Rep. Chris Richardson

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1014 is a non-binding resolution passed by the Colorado General Assembly to honor veterans who served in the Vietnam War. It specifically recognizes Colorado veterans' service, sacrifices, and post-war challenges, while expressing appreciation for their community contributions and leadership. The resolution encourages all Coloradans to remember these veterans' sacrifices and directs copies to state officials, veteran organizations, and Colorado's congressional delegation. As a commemorative resolution - not a law - it does not create new policies or benefits but serves as a formal expression of state recognition.

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1019 is a symbolic resolution honoring Native American veterans' military service and contributions. It expresses recognition of their disproportionate service throughout U.S. history, including roles as code talkers in WWII and current high per-capita service rates. The resolution does not create new programs, funding, or legal obligations; it solely affirms Colorado's commitment to acknowledging their sacrifices and addressing unique hardships faced by Native American veterans. It directly affects Native American veterans, service members, and their communities in Colorado, particularly those connected to tribes like the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute. The resolution passed both chambers of the Colorado legislature in February 2025 as a non-binding statement of support.

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1020 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the contributions and historical service of African American veterans. It formally acknowledges their service across all U.S. military conflicts since the Revolutionary War, including challenges they faced with segregation and discrimination. The resolution highlights key milestones like the 1.25 million African Americans who served in WWII and the 1948 desegregation order (Executive Order 9981), while noting ongoing barriers to full equality. It does not create new benefits, policies, or legal obligations - it solely serves as a statement of recognition. The resolution passed unanimously in both chambers in early 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1010 is a symbolic resolution designating Colorado's Military, Veterans, and POW/MIA Appreciation Day to honor active service members, veterans, and their families. It expresses legislative gratitude for military contributions, supports installations like Fort Carson, and encourages Coloradans to participate in annual celebrations. The resolution does not create new laws or programs but serves as a formal recognition of military service and sacrifice. It passed unanimously in both chambers of the Colorado legislature in early 2025.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution commemorates the 57th anniversary of the 1968 North Korean capture of the USS Pueblo, a U.S. Navy ship named after Pueblo, Colorado. It honors the crew's bravery, notes Colorado's historical connection to the ship, and calls for North Korea to return the vessel. The resolution designates January 23 as "USS Pueblo Day" for annual remembrance. As a symbolic gesture, it has no legal effect on policy or operations.

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1013 is a symbolic joint resolution honoring Colorado veterans who served in World War II on the 80th anniversary of the war's end. It recognizes the service of approximately 250,000 Coloradans who served during 1941-1945, including over 3,500 who died in action, and specifically references Colorado's military units like the 10th Mountain Division and the 157th Infantry Regiment. The resolution encourages support for commemorating this anniversary but does not create new programs, funding, or legal obligations. As a procedural resolution, it serves only to express legislative recognition.

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1016 is a Colorado legislative resolution honoring veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991), including three Coloradans who died in combat. It formally acknowledges their service, honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice, expresses gratitude to families of fallen service members, and encourages all Coloradans to remember their sacrifices. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic recognition through the Colorado General Assembly. It was passed unanimously by both chambers of the state legislature in early 2025.

In 2006, the general assembly passed Senate Bill 06-090, which: Prohibited a local government from passing any ordinance or policy that would prohibit a police officer, local official, or local government employee from cooperating with federal officials with regard to the immigration status of a person within the state; Required a peace officer who has probable cause to believe that a person is not legally present in the United States to report the person to the federal immigration and customs enforcement office; Required each local government to provide notice to peace officers of the duty to report and to provide written confirmation of the notice and reporting statistics to the general assembly; and Prohibited a local government that violates this provision from receiving any grants administered by the department of local affairs. Senate Bill 06-090 was repealed in 2013. The bill recreates and reenacts Senate Bill 06-090. Current law prohibits: A person from being arrested while the person is present at a courthouse, or while going to, attending, or coming from a court proceeding, and provides remedies for a violation; A probation officer or probation department employee from providing personal information about an individual to federal immigration authorities; and State and local governmental entities from contracting with a private entity for immigration detention services or entering into agreements for immigration detention services. The bill repeals each of these laws. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current law requires mandatory sentencing to at least the minimum of the prescribed range for a person who, within the immediately preceding 4 years, was twice convicted of felony theft from a store and who is once again convicted of felony theft from a store. The bill requires a state court to sentence a person convicted of burglary, robbery, theft, or a related property crime from or of a store, who was convicted of any 2 of the specified property crimes or comparable municipal offenses from or of a store within the preceding 4 years, to at least the midpoint term for the current offense. The bill adds language to the existing theft statute clarifying how a gift card's value is determined for purposes of determining the offense level and associated penalty. If the stolen item of value is a gift card, then the value is the full monetary face value or, in the case of a variable load gift card, the maximum potential value, regardless of whether funds have been transferred to the gift card at the time of the theft. The bill adds gift cards to the list of written instruments subject to forgery. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Currently, in every mail ballot election coordinated with or conducted by a county clerk and recorder, a single election judge personally conducts the review of each mail ballot for purposes of signature verification, unless the county clerk and recorder allows the election judge to use a signature verification device. The bill authorizes the county clerk and recorder to allow a team of bipartisan election judges, rather than a single election judge, to review mail ballots for purposes of signature verification. The bill authorizes the secretary of state to adopt rules concerning the procedure for using a team of bipartisan election judges for such signature verification.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)