F20B849368EC7E9987258AF20077DB55 Hearing Summary

Representatives Duran and Froelich, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1349. The bill refers a ballot measure to voters at the November 2024 election. Conditional on voter approval, the bill imposes an excise tax on firearms dealers, firearms manufacturers, and ammunition vendors beginning April 1, 2025. The sponsors distributed amendments L.001 (Attachment F) and L.002 (Attachment G) and explained the effect of the amendments.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Brie Franklin, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Mari Dennis, representing the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill. Roshan Kalantar, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Evie Hudak, representing Colorado PTA, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. David Harden, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Ronald Dietz, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Ian Escalante, representing Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, testified in opposition to the bill. Edgar Antillon, representing Guns For Everyone, testified in opposition to the bill. The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Keri Mills, representing Rose Andom FJC -Voices Committee, testified in support of the bill. Kathryn Severns Avery, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Taka Carnes, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Lee Roten, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Amanda Hardin, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Tanya Regan, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Ava Flanell, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Karmen Carter, representing Gateway Domestic Violence Services, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Eunice Brownlee, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Jean McAllister, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sabrina Roult, representing Deaf DOVE, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jenny Stith, representing Wings, supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, testified in support of the bill. Theresa Ortega, representing Tu Casa, Inc, testified in support of the bill. The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Michael Bentley, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. A witness who declined to share her name testified in opposition to the bill. Keith Emerson, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Brett Axton, representing Coloradoans for Responsible Wildlife Management , testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Melissa Flanell, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Josh Koen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Gordon McLaughlin, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Clara Shelton, representing Mother Against Drunk Driving, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Melinda Lien, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Rebecca Zimmerman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Angelique Perrin, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Margaret Abrams, representing the Rose Andom Center, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Jillian Turanovic, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Anne DePrince, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Olivia Garcia, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mike Lehman, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Nephi Cole, representing the National Shooting Sports Foundation, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Gaspar Perricone, representing the Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Edward Schoenheit, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Dyami Isely, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Oba Diskin, representing the Colorado Children's Alliance - TreeTop Child Advocacy Center, testified in support of the bill. Ashley Jellison, representing the Colorado Children's Alliance, testified in support of the bill. Mark Fitzgerald, representing the Colorado Children's Alliance - Better Tomorrow Child Advocacy Center, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Franklin Erickson, representing Domestic Violence Initiative for Women with Disabilities, testified in support of the bill.

Huey Laugesen, representing Colorado State Shooting Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Tiffany Taylor, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Dan Wilson, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Jocelyn Rhymer, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Carmen Hubbs, representing Rise Above Violence, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Tyler Peters, representing Patriot Rebellion, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Andrew Lucas, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Lesley Hollywood , representing Rally for our Rights , testified in opposition to the bill. Chris McGowne, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Megan Carvajal, representing The Blue Bench, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jennifer Griffin, representing Victim Outreach Incorporated, testified in support of the bill. Lisa Holstein, representing The Crisis Center, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Margaux Sorenson, representing The Initiative, testified in support of the bill. The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Cory Huddleston, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Nathan Schwappach, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Travis Couture-Lovelady, representing the National Rifle Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Emily Tofte Nestaval, representing Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Michael Dougherty, representing Boulder County, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Sonia Russo, representing Colorado Women's Bar Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Beth McCann, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Barry Snell, representing the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Amos Struthers, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Alicia Garcia, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Mark Olson, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Elizabeth Newman, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Soledad Diaz, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Courtney Sutton, representing the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Eileen McCarron, representing Colorado Ceasefire, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jane Dougherty, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Lydia Waligorski, representing Clayton Early Learning, testified in support of the bill.  Additional written public testimony is included as Attachment H).

The bill sponsors wrapped up their presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation. Members of the committee commented about their positions on the bill.