Section 1 of the bill amends the definition of "employer" for purposes of wage and hour laws to include an individual who owns or controls at least 25% of the ownership interest in an employer. Section 2 prohibits an employer from making a payroll deduction below a worker's applicable minimum wage. Section 3 allows the director of the division of labor standards and statistics (division) to waive the penalty for an employer's failure to pay claimed wages or compensation within 14 days after a written demand if certain specified conditions are met. Section 4 repeals language allowing requires a court to award find that an employee pursued a wage claim that lacked substantial justification before awarding an employer reasonable costs and attorney fees in a civil action for unpaid wages or compensation. in certain circumstances. In such an action, the court may pursue all equitable relief to deter future violations and prevent unjust enrichment.

Current law limits the ability of the director of the division to adjudicate claims for nonpayment of wages or compensation to $7,500 or less. Section 5 increases this threshold over the years by increasing the amount to $13,000 for claims filed from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, and in an amount specified by the director of the division to adjust for inflation beginning January 1, 2028. Section 5 also requires the division, in adjudicating wage claims, to determine whether a violation is willful. For each violation:

• The director shall publish on the division's website the names of all employers found to be in violation and whether the violation was willful; and
• If the violation is not remedied within 60 days after the division's finding that there was a violation, the division must notify all government bodies with the authority to deny, withdraw, or otherwise limit or impose remedial conditions on the employer's license, permit, registration, or other credential.

Additionally, the division may report an employer found to have violated a law related to wages and hours to any government body with authority to deny, withdraw, or otherwise limit or impose remedial conditions on a license, permit, registration, or other credential that the violating employer has or may seek. Section 5 also repeals language requiring the division to issue a determination on a wage complaint within 90 days and clarifies that a city or county may enact and enforce wage laws within the city or county's jurisdiction . Section 6 requires an employer found to have misclassified an employee as a nonemployee to pay a fine in the following amounts, in addition to any other relief ordered:

• For a willful violation, $5,000;
• For a violation not remedied within 60 days after the division's finding, $10,000;
• For a second or subsequent willful violation within 5 years, $25,000; or
• For a second or subsequent willful violation not remedied within 60 days after the division's finding, $50,000.

The director of the division must adjust these fine amounts for inflation by January 1, 2028, and every other year thereafter.

Section 6 also decreases the amount of time the division must wait before paying an employee out of the wage theft enforcement fund from 6 months to 120 days.

Current law prohibits an employer from discriminating or retaliating against an employee for taking protection under wage and hour laws or the law related to the employment of minors. Section 7 expands this provision to specify additional protected behavior and expands the prohibition to include other persons in addition to employers. Section 7 also:

• Requires a fact finder to consider the time between an individual's exercise of a protected activity and an employer's adverse action when determining whether an employer has retaliated against the employee or worker;
• Specifies that any effort it is a violation to use an individual's immigration status to negatively impact the wage and hour law rights, responsibilities, or proceedings of any employee or worker is an unlawful act of intimidation, threatening, coercion, discrimination, and retaliation to discriminate or retaliate against an employee or worker who has engaged in protected activity ; and
• Allows the division to order reasonable attorney fees and costs after investigating a discrimination or retaliation claim.

(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.)

The bill prohibits an entity from providing earned-wage access services without a license on and after January 1, 2026. Earned-wage access services are services that:

• Deliver consumer access to earned but unpaid income; and
• Provide consumer access to earned but unpaid income that is based on employment, income, or attendance data obtained directly or indirectly from an employer or an employer's payroll service provider.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill requires a local government that adopts or substantially amends a building code to ensure that the building code meets or exceeds the accessibility standards in international building codes. The bill clarifies that adoption of the energy-efficient building codes does not constitute a substantial amendment to the building codes for purposes of the bill and that the accessibility standards adopted by a board of county commissioners cannot provide less protection than what is required by the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990". The bill exempts the accessibility standard requirements for one- and 2-family dwellings and townhomes that comply with the International Residential Code, as adopted by the International Code Council, or that comply with a local building code, which code's accessibility standards are equivalent to the accessibility standards in the International Residential Code.

The bill also requires the division of fire prevention and control within the department of public safety to ensure that, when certain building codes pertaining to public school and heath facilities are substantially amended, the codes meet or exceed accessibility standards in international building codes.

The bill requires the state housing board to ensure that, when the uniform construction and maintenance standards for hotels, motels, and multiple dwellings in jurisdictions with no local building code are substantially updated, the standards meet or exceed the accessibility standards in international building codes. The bill also requires the state housing board to ensure that, when the recommendations for uniform housing standards and building codes to the general assembly and local governments are substantially updated, the codes meet or exceed the accessibility standards in international building codes.

(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.)

The bill requires the executive director of the department of public health and environment (department) to establish a workforce advisory council (council) on or before August 1, 2025, for the purposes of:

• Discussing recommendations concerning the incorporation of workforce impact analyses into the rule-making procedures for rules that impact air quality;
• Recommending standard procedures for the department and the air quality control commission (commission) to follow when conducting workforce impact analyses for inclusion in rule-making procedures; and
• Determining if the establishment of a full-time workforce advocate position would add value to the air quality control rule-making process.

The bill requires the department to report the council's recommendations to the general assembly on or before January 15, 2026.

After January 15, 2026, the council is required to:

• Meet at least 4 times per year;
• Continue to advise the department on the impact of proposed air quality control rules on matters related to employment; and
• Make ongoing recommendations to the governor, the department, and the commission on legislative and regulatory air quality control policies that impact employment matters.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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

The bill exempts individuals engaged in the business of inspecting, testing, or repairing backflow prevention devices from licensure requirements but retains the licensure requirements for individuals engaged in the installation or removal of the devices; except that individuals who install or replace a backflow prevention device on a stand-alone fire suppression system remain exempted from the licensure requirements. The bill requires that, on and after July 1, 2025, a licensed plumber who installs, tests, inspects, repairs, or reinstalls a backflow prevention device and a certified cross-connection control technician or a licensed plumber with a cross-connection control technician certification who tests or repairs a backflow prevention device must affix a tag on the backflow prevention device that contains certain information about the licensed plumber, the certified cross-connection control technician, or the licensed plumber with a cross-connection control technician certification, as applicable, and the service that was provided.

(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.)

Section 2 of the bill:

• Prohibits a person from offering, displaying, or advertising pricing information for a good, service, or property unless the person discloses the maximum total (total price) of all amounts that a person may pay for the good, service, or property, not including a government charge or shipping charge (total price disclosure requirement);
• Prohibits a person from misrepresenting the nature and purpose of pricing information for a good, service, or property;
• Requires a person to disclose the nature and purpose of pricing information for a good, service, or property that is not part of the total price; and
• Prohibits a landlord from requiring a tenant to pay certain fees, charges, or amounts.

A person does not violate the total price disclosure requirement if the person does not use deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable acts or practices related to the pricing of goods, services, or property and if the person:

• Is a food and beverage service establishment that :

• includes a disclosure in the total price for a good or service the amount of any mandatory service charge and how the mandatory service charge is distributed; and
• Distributes any mandatory service charge exclusively to nonmanagerial employees in accordance with applicable laws; or
• Can demonstrate that the total price of services the person offers is indeterminate at the time of the offer and clearly and conspicuously discloses the factors that determine the total price, any mandatory fees associated with the transaction, and that the total price may vary;
• Can demonstrate that the person is governed by and compliant with applicable federal law , rule, or regulation regarding pricing transparency for the particular transaction at issue;
• Can demonstrate that any fees, costs, or amounts in addition to the total price are associated with real estate settlement services and are not broker commissions or fees; or
• Can demonstrate that the person is providing broadband internet access service and is compliant with specified federal law .

A person is exempt from the bill if the person can demonstrate compliance with federal law that regulates pricing transparency for the transaction at issue and that the federal law preempts state law. Additionally, the bill does not require a landlord or landlord's agent to include, in the required disclosure, the actual amount charged for utility services provided to a tenant's dwelling unit.

A violation of the above prohibitions and requirement (violation) constitutes a deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable act or practice.

Section 2 also, along with any other remedies available by law or in equity, allows a person aggrieved by a violation to bring a civil action and send a written demand for the violation. If a person declines to make full legal tender of all fees, charges, amounts, or damages demanded or refuses to cease charging the aggrieved person within 14 days after receiving the written demand, the person is liable for the greater of: actual damages plus 18% interest, compounded annually.

• 3 times the actual damages incurred; or
• At least $100 to no more than $1,000 per person per violation.

Current law prohibits a written rental agreement from including a provision requiring a tenant to pay a markup or fee for a service for which the landlord is billed by a third party. Section 3 changes that provision to prohibit Section 4 prohibits the inclusion of a provision in a written rental agreement that requires a tenant to pay a fee , charge, or amount that is a violation violates a requirement under section 2 of the bill .

(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.)

Current law preempts any local governmental entity housing growth restriction (anti-growth law) that explicitly limits the growth of the population in the local governmental entity's jurisdiction or the number of development permits or building permit applications for residential development unless it is a temporary, nonrenewable anti-growth law following a declared disaster emergency.

The bill clarifies that an anti-growth law also includes any restriction that explicitly seeks to impose additional restrictions or limitations on a particular housing type that exceed a governmental entity's zoning or building codes a generally applicable land use law that, in census urban areas as defined by the United States census bureau, explicitly decreases the permitted residential density or uses of land to less density or fewer uses than were allowed under its previous usage without ensuring a corresponding increase of residential density or uses elsewhere in the jurisdiction. The bill also clarifies when a local government must provide the option of paying a fee in lieu of land dedication for a private property owner whose property does not meet the local government's standards for dedication. The bill also permits a municipality to seek a judicial determination as to the legality of a proposed municipal initiative for a land use ordinance that restricts or limits the development or use of land that is submitted to the legislative body of the municipality, allows the owners of a property that is specifically subject to the proposed ordinance and persons designated as representing the petition proponents to intervene in the proceeding, and tolls the period within which the municipality is required to adopt the proposed initiated ordinance or call an election during the pendency of the judicial determination.

(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.)

The bill requires counties with a population of more than 5,000 residents in unincorporated areas and municipalities with a population of more than 5,000 residents to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would implement an automated residential solar permitting platform (platform). The platform would automatically review an application for a residential solar panel installation and issue a permit for the residential solar panel installation project if the project is code-compliant and meets certain criteria.

The platform utilized by a county or municipality must be used for at least 75% of the residential solar panel installation permit applications submitted to the local jurisdiction. The platform will only be used for solar panel installations that will be installed on existing residential buildings, have a maximum capacity of 200 amperes main service disconnect, and provide electrical power to single-family or 2-family residential property.

A county or municipality required to implement the platform must notify the Colorado energy office (office) of its compliance with the requirements of the bill and submit an annual report to the office related to the use of the platform and the type of software used.

Counties and municipalities are also eligible to receive funding and technical assistance from the office to implement platforms.

The office is required to submit a report to the general assembly related to the use of automated permitting software for other residential electrification projects, such as electric vehicle charging stations and heat pump space heaters, and the costs and benefits of implementing the automated software. The office must submit the report by July 1, 2026.

The state electrical board in the department of regulatory agencies is also required to implement a platform for use in its issuance and review of electrical permits related to residential solar panel installations. The board must also notify the office of its compliance with adopting the platform and submit an annual report to the office related to the board's use of the platform.

The bill makes updates to the streamlined solar permitting and inspection grant program (grant program). The grant program provides funding for the adoption and implementation of automated permitting and inspection software. The bill clarifies that funding from the grant program may be used by a recipient for eligible expenses for up to 3 years after the grantee implements the automated permitting and inspection software. The bill also permits the Colorado energy office (office) to spend up to 9% of the money remaining in the grant program's cash fund as of September 1, 2025, for paying the direct and indirect costs of the office in administering the grant 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.)

In the 2024 regular legislative session, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 24-005, which:

• Prohibits a local entity, on and after January 1, 2026, from installing, planting, or placing, or allowing any person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species, as part of a new development project or redevelopment project, on any portion of applicable property within the local entity's jurisdiction; and
• Requires a local entity, on or before January 1, 2026, to enact or amend ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects on applicable property in accordance with the new requirements.

For the purposes of Senate Bill 24-005, the bill expands the definition of "applicable property" to include a multifamily residential real property housing premises property that is used for apartment or condominium housing includes more than 12 dwelling units (applicable residential real property). The bill prohibits a local entity, on and after January 1, 2028, from installing, planting, or placing, or allowing a person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species, as part of a new development project or redevelopment project, on any portion of applicable properties that include multifamily residential housing premises property.

The bill also requires each local entity with land use planning and zoning authority to enact or amend, on or before January 1, 2028, ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects within the local entity's jurisdiction to limit regulate the installation of nonfunctional turf for all residential real property that is not and include consideration of applicable residential real property. The bill also requires each local entity with land use planning and zoning authority to enact or amend, on or before January 1, 2028, ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects within the local entity's jurisdiction to regulated the installation of turf to reduce irrigation water demand for all residential real property that is not applicable residential real property. Local entities must also impose limits on the installation of turf when enacting or amending ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws on and after January 1, 2028, to reduce irrigation water demand for all residential real property that is not applicable residential real property.

(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.)

For public projects and energy sector public works projects, current law requires that any contractor or subcontractor that will perform mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work on the project participate in an apprenticeship program that:

• Is registered with either the United States department of labor or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the United States department of labor and that has a proven record of graduating apprentices for at least 3 of the past 5 years (registered apprenticeship program); and
• Satisfies specified graduation requirements (registered apprenticeship program that satisfies specified graduation requirements).

Currently, for energy sector public works projects, these requirements also apply to a contractor or subcontractor that employs construction laborers on the project. In addition, for energy sector public works projects, current law requires that all other contractors or subcontractors participate in a registered apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship utilization requirements. The bill aligns the apprenticeship utilization requirements for public projects and energy sector public works projects and specifies that for both types of projects:

• Any contractor or subcontractor that will perform mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work or employ construction laborers on the project is required to participate in a registered apprenticeship program that satisfies specified graduation requirements; and
• Any other contractor or subcontractor that will perform work on the project is required to demonstrate a minimal training requirement by participating in a registered apprenticeship program.

The bill also aligns current statutory provisions for public projects and energy sector public works projects in connection with the apprenticeship utilization requirements, including provisions that:

• Require the lead contractor for a project to identify all contractors and subcontractors that will perform work on the project;
• Require the lead contractor for a project to certify that all contractors and subcontractors that perform work on the project satisfy the applicable apprenticeship utilization requirements;
• Require the contract for a project to include the apprenticeship utilization requirements;
• Require the lead contractor for a project to provide documentation to prove compliance with the apprenticeship utilization requirements;
• Allow waivers of the apprenticeship utilization requirements under specified circumstances; and
• Allow an apprenticeship program that does not satisfy the criteria specified in the bill to petition the department of labor and employment for conditional approval for the purposes of the bill.

Project labor agreements for public projects. The bill authorizes an agency of government to incorporate a project labor agreement requirement for a public project if the project labor agreement will promote successful project delivery by securing a skilled labor force for the project and if it will promote cost-efficiency, safety, quality, and timely completion of the project. If all construction work on the public project is covered by a project labor agreement, the apprenticeship utilization requirements specified in the bill and the current statutory prevailing wage requirements for a public project do not apply to the project. The provisions in the bill regarding project labor agreements for public projects are parallel to the current statutory provisions regarding project labor agreements for energy sector public works projects. County opt in to state apprenticeship utilization and prevailing wage requirements. The bill allows a county to opt in to the state apprenticeship utilization and prevailing wage requirements. A county that intends to opt in to such requirements may request, through a process specified in the bill, that the department of personnel collaborate with the county regarding the implementation, application, and enforcement of the state apprenticeship utilization and prevailing wage requirements. The bill allows the department of personnel or other agencies of government and a county that opts in to the state apprenticeship utilization and prevailing wage requirements to enter into an intergovernmental agreement to address the rights and obligations of the parties in connection with the implementation, administration, and enforcement of such requirements.

(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.)

Currently, "best value" for design-build transportation contracts administered by the department of transportation (department) means the overall maximum value of a proposal to the department after considering all of the evaluation factors described in the specifications for the transportation project or the request for proposals. The bill changes the definition of "best value" to mean a determination resulting from an analysis of proposals by the department to identify the proposal that offers the greatest overall value to the state or community, The bill adds evaluation considering factors including as follows :

• The initial cost and long-term life-cycle cost of the project, including a full life-cycle analysis use stage assessment that is service-environment specific and considers corrosion, predictable service environment changes, maintenance, and replacement rate on economic and environmental impact Project schedule ;
• Balancing initial costs with long-term value, giving consideration to proposals that prioritize durability, minimal maintenance, and life cycle performance to achieve sustainable outcomes Innovative solutions ;
• Technical quality and project performance Improved quality ;
• Sustainability including resource efficiency, waste reduction, and energy conservation ;
• Environmental impact specifically the assessment and reduction of carbon emissions throughout the project's life cycle ;
• Impact on local communities, including job creation, social equity, and minimization of disruptions to residents Initial cost ;
• Long-term public asset value, including resilience against climate impacts and minimized maintenance burdens to reduce total costs over the asset's lifespan; and Long-term life-cycle cost of the transportation project ;
• Resilience based on predictable risk. ;
• Increased scope; and
• Aesthetics.

(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.)

Under current law, the air quality control commission is tasked with developing an effective air quality control program (program), including adopting rules necessary to carry out the program.

The bill requires a person that owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises (owner or operator) a building, structure, facility, or installation that emits or may emit an air pollutant (stationary source) to maintain records that will help the public determine whether the owner or operator is in compliance with rules establishing applicable air quality control regulations (records). The bill requires an owner or operator of a stationary source to make the records publicly available and accessible through a link on the owner or operator's public website.

The department of public health and environment is required to include a link on its website directing members of the public to the website of an owner or operator where the records are available.

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

The bill requires a school district, a charter school, an institute charter school, a board of cooperative services, or the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind (local education provider) to satisfy certain requirements concerning installation, inspection, and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in schools if the local education provider undertakes HVAC infrastructure improvements using money made available by a federal government source or by a federal government source in combination with a state government source specifically for such purpose from the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund.

The requirements established in the bill concern:

• Ventilation verification assessments, which include assessments of an HVAC system's filtration, ventilation exhaust, economizers, demand control ventilation, air distribution and building pressurization, general maintenance requirements, and operational controls ; and carbon dioxide output
• The preparation of HVAC assessment reports;
• The review of HVAC assessment reports by mechanical engineers, who make recommendations regarding necessary repairs and improvements, suggest pathways to reduce emissions, and estimate associated costs;
• HVAC adjustments, repairs, upgrades, and replacements; and
• The preparation of HVAC verification reports, and the submission of the reports to the state board of education; which must be maintained for at least 5 years and made available to the public upon request. and
• Periodic inspections and ongoing maintenance.

The bill establishes mandatory criteria that an HVAC contractor must satisfy in order to perform work described in the bill. A local education provider that undertakes HVAC infrastructure improvements using money made available by a federal government source or by a federal government source in combination with a state government source from the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund must do so using only contractors on the certified contractor list established by the department of labor and employment, unless the local education provider determines that there were no responsive, eligible subcontractors available to fulfill the mechanical, electrical, or plumbing portions of the contract. The bill transfers money from the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund to the unused state-owned real property fund. The public-private collaboration unit in the department of personnel (unit) may use the money to provide grant writing support, administrative support, and project planning, to review the work of applicants, and to connect applicants with third parties with expertise pertaining to federal funding application technical assistance. The bill requires the unit to facilitate a public-public partnership with local education providers to leverage federal dollars available to help public schools improve air quality in schools, student performance, and staff retention. For each award of federal dollars obtained with the unit's grant writing support, the unit is authorized to retain 2.5% of the dollars awarded to cover the unit's administrative costs.

(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.)

In an action against a construction professional, section 2 of the bill requires the construction professional to provide the claimant or the claimant's legal representative with:

• Copies of all plans, specifications, soils reports, and available engineering calculations;
• Any maintenance and preventive maintenance recommendations;
• The name, last-known address, and scope of work of each construction professional that performed work or services; and
• Copies of all insurance policies held by the construction professional during the appropriate time.

The construction professional may charge reasonable copying costs for the documents. Failure to provide the identifying information of the other construction professionals bars the construction professional from designating the unidentified construction professionals as nonparties at fault in any subsequent action.

Section 3 requires a court to award prejudgement interest of 8% to a prevailing claimant who alleges defects in a residential property construction. Section 5 voids a provision in a real estate contract that:

• Prohibits group lawsuits against a construction professional; or
• Imposes different or additional requirements than the statutory requirements to bring or join a legal action.

Section 6 changes the time when a claim of relief arises, for the purposes of the statute of limitation and repose, to include both the discovery of the physical manifestation and the cause of the defect.

Current law authorizes, subject to the requirements of the common interest community's (community) declarations, a community to engage in certain actions, such as instituting, defending, or intervening in litigation or administrative proceedings on matters affecting the community. Section 7 exempts an association's authority to institute, defend, or intervene in litigation proceedings concerning construction defects from the requirement that the action be subject to the declaration. Section 8 requires the department of regulatory agencies to include in its "SMART Act" report information concerning construction liability insurance and the basis for rates.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill requires the director of the division of oil and public safety in the department of labor and employment to adopt rules concerning retail electric vehicle charging by July 1, 2026, and to enforce the rules beginning July 1, 2027. The bill also broadens the allowable uses of money in the electric vehicle grant fund within the Colorado energy office to include:

• Operational and policy work to support electric vehicle adoption, electric vehicle charging, and affordable, clean electricity for electric motor vehicles, including covering the administrative costs of this work; and
• Support for the development and enforcement of retail electric vehicle charging rules by the division of oil and public safety.

The bill also allows the community access enterprise (enterprise) within the Colorado energy office to reduce the amount of the community access retail delivery fee that it imposes, as necessary to ensure that the enterprise does not collect more than $100 million in total fee revenue prior to June 30, 2026.

For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $225,320 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment for use by the division of oil and public safety for personal services and operating expenses. This appropriation is from reappropriated funds received from the office of the governor that is continuously appropriated to the Colorado energy office from the electric vehicle grant fund.

(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.)

The bill requires the Colorado energy office (office) to establish a state utility an on-bill repayment program to help finance certain gas and electric utilities' on-bill repayment programs (on-bill repayment program programs ), which are programs through which energy efficiency measures, electrification measures, and energy upgrades installed at utility customers' premises are financed through loans that and repaid by the customers repay through their monthly utility bill payments. The bill requires gas or electric investor-owned utilities that serve more than 500,000 customers to propose a plan to the public utilities commission for establishing or expanding an existing on-bill repayment program for the commission to review and approve, disapprove, or modify.

The bill requires the state treasurer , on July 1, 2025, to make an 3 interest-free loan in the amount of $100 loans totaling $50 million from the unclaimed property trust fund to the state utility on-bill repayment program cash fund, which fund is created in the bill, to support the financing of the on-bill repayment programs. The office is required to pay back the loan by July 1, 2045 January 1, 2046 . As an alternative financing mechanism for the on-bill programs, the bill authorizes the department of the treasury to offer on-bill financing tax credits (tax credits) to insurance companies authorized to do business in Colorado, which insurance companies have premium tax liability owing to the state (qualified taxpayers). The tax credits will only be offered if the relevant quarterly state revenue forecast shows that the state's nonexempt revenue will be at least $50 million under the limit on state fiscal year spending authorized under section 20 of article X of the state constitution, as modified by Referendum C. The bill creates a building decarbonization enterprise (enterprise) to:

• Provide financing assistance, technical assistance, and other programmatic assistance to covered building owners to effectively and efficiently implement building decarbonization measures, including energy efficiency measures, electrification measures, and energy upgrades; and
• Provide technical assistance and other programmatic support to utilities that accept financing from the office for the purpose of establishing or expanding an on-bill program.

The enterprise is authorized to impose and collect from covered building owners an annual building decarbonization fee and impose and collect from participating utilities an annual on-bill program administration fee to cover the enterprise's costs in providing financial, technical, and programmatic assistance to covered building owners and participating utilities.

(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.)

The bill updates energy use benchmarking and performance standard requirements for owners of certain buildings (covered building owners), including:

• A requirement to meet 2040 performance standards, as adopted by the air quality control commission (commission) , in consultation with the Colorado energy office (office) and in consideration of recommendations made by a task force convened by the office;
• Authorizing an alternative compliance mechanism for covered building owners to comply with certain performance standards; and
• Aligning Updating civil penalties owed for a violation of the benchmarking requirements to an amount up to $577 for a first violation and up to $2,300 for each subsequent violation and , on and after January 1, 2030, for a violation of the performance standard requirements with civil penalties owed for other air quality violations to an amount up to $2,300 for every 30 days that the covered building owner is in violation and up to $5,800 for every 30 days for a subsequent violation. The commission shall adopt rules to annually adjust the penalty amounts for inflation.

The bill also creates a building decarbonization enterprise (enterprise) to provide financial assistance, technical assistance, and other programmatic assistance to covered building owners to effectively and efficiently implement building decarbonization measures, including energy efficiency measures, electrification measures, energy upgrades, and participation in utility on-bill repayment programs. The enterprise is authorized to impose and collect from covered building owners an annual building decarbonization fee to cover the enterprise's costs in providing the financial, technical, and programmatic assistance.

The bill exempts clarifies that a local government that adopts is not required to adopt building codes from the requirement to adopt an energy code if the local government has solely as a result of having adopted an approved a wildfire resiliency 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.)

For construction of middle market housing multifamily, attached housing of 2 or more units , section 3 of the bill requires a person filing a construction defect action against an architect or engineer to file with the complaint an affidavit of a third-party licensed professional indicating the negligence or other action, error, or omission of the construction professional. Section 3 also establishes a rebuttable presumption that a property does not have a construction defect when a state agency or local government has issued a certificate of occupancy for the property. creates the multifamily construction incentive program (program). A builder may chose to participate in the program by:

• Providing a warranty that covers any defect and damage at no cost to the homeowner for specified periods;
• Having a third-party inspection performed on the property; and
• Recording a notice of election to participate in the program in the chain of title in the real property records.

For construction defects claims brought for the construction of housing for which the builder is a participant in the program, the bill:

• Requires a claimant to file a certificate of review with the complaint, if the complaint is against an architect or engineer;
• Limits actions to claims that have resulted in: Damage that substantially affects the functionality of a system or the safety of real or personal property, other than a condition that has not caused any substantial physical change; actual loss of the use of real or personal property; actual bodily injury or wrongful death; an unreasonable reduction in the capability of, or an actual failure of, a building component to perform an intended function or purpose; or an unreasonable risk of bodily injury or death to, or a threat to the life, health, or safety of, the occupants of the residential property;
• Establishes the statute of limitations at 8 years after the substantial completion of the improvement or deficiency or 6 years if the construction professional has provided a written warranty (professionals other than architects and engineers) or performed with reasonable care (architects and engineers); and
• Requires that a construction professional must send or deliver to the claimant an offer to settle the claim or a written response that identifies the standards that apply to the claim and explains why the defect does not require repair.

Section 4: For all construction defect claims, the bill:

• Establishes a claimant's duty to mitigate an alleged construction defect and specifies how a claimant may satisfy this duty and the consequences to a claimant that fails to satisfy this duty;
• Requires that a construction professional must send or deliver to the claimant an offer to settle the claim or a written response that identifies the standards that apply to the claim and explains why the defect does not require repair; and
• Requires a construction professional who is the defendant in a construction defects action to submit specified information to the claimant;
• Prohibits an insurer from cancelling or denying a liability insurance policy issued to a construction professional based on the construction professional's offer to repair or settle a construction defect claim;
• Tolls the statute of limitations or repose during a claimant's mitigation of an alleged construction defect;

Section 5 updates the statute of limitations for construction defect claims to 10 years unless the construction professional provided the consumer with a warranty that meets the requirements of the bill, in which case the statute of limitations is 6 years. Section 6 tolls the statute of limitations or repose during a claimant's mitigation of an alleged construction defect claim brought for the construction of middle market housing. Section 7 allows a construction professional that meets specified requirements to use certain affirmative defenses in construction claims brought against the construction professional for the construction of middle market housing.

• Current law requires the Increases the amount of owners an executive board of a unit owners' association (executive board) to must obtain approval from a majority of owners before initiating a construction defect claim on behalf of the owners from a majority to 65%; Section 8 increases the approval amount to 65%. Section 8 also and
• Requires an executive board that is successful in a construction defect claim to first use monetary damages received as a result of the claim to repair the construction defect.

The bill requires a local government to establish a fast-track approval process for an application for for-sale, multifamily condominium projects in order to qualify for assistance from the state affordable housing fund.

(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.)

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.)

Current law requires an electrical employer, plumbing employer, or apprenticeship program registered with the United States department of labor or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the United States department of labor that employs an apprentice in this state (employer) to register an apprentice with the employer's respective governing board (board) within 30 days after beginning employment. When an apprentice is no longer employed as an apprentice, the bill requires the employer to remove the apprentice from the apprenticeship program and notify the applicable board of the termination of the employment no later than 30 days after the termination of the employment. On and after January 1, 2027, an employer is also required to renew an apprentice's registration with the employer's board at least once every 12 months. The employer must provide specified information to the board when renewing the apprentice's registration. The board may charge a registration fee to pay for the costs of maintaining an apprenticeship registration database. An employer is prohibited Starting January 1, 2027, the bill prohibits an electrical employer or plumbing employer that employs an apprentice in this state (employer) from registering an apprentice's registration apprentice with a board the employer's respective governing board (board) unless the apprentice is enrolled in an apprenticeship program training the apprentice for an occupation officially recognized by the United States department of labor as an electrical occupation for an electrical apprenticeship or a plumbing occupation for a plumbing apprenticeship. Each calendar quarter, the state apprenticeship agency shall publish a list of the apprenticeship programs that train apprentices for an occupation officially recognized by the United States department of labor as an electrical occupation or a plumbing occupation.

On or before July 1, 2026 2027 , if existing resources are available or if the department of regulatory agencies (DORA) receives sufficient gifts, grants, or donations , the bill requires the state apprenticeship agency and the department of regulatory agencies DORA to establish data-sharing agreements and policies to enable the entities to determine if there are apprentices registered with a board who are enrolled to be trained for occupations other than electrical or plumbing occupations and who are therefore ineligible for registration with the board. If the board cannot verify that an apprentice is eligible to be registered as an apprentice within 30 60 days after notice of noncompliance, the board shall remove the apprentice's registration with the board, and the noncompliant apprentice shall not perform work as a plumbing or electrical apprentice in the state. An employer of an electrical apprentice may authorize the electrical apprentice to take the residential wireman's license examination instead of the journeyman electrician license examination if:

• The employer determines that the relevant practical experience of the apprentice is best suited to pursue the residential wireman's license instead of a journeyman electrician license; or
• The employer determines that the apprentice would be more likely to achieve an electrical license by pursuing a residential wireman's license.

If an electrical apprentice has failed to pass a license examination in 2 consecutive 3-year periods, the apprentice may request an exemption from the board from future examination requirements. The board shall grant the exemption if:

• The board determines that the apprentice has legitimate educational or professional circumstances that justify the exemption; or
• The apprentice has passed the residential wireman's license examination and is only performing residential electrical work.

An employer of a plumbing apprentice may authorize the plumbing apprentice to take the residential plumber's license examination instead of the journeyworker plumber's license examination if:

• The employer determines that the relevant practical experience of the apprentice is best suited to pursue the residential plumber's license instead of a journeyworker plumber's license; or
• The employer determines that the apprentice would be more likely to achieve a plumber's license by pursuing a residential plumber's license.

If a plumbing apprentice has failed to pass a license examination in 2 consecutive 2-year periods, the plumbing apprentice may request an exemption from the board from future examination requirements. The board shall grant the exemption if:

• The board determines that the apprentice has legitimate educational or professional circumstances that justify the exemption; or
• The apprentice has passed the residential plumber's license examination and is only performing residential plumbing work.

Current law requires that, if the cumulative training and classroom hours of an apprentice are not properly reported to the board or if an apprentice fails to take a license examination within a specified time frame, the board shall suspend the apprentice's license. The bill allows the board to instead declare the apprentice's registration status "inactive" and creates procedures for the board to restore the apprentice's registration status to "active". A board may sanction an employer that consistently and willfully demonstrates a lack of compliance or whose apprentices show a significant pattern of noncompliance with the bill.

(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.)

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

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

The bill adjusts several state tax expenditures as follows:

• Section 2 of the bill increases the amount of a company's total domestic workforce that must be in Colorado for a company to qualify for the insurance premium tax rate tax expenditure for a home office or regional home office allows an individual to present a copy of their federal tax return to be exempted from the medical marijuana registry application fee ;
• Section 3 requires insurance companies, when submitting certain filings with the division of insurance, to submit the total annual dollar amount of premiums collected or contracted for on policies or contracts of insurance covering property or risks in Colorado during the previous calendar year from entities that are exempt from taxation;
• Section 5 adds the amount of any overtime compensation excluded or deducted from a taxpayer's federal gross income to that taxpayer's federal taxable income for purposes of determining the taxpayer's state taxable income;
• Section 6 limits the existing tax deduction related to expenses, the deduction of which is disallowed by section 280C of the internal revenue code, so that a taxpayer may only claim the tax deduction for income tax years commencing before January 1, 2026 expands the definition of local government to include counties for purposes of the alternative transportation options tax credit;
• Section 10 , for income tax years commencing on and after January 1, 2026, creates a new tax deduction related to expenses, the deduction of which is disallowed by section 280C of the internal revenue code, so that a taxpayer may claim the deduction for any expenses that cannot be deducted under section 280C of the internal revenue code ;
• Section 7 limits the alternative minimum tax credit to income tax years commencing prior to January 1, 2025 modifies the tax credit for qualified costs incurred in preservation of historic structures by removing the 5% increase in the percentage of rehabilitation expenses incurred in a rehabilitation in a disaster area for the rehabilitation of a commercial structure that are applicable for the tax credit;
• Section 8 extends the tax credit for monetary contributions to promote child care, so that the tax credit is available through income tax years commencing before January 1, 2030, rather than January 1, 2028;
• Section 9 for income tax years commencing on and after January 1, 2026, creates an income tax credit for certain individuals who are 65 years of age or older in the income tax year, or who are a surviving spouse of that individual, and who were previously eligible to receive a grant for real property tax assistance and heat or fuel expenses assistance limits the existing business personal property tax credit so that a taxpayer may only claim the tax deduction for income tax years commencing before January 1, 2026;
• Section 20, beginning January 1, 2026, ends the availability of grants for real property tax assistance and heat or fuel expenses assistance ;
• Sections 4, 5, 14, 15, 21, 22, and 23 make conforming amendments for the changes made in sections 9 and 20 ;
• Section 11 expands the definition of local government to include counties for purposes of the alternative transportation options tax credit clarifies and modifies definitions for the qualified care worker tax credit;
• Section 12 limits the existing business personal property tax credit so that a taxpayer may only claim the tax deduction for income tax years commencing before January 1, 2026 allows the executive director of the department of revenue to direct employers who make payments of compensation other than wages to withhold an amount that approximates an employee's income tax due to the state from that employee's compensation;
• Section 13 modifies the tax credit for qualified costs incurred in preservation of historic structures by removing the 5% increase in the percentage of rehabilitation expenses incurred in a rehabilitation in a disaster area for the rehabilitation of a commercial structure that are applicable for the tax credit expands the definition of agricultural commodities to include products regulated under article 10 of title 44 for purposes of the pesticides, fertilizers, and spray adjuvants wholesale sales tax exemption;
• Section 16 modifies the downloaded software sales tax exemption so that all software that is available for repeated sale and license and governed by a nonnegotiable license agreement qualifies as tangible property and thus is subject to sales tax ;
• Section 17 14 ensures that, beginning July 1, 2025, interstate telephone and telegraph services are subject to state sales tax;
• Section 15 exempts the sale of medical marijuana to an individual who presents a valid electronic benefits transfer card or certain other identification from sales tax;
• Section 18 repeals, effective July 1, 2025, the special fuel excise tax reduction associated with bad debt and the payment of the special fuel excise tax; and
• Section 19 16 modifies the enterprise zone tax credit for income tax years beginning January 1, 2026, by limiting the total amount of the credit that may be claimed to $2 million, providing an exemption process for that limit, and prohibiting certain taxpayers from claiming that credit.

(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.)

In a dispute in a workers' compensation claim, current law requires a claimant to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, the claimant's entitlement to medical benefits. When the dispute concerns whether the medical treatment recommended by an authorized treating physician is reasonable, necessary, and related to the claimant's injury, the bill shifts the burden of proof from the claimant to the claimant's employer or the employer's workers' compensation insurer.

The bill provides injured workers control over the selection of their primary treating physician in workers' compensation cases, allowing them to choose from any level I or level II accredited physician through the division of workers' compensation. The bill creates the mechanism by which an injured worker may select the treating physician and requires the employer or insurer to choose the physician when an injured worker is unable or unwilling to select the treating physician.

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

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.)

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

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

Under current law, the statute of limitations to bring certain claims against a real estate appraiser does not start until the party filing the claim has discovered, or should have discovered, an alleged defect in the appraisal.

The bill requires a claimant to bring an action against a real estate appraiser or individual performing a real estate appraisal practice (appraiser) within 5 years after the date the appraisal report is completed and transmitted to a client. The 5-year limitation does not apply to an action against an appraiser if the action is brought by:

• A consumer who is an original party to the residential mortgage loan or residential real estate transaction for which the appraiser completed an appraisal report or service that forms the basis of the action; or
• A mortgage originator who must repurchase a loan, and a defect in the appraisal report or service performed as part of the mortgage origination process forms the basis of the action.

The 5-year statute of limitations also does not apply to an action for fraud, for misrepresentation, or for a discriminatory housing practice brought against a real estate appraiser or individual performing a real estate appraisal practice an appraiser .

(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.)

Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. Under current law, owners of certain large buildings (covered buildings) are required to annually collect and report each covered building's energy use to the Colorado energy office.

The bill clarifies that agricultural buildings are not covered buildings, and, therefore, owners of agricultural buildings are exempt from the energy use collecting and reporting requirements. The bill defines an agricultural building as a building or structure used to house agricultural implements, hay, unprocessed grain, poultry, livestock, or other agricultural products or inputs.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current law restricts construction defect negligence claims unless the negligence claim arises from a construction defect which results in actual damage to or loss of the use of real or personal property; bodily injury or wrongful death; or a risk of bodily injury or death to, or a threat to the life, health, or safety of, the occupants of the residential real property. Section 1 of the bill changes this restriction so that all construction defect claims are restricted unless the claim arises from a construction defect that causes:

• Actual damage to real or personal property caused by the violation of a building code, manufacturer's instructions, or industry standard;
• Actual loss of the use of real or personal property;
• Bodily injury or wrongful death; or
• An imminent and unreasonable risk of bodily injury or death to, or an imminent or unreasonable threat to the life, health, or safety of, the occupants of the residential real property.

Sections 2 through 12 modify existing warranty of habitability laws by repealing recent updates and reenacting the laws as they were prior to the updates. The modifications include repealing certain procedures for both landlords and tenants when a warranty of habitability claim is alleged by the tenant; repealing a rebuttable presumption that a landlord failed to remedy an uninhabitable premises in certain conditions; modifying requirements regarding notice given to a landlord of an uninhabitable premises; and modifying other laws related to rental agreements, records, and procedures for remedying uninhabitable premises. Section 13 repeals law that allows the attorney general to independently initiate and bring actions to enforce laws relating to the warranty of habitability. Section 14 makes a conforming change to law governing county courts' jurisdiction over cases involving tenant's remedies in warranty of habitability cases and tenant's remedies in cases of unlawful removal. Section 15 modifies the statement included in a summons issued to a defendant in a court proceeding regarding an action for possession brought by a landlord. Sections 16 through 20 repeal provisions related to evictions of residential tenants, including repealing:

• Requirements that a landlord and residential tenant participate in mandatory mediation prior to commencing an eviction action if the residential tenant receives cash assistance;
• A prohibition on a law enforcement officer's ability to execute a writ of restitution until 30 days after the entry of judgment if the residential tenant receives cash assistance;
• Requirements that a written demand include a statement that a residential tenant who receives cash assistance has a right to mediation prior to the landlord filing an eviction complaint;
• Requirements that a written rental agreement include a statement that current law prohibits source of income discrimination and requires a nonexempt landlord to accept any lawful and verifiable source of money paid directly, indirectly, or on behalf of a person; and
• Requirements that prohibit a written rental agreement from including a waiver of mandatory mediation or a clause that allows a landlord to recoup any costs associated with mandatory mediation.

Sections 21 and 22 require any provision of any energy code adopted by a county or municipality on or after January 1, 2026, to be cost effective. "Cost effective" means, using the existing energy efficiency standards and requirements as a base of comparison, that the economic benefits of the proposed energy efficiency standards and requirements will exceed the economic costs of those standards and requirements based upon an incremental multi-year analysis.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Sections 1 and 2 of the bill prohibit a state agency from imposing a personal qualification requirement in order to engage in a profession or occupation unless the agency can show that the requirement is demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored to address a specific, legitimate public health, safety, or welfare objective. On or before July 1, 2026, every agency must review occupational regulations and determine whether the regulation should be repealed or amended. Any person may file a petition with an agency requesting that an occupational regulation be repealed or amended. Regardless of whether a petition is filed with an agency, any person may file a civil suit requesting that the court enjoin the adoption or enforcement of an occupational regulation.

When an agency files a notice of proposed rule-making with the secretary of state, if the proposed rule-making includes a proposed occupational regulation, the agency must also submit a statement to the secretary of state describing how the proposed occupational regulation complies with the bill's requirements.

Section 3 repeals the industrial and manufacturing operations clean air grant program, the cannabis resource optimization cash fund, the community access to electric bicycles grant program, and the electrifying school buses grant program, which were enacted in 2022 by Senate Bill 22-193. Section 4 repeals the energy code board and its associated model codes, an energy code training grant program, the building electrification for public buildings grant program, the high-efficiency electric heating and appliances grant program, and the clean air building investments fund, which were enacted in 2022 by House Bill 22-1362. Section 5 repeals the air quality enterprise, which was enacted in 2020 by Senate Bill 20-204. Section 6 repeals the environmental response surcharge, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances cash fund, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances grant program, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances take-back program, and certain civil penalties for violations of certain air quality control regulations, which were enacted in 2020 by Senate Bill 20-218. Section 7 repeals certain requirements, including requirements regarding fenceline monitoring and community-based monitoring of air toxics, for covered facilities, which requirements were enacted in 2021 by House Bill 21-1189. Sections 8 through 20 make necessary conforming amendments.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill establishes that certain evidence that a person has engaged in an unfair or deceptive trade practice constitutes a significant impact to the public. The bill also clarifies that a deceptive trade practice claim cannot be based solely on a claim that a person breached a contract or engaged in negligence or on a claim for damages based on the rendering of professional services, unless the claim for damages involves an allegation of a material misrepresentation of fact, a failure to disclose material information, or an action that cannot be characterized as providing advice, judgment, or opinion.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Section 1 of the bill amends a definition and adds new definitions under the electricians' practice act.

Current law requires an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license or a residential wireman's license to provide evidence of having certain minimum years of apprenticeship experience, accredited training, or practical experience. For the purpose of these requirements, section 2 allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license to have a minimum of 8,000 hours as an alternative to over a period of at least 4 years of certain apprenticeship or practical experience and an applicant for a residential wireman's license to have a minimum of 4,000 hours as an alternative to over a period of at least 2 years of certain practical experience. Section 2 also changes the time frame for which an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license must complete at least 288 hours of training in safety, the national electrical code and its applications, and any other training required by the board from the last 4 years to the last 8 years of the applicant's training, apprenticeship, or practical experience.

Current law allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license or a residential wireman's license to substitute for required practical experience evidence of academic training or practical experience in the electrical field. Section 2 also allows an applicant to also substitute evidence of training in photovoltaic systems installation. However, section 2 also states that the state electrical board (board) may, but is no longer required to, provide work experience credit for academic training, military training, photovoltaic systems installation training, or substantially similar training. A contractor that is operating as of September 1, 2025, and that performs work as a photovoltaic installer pursuant with at least one North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certified employee is required to register as a photovoltaic installer with the board on or before December 31, 2026.

Current law requires that, for all applicants seeking work experience credit toward licensure, the board give credit for electrical work that is not required to be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed electrician if the applicant can show that the experience or supervision is adequate. Section 3 allows the board to give the credit, but it is not required to do so. Section 4 requires that, for an apprentice who holds a residential wireman's license, an electrical contractor, an apprenticeship program, or a state apprenticeship agency that employs the apprentice must report qualifying years or hours of work experience only for commercial, industrial, or substantially similar work. Section 4 also allows an individual who possesses an active residential wireman's or master electrician's license to not take the journeyman electrician license examination. Section 5 requires the department of regulatory agencies to:

• Uphold the rules and regulations of the current edition of the national electrical code, including applying the code to certain equipment;
• Cooperate with utilities to maintain safe clearances and safe working distances for the utilities based on the current edition of the national electrical code; and
• Allow each utility to install its proper metering equipment with the assistance of qualified electrical personnel.

Current law requires that the contract for any public works project that does not receive federal money in an amount of $1,000,000 or more require the general contractor or other entity to submit documentation to the agency that certifies that all firms identified:

• Participate in an apprenticeship program registered with the United States department of labor's office of apprenticeship or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the United States department of labor (registered apprenticeship program); and
• Have a proven record of graduating apprentices.

Current law allows for photovoltaic installations with a direct current design capacity of less than 300 kilowatts, the performance of all photovoltaic electrical work, the installation of photovoltaic modules, and the installation of photovoltaic module mounting equipment (applicable work) to be subject to on-site supervision by a certified photovoltaic energy practitioner designated by the NABCEP. Section 6 4 requires that the photovoltaic energy practitioner is also working for a contractor that is not a registered electrical contractor; is registered with the department of regulatory agencies as a photovoltaic installer no later than December 31, 2025 2026; is a business in good standing with the state; and employs a NABCEP PV installation professional. Section 6 also removes language:

• Stating that neither the public utilities commission nor a utility is responsible for monitoring or enforcing compliance with statutory requirements concerning solar photovoltaic installations (installations); and
• Requiring a qualifying retail utility to obtain and retain all documentation submitted in connection with an installation.

Section 6 4 also defines "photovoltaic electrical work" as electrical work performed on a photovoltaic system that is covered electrical work in accordance with the national electrical code. Section 7 addresses photovoltaic electrical work for installations of at least 300 kilowatts, requiring that the work must: 5 grants the board authority to regulate photovoltaic electrical work for installations of less than three hundred kilowatts and specifies that only an electrical contractor or a photovoltaic installer may perform or offer to perform such work.

• Comply with electrical permitting requirements and be performed by an electrical contractor;
• Include a contemporaneous review of the work; and
• Be subject to compliance checks by state electrical inspectors or individuals appointed by the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies.

Section 6 authorizes the board to charge a fee for photovoltaic installer registration.

(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.)

The bill clarifies that construction professionals owe an independent tort duty of care to construct residential homes in a non-defective and reasonable manner, and that this duty is owed equally to original and subsequent residential home purchasers.

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

Executive Committee of the Legislative Council. The bill suspends legislative interim committee activities during the 2025 legislative interim (interim). Specifically, the bill:

• Prohibits the legislative council of the general assembly from prioritizing any requests for interim committees, including task forces, for the 2025 interim;
• For an interim committee that meets during 2025 interim, limits the number of bills the committee can request to be drafted to 5 and can recommend for introduction to 3;
• Limits the Colorado youth advisory council review committee (committee) to meeting once in the 2025 interim, to receive the report from the youth advisory council (council), prohibits the committee and council from meeting or presenting bills in the 2026 interim, and precludes the council from contracting with a nonprofit organization to provide services for the council in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years;
• Prohibits meetings, field trips, and legislative recommendations and reports by, and suspends for one year certain reports required to be submitted to, existing interim committees, including the legislative emergency preparedness, response, and recovery committee; legislative oversight committee for Colorado jail standards; statewide health care review committee; Colorado health insurance exchange oversight committee; opioid and other substance use disorders study committee; legislative oversight committee concerning the treatment of persons with behavioral health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems; pension review commission and pension review subcommittee; legislative oversight committee concerning tax policy; and sales and use tax simplification task force; and
• Prohibits members serving on statutorily created interim committees from receiving per diem and travel expenses for attending interim committee meetings during the 2025 interim except for attendance at a meeting of the wildfire matters review committee, the water resources and agriculture review committee, and the transportation legislation review committee.

The bill removes the authority of the Colorado youth advisory council review committee to recommend legislation through the interim committee process. The bill reduces appropriations made in the legislative department's budget bill by $267,807.

(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.)

The bill establishes a sales tax exemption for contractors and subcontractors that purchase construction and building materials for use in the building, erection, alteration, or repair of structures owned and used by a regional transportation authority (authority) to house authority employees or contractors. The bill also establishes a use tax exemption for the storage, use, or consumption by a contractor or subcontractor of construction and building materials for use in the building, erection, alteration, or repair of such structures. The bill authorizes an authority or an authority's board to build, erect, alter, or repair such structures for the purpose of housing employees or contractors of a regional transportation authority.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill creates the data center development and grid modernization program (program) in the Colorado office of economic development (office). To facilitate efficient data center development and g rid modernization, the program allows tax and utility benefits to a data center operator that applies to the office to have a data center project certified at one of 2 levels and that satisfies certain eligibility criteria for certification.

The first level of data center project certification created in the bill is base certification. In connection with base certification, the bill specifies that:

• To obtain base certification, a data center operator must commit, through the application process with the office, to making a $250 million minimum capital investment in data center facility construction and equipment within 5 years, creating 25 full-time jobs that satisfy specified criteria, and breaking ground on the data center project within 5 years of obtaining base certification;
• In addition to the investment and job creation requirements, to obtain base certification a data center operator must also commit to implementing basic grid support capabilities, obtaining certification under one of several energy efficiency standards, implementing water stewardship strategies that optimize operational water management, sourcing at least 50% of the data center project's energy consumption from renewable and clean sources, supporting clean integration by implementing energy storage solutions that align with the data center project's needs and operations, agreeing to certain post-certification requirements, and agreeing to submit annual compliance reports to the office;
• A data center operator must apply to the office, in a form and manner to be determined by the office, for base certification before taking action to satisfy any of the eligibility criteria;
• The office is required to review a data center operator's application for base certification and award base certification to data center operators that have demonstrated that they will satisfy the base certification criteria;
• A data center operator that obtains base certification for a data center project is eligible for a 100% sales and use tax exemption on the purchase, use, and storage of information technology infrastructure, data center infrastructure, and electrical grid enhancement equipment (qualified purchases) for 20 years from the date that the data center project was certified, so long as the data center project satisfies ongoing compliance requirements; and
• In addition to the sales and use tax credit, a data center operator that obtains base certification for a data center project is eligible for standard utility rate incentives as negotiated between the data center operator and the utility.

The second level of data center certification created in the bill is enhancement certification. A data center operator that has obtained base certification for a data center project may apply for enhancement certification for the same data center. In connection with enhancement certification, the bill specifies that:

• To obtain enhancement certification, a data center operator must invest a minimum of $10 million in grid enhancement and modernization, invest in workforce development or other community benefit programs, agree to certain post-certification requirements, and agree to submit annual compliance reports to the office;
• A data center operator must apply to the office, in a form and manner to be determined by the office, for enhancement certification either before or after making the required minimum grid enhancement and modernization investment;
• The office is required to review a data center operator's application for enhancement certification and award enhancement certification to data center operators that have demonstrated that they will satisfy the enhancement certification criteria;
• For income tax years commencing on or after 2026, a data center operator that obtains enhancement certification for a data center project is eligible for an income tax credit in an amount equal to 10% of the amount of any grid enhancement and modernization investment made by the data center operator and an additional amount equal to 5% of the amount of such investment if the investment is made in a rural area (grid enhancement credit);
• A data center operator is not eligible to claim the grid enhancement credit until the data center operator has made the required minimum grid enhancement and modernization investment; and
• In addition to the grid enhancement credit, a data center operator that obtains enhancement certification for a data center project is eligible for enhanced utility benefits as negotiated between the data center operator and the utility.

Before submitting an application for certification for a data center project, a data center operator is required to conduct and document a preliminary consultation with the utility that will provide electricity for the data center project regarding interconnection feasibility, capacity, and infrastructure requirements and obtain a written feasibility assessment from the utility. A data center operator is required to include the documentation of the consultation and the written feasibility assessment with an application to the office for certification of the data center project, and, if the data center project includes projects requiring review by the public utilities commission (commission), the commission is required to review specified aspects of the application.

A certified data center project that necessitates a new customer load or co-located customer load that satisfies certain criteria (emerging new load) is eligible for targeted resource acquisition if the data center operator satisfies specified requirements. The bill specifies a process by which a utility regulated by the commission may submit a resource acquisition application to the commission to meet emerging new load needs. The bill also specifies how a utility may finance resources and infrastructure needs in connection with emerging new loads.

After achieving base certification and enhancement certification, a data center operator may apply to the office for certain benefit extensions for the sales and use tax exemption allowed to data center operators that have obtained base certification, for the grid enhancement credit allowed to data center operators that have obtained enhancement certification, and for the utility benefits negotiated between the data center operator and the utility.

If the office determines that a data center operator is not fulfilling its obligations and commitments to retain base certification or enhancement certification, the office is required to revoke the certification and the data center operator is required to repay the state for the tax benefits that it received.

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