[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6104491,"mediaKeyId","2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7","parentId",2790777,"title","Senate panel backs measure letting districts set student cell-phone rules, touts mental health and classroom benefits","audioSeconds",1726,"startMs",1890000,"endMs",3616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7&start=1890&end=3616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7/thumbnail_1890000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6104491/Colorado/Senate-panel-backs-measure-letting-districts-set-student-cell-phone-rules-touts-mental-health-and-classroom-benefits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104491-260834055256c5f9eac7b910ca4df5fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175512&Signature=juiZreC4~-HNDpxc150UFgRODo0mUL5zX0X6EN1vg4vDnoA5HoxrLxv4Vx6YAeKWIu0iH2lhwS5JUBQTQlPbddm3Uioq8LV1rC5tlgbKA21d-X3ZuB8XETRnMvPbmlvbmvic09wobBf1iIwCpIf82Wy1RFijGf25L70yHsRJ2kYjLyqF3u4INDGMfAl9NBSOF0ZAgi800K62C1iNhiP25oUyvi9QW0VXhyjgNs0iW~fLsZOIsu9a26S9jxsYuy7r6FXjqjZVQafmQ4PakND~iV9NXGhn4kIdwtVNxnT6JSt1hht0ipZdESTOnRUvfA1-BuHaRh0s-Y4dEGZTyAs0Cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colorado Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","A bipartisan Senate committee unanimously advanced legislation directing every public school district and charter institute school in Colorado to adopt and post a local policy governing students' communication devices during the school day.

Sponsors described the bill as preserving local control while encouraging districts to standardize rules, provide public input, and keep exceptions for students with medical needs or individualized education plans. \"This bill really encourages the parents, school district, school districts, and students to work together on cell phone policy that best suits their community,\" said co-prime sponsor Senator Frizzell.

Why it matters: Multiple witnesses from education, health and parent-advocacy groups told senators they see phone and social-media use as a driver of classroom distraction, cyberbullying and worsening youth mental-health trends. \"The exploding popularity of cell phones and social media among our youth in the last decade is correlated pretty significantly with the trends of rising rates of anxiety and depression,\" said Dr. Lauren Henry, a child psychologist at Children's Hospital Colorado, citing national reports including the Surgeon General's advisory and recent peer-reviewed studies.

School leaders who testified said districtwide policies can improve learning by equalizing expectations across classrooms. \"By creating a district wide policy that requires all students to be off their phones during the school day, there is no fear of missing out,\" said Brian Hill, superintendent of District 51 in Mesa County, which implemented such a policy this school year and reported improved engagement and reduced discipline issues.

Committee action and amendments: The committee adopted amendment L002, which clarifies that policies cover school-issued and personal communication devices and asks districts to consider media literacy and social-emotional learning when crafting exceptions. After debate and amendment, senators voted to move House Bill 11 35 as amended to the Committee of the Whole; the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Details and limitations: The bill sets a July 1, 2026 deadline for districts to adopt policies but does not prescribe a single statewide rule; sponsors emphasized local control. Testimony from Colorado school boards and associations said many districts already have policies ranging from full-day bans to \"out-of-sight\" rules; the legislation primarily requires every local education provider to adopt and publish a policy and to include stakeholder consultation in the process.

Next steps: The bill will go to the Committee of the Whole. Supporters asked the Senate to keep the measure moving so districts can complete public outreach before the 2026 compliance date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Education [Mar 26, 2025]","oneSentenceSummary","A bipartisan Senate committee unanimously advanced legislation directing every public school district and charter institute school in Colorado to adopt and post a local policy governing students' communication devices during the school day.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature CO, Colorado","taxId",77676,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104494,"Senate committee advances bill shifting digital accessibility liability from school districts to vendors",973,789000,1762000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7&start=789&end=1762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7/thumbnail_789000.jpg","/articles/6104494/Colorado/Senate-committee-advances-bill-shifting-digital-accessibility-liability-from-school-districts-to-vendors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104494-45892ac64775be0684a61d5111ba6695/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175512&Signature=XF3hxHGyABfYeKlTWYTtzfg7PVEsxkhqN732c2FgkSjEw-VJMb4qcIc~90hjrneG1Z1TJMao0QApXiCXmQNsefPTybIJ67Sa4MkbbakvwIyqzAt60k72g1WKJAxaWNz4MU30XxYotnCD-AIa2u9005gE~~puUX0xuA8OjxtRR6RpKpPF48q1P3h2i8TfBYn8zyT3uywLr5-3Td4bzdtf2MoI8CgPWbTlNvYds7Z1lr9Fnit7di9jhLJGy--aGGpqKk7y6KO0d0hYkX6bIhink2i75inv7Du4EjjxiCrKRNEguOJJgt80X3-ALAiJhVgFt8JjFdX1GBwasrP6LkWqoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators advanced legislation that would require vendors who supply digital content, applications or platforms to assume liability if their products fail to meet Colorado's accessibility standards, rather than leaving school districts on the hook.

Proponents say the bill clarifies responsibility for web- and software-accessibility enforcement and shields districts from fines when third parties supply inaccessible technology. \"This bill creates the right incentives,\" said Nathan Fall, legal counsel for Greeley-Evans School District 6, during remote testimony. \"Vendors who invest in accessibility gain a competitive advantage while schools can refocus resources on serving students rather than managing legal and financial risk.\"

The bill as discussed in committee would extend the liability-shifting approach in a prior accessibility measure referenced as HB 21 11 10 to school-related contracts. Sponsors said the measure allows districts to keep receiving complaints and to continue an internal grievance process while making vendors responsible for noncompliance. Senator Marchman, the bill sponsor, said the change \"ensures accountability by requiring vendors to comply with accessibility standards and assume responsibility for any violations.\"

Why it matters: Colorado set technical accessibility requirements under rules from the Governor's Office of Information Technology; committee witnesses named the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the current technical baseline cited in enforcement discussions. Testimony described real-world problems when a vendor-supplied app used by a district was found inaccessible, and districts had to negotiate compliance. Supporters said shifting liability to vendors reduces the legal and financial exposure that school districts face when third parties supply inaccessible products.

Key details and disagreements: Witnesses and committee counsel described differing details about penalties and timing in the underlying accessibility law. In the hearing, one school representative said the statute currently provides a $2,500 fine plus attorney's fees; another speaker referenced a $3,500 penalty and another referenced a $5,000 figure tied to an earlier bill draft. Josh Abram of Legislative Council staff said the effective-date language indicated the provision applies to contracts \"on and after this date,\" while Jake Baus of the Office of Legislative Legal Services explained that in the re-engrossed text the required contract provisions are \"deemed included\" in any contract and thus become part of the contractual obligations even if omitted from a written contract. Committee members asked whether folding new requirements into existing contracts raised constitutional or ex post facto concerns; Mr. Baus declined to resolve that constitutional question on the spot.

Committee action: Sponsor Senator Marchman moved and the committee adopted amendment L001, which sponsors said explicitly folded the accessibility provisions into the bill and permitted third-party verification of vendor compliance. The committee then voted to advance the bill as amended to the Committee of the Whole; the clerk recorded the motion as passing 5–2.

Context and next steps: Supporters framed the bill as a pragmatic fix so school districts can continue to adopt third-party technology without disproportionate legal risk. Opponents and some committee members raised concerns about whether the change would increase litigation against private vendors or create new legal complexity for districts and vendors. Committee counsel flagged open legal questions about retrospective application to existing contracts and constitutional issues, and senators said they expect further clarification before second reading.

The bill will go to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.","Senators advanced legislation that would require vendors who supply digital content, applications or platforms to assume liability if their products fail to meet Colorado's accessibility standards, rather than leaving school districts on the hook.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104480,"Committee approves bill allowing Emily Griffith to award applied associate degrees to registered apprentices",730,4467000,5197000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7&start=4467&end=5197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7/thumbnail_4467000.jpg","/articles/6104480/Colorado/Committee-approves-bill-allowing-Emily-Griffith-to-award-applied-associate-degrees-to-registered-apprentices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104480-c8138419fe040dd2851a117a83c4f515/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175512&Signature=nXznjTPFaz02SRR~2M7yBQwPyU~SuH~3QTyMOvE9PwBVw6uzcL6iHTcNwq6pJiMiQOsCA-0MvsWzLAYghf-Xu1WXrWqRK3oY8vI-mZTKgmOsoLvuoy-0RiHs~yoItKWOGFUty0nuBX~YmZH0~z3t9xHJJE~CGKZtvqn4XGcVj9K0WDZW8wT1iyoJrAETfeOhQmyHanmXAuDT9YzIU-o9f9KcRhJAGN2AHmraL371sGLooBw56Gi4wbZFrqBt3pQz2X6J7Puirgp4W~ZaY-JQvUjbqqzXXcePttMP08gYUy3rA7GkoqHRjxXQCY~A2MZmBmipiTCsJZUc5V9dY3Akmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced legislation authorizing Emily Griffith Technical College to award Associate of Applied Science degrees to students participating in qualified registered apprenticeship programs.

Sponsor Senator Lundin described the bill as a narrowly focused effort to help apprentices \"pick up the gen ed requirements\" they need to receive an associate degree while completing on-the-job training. \"This bill simply allows the Emily Griffith schools to offer associate's degrees of applied science for students participating in qualified registered apprenticeship programs,\" Lundin said.

Supporters noted Emily Griffith already provides the educational component for the state's apprentices and that many apprentices complete most college credit requirements through the program. \"Emily Griffith Technical College is the education provider for over 5,300 apprentices, which is 75% of all registered apprentices in the state,\" said Randy Johnson, Emily Griffith's executive director. Johnson and other witnesses said allowing the college to confer the degree will increase apprenticeship value and create a clearer academic pathway for career-focused students.

A trades training director said the ability to offer a degree strengthens recruitment and makes apprenticeships a more attractive, debt-free route for students and families. \"If I could go to them and tell them, you can have a career as an electrician, you can work, earn money, and get your education and get a degree all at the same time with no debt,\" said Dan Hendricks, a training director who testified in support.

Committee outcome and next steps: The committee voted unanimously to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole; senators also agreed to place the measure on the consent calendar at the sponsor's request.

Context: Proponents framed the bill as a modest statutory change to permit an area technical college to confer applied associate degrees tied to registered apprenticeship completion and said it would help stack credentials and improve workforce pipelines without changing Emily Griffith's mission or existing successful completion and placement rates.","Senators unanimously advanced a bill permitting Emily Griffith Technical College to confer Associate of Applied Science degrees to students enrolled in qualifying registered apprenticeship programs, a change supporters said will help apprentices earn stackable credentials while earning wages.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104486,"Committee backs bill letting districts lease unused land longer for solar, storage or affordable housing",751,3702000,4453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7&start=3702&end=4453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2790777-7ccf55c0f2d6ef1c921afe89e7b012c7/thumbnail_3702000.jpg","/articles/6104486/Colorado/Committee-backs-bill-letting-districts-lease-unused-land-longer-for-solar-storage-or-affordable-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104486-ea74bda2be53ebe9838dbadcdf30b953/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175512&Signature=YSJiAOcJlByfpY1pW-rfH4UowV9nbmdUapCkewvum-R6pAA6pnX-dY5BaA3HWLmRKHq0jU-W~HJZJkgDqq9QrieOYXE1BpWhioA13X1YrtN83LIDLkbumwkHaJ1eFncaYhBEAGVuglMj4uwGUChWa8UAe0ViqXsCS3djL1tEqKDwqbz-hjDbHUZKfuGH2uHSDXjXpoi7cTJuiyNKprnUEMU9yswWDLXSXdd5sfbiHsEXspxiVw09rFG3lixjKlSMV2MFzW1ZWEPHQy8y~PWi1YQyXAft3rLz0~cMs5PYbW6o1dY0lwVpbUwd07BVVeDqVYT-qC0BWDVxTKCfBokvUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate committee voted to let local school boards authorize long-term leases of district-owned property when the lease is used for community solar, energy storage or \"affordable\" housing projects, rather than limiting leases to a 10-year maximum.

Supporters said the change gives districts more financial flexibility and allows public–private projects that require longer payback periods. \"We were right down to the last minute until we found out that we could only lease the surface of our land for 10 years,\" said Scott Smith of CASE and CFO of Cherry Creek Schools, describing a community solar garden project whose economics require a longer lease term. \"This allows us to meet some of our short term goals without having to compromise our long term asset position.\"

Concerns from the public: A taxpayer and resident who testified, Natalie Menton, said the bill's title focused on solar but also allows subsidized housing and warned that long leases could shift service costs (fire, human services) onto other taxing jurisdictions if property-tax or service patterns change. \"If these are underutilized, not needed properties, they should be put on the market,\" Menton said. She urged caution about multi-decade or century-long lease commitments that could affect future taxpayers.

What the bill does: The draft explicitly limits the long-term-lease option to three uses—solar fields, energy storage systems, and affordable housing—and requires local boards to adopt a public board policy defining affordable housing and to provide public notice and discussion before restricting land from future educational use. All leases must comply with local zoning and land-use requirements.

Committee action and vote: After testimony and discussion the committee advanced the bill to the Committee of the Whole; the roll-call recorded the motion passing 4–2.

Context and next steps: Proponents said allowing longer leases can enable community-benefit projects on land that otherwise would remain unused, and they emphasized that the change is optional for districts. Opponents warned about long-term taxpayer impacts and urged market sale instead of extended leases. The bill will go to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.","Senators approved a bill to let Colorado school districts lease underutilized property for any term of years when used for solar fields, energy storage or affordable housing, after testimony from school finance and community representatives and one opponent worried about long-term taxpayer impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate panel backs measure letting districts set student cell-phone rules, touts mental health and classroom benefits

Senate committee advances bill shifting digital accessibility liability from school districts to vendors

Committee approves bill allowing Emily Griffith to award applied associate degrees to registered apprentices

Committee backs bill letting districts lease unused land longer for solar, storage or affordable housing