HB 26-1078

House Bill 26-1078, which has been signed into law, allows off-campus college courses offered by higher education institutions to be included in concurrent enrollment programs if they meet certain requirements set by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This change will affect students who take these courses and could provide more opportunities for high school students to earn college credits before graduating. The bill also allocates funding adjustments, setting aside $66,056 from the general fund for the state’s education department while reducing funds for another program by $80,178. Since it has been signed, this law is now in effect and will guide how these programs are administered going forward.

Official Summary

The act allows off-campus courses to be included in concurrent enrollment programs when the off-campus courses meet the requirements for concurrent enrollment programs and the requirements of an accrediting agency recognized by the United States department of education.     The act provides that additional concurrent enrollment courses shall not be approved after July 1, 2028 unless the general assembly indicates in a footnote in the general appropriations act that the department of education (department) has sufficient funding for course and audit oversight requirements to allow approval of additional concurrent enrollment courses.     For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $66,056 from the general fund to the department and reduces the general fund appropriation for the college opportunity fund program by $80,178 with a corresponding decrease in reappropriated funds for the regents of the university of Colorado.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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