HB 26-1334

House Bill 26-1334 modifies how Colorado handles wildfire safety standards. It changes the schedule for reviewing these safety codes from a fixed three-year cycle to more flexible reviews based on need, with an initial review due by July 1, 2026. The bill also allows individuals affected by these codes to request modifications and pushes back the deadline for local governments to adopt or exceed the minimum wildfire safety standards until April 1, 2027. Since it has been signed into law, this means that the new rules are now in effect and local communities will need to follow them accordingly.

Official Summary

Current law requires the wildfire resiliency code board (code board) to adopt minimum codes and standards related to wildfire resiliency (codes and standards) and to review the codes and standards every 3 years. The bill requires the code board to initially review the codes and standards no later than July 1, 2026, and to review the codes and standards as often as the board deems necessary but no less frequently than once every 3 years.     Current law also requires the code board to establish a process by which a governing body of certain local governments within the wildland-urban interface (governing body) may petition the code board for a modification to the code and requires a governing body to adopt a code that meets or exceeds the minimum standards set forth by the code board by April 1, 2026.     The bill requires the code board to establish a process by which a person impacted by the codes and standards may petition the code board for a modification to the code and extends the timeline by which a governing body is required to adopt a code that meets or exceeds the minimum standards set forth by the code board to April 1, 2027.     The bill also requires the department of public safety to annually report certain information regarding the implementation of the codes and standards related to wildfire resiliency to the general assembly.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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