Bill Tracker

Section 1: Expanding the Definition of "Employer"

• Change: An "employer" now includes individuals who own or control at least 25% of a business.
• Impact: Broadens liability for wage and hour violations to include individuals with significant ownership stakes.

Section 2: Minimum Wage Protections

• Change: Employers cannot deduct from payroll in a way that reduces a worker's pay below the applicable minimum wage.
• Impact: Strengthens minimum wage enforcement by closing loopholes.

Section 3: Penalty Waivers

• Change: The division director can waive penalties for late wage payments if specific conditions are met.
• Impact: Provides flexibility for employers who can demonstrate mitigating circumstances.

Section 4: Attorney Fees and Equitable Relief

• Change:
• Courts can no longer award employers attorney fees in civil cases about unpaid wages.
• Courts can grant equitable relief (e.g., injunctions) to deter violations and prevent unjust enrichment.
• Impact: Shifts focus from punishing employees to preventing employer misconduct.

Section 5: Wage Claim Limits and Adjudication

• Change:
• Raises the claim limit for wage disputes adjudicated by the division from $7,500 to $13,000 by 2026, with inflation adjustments starting in 2028.
• Requires the division to determine if violations are willful.
• Mandates public reporting of violations and informs government bodies to take action against noncompliant employers.
• Removes the 90-day limit for resolving wage complaints.
• Impact: Expands the division's authority, increases transparency, and strengthens penalties for noncompliance.

Section 6: Misclassification Fines

• Change:
• Introduces significant fines for misclassifying employees as nonemployees:
• $5,000 for willful violations.
• $10,000 if not remedied within 60 days.
• Up to $50,000 for repeat offenses.
• Adjusts fines for inflation starting in 2028.
• Reduces the waiting period for employees to receive wages from the wage theft enforcement fund from 6 months to 120 days.
• Impact: Creates stronger financial disincentives for misclassification and ensures quicker wage recovery for employees.

Section 7: Anti-Retaliation Protections

• Change:
• Expands protections against retaliation for employees and other individuals involved in wage and hour law claims.
• Requires consideration of timing between protected activity and adverse actions to assess retaliation claims.
• Declares using immigration status to undermine wage claims as unlawful intimidation.
• Allows the division to award attorney fees and costs in discrimination or retaliation cases.
• Impact: Enhances protections for vulnerable workers and provides clearer guidelines for addressing retaliation.

General Takeaways

• The bill aims to:
• Strengthen wage and hour law enforcement.
• Expand protections for workers, especially against retaliation and misclassification.
• Increase accountability for employers, including those with significant ownership stakes.
• Enhance transparency and public awareness of violations.

Section 1 of the bill amends the definition of employer for
purposes of wage and hour laws to include an individual who owns or
controls at least 25% of the ownership interest in an employer.
Section 2 prohibits an employer from making a payroll deduction
below a worker's applicable minimum wage.
Section 3 allows the director of the division of labor standards and
statistics (division) to waive the penalty for an employer's failure to pay
claimed wages or compensation within 14 days after a written demand if
certain specified conditions are met.
Section 4 repeals language allowing a court to award an employer
reasonable costs and attorney fees in a civil action for unpaid wages or
compensation in certain circumstances. In such an action, the court may
pursue all equitable relief to deter future violations and prevent unjust
enrichment.
Current law limits the ability of the director of the division to
adjudicate claims for nonpayment of wages or compensation to $7,500 or
less. Section 5 increases this threshold over the years by increasing the
amount to $13,000 for claims filed from July 1, 2026, through December
31, 2027, and in an amount specified by the director of the division to
adjust for inflation beginning January 1, 2028. Section 5 also requires the
division, in adjudicating wage claims, to determine whether a violation
is willful. For each violation:
  • The director shall publish on the division's website the
names of all employers found to be in violation and
whether the violation was willful; and
  • If the violation is not remedied within 60 days after the
division's finding that there was a violation, the division
must notify all government bodies with the authority to
deny, withdraw, or otherwise limit or impose remedial
conditions on the employer's license, permit, registration,
or other credential.
Additionally, the division may report an employer found to have
violated a law related to wages and hours to any government body with
authority to deny, withdraw, or otherwise limit or impose remedial
conditions on a license, permit, registration, or other credential that the
violating employer has or may seek. Section 5 also repeals language
requiring the division to issue a determination on a wage complaint
within 90 days.
Section 6 requires an employer found to have misclassified an
employee as a nonemployee to pay a fine in the following amounts, in
addition to any other relief ordered:
  • For a willful violation, $5,000;
  • For a violation not remedied within 60 days after the
division's finding, $10,000;
  • For a second or subsequent willful violation within 5 years,
$25,000; or
  • For a second or subsequent willful violation not remedied
within 60 days after the division's finding, $50,000.
The director of the division must adjust these fine amounts for
inflation by January 1, 2028, and every other year thereafter.
Section 6 also decreases the amount of time the division must wait
before paying an employee out of the wage theft enforcement fund from
6 months to 120 days.
Current law prohibits an employer from discriminating or
retaliating against an employee for taking protection under wage and hour
laws or the law related to the employment of minors. Section 7 expands
this provision to specify additional protected behavior and expands the
prohibition to include other persons in addition to employers.
Section 7 also:
  • Requires a fact finder to consider the time between an
individual's exercise of a protected activity and an
employer's adverse action when determining whether an
employer has retaliated against the employee or worker;
  • Specifies that any effort to use an individual's immigration
status to negatively impact the wage and hour law rights,
responsibilities, or proceedings of any employee or worker
is an unlawful act of intimidation, threatening, coercion,
discrimination, and retaliation; and
  • Allows the division to order reasonable attorney fees and
costs after investigating a discrimination or retaliation
claim.

• February 24, 2025: House Finance Committee Report
• January 30, 2025: House Business Affairs & Labor Committee Report

This bill focuses on wildfire mitigation efforts within fire protection districts or metropolitan districts providing fire protection services. It introduces a program aimed at reducing the presence of flammable vegetation (referred to as "vegetative fuel") on privately owned properties to help prevent fires. Below are the key elements of the bill:

1. Creation of a Vegetative Fuel Program:

   • A district may establish a vegetative fuel program to mitigate the presence of dead or dry plant material that could contribute to a wildfire.
   • The program must adhere to the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code or standards issued by the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Board.

2. Requirements for Property Owners:

   • A district may require property owners or occupiers within its jurisdiction to remove vegetative fuel from their property to comply with the program.
   • If the property owner or occupier fails to remove the fuel, the district may assess a fine. However, before this, the district must issue a written notice and provide at least 10 days for compliance.
   • A second notice may be issued if there is no compliance within 10 days, and further noncompliance after this could lead to a third notice and a fine up to $300 per property per incident.

3. Appealing Fines:

   • Property owners or occupiers subject to a fine can file an objection with the district's board. The board has the discretion to waive the fine or reduce it, particularly in cases where the fine was not assessed properly, the property owner is financially unable to pay, or the fuel has been removed.

4. Use of Collected Fines:

   • The money collected from fines must be used by the district for vegetative fuel removal on private property within its jurisdiction. The funds should prioritize assisting low-income individuals, seniors, or those with disabilities.

5. District Rulemaking:

   • The district must adopt policies and rules to implement the program after public notice and comment. These rules must be posted on the district’s website for transparency.

This bill seeks to reduce wildfire risks by encouraging proactive removal of flammable vegetation while providing a structured and transparent process for enforcement. The inclusion of the option for fines and the possibility of waivers also ensures some flexibility for property owners.

The bill allows a fire protection district or a metropolitan district
providing fire protection services (district) to create a program to mitigate
the presence of dead or dry plant material that can burn and contribute to
a fire on privately owned property within a district (vegetative fuel
program). A district that creates a vegetative fuel program is required to
adopt policies consistent with the 2024 International Wildland-urban
Interface Code or the standards and codes adopted or issued by the
Colorado wildfire resiliency code board. A district that creates a
vegetative fuel program may require an owner or occupier with an interest
in private real property that contains vegetative fuel within the district to
remove the vegetative fuel and assess a fine per incident of
noncompliance. In order to assess a fine, for each incident, the district
must provide written notice of the requirement to remove vegetative fuel
and allow at least 10 days for the owner or occupier to comply. An owner
or occupier that does not remove the vegetative fuel as provided in the
first notice may be subject to a second notice requiring the removal of
vegetative fuel. An owner or occupier has at least 10 days to comply with
the second notice. An owner or occupier that does not comply within at
least 10 days after the second notice may receive a third notice providing
for a fine approximately equal to the cost of removing the vegetative fuel.
The fine may not exceed $300 per property per incident. An owner or
occupier receiving a third notice may avoid a fine by removing the
vegetative fuel within 10 days of the date of the third notice.
The money a district collects from a fine must be used by the
district to remove vegetative fuel on private real property within the
district's jurisdiction. An owner or occupier that is subject to a fine
imposed by the district has standing to file an objection to the fine with
the district's board. A district's board may waive the fine in all or in part,
in its discretion, if it determines that the fine was not assessed pursuant
to law, an owner or occupier is financially unable to pay the fine, or the
vegetative fuel has been removed, and must prioritize use of the money
to assist a low-income owner or occupier, a senior owner or occupier, or
an owner or occupier with a disability in removing vegetative fuel from
the owner or occupier's property.
A district shall adopt rules and policies after public notice and
comment to implement the bill and shall post the adopted rules and
policies to the district's website.

• March 05, 2025: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Report
• February 03, 2025: House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee Report

This bill aims to expand consumer protection laws related to price gouging, particularly during disasters, by broadening the scope of what constitutes an unfair practice. Here's a breakdown of the key provisions:

1. Price Gouging as an Unfair Act:

   • The bill adds price gouging in the sale of necessities to the list of unfair and unconscionable acts in violation of consumer protection laws. This aligns with existing laws that already cover price gouging during declared disasters.

2. Price Gouging Presumption:

   • The bill establishes a presumption that price gouging occurs when the price of a necessity increases by 10% or more above the average price of that necessity in the 90 days prior to the price hike.
   • If a business raises the price by this amount, it is presumed to be price gouging unless they can demonstrate otherwise.

3. Definition of Necessities:

   • The bill defines "necessities" as goods or services that are essential for the health, safety, and welfare of consumers or the general public. This could include things like food, water, medicine, or fuel during emergencies.

Under current law, a person engages in an unfair and
unconscionable act or practice in violation of consumer protection laws
(unfair act) if the person engages in price gouging during a declared
disaster. The bill adds engaging in price gouging in the sale of necessities
as an unfair act and creates a presumption that, if the price of a necessity
is increased by 10% or more above the average price that the necessity
cost during the 90 days preceding the price increase, the price increase
amounts to price gouging.
The bill also defines necessities as goods or services that are
necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of consumers or of the
general public.

• February 06, 2025: House Business Affairs & Labor Committee Report

This text describes proposed changes to laws related to water rights and well permitting processes. Here’s a breakdown of what it means:

1. Water Well Permits & Extensions:

   • Currently, if someone receives a permit to construct a well outside a designated groundwater basin, they must build it within one year; otherwise, the permit expires.
   • They can request a one-year extension from the state engineer or groundwater commission.
   • The bill extends the time frame to two years, meaning there’s no need to request an extension for that extra year (except for federally authorized water projects).

2. Permit Expiration & Reinstatement:

   • The bill removes the requirement that the commission or state engineer send a certified letter before a permit expires.
   • However, if a permit expires, it can be reinstated if the well was completed on time and the applicant pays a $30 fee.

3. Water Rights Abandonment Process:

   • Under current law, every 10 years, each water division must submit a list of water rights that appear to be abandoned to the water court.
   • The bill splits this process into two parts, with one batch being reviewed every five years (starting in 2030 and 2035), while still maintaining the overall 10-year cycle per water division.

4. Other Changes:

   • The bill extends certain time frames related to well permitting.
   • It removes final permitting requirements for non-Denver Basin bedrock aquifer wells in designated basins.

The division of water resources in the department of natural
resources (division) is responsible for administering water rights and
issuing water well permits, among other duties.
Under current law, after having received a permit to appropriate
designated groundwater or construct a well outside the boundaries of a
designated groundwater basin, a permit holder is required to construct the
well within one year after the date of issuance of the permit. If the well
is not constructed within one year, the permit expires; except that the
ground water commission (commission) in the division or the state
engineer, as applicable, may grant a single one-year extension.
The bill extends the time frame for construction of a well to 2
years, eliminating the need for the commission or the state engineer to
approve a one-year extension to the initial one-year construction time
frame, except for permits issued for federally authorized water projects.
The bill also removes the requirement that the commission or state
engineer must mail a certified letter to the permit holder before a permit
can be formally expired. The bill allows the commission or state engineer
to reinstate an expired permit if the applicant for reinstatement of the
permit can show that the well was completed in a timely manner and
submits a $30 fee.
Under current law, the division engineer of each water division is
required to decennially present to the water court a list of water rights that
meet the criteria for abandonment. The bill splits this decennial
abandonment process into 2 batches, grouped by water division and
spaced 5 years apart, beginning with 2030 and 2035. The bill maintains
the requirement that the abandonment process be performed every 10
years in each water division.
The bill extends certain time frames relating to the well permitting
process. Lastly, the bill eliminates final permitting requirements for
non-Denver Basin bedrock aquifer wells in the designated basins.

• February 28, 2025: House Appropriations Committee Report
• January 27, 2025: House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee Report

The bill aims to regulate fencing projects within the Sangre de Cristo land grant lands to protect the environment and local communities.

Key Provisions:

• Application Requirement:

  • Effective July 1, 2025, individuals planning to install or substantially repair a contiguous fence of a specified size within the Sangre de Cristo land grant lands must submit an application to the local government with jurisdiction over the area.
  • Public Notice and Decision Timeline:
  • Within 14 days of receiving an application, the local government must publish notice of the application on its website.
  • The local government is required to approve or reject the application within 60 days, based on established criteria.

• Local Government Discretion:

  • Despite the established criteria, a local government may approve an application if it determines that the benefits of the fencing project outweigh the harms.

• Opt-Out Provision:

  • The governing body of a local government may pass an ordinance or resolution opting out of these requirements. 

The bill requires, on or after July 1, 2025, and before commencing
a project to install or substantially repair a contiguous fence of a certain
size in the Sangre de Cristo land grant lands (covered fencing project), a
person to submit an application for the covered fencing project to the
local government with jurisdiction over the covered fencing project
(application). No later than 14 days after the local government's receipt
of an application, the local government must publish notice of the
application on the local government's website. No later than 60 days after
the local government's receipt of an application, the local government
must either approve or reject the application based on certain criteria.
Despite the criteria, a local government may approve an application if it
determines that the benefits of the covered fencing project outweigh the
harms. Also, the governing body of a local government may pass an
ordinance or resolution opting out of these requirements.

• February 03, 2025: House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee Report

The bill addresses the authorities of municipalities:

Key Provisions:

• Expansion of Municipal Authority:
  • The bill extends a municipality's full police power and control over land acquired outside its municipal limits for use as parks, parkways, boulevards, roads, open space, and natural areas.
  • This authority applies to all such acquired land, regardless of whether it is open or closed to the public. 

Current law grants a municipality full police power and control
(authority) 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 and
clarifies that it extends to all such acquired land whether or not it is open
or closed to the public.

• February 20, 2025: Senate Local Government & Housing Committee Report
• January 22, 2025: House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee Report

The proposed bill, HB25-1039, seeks to enhance noise control and safety standards for commercial vehicles in Colorado by implementing the following measures:

• Universal Muffler Requirement:

  • Mandates that all commercial vehicles be equipped with a muffler.
  • The muffler must be positioned for visual inspection to ensure it is present, intact, and functioning properly.
  • If the muffler is not visible, specific documentation must be available in the vehicle for inspection by a peace officer.

• Documentation Standards:

  • Establishes standards for the necessary documentation to verify muffler compliance.

• Increased Penalties:

  • Raises the fine for non-compliance from $500 to $1,000.
  • Prohibits the registration of the commercial vehicle for one year unless the owner or operator demonstrates compliance.

• Compliance Incentives:

  • Waives the fine if the owner or operator can show that a compliant muffler was installed before the citation was issued.
  • Offers a 50% reduction in the fine if a compliant muffler is installed within 30 days after the citation.

• Contractual Obligations:

  • Requires state agencies to include language in construction contracts stating that a contractor's or subcontractor's commercial vehicle entering a public project site must comply with these muffler requirements.

These measures aim to reduce noise pollution and enhance safety on Colorado's roads by ensuring that all commercial vehicles are equipped with properly functioning mufflers.

Current law requires a commercial vehicle to have a muffler if the
commercial vehicle is equipped with an engine brake. The bill requires
all commercial vehicles to have a muffler. The muffler must be located
so that it may be visually inspected to ensure it is present, intact, and
functioning properly; except that a muffler need not be visible for
inspection if certain documentation is present in the commercial vehicle
and available for inspection by a peace officer. Standards are set for the
necessary documentation. The fine for a violation is increased from $500
to $1,000, and the commercial vehicle may not be registered for one year
unless the owner or operator shows compliance. The fine is not imposed
if the owner or operator can show that a muffler was installed before the
citation was issued and that the muffler complied with the manufacturing
noise standards for the model year of the commercial vehicle. The fine is
decreased by 50% if a muffler is installed within 30 days after the citation
is written.
State agencies must include language in construction contracts
stating that a contractor's or subcontractor's commercial vehicle that
enters a public project site is required to comply with the bill.

• January 28, 2025: House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee Report

The proposed bill, HB25-1042, aims to establish a Workforce Advisory Council within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to assess the impact of air quality control regulations on employment in affected industries. Key provisions include:

• Council Establishment:

  • The executive director of CDPHE is required to establish the Workforce Advisory Council by August 1, 2025.

• Council Objectives:

  • Discuss recommendations for incorporating workforce impact analyses into the rule-making procedures for air quality control regulations.
  • Recommend standard procedures for CDPHE and the Air Quality Control Commission to follow when conducting workforce impact analyses.
  • Determine the potential value of establishing a full-time workforce advocate position within CDPHE to assist in the air quality control rule-making process.

• Reporting Requirements:

  • CDPHE must report the council's recommendations to the General Assembly by January 15, 2026.

• Ongoing Council Activities:

  • After January 15, 2026, the council is required to:
    • Meet at least four times per year.
    • Continue advising CDPHE on the employment impacts of proposed air quality control regulations.
    • Make ongoing recommendations to the Governor, CDPHE, and the Air Quality Control Commission on legislative and regulatory air quality control policies affecting employment.

This initiative seeks to balance environmental protection with economic considerations, ensuring that air quality regulations are developed with a comprehensive understanding of their potential workforce impacts.

The bill requires the executive director of the department of public
health and environment (department) to establish a workforce advisory
council (council) on or before August 1, 2025, for the purposes of:
  • Discussing recommendations concerning the incorporation
of workforce impact analyses into the rule-making
procedures for rules that impact air quality;
  • Recommending standard procedures for the department and
the air quality control commission (commission) to follow
when conducting workforce impact analyses for inclusion
in rule-making procedures; and
  • Determining if the establishment of a full-time workforce
advocate position would add value to the air quality control
rule-making process.
The bill requires the department to report the council's
recommendations to the general assembly on or before January 15, 2026.
After January 15, 2026, the council is required to:
  • Meet at least 4 times per year;
  • Continue to advise the department on the impact of
proposed air quality control rules on matters related to
employment; and
  • Make ongoing recommendations to the governor, the
department, and the commission on legislative and
regulatory air quality control policies that impact
employment matters.

• February 27, 2025: House Energy & Environment Committee Report

The proposed bill, HB25-1053, aims to grant limited immunity from civil liability to landowners who permit access to their property during emergencies. This immunity would protect landowners from damage or injury claims, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. 

This initiative aligns with previous efforts to encourage landowner cooperation during emergencies. For instance, in 2024, the Wildfire Matters Review Committee advanced legislation to legally protect landowners who allow access to their land during emergencies, ensuring they are not sued when acting in good faith.

Wildfire Matters Review Committee. The bill provides
immunity from civil liability for damage or injury to persons or property,
other than that which arises from gross negligence or willful misconduct,
to a landowner who allows access to the landowner's property for entry
and exit in connection with an emergency.

• February 26, 2025: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Report
• February 03, 2025: House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee Report

The proposed bill seeks to amend Colorado's plumbing licensure requirements concerning backflow prevention devices. Backflow refers to the undesirable reversal of water, fluids, or gases, which can lead to contamination of potable water systems.

Current Law:

Under existing statutes, individuals involved in the installation, removal, inspection, testing, or repair of backflow prevention devices are generally required to hold a plumbing license. An exception exists for those installing or testing stand-alone fire suppression sprinkler systems, who are not subject to this licensure requirement. 

Proposed Changes:

The bill proposes to modify Section 12-155-118(4) of the Colorado Revised Statutes to exempt individuals who inspect, test, or repair backflow prevention devices from the state's plumbing licensure requirements. However, those engaged in the installation or removal of these devices would still be required to obtain appropriate licensure. 

Implications:

If enacted, this legislation would allow professionals specializing in the inspection, testing, or repair of backflow prevention devices to operate without a plumbing license, potentially broadening the pool of qualified technicians and addressing workforce shortages in this area. Conversely, maintaining licensure requirements for installation and removal ensures that these critical tasks are performed by individuals with comprehensive plumbing expertise, thereby safeguarding public health and safety.

This adjustment aims to balance the need for public safety with the practicalities of workforce availability, ensuring that while certain specialized tasks can be performed by non-licensed individuals, the more complex processes of installation and removal remain under the purview of licensed professionals.

Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee.
Backflow is the reverse flow of water, fluid, or gas caused by back
pressure or back siphonage. Under current law, individuals who are
engaged in the business of installing, removing, inspecting, testing, or
repairing backflow prevention devices are subject to the licensure
requirements for plumbers, except when the individuals are installing or
testing a stand-alone fire suppression sprinkler system.
The bill exempts individuals engaged in the business of inspecting,
testing, or repairing backflow prevention devices from licensure
requirements but retains the licensure requirements for individuals
engaged in the installation or removal of the devices.

• February 27, 2025: Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee Report
• January 29, 2025: House Business Affairs & Labor Committee Report

The proposed bill mandates that the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission develop written guidance by January 1, 2027, for establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). TMDLs represent the maximum quantity of a specific pollutant that can enter state waters daily without breaching established water quality standards. This guidance aims to standardize the process for determining these pollutant limits.

Starting January 1, 2028, the Division of Administration within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will be responsible for calculating TMDLs for state waters. These calculations must be based on credible data to ensure accuracy and reliability. The objective is to provide a clear framework for assessing and managing pollutants, thereby safeguarding Colorado's water quality. 

The bill requires the water quality control commission, on or
before January 1, 2027, 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 maximum daily load). The bill also requires
the division of administration in the department of public health and
environment, on and after January 1, 2028, to determine a total maximum
daily load for state waters using credible data.

• March 06, 2025: House Energy & Environment Committee Report

The bill proposes significant changes to Colorado's rainwater collection laws for single-family and small multifamily residences (up to four units). Currently, residents are limited to collecting a maximum of 110 gallons of rainwater, which can only be used for outdoor purposes such as lawn and garden irrigation. The new legislation seeks to remove this 110-gallon cap, allowing homeowners to collect an unlimited amount of rainwater. Additionally, it would lift existing restrictions on the use of collected rainwater, permitting its use for any purpose on the property, including indoor uses. This change aims to provide homeowners with greater flexibility in utilizing rainwater, potentially reducing reliance on municipal water supplies and promoting water conservation. 

Current law authorizes the collection of rooftop precipitation from
a single-family residence or a multifamily residence with 4 or fewer units
(small residence). The bill removes the 100-gallon limitation on the
amount of rooftop precipitation that may be collected from a small
residence and removes all limitations on how the collected precipitation
may be used. The bill allows for collection of any amount of precipitation
for any use on the property of a small residence.

• February 13, 2025: House Energy & Environment Committee Report

The proposed bill mandates that, starting January 1, 2028, all businesses operating in Colorado with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion must publicly disclose their total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the previous calendar year. This includes direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling (Scope 2). Beginning January 1, 2029, these businesses are also required to report all other indirect emissions that occur in their value chain (Scope 3). Each disclosure must be independently verified by a third-party auditor. Non-compliance may result in civil penalties of up to $100,000 for each day of violation, enforceable by district attorneys or the state attorney general.

This initiative aligns with Colorado's ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in GHG emissions reporting, building upon existing regulations that require certain industries to monitor and report their emissions to the state.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-hits-pause-on-defense-of-climate-disclosure-rule-2e8ca404?utm_source=chatgpt.com

The bill requires each entity that does business in Colorado and has
total revenues exceeding $1 billion in the preceding calendar year
(reporting entity) to publicly disclose its total greenhouse gas emissions
during the preceding calendar year. For scope 1 and scope 2 emissions,
the reporting requirements begin January 1, 2028. For scope 3 emissions,
the initial reporting requirements begin January 1, 2029, and are updated
on January 1 each year thereafter. A reporting entity must have each of its
disclosures independently verified by a third-party auditor.
A district attorney or the attorney general may bring a civil action
against a reporting entity for failing to comply with the disclosure
requirements. A court may require a noncompliant reporting entity to pay
a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for each day of
noncompliance.

• February 27, 2025: House Energy & Environment Committee Report

This bill removes the limit on the number of veterinary students who can enroll at Colorado State University and eliminates financial restrictions related to its professional veterinary medicine program.

The bill eliminates the statutory cap on the number of veterinary
students permitted to attend Colorado state university at one time. The bill
eliminates additional financial limitations related to the professional
veterinary medicine program at Colorado state university.

• March 03, 2025: Senate Education Committee Report
• February 06, 2025: House Education Committee Report

The bill expands the Colorado Cottage Foods Act by allowing the sale and consumption of homemade foods that require refrigeration, in addition to the foods that do not require refrigeration. This change broadens the scope of foods that can be legally produced, sold, and consumed under the act, providing more opportunities for individuals to sell homemade foods. The current act allows for a limited range of homemade, non-refrigerated foods to be sold, but this bill extends those provisions to include foods that require refrigeration.

The Colorado Cottage Foods Act (act) allows for the sale and
consumption of a limited range of homemade foods that do not require
refrigeration. The bill expands the act by allowing for the sale and
consumption of homemade foods that require refrigeration.

• March 03, 2025: House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee Report

The bill addresses the regulation of cell-cultivated meat in food processing plants, focusing on accurate labeling and preventing misbranding. Here are the key points:

Key Provisions of the Bill:

1. Labeling Requirement:
   The bill mandates that food processing plants clearly label any cell-cultivated meat as such, distinguishing it from conventional meat products. This ensures that consumers are aware they are purchasing cell-cultivated meat, not traditional meat.

2. Prohibition on Misbranding:
   The bill prohibits food processing plants from selling or offering cell-cultivated meat that is misbranded as a meat product. This ensures that cell-cultivated meat cannot be marketed under misleading or incorrect labels.

3. Inspection Authority:
   The Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE) is authorized to inspect food processing plants if there is reasonable cause to believe that:

   • Cell-cultivated meat is being misbranded as a meat product.
   • Cell-cultivated meat is being sold or offered for sale without the required labeling.

4. Stop Orders:
   If the DPHE determines, after an inspection, that misbranding or lack of labeling is occurring, it can issue a stop order. This order halts the sale of the cell-cultivated meat until the department confirms whether the labeling requirements are being met.

5. Embargo Orders:
   If it is found that misbranding or failure to label is occurring, the DPHE can issue an embargo order, requiring the food processing plant to dispose of the cell-cultivated meat in a way that prevents its sale to consumers in Colorado.

6. Legal Enforcement:
   The DPHE, Attorney General, or District Attorney in the jurisdiction where the violation occurred can petition the district court to enforce stop orders or embargo orders, ensuring compliance with the bill’s provisions.

7. Rulemaking:
   The DPHE has the authority to adopt rules to implement the bill, providing further guidance and ensuring the smooth regulation of cell-cultivated meat.

The bill aims to protect consumers from misleading labeling practices and to ensure that cell-cultivated meat is properly identified as such, maintaining transparency and ensuring that food products are clearly labeled and accurately represented.

By requiring clear labeling and inspections, the bill seeks to establish proper regulatory oversight of cell-cultivated meat in the market, safeguarding public health and consumer rights.

The bill prohibits food processing plants from selling or offering
for sale cell-cultivated meat that is misbranded as a meat product. The bill
also requires food processing plants to clearly label cell-cultivated meat
as cell-cultivated meat.
The department of public health and environment (department) is
required to inspect food at a food processing plant if the department has
reasonable cause to believe that:
  • Cell-cultivated meat sold or offered for sale by the plant is
misbranded as a meat product; or
  • The plant is failing to label cell-cultivated meat as required.
If, after an inspection, the department has reasonable cause to
believe that a food processing plant is selling or offering for sale
cell-cultivated meat that is misbranded as a meat product, or is failing to
label cell-cultivated meat as required, the department may issue a stop
order. Upon being issued the stop order, the food processing plant shall
not sell the product or offer it for sale until the department determines
whether it is misbranded or unlabeled in violation of the bill.
If the department determines that a food processing plant is selling
or offering for sale cell-cultivated meat that is misbranded as a meat
product, or is failing to label cell-cultivated meat as required, the
department may issue an embargo order requiring the food processing
plant to dispose of the cell-cultivated meat by means other than by sale to
purchasers in Colorado.
The department, the attorney general, or the district attorney in the
district where cell-cultivated meat is being offered for sale or sold may
petition the district court to enforce a stop order or an embargo order.
The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement the bill.

• March 03, 2025: House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee Report

This bill focuses on increasing transparency and public access regarding air quality control. Here’s a breakdown of what it requires:

1. Record Maintenance:

   • Owners or operators of buildings, structures, facilities, or installations that emit or could emit air pollutants (referred to as stationary sources) are required to maintain records. These records should help the public understand whether the stationary source is complying with air quality control regulations.

2. Public Accessibility:

   • The records must be publicly available and accessible.
   • Owners or operators must post these records on their public website, providing a direct link to access them.

3. Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE):

   • The CDPHE is tasked with ensuring that members of the public can easily find these records. It must include a link on its own website that directs people to the websites of owners or operators where the records are available.

The bill aims to increase public access to information regarding the compliance of air pollution sources with environmental standards. It ensures that people can easily verify whether entities are adhering to air quality regulations. This also allows for greater public oversight of air quality control efforts in the state.

Under current law, the air quality control commission is tasked
with developing an effective air quality control program (program),
including adopting rules necessary to carry out the program.
The bill requires a person that owns, leases, operates, controls, or
supervises (owner or operator) a building, structure, facility, or
installation that emits or may emit an air pollutant (stationary source) to
maintain records that will help the public determine whether the owner
or operator is in compliance with rules establishing applicable air quality
control regulations (records). The bill requires an owner or operator of a
stationary source to make the records publicly available and accessible
through a link on the owner or operator's public website.
The department of public health and environment is required to
include a link on its website directing members of the public to the
website of an owner or operator where the records are available.

• March 05, 2025: House Energy & Environment Committee Report

The bill creates and refines the framework for the practice of veterinary medicine by veterinary professional associates (VPAs) in Colorado—a role established by Proposition 129 in November 2024. Starting January 1, 2026, VPAs may practice veterinary medicine under specific conditions and stringent oversight.

Key Provisions

1. Registration and Eligibility

   • Registration Process:
     The bill outlines how an individual can register as a VPA in Colorado.
   • Permitted Practice:
     VPAs are allowed to practice veterinary medicine only under the immediate or direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Telesupervision is explicitly prohibited.

2. Supervision and Delegation

   • Supervisory Agreement:
     The supervising licensed veterinarian and the VPA must file a signed written agreement with the state board of veterinary medicine. This document confirms that the veterinarian accepts full responsibility for the VPA’s practice.
   • Delegation Criteria:
     Once the agreement is in place, a supervising veterinarian may delegate certain aspects of veterinary practice to the VPA if:
     • The tasks are within the VPA's training, experience, and competency.
     • The delegated practices comply with state and federal law and board rules.
     • Both the veterinarian and the VPA are physically located at the same veterinary premises while practicing.
     • Informed consent is obtained from the client.

3. Board Rulemaking Authority
   The board is instructed to adopt comprehensive rules regarding VPA practice, including:

   • Mandating that VPAs practice only under immediate or direct supervision.
   • Permitting VPAs to perform certain veterinary tasks under indirect supervision if deemed appropriate by the supervising veterinarian.
   • Approving a nationally recognized VPA credentialing organization that sets education, examination, and continuing education standards.
   • Offering guidance for veterinarians on task delegation and supervision.
   • Defining the scope of practice for VPAs.
   • Establishing registration fees and determining continuing education requirements.
   • Creating an equivalent registration pathway for veterinary technician specialists, using their experience, education, and training as a substitute for formal VPA education requirements.

4. Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship and Prescribing Restrictions

   • Relationship Requirement:
     A veterinarian-client-patient relationship must be established and maintained exclusively by a licensed veterinarian.
   • Prescription Limitations:
     Licensed veterinarians must follow specific restrictions when prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines, ensuring safe and responsible use.

Conclusion

By establishing clear registration criteria, strict supervisory requirements, and detailed board rules, the bill aims to integrate VPAs into Colorado’s veterinary system responsibly. It ensures that VPAs operate within a controlled framework designed to safeguard client welfare and maintain high standards of veterinary practice.

The bill establishes and modifies requirements related to the
practice of veterinary medicine by a veterinary professional associate
(VPA). In November 2024, voters in Colorado approved Proposition 129,
which established the role of VPAs and permits VPAs, starting on
January 1, 2026, to practice veterinary medicine under certain
circumstances. The bill specifies how an individual can register as a VPA
in Colorado and clarifies the circumstances under which a VPA can
practice veterinary medicine.
The bill specifies that a VPA is only permitted to practice
veterinary medicine under the immediate or direct supervision of a
supervising licensed veterinarian. Telesupervision of a VPA practicing
veterinary medicine is not permitted under the bill.
The bill requires the supervising licensed veterinarian and the VPA
to file a signed written agreement with the state board of veterinary
medicine (board) that states the veterinarian is responsible for the practice
of veterinary medicine by the VPA. Once that agreement has been filed
with the board, the supervising licensed veterinarian may delegate aspects
of the practice of veterinary medicine to the VPA if:
  • The aspects of the practice are within the training,
experience, and competency of the VPA;
  • The practice of veterinary medicine delegated to the VPA
is permitted under requirements of state and federal law
and board rules;
  • The supervising licensed veterinarian and VPA are located
at the same veterinary premises while practicing veterinary
medicine; and
  • The licensed veterinarian or the VPA has obtained
informed consent from the client.
The bill instructs the board to adopt rules regarding the practice of
veterinary medicine by VPAs, including rules that:
  • Require a VPA to practice veterinary medicine only if
under immediate or direct supervision;
  • Permit a VPA to perform veterinary tasks that do not
constitute the practice of veterinary medicine under indirect
supervision if deemed appropriate by the supervising
licensed veterinarian;
  • Approve a nationally recognized VPA credentialing
organization that requires a VPA to complete an accredited
university program for VPAs, pass a VPA examination,
and complete continuing education requirements;
  • Provide guidance to supervising licensed veterinarians in
their delegation of tasks to and supervision of VPAs;
  • Determine a scope of practice for VPAs;
  • Establish a registration fee for the registration of VPAs;
  • Determine continuing education requirements for VPAs;
and
  • Establish an equivalent registration pathway for a
veterinary technician specialist, which pathway considers
a veterinary technician specialist's experience, education,
and training as a substitute for the education requirements
needed to register as a VPA.
The bill clarifies that a veterinarian-client-patient relationship must
be established and maintained only by a licensed veterinarian.
The bill requires a licensed veterinarian to comply with certain
restrictions when prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines.

• March 10, 2025: House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee Report

WORKPLACE TEMPERATURE SAFETY AND INJURY PREVENTION ACT

I. PURPOSE

• Establishes workplace standards to prevent temperature-related injuries and illnesses.
• Requires employers to implement safety measures, monitoring plans, and emergency response procedures.
• Ensures compliance through required training, preventive rest breaks, and enforcement mechanisms.

II. REST BREAK REQUIREMENTS

• Employers must provide rest breaks allowing workers to access warmth or cooling.
• Meal breaks may count as rest breaks.
• Time spent donning or doffing personal protective equipment cannot be counted toward rest breaks.
• Walking time to and from break areas must not reduce rest break duration.
• Job quotas must be adjusted to allow required breaks.

III. TEMPERATURE-RELATED INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PLAN (TRIIPP)

• Employers must create a site-specific plan addressing temperature-related risks.
• Plans must outline policies and procedures for compliance, including:
  • Heat and cold monitoring.
  • Protective measures for workers wearing vapor-impermeable clothing.
  • Emergency protocols.
• Employers with more than ten workers must:
  • Have a written plan.
  • Designate a temperature safety coordinator.
• Plans must be reviewed annually and updated after temperature-related injuries or illnesses.
• Plans must be available at the worksite in a language understood by workers.

IV. EMERGENCY RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

• Employers must establish a temperature emergency response plan, including:
  • Emergency contact procedures.
  • Designated personnel to invoke emergency measures.
  • Transport protocols.
  • Medical response guidelines.
• Workers showing signs of heat or cold-related illness must:
  • Be monitored and relieved from duty.
  • Be provided first aid or emergency medical attention as needed.
  • Receive immediate body temperature regulation before emergency responders arrive.

V. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Workers must receive training before exposure to extreme temperatures and annually thereafter.
• Training must include:
  • Worksite safety protocols.
  • Break locations.
  • Hydration and warming areas.
  • Risk factors and symptoms of temperature-related illness.
  • Emergency response procedures.
  • Worker rights under the law.
• Supervisors and temperature safety coordinators must receive additional training on compliance and emergency response.
• Additional training is required when:
  • Workplace conditions change.
  • A worker fails to retain necessary knowledge.
  • A temperature-related incident occurs.

VI. WORKER PROTECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT

• Employers must implement requirements at no cost to workers, including:
  • Compensating workers for compliance-related time.
  • Providing necessary protective equipment.
• Employers are prohibited from retaliating against workers exercising their rights.
• Violations may result in compensatory and punitive damages.
• Courts may consider employer size, financial resources, and violation severity when determining damages.

VII. IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE

• The act takes effect April 1, 2026.
• If referred to voters via petition, it will be decided in the November 2026 general election.
• If approved, the act takes effect upon certification of results.

The bill requires employers 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.

AI Bill Version

Definition and Taxation of Computer Software

• Clarifies that internalized instruction code is part of computer hardware and is taxable.
• Establishes that computer software licenses purchased in bulk are taxed based on licenses used in Colorado.

Taxation of Telephone and Telegraph Services (Effective July 1, 2025)

• Imposes sales tax on interstate telephone and telegraph services that originate in Colorado and are billed to a Colorado address.

Gasoline and Special Fuel Tax Deductions

• Repeals the 0.5% distributor tax deduction for payment processing and bad debt losses, effective July 1, 2029.

Enterprise Zone Investment Tax Credit

• Caps the maximum credit at $2 million per taxpayer per year beginning January 1, 2026.
• Excludes certain industries, including oil and gas extraction, hard rock mining, aviation, fuel retail, and wireless telecommunications facility construction.
• Allows businesses to apply for a waiver to exceed the cap if they can demonstrate significant economic benefits to the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
• Requires annual reporting on waiver approvals, including taxpayer names and justification.

Modification of Property Tax and Rent Assistance Grants

• Freezes adjustments for inflation on grants for low-income seniors and disabled individuals until January 1, 2026.
• Limits the maximum eligible income amount and grant amounts to 2023 levels.

Repeal of Certain Tax Credits and Exemptions

• Repeals the senior property tax and rent assistance program effective December 31, 2026.

Effective Dates

• Upon passage, except for specific provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026.

The bill adjusts several state tax expenditures as follows:
  • Section 2 of the bill increases the amount of a company's
total domestic workforce that must be in Colorado for a
company to qualify for the insurance premium tax rate tax
expenditure for a home office or regional home office;
  • Section 3 requires insurance companies, when submitting
certain filings with the division of insurance, to submit the
total annual dollar amount of premiums collected or
contracted for on policies or contracts of insurance
covering property or risks in Colorado during the previous
calendar year from entities that are exempt from taxation;
  • Section 6 limits the existing tax deduction related to
expenses, the deduction of which is disallowed by section
280C of the internal revenue code, so that a taxpayer may
only claim the tax deduction for income tax years
commencing before January 1, 2026;
  • Section 10, for income tax years commencing on and after
January 1, 2026, creates a new tax deduction related to
expenses, the deduction of which is disallowed by section
280C of the internal revenue code, so that a taxpayer may
claim the deduction for any expenses that cannot be
deducted under section 280C of the internal revenue code;
  • Section 7 limits the alternative minimum tax credit to
income tax years commencing prior to January 1, 2025;
  • Section 8 extends the tax credit for monetary contributions
to promote child care, so that the tax credit is available
through income tax years commencing before January 1,
2030, rather than January 1, 2028;
  • Section 9, for income tax years commencing on and after
January 1, 2026, creates an income tax credit for certain
individuals who are 65 years of age or older in the income
tax year, or who are a surviving spouse of that individual,
and who were previously eligible to receive a grant for real
property tax assistance and heat or fuel expenses
assistance;
  • Section 20, beginning January 1, 2026, ends the
availability of grants for real property tax assistance and
heat or fuel expenses assistance;
  • Sections 4, 5, 14, 15, 21, 22, and 23 make conforming
amendments for the changes made in sections 9 and 20;
  • Section 11 expands the definition of local government to
include counties for purposes of the alternative
transportation options tax credit;
  • Section 12 limits the existing business personal property
tax credit so that a taxpayer may only claim the tax
deduction for income tax years commencing before January
1, 2026;
  • Section 13 modifies the tax credit for qualified costs
incurred in preservation of historic structures by removing
the 5% increase in the percentage of rehabilitation expenses
incurred in a rehabilitation in a disaster area for the
rehabilitation of a commercial structure that are applicable
for the tax credit;
  • Section 16 modifies the downloaded software sales tax
exemption so that all software that is available for repeated
sale and license and governed by a nonnegotiable license
agreement qualifies as tangible property and thus is subject
to sales tax;
  • Section 17 ensures that, beginning July 1, 2025, interstate
telephone and telegraph services are subject to state sales
tax;
  • Section 18 repeals, effective July 1, 2025, the special fuel
excise tax reduction associated with bad debt and the
payment of the special fuel excise tax; and
  • Section 19 modifies the enterprise zone tax credit for
income tax years beginning January 1, 2026, by limiting the
total amount of the credit that may be claimed to $2
million, providing an exemption process for that limit, and
prohibiting certain taxpayers from claiming that credit.

This bill creates a voluntary contribution option on Colorado state income tax returns to support animal protection efforts, particularly for pets and livestock affected by emergencies or cruelty cases. It also updates the Animal Protection Fund to ensure continuous funding for these efforts.

• What It Does:

  • The Animal Protection Fund, managed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, will now receive money from:
    • Donations made through state income tax returns (new provision).
    • Proceeds from the sale of animals seized in cruelty cases.
    • Restitution payments ordered in animal cruelty cases.

• Why It Matters:

  • Ensures sustained funding for the care of pets and livestock in emergencies and cruelty cases.
  • Allows the Department of Agriculture to use funds for temporary care, veterinary treatment, and sheltering of displaced or rescued animals.

• What It Does:

  • Creates an optional check-off donation on the Colorado income tax return form for taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the Animal Protection Fund.
  • Taxpayers can choose how much to donate, and funds go directly to animal protection efforts.

• Why It Matters:

  • Provides a new funding source for emergency animal care.
  • Encourages public participation in animal welfare efforts.

• What It Does:

  • The Animal Protection Fund is now continuously appropriated, meaning money flows directly into animal care efforts without needing annual approval from the General Assembly.
  • Requires the Department of Revenue to report the total donations received each year to ensure transparency.

• Why It Matters:

  • Ensures stable funding for animal protection efforts, rather than relying on unpredictable legislative budgeting.
  • Keeps the public informed about how much money is raised and used.

• What It Does:

  • If challenged via a referendum petition, the bill must be approved by voters in the November 2026 general election to take effect.
  • If no challenge is filed, it automatically becomes law after the standard 90-day waiting period.

• Why It Matters:

  • Ensures that the bill has public support if contested.

• Provides stable funding for pet and livestock care in emergencies, disasters, and cruelty cases.
• Reduces burdens on shelters and rescue organizations by ensuring state-supported care.
• Encourages public donations through tax returns, increasing awareness of animal welfare needs.
• Creates a sustainable funding model without relying solely on government budget allocations.

This bill strengthens Colorado’s animal protection system by ensuring consistent funding through voluntary income tax donations and expanding the Animal Protection Fund to cover emergency and crisis care for pets and livestock. If implemented well, it could improve the state’s ability to protect animals during disasters and cruelty investigations while encouraging public engagement in animal welfare efforts.

The bill creates a voluntary procedure by which an individual may
elect to contribute a portion of their state income tax refund as a donation
to the animal protection fund (fund). For the income tax years
immediately following the year in which the executive director of the
department of revenue (department) files written certification with the
revisor of statutes that a line on the income tax return form has become
available and that the animal protection fund voluntary contribution
(contribution) is next in the queue established pursuant to statute, the
executive director of the department shall ensure that the Colorado state
individual income tax return form contains a line by which each
individual taxpayer may designate the amount of the contribution, if any,
that the individual wishes to make to the fund. Money in the fund is
continuously appropriated to the department of agriculture.
The contribution is not subject to sunset review and is not subject
to repeal if the contribution generates no more than $50,000 during the
period between January 1 and September 1 of a tax year.
The bill requires the department to determine annually the total
amount donated through the contribution and report that amount to the
state treasurer and to the general assembly. The state treasurer shall credit
that amount to the fund. All interest derived from the deposit and
investment of money in the fund is credited to the fund. The general
assembly shall appropriate annually from the fund to the department its
costs of administering money designated as contributions to the fund.

The bill removes the requirement for a second election to negotiate a union security agreement clause during collective bargaining.

Previously, after a union was recognized, a separate election was needed to authorize negotiations over union security agreements—clauses that might require employees to join the union or pay dues as a condition of employment.

Eliminating this second election allows recognized unions and employers to directly negotiate union security provisions without additional procedural steps. 

The bill eliminates the requirement for a second election to
negotiate a union security agreement clause in the collective bargaining
process.

• February 04, 2025: Senate Appropriations Committee Report
• January 21, 2025: Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee Report

The proposed bill, introduced by the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy, aims to modify several tax expenditures in Colorado. These adjustments are designed to enhance tax policy efficiency and align with current economic conditions. The key changes are as follows:

• Income Tax Credit for Unsalable Alcohol:

  • The bill disallows this credit after December 31, 2025, and fully repeals it on December 31, 2030.

• Fuel Transit Loss Deduction:

  • Currently, taxpayers can deduct up to 2% of taxable fuel gallons removed from a terminal to account for transit losses. The bill reduces this allowance to 1%, effective January 1, 2026.

• Energy Storage System Credit:

  • The existing credit, which offers 10% of the purchase price for residential energy storage systems and is set to expire on January 1, 2025, is extended through tax years commencing before January 1, 2027. The repeal date is correspondingly extended to January 1, 2030.

• Reducing Emissions from Lawn Equipment Credit:

  • This credit, previously available until the tax year beginning January 1, 2027, is extended to the tax year beginning January 1, 2029. The Department of Revenue's reporting requirement is extended through January 1, 2030, and the credit's repeal date is moved from December 31, 2033, to December 31, 2035.

• Sales and Use Tax Exemptions for Agricultural Products:

  • Effective January 1, 2026, the bill exempts items such as soil conditioners, plant amendments, plant growth regulators, mulches, compost, certain soils, manure, and specific fish products from sales and use tax by amending the definition of "agricultural compounds."

• Clarifications of Tax Expenditure Purposes:

  • The bill articulates the purposes of several tax provisions, including:
    • Insolvency assessments paid insurance premium tax credit.
    • State refund income tax deduction.
    • Dyed special fuels and off-road fuel tax excise tax exemption.
    • Off-road fuel use refund.
    • Wholesale sales exemption from sales tax.

These clarifications aim to enhance transparency and provide measurable criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of each tax expenditure.

Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy. The
bill adjusts several tax expenditures as follows:
  • Section 1 of the bill disallows the income tax credit for
unsalable alcohol after December 31, 2025, and repeals the
credit on December 31, 2030;
  • Currently, a taxpayer is allowed to deduct up to 2% of the
taxable gallons of fuel removed from a fuel terminal to
account for fuel that is lost in transit. Section 2 changes the
allowance to 1% starting January 1, 2026.
  • Currently, for income tax years commencing before
January 1, 2025, a purchaser who installs an energy storage
system in a residential dwelling may claim an income tax
credit in an amount equal to 10% of the purchase price paid
by the purchaser for the energy storage system. Section 3
extends the credit to include subsequent income tax years
commencing before January 1, 2027, and extends the
repeal of the credit from January 1, 2028, to January 1,
2030.
  • Currently, the reducing emissions from lawn equipment
income tax credit is available until the tax year beginning
January 1, 2027, and the department of revenue is required
to issue a report on the credit for each income tax year from
January 1, 2025, through January 1, 2028. Section 4
extends the credit until the tax year beginning January 1,
2029, extends the reporting requirement through January 1,
2030, and extends the repeal date of the credit from
December 31, 2033, to December 31, 2035.
  • By amending a definition of agricultural compounds that
is incorporated into the definition of wholesale sale used
for purposes of the sales and use tax statutes, section 5
exempts from sales and use tax soil conditioners, plant
amendments, plant growth regulators, mulches, compost,
soil used for aboveground production of agricultural
commodities, manure, fish for non-stocking purposes, fish
embryos, and fish eggs beginning January 1, 2026;
  • Section 6 states that the purpose of the insolvency
assessments paid insurance premium tax credit is to offset
the cost for an insurer paying required assessments into the
life and health insurance protection association and that the
credit's effectiveness is measured by how many eligible
insurers claim the credit and the amount claimed relative to
payments into the life and health insurance protection
association;
  • Sections 7 and 8 state that the purpose of the state refund
income tax deduction is to avoid re-taxing a taxpayer's state
income tax refund when a state refund is required to be
included as income on the taxpayer's federal return
pursuant to the internal revenue code and that the
effectiveness of the deduction is measured by the number
of taxpayers claiming the deduction and the total amount of
state refunds claimed as deductions from Colorado taxable
income;
  • Section 9 states that the purpose of the dyed special fuels
and off-road fuel tax excise tax exemption is to entirely
exclude dyed diesel or kerosene from the special fuels
excise tax where the dyed fuel is used for specified
off-road purposes or by governmental entities and that the
effectiveness of the exemption is measured by the number
of taxpayers claiming the exemption and the amount of tax
that would have been paid without the exemption;
  • Section 10 states that the purpose of the off-road fuel use
refund is to compensate taxpayers who buy and pay the tax
on otherwise taxable fuels for the purpose of using the
fuels for specified non-taxable purposes under federal law
and that the effectiveness of the refund is measured by the
number of taxpayers claiming a refund and the amount of
tax that was already collected and is refunded; and
  • Section 11 states that the purpose of the wholesale sales
exemption from sales tax is to ensure that sales tax is levied
and collected only on a final end sale to a retail consumer
and not on wholesale sales and that the effectiveness of the
wholesale exemption from sales tax is measured by the
number of taxpayers claiming the wholesale exemption
from tax and the amount of tax liability not paid.

The proposed legislation aims to amend existing energy benchmarking requirements by explicitly exempting agricultural buildings from mandatory energy use data collection and reporting.

Key Provisions:

• Exemption of Agricultural Buildings:

  • Clarifies that agricultural buildings are not considered "covered buildings" under current energy benchmarking laws.
  • As a result, owners of agricultural buildings are exempt from the annual energy use data collection and reporting requirements mandated by the Colorado Energy Office.

• Definition of Agricultural Building:

  • Defines an agricultural building as a structure used to house:
    • Agricultural implements
    • Hay
    • Unprocessed grain
    • Poultry
    • Livestock
    • Other agricultural products or inputs

This clarification ensures that structures primarily utilized for agricultural purposes are not subjected to the same energy reporting obligations as large commercial, multifamily, or public buildings.

Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. Under
current law, owners of certain large buildings (covered buildings) are
required to annually collect and report each covered building's energy use
to the Colorado energy office.
The bill clarifies that agricultural buildings are not covered
buildings, and, therefore, owners of agricultural buildings are exempt
from the energy use collecting and reporting requirements. The bill
defines an agricultural building as a building or structure used to house
agricultural implements, hay, unprocessed grain, poultry, livestock, or
other agricultural products or inputs.

• March 03, 2025: House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee Report
• January 30, 2025: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Report

The proposed legislation establishes the Future of Severance Taxes and Water Funding Task Force to address the challenge of declining severance tax revenues and ensure continued funding for Colorado’s water needs.

Key Provisions:

• Creation of the Task Force:

  • The task force is formed under the Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee to study severance taxes and water funding.

• Third-Party Study:

  • The Department of Natural Resources is required to contract with a third party to:
    • Conduct a comprehensive study on severance taxes and water funding.
    • Develop recommendations for sustainable water funding amidst decreasing severance tax revenue.

• Reporting Timeline:

  • Draft Report Deadline: January 15, 2026
    • The third party must submit a draft report to the Department of Natural Resources and the task force for review and feedback.
    • Final Report Deadline: July 15, 2026
      • The final report, incorporating the task force’s input, must be submitted to the Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee.
  • Legislative Presentation: The task force will present the final report during the 2026 legislative interim session.

This initiative aims to secure long-term water funding solutions for Colorado by exploring alternative revenue streams and enhancing fiscal sustainability in the face of declining severance tax revenues.

Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. The bill
creates the future of severance taxes and water funding task force (task
force).
The department of natural resources is required to contract with a
third party to conduct a study on severance taxes and water funding and
develop recommendations for ways to continue funding water needs in
the face of decreasing severance tax revenue (study). The purpose of the
task force is to work with the third party to conduct the study and develop
recommendations.
No later than January 15, 2026, the third party must submit a draft
report, detailing the results of the study and any recommendations, to the
department of natural resources and the task force for review. The task
force is required to provide input on the draft report. No later than July
15, 2026, the third party must submit a final report, which incorporates
the input of the task force, to the water resources and agriculture review
committee (committee). The task force must present the final report to the
committee during the 2026 legislative interim.

• January 29, 2025: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Report

The bill repeals specific provisions of Colorado state law that previously governed access rights for key service providers to agricultural workers on private property. This action is in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid (2021), which determined that granting third-party access to private agricultural property constitutes a per se physical taking, thereby requiring just compensation under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Consequently, the Colorado General Assembly has identified similar provisions in its laws as unconstitutional and unenforceable, leading to their repeal. 

The repealed provisions had been part of Senate Bill 21-087, known as the Agricultural Workers' Rights law, enacted in June 2021. This law aimed to enhance labor protections for agricultural workers, including ensuring their access to key service providers such as healthcare workers, legal advocates, and educators. However, following the Cedar Point Nursery ruling, these access provisions were challenged legally, with opponents arguing that they infringed upon property owners' rights by allowing unauthorized entry onto private land. 

By repealing these specific access provisions, the bill seeks to align Colorado's statutes with constitutional requirements, balancing the property rights of agricultural employers with the need to protect workers' access to essential services.

The bill repeals current state law provisions that, in part, govern
agricultural workers' key service providers' access to private property.

• February 27, 2025: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Report

The bill authorizes the owner or operator of a water quality green
infrastructure project (project) to sell or trade any greenhouse gas credits
(GHG credit) created by the project in the GHG credit trading program
(trading program) that is established by the air quality control commission
(AQCC) by rule.
The owner or operator that is conducting a project shall pay an
independent third-party auditor to certify the GHG credits created by the
project in order to sell or transfer those GHG credits in the trading
program.
The division of administration in the department of public health
and environment (division) shall monitor the sale and transfer of the GHG
credits created from a project in the trading program and permit owners
and operators of facilities that are regulated by the AQCC and the
division and participating in the trading program to purchase the GHG
credits in order to reach certain greenhouse gas compliance targets.

• March 05, 2025: Senate Transportation & Energy Committee Report

Veterinarians can now establish a relationship with clients and their animals (called a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, or VCPR) through telehealth.

This means they can examine animals using live video calls instead of needing an in-person visit.

• Telehealth Definition Update: The bill updates the law to refer to "telehealth" instead of "telemedicine."

• Prescribing Medications via Telehealth:

  • Veterinarians can now prescribe medications after establishing a VCPR through telehealth, without needing an in-person exam.
  • Exceptions: An in-person exam is still required to prescribe controlled substances or to prescribe antibiotics for more than 14 days.

• No In-Person Follow-Up Requirement: The bill removes the rule that required veterinarians using telehealth to be available for in-person follow-up visits.

• Specialists Can Prescribe After Referrals: Veterinary specialists can now prescribe medications to referred patients without needing to see the animal in person.

In short, this bill makes it easier for veterinarians to provide care remotely, while keeping certain safeguards for specific types of medications.

The bill modifies certain laws related to the practice of veterinary
telehealth. Under current law, in order to practice veterinary telehealth in
Colorado, a licensed veterinarian must establish a
veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) through an in-person,
physical examination of the animal (patient) or by a medically appropriate
and timely visit to the premises where the animal is kept.
The bill allows a veterinarian to establish a VCPR through
telehealth. An in-person, physical examination of the patient or visit to the
premises is not necessary, and the veterinarian may establish the VCPR
through an electronic examination using synchronous audio-video based
communication technology.
The bill clarifies the definition of telehealth and changes
references throughout current law from telemedicine to telehealth.
Under current law, a licensed veterinarian is prohibited from
prescribing drugs to a patient through telehealth unless the veterinarian
has conducted an in-person, physical examination of the patient. The bill
removes that requirement and permits a veterinarian to prescribe drugs to
a patient through telehealth as long as the veterinarian has established a
VCPR and follows certain requirements. However, the bill still requires
an in-person, physical examination of the patient in order to prescribe the
patient a controlled substance or an antimicrobial for longer than 14 days.
The bill removes the requirement under current law that a
veterinarian who uses telehealth be available in person at a veterinary
premises that is accessible to the client and patient for follow-up
evaluations. The bill also repeals a provision in current law that prohibits
a veterinary specialist to whom a patient has been referred from
prescribing medication to the patient unless that veterinary specialist has
established a VCPR through an in-person, physical examination of the
patient.

This bill continues the oversight of the Commodity Handler and Farm Products Act by the Department of Agriculture for seven more years, until 2032. It also adjusts financial limits, clarifies definitions, and changes penalty fund allocations.

• Extends the Department of Agriculture’s authority over the Commodity Handler and Farm Products Act until 2032.
• This continuation follows a Sunset Review by the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

• Raises the annual small-volume dealer limit from $20,000 to $45,000.
• This means individuals or businesses can buy up to $45,000 worth of farm products or commodities per year before requiring additional regulatory compliance.
• Allows the Commissioner of Agriculture to periodically adjust this limit as needed.

• Clarifies that marijuana is NOT considered a "commodity" under the act.
• This exclusion ensures that marijuana is regulated separately from other agricultural commodities.

• Currently: Civil penalties collected under the act are deposited into the Inspection and Consumer Services Cash Fund (which funds the Department of Agriculture).
• New Change: The bill redirects these civil penalties to the General Fund, meaning the money will now be available for broader state government use.

• Extends regulation of commodity handlers and farm products by the Department of Agriculture until 2032.
• Increases the small-volume dealer limit to $45,000 and allows for periodic adjustments.
• Clarifies that marijuana is NOT classified as a commodity under the act.
• Redirects civil penalty funds to the state's General Fund rather than the Department of Agriculture's fund.

Sunset Process - Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee. The bill continues the department of agriculture's
(department) oversight of the Commodity Handler and Farm Products
Act (act) for 7 years until 2032.
The bill also increases the small-volume dealer limit (limit) from
$20,000 to $45,000. The limit is a limit on the amount of farm products
or commodities that a person may buy, in aggregate, per year. The bill
permits the commissioner of agriculture to periodically adjust the limit.
The bill explicitly excludes marijuana from the definition of
commodity under the act.
Under current law, civil penalties collected by the department for
violations of the act are deposited into the inspection and consumer
services cash fund (fund). The bill requires those civil penalties to be
transferred to the general fund rather than the department's fund.

• February 27, 2025: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Report