Finance committee advances amended bill to expand state oversight of immigration detention facilities

The House Finance Committee on April 13 advanced House Bill 26‑1276, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations by a 7–4 roll‑call vote. Sponsors said the amended measure will strengthen state inspections and reporting for immigration detention facilities while using operator fees to avoid general‑fund costs.

Representative Garcia, a sponsor, told the committee the finance elements that remain are focused on fee structure and funding for inspections and training. "Because of the fee structure that we are setting up ... this is a zero cost to the state," she said, adding the sponsors had agreed to strike more expensive or legally questionable provisions via amendment L11.

Amendment L11 removed sections identified by sponsors as likely to create high cost or constitutional concerns; sponsors said they will continue conversations with stakeholders and the attorney general's office on enforcement authority and training standards.

Opponents and cautious stakeholders raised implementation concerns. Owen Brigner of the Colorado Municipal League said sections of the bill create duplicative reporting requirements—specifically an obligation to submit unsealed federal subpoenas to the Department of Public Safety and also to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees—that could impose unfunded workload on municipalities. "We don't see really a reason to submit those reports to both the committees and DPS when DPS is going to post on the website," Brigner testified, calling some subsections ambiguous and potentially exposing municipalities to liability.

Supporters included community organizations and residents who described alleged poor conditions and deaths in federal custody and urged state oversight. Jennifer Piper of the American Friends Service Committee described a profit motive in privately run detention facilities and said state standards and enforcement were needed to protect detainees' health and safety. Michael May cited public health analyses and an updated death count in custody during recent federal administrations.

The committee adopted amendment L11 (striking specified sections) without objection; sponsors then moved the amended bill to Appropriations. The clerk recorded a 7–4 vote in favor. Committee supporters said the amended bill retains enforceable inspection authority, training requirements, and a fee structure intended to fund oversight while leaving more contentious or expensive provisions for later work.