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Colorado Senate approves bill creating state-court remedies for constitutional violations during immigration enforcement
Summary
The Colorado Senate on Feb. 24 passed Senate Bill 5, allowing state-court remedies for alleged federal constitutional violations occurring during immigration enforcement; the measure passed 20-11 after a brief procedural reconsideration episode.
The Colorado Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 5 on third reading on Feb. 24, creating a pathway for state-court remedies for alleged federal constitutional rights violations that occur during immigration enforcement. Senator Weisman, sponsor of the motion for final passage, asked colleagues for support and credited co-prime sponsor Senator Gonzales for the joint effort.
The bill’s supporters said the change will provide a state-level remedy where residents assert that immigration enforcement involved actions violating constitutional protections. Senator Weisman framed the measure as a bipartisan response to concerns about due process during enforcement actions; she moved the bill and asked for a yes vote on third reading.
The vote followed a brief procedural episode in which the majority leader moved to reconsider the earlier vote and then withdrew that motion, clearing the way for another final passage vote later in the session. On the subsequent roll call, the Senate recorded 20 ayes and 11 noes, with three senators excused and one seat vacant; the chair declared Senate Bill 5 passed.
Opponents registered a recorded no vote; the chair read aloud a list of senators who voted no during the roll call. No amendment that changed the bill’s reported scope or appropriation was adopted during floor consideration that day.
What happens next: Because SB5 passed on final reading, it will be enrolled and transmitted consistent with the legislative process; if signed, its operative timing and any appropriation will be reflected in the enrolled bill text and accompanying fiscal documents.
Provenance: The bill title and initial third-reading motion were read by the clerk and discussed beginning with the clerk’s reading at the start of third reading (title read at SEG 299–SEG 306 and again at SEG 405–SEG 408); the adoption and roll-call vote concluding passage occurred later in the transcript (SEG 411–SEG 432).
