062 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole
12:09:01 PM  
The committee recessed.
12:10:36 PM  
The committee returned to order.  Representatives Carter and Gilchrest, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 25-062.  The bill prohibits municipalities form making failure to appear to municipal court a crime.  Representative Carter explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need.  Representative Gilchrest further discussed the merits of the legislation.  Discussion ensued regarding contempt of court when a defendant fails to appear, and certain jurisdictions that are not treating failure-to-appear issues the same as others.
12:28:27 PM  
Ms. Carla Sikes, representing City of Pueblo, testified in opposition to the bill. Jeremy Schupbach, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified to amend the bill.  Mr. Pete Schulte, representing City of Aurora, testified in opposition to the bill.  Judge Sean Day, representing themself, testified in opposition to SB 25-062.

Judge Day responded to questions regarding costs associated with failure-to-appear events, and statistics associated with failure-to-appear cases.  Ms. Sikes responded to questions regarding how contempt charges for failure-to-appear events are administered.  Discussion returned to statistics associated with failure-to-appear cases, and the machinations of failure-to-appear events.  Ms. Sikes responded to questions regarding the potential impact of the bill on victims.
01:09:59 PM  
Mx. Dana Steiner, representing Colorado Freedom Fund, testified in support of the bill.  Anaya Robinson, representing ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Mr. Jonathan Jourdane, representing Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel, testified in support of the bill.  Natasha Berwick, representing ACLU Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Michael Neil, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  Mr. Jourdane responded to questions regarding the types of offenses heard in municipal courts.

Discussion ensued regarding how municipal courts resolve failure-to-appear cases, and handling of such cases at various levels of government.  Discussion followed regarding failure-to-appear charges as an add-on, and certain constitutional issues associated with this.
01:37:54 PM  
No amendments were offered to SB 25-062.  Representatives Carter and Gilchrest provided closing remarks in support of the bill.  Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.

01:57:51 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-062 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Carter
Seconded Bacon
Armagost No
Bacon Yes
Caldwell No
Clifford Yes
Espenoza Yes
Garcia Yes
Keltie No
Soper No
Zokaie Yes
Carter Yes
Mabrey Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS