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Second Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For HB26-1271

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date Mar 17, 2026       Location HCR 0112

HB26-1271 - Postponed Indefinitely
11:22:00 AM  
The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Jackson and Bacon, introduced House Bill 26-1271 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill creates three enterprises in the Behavioral Health Administration to fund a range of programs and services that aim to address the behavioral, physical, and mental health impacts of alcohol use.
11:34:38 AM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
11:50:03 AM  
Dr. Bill Burman, representing Denver Health, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Nikki Johnson, representing Denver Sheriff Department, testified in support of the bill. Lacey Hays, representing Tribe Recovery Homes, testified in support of the bill. Lex Loutzenhiser, representing Illuminate Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Kelli Curl, representing Jefferson County Public Health, testified to amend the bill. Dr. William Finn, representing Southern Ute Indian Tribe, testified to amend the bill. Dr. Judith Shlay, representing Denver Health, testified in support of the bill.

A handout was provided to the committee (Attachment A).
12:07:06 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
12:14:02 PM  
Shawnee Adelson, representing Colorado Brewers Guild, testified in opposition to the bill. Katie Nicholson, representing Old 121 Brewhouse, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sam DeWitt, representing Brewers Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Ainsley Giglierano, representing Distilled Spirits Council, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Cassidee Shull, representing Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE), testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Brian Crawford, representing Beer Institute, testified in opposition to the bill.
12:28:23 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
12:30:49 PM  
Wendy Buxton-Andrade, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Veronica Bell, representing Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill. Debbie Stafford, representing Aurora Mental Health & Recovery, testified in support of the bill. Ashley Dickerson, representing Sobriety House, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brian Sims, representing Project Rebirth, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Tonya Wheeler, representing Advocates for Recovery Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Chris Crosby, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
12:45:48 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
12:49:34 PM  
Scott Chase, representing Colorado Independent Liquor Stores Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Micki Hackenberger, representing Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Meghan Dollar, representing Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill. Tom Perrick, representing American Distilled Spirits Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill. Dave Thibodeau, representing Ska Brewing, testified in opposition to the bill. Carlin Walsh, representing Elevation Beer Company, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Lenny Eckstein, representing Deerhammer Distilling Company, testified in opposition to the bill.
01:05:33 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
01:15:04 PM  
Lee Wood, representing Colorado Distillers Guild, testified in opposition to the bill. Melissa Koza, representing Teamsters 267, testified in opposition to the bill. Jason Senior, representing Shelter Distilling, testified in opposition to the bill.
01:21:59 PM  
Ms. Jocelyn Rhymer, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Breeah Kinsella, representing Colorado Providers Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Lisa Ward, on behalf of Precious Collins, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Clara Shelton, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Brigitta Robinson, representing Colorado Medical Society, testified in support of the bill. Krystyn Hartman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Additional written testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment B).
01:36:03 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
01:38:45 PM  
The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.001 (Attachment C).

01:40:07 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C).
Moved Lieder
Seconded Feret
Barron
Bradfield
Bradley
English
Feret
Hamrick
Johnson
McCormick
Rydin
Stewart K.
Woog
Lieder
Gilchrist
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:40:08 PM  
The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.002 (Attachment D).
01:41:02 PM  
The sponsors responded to questions regarding L.002.

01:41:54 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment D).
Moved Lieder
Seconded English
Barron
Bradfield
Bradley
English
Feret
Hamrick
Johnson
McCormick
Rydin
Stewart K.
Woog
Lieder
Gilchrist
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:41:55 PM  
The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.003 (Attachment E).
01:42:56 PM  
The sponsors responded to questions regarding L.003.

01:44:53 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment E).
Moved Lieder
Seconded Feret
Barron
Bradfield
Bradley
English
Feret
Hamrick
Johnson
McCormick
Rydin
Stewart K.
Woog
Lieder
Gilchrist
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:44:54 PM  
The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.005 (Attachment F).

01:46:15 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment F) to amendment L.004 (Attachment G).
Moved Lieder
Seconded Feret
Barron
Bradfield
Bradley
English
Feret
Hamrick
Johnson
McCormick
Rydin
Stewart K.
Woog
Lieder
Gilchrist
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:46:16 PM  
The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.004 (Attachment G).

01:47:18 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment G).
Moved Lieder
Seconded Feret
Barron
Bradfield
Bradley
English
Feret
Hamrick
Johnson
McCormick
Rydin
Stewart K.
Woog
Lieder
Gilchrist
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:47:19 PM  
The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.006 (Attachment H).

01:48:45 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment H).
Moved Lieder
Seconded Feret
Barron
Bradfield
Bradley
English
Feret
Hamrick
Johnson
McCormick
Rydin
Stewart K.
Woog
Lieder
Gilchrist
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:48:46 PM  
The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.008 (Attachment I).
01:50:10 PM  
The sponsors responded to questions regarding L.008.

01:54:20 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment I).
Moved Lieder
Seconded Feret
Barron
Bradfield
Bradley
English
Feret
Hamrick
Johnson
McCormick
Rydin
Stewart K.
Woog
Lieder
Gilchrist
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:54:21 PM  
The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Jackson and Bacon, provided closing comments on the bill.
02:05:19 PM  
Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

02:16:13 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 26-1271, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Lieder
Seconded Feret
Barron No
Bradfield No
Bradley No
English Yes
Feret Yes
Hamrick Yes
Johnson No
McCormick No
Rydin Yes
Stewart K. No
Woog No
Lieder No
Gilchrist Yes
YES: 5   NO: 8   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL

02:16:37 PM
 Motion Postpone House Bill 26-1271 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 Lieder
Seconded Rydin
Barron Yes
Bradfield Yes
Bradley Yes
English No
Feret No
Hamrick No
Johnson Yes
McCormick Yes
Rydin No
Stewart K. Yes
Woog Yes
Lieder Yes
Gilchrist No
Final YES: 8   NO: 5   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS