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Second Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB26-015

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date Feb 9, 2026       Location Old Supreme Court

SB26-015 - Lay Over
01:50:42 PM  

Senators Pelton B. and Roberts,co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Billl 26-015, concerning offenses involving commercial sexual activity with a child.

Committee members asked questions about previous versions of the bill.  Discussion ensued about legal standards in criminal law. Further comments were raised about the high number of sex trafficking crimes in Colorado.

02:02:36 PM  
Discussion turned to the fiscal note.
02:04:25 PM  
District Attorney Brian Mason, representing the 17th Judicial District, testified in support of the bill. Abby Hegarty, representing 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Abe Laydon, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about judicial discretion and probation sentences for offenses that involve commercial sexual activity with a child. Discussion followed about judicial discretion, plea bargains, data collection, and legal standards.
02:36:43 PM  
Camryn Finnigsmier, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ally White, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
02:43:49 PM  
Rebekah Layton, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Jessica Jones, representing Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified in opposition to the bill. Ariane Frosh, representing ACLU of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Luke McConnell, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:56:37 PM  
Committee members asked questions about immunity and mandatory minimum sentences, among other topics.
03:11:58 PM  
Ms. Laurie Kepros, representing Office of the State Public Defender, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. James Karbach, representing Colo. St. Pub. Defender, testified in opposition to the bill.

The witnesses responded to the committee's questions.
03:27:47 PM  
Soledad Diaz, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Stephen Williams, representing Fountain Police Department, testified in support of the bill. Natasha Adler, representing Rose Andom Center, testified in support of the bill. Stacey Alles, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. David Karnes, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about the legal process for offenses outlined in the bill.
03:43:30 PM  
Mrs. Brittany Fabrizio, representing Juvenile Assessment Center, testified in support of the bill. Kellen Kaye, representing From Silenced to Saved, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Johanna Spille, representing Covered Colorado , testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Sheri Campbell, representing Re-fined, testified in support of the bill.
03:56:21 PM  
Ms. Onnastasia Cole, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified to amend the bill. Courtney Sutton, representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Amanda Finger, representing Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members asked about immunity for minors.
04:10:29 PM  
Mr. Adam Hughes, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Angel Gudeman, representing Denver Children's Advocacy Center, testified in support of the bill. Kate Morrissey, representing Douglas County Sheriff's Office, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jenna Gardner, representing Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members raised inquiries about social media and online activity.
04:21:40 PM  
Chad Bingham, representing Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Nathan Fisher, representing Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in support of the bill. Amanda Jordan, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.
04:34:18 PM  
Mr. Joseph Sullivan, representing Aurora police department, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Jenelle Goodrich, representing From Silenced To Saved, testified in support of the bill. Kelly Dore, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked about mitigating circumstances, and cases that receive a probation sentence instead of prison.  Further questions were raised about data collection.
05:01:15 PM  
The committee recessed.
05:13:19 PM  
The committee returned to order. The bill sponsors asked for the bill to be laid over to work on amendments.

Written comments about the bill are in Attachment C.