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Bill:
HB23-1005
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Title: |
New Energy Improvement Program Changes |
Description | Concerning changes to the new energy improvement program, and, in connection therewith, adding resiliency improvements and water efficiency improvements to the program, modifying the new energy improvement district's notice requirements, and removing the district's hearing requirement. | Summary | The commercial property assessed clean energy program
(C-PACE) is part of the new energy improvement program. C-PACE allows owners of eligible real property to apply to the Colorado new energy improvement district (district) to finance certain energy efficiency improvements. The bill allows owners to also apply to the district to finance resiliency improvements and water efficiency improvements.
Additionally, when the district approves a C-PACE application, an
owner consents to the district levying a special assessment on an owner's eligible real property. Current law requires the district to notify district members and existing lienholders about the special assessment and the availability of a hearing to resolve any complaints or objections. After a hearing, current law further requires the district to pass a resolution resolving any complaints or objections. The bill eliminates the requirements for the district to give notice about a hearing, conduct a hearing, and pass a resolution resolving complaints or objections. Instead of notifying district members and existing lienholders about the availability of a hearing, the bill requires the district to send a notice of assessment, which specifies the amount of the special assessment to be levied on the eligible real property, explains that the special assessment constitutes a lien against the eligible real property, and explains that the district is not a party to any private financing agreements.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (01/13/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: S. Jaquez Lewis (D) J. Marchman (D) House: B. Titone (D) J. Willford (D) | Status | Sent to the Governor (03/07/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1018
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Title: |
Timber Industry Incentives |
Description | Concerning incentives to promote the timber industry in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, creating an internship program in the Colorado state forest service and creating a state income tax credit for the purchase of qualifying items used in timber production and forest health. | Summary | Wildfire Matters Review Committee. The bill creates the timber,
forest health, and wildfire mitigation industries workforce development program (program) in the state forest service. The program provides partial reimbursement to timber businesses and forest health or wildfire mitigation entities for the costs of hiring interns. The forest service must adopt rules, policies, and procedures for the program, including criteria for an internship to qualify, best practices for recruiting and selecting interns to increase representation of historically underrrepresented communities in the industries, the criteria to use in selecting qualified interns, the required educational experience for an intern, and administrative requirements for the program.
For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, but
before January 1, 2028, a business involved in forestry, logging, the timber trade, the production of wood and secondary products, or forest health and wildfire mitigation activities in Colorado may claim a credit against state income tax for 20% of the cost incurred by the taxpayer in purchasing certain equipment, vehicles, and equipment infrastructure. The total aggregate credit in any one income tax year is limited to $10,000. Any amount of the credit that exceeds the taxpayer's income tax liability is not refundable but may be carried forward for up to 5 years.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (02/21/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: C. Simpson (R) House: M. Lynch (R) | Status | House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations (02/23/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1039
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Title: |
Electric Resource Adequacy Reporting |
Description | Concerning a requirement that electric load-serving entities periodically report about the adequacy of their electric resources, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Summary | On or before April 1, 2024, and on or before April 1 of each year
thereafter, an entity with an obligation to provide retail or wholesale electricity services in the state (load-serving entity) must file with the entity responsible for approving the resource plans or rates of the load-serving entity (regulatory oversight entity) an annual report detailing
the adequacy of its electric resources (resource adequacy annual report).
On or before April 30, 2024, and on or before April 30 of each
year thereafter, each regulatory oversight entity must submit any resource adequacy annual reports to the Colorado energy office. On or before July 1, 2024, and on or before July 1 of each year thereafter, the Colorado energy office must aggregate the resource adequacy annual reports received from the regulatory oversight entities into a statewide resource adequacy aggregate annual report.
If a load-serving entity participates in an active organized
wholesale market, which is a regional transmission organization or an independent system operator established for the purpose of coordinating and managing the dispatch and transmission of electricity on a multistate or regional basis, or, if the load-serving entity is participating in a voluntary regional resource adequacy reporting program, the load-serving entity's obligation to provide a resource adequacy annual report terminates on the date that the load-serving entity begins participating in an organized wholesale market or in the year following the submission of a compliance report required by the program.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (01/18/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: F. Winter (D) R. Rodriguez (D) House: S. Bird (D) | Status | Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Unamended to Appropriations (03/22/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1069
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Title: |
Study Biochar In Plugging Of Oil And Gas Wells |
Description | Concerning the creation of the biochar in oil and gas well plugging working advisory group to make recommendations for the development of a pilot program to study the use of biochar in the plugging of oil and gas wells. | Summary | The bill creates the biochar in oil and gas well plugging working
advisory group (work group) in the oil and gas conservation commission
(commission). The work group's purpose is to make recommendations for the development of a pilot program to study the use of biochar in the plugging of oil and gas wells.
No later than September 1, 2023, the work group must submit a
draft report to the commission detailing its recommendations for the pilot program. After coordinating with the commission to develop a final report, no later than February 1, 2024, the work group must present the report to the transportation and energy committee of the senate and the energy and environment committee of the house of representatives.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (03/01/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: L. Cutter (D) House: J. Amabile (D) K. McCormick (D) | Status | House Committee on Energy & Environment Refer Amended to Appropriations (02/16/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1080
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Title: |
Reliable Alternative Energy Sources |
Description | Concerning alternative energy sources, and, in connection therewith, requiring a feasibility study for the use of small modular nuclear reactors as a source of carbon-free energy and specifying the maximum nameplate capacity of a generation unit for pumped hydroelectricity that qualifies as recycled energy under the renewable energy standard. | Summary | Section 1 of the bill requires the director of the Colorado energy
office or the director's designee (director) to conduct or cause to be conducted a study on the feasibility of using small modular nuclear reactors as a carbon-free energy source in the state (feasibility study). On or before July 1, 2025, the director is required to submit the director's findings and conclusions of the feasibility study to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy matters.
Current law defines recycled energy for purposes of the renewable
energy standard as energy produced by a generation unit with a nameplate capacity of not more than 15 megawatts. For pumped hydroelectricity generation only, section 2 specifies that the energy be produced by a generation unit with a nameplate capacity of not more than 400 megawatts.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (01/30/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: B. Pelton (R) House: T. Winter (R) | Status | Introduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment (01/19/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1101
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Title: |
Ozone Season Transit Grant Program Flexibility |
Description | Concerning support for transit, and, in connection therewith, increasing the flexibility of the ozone season transit grant program and increasing opportunities for transit agency participation in regional transportation planning. | Summary | Section 1 of the bill increases the flexibility of the ozone season
transit grant program by:
Allowing an eligible transit agency that operates in an area in which ozone levels are typically highest during a different period than June 1 to August 31 of a calendar year to designate a different period of the calendar year for its ozone season;
Allowing a grant recipient to retain any grant money that it does not spend in the year in which it is received for use in a subsequent year;
Clarifying that a grant recipient may use grant money for reasonable marketing expenses incurred to raise awareness of free service and increase ridership;
Clarifying that an eligible transit agency may use grant money to expand free services or free routes or increase the frequency of service on routes for which free service is already offered; and
Allowing the regional transportation district to use grant money to cover the full costs, rather than up to 80% of the costs, of providing at least 30 days of free transit on all services that it offers.
On and after September 1, 2023, section 3 requires the governing
body of the transportation planning organization for each transportation planning region to include at least one voting representative of a transit agency that provides transit service in the transportation planning region. The representative must be appointed by the transit agency or, if multiple transit agencies provide service in the transportation planning region, by agreement of the transit agencies. Section 2 defines the term transportation planning organization as used in section 3.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (03/17/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: F. Winter (D) N. Hinrichsen (D) House: J. Bacon (D) S. Vigil (D) | Status | House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee (03/14/2023) | Position | Support |
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Bill:
HB23-1134
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Title: |
Require Electric Options In Home Warranties |
Description | Concerning mandatory provisions in home warranty service contracts, and, in connection therewith, requiring a home warranty service contract to include terms allowing a homeowner to replace any of certain gas-fueled devices with a device that operates on electricity. | Summary | The bill requires that, on and after January 1, 2024, every home
warranty service contract that provides coverage for the replacement of any of certain gas-fueled appliances must include terms:
Allowing the homeowner to replace the gas-fueled appliance with a similar device of the homeowner's choosing that operates on electricity rather than gas;
Describing minimum efficiency and performance standards for each gas-fueled appliance and for electric replacements; and
Allowing the homeowner to receive an equivalent cash value of a gas-fueled appliance in lieu of a replacement appliance.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (02/23/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: L. Cutter (D) House: C. Kipp (D) J. Joseph (D) | Status | Sent to the Governor (03/23/2023) | Position | Support |
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Bill:
HB23-1154
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Title: |
Ballot Issue Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report |
Description | Concerning requirements for initiatives with a projected environmental impact that are properly submitted to the title board, and, in connection therewith, requiring the director of research of the legislative council to prepare a preliminary report for such initiatives, requiring the title of such initiatives to reflect the findings of the preliminary report, and requiring that the findings are referenced in the ballot information booklet entry for such initiatives. | Summary | Current law allows a legislative measure to include a greenhouse
gas emissions report (report) prepared by the nonpartisan staff of the legislative council that indicates whether the legislative measure is likely to cause a net increase, decrease, or indeterminate amount of greenhouse gas pollution in the 10-year period following its enactment. A report must consider new sources of emissions, increases or decreases in existing sources of emissions, and any impact on sequestration of emissions. The department of natural resources, the Colorado energy office, and other state agencies with relevant subject matter expertise are required to cooperate with and provide information, if requested, to the legislative council staff to assist in the preparation of a report.
The bill requires the director of research of the legislative council
(director) to prepare a preliminary report that requires an analysis on whether a properly submitted initiative has a net change in greenhouse gas emissions that directly impacts the following sectors:
Electric power;
Natural gas and oil systems;
Transportation;
Residential, commercial, or industrial fuel use;
Industrial processes;
Coal mining and abandoned mines;
Waste management;
Land use, land use change, or forestry; and
Agriculture.
The director is required to provide proponents of the proposed
initiative, or their representatives, and the secretary of state with the preliminary report no later than the time of the title board meeting at which the proposed initiated measure is to be considered.
The bill requires the ballot title of a measure that has a net increase
in greenhouse gas emissions as indicated by the preliminary report to begin with Shall there be an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.... The ballot title of a measure that has a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions as indicated by the preliminary report must begin with Shall there be a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions....
If it is determined in the preliminary report that the proposed
initiative is likely to directly cause a net increase or decrease, excluding any de minimis net changes, in greenhouse gas pollution in the 10-year period following the potential enactment of the initiative, staff of the legislative council are required to prepare a full report. The department of natural resources, the Colorado energy office, and other state agencies with relevant subject matter expertise are required to assist the staff of the legislative council with information in preparation of the report if
requested.
Proponents may file a motion for a rehearing with the secretary of
state within 7 days after the title board sets the initiative's title on the grounds that the preliminary report is misleading or prejudicial. The title board may modify the preliminary report based on information presented at the rehearing. If the title board modifies the report, the secretary of state shall provide the director with a copy of the amended report and the director shall post the new version of the report on the legislative council's website.
The bill further requires the ballot information booklet to include
any required preliminary report for any statewide measure and provide information on how to obtain the full greenhouse gas emissions report if one is available.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (02/14/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate:
House: A. Valdez (D) | Status | House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Postpone Indefinitely (03/09/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1161
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Title: |
Environmental Standards For Appliances |
Description | Concerning environmental standards for certain products. | Summary | Current law establishes water and energy efficiency standards
(standards) for certain appliances and fixtures sold in Colorado. Sections 1 through 7 of the bill expand the appliances and fixtures that are subject to the standards and update the standards.
Specifically, section 4 updates standards for certain appliances and
fixtures that are sold in Colorado on and after certain dates, including:
Certain faucets and urinals;
Certain lamps;
Commercial hot food holding cabinets;
Portable electric spas;
Residential ventilating fans; and
Spray sprinkler bodies.
Section 4 also creates new standards for certain appliances and
other fixtures that are sold in Colorado on and after January 1, 2024, including:
Air purifiers;
Commercial ovens;
Electric storage water heaters;
Electric vehicle supply equipment;
Gas fireplaces;
Irrigation controllers;
Tub spout diverters and showerhead tub spout diverter combinations; and
Certain residential windows, residential doors, and residential skylights.
Section 4 also removes standards for air compressors, general
service lamps, and uninterruptible power supplies.
Section 5 requires the executive director of the department of
public health and environment (executive director) to promulgate rules on or before January 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter:
Adopting a more recent version of any standard; and
Establishing standards for appliances and other devices that are not subject to the standards if certain conditions are met.
Section 6 exempts manufacturers of products subject to the
standards from having to demonstrate that a product complies with the law if the product appears in the state appliance standards database maintained by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, or a successor organization. Section 6 also requires the executive director to conduct periodic, unannounced inspections of major distributors or retailers, including online retailers, of new products in order to determine compliance with the standards.
Under current law, any person who sells or offers to sell in the
state any new consumer product that is required to meet an efficiency standard but that the person knows does not meet that standard is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 for each violation, which amount is credited to the general fund. Section 7 credits any penalties imposed to the energy fund created in the Colorado energy office rather than to the general fund and specifies that each transaction or online for-sale product listing constitutes a separate violation.
Section 8 establishes the Clean Lighting Act to phase out the
sale of general-purpose fluorescent light bulbs that contain mercury. With certain exceptions:
On and after January 1, 2024, a person shall not manufacture, distribute, sell, or offer for sale in Colorado any new compact fluorescent lamp with a screw- or bayonet-type base; and
On and after January 1, 2025, a person shall not manufacture, distribute, sell, or offer for sale in Colorado any linear fluorescent lamp or any compact fluorescent lamp with a pin-type base.
Section 9 establishes standards for heating and water heating
appliances. With certain exceptions, on and after January 1, 2025, a person shall not manufacture, distribute, sell, offer for sale, lease, or offer for lease in Colorado any new water heater, boiler, or fan-type central furnace unless the emissions of the product do not exceed certain limits on emissions. On or before January 1, 2029, the air quality control commission in the department of public health and environment must promulgate rules lowering the emission limits. Section 9 also requires manufacturers to use certain testing protocols, display certain information on each product, and demonstrate compliance through one of various described means.
Sections 8 and 9 both require the executive director to conduct
periodic, unannounced inspections of major distributors or retailers, including online retailers, of new products to determine compliance and to report violations to the attorney general. If the attorney general has probable cause to believe that a violation occurred, the attorney general may bring a civil action on behalf of the state to seek the imposition of civil penalties, and any civil penalties are to be deposited in the energy fund.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (02/14/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: L. Cutter (D) House: C. Kipp (D) J. Willford (D) | Status | House Committee on Energy & Environment Refer Amended to Appropriations (03/09/2023) | Position | Support |
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Bill:
HB23-1163
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Title: |
Revoke Carbon Dioxide Status As A Pollutant |
Description | Concerning a prohibition against classifying carbon dioxide as a pollutant. | Summary | Section 1 of the bill makes legislative findings regarding the
minimal negative effects of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as a contributor to greenhouse gases in comparison to other, more harmful emissions.
Section 2 prohibits the classification of carbon dioxide as a
pollutant in the state and establishes that, notwithstanding any other law
to the contrary, state statute, executive agency rules, and any regulations of local governments or other political subdivisions of the state must not include the regulation of carbon dioxide emissions as a pollutant. Any portion of an executive agency rule that treats carbon dioxide emissions as a pollutant is void.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (02/20/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate:
House: K. DeGraaf (R) | Status | House Committee on Energy & Environment Postpone Indefinitely (02/23/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1210
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Title: |
Carbon Management |
Description | Concerning carbon management, and, in connection therewith, ensuring that carbon management projects are eligible for grants under the industrial and manufacturing operations clean air grant program and providing for the creation of a carbon management roadmap. | Summary | Carbon management is defined by the bill as any combination of
carbon dioxide removal, carbon storage, carbon capture, and carbon utilization. The bill ensures that carbon management projects, except for agricultural, forestry, and enhanced oil recovery projects, are eligible for money under the industrial and manufacturing operations clean air grant program.
The bill also requires the Colorado energy office (office) and the
office of economic development to contract with an organization for the development of a carbon management roadmap for the state. After receiving a draft of the roadmap, the office will solicit feedback on the roadmap and the contracted organization will use that feedback to update the roadmap. The office will present the updated roadmap to the relevant committees in the general assembly and then later update the general assembly on the implementation of the roadmap.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (02/20/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: C. Hansen (D) House: R. Dickson (D) | Status | House Committee on Energy & Environment Refer Amended to Appropriations (03/09/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1216
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Title: |
Natural Gas Pipeline Safety |
Description | Concerning measures to promote safety in the distribution of natural gas. | Summary | The bill requires the public utilities commission's (commission)
gas pipeline safety rules, on or before March 1, 2024, to address requirements for:
The inspection of gas meters and service regulators no more often than every 36 months and the recorded documentation of each inspection; and
The installation or reinstallation of service regulators so that any vents associated with the service regulators are at least 12 inches above ground level or 12 inches above any anticipated precipitation, whichever is higher.
The bill requires the commission to promulgate rules, on or before
March 1, 2024, to establish a process for determining whether an owner or operator of a natural gas distribution system (owner or operator) or a customer is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the portion of the service line, if installed on or after August 14, 1995, and before March 1, 2024, that extends from the gas meter to the customer's primary residential or commercial structure that is serviced with natural gas (customer-owned service line).
The bill also requires the commission to promulgate rules, on or
before March 1, 2024, requiring an owner or operator that distributes gas to a customer-owned service line installed on or after March 1, 2024, to:
Provide written notice to the customer, within 90 days after the installation of the customer-owned service line, informing the customer whether the owner or operator or the customer is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the customer-owned service line; and
Obtain a signed copy of the written notice from the customer.
An owner or operator that fails to obtain a signed copy of the
written notice must repair and maintain the customer-owned service line for the lifetime of the customer-owned service line.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (03/15/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate:
House: T. Story (D) | Status | Introduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment (02/22/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1233
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Title: |
Electric Vehicle Charging And Parking Requirements |
Description | Concerning energy efficiency, and, in connection therewith, requiring the state electrical board to adopt rules facilitating electric vehicle charging at multifamily buildings, limiting the ability of the state electrical board to prohibit the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, forbidding private prohibitions on electric vehicle charging and parking, requiring local governments to count certain spaces served by an electric vehicle charging station for minimum parking requirements, forbidding local governments from prohibiting the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, exempting electric vehicle chargers from business personal property tax, and authorizing electric vehicle charging systems along highway rights-of-way. | Summary | Section 2 of the bill requires the state electrical board (board) to
adopt rules requiring compliance, starting January 1, 2024, with the provisions of the model electric ready and solar ready code that require multifamily buildings to be electric vehicle (EV) capable and EV ready and to have EV supply equipment installed. The board is precluded from adopting rules that prohibit the installation or use of EV charging stations unless the rules address a bona fide safety concern.
Current law prohibits a landlord from unreasonably prohibiting the
installation of EV charging equipment in the leased premises. This prohibition applies only to residential rental property. Section 3 broadens this prohibition to apply to an assigned or a deeded parking space for the leased premises, to parking spaces accessible to both the tenant and other tenants, and to commercial rental property. Section 3 also requires a landlord to allow an EV or a plug-in hybrid vehicle to park on the premises.
Current law prohibits, when a person owns a unit in a common
interest community, such as a condominium, the association that manages the community (association) from unreasonably prohibiting the installation of EV charging equipment in the unit. Section 4 broadens this prohibition to apply to assigned or deeded parking spaces for the unit or parking spaces accessible to both the unit owner and other unit owners. Section 4 also requires a common interest community to allow an EV or a plug-in hybrid vehicle to park at the premises.
Current law grants a local government the ability to regulate
parking, and this regulation includes requiring that buildings meet minimum parking standards. Sections 5, 6, and 7 require the local government, when counting minimum parking spaces, to count:
Any parking space that is served by an EV charging station as at least one standard automobile parking space; and
Any van-accessible parking space that is wheelchair accessible and served by an EV charging station as at least 2 standard automobile parking spaces.
Sections 8 and 9 prohibit local governments from adopting an
ordinance or a resolution that prohibits the installation or use of EV charging stations unless the ordinance or resolution addresses a bona fide safety concern.
Section 10 exempts, until 2030, EV charging systems from the
levy and collection of property tax.
Federal law prohibits the construction of automotive service
stations or other commercial establishments for serving motor vehicle users along interstate highway rights-of-way, including rest areas. Due to this prohibition, the state cannot construct EV charging systems along interstate highway rights-of-way, including rest areas, in the state. Section 11 specifies that, when the federal law no longer prohibits the construction of EV charging systems along interstate highway rights-of-way, the department of transportation may collaborate with public or private entities to develop projects for the construction of EV charging systems along interstate highway rights-of-way.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (03/17/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: K. Priola (D) F. Winter (D) House: A. Valdez (D) T. Mauro (D) | Status | Introduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment (03/08/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1242
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Title: |
Water Conservation In Oil And Gas Operations |
Description | Concerning water used in oil and gas operations. | Summary | The bill requires an oil and gas operator in the state (operator), on
or before January 31, 2024, and at least annually thereafter, to report information to the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission (commission) regarding the operator's use of water entering, utilized at, or exiting each of the operator's oil and gas locations.
The bill also requires the commission to adopt rules requiring that:
When issuing an operator a new or renewed oil and gas permit on or after June 1, 2024, the commission include as
a condition of the permit a requirement that the operator use a decreasing percentage of fresh water and a corresponding increasing percentage of recycled or reused water in the operator's oil and gas operations; and
Each oil and gas operator, on and after January 1, 2024, report on a monthly basis to the commission about the daily vehicle miles traveled for any trucks hauling water to, within, or from the operator's oil and gas operations in the state.
From the information reported to the commission under the bill,
the commission is required to:
Include the information as part of the commission's annual reporting on cumulative impacts of oil and gas operations;
Report to the division of administration (division) in the department of public health and environment, on a per-incident basis, any indication of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material or PFAS chemicals present in produced water; and
On a quarterly basis, submit a cumulative report to the division and the department of transportation on reported vehicle miles traveled and public roads traveled.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (03/20/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: L. Cutter (D) House: A. Boesenecker (D) J. Joseph (D) | Status | Introduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment (03/11/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
HB23-1247
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Title: |
Assess Advanced Energy Solutions In Rural Colorado |
Description | Concerning a requirement that the Colorado energy office conduct studies to assess advanced energy solutions in rural Colorado. | Summary | The bill requires the director of the Colorado energy office or the
director's designee (director) to conduct studies to assess the use of advanced energy solutions in rural Colorado. One study must consider ways to assist northwestern and west end of Montrose county Colorado as it transitions to producing advanced firm dispatchable energy
resources. The other study must consider the potential for the development of new energy resources in southeastern Colorado. The bill specifies information that the director is required to consider in both studies.
On or before July 1, 2025, the director is required to submit the
director's findings and conclusions of both studies to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy matters.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (03/23/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: D. Roberts (D) R. Pelton (R) House: M. Lukens (D) T. Winter (R) | Status | Introduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment (03/14/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
SB23-005
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Title: |
Forestry And Wildfire Mitigation Workforce |
Description | Concerning measures to expand the forestry workforce, and, in connection therewith, directing the Colorado state forest service to develop educational materials for high school students about career opportunities in forestry and wildfire mitigation; creating a timber, forest health, and wildfire mitigation industries workforce development program to help fund internships in those industries; allocating general fund money to the wildfire mitigation capacity development fund; authorizing the expansion and creation of forestry programs in the community college system and at Colorado mountain college; and directing the state board for community colleges and occupational education to administer a program to recruit wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators. | Summary | Wildfire Matters Review Committee. Section 1 of the bill
directs the Colorado state forest service (state forest service) to consult with other entities to develop educational materials relating to career opportunities in forestry and wildfire mitigation for distribution to high school guidance counselors to provide to high school students.
Section 2 creates the timber, forest health, and wildfire mitigation
industries workforce development program (development program) in the state forest service. The development program provides partial reimbursement to timber businesses and forest health or wildfire mitigation entities for the costs of hiring interns.
Section 3 requires the state treasurer, on June 30, 2023, and on
June 30 each year thereafter, to transfer $1 million from the general fund to the wildfire mitigation capacity development fund for allowable uses of the fund.
Sections 4, 5, and 6 authorize the expansion of existing forestry
programs, including wildfire mitigation, and the creation of a new forestry program within the community college system and at Colorado mountain college (forestry programs). The bill provides for the acquisition of a harvesting simulator to train students, which may be shared among the forestry programs. The bill includes funding for the forestry programs within the community college system and at Colorado mountain college through limited purpose fee-for-service contracts and grants.
Section 7 directs the state board for community colleges and
occupational education (board) to administer the recruitment of wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators program (recruiting program) to increase the number of qualified educators at community colleges, area technical colleges, and local district colleges that deliver a wildfire prevention and mitigation program or course. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the general fund for the 2023-24 and for the 2024-25 state fiscal years for the recruiting program.
1
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (01/20/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: L. Cutter (D) S. Jaquez Lewis (D) House:
| Status | Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations (01/26/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
SB23-016
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Title: |
Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Measures |
Description | Concerning measures to promote reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado. | Summary | Section 1 of the bill requires that, beginning in 2024, each
insurance company issued a certificate of authority to transact insurance business that reports more than $100 million on its annual schedule T filing with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) must participate in and complete the NAIC's Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Survey or successor survey or reporting mechanism.
Section 2 requires the public employees' retirement association
(PERA) board, on or before June 1, 2024, to adopt proxy voting procedures that ensure that the board's voting decisions align with, and are supportive of, the statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals.
Section 3 requires PERA to include as part of its annual
investment stewardship report, which report is posted on the PERA board's website, a description of climate-related investment risks, impacts, and strategies.
Section 4 adds wastewater thermal energy equipment to the
definition of pollution control equipment, which equipment may be certified by the division of administration (division) in the department of public health and environment (CDPHE). Similarly, section 5 adds wastewater thermal energy to the definition of clean heat resource, which resource a gas distribution utility includes in its clean heat plan filed with the public utilities commission.
Section 6 updates the statewide GHG emission reduction goals to
add a 65% reduction goal for 2035, an 80% reduction goal for 2040, and a 90% reduction goal for 2045 when compared to 2005 GHG pollution levels. Section 6 also increases the 2050 GHG emission reduction goal from 90% of 2005 GHG pollution levels to 100%.
Section 7 gives the oil and gas conservation commission
(COGCC) authority over class VI injection wells used for sequestration of GHG if the governor and COGCC determine, in accordance with a study that the COGCC conducted in 2021, that the state has sufficient resources to ensure the safe and effective regulation of the sequestration of GHG. If the governor and the COGCC determine there are sufficient resources, the COGCC may seek primacy under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and, when granted, may issue and enforce permits for class VI injection wells. The COGCC shall require, as part of its regulation of class VI injection wells, that operators of the wells maintain adequate financial assurance until the COGCC approves the closure of a class VI injection well site.
Section 8 establishes a state income tax credit in an amount equal
to 30% of the purchase price for new, electric-powered lawn equipment for purchases made in income tax years 2024 through 2026. A seller of new, electric-powered lawn equipment that demonstrates that it provided a purchaser a 30% discount from the purchase price of new, electric-powered lawn equipment may claim the tax credit.
Current law requires an electric retail utility (utility) to offer a net
metering credit as the means of purchasing output from a community solar garden (CSG) located within the utility's service territory and establishes the means of calculating the net metering credit. Section 9 maintains that calculation if the CSG indicates to the utility that the CSG's subscribers' bill credits change annually. If the CSG indicates to the utility
that the CSG's subscribers' bill credits remain fixed, however, section 9 provides a different calculation for determining the net metering credit.
Sections 10 through 12 incorporate projects to renovate or
recondition existing utility transmission lines into the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority Act, allowing the Colorado electric transmission authority to finance and renovate, rebuild, or recondition existing transmission lines in order to update and optimize the transmission lines.
Section 13 requires a local government to expedite its review of
a land use application that proposes a project to renovate, rebuild, or recondition existing transmission lines.
Section 14 makes a conforming amendment regarding the updated
statewide GHG emission reduction goals set forth in section 6.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (03/13/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: C. Hansen (D) House: E. Sirota (D) K. McCormick (D) | Status | Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations (02/21/2023) | Position | Support |
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Bill:
SB23-032
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Title: |
Wildfire Detection Technology Pilot Program |
Description | Concerning the establishment of a wildfire detection technology system pilot program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Summary | Wildfire Matters Review Committee. The bill requires the center
of excellence for advanced technology aerial firefighting (center of excellence) in the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety to establish one or more remote camera technology pilot programs. The program may include the use of artificial
intelligence technologies. The center of excellence must acquire or contract for a system of remote pan-tilt-zoom cameras and associated tools to provide a live feed of information that can detect, locate, and confirm ignition in the wildland-urban interface. The center of excellence may acquire or contract for artificial intelligence technologies to assist in the detection, containment, and monitoring of wildfires. The center of excellence must report to the wildfire matters review committee on the system's effectiveness and potential for more widespread use in the state. The bill appropriates $2 million from the general fund to implement the program.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (01/11/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: J. Ginal (D) C. Simpson (R) House: M. Lynch (R) | Status | Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to Appropriations (01/26/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
SB23-079
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Title: |
Nuclear Energy As A Clean Energy Resource |
Description | Concerning the inclusion of nuclear energy as a source of clean energy. | Summary | The bill updates statutory definitions of clean energy and clean
energy resource to include nuclear energy.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (02/07/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: L. Liston (R) House:
| Status | Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Postpone Indefinitely (02/14/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
SB23-166
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Title: |
Establishment Of A Wildfire Resiliency Code Board |
Description | Concerning the establishment of a wildfire resiliency code board, and, in connection therewith, requiring the wildfire resiliency code board to adopt model codes and requiring governing bodies with jurisdiction in an area within the wildland-urban interface to adopt codes that meet or exceed the standards set forth in the model codes. | Summary | The bill establishes a wildfire resiliency code board (board) in the
division of fire prevention and control (division) within the department of public safety (department) for the purposes of ensuring community safety from and more resiliency to wildfires by reducing the risk of wildfires to people and property through the adoption of statewide codes and standards. The board consists of 21 appointed voting members with specific government or industry qualifications and 3 non-voting members. The board is required to promulgate rules concerning the adoption and administration of codes and standards for the hardening of structures and parcels in the wildland-urban interface in Colorado, including rules that:
Define the wildland-urban interface and identify areas of the state that are within it;
Adopt minimum codes and standards based on best practices to reduce the risk to life and property from the effects of wildfires;
Identify hazards and types of buildings, entities, and defensible space around structures to which the codes apply; and
Establish a process for a governing body to petition the board for a modification to the codes and establish the criteria and process for the board to grant or deny an appeal from a decision of the board on a petition for modification.
The bill also creates the wildfire resiliency code board cash fund
and continuously appropriates the money in the fund to the department to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill requires a governing body with jurisdiction in an area
within the wildland-urban interface to adopt and enforce a code that meets or exceeds the minimum standards of the codes adopted by the board. Enforcement of the codes is done in accordance with the rules and regulations for code enforcement adopted by the governing body. If the governing body does not have rules and regulations for code enforcement, the governing body may request support from the division to enforce the code.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (02/20/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: T. Exum Sr. (D) L. Cutter (D) House: M. Froelich (D) E. Velasco (D) | Status | Senate Committee on Local Government & Housing Refer Amended to Appropriations (03/16/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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Bill:
SB23-186
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Title: |
Oil And Gas Commission Study Methane Seepage Raton Basin |
Description | Concerning methane seepage in the Raton basin of Colorado, and, in connection therewith, requiring the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission to complete a study and establish a new regulatory category. | Summary | The bill requires the Colorado oil and gas conservation
commission (commission), in consultation with local governments, to perform a study that:
Recognizes best management practices for capturing methane seepage in the Raton basin;
Confirms the high quality of water resulting from such methane capture operations; and
Confirms the high potential to preserve and make beneficial use of such water.
The commission must complete the study and submit it to
legislative committees of reference by December 1, 2023.
The bill also requires the commission to implement a regulatory
category for methane recovery in the Raton basin, which category includes consideration of enforcement, financial assurance, flow lines, forms, operator guidance, orphan well programs, rules, and policies and allows for beneficial uses deemed prudent by local governments.
| Full Text | Full Text of Bill | Fiscal Notes | Fiscal Notes (03/16/2023) | Sponsors (House and Senate) | Senate: F. Winter (D) R. Pelton (R) House: J. Willford (D) T. Winter (R) | Status | Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations (03/22/2023) | Position | Monitor |
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