Senate repasses bill aimed at preventing civil-rights violations tied to immigration status

The Colorado Senate on May 1, 2025, concurred in House amendments to and then repassed Senate Bill 276, legislation described by sponsors as measures "to prevent the violation of civil rights of persons in Colorado based on immigration status" and to reduce an associated appropriation. The motion to repass the bill carried 23 ayes and 12 no votes.

Senator Julie Weisman moved that the Senate concur in the House amendments and said the changes were mostly technical and included a hospital-related amendment requested to align treatment of certain hospitals with Denver Health. "Some changes were frankly pretty small and linguistic," Weisman said when explaining concurrence with the House version. She also said the Senate had struck what had been called section 17 in the version originally sent to the House.

After concurrence, sponsor Senator Gonzales moved for repassage. During floor debate, Senator Mullica said she had been a no vote earlier in the week because she had not had time to digest amendments and large on-floor changes. Mullica said she had since reviewed the revisions and would vote yes, praising sponsors for the opportunity to consider the changes: "I was a no on Thursday. I'm gonna be a yes today though because I was given that opportunity to really digest what was going on." Senator Gonzales framed the measure as a reaffirmation of due-process protections in Colorado and urged colleagues to demonstrate that constitutional protections apply to all residents.

Minority Leader Kirk Meyer opposed the bill on the floor, saying parts of the measure "go beyond due process" and citing provisions he said could, for example, allow a prior guilty plea to be wiped away. "There are elements in this bill that provide privilege and advantage that I do not believe are appropriate," he said, and announced he would remain a no vote.

The roll call of no votes recorded on the repassage included Minority Leader Kirk Meyer, Senators Frizzell, Rich, Pelton B, Simpson, Bridal, Carson, Catlin, Pelton R, Liston, Lisonbee, and Basley. The clerk recorded the final tally as 23 ayes, 12 no, 0 absent, 0 excused. The bill’s title, as read on the floor, frames it as measures to prevent civil-rights violations based on immigration status and notes an associated reduction in appropriation.

Sponsors and several senators described hospital-conforming language and the removal of the former section 17 as reasons they could support the House-concurred version. Opponents emphasized perceived overreach and procedural concerns raised earlier in the week. No implementation details or funding amounts were specified on the floor during the discussion.

Senate Bill 276 will be repassed to enrollment per normal procedure; the transcript records cosponsors and the vote but does not include subsequent enrollment steps on the floor record excerpt provided.