EBA0C6F89FE8498887258C73007EF842 Hearing Summary

Speaker McCluskie, co-prime sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1311. For purposes of the sports betting tax, the bill ends the deduction for free bets placed by players on September 1, 2025. Representative Soper added opening remarks. The bill sponsors responded to committee questions.

Elizabeth Haskell, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erin Karney, representing the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill. Tyler Garrett, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brian Jackson, representing EDFAction, testified in support of the bill.

Alec Demkiw, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Kevin Cochran, representing Draft Kings, testified to amend the bill. Trip Stoddard, representing bet365, testified, via Sarah Mercer, to amend the bill. Dan Hartman, representing GMA Consulting, testified to amend the bill. Scott Ward, representing Sports Betting Alliance, testified to amend the bill. The witnesses responded to committee questions.

Tony Massaro, representing Business for Water Stewardship, testified in support of the bill. Zane Kessler, representing the Colorado River District, testified in support of the bill. Aaron Citron, representing The Nature Conservancy, testified in support of the bill.

The committee took a brief recess.