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Second Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

CLICS/CLICS2026A/commsumm.nsf
PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For HB26-1291

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Date Mar 12, 2026       Location HCR 0107

HB26-1291 - Postponed Indefinitely
02:43:27 PM  
Representatives Hamrick and Goldstein, prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 26-1291 regarding educator performance evaluations. They answered questions from members of the committee.
03:05:39 PM  
The bill sponsors distributed and described amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and the accompanying fiscal memorandum (Attachment B). Josh Abram, Legislative Council Staff, spoke about the fiscal note and how the amendment may affect the cost of the bill.
03:07:51 PM  
Ms. Jean Niederkorn, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Nicholas Hernandez, representing Transform Education Now, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Vernon Jones Jr, representing themself, had testimony read in opposition to the bill.
03:28:47 PM  
Rachel Lee, representing Colorado Rural Schools Alliance, testified in support of the bill. Micah Gallantz, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Steve Lash, representing Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Colleen O'Neil, representing Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), testified in support of the bill. Ms. Consuelo Redhorse, representing Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in support of the bill. The panel answered questions from members of the committee.
03:54:43 PM  
Brenda Dickhoner, representing Ready Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Madi Ashour, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Sherry Brights, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mrs. Shannon Holston, representing National Council on Teacher Quality, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Janet Matthews, representing Faithbridge, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Dina Puente, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. The panel answered questions from members of the committee.
04:17:47 PM  
Dr. Don Haddad, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Fiona Boomer, representing AFT Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Chris Gdowski, representing Adams 12 Five Star Schools, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Mike DeGuire, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Benji Stock, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. The panel responded to questions from the committee.
04:45:33 PM  
The panel continued to answer questions from the committee.
04:51:47 PM  
Virginia Lindemann, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Henry Roman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Dawn Fritz, representing Colorado PTA, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Christopher Page Jr, representing Pikes Peak Alliance and Harrison School District 2, testified in support of the bill. The panel answered questions from members of the committee.
05:16:27 PM  
Kate Berger, representing Teach for America Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mrs. Kari Barnett, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
05:23:37 PM  
Mary Bivens, representing Colorado Department of Education, was available to answer committee questions. Ms. Bivens answered questions from members of the committee.
05:24:02 PM  
Su Ryden, representing AAUW-American Association of University Women of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Eric Nelson, representing National Action Network Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Judy Solano, representing Advocates for Public Education Policy, testified in support of the bill.
05:39:32 PM  
Ms. Kelly Jones-Wagy, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brandon Shaffer, representing St. Vrain Valley School District, testified in support of the bill. Liz Waddick, representing Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill. The panel answered questions from members of the committee.

Additional witness testimony was submitted (Attachment C).
06:00:23 PM  
Representatives Hamrick and Goldstein answered questions about amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

06:04:55 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Hamrick
Seconded Martinez
Bacon
Bradfield
Flanell
Garcia Sander
Gilchrist
Hamrick
Hartsook
Johnson
Phillips
Stewart K.
Story
Martinez
Lukens
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
06:04:56 PM  
The bill sponsors provided closing comments. Members of the committee provided closing comments.

06:47:33 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 26-1291, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Hamrick
Seconded Story
Bacon No
Bradfield No
Flanell No
Garcia Sander No
Gilchrist No
Hamrick Yes
Hartsook No
Johnson No
Phillips Yes
Stewart K. No
Story Yes
Martinez No
Lukens No
YES: 3   NO: 10   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL

06:47:59 PM
 Motion Postpone House Bill 26-1291 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 Martinez
Seconded Bacon
Bacon Yes
Bradfield Yes
Flanell Yes
Garcia Sander Yes
Gilchrist Yes
Hamrick No
Hartsook Yes
Johnson Yes
Phillips No
Stewart K. Yes
Story No
Martinez Yes
Lukens Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS