The Colorado Senate on April 11, 2025 rejected House amendments and appointed conference committees for a string of measures, advanced a large consent calendar to third reading, adopted multiple bills on special order and confirmed several governor appointments. The chamber also adopted a joint resolution recognizing National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Why it matters: The procedural rejections and appointment of conference committees put a set of bills on a path for negotiations between the two chambers, while adoption and advancement of other measures clears the way for final floor votes. Several adopted measures carry policy changes with statewide impact, including mining regulation and wildlife-trafficking enforcement.

Rejecting House amendments, appointing conferees: The Senate repeatedly voted to “not concur” with House amendments and to appoint first conference committees for many Senate bills. For example, after the title for Senate Bill 212 was read, Senator Kirkmeyer moved that the Senate reject the House amendments to SB212 and appoint a conference committee; the motion carried with a recorded vote of 33 ayes, 0 no, 0 absent and 2 excused, and conference committee members were appointed (Chair Bridal; Senators Amabile and Kirkmeyer). Similar motions — each adopted by the Senate with the same recorded tally where noted — established first conference committees and in many cases granted the conferees permission to “go beyond the scope of the differences between the two houses.” The bills for which the Senate took this action included (listed as they were taken on the floor): SB212; SB214; SB226; SB228; SB229; SB254; SB257; SB261; SB262; SB268; SB270; SB206; and others announced during the same floor sequence. Where recorded, the Senate vote on these motions was 33 ayes, 0 no, 0 absent, 2 excused. Appointments commonly named a chair and two additional senators (for example, “Chair Bridal, Senators Amabile and Kirkmeyer” appeared as conferees on multiple measures).

Advancing and adopting bills on consent and special orders: The Senate took up a large consent calendar on second reading and adopted committee reports for many bills, sending them to third reading and final passage. Bills advanced on the consent calendar included a broad mix of topics (water, housing, public health, veterans and military affairs, and administrative cleanups). On special order the Senate considered and adopted several bills on final passage or by voice vote:

- Senate Bill 54 (mining regulation): After committee reports were adopted, Senator Simpson moved SB54; the motion carried and “SB54 is adopted.” SB54 creates a new permit type to facilitate cleanup of abandoned mine waste piles, updates forfeiture and warranty procedures and ratifies Colorado’s membership in the Interstate Mining Compact and the Interstate Mining Commission. Senator Simpson moved the bill “along with the Ag and Natural Resources Committee report and the Appropriations Committee report.”

- Senate Bill 168 (wildlife trafficking): Senator Roberts described the bill as increasing enforcement authority for wildlife trafficking: “This is about increasing our enforcement of wildlife trafficking, which is actually a a huge problem here in Colorado... By giving the department more authority in this space, we can better inventory the wildlife we do have and some of the wildlife that's leaving and then increase the penalties to reflect the the crime that this is and the impact it has on our wildlife in Colorado.” The bill was adopted.

- Senate Bill 187 (motorcycle operator safety training): The measure continuing the motorcycle operator safety training program was adopted after committee consideration and an Appropriations consent recommendation.

- Senate Bill 197 (Tony Gramps youth services program): Senator Exum described an amendment clarifying statutory authority and said the bill “increases access to the Tony Grama Fund for small and grassroots nonprofit organizations by differentiating among application types and streamlining reporting requirements… It also drops the matching requirement for mentoring programs.” The Senate adopted the measure.

Other second‑reading items advanced to third reading and final passage on the calendar included a set of house bills and senate bills listed on the consent calendar (for example, House Bill 12‑11 regarding tap fees by special districts and House Bill 12‑48 concerning school discipline provisions were taken up, amended in committee, and placed on the calendar for third reading).

Appointments and confirmations: The Senate confirmed a slate of governor appointments on the consent calendar by a recorded vote of 33 ayes, 0 no, 0 absent, 2 excused. Confirmed appointments included, among others, Jennifer Payne (Colorado Banking Board), members of the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise Board (Rebecca Gillette; Kevin McFatridge; Diana Panetta; Dr. Lillia Cervantes) and trustees for the Colorado School of Mines (Rebecca Mitchell; Bruce Eric Grewcock).

Resolution on crime victims: The Senate adopted House Joint Resolution 10‑25 recognizing the week in April 2025 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Colorado. Senator Frizzell said the resolution “is an incredibly important thing to acknowledge victims of crime in the state of Colorado.” Senator Sullivan — speaking from personal experience — urged members to engage directly with victims and survivor events outside the chamber.

Governor messages and announcements: The Senate received a message from the governor listing recently approved acts (for example, bills relating to wildfire information resources, liquor licensing changes, firearm provisions and support for state response to mass shootings) and submitted appointments to the Agriculture Commission for consideration.

What’s next: Multiple measures are now in conference committee for House‑Senate negotiations after the Senate’s rejection of House amendments; other bills have been advanced to third reading and await final passage. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 10 a.m. Monday, April 14, 2025.

Ending: The day’s floor work moved several policy items forward while routing a separate group of bills into interchamber negotiation, setting the stage for upcoming conference committee meetings and final votes.