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Second Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

CLICS/CLICS2026A/commsumm.nsf
PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB26-149

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date Apr 13, 2026       Location Old Supreme Court

SB26-149 - Lay Over
01:42:18 PM  
Senators Simpson and Amabile, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 26-149. The bill modifies Colorado’s statutory framework governing competency to proceed in criminal cases and establishes new processes to transition certain defendants from the criminal justice system to appropriate civil systems when criminal prosecution is no longer the most appropriate setting.
02:03:17 PM  
Jessica Dotter, representing the Colorado District Attorneys' Council (CDAC), testified in support of the bill. Mr. James Karbach, representing the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, testified in support of the bill. Brad Turner, representing CDAC, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about how often individuals deemed incompetent to proceed are released to the community.  Discussion followed about involuntary commitment, gravely disabled individuals, related court cases, state responsibility, and restorability, among other topics.
02:35:45 PM  
Mrs. Nancy Rodgers, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Amelia McKeon, representing OPG, testified to amend the bill. Leora Joseph, representing the Colorado Department of Human Services, testified to amend the bill. Jack Johnson, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Matthew Conroy, representing the Weld County Attorney's Office, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members asked about the consent decree to lessen the backlog of competency evaluations and waitlists.
02:50:34 PM  
Alexis King, representing the 1st Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Joseph Bowman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Britany Visage, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Michael Allen, representing the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill.
03:02:48 PM  
Erin Ralston, representing Aurora Mental Health & Recovery, testified to amend the bill. Cali Thole, representing SummitStone Health Partners, testified to amend the bill. Lenya Robinson, representing the Jefferson Center for Mental Health, testified to amend the bill. Dr. Lesley Brooks, representing SummitStone Health Partners, testified to amend the bill. Frank Cornelia, representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified to amend the bill.
03:16:18 PM  
Michael Rourke, representing the 19th Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. John Walsh, representing the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Amy Padden, representing the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill.
03:24:55 PM  
Courtney Sutton, representing the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill. David Karnes, representing Violence-Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Elizabeth Newman, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill.
03:31:49 PM  
Mr. Christian Overbey, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Vincent Atchity, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Ramona Vigil, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Jennifer Turner, representing Bridges of Colorado, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members asked about the Bridges of Colorado program.
03:46:18 PM  
Ms. Julie Brewen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Shaden Alyami, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Billie Bowman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Andrew Granger, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
03:56:19 PM  
Matt Buechner, representing the Colorado Hospital Association, testified to amend the bill. Anaya Robinson, representing the ACLU of Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Dave Wasserman, representing Merck Pharmaceuticals, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Julie Reiskin, representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified to amend the bill.
04:06:36 PM  
Cynthia Anderson Able, representing themself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment A). Mr. Marcus Berman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Kate Rawlinson, representing themself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.
04:17:19 PM  
The bill sponsors made closing remarks and asked that the bill be laid over to work on amendments.