SB 26-144

Senate Bill 26-144 modifies how Colorado county treasurers handle property tax lien sales and the fees they charge. It sets specific fee amounts for these services starting June 1, 2026, and includes provisions to adjust these fees every five years beginning in 2026. The bill also updates the process for public auctions related to delinquent property taxes, ensuring it aligns with current legal standards to prevent unconstitutional takings of taxpayers' properties beyond their tax debt. Since the bill has been signed into law, these changes will be implemented as scheduled.

Official Summary

Section 1 Sections 1 and 2 of the bill modifies modify the fees of county treasurers by specifying fee amounts treasurers are required or allowed to collect in connection with the public auction and related proceedings for issuance of a treasurer's deed described in section 50 53 . The bill adds, commencing on or before December 31, 2026, and every fifth second year thereafter, an upward adjustment of the maximum dollar amount of all treasurer fees. The fees described in sections 1 2 and 50 53 apply to services performed or transactions occurring on or after June 1, 2026.      Sections 2 6 through 49 52 make technical modifications to the provisions governing county treasurer tax lien sales for the collection of delinquent property taxes. The bill clarifies certain definitions and standardizes the use of defined terms. The bill modifies certain provisions and repeals obsolete provisions in conformity with the new process to obtain a treasurer's deed for a property subject to a tax lien set forth in section 50 53 .      Section 50 53 recreates repeals and reenacts , with changes, the public auction process established in 2024 that is required prior to the issuance of a treasurer's deed to protect against an unconstitutional taking of a taxpayer's property, or property value, in excess of their tax debt. The bill models the public auction process on the public trustee foreclosure process. The bill creates new definitions and modifies and expands the provisions for a public auction, including related rights, limitations, and records. The modified process applies to a treasurer's deed issued on or after June 1, 2026, regardless of the date of the tax lien sale, application for treasurer's deed, or commencement of any related proceeding.(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.)

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