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). Privately owned property does not include property classified as agricultural land by the tax assessor or property owned by a nonprofit entity that is leased for agricultural purposes. A district that creates a vegetative fuel program is required to adopt policies consistent with the 2024 International Wildland-urban Interface Code, a subsequent code established by the International Code Council, 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. An incident covers all vegetative fuel on a property. In order to assess a fine, for each incident, the district must provide written notice by certified mail 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 and an owner or occupier is not subject to more than one fine for the same 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 may also waive a fine for delays due to weather or upon a petition for a time extension from an owner or occupier if they have undertaken good faith efforts to remove the vegetative fuel. A district shall not assess a lien on any property for unpaid fines until the owner or occupier of the property has 5 or more unpaid fines for violations concerning the same property.

A district shall adopt rules and policies after a public hearing, public notice and public comment to implement the bill and shall post the adopted rules and policies to the district's website. As part of the rules and policies, a district shall designate an individual to oversee and manage the district's vegetative fuel program.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Wildfire Matters Review Committee. Section 1 of the bill authorizes the Colorado cooperative extension service (extension) to expand and implement outreach programs and initiatives recommended by the Colorado forest health council for the purpose of increasing awareness of and interest in areas of forestry, wildland fire, and natural resources (forest health) in youth and young adults. The outreach programs and initiatives may be implemented for the 2025-26 state fiscal year through the 2027-28 state fiscal year and may include, in part:

• The expansion of 4-H programs and curricula in forest health;
• Partnerships with the forest health industry, local school districts, higher education institutions, conservation districts, the Colorado state forest service, the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety (division), and others to facilitate career and workforce readiness and entry into forest health careers;
• Outreach and support to youth and young adults relating to 2- and 4-year programs and certificates in forest health;
• Industry partnerships and scholarships for forest health certifications, such as wildland fire or chain saw certifications;
• Paid natural resources summer internships focused on forestry for high school students, including the potential to earn high school credit for completing the internship; and
• Paid internships in forest health careers offered by the extension, with mentoring of young adults by the extension, Colorado state university, the Colorado state forest service, and the division.

The bill requires the extension to report annually to the department of natural resources and the house of representatives agriculture, water, and natural resources committee and the senate agriculture and natural resources committee on the implementation and outcomes of the outreach programs and initiatives.

Section 2 authorizes the division to use money in the local firefighter safety and disease prevention fund to:

• Provide need-based grants to fire service governing bodies and volunteer fire departments for the cost of certain firefighter certification courses, course materials, textbooks, instructors, and written testing and to provide fire instructor I or equivalent certification for instructors who want to participate in a train-the-trainer program created by the division;
• Subject to appropriations by the general assembly, create a train-the-trainer program to ensure that all instructors providing grant-funded certification classes described in the bill teach a consistent curriculum; and
• Subject to appropriations by the general assembly, create a statewide outreach program to promote fire service careers, including marketing materials targeted to youth, an online portal to access career pathways and resources, and marketing materials that include social media.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

For ground ambulance services (ambulance services), the bill:

• Allows a political subdivision or an ambulance service providing ambulance services on behalf of the political subdivision to submit to the division of insurance (division) the established rates for the ambulance services, if the rates meet specified conditions;
• Requires the division to publish reimbursement rates on the division's public-facing website;
• Establishes reimbursement rates for ambulance services that are out of network; and
• Prohibits an out-of-network ambulance service from billing an individual covered under a health insurance coverage plan (covered person) any outstanding balance for a covered service not paid for by an insurance carrier, except for any coinsurance, deductible, or copayment amount required to be paid by the covered person. If a covered person makes a payment for an out-of-network ambulance service, the payment must be applied to the covered person's in-network deductibles and in-network out-of-pocket maximum amounts.
  (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill creates the fallen firefighter special license plate. An applicant becomes eligible to use the plate by providing a certificate to the department of revenue (department) confirming that the applicant has made a donation to a nonprofit organization (organization) chosen by the department based on the organization's provision of services to the families of firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty.

In addition to the normal fees for a license plate, a person must pay 2 additional one-time fees in the amount of $25, one of which is credited to the highway users tax fund and the other to the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill extends an existing reduction in the valuation for assessment of qualified-senior primary residence real property (valuation reduction) that applies for only the 2025 and 2026 property tax years so that the valuation reduction is permanent. The bill also makes permanent the existing obligation of the state to annually reimburse local governments that levy property tax for the amount of property tax revenue lost due to the valuation reduction.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill requires a subject jurisdiction, on or after December 31, 2026, to allow a residential development to be constructed on a qualifying property that does not contain an exempt parcel, subject to an administrative approval process. A subject jurisdiction shall not allow a residential development to be constructed on a qualifying property unless the residential development complies with certain affordability requirements.

The bill specifies that a subject jurisdiction shall not:

• Disallow construction of a residential development on the basis of height if the tallest structure in the residential development is no more than 3 stories or 45 feet tall;
• Disallow construction of a residential development on the basis of height if the tallest structure in the residential development complies with the height-related standards for the zoning district in which the residential development will be built or any zoning district parcel that is contiguous to the qualifying property on which the residential development will be built;
• Disallow construction of a residential development based on the number of dwelling units that the residential development will contain, except in accordance with standards listed in the bill; or
• Apply standards to a residential development on a qualifying property that are more restrictive than the standards the subject jurisdiction applies to similar housing constructed within the subject jurisdiction, including standards related to structure setbacks from property lines; lot coverage or open space; on-site parking requirements; numbers of bedrooms in a multifamily residential development; or on-site landscaping, screening, and buffering requirements; or minimum dwelling units per acre.

A subject jurisdiction shall allow the following uses in a residential development on a qualifying property:

• Childcare; and
• The provision of recreational, social, or educational services provided by community organizations for use by the residents of the residential development and the surrounding community.

A subject jurisdiction may condition additional uses in a residential development on the uses being allowed only on the ground floor of the residential development and the uses occupying no more than 15% of the ground floor area of the residential development.

The bill requires a faith-based organization, school district, or state college or university to notify the county assessor that a subject jurisdiction has allowed the construction of a residential development on a qualifying property within the county.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

For the purposes of underwriting homeowners and other property insurance policies, the bill requires insurers who use a wildfire risk model, a catastrophe model, a combination of models, or a scoring method to adhere to specific requirements that concern the sharing of information with the commissioner of insurance and the public, the inclusion of specific activities in the models, and providing notices to policyholders.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Beginning January 1, 2026, an elector Currently, an individual, or a member of the individual's family who resides in the same household, may request that the address included in certain records be kept confidential (address confidentiality) if the individual believes that they will be exposed to criminal harassment or otherwise be in danger of bodily harm if the individual's address is not kept confidential. The bill allows an individual or the spouse of an elector individual who is or has been a peace officer, firefighter, volunteer firefighter, emergency medical service provider, emergency communications specialist, or other individual who responds to a public safety emergency (first responder) may to also request that the address included in the following records concerning the first responder be kept confidential (address confidentiality) address confidentiality for the following records :

• Voter registration records in the custody of a county clerk and recorder; and
• Voter registration records in the centralized statewide registration system maintained by the secretary of state (secretary).

Consistent with current requests for address confidentiality, a first responder may request address confidentiality on the electronic voter registration form or record created by the secretary. The secretary is required to ensure that the electronic voter registration form and an elector's voter registration record includes a place for a first responder to indicate that they are a first responder and request address confidentiality. The secretary is also required to ensure that when a first responder indicates on their voter registration form or record that they are requesting address confidentiality, the first responder is automatically directed to an electronic application form that requests certain information to allow the secretary to implement the address confidentiality request with the county clerk and recorder of the county where the first responder who is making the request for address confidentiality resides. The secretary is required to approve the application form for a request for address confidentiality. The secretary is required to provide a copy of each completed application to the clerk and recorder of the county where the first responder is registered to vote for the purpose of implementing address confidentiality for the records maintained by the county clerk and recorder. The secretary is prohibited from charging a fee in connection with a first responder's request for address confidentiality. Each county clerk and recorder is required to make the address confidentiality request application forms available in their office, provide the address confidentiality request application forms to interested persons by United States mail, email delivery, or facsimile transmission, and to process applications for address confidentiality without imposing a processing fee or any other charge. The Consistent with current requests for address confidentiality, the bill requires the custodian of any voter registration records that concern a first responder who has requested address confidentiality is required to deny , with limited exceptions, the right of inspection of the first responder's address contained in the records on the ground that disclosure would be contrary to the public interest. A first responder's request for address confidentiality is not a public record subject to public inspection.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Section 2 of the bill creates allows for the creation of the regional planning roundtable commission (commission) within the department of local affairs (department) . The commission is a 15-member 21-member board with members who serve 2-year terms. The purposes of the commission include:

• Assisting local governments in complying with statutory housing, land use, or other planning requirements;
• Assisting local governments in accessing state and federal resources and technical assistance for complying with statutory housing, land use, or other planning requirements;
• In cooperation with local governments, creating, managing, and revising regions as necessary for the purpose of establishing a regional roundtable to address regional housing, land use, or other planning challenges and opportunities; and
• Assisting local governments in establishing a regional roundtable to address regional housing, land use, or other planning challenges and opportunities.

The commission will only meet when a local government requests assistance in addressing a regional opportunity or challenge. In so meeting, the commission shall:

• Define a region for purposes of establishing a regional roundtable to assist in addressing the regional opportunity or challenge;
• Considering local expertise, suggest who should serve on the regional roundtable established in connection with addressing the regional opportunity or challenge; and
• Identify state resources available to assist in addressing the regional opportunity or challenge.

The bill allows the department to seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations to cover the costs in implementing the bill. Only after the department has received sufficient gifts, grants, or donations to implement the bill is the commission created and able to meet.

Section 3 allows money in the housing needs planning technical assistance fund to be used for the planning, establishment, and implementation of the commission.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Under current law, counties may levy a county lodging tax (tax) of up to 2% on the purchase price paid or charged to persons for rooms or accommodations. Revenue from the tax is allowed to be used for the following purposes:

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

Subject to local voter approval, the bill increases the allowed rate of the tax to up to 6% 5% and expands the allowed uses to the following additional purposes:

• Public infrastructure maintenance or improvements; or
• Preservation of natural landscapes and wildlife habitats and promotion of sustainable tourism practices;
• Cultural and historical preservation through restoration and maintenance of historical sites, museums, and cultural institutions; or
• Enhancing public safety measures by funding local law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services.

If a county received voter approval before January 1, 2025, to specifically allocate portions of revenue from the lodging tax to allowed uses for designated purposes, the bill clarifies how those previously approved allocations are preserved and how revenue attributable to an increase in the tax rate may be allocated by the county.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill defines a subject jurisdiction as a municipality with a population of 100,000 or more that is served by a fire protection district , fire authority, or fire department that is or was accredited by a specified organization. On or before December 1, 2027, the bill requires the governing body of a subject jurisdiction to adopt a building code, or amend an existing building code, to allow up to 5 stories of a multifamily residential building that satisfies certain conditions to be served by a single exit. This requirement only applies to the area within a subject jurisdiction that is served by a single fire protection district or fire department.

The bill also clarifies that the adoption or amendment of a building code to satisfy the requirements of the bill does not qualify as adopting or enforcing a building code for the purpose of determining whether the governing body of a municipality is required to adopt an energy code.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Current law grants a property tax exemption to a part of real property that is used by the state, a political subdivision, or a state-supported institution of higher education (public entity) for purposes of the public entity pursuant to a lease or rental agreement. Current law requires a public entity claiming a property tax exemption to file a copy of the lease or rental agreement with the county assessor's office.

The bill requires a metropolitan district to also file with the county assessor's office a statement (statement) describing:

• The metropolitan district's use of the leased property;
• The metropolitan district's authority to use the leased property for the metropolitan district's purposes;
• Any use of the leased property by a private person for private purposes; and
• Any disclosure filed by a member of the board of directors of the metropolitan district in accordance with certain laws that govern disclosures of conflicts of interest.

If the statement includes a disclosure that relates to the leased property and is filed by a member of the board of directors of the metropolitan district in accordance with certain laws that govern disclosures of conflicts of interest, the county assessor shall, within 30 14 days of receipt of the statement, submit the statement to the metropolitan district's governing body. Within 180 63 days of receipt of the statement, the governing body shall issue a written decision including findings of fact and a conclusion as to whether the leased property is used for a public purpose. If the governing body concludes that the leased property is not used for a public purpose, the leased property is not exempt from taxation , and the county assessor shall implement the governing body's decision . The decision of the governing body is not subject to appeal and does not give rise to any private right of action.

A leasehold interest in real or personal property that is owned by a private person and that has been leased to the state or a political subdivision of the state, the use and possession of which has been leased back to a private person for private purposes, is taxable to the owner.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill creates a reciprocal licensing and permitting system for the operation of food trucks within the jurisdictions of local governments in the state. The bill requires a local government to grant the owner or operator of a food truck a reciprocal business license, reciprocal health department permit, and reciprocal fire safety permit (reciprocal license and reciprocal permits), which reciprocal license and reciprocal permits allow the owner or operator of a food truck to operate within the local government's jurisdiction, if the owner or operator of a food truck:

• Has an active business license from another local government;
• Has an active health department permit from another local government;
• Has an active fire safety permit from another local government; and
• Pays applicable application and licensing and permitting fees.

A local government must review an application for the reciprocal license and reciprocal permits within 14 calendar days after receiving the application and decide whether to approve or deny the application. The local government may deny the application under certain circumstances. The local government may collect an application fee and charge reduced licensing and permitting fees for granting the reciprocal license and reciprocal permits.

The bill prohibits the governing body of a local government from adopting an ordinance, resolution, regulation, zoning code, or other code that:

• Prohibits the operation of a food truck in a zone in which a food establishment is considered a permitted or conditional use;
• Restricts the total number of days a food truck may be operated within the local government's jurisdiction during a calendar year; or
• Prohibits the operation of a food truck within a certain distance of another food establishment, unless the specified distance is less than 50 feet.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill creates 2 enterprises in the division of insurance (division) in the department of regulatory agencies.

The bill creates the strengthen Colorado homes enterprise (strengthen homes enterprise), which is a state-owned business that imposes and collects a fee from insurance companies (insurers), including the FAIR plan association, that offer on policyholders of homeowner's insurance policies issued by insurance companies (insurers) and the fair access to insurance requirements (FAIR) plan association in the admitted market covering property located in or risks in Colorado. which The fee is collected on a per-policy basis and is equal to 1.5% of one-half percent on the dollar amount percentage of the total premiums that the insurer collects in the immediately preceding calendar year from homeowners for issuing homeowner's insurance policies ( insurer fee); except that an insurer shall not collect the fee on policyholders that have resilient roof systems.

With the insurer fee revenue, the strengthen homes enterprise board administers a grant program (grant program) to strengthen homes against the risk of future damage claims caused by high winds, wildfire, hail, and other extreme weather events (extreme weather events) by allowing a homeowner to use grant money to upgrade their roof system with certain resilient roof materials. By paying the insurer fee to support the grant program to retrofit homes with resilient roofs, policyholders may defray the cost of retrofitting their property to resist losses due to common perils, including windstorms, wildfire, and other extreme weather events, and insurers reduce their overall risk in the market due to hail and other extreme weather events, in order to promote insurance market stability throughout the state.

The bill also creates the wildfire catastrophe reinsurance enterprise (reinsurance enterprise), which is a state-owned business implementing and administering the wildfire catastrophe reinsurance program (reinsurance program). The reinsurance program makes reinsurance payments to insurers that offer homeowner's insurance on properties located in the state to partially mitigate losses in the event of a state or federally declared wildfire-related disaster (wildfire-related disaster). The purpose of the reinsurance program is to stabilize the homeowner's insurance market in the state and to attract and retain homeowner's insurers. In exchange for access to the reinsurance program, the reinsurance program requires insurers to sell homeowner's insurance in areas of the state that are at high risk for wildfires.

To pay for the reinsurance program, the reinsurance enterprise:

• Issues revenue bonds secured by the reinsurance enterprise;
• Issues a catastrophe bond to a person that purchases the bond but pays the principal to cover costs of a wildfire-related disaster if it occurs;
• May impose and collect an insurer fee on insurers to cover a shortfall if a wildfire-related disaster does not occur during the bond term and the reinsurance enterprise has insufficient money to redeem the bonds at maturity; and
• Beginning in the 2026 calendar year, impose and collect a fee on a per-policy basis on each policyholder of a homeowner's insurance policy issued in the admitted market covering property in or risks in the state. The amount of the fee is equal to one-half percent on the percentage of total premiums collected by each insurer in the immediately preceding calendar year.
• Invests the revenue from the revenue bonds and insurer fees.

In addition, the bill sets the loss ratio for homeowner's insurance by presuming that the rates charged to purchasers are excessive if the insurer's loss ratio is less than 75% over a 3-year period and, if rates are in excess of the loss ratio, requires insurers in the admitted market participating in the reinsurance program to submit rates that are at least 5% less than the previous year one set of rates taking into consideration the reinsurance program and one set without. In addition to offering a replacement-cost policy in accordance with current law, an insurer may offer a replacement-cost policy that has a reasonable coverage limit or percentage cap for additional living expenses if the insurer provides a premium decrease for the coverage limit or replacement cap that is approved by the division.

For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the bill appropriates $7,410,037 to the department of regulatory agencies from the strengthen homes enterprise and also appropriates money to the department of law for legal services to implement the reinsurance program.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Section 1 of the bill creates the crash prevention enterprise (enterprise) in the department of transportation (CDOT) for the purpose of lowering automobile insurance costs by providing funding for transportation system infrastructure improvements and other data-driven strategies that reduce the number of collisions that involve a motor vehicle, particularly collisions between a motor vehicle and a vulnerable road user or wildlife (eligible projects). Beginning January July 1, 2026, the enterprise is authorized to impose a crash prevention fee (fee) of up to a specified maximum amount on the policyholder of each automobile insurance policy issued in the state on a per-policy basis for each vehicle insured under an automobile insurance policy other than a motor vehicle that weighs 26,000 pounds or more or a motorcycle. Each insurer that issues an automobile insurance policy must collect the fee from the policyholder and pay the fee to the enterprise. Fee revenue is credited to a newly created crash prevention enterprise fund (fund) and continuously appropriated to the enterprise. The specified maximum amount of the fee adjusts annually on July 1, 2027, and on each July 1 thereafter for inflation, as measured by the rolling 5-year average of the national highway construction cost index published by the federal highway administration in the United States department of transportation. Fee revenue is credited to a newly created crash prevention enterprise fund (fund) and continuously appropriated to the enterprise.

The enterprise is authorized to expend 80% 70% of its available revenue the money in the fund to issue grants to eligible entities, which are local governments, state or federally recognized tribal entities, public entities that are not part of the state, and private entities, for eligible projects that reduce motor vehicle collisions with vulnerable road users, as defined by the bill, and 20% 30% of its available revenue the money in the fund to fund eligible projects that reduce motor vehicle collisions with wildlife. In addition to an annual reporting requirement, the enterprise is required, no later than January 31, 2031, to present a report to specified legislative committees that includes, at a minimum, any recommendations that the enterprise may have for statutory changes with respect to the imposition of the fee and the funding of eligible projects; assessments as to whether the bill's definition of "vulnerable road user" remains appropriate and whether the fee is being imposed on the correct types of motor vehicles; and a cumulative account of the enterprise's revenue, applied for and awarded grants, and projects funded and completed between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2030. Section 2 authorizes the division of insurance in the department of regulatory agencies, upon receiving notice from the enterprise of an insurer's failure to collect the fee from its automobile insurance policyholders and pay the fee to the enterprise, to institute an enforcement proceeding and seek specified civil penalties from the insurer.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Statutory Revision Committee. The bill clarifies the deadlines that are applicable to all counties using alternate protest and appeal procedures to determine objections and protests concerning valuations of taxable property (alternate procedures). Under existing law, counties are able to elect to use alternate procedures (elective counties). By enacting Senate Bill 23-304, the general assembly also required counties with populations over 300,000 to use alternate procedures in any general reassessment year for real property that is valued biennially (mandatory counties). The main difference between using a standard protest and appeal procedure and an alternate procedure is the associated deadlines for county assessors and taxpayers: The standard deadlines are earlier whereas the alternate deadlines are later. Senate Bill 23-304 did not update the statutes that establish the associated deadlines to reflect that the alternate deadlines apply to mandatory counties that are required use alternate procedures under certain circumstances. The bill modifies the language used in each applicable deadline statute to clarify that the later deadlines for alternate procedures apply to all counties using alternate procedures, whether mandatory counties or elective counties.

In addition, the bill updates the deadline for an assessor to conclude all hearings for objections and protests concerning valuations of taxable real property from June 1 to June 8 to align with analogous changes made by enacting House Bill 22-1416.

The bill also updates statutory references and gendered language to align with current drafting practices.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill provides that after the state housing board (board) adopts rules about any activity required to undertake or complete the construction or installation of a factory-built nonresidential structure, a factory-built residential structure, or a factory-built tiny home (factory-built structure), the state plumbing board, the state electrical board, and the state fire suppression administrator do not have jurisdiction over and their rules do not apply to a factory-built structure.

Plumbing or electrical installations that connect factory-built structures to external utility sources and that are not considered actions to complete the installation of a factory- built structure as required by a registered installer must be completed by a licenced plumber or electrician under a registered plumbing or electrical contractor. The inspection and inspectors of these installations, other than those authorized to be performed by a registered installer, must be performed by licensed plumbing or electrical inspectors.

On or before July 1, 2026, the advisory committee on factory-built structures and tiny homes (advisory committee) is required to develop regional building codes for factory-built structures and implementation requirements and submit the recommended codes to the board. Any future statewide adopted codes contemplated in statute must be vetted through the advisory committee for consideration for adoption by the board.

During the 2026 legislative session, the department of local affairs shall present the recommendations of the advisory committee related to the development of regional building codes accounting for local climatic and geographic conditions and fire suppression activities, and improved coordination between the state and local permitting process onsite for the construction and installation of factory-built structures, to the senate local government and housing committee and the house transportation, housing, and local government committee prior to consideration and adoption by the state housing board. The department of local affairs shall report on the outcomes as part of its 2031 "SMART Act" hearing.

On or before July 1, 2026, the board must adopt rules:

• Implementing Establishing regional building code recommendations standards from the advisory committee that account for local climatic and geographic conditions, and fire protection and suppression activities and include specified minimum requirements for the construction and installation of factory-built structures, which supersede any conflicting ordinance, code, regulation, or other law of a local government unless the local government adopts the rules of the board;
• Covering the implementation Implementing the recommended requirements developed by the advisory committee, including authorizing the continued authorization of a local government certified by the division of housing (division) to perform inspections of factory-built structures on behalf of the division and registration, responsibility, and accountability requirements for a manufacturer, installer, seller, or general contractor who develops the installation site or completes the construction of a factory-built structure at the installation site;
• Covering electrical or plumbing codes or fire suppression activity required to undertake or complete the construction or installation of a factory-built structure;
• Allowing the division to contract for third-party review and approval of a final design and construction plan for a factory-built structure on behalf of the division;
• Allowing the division to create a process for vetting and approving the ability of a third party to review and approve a final design and construction plan for a factory-built structure on behalf of the division; and
• Requiring the division to cause an audit to be performed on a third party that reviews and approves design and construction plans, on a third party that conducts inspections on its behalf, of contracts of sellers to verify compliance, and to ensure protection of down payments made by purchasers that are retained by the seller of manufacturer.

On or before July 1, 2026, the advisory committee is required to conduct a study on behalf of the division about whether the international building code or residential code standards that apply to site requirements should be incorporated into state statutes and rules and to determine whether the state should regulate non-factory-built components that are connected to a factory-built structure at the installation site and are currently under local jurisdiction. The division is required to deliver the study to the board when complete.

A county or municipality may not:

• Enact a regulation that excludes factory-built structures and manufactured homes from the county or municipality;
• Impose more restrictive standards on factory-built structures and manufactured homes than those that the county or municipality applies to site-built homes in the same residential zones in the county or municipality; or
• Enact or enforce a regulation, law, or ordinance affecting the installation or construction of a factory-built structure or manufactured home that is more stringent than a regulation, ordinance, or law that applies to other types of construction.

A county or municipality may:

• Enact land use regulations to the extent that the regulations are applicable to existing housing or structures or new site-built housing in the county or municipality; and
• Enact a building code provision for unique public safety requirements unless the provision applies to a factory-built structure. or manufactured home

A county or municipality must comply with the requirements established by the division for factory-built structures and by the United States department of housing and urban development for manufactured homes. The bill requires the state treasurer to transfer $600,000 on July 1, 2025, from the innovative housing incentive program fund to the building regulation fund. Above-grade site-built components of a factory-built structure are subject to local government rules. The bill changes the composition of the advisory board from 15 to 20 members. The membership changes include the:

• Addition of four members from building code enforcement, representing a local building department from climate zones 4, 5, 6, and 7, instead of 3 members from building code enforcement;
• Removal of a member with experience in mechanical engineering or contracting;
• Substitution of a member who is a licensed electrician who may be employed by the department of regulatory agencies for a member from electrical engineering or contracting;
• Substitution of a member who is a licensed plumber who may be employed by the department of regulatory agencies for a member from the plumbing industry;
• Substitution of one member from the division of fire prevention and control for a member from the construction design or producer industry ;
• Addition of 3 members from factory-built structure construction;
• Subtraction of one of the 2 current members from the tiny home industry;
• Addition of one member who is a developer specializing in the use of factory-built structures in projects;
• Addition of one member from climate resiliency;
• Addition of one member who is a registered installer;
• Addition of one member who is a registered seller; and
• Addition of one member who is an individual representing emergency services or management.

For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $277,264 is appropriated to the department of local affairs for use by the division. The appropriation is from the building regulation fund and is based on an assumption that the division will require an additional 1.0 FTE. To implement the bill, the division may use the appropriation for manufactured buildings programs.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Wildfire Matters Review Committee. Section 1 of the bill creates the prescribed fire claims cash fund (fund) in the state treasury and requires the treasurer to transfer $1 million to the fund. The division of fire prevention and control (division) shall expend money from the fund to pay claims that are certified by the division in accordance with new guidelines as specified in the bill and as adopted by the director of the division. The division shall authorize a payment in the amount certified in a claim; except that the maximum payment that the division may authorize is equal to 10% of the amount of money in the fund at the time the claim is filed.

The division shall certify a claim that meets the following guidelines:

• The claim demonstrates, in sufficient detail, the costs or damages that resulted from the prescribed burn;
• The prescribed burn that resulted in the costs or damages was conducted in full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements for prescribed burning;
• Before conducting the prescribed burn, the certified prescribed burn manager registered the written prescription plan for the prescribed burn with the division and paid an administrative fee; and
• No more than 60 days have passed between the completion of the prescribed burn and the date upon which costs and damages were incurred.

The bill gives rule-making authority to the director of the division to adopt rules and guidelines for the implementation and administration of the program and permits the division to contract with a third-party to administer, certify, and pay the claims. The bill also requires a claimant who accepts a payment that covers the full amount certified in the claim to waive all future claims related to the prescribed burn.

Sections 2 and 3 expand the definition of a "certified burner" in the state to include an individual who has not completed the Colorado division's training and certification program but who meets reciprocity requirements and possesses a valid Colorado certification number. An individual seeking certification through reciprocity may receive a certification number from the division by:

• Applying for certification to the division, according to the rules and standards of the division, including the payment of any associated fee; and
• Submitting evidence to the division, according to the rules and standards of the division, that the individual holds a valid certification from a state government or other entity.

The director of the division, in consultation with the Colorado state forest service, is required to adopt rules and standards pertaining to the qualification for and the terms and durations of certification, including through reciprocity.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill requires the division of fire prevention and control (division) in the department of public safety (department) to establish public-private agreements with one or more private partners, by which agreements the state may allocate responsibility or risk to one or more private partners to develop and operate wildfire detection components. The bill also creates the front line innovation and response efficiency cash fund (FIRE fund) in the state treasury. The money in the FIRE fund is annually appropriated to the department to be expended by the division for the purposes of the bill.

In current law, money in the unused state-owned real property fund is continuously appropriated to the department of personnel for several purposes, including paying for public-private agreements and associated costs. Of the money that is appropriated for this purpose, the bill requires the general assembly to transfer the following amounts to the FIRE fund:

• For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, up to $1,000,000;
• For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, $2,000,000; and
• For the 2027-28 state fiscal year, $3,000,000.

The department is required to include information concerning the division's activities under the bill in the department's annual report to the legislative subject matter committees.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

Wildfire Matters Review Committee. The division of fire prevention and control is currently required to host the wildfire information and resource center website and to provide information regarding active wildfires on the website. The bill requires the website to include hyperlinks to websites that display emergency information and wildfire updates for each county in Colorado and requires the division to coordinate with county governments in order to provide the hyperlinks.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill requires the division of criminal justice (division) in the department of public safety to apply for and accept and expend federal or other available grant money to improve the state's response to mass shootings, including grant money to support services for victims of mass shootings.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill expands the conduct that can constitute the crime of obstructing governmental operations to include the repeated calling of 911 dispatch centers without justifiable cause.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill makes the following changes to the "Colorado Open Records Act" (CORA):

• Excludes from the definition of a "public record" a written document or electronic record that is produced by a device or application that is used to assist an individual with a disability or individuals with a language barrier to facilitate communication if the written document or electronic record has been produced to facilitate communication in lieu of verbal communication;
• Changes the reasonable time to respond to a CORA request, except for requests from a mass medium or a newsperson, from 3 working days to 5 working days and changes the extension of time for the response period if extenuating circumstances exist from not exceeding 7 additional days to not exceeding 10 additional days;
• Adds an extenuating circumstance that allows for an extension of the response period when the custodian is not scheduled to work within the response period;
• Requires public entities to post any rules or policies adopted pursuant to CORA, including, if the public entity has one, the public entity's records retention policy, and to post information for members of the public regarding how to make a public records request;
• If public records are in the sole and exclusive custody and control of someone who is not scheduled to work within the response period, requires a custodian to provide all other available responsive public records within the response period and notify the requester of the earliest date on which the person is expected to be available or that the person is not expected to return to work. The requester may make a subsequent request for additional responsive records, if any, on or after the date the custodian provides.
• Allows a custodian, subject to certain exceptions, to determine that a request is made for the direct solicitation of business for pecuniary gain, requires the custodian to provide written notice of the determination to the requester, allows the custodian a 30-day response period for such a request, permits the requester to submit a signed statement affirming that the request is not for the direct solicitation of business for pecuniary gain which the custodian must consider in making their determination, permits the requester to appeal the determination that the request is made for the direct solicitation of business for pecuniary gain to the district court, and allows a custodian to charge the requester for the reasonable cost of directly responding to the request notwithstanding the allowance for the first hour of research and retrieval to otherwise be free of charge and notwithstanding the statutory cap on fees, which otherwise would apply;
• In addition to the prohibition on disclosing public elementary or secondary school students' addresses and telephone numbers, prohibits disclosure of any other information of such a student that could be used by a person to directly contact, address, or send a message to the student through any means or method;
• Clarifies that if a custodian imposes any requirements concerning the prepayment of fees or the payment of fees in connection with a request for inspection of public records, the requirements must be in accordance with the custodian's adopted rules or written policies and must not be inconsistent with the provisions of CORA;
• Allows a requester to ask a custodian for a reasonable break-down of costs that comprises the fee charged for the research and retrieval of the requested public records;
• Modifies the requirement that, if a custodian of records for a public entity allows members of the public to pay for any other service or product provided by the custodian with a credit card or electronic payment, then the custodian must allow a requester of a public record to pay any fee or deposit associated with the request with a credit card or electronic payment, to instead require that the custodian allow for payment in this manner if the public entity allows members of the public to pay for any other service or product provided by the public entity; and
• Allows a custodian to treat a CORA request made within 14 calendar days of another CORA request for information pertaining to facially similar content made by the same person as one request for purposes of calculating the fee that the custodian may charge the requester for research and retrieval of responsive public records.
  (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill makes changes to the existing wildfire resiliency code board (board). The bill adds the following members to the board:

• One additional municipal representative representing rural communities who is appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, and one additional county representative representing rural communities who is appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
• One additional municipal representative representing urban communities who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one additional county representative representing urban communities who is appointed by the president of the senate;
• One additional municipal and one additional county representative representing a municipality and a county that, prior to September 30, 2023, adopted codes that provide, minimally, for wildfire-resilient structures and best practices, each appointed by the executive director;
• 2 mayors of urban municipalities and 2 mayors of rural municipalities; and
• The state water engineer or the state water engineer's designee.

The bill removes 4 members from the board, including a member representing hazard mitigation professionals, a member representing the building trades, a member representing a statewide association of nonprofit utilities, and a member representing a nonprofit home builder for affordable home ownership that serves populations with incomes under 80% of an area's median income.

The bill removes the board's ability to define the wildland-urban interface and instead defines the wildland-urban interface as land in Colorado that is:

• 3 miles or less away from the boundary of any city with a population of 100,000 or more people as of the 2020 United States census;
• 3 miles or less away from the boundary of a transit-oriented community; or
• 3 miles or less away from land that is zoned to allow 40 units or more per acre.

The bill requires each county in the state to create and present to its board of county commissioners a wildland-urban interface map designating all land within the county that is part of the wildland-urban interface. Each board of county commissioners shall approve and submit to the wildfire resiliency code board a wildland-urban interface map no later than July 1, 2026. The board shall adopt minimum codes and standards related to wildfire resiliency no sooner than the date it has received a wildland-urban interface map from every county and no later than January 1, 2027. Governing bodies have one year from the board's adoption of minimum codes and standards related to wildfire resiliency to adopt the codes.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill requires that, immediately after a railroad notifies the state's watch center in the department of public safety (watch center) of an emergency involving a train, the watch center must notify the public utilities commission (commission) and the office of rail safety (office) of the incident. The commission is required to submit a report to specified committees of the general assembly on the information reported by railroads regarding an emergency involving a train.

A crew member of a train operated by a railroad may communicate with first responders during an emergency situation after notifying the railroad dispatch. A crew member has discretion in determining the appropriate response to the emergency situation, including cutting the railroad crossing. A railroad or a crew member is immune from civil liability and is not liable in civil damages for actions taken in good faith in the course of a response to an emergency situation involving a train.

The bill eliminates the shared authority that the commission, the department of public safety, and the department of transportation had to inspect and investigate railroads and grants the commission alone the authority to inspect, investigate, and regulate engage in inspection, investigation, and enforcement activities regarding the following railroads:

• A class I railroad;
• A railroad operating any line that was used by class I railroads as of July 1, 2024; and
• A passenger railroad.

The bill requires the office to gather, analyze, and assess information, including:

• Data to create a more comprehensive understanding of railroad safety;
• An assessment of the state's ability to respond to a large-scale release of hazardous materials from railroad transportation;
• The best practices for ensuring financial responsibility for response, cleanup, and damages from major rail events, including reviewing best practices from other states; and
• Communication issues impacting railroad lines in the state.

Beginning on or before January 1, 2027 , a railroad regulated by the commission is required to pay a fee to cover the costs incurred by the commission and the office in relation to the bill. The commission shall determine a methodology for calculating the fee by rule, but the commission must include specified criteria in the calculation. The total amount collected pursuant to the annual fee must not exceed $4,800,000 in a calendar year. A railroad regulated by the commission must pay the fee in equal quarterly installments and is subject to penalties and interest if they fail to timely pay the fee.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill requires an organization, defined in the bill as a battery stewardship organization, to, no later than July 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, submit to the executive director of the department of public health and environment (executive director) a battery stewardship plan (plan), which is a plan for the collection, transportation, processing, and recycling of certain batteries.

On and after August 1, 2026, a producer selling, making available for sale, or distributing certain batteries or battery-containing products in or into the state must participate in and finance a battery stewardship organization that has submitted a plan to the executive director. On and after July 1, 2028, a retailer is prohibited from selling, offering for sale, distributing, or otherwise making available for sale certain batteries or battery-containing products in the state, unless the producer of the batteries or battery-containing products is participating in a battery stewardship organization that has an approved plan. A retailer is prohibited from charging a point-of-sale fee to consumers to cover the costs of a battery stewardship organization.

The bill specifies what a plan must contain to be approved by the executive director, including, among other things, contact information for participating producers, performance goals, and methods to promote participation in the plan and increase public awareness of the battery stewardship program (program) that will be implemented by the battery stewardship organization pursuant to the plan. In addition, a plan must detail how the battery stewardship organization will arrange for the collection of certain batteries by establishing collection sites that are freely available to any person.

A battery stewardship organization implementing an approved plan is required to develop and administer a system to collect charges from participating producers to cover the costs of implementing the program. In addition, a battery stewardship organization, in consultation with the department of public health and environment (department) and interested stakeholders, must complete an assessment of the opportunities and challenges associated with the end-of-life management of certain batteries, which assessment must be submitted to the general assembly on or before October 1, 2027.

On or before June 1, 2028, and on or before each June 1 thereafter, a battery stewardship organization with an approved plan must submit an annual report to the executive director, which report must include certain information about the preceding year of plan implementation. The bill also requires a battery stewardship organization to carry out promotional activities to increase public awareness of the program. Battery stewardship organizations with approved plans must coordinate to conduct a survey of public awareness of the programs and share the results of the survey with the executive director as part of the annual reports.

On or before December 1, 2026, and on or before each December 1 thereafter, the department must provide each battery stewardship organization with an accounting of the organization's portion of the costs in administering a program, and the battery stewardship organization is required to pay to the department an annual fee based on the department's accounting by July 1 of each year. Fees will be credited to the battery stewardship fund created in the state treasury.

The bill requires a producer or retailer to mark certain batteries with labels that:

• Identify the producer of the batteries; and
• Include certain information to ensure the proper collection and recycling of the batteries.

Beginning January 1, 2029, a person is required to manage certain unwanted batteries through delivery to a collection site, event, or program established by a battery stewardship program. A person is prohibited from disposing of certain batteries in a landfill.

A producer or battery stewardship organization that violates any of the bill's requirements is liable for a civil penalty of $7,000 per violation; except that a battery stewardship organization that fails to pay a fee required by the department pursuant to the bill's requirements is liable for a civil penalty that is double the applicable fee.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

Section 1 of the bill provides that interest and income earned on the investment of the money in the public school fund must be used to pay for the costs of administering the newly created shared equity down payment assistance program. Section 2 requires at least one member of the public school fund investment board (board) to have expertise in community investments, requires the board to direct the state treasurer to securely invest money deposited in the public school fund in a manner that prioritizes new investment objectives, and authorizes the board to enter into contracts with investment advisors or other investment professionals to provide advice on community investments. Section 2 makes conforming changes in order to expand the types of investments the state treasurer can make using public school fund money and extends the amount of time the treasurer has to offset an aggregate loss of principal to the public school fund from 18 to 24 months 3 provides that the state treasurer cannot invest in stocks and other financial assets . Section 3 4 creates the new community investment portfolio within the permanent public school fund, and requires the state treasurer to invest at least 6% of the money in the permanent school fund into the community investment portfolio by July 1, 2027. The state treasurer is required to invest at least 20% of the money in the permanent public school fund into the community investment portfolio by July 1, 2032.

Money in the portfolio must be invested in community investments, and allowable community investments include:

• Bonds issued by Colorado school districts and charter schools;
• Certificates of participation issued by Colorado school districts and charter schools;
• Mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations secured by residential real estate, the majority of which is owned by public school employees;
• Loans to the Colorado middle income housing authority for a revolving loan fund that funds rental housing developments that include preferences for public school employees;
• Bonds issued by the middle income housing authority that fund rental housing developments which include preferences for public school employees;
• Bonds or mortgage-backed securities issued by the Colorado housing and finance authority that fund rental housing developments that include preferences for public school employees or mortgages secured by residential real estate, the majority of which is owned by public school employees ;
• Mortgage revenue bonds that support public school employee mortgages with interest rates of 3% or less;
• Loans to community development financial institutions or nonprofits with a history of providing affordable home ownership financing that fund:
• The construction of housing developments that include Housing that includes preferences for public school employees; or
• Low-interest mortgages secured by residential real estate that is owned by public school employees; and
• Down payment shared appreciation products secured by residential real estate that is owned by public school employees; and
• Other venture capital, private equity, or public equity funds investments that support education in Colorado the public purpose of the fund .

The educator first home ownership program (program) is created within the community investment portfolio. The treasurer shall invest the following amounts in the program by the following dates:

• By July 1, 2027 2028 , the greater of 6% of the fund's value or $100 million; and
• By July 1, 2028 2030 , the greater of 12% of the fund's value or $200 million.

The treasurer shall invest the money in the program as follows:

• 75% of the money in the program shall be administered by the program administrator and used for a shared equity down payment assistance program that:

• Provides at least 15% of the total cost of a home to public school employees; and
• Allows appreciation-sharing between the program and the homeowner, with the program's share of appreciation capped at 10% aim to invest a target of 75% of the money in the program into the shared equity down payment assistance program. The shared equity down payment assistance program must be established by July 1, 2026. Once the shared equity down payment assistance program is fully established:
• The public school investment board shall purchase from the program manager the mortgage products created through the shared equity down payment assistance program; and
• The public school investment board may provide notice of any discontinuation of future investments that the program manager has not already committed to the shared equity down payment assistance program, which notice must be provided at least 6 months prior to discontinuation.

The treasurer shall aim to invest a target of 25% of the money in the program must be invested in into allowable community investments with the purpose of increasing the supply of houses for sale and access to home ownership in rural and other underserved communities.

The program administrator manager shall ensure that mortgages in the shared equity down payment assistance program bear interest rates that are at least as low as prevailing mortgage rates at the time the mortgages in the shared equity down payment assistance program are entered into establish underwriting criteria and other guidelines for the shared equity down payment assistance program so that the shared equity down payment assistance program prioritizes first-time home buyers that use the home as a primary residence; provides shared equity down payment assistance to public school employees and aims to help as many public school employees as possible achieve affordable home ownership; and allows appreciation-sharing between the shared equity down payment assistance program and the borrower . The program administrator shall present an annual report to the public school fund investment board on program outcomes. Sections 4 and 5 clarify that the state treasurer may invest state money in direct and indirect equity investments and other asset classes including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, direct and indirect real estate investments, and education-related community investments. Section 6 requires the state treasurer to invest at least 20% of the money in the unclaimed property trust fund in direct and indirect equity investments, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, direct and indirect real estate investments, and other asset classes by July 1, 2032. The state treasurer is also required to make 2 loans of money from the unclaimed property trust fund to the department of local affairs, both of which must be paid back in full by July 1, 2045, including:

• $100 million on July 1, 2025, that the department of local affairs shall use to create a new zero-interest revolving loan program for affordable housing developers; and
• $50 million that the department of local affairs shall use to create a new zero-interest revolving loan program to benefit fire protection districts and ambulance districts experiencing cash flow issues.

Section 7 creates the new Colorado investment portfolio (Colorado portfolio) within the unclaimed property trust fund. The treasurer is required to invest at least 5% of the money in the unclaimed property trust fund into the Colorado portfolio by July 1, 2027, and at least 20% of the money in the unclaimed property trust fund into the Colorado portfolio by July 1, 2032. Money in the Colorado portfolio must be invested in:

• The community investment portfolio;
• Bonds issued by Colorado school districts, charter schools, local governments, special districts, state enterprises, Indian tribes, or special purpose authorities;
• Certificates of participation issued by Colorado school districts, charter schools, local governments, special districts, state enterprises, Indian tribes, or special purpose authorities;
• Mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations secured by Colorado residential real estate that is owned by Coloradans;
• Bonds issued by the middle income housing authority;
• Bonds issued by the Colorado housing and finance authority;
• Loans to community development financial institutions that fund:

• The construction of housing developments in Colorado; or
• Mortgages secured by Colorado residential real estate that is owned by Coloradans;

• Bonds issued by businesses headquartered in Colorado;
• Asset-backed securities supported by loans to small businesses in Colorado;
• The venture capital authority within the office of economic development and international trade; or
• Other venture capital, private equity, or public equity funds that support communities in Colorado.

Section 8 reduces the amount credited to the housing development grant fund from the general fund by $15 million for state fiscal year 2026-27. Section 5 makes an appropriation to the department of the treasury to use for the 2025-26 state fiscal year.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill clarifies that a special district may cancel an election in a director district if the only matter to be decided at the election is who will be director of the director district, there are not more candidates than positions for director, and the only individuals who may vote are the eligible electors within the director's district.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Section 20 of article X of the state constitution (TABOR) defines "fiscal year spending" as not including either "damage awards" or "property sales". Although TABOR does not define either "damage award" or "property sale", the TABOR implementing statutes do. The bill clarifies both of these definitions for state fiscal years commencing on or after July 1, 2024.

The bill clarifies that "damage award", as used for the purpose of determining whether specific money received by the state is subject to the TABOR limitation on state fiscal year spending, includes certain civil penalties imposed by the state.

The bill also clarifies that "property sale", as used for the purpose of determining whether specific money received by the state is subject to the TABOR limitation on state fiscal year spending, includes certain specified sales by the state.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Sunset Process - Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Community integrated health-care services (services) are out-of-hospital medical services that may be provided by an emergency medical service provider who obtains a community paramedic endorsement. A community integrated health-care service agency (agency) is an entity or sole proprietorship that manages and offers services.

The bill implements the recommendations in the 2024 sunset report by the department of regulatory agencies by:

• Continuing the regulation of agencies by 9 years to 2034;
• Adding clarification that a suspension of, a revocation of, or a refusal to renew an agency's license based on the fact that an owner, manager, or administrator of the agency was convicted of a disqualifying felony or misdemeanor includes circumstances in which the owner, manager, or administrator entered into a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for the felony or misdemeanor;
• Updating language to be gender neutral;
• Changing references from "consumers" to "patients or clients";
• Referencing the definition of service in the statutes governing the regulation of agencies; and
• Defining "service" to include mobile integrated health care and, as determined by rule by the state board of health, care and services provided by practitioners other than community paramedics.
  (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Joint Budget Committee. On July 1, 2025, and on July 1 of each year thereafter through July 1, 2034, the bill requires the state treasurer to transfer $15 million from the local government severance tax fund to the public safety communications trust fund (trust fund). The money in the trust fund is required to be used to support the digital trunked radio system, including site supporting infrastructure and supporting software and hardware.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Joint Budget Committee. Current law allows the owner of real or business personal property that was destroyed by a natural cause, as determined by the county assessor, to be reimbursed by the state in an amount equal to the amount of property tax levied on the destroyed property in the property tax year in which the natural cause destroyed the property (reimbursement program). Beginning with property tax year 2025, the bill ends the reimbursement program.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Joint Budget Committee. The state has a property tax deferral program (program) under which the state makes a secured loan to a qualified taxpayer to pay property taxes owed for the taxpayer's homestead. The program was available only to seniors and persons called into active military service until 2021, when the general assembly expanded the program to also allow an otherwise nonqualifying taxpayer whose property tax had increased by at least a specified percentage (new qualified taxpayer) to participate. In 2022, the general assembly shifted much of the responsibility for the administration of the program from the county treasurers to the state treasurer.

The bill reverses the 2022 shift of administrative responsibilities for the program and eliminates program eligibility for new qualified taxpayers so that county treasurers will generally have the same responsibilities for administering the program as they did prior to 2022. The bill also specifies that a new qualified taxpayer may only claim deferral of property taxes levied for a property tax year commencing on or after January 1, 2025, if the board of county commissioners of the county in which the taxpayer's homestead is located has, after receiving input from the county treasurer of that county, adopted a resolution requiring the county treasurer to accept applications for such deferral claims.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Current law states that a person who commits careless driving and thereby causes bodily injury to another commits a class 1 misdemeanor. The bill adds that, in addition to the class 1 misdemeanor, a person who commits careless driving and thereby causes serious bodily injury to another may also be subject to driver's license suspension for up to one year.

The bill increases the penalty for a person who commits careless driving and thereby causes the death of another by:

• Increasing the penalty from a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense to a class 6 felony; and
• Adding the possibility of driver's license suspension for up to one year.

Additionally, if a person commits careless driving and thereby causes the death of more than one other person, each person killed is a separate offense.

The bill requires that, if a person commits careless driving and thereby causes the death of another, a law enforcement agent shall administer testing to determine the drug or alcohol content within the person's system. A refusal to submit to the test is evidence of a violation.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The concurrent resolution exempts from taxation a percentage of the actual value of a former or currently serving first responder's primary residence as follows:

• 50% if the first responder served for at least 30 years, or if the first responder served for at least one year and, while providing first responder services, died or was critically injured in a way that prevented the first responder from serving post-injury;
• 40% if the first responder served for at least 20 years; and
• 10% if the first responder served for at least 10 years and remained in service as a first responder at the close of the applicable property tax year.

The concurrent resolution exempts from taxation a percentage of the actual value of a volunteer first responder's primary residence as follows:

• 30% if the volunteer first responder served for at least 30 years; and
• 20% if the volunteer first responder served for at least 20 years.

These exemptions apply to surviving spouses of first responders and volunteer first responders. The general assembly is required to enact laws to implement the exemptions.

(Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as introduced.)

Fiscal Note