HB 22-1404

HB 22-1404, known as the Colorado Critical Infrastructure Resiliency Initiative, establishes a board to oversee and improve the state’s critical infrastructure, including electric grids, water systems, oil and gas facilities, and telecommunications networks. The board will identify needs, recommend improvements, secure funding, and coordinate with other authorities to protect these vital services from disasters or emergencies. It will also ensure compliance by utilities in these sectors and report its progress annually until it is set to be dissolved in 2027. This initiative affects all Coloradans who rely on these essential services and aims to enhance their reliability and safety.

Official Summary

The bill creates the Colorado critical infrastructure resiliency initiative and the Colorado resilient infrastructure board (board). The board consists of 10 members, 9 of whom are appointed by the executive director of the department of public safety. The board is required to: Provide oversight of Colorado's infrastructure enhancement program; Identify electric grid, water, oil and natural gas, and telecommunications infrastructure needs and provide recommendations on infrastructure improvements; Oversee efforts to prevent or reduce the severity of damage to the electric grid due to a natural disaster or human-caused emergency; Monitor and implement best practices for critical infrastructure protection; Ensure compliance of the state's publicly owned or commercially owned utilities associated with the state's power, oil and natural gas, water, and telecommunications sectors; Attempt to secure funding from various sources; Coordinate with the Colorado electric transmission authority; and Assess the capacity and availability of existing resources for resiliency of critical infrastructure sectors. The board is required to report its findings to the general assembly no later than 30 days after the general assembly convenes in the 2025 legislative session and no later than 30 days after the general assembly convenes in the regular legislative session in subsequent years. The board is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2027. Before the repeal, the board is subject to sunset review by the department of regulatory agencies. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)