Hello everyone,
.Itโs hard to believe we are already over one-quarter of the way through the 2026 session. As I mentioned last week, it was supplemental week in the House. HB 1166 Dept of Public Safety Supplemental makes the typical mid-year adjustments for HLD, vehicle lease payments, and payments to OIT in the Departmentโs current-year budget. There are no changes to the Patrolโs budget. On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee passed all the supplemental and orbital bills – 30 bills in all. On Wednesday, the House debated the package of bills and passed them on Second Reading. On Thursday, the House passed the bills on Third Reading. HB 1166 passed 60-3. The bills will be introduced and follow a similar schedule in the Senate this week before heading to the Governor for his consideration.
On Thursday afternoon, the Senate Local Government Committee heard SB 053 Colorado Housing & Financing Authority Mortgage POST Officers First Responders (Kirkmeyer & Mullica / Clifford & Gonzalez). SB 053 expands eligibility for loans through the Colorado Housing & Finance Authority to peace officers and first responders regardless of income. CSPA supports SB 053. Captain Brandon Nathlich testified in support of SB 053 on behalf of the State Patrol. Although Communication Officers were not included in the bill as introduced, the sponsors indicated they intend to amend the bill on Second Reading to include them. The Committee passed the bill to the full Senate on a vote of 6 to 1. It is calendared to be heard on Second Reading in the Senate on Wednesday.
On Friday, the House and Senate ended the week together on the Senate floor memorializing Senator Faith Winter who tragically died last fall. Current and former members of the legislature spent over three hours sharing stories of Senator Winter and celebrating her life.
Both the House and Senate are off today for Presidentsโ Day. So far, there have been 325 bills introduced โ 212 in the House and 113 in the Senate. Only 86 more days until the General Assembly is required to adjourn sine die.
Bill Skewes
Lobbyist