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Second Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB26-075

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date Mar 4, 2026       Location Old Supreme Court

SB26-075 - Lay Over
02:19:45 PM  
Senators Roberts and Pelton B, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 26-075. The bill makes changes to human trafficking offenses, crimes against at-risk persons, and sex offenses involving children.

Committee members asked about definitions, or lack thereof, in the bill.  Further questions were raised about bond setting criteria.
02:31:00 PM  
Cindy Alvarado, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Abby Hegarty, representing the 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Cassandra Nicholas, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Courtney Sutton, representing the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked about current sentencing practices for human trafficking cases.
02:42:03 PM  
John Feyen, representing the County Sheriff's of Colorado (CSOC), testified in support of the bill. David Lucero, representing CSOC, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Shawn Mobley, representing the Otero County Sheriff's Office, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brian Mason, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
02:52:47 PM  
John Walsh, representing the Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Jessica Dotter, representing the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jennifer Sisk, representing the Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Detective Valerie Rolfe, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police & Brighton Police Department, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions about sex trafficking victims and repeat offenders. Discussion returned to bond setting, judicial discretion, and affirmative defenses.
03:23:10 PM  
Ms. Laurie Kepros, representing the Office of the State Public Defender, testified in opposition to the bill. James Karbach, representing the Office of the State Public Defender, testified in opposition to the bill. Rebekah Layton, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Anaya Robinson, representing the ACLU of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions about the fiscal note and affirmative defenses.
03:44:17 PM  
Mrs. Kristin Hersh, representing the Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Joe DeAngelo, representing the Denver District Attorney, testified in support of the bill. Colleen Enos, representing Christian Home Educators of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Diana Goldberg, representing SungateKids Child Advocacy Center, testified in support of the bill.
03:54:17 PM  
Mrs. Jenelle Goodrich, representing FSTS, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Kristy Neeley, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Wendy Smith, representing Shared Hope International, Colorado volunteer, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Heather Starr, representing the Lotus Foundation, testified in support of the bill. David Karnes, representing Violence-free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Onnastasia Cole, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA), testified in support of the bill. Nathan Fisher, representing the Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members raised questions about the age ranges of survivors and sentencing practices.  Additional questions were asked about affirmative defenses.
04:22:45 PM  
Ms. Stacie Nelson Colling, representing the Colorado Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Shavon Smith, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members discussed victims and marginalized communities.
04:30:50 PM  
Lara Mullin, representing the Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Ashley Morgan, representing the Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Christina Shereda, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members continued to ask questions about bond setting and affirmative defenses.

Written testimony about the bill may be read in Attachment C.
04:49:05 PM  
Senators Roberts and Pelton B asked for the bill to be laid over to work on amendments.