Deputy County Manager Kate Newman told commissioners at the Aug. 26 staff briefing that Jefferson County had earlier taken an opposed position on legislation relating to algorithmic systems but that late changes at the Capitol merit reconsideration.

"Prior to the special session, the Commissioners took positions on several bills. One of them was Senate Bill 4 ... We took an opposed position, and Karen Wick, our state lobbyist, is on the line, and there was some late last-night changes that she'd like to go over and see if you'd like to change your position on this," Newman said.

Karen Wick, the county's state lobbyist, told the board that the sponsor had filed a strike-and-replace amendment that now delays the implementation of a prior law to June 2026. Wick said the change gives jurisdictions and stakeholders additional time to work on rules and negotiate remaining issues. "I would really like you all to consider changing your position either to a monitor or to a support, given that delay, so that way we can make sure we communicate to GEFCO, legislators that this delay gives us more time to do the work," Wick said.

Commission discussion focused on remaining substantive concerns in the earlier version of the legislation. One commissioner who asked not to be named said liability and severability issues that particularly affect county governments had not yet been resolved in earlier drafts, but that the one-time delay amendment left the bill in a substantially different posture. "I agree that the conditions have changed and would support moving our position from an opposed to a support for the delay," the commissioner said.

After discussion, commissioners indicated support for changing the county's formal position from opposed to support for the implementation delay; the board recorded three affirmative signals during the briefing. Wick noted that the House was to take third-reading action at noon that day, and warned that if the strike-and-replace amendment failed on the House floor, the existing statute (Senate Bill 205 as enacted earlier) would remain set to take effect in February 2026.

The county's action was limited to adjusting its advocacy position; commissioners did not adopt new local regulations or make binding commitments beyond directing staff to communicate the revised stance to legislative contacts. County staff said they would coordinate any formal comment to the regional delegation and to the legislative liaison organization during the 60-day window for comment.