Bill Tracker

Codifies the recent action by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to combine the Children’s Home and Community-Based Services (CHCBS) waiver and the Children with Life Limiting Illness (CLLI) waiver – into the Children with Complex Health Needs waiver program.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Approved by the Transportation Legislation Review Committee, the bill aims to enhance paratransit services for individuals with disabilities in Colorado. The bill introduces specific duties for transit agencies and establishes a task force to study and recommend best practices for paratransit services.

By January 1, 2026, transit agencies are required to collaborate with local emergency service providers to develop a plan for communicating information and delivering paratransit services during emergencies. Transit agencies must ensure that the fare collection technology used for paratransit services is comparable to that of regular or fixed-route services, promoting equity and ease of use for all passengers. Before reducing any paratransit service areas, transit agencies are mandated to consult with affected community members and conduct an impact analysis. This analysis should assess the number of users affected, alternative transit options, funding sustainability, and the suitability of different vehicles for various passenger needs. Finally, the bill establishes a 16-member task force within the Department of Transportation. This task force is charged with studying and making recommendations on standardizing and implementing best practices for paratransit services across the state. A report summarizing their findings and recommendations is to be submitted to the Transportation Legislation Review Committee by October 15, 2025.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Extends the time frame for construction of a well outside the boundaries of a designated groundwater basin to 2 years (rather than 1 year) after receiving a permit. Also removes the requirement that the commission or state engineer mail a certified letter to the permit holder prior to expiration and allows these entities to reinstate an expired permit if the applicant can show the well was completed in a timely manner and pays a $30 fee. The bill also divides the division engineers’ decennial water rights report into two batches, extends certain timeframes related to the well permitting process, and eliminates final permitting requirements for non-Denver Basin bedrock aquifer wells in designated basins.

A fact sheet is available here: 

https://shorturl.at/Eg7dw

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Requires public and governmental entities to provide the most integrated setting that is appropriate to the needs of individuals with disabilities, specifies when entities are required to provide home- and community-based services and requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to develop a comprehensive community integration plan for integrated settings. Additionally, requires entities that reduce services to perform an assessment and risk management plan if the reduction increases the risk of institutionalization for individuals receiving services.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

The bill requires (but includes an opt out) for individuals to submit applications for certain contiguous fencing projects in the Sangre de Cristo lands to the local government with jurisdiction over the project. The local government must publish notice of the receipt of the application and must make a decision no later than 60 days after receiving the application.

This bill is meant to address specific circumstances in the Sangre de Cristo land grant lands. An amendment is being planned to switch the bill from an opt-out to an opt-in, in addition to other amendment considerations.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Current law grants a municipality police power over land that it acquires outside its municipal limits for use as parks, parkways, boulevards, or roads. The bill extends this authority to land that a municipality acquires for open space and natural areas, regardless of whether such areas are open or closed to the public.

Initial concerns have been raised on language implicating water and eminent domain; these portions have been amended out of the bill. CCI remains concerned about the extension of various aspects of municipal authority over county land without requiring an IGA.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Effective January 1, 2026, the bill mandates that local governments adopting or substantially amending their building codes ensure these codes meet or exceed the accessibility standards outlined in the International Building Code (IBC). This requirement extends to the Division of Fire Prevention and Control within the Department of Public Safety, particularly concerning building codes for public schools and health facilities. Additionally, the State Housing Board must ensure that construction and maintenance standards for hotels, motels, and multiple dwellings in areas without local building codes align with or surpass IBC accessibility standards.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Creates a civil cause of action for a peace officer if the peace officer reports or discloses conduct that is in violation of, or the peace officer reasonably believes is in violation of, any law or policy and the report or disclosure is a contributing factor in the employer of the peace officer's decision to take adverse employment action against the peace officer. Additionally, creates an affirmative defense to the action if the peace officer's employer would have taken the action that forms the basis of the suit against the peace officer, based on a legitimate nonretaliatory basis.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Two key provisions include (1) Creating a regional homelessness response district, which is formed by counties and municipalities to reduce and prevent homelessness; and (2) Allowing a county clerk and recorder to designate money collected from documentary filing fees for granting or conveying real property to be transferred to a housing agency for the purpose of developing, preserving, or acquiring affordable housing aligned with demonstrated community needs for homeless individuals. The bill also formalizes the Governor’s interagency council on homelessness and directs the Office of Homeless Initiatives to convene the continuum of care organizations more frequently.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Allows local collaborative management programs (CMPs) to enter into agreements with Medicaid managed care entities. Additionally, specifies that courts may access relevant program records.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

The statutory definition of “clean energy” determines which energy projects are eligible for clean energy project financing at the county and city and county level. The statutory definition of “clean energy resource” determines which energy resources may be used by a qualifying utility to meet the 2050 clean energy target. The bill updates these two definitions to include nuclear energy.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

For motor vehicle registration periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the bill allows local governments to impose fees on the registration of light trucks and passenger cars to fund vulnerable road user protection strategies. Fees must defray only the costs of funding vulnerable road user protection strategies, must impose higher fees on heavier motor vehicles, and may impose higher fees on less fuel-efficient vehicles. The bill establishes maximum fee amounts, based on vehicle weights, for the first year of fees beginning January 1, 2026. In subsequent years, fees may not exceed the prior year’s inflation adjusted amounts. Local governments must deposit net fee revenue into a dedicated cash fund or account and must annually report fee schedules to the Department of Revenue (DOR) so the DOR can collect fees on behalf of local governments.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Under current law, a person who is committed, arrested, or imprisoned has the right to communicate with their attorney. The bill specifies that a person also has the right to receive certain communications from their attorney. This includes in-person meetings in places of custody, telephone calls, or, if available, interactive audiovisual conferencing calls. Any communication must be private, and calls must be unrecorded and without cost to the person in custody. Finally, the bill also requires peace officers and facilities to allow a person in custody to receive a telephone or audiovisual call from their attorney if the person in custody expressly consents to the call.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Exempts a county from the requirement to operate a county jail if it has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with another county to operate a multijurisdictional county jail.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

The bill proposes the repeal of the mandatory fee that retail establishments in Colorado are currently required to charge customers for providing recycled paper carryout bags. Under existing legislation, retailers must impose a fee of at least 10 cents per recycled paper bag provided to customers. This bill seeks to eliminate that requirement, allowing retailers to offer recycled paper carryout bags without charging a fee.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Approved by the Cell Phone Connectivity Interim Study Committee, the bill mandates that local governments must approve or deny applications from telecommunications providers for new wireless facilities or substantial modifications to existing ones within 60 days of submission or a pre-application meeting, whichever comes first. If the local government fails to act within this timeframe, and the provider has fulfilled all public notice requirements and notified the local government of the lapse, the application is deemed approved. The bill allows for the 60-day period to be tolled for timely requests for additional information or extended by mutual agreement. Additionally, the bill prohibits local governments from requiring new applications or permits for the removal, discontinuation, or replacement of telecommunications equipment at existing facilities, provided the provider notifies the local government and the changes do not constitute a substantial change as defined by federal regulations. The legislation is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Allows a local government to impose installation/operational requirements for electronic fence detection systems consistent with those imposed on other alarm systems. Also allows a local government to require a permit for the installation of such a system that is not in addition to permits required for installation of other alarm systems.

Land Use & Natural Resource

Reagan Shane

The bill creates the Community Schoolyards Grant Program in the Division of Local Government (DLG) in the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The grants are for local education providers, boards of cooperative education services, and tribal organizations to create park-like environments at schools that provide hands-on programming to students, enhance well-being of students and community members, and address inequities in underserved communities, particularly those affected by minerals and mineral fuels subject to severance tax. Grant recipients are awarded up to $150,000 for planning and design of a community schoolyard and up to $850,000 for the construction of these schoolyards. Recipients of construction funds do not need to have received a planning and design grant if they provide appropriate documents in their application.

$4 million is appropriated from the Local Government Severance Tax Fund for the program. The transfer must come from the portion of the Local Government Severance Tax Fund that is distributed to local governments impacted by mineral fuels and severance taxes. The money is appropriated through FY28-29. DOLA is requesting that $500,000 be appropriated to the department for implementation.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

House Bill 25-1071, introduced in the Colorado General Assembly, proposes a new method for distributing state funds to local governments, effective July 1, 2025. The bill targets four specific funds:

• Marijuana Tax Cash Fund
• Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund
• Peace Officer Training and Support Fund
• Affordable Housing Financing Fund

The proposed distribution formula allocates:

• 50% of the money equally among Colorado's 64 counties and 2 federally recognized tribal governments.
• 50% based on the population of these counties and tribal governments.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Requires a court to sentence an offender convicted of a class 4 felony sexual assault on a child or sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust to an indeterminate term of incarceration that can range from the presumptive range minimum of 2 years to a maximum of the offender's natural life. Also, requires a court to sentence an offender convicted of a class 3 felony sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust when the child is less than 15 years of age to an indeterminate term of incarceration that can range from the presumptive range minimum of 4 years to a maximum of the offender's natural life. Finally, prohibits a court from sentencing these types of offenders to probation.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

The bill requires the Colorado Broadband Office to implement a wireless telephone infrastructure deployment grant program similar to the broadband deployment grant program in the broadband office. The broadband office may allocate High Cost Support Mechanism (HCSM) money for the grant program to help finance the deployment of wireless telephone infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas of the state.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

In current law, if a service member's driver's license expires while they are serving on active duty outside of Colorado, the driver's license expiration date is extended for 3 years or until 90 days after the service member returns to the state. This bill designates the service member's dependents as also subject to the extension of their driver's license expiration date.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Makes changes to public hospital boards of trustees by allowing appointed public officials to serve on public hospital boards, requiring public hospital boards to meet annually (instead of each January), and removing the requirement that a hospital board trustee must examine hospitals twice per month. Additionally, moves the deadline for hospital boards to certify to a board of county commissioners the amount that is necessary to maintain the hospital for the next year from October 1st to December 1st.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

In 1975, the General Assembly enacted the original "Interstate Compact on Placement of Children". In 2024, the General Assembly enacted an updated version of the compact. The bill clarifies that the original compact remains in effect until the updated compact is enacted into law by 35 states.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Allows a political subdivision or an ambulance service providing ambulance services on behalf of the political subdivision to submit to the Division of Insurance the established rates for the ambulance services, if the rates meet specified conditions. Additionally, establishes reimbursement rates for ambulance services that are out of network.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Current law prevents local governments from implementing anti-growth laws that explicitly limit the population/housing growth except under certain circumstances. The bill adds that an anti-growth law includes a regulation that, in census urban areas, explicitly decreases the permitted residential density or uses of land without ensuring a corresponding increase in density or uses elsewhere in the jurisdiction. The bill also allows municipalities to seek a judicial determination as to the legality of a proposed land use ordinance that restricts or limits development prior to an election.

The bill is coming forward in response to a development disagreement in Lakewood.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

The bill requires that a petitioner or their agent must comply with the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice (USPAP) when appealing to the BAA, district court, or arbitration. These are the same standards that licensed appraisers must comply with. This bill applies only to appeals of taxes for property that is nonresidential real property and that is not agricultural property. 

The bill also adds to the required disclosures that a petitioner must provide to the county for an appeal to the BAA concerning rent-producing commercial real property. In these cases, the petitioner must provide additional disclosures. 

• 1. full copies of all leases that are in place as of the date of the valuation of the property and 
• 2. any market data that the petitioner has relied on to determine the value they are requesting for their property instead of the valuation that's been set by the county assessor.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Requires local governments with a population over 5,000 (as well the State Electrical Board) to implement an automated residential solar permitting platform to automatically produce county code-compliant approvals. The platform should have the estimated capability to process at least 75% of applications submitted for residential solar panel installations at existing residences. The platform must be used for all residential solar permit applications that will (a) be installed on existing residential buildings, (b) have a maximum capacity of 200 amperes main service disconnect, and (c) provide electrical power to a single-family or two-family residential property. Local governments must also submit a report on the platform’s use.

A related bill in 2023 created the Automated Permit Processing for Solar (APPS) Grant program to provide funding for implementation of automated permitting systems. CCI has concerns about existing implementation challenges and the lack of existing grant funding relative to the size of the mandate.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Requires the state Department of Human Services to develop and adopt a placement transition plan template that outlines how a county department of human services will transition a child from one out-of-home placement in a foster care home, kinship foster care home, or non-certified kinship care home to another or back to the child's home. Additionally, requires newly employed county caseworkers to complete training on the importance of transition plans created by the state Department of Human Services. All county caseworkers must complete the training every three years.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Requires the Water Quality Control Commission to issue written guidance specific to the development of the daily maximum amount of a pollutant from all sources that is allowed to enter state waters so that an applicable water quality standard is met (total daily maximum load, or TMDL). Also requires TMDLs to be set using “credible data,” including data that has been collected within the last five years and relevant historical data.

This is a Tier 2 priority for CCI.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

The bill establishes new cost-sharing rules for maintaining existing railroad crossings, impacting counties and other local governments. Under the bill, if the road authority responsible for a crossing is not a local government, maintenance costs must be shared equally between the railroad entity and the applicable road authority. The PUC rule will clarify that a county is only responsible for maintaining the portion of a railroad crossing that is outside of the railroad ties, while railroads maintain the track areas.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

The bill modifies property tax exemptions for certain homeowners, starting with reassessment cycles on or after January 1, 2025. It changes the exemption for qualifying seniors, disabled veterans, and eligible surviving spouses from 50% of the first $200,000 of a home's value to 50% of 50% of the estimated state median home value. If the median home value declines, the exemption remains based on the prior cycle's value.
Additionally, if voters approve a constitutional amendment in the 2026 general election, the bill would allow seniors and surviving spouses who previously qualified for the exemption (since 2016) to apply it to a new residence without meeting the 10-year ownership requirement.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Under current law, local governments are prohibited from allowing the installation of nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species in new developments or redevelopments on commercial, institutional, and industrial properties, as well as rights-of-way, parking lots, medians, and transportation corridors. Local governments have the authority to define “functional turf” - that is, what kinds of grass areas are used regularly for civic, community, or recreational purposes – as appropriate for their communities.

HB25-1113 expands the definition of “applicable property” to include residential real property that is used for apartments or condominiums. For all other residential real property, the bill requires local governments to limit the installation of turf through ordinances or regulations beginning January 1, 2028. The mechanism for limiting installation is up to the local government.

While CCI echoes the desire to responsibly conserve water, CCI has concerns about the feasibility of implementation of this bill.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Establishes the Septic-System Replacement Enterprise to provide interest-free or low-interest loans to low-income households for replacement of failing septic systems. The enterprise will be a Type 1 entity funded by a fee on septic system permits and governed by a 7-member board (including one rural county commissioner, one rural county board of health member, and one member representing an association of Colorado counties). The fee structure is as follows: $10 if the permit is <$500; $50 if the permit is $500 - $999; $100 if the permit is $1,000-$1,399; and $200 if the permit is $1,400+.

CCI is concerned about increasing the cost of septic permits, especially given the existing affordability challenges for housing and rural septic systems.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

This bill introduces new requirements for apprenticeship participation in public construction projects. The bill also mandates that contractors and subcontractors performing mechanical, electrical, plumbing work, or employing construction laborers on covered projects must participate in a registered apprenticeship program that meets specified graduation requirements. Notably, the bill allows counties to opt into the state’s apprenticeship utilization and prevailing wage requirements. 

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

This bill proposes that, starting January 1, 2027, all voting systems used in Colorado elections must utilize open-source software. This software should enable end-to-end verifiability, allowing public access to the source code for review, independent security audits, and accountability. The bill mandates that the Secretary of State establish rules for the certification and oversight of such software, including requirements for logging and publicizing updates and modifications. Counties are expected to implement these changes within their existing resources, either by negotiating with current voting system providers or soliciting competitive bids.

General Government

Meaghan MacKillop

The bill repeals the retail delivery fee established in SB 21-260. These fees are distributed to several funds and enterprises created by the 2021 legislation, including the Multimodal Mitigation Options Fund and the HUTF.  

Transportation & Telecommuncations

Meaghan MacKillop

Increases the juvenile detention bed cap from 215 to 254 for FY 2025-26 and sets the cap at 125% of the juvenile detention average daily population projection for FY 2026-27 and each year thereafter. The cap excludes juveniles who are in detention for committing a delinquent act that would constitute a class 1 felony if it were committed by an adult. Additionally, for FY 2025-26 and each year thereafter, requires the General Assembly to appropriate $2.0 million for youth who are detained and can be placed in environments other than detention (an increase of $200,000 over the current law appropriation for this purpose).

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Caps the maximum incarceration sentence for a municipal violation that has a comparable state law crime at the same length as the state-level offense. When there is no comparable state-level offense, the maximum period of incarceration is capped at the maximum for a state-level petty offense. Additionally, mandatory minimums and increased penalties based on prior convictions are prohibited unless the person is convicted of a municipal offense for which there is a comparable state offense or of an infraction that allows imposition of the same mandatory minimum or increased penalties based on prior convictions. Finally, caps a consecutive municipal sentence at 2 times the highest charge in the case.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Implements the legislative recommendations of the Colorado Child Support Commission by updating the child support guidelines schedule, updating the monthly incomes eligible for a reduced low-income adjustment, and replacing the current parenting time credit with a formula that provides parents credit for all overnights spent with that parent.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Authorizes the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to seek federal authorization to extend the timeline for member reenrollment in Medicaid based on the financial eligibility for a member whose income is based solely on a fixed income source and verify a member's eligibility for reenrollment based on income and need at the same time. Additionally, requires HCPF to modify the questions asked to medical professionals when verifying a member's need for long-term services and supports and allows any licensed medical professional who has a bona fide physician-patient relationship with a member to complete the documentation necessary to verify a member's need for long-term services and supports. Finally, prohibits HCPF from requiring new documentation for a member who transitions from receiving services in an institutional setting to receiving services in a home- and community-based setting and vice versa.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

The bill removes local government authority to regulate open or concealed carry of handguns, including regulations by special districts and governing boards of higher education institutions. The bill also allows individuals 18 years and older, who are legally permitted to possess a handgun under federal and state law, to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The bill changes the validity of concealed carry permits from five years to a lifetime, automatically converting existing permits (excluding temporary emergency permits) into lifetime permits. 

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Beginning December 31, 2026, local governments must allow residential developments to be constructed on qualifying properties through an administrative approval process. Local governments must also allow inclusion of childcare and recreational, social, or educational services in such developments. Exemptions apply to parcels with inadequate water and sewage infrastructure, those reliant on septic, and parcels where residential use is limited by state or federal regulations or deed restrictions. 

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Changes the child relinquishment requirements for a parent in cases where the parent is a victim of sexual assault that resulted in the conception of the child to be relinquished. Additionally, requires the State Court Administrator to develop or modify an existing, standardized form for a petitioner to file to terminate another person's parent-child legal relationship because the child was conceived as a result of sexual assault.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Specifies that child abuse or neglect must not be based solely upon a parent's or child's indigence, unavailability of accessible services, unhoused status, or disability. Additionally, updates requirements for mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect, as well as employers of mandatory reporters. Finally, requires a county department of human services to assign a referral identification number to each report of child abuse or neglect.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

House Bill 25-1191 eliminates the vacancy committee process for filling county commissioner vacancies in Colorado. Instead, it mandates a vacancy election, with timing based on proximity to regularly scheduled elections. Candidates must meet eligibility requirements, pay a $500 filing fee, and be registered with the same party as the vacating commissioner (if applicable). Only registered voters in the commissioner’s district, affiliated with the same party or unaffiliated, can vote.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Allows a peace officer, firefighter, volunteer firefighter, emergency medical service provider, or other individual who responds to a public safety emergency to request that their address be kept confidential in voter registration records. 

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Establishes the Regional Planning Roundtable Commission within the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to, at a local government’s request, provide support for certain planning efforts. The commission is a Type 2 entity with a 15-member board, including representatives from CML, CCI, SDA, a regional council of governments, and four members representing distinct regions of the state.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

The bill introduces a four-installment payment option for property taxes starting in the 2025 tax year. Currently, property taxes must be paid in full by April 30 or in two equal installments (February and June). Under the new option, eligible taxpayers—those owing more than $25 on residential or certain improved commercial properties and not paying through a mortgage escrow—can pay in four equal installments:

• February 28
• April 30
• July 15
• September 15

However, at least half of the total tax must be paid by April 30 to remain eligible for the installment plan. Taxpayers can also choose to pay in full at any time before a tax lien sale. 

If a taxpayer misses the July 15 installment, interest accrues at 1% per month starting July 16. If the September 15 installment is missed, interest accrues at 1% per month from September 16.

Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for tax lien sale notices from September 1 to October 15 to accommodate the new installment schedule. County treasurers must include information about this option with tax statements.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Reorganizes and updates statutes pertaining to the duties of the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman. Specifically, the bill creates a new provision that pertains to the Office's access to information necessary to conduct an independent review of a complaint, clarifies when the Office may receive and conduct an independent and impartial investigation of complaints, and provides the Office access to facilities operated by the Colorado Department of Human Services.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Codifies the federal "Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978" into state law as the "Colorado Indian Child Welfare Act" (CO-ICWA) and provides additional protections for Indian children and children known to be Indian children under state law.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

House Bill 25-1208 mandates that local governments with a higher minimum wage than the state minimum wage implement a tip offset for food and beverage workers. This offset is calculated as the difference between the local and state minimum wage, plus $3.02. The bill sets deadlines for local governments to adopt this offset and restricts changes to it after 2026.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

House Bill 25-1209 modernizes marijuana industry regulations, including digital employee ID cards, streamlined criminal background checks, and updated surveillance standards. It permits promotional events at licensed stores, increases purchase limits for retail marijuana from one to two ounces, and establishes a process for marijuana research and development facilities. Additionally, the bill revises record-keeping and allows the collection of fees for licensing document copies.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Makes a variety of changes to the Medicaid program, including requiring the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to follow standards set by the federal government when updating rules and ensure updates and changes to the rules are easily identifiable, prevents a Medicaid enrollee receiving home- and community-based services from losing the services currently received if the member's disability and need for services have not changed in the preceding 3 years, and requires a Regional Accountable Entity (RAE) to submit to the Department the amount the RAE is paid and the RAE's medical loss ratio.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

The bill strengthens transparency for metropolitan districts by requiring mailed or emailed notices for annual public meetings, hard copies of nomination forms at in-person meetings, and expanded information on district websites, including board contacts, meeting schedules, and service details. It also mandates a contact system for residents’ inquiries when staff is unavailable. Property sellers in districts formed after January 1, 2000, must provide specific disclosures and an explanation of district operations, regardless of whether the property is newly constructed.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

House Bill 25-1225 defines and prohibits actions intended to intimidate, threaten, or coerce individuals involved in election-related activities, including voters, election workers, and officials. It establishes a rebuttable presumption of intimidation when firearms are visibly displayed during election-related interactions. The bill provides enforcement mechanisms through civil actions by affected individuals, election officials, the secretary of state, or the attorney general. It complements existing laws, aiming to protect election integrity and participants

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

The bill modifies CDOT design-build contract criteria, prioritizing long-term sustainability, lifecycle costs, environmental impact, and community benefits. The bill also encourages projects that minimize community disruption and address climate resilience, impacting county-level transportation planning and budgeting.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Under current law, elected county officials in certain counties may elect to receive a salary that is 50% lower than the salary amount for that county official as set by law. This election must be set forth and recorded with the office of a county's clerk and recorder during the month of November. The bill allows elected county officials in any county, including district attorneys, to opt for a reduced salary or no salary at all, with an annual election submitted to the county treasurer. It also reclassifies Mesa County from category I-D to I-A, increasing elected officials' salaries starting January 1, 2029. This change offers flexibility for officials in managing their compensation while adjusting Mesa County’s pay scale to align with larger counties.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Current law prohibits a person licensed to sell alcohol beverages at the retail level from selling, serving, or distributing alcohol between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. The bill allows these establishments to allow customers to consume alcohol from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on the licensed premises if they stop selling no later than 2:30 am and stop serving alcohol at 3:00 am. The bill only applies where a local government opts in. 

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

The bill consolidates damages provisions for individuals with disabilities who experience an unfair housing practice, discrimination in places of public accommodation, or a violation of their civil rights with the general protections under the Colorado anti-discrimination act (CADA) for all protected classes. With the consolidation of these provisions, the allowable remedies under CADA include a court order requiring compliance with the applicable section of CADA, actual monetary damages, attorney fees and costs, damages for noneconomic loss or injury, and a statutory fine of $5,000 per aggrieved party and per violation. An award of damages for noneconomic loss or injury is capped at $50,000, and if a defendant is a small business, it is entitled to a 50% reduction of a noneconomic loss or injury award if it corrects the violation within 30 days of the complaint being filed and did not knowingly or intentionally make or cause to be made the violation.

The bill also extends the deadline for filing a charge with the Colorado civil rights commission alleging discrimination in places of public accommodation or discriminatory advertising from 60 days to one year after the alleged discriminatory act occurred.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

House Bill 25-1242 revises Colorado’s transparency laws, including the Open Meetings Law, CORA, and CCJRA. It broadens access to peace officer records, mandates public release of internal investigation records within 21 days, and extends CORA response times from 3 to 5 business days. Fees for records retrieval are capped, and additional guidance is provided for records request processes. Public employee communications, including emails, are made more accessible, impacting county governments' records management and response obligations.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Increased Lodging Tax Rate:

The bill increases the maximum allowable county lodging tax rate from 2% to 6%, subject to local voter approval.

Expanded Use of Revenue:

The current law allows lodging tax revenue to be used for:

• Advertising and marketing local tourism.
• Housing and childcare for the tourism-related workforce.
• Facilitating and enhancing visitor experiences.

The bill expands the allowable uses to include:

• Public infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
• Preservation of natural landscapes and wildlife habitats, including promotion of sustainable tourism practices.
• Cultural and historical preservation, such as restoring historical sites, museums, and cultural institutions.
• Enhancing public safety, including funding for local law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services.

Protection of Voter-Approved Allocations:

• If a county received voter approval before January 1, 2025, to allocate lodging tax revenue to specific purposes, those allocations remain preserved.
• Any new revenue from a tax rate increase may be allocated to additional allowable uses as permitted under this bill.

Voter Approval Requirements:

Any proposal to increase the tax rate or expand the use of revenue must be approved by local voters in a general or special election.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Under current law, counties with populations of 70,000 or more can have a board of county commissioners consisting of either 3 or 5 members. If the board has 3 commissioners, they are elected from 3 districts by voters countywide. If the board has 5 commissioners, the county can be divided into 3 or 5 districts, and commissioners can be elected by district, at-large, or through a combination of both methods. This bill changes the rules for counties with populations of 250,000 or more, requiring them to have 5 commissioners representing 5 districts. These counties must select one of the following three election methods:5 commissioners residing in 5 districts, each elected solely by voters within their district; 3 commissioners residing in 3 districts elected only by voters within those districts, and 2 commissioners elected at large; and 5 commissioners elected at large using the single transferable vote method

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

The bill updates energy use benchmarking and performance standard requirements for covered building owners (DEFINE). This includes a requirement to meet 2040 performance standards, as adopted by the Air Quality Control Commission, authorizing an alternative compliance mechanism for certain performance standards, and aligning civil penalties for a violation with civil penalties for other air quality violations. The bill also creates a building decarbonization enterprise to provide financial, technical, and programmatic assistance to covered building owners to implement various building decarbonization measures. The enterprise will be funded through an annual fee on covered building owners. Additionally, the bill clarifies that adoption of a wildfire resiliency code does not trigger energy code adoption requirements.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Requires counties to determine whether each child or youth in foster care may be eligible to receive federal Social Security benefits due to a mental or physical disability (Title XVI) or the death of a parent (Title II). Next, requires counties to apply for Social Security benefits on behalf of the child or youth and prohibits counties from using Social Security benefits to offset the cost of providing basic care and services to a child or youth in foster care. Finally, requires counties to establish a trust account for Social Security benefits. Money in the account is available for a limited set of current, unmet needs. Otherwise, the county must save money in the account for the future needs of the individual child or youth.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Pursues construction defect reform by focusing the legislation on middle market housing. Reforms pursued include requiring third-party inspections/affidavits and using an affirmative defense that involves establishing a rebuttable presumption of no defect if a certificate of occupancy is issued. It also updates the statute of limits for defect claims (increasing from six years to ten years if without warranty) and requires HOAs to get 65% owner approval before initiating claims, with damages prioritized for repairs. Prior provisions requiring local governments to expedite permits for this type of housing have been removed.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

The bill requires municipalities with a population of 100,000 or more that is served by an accredited fire protection district or department to, by December 1, 2027, adopt or amend a building code to allow up to five stories of a multifamily residential building to be served by a single exit. Such buildings must meet certain safety standards related to travel distance, sprinkler systems, etc. This requirement only applies to the area within a subject jurisdiction that is served by a single fire protection district or department.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

The bill requires employers, including local governments, to implement protections for workers who are exposed to extreme hot and cold temperatures at the worksite, including temperature mitigation measures, rest breaks, and temperature-related injury and illness prevention plans.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Directs the State Housing Board and the associated Technical Advisory Committee to promulgate rules outlining regional building codes accounting for local climatic and geographic conditions for the construction and installation of factory-built structures (modular) by July 1, 2026. Allows local governments to be certified by the Division of Housing (DOH) to perform modular inspections on behalf of DOH, and allows DOH to contract for third-party review and approval of design plans for such structures. Clarifies that after rules are adopted across structures under the Housing Board’s jurisdiction, the State Plumbing Board, State Electrical Board, and State Fire Suppression Administrator do not have jurisdiction and their rules do not apply. Lastly, prohibits a county from imposing MORE restrictive standards on factory-built structures than on site-built homes in the same residential zones.

Current county authority over modular housing is limited to specific requirements meant to address local climate and geographic conditions.

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane

Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms. Establishes a process for a person that has completed certain firearm-related courses to acquire firearms otherwise prohibited by the bill. Specifically, sheriffs must authorize a person to take these classes after completion of a fingerprint-based background check, and then Colorado Parks and Wildlife verifies that required educational classes have been completed.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

This bill allows Colorado's State Treasurer to invest up to $50 million in bonds issued by quasi-governmental entities to support affordable housing development. These investments, which can have below-market rates, focus on projects that promote affordable homeownership, supporting workforce stability and wealth creation. The funds from these investments can be reinvested to sustain the program, ensuring alignment with the treasurer’s investment policies and risk guidelines. This initiative aims to fill gaps in housing affordability and availability across the state.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Renames the Underfunded Courthouse Facility Cash Fund to the Underfunded Court and Jail Facility Cash Fund and allows it to be used for jail facility upgrades.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Requires the Wildfire Information and Resource Center website to include hyperlinks to websites that display emergency information and wildfire updates for each county in Colorado and requires the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to coordinate with county governments in order to provide the hyperlinks.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Senate Bill 25-018 directs the Colorado Department of Revenue to allow online searches for sales and use tax licenses and exemption certificates using the licensee's or certificate holder's name and identification number. This enhances accessibility and transparency in tax-related information. 

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

The bill allows the use of either the most recent version, or a prior version, of the National Geodetic Survey’s state plane coordinate system to state geographic positions or locations within Colorado. The bill does not prohibit use of the Colorado coordinate system of 1927 or 1983.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Grants local governments the authority to seek damages from landlords allowing buildings to fall into disrepair and allows local governments to apply to a district court for the appointment of a receiver to operate a residential property. Also generally strengthens the attorney general’s power to initiate legal actions to enforce state landlord-tenant laws around habitability.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Senate Bill 25-023 increases the revenue and expenditure thresholds for local governments to qualify for audit exemptions. Effective January 1, 2025, the lower threshold rises from $100,000 to $200,000, and the upper threshold increases from $750,000 to $1,000,000. This adjustment aligns with federal standards and accounts for inflation, reducing the audit burden on smaller local governments.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Increases the number of district court judges and county court judges in numerous districts and counties. Additionally, the number of judges serving on the court of appeals. Finally, allows the district court judges assigned to Arapahoe county to maintain offices outside of the county seat.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

The bill proposes to amend the current requirements for filing a mortgage on motor or off-highway vehicles in Colorado. Presently, mortgage holders must file such mortgages in the county where the mortgagor resides or where the vehicle is located. This bill seeks to remove that limitation, allowing mortgage holders to file the mortgage in any county within the state.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Approved by the Transportation Legislation Review Committee, this bill requires the Department of Transportation to present a statewide mode choice assessment by October 31, 2025, outlining recommendations for transportation targets through 2050. These targets aim to increase the share of trips completed using biking, carpooling, public transit, walking, or single-occupancy vehicles. By June 1, 2026, the department must adopt rules to formalize these targets, reassessing them before each statewide transportation plan cycle. Additionally, the bill mandates that by December 31, 2026, and every five years thereafter, transportation authorities—including metropolitan planning organizations, transit providers, and local governments with populations over 25,000—prepare mode choice implementation plans. These plans must include strategies to meet mode choice targets, multimodal transportation gap analyses, and greenhouse gas emission reduction projections. To support these efforts, the bill allows the use of grants and multimodal transportation funds for plan development. It also requires progress reports every three years to monitor implementation.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Creates a single point of contact for emergency alert systems and expands the scope of the Colorado Broadband Office to include access to wireless service.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Requires the executive director of the Department of Labor & Employment to annually expend money credited to the local government severance tax fund in the following manner: (1) for the loss of property tax revenue resulting from the deduction of severance taxes paid in the valuation for assessment of producing mines, or incurred by coal transition communities created due to the closure of coal-fires power plants; (2) for grants to communities socially or economically impacted by development of minerals subject to severance taxation and used for public facilities and public services; and (3) for annual distribution based on community needs, as determined in consultation with local government associations.

Currently, 70% of the money credited to the local government severance tax fund must be distributed to political subdivisions that are socially or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels subject to taxation and used for the planning, construction, and maintenance of public facilities and for the provision of public services, and to compensate political subdivisions for loss of property tax revenue resulting from the deduction of severance taxes paid in the determination of the valuation for assessment of producing mines. 

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Senate Bill 25-040 establishes a task force to study the future of severance taxes and water funding in Colorado amid declining severance tax revenue. A third party will conduct the study, and the task force will review and contribute to the findings. A final report with recommendations is due by July 2026 and will be presented during the legislative interim. 

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Clarifies what courts must consider when setting bail for a defendant declared incompetent to proceed and allows the defendant to receive inpatient services from the Colorado Department of Human Services for additional time after charges are dropped.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Makes various changes regarding justice-involved youths, including to the Youthful Offender System, the juvenile competency process, presentence credits, and creates a new grant program to implement a mixed-delivery system of trauma-informed health and development deflection programs for youth.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Senate Bill 25-046 establishes uniform confidentiality standards for taxpayer information during local sales and use tax investigations conducted by third-party auditors. It restricts unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer data, with specific exceptions such as providing information to authorized officials or the taxpayer. Violations result in penalties. The bill also clarifies the Colorado Department of Revenue's authority to share taxpayer information with local governments to facilitate coordination and dispute resolution.

Taxation & Finance

Dylan Peper

Allows a police officer, local official, or local government employee to cooperate federal officials regarding the immigration status of a person within the state. Additionally, allows 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. Finally, repeals the law that State and local governmental entities are barred from contracting with a private entity for immigration detention services or entering into agreements for immigration detention services.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Effective September 1, 2025, the bill requires a form issued by the state or a local government that requests that the individual completing the form disclose the individual's race or ethnicity to include, in addition to spaces for any other racial or ethnic categories required by the federal office of management and budget, a space to indicate if the individual's race or ethnicity is Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

The bill mandates the cancellation of voter registrations for individuals identified as non-citizens. The bill outlines procedures for state agencies to share citizenship-related information with the Secretary of State, who will then coordinate with county clerks to update voter rolls accordingly. The bill requires the Secretary of State to collaborate with various state agencies, including the Department of Revenue (DOR), the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and the Department of Corrections (DOC), to access citizenship-related information. By July 1, 2025, the Secretary of State must amend existing agreements with these agencies to enable data sharing, including quarterly reports from the Department of Revenue listing non-citizens based on Division of Motor Vehicles records and federal Social Security Administration data. Additional quarterly reports will come from the CDPHE, DOC, and the State Court Administrator, identifying non-citizens using their databases. For instance, the State Court Administrator’s report will include individuals who declared themselves ineligible for jury duty due to non-citizenship. The Secretary of State will then forward this information to county clerks and recorders, who are responsible for canceling voter registrations of identified non-citizens. Additionally, the Secretary of State has the authority to electronically cancel registrations based on the received data.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

The bill proposes expanding the definition of obstructing government operations to include the repeated, unjustifiable contacting of public safety emergency call centers or entities after a warning has been issued. This expansion aims to address the misuse of emergency services, ensuring that resources are available for genuine emergencies.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

The bill addresses the applicability of state laws to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and its reservation by establishing that, unless explicitly stated, Colorado laws are presumed not to apply to the Tribe, its members, tribally controlled entities, or their lands within the reservation. The bill clarifies that state laws do apply to non-Indians and their conduct on lands within the reservation where the Tribe or its entities hold no interest, as well as to both Indians and non-Indians within municipalities located entirely within the reservation. The bill also emphasizes that it does not limit the Tribe's authority to consent to the application of state laws, nor does it abrogate the sovereign immunity of either the state or the Tribe. Additionally, it preserves the rights of all parties to pursue legal remedies regarding the application of state laws.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

The bill amends the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) by excluding assistive communication records from the definition of a "public record" and extending response times for most requests from 3 to 5 working days, with possible extensions up to 10 days. It requires public entities to post CORA-related policies and procedures and mandates that custodians provide available records within the response period when the responsible party is unavailable. The bill also allows custodians to flag and charge for requests made for business solicitation, strengthens protections for student information, clarifies fee prepayment requirements, and ensures electronic payment options for public records requests. Additionally, it permits combining similar requests within 14 days for fee calculations.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Establishes the Building Urgent Infrastructure and Leveraging Dollars (BUILD) Authority and creates a public financing mechanism to fund the development, construction, repair, improvement, operation, maintenance, decommissioning, or ownership of infrastructure projects.

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

Current law tasks the executive director of the Department of Early Childhood with adopting all rules for the administration of the Department and executing and administering the Department’s programs and services. This bill repeals duties from the executive director, creates the State Board of Early Childhood Services, and tasks with Board with all regulatory and administrative functions for the Department. Additionally, the bill removes the allowance for Local Coordinating Organizations (LCOs) to participate in the Colorado Universal Preschool Program and instead tasks LCOs with continuing to support families who apply for early childhood and family support programs and services, coordinating with county departments and tribal agencies, and working with early child care providers to increase recruitment and retention of individuals in the early child care workforce. Finally, requires the Department to modify the unified application to give administrative access to a preschool provider who participates in the program to help families enroll their children in the program.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Drafted by the Uniform Law Commission, the bill repeals the "Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act" and enacts the "Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act"

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Adds one additional county representative to the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board, removes the Board's ability to define the wildland-urban interface and instead defines it in statute, and requires each county to approve and submit to the Board a wildland-urban interface map. Additionally, requires the Board to adopt minimum codes and standards related to wildfire resiliency after receiving a wildland-urban interface map from every county. Indicates that governing bodies, like counties, have one year from the Board's adoption of the minimum codes and standards to adopt the codes. 

Justice & Public Safety

Kevin Neimond

This bill proposes several modifications to the management of the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) by its Board of Trustees, including ensuring that board meetings are subject to Colorado open meetings laws establishing term limits for both elected and appointed board members, and creating financial transparency requirements.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

The bill proposes several modifications to Colorado's campaign finance regulations under the "Fair Campaign Practices Act." Key provisions include: a year-round prohibition on registered lobbyists from contributing to political campaigns, an expansion of the definition of "electioneering communication", modifying disclosure and reporting requirements for political donations and contributions, and increased transparency for political action committees. 

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Defines an equestrian zone as an area that a local government determines is suburban or urbans and contains criteria related to equestrian recreation; requires local governments to maintain related infrastructure and signage to protect public safety in such zones. The bill also allows local governments to organize public educational events and implements requirements for drivers of motor vehicles and for equestrian riders.

Tourism, Resorts, & Economic Development

Reagan Shane

Creates the Fostering Success Pilot Program in the Department of Human Services. The Program has two components. First, it creates the Supplemental Support for Foster Students Program which awards $2,000 scholarships annually to a foster care provider, kinship foster care provider, or a non-certified kinship care provider who cares for a youth in the legal custody of a county department of human or social services until the youth graduates from high school. Second, it creates the Milestone Incentives Program which awards $1,000 to a youth for successfully graduating from high school.

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

Implements recommendations from the Timothy Montoya Task Force To Prevent Children From

Running Away From Out-Of-Home Placement, including requiring the Child Protection Ombudsman to develop a run away risk assessment and prediction tool, collect run away data, and conduct a survey of the physical infrastructure of facilities. Additionally, the bill requires a facility to notify the child’s or youth’s parent, legal guardian, or custodian within 24 hours after discovering the child or youth is missing from its care

Health & Human Services

Kevin Neimond

This bill aims to reduce state regulation in several state agencies. The bill prohibits state agencies from imposing personal qualification requirements for professions or occupations unless they can prove that such requirements are necessary and narrowly tailored to address a legitimate public health, safety, or welfare concern. By July 1, 2026, agencies must review and determine whether existing occupational regulations should be repealed or amended. The bill also repeals several energy and environment regulatory programs, including the industrial and manufacturing clean air grant program, cannabis resource optimization cash fund, community electric bicycle access program, and school bus electrification grant program. It also eliminates the Energy Code Board, model energy codes, and multiple grant programs created by House Bill 22-1362; repeals the Air Quality Enterprise, created by Senate Bill 20-204; ends certain air quality control penalties established by Senate Bill 20-218; and repeals air toxics fenceline and community-based monitoring requirements for covered facilities, established by House Bill 21-1189.

General Government

Meghan MacKillop

Senate Bill 25-161 proposes comprehensive reforms for Colorado’s Regional Transportation District (RTD), focusing on service expansion, climate goals, and operational transparency. Key provisions include authorizing RTD to form service partnerships with local governments and institutions, developing a 10-year strategic plan and regular operational analyses, increasing public access to service data, enhancing worker retention and safety, and aligning with statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets. It also creates an RTD Accountability Committee and adds nonvoting members to the RTD board.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Senate Bill 25-162 establishes the Office of Rail Safety within the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), granting it exclusive jurisdiction over railroad safety inspections, investigations, and regulatory enforcement statewide. The bill requires railroads operating in Colorado to fund regulatory activities through fees and ensures that the PUC adopts and enforces federal and state railroad safety standards. The PUC is granted sole regulatory authority over railroad safety, preempting any conflicting local regulations and establishing a consistent statewide safety framework.  Railroads must immediately notify local emergency services and the PUC in the event of accidents, hazardous material spills, or other emergencies. The bill outlines detailed requirements for emergency response coordination. Railroad workers are provided civil liability immunity when acting in good faith during emergencies, such as assisting with evacuations or emergency response efforts. Railroads are required to cover the costs of safety inspections, investigations, and regulatory programs through fees assessed by the PUC, ensuring adequate funding for safety oversight Emphasis is placed on preventing and responding to hazardous material incidents, including regular inspections of railcars transporting such materials, emergency response planning, and environmental mitigation efforts.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Meghan MacKillop

Creates a battery stewardship program for battery producers and distributors in the state. Covered batteries include “a portable battery, a medium-format battery, or any battery sold loose or as an easily removable battery within a battery-containing product or motorized device” (but not including EV/car or built-in batteries). Beginning July 1, 2028, retailers must participate in a battery stewardship organization with an approved plan that details – among other things – how they will arrange for the collection of certain batteries by establishing collection sites. Beginning January 1, 2029, a person is required to manage certain batteries through delivery to a collection site rather than disposing of them in a landfill.

More information is available here: https://shorturl.at/xxeoK

Land Use & Natural Resources

Reagan Shane