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H_SA_2025A 02/10/2025 01:32:17 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, CIVIC, MILITARY, & VETERANS AFFAIRS
Date 02/10/2025
Attendance
Bottoms X
Bradley X
Caldwell X
Carter X
Espenoza X
Feret X
Froelich X
Mabrey X
Ricks *
Clifford X
Willford X
Time 01:32:17 PM to 05:34:24 PM
Place LSB A
This Meeting was called to order by Willford
This Report was prepared by Amanda King
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB25-1047 Postponed Indefinitely
HB25-1107 Postponed Indefinitely
HB25-1155 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB25-1153 Amended, referred to House Appropriations
HB25-1102 Postponed Indefinitely
HB25-1143 Postponed Indefinitely

HB25-1047 - Postponed Indefinitely
01:32:28 PM  
Representative Keltie,
prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1047, concerning persons who
provide assistance with veterans' benefits claims, and, in connection therewith,
establishing that certain behaviors by such persons are deceptive trade
practices under the "Colorado Consumer Protection Act." The bill
creates a deceptive trade practice for certain prohibited services when
assisting with a veterans’ benefits matter. Representative Keltie asked
that the bill be postponed indefinitely.
01:35:28 PM  
Megan Kondrachuk, representing the Military and Veterans Affairs Section of the Colorado Bar Association, testified to amend the bill.
01:37:00 PM  

Scott Feldt, representing the Disabled American Veterans Department of Colorado Chapter 7 Commander, testified in support of the bill. Carol Thomas, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), testified in support of the bill. Steve Kjonaas, representing the VFW Colorado Headquarters, testified in support of the bill. Vadim Epelbaum, representing the VFW, testified in support of the bill. Matthew Cummings, representing the VFW of the United States Department of Colorado Service Office, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.



Written testimony (Attachment A) was provided to the committee.



01:59:30 PM
 Motion Postpone House Bill 25-1047 indefinitely.
Moved Clifford
Seconded Ricks
Bottoms Yes
Bradley Yes
Caldwell Yes
Carter Yes
Espenoza Yes
Feret Yes
Froelich Yes
Mabrey Yes
Ricks Yes
Clifford Yes
Willford Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1107 - Postponed Indefinitely
01:59:41 PM  
Representative R.
Gonzalez, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1107, concerning
a principal department's rules. The bill directs state departments to complete
a cost-benefit analysis for each new or amended rule, and requires additional
reporting to the General Assembly.
02:03:19 PM  
Representative R. Gonzalez responded to questions from the committee.
02:06:09 PM  
Kjersten Forseth,
representing the Colorado AFL-CIO, testified in opposition to the bill.
Josh Kuhn, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in opposition
to the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
02:16:02 PM  
Cory Gaines, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
02:18:52 PM  
Representative R. Gonzalez made concluding remarks about the bill. The committee members made comments on the bill.


02:24:17 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1107 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Clifford
Seconded Bradley
Bottoms Yes
Bradley Yes
Caldwell Yes
Carter No
Espenoza No
Feret No
Froelich No
Mabrey No
Ricks No
Clifford No
Willford No
YES: 3   NO: 8   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


02:24:45 PM
 Motion Postpone House Bill 25-1107 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Clifford
Seconded Mabrey
Bottoms No
Bradley No
Caldwell No
Carter Yes
Espenoza Yes
Feret Yes
Froelich Yes
Mabrey Yes
Ricks Yes
Clifford Yes
Willford Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1155 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:25:07 PM  
Representative Bradfield,
prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1155, concerning the authority
at a general or congressional vacancy election of the candidate nominated
to be on the ballot by a participating political party to choose the watchers
in count facilities. The bill allows candidates to select election watchers
for general and congressional vacancy elections, and for recounts for certain
offices. Representative Espenoza provided opening comments on the bill.
Representative Bradfield provided a handout to the committee (Attachment
B).
02:30:22 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
02:36:02 PM  
Martha Tierney, representing
America Votes and the Colorado Democratic Party, testified to amend the
bill. Carly Koppes, representing the Colorado County Clerks Association,
testified to amend the bill.
02:42:14 PM  
Amanda Gonzalez, representing Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:44:53 PM  
Steve Schleiker,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Written testimony
was provided to the committee (Attachment C).
02:47:23 PM  
Representative Espenoza
explained amendment L.004 (Attachment D).


02:48:33 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment D).
Moved Espenoza
Seconded Clifford
Bottoms
Bradley
Caldwell
Carter
Espenoza
Feret
Froelich
Mabrey
Ricks
Clifford
Willford
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
02:48:35 PM  
Representative Espenoza
explained amendment L.005 (Attachment E).


02:49:29 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment E).
Moved Espenoza
Seconded Bradley
Bottoms
Bradley
Caldwell
Carter
Espenoza
Feret
Froelich
Mabrey
Ricks
Clifford
Willford
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
02:50:53 PM  
Representative Bradfield
and Representative Espenoza made concluding remarks about the bill.


02:51:05 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1155, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Espenoza
Seconded Clifford
Bottoms Yes
Bradley Yes
Caldwell Yes
Carter Yes
Espenoza Yes
Feret Yes
Froelich Yes
Mabrey Yes
Ricks Yes
Clifford Yes
Willford Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1153 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations

02:51:28 PM  
Representative Velasco
and Representative Joseph, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill
25-1153, concerning a statewide language access assessment covering principal
departments. The bill requires the Department of Personnel and Administration
to conduct or commission a statewide language access assessment covering
all principal departments except the Departments of State, Treasury, and
Law. The bill sponsors provided a handout (Attachment F) to the committee.
02:56:41 PM  
Jocelyne Bisimwa,
representing the Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, testified
in support of the bill. Morgan Turner, representing the Colorado Center
on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill. Dee Daniels Scriven,
representing the Colorado Office of New Americans, testified in support
of the bill. Chase Cowne, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified
in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
03:15:51 PM  
Patricia Galetto,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Galetto's
comments were translated by Representative Velasco. Khatira Amn, representing
the Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, testified in support of
the bill. Octavio Gomez, representing Boulder County, testified in support
of the bill. Dr. Michael Neil, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill. Giovanna Carriero-Contreras, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill.



Written testimony
(Attachment G) was provided to the committee.
03:30:55 PM  
Representative Velasco
explained amendment L.001 (Attachment H).


03:36:24 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment H).
Moved Clifford
Seconded Espenoza
Bottoms
Bradley
Caldwell
Carter
Espenoza
Feret
Froelich
Mabrey
Ricks
Clifford
Willford
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
03:36:26 PM  
Representative Velasco
and Representative Joseph made concluding remarks on the bill. Committee
members commented on the bill.


03:45:04 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1153, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Clifford
Seconded Ricks
Bottoms No
Bradley No
Caldwell No
Carter Yes
Espenoza Yes
Feret Yes
Froelich Yes
Mabrey Yes
Ricks Yes
Clifford Yes
Willford Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1102 - Postponed Indefinitely
03:45:19 PM  
Representative DeGraaf, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1102, concerning the repeal of the agreement among the states to elect the president by national popular vote. The bill removes Colorado from the interstate compact to elect the president by national popular vote.
03:54:26 PM  
Representative DeGraaf responded to questions from the committee.
04:07:24 PM  
Erin Meschke, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Trent England, representing
Save Our States Action/People For Opportunity, testified in support of
the bill. Dr. Lynda Zamora Wilson, representing themself, testified in
support of the bill. Joshua Salem, representing themself, testified in
support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
04:24:58 PM  
Sean Hinga, representing
the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - Colorado
and America Votes, testified in opposition to the bill. Ted Trimpa, representing
the National Popular Vote, testified in opposition to the bill. Aly Belknap,
representing Colorado Common Cause, testified in opposition to the bill.
Amanda  Gonzalez, representing the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder,
testified in opposition to the bill. Holly Monkman, representing the League
of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Martha
Tierney, representing America Votes, testified in opposition to the bill.
The panelists responded to questions from the committee.



Written testimony
(Attachment I) was provided to the committee.
04:40:54 PM  
Representative DeGraaf made concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.


04:54:12 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1102 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Clifford
Seconded Bradley
Bottoms Excused
Bradley Yes
Caldwell Yes
Carter No
Espenoza No
Feret No
Froelich No
Mabrey No
Ricks No
Clifford No
Willford No
YES: 2   NO: 8   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


04:54:39 PM
 Motion Postpone House Bill 25-1102 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Clifford
Seconded Carter
Bottoms Excused
Bradley No
Caldwell No
Carter Yes
Espenoza Yes
Feret Yes
Froelich Yes
Mabrey Yes
Ricks Yes
Clifford Yes
Willford Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 2   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1143 - Postponed Indefinitely
04:54:51 PM  
Representative Brooks,
prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1143, concerning a requirement
that any voting system used in an election in the state incorporate open-source
software. The bill requires that any voting system used after January 2027
have open-source software where the source code of the software is publically
accessible for review. Representative DeGraaf made comments regarding the
bill. Representative Brooks provided a handout (Attachment J) to the committee.
05:01:51 PM  
Representative Brooks responded to questions from the committee.
05:02:30 PM  
Chris Nicholson,
representing themself, testified to amend the bill.
Mark Cook,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.
05:10:14 PM  
Aly Belknap, representing
Colorado Common Cause, testified in opposition to the bill. Hilary Rudy,
representing the Colorado Department of State, testified in opposition
to the bill. Martha Tierney, representing America Votes, testified in opposition
to the bill. Jeany Rush, representing themself, testified on the bill.
Amanda Gonzalez, representing the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder,
testified in opposition to the bill.
The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.




Written testimony (Attachment K) was provided to the committee.
05:26:09 PM  
Representative Brooks and Representative DeGraaf made concluding remarks about the bill.


05:33:44 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1143 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Clifford
Seconded Bradley
Bottoms Excused
Bradley Yes
Caldwell Yes
Carter No
Espenoza No
Feret No
Froelich No
Mabrey No
Ricks No
Clifford No
Willford No
YES: 2   NO: 8   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


05:34:04 PM
 Motion Postpone House Bill 25-1143 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Clifford
Seconded Carter
Bottoms Excused
Bradley No
Caldwell No
Carter Yes
Espenoza Yes
Feret Yes
Froelich Yes
Mabrey Yes
Ricks Yes
Clifford Yes
Willford Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 2   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


05:34:24 PM   The committee adjourned.






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