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Committee sends Auraria voting-rights bill to committee of the whole after 10-3 vote
Summary
Senate Bill 34, the Auraria Student and Faculty Board Voting Rights Act of 2026, was advanced to the Committee of the Whole by a 10-3 vote after sponsors and students argued voting members would add lived experience to board decisions and some members voiced concerns about part-time and nonresident student eligibility.
The House Education Committee voted 10-3 to advance Senate Bill 34, the Auraria Student and Faculty Board Voting Rights Act of 2026, moving the measure to the Committee of the Whole.
Sponsor Representative Hamrick said the bill would modernize governance for the Auraria Higher Education Center by giving elected student and faculty representatives full voting rights on the Auraria Board. He told the committee the change would better align board decisions with the daily experiences of students and faculty who use shared campus facilities and services.
"This bill modernizes the governance of Colorado's largest college campus to better reflect the people who live, work, and study there every day," Representative Hamrick said, noting the campus serves "over 49,000 students, faculty, and staff across the Community College of Denver, MSU Denver, and CU Denver."
Students, faculty and advisory leaders testified in support. Jared Bynum, a CU Denver student and an elected student representative to the Auraria Board, said granting voting rights would ensure "lived experiences as the primary stakeholders of campus are not only heard but truly incorporated into shared governance." Sky Childress (MSU Denver) described student involvement in multimillion-dollar projects such as the Tivoli reimagine project and campus sustainability programs. Faculty witnesses, including Adam Glick and Diana White, said student and faculty votes would add institutional knowledge and accountability to the board.
Committee members raised questions about the bill's changes to eligibility. Representative Garcia Sander said she was concerned that part-time or out-of-state students could exercise voting power over major campus management decisions. Sponsors responded that Auraria is a commuter campus with many part-time and nonresident students and that the bill narrows barriers that previously excluded a large portion of the campus community.
Representative Bacon moved the bill forward with a favorable recommendation; Representative Hamrick seconded. During the roll call the committee recorded 10 votes in favor and 3 opposed (Representative Garcia Sander, Representative Hartzook and Representative Johnson cast the no votes). The chair announced the bill had passed and the committee adjourned.
What happens next: Senate Bill 34 will be taken up by the Committee of the Whole. Supporters said the change is modeled on practices in other states and includes conflict-of-interest provisions and recusal language to align student and faculty members with the board's fiduciary duties.
