Colorado 2025 Bills

Exempt Drains Designated Groundwater Requirements

Senate Bill 17-049 in Colorado exempts certain types of drains from needing a permit and the requirement to replace groundwater that is removed. This applies to residential, commercial, or industrial development and utility lines if the drain doesn't go through a confining layer and the water isn’t used for anything other than removing it from the soil near where it’s collected. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these drains are now exempt under Colorado's groundwater regulations.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · Senate

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Access

Senate Bill 17-032, which has been signed into law, changes how law enforcement and state regulatory boards can access the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). Currently, these entities need a court order or subpoena to view PDMP data. The new law requires them to obtain either an official court order or warrant based on probable cause, making it harder for them to access this information without sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. This affects how prescription drug abuse and fraud are investigated by tightening the criteria for accessing sensitive patient medication records.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · Senate

Free Exercise Of Religion

House Bill 17-1013, also known as the "Free Exercise of Religion" bill in Colorado, protects individuals' right to practice their religion without interference from state laws or actions. It allows people to act based on their religious beliefs unless the government can prove that stopping them is absolutely necessary for a very important reason and there are no other ways to achieve that goal. The law covers both doing something because of your faith and not doing something due to your sincerely held religious beliefs, but it doesn't apply when those actions involve discrimination based on race or ethnicity. This bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now official state legislation and must be followed by all government entities in Colorado.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Continue Funding Fraud Investigators Unit

HB 17-1043 is a Colorado bill that extends funding for fraud investigators by keeping an extra dollar from certain filing fees until 2018. This extra dollar, which was supposed to end in 2017, helps the unit fight identity theft and financial fraud. The bill affects anyone who files documents under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) since they pay a slightly higher fee. Since it has been signed into law, this funding will continue as planned, supporting efforts to prevent and investigate financial crimes.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Prevailing Wages For CDOT Colorado Department Of Transportation Public-private Initiatives

House Bill 17-1068, which has been signed into law, requires that any public-private partnership involving the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and federal funds must pay construction workers the prevailing wages and benefits set by the U.S. Department of Labor for similar projects in the area. This means that contractors working on CDOT projects funded with federal money will have to offer wages and benefits that match what is typically paid locally, ensuring fair compensation for workers. The bill affects anyone involved in public-private transportation initiatives supported by federal funds in Colorado. Since it has been signed into law, this requirement is now enforceable and impacts current and future CDOT projects involving private sector involvement and federal funding.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Misuse Of Electronic Images By A Juvenile

House Bill 17-1064, which has been signed into law in Colorado, creates a new crime called "misuse of electronic images by a juvenile." This law prohibits minors from sharing, showing, or possessing sexually explicit photos of themselves or other minors who are close to their age (within four years). If a minor is caught violating this law, they won't be charged with the more serious offense of child exploitation. However, if a minor can prove that they received the images unwillingly and took steps to remove them within 72 hours, they may not face charges for possession. This bill aims to address the issue of sexting among teenagers without punishing them as severely as adult offenders would be.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Handgun Safety Training For School Employees

Senate Bill 17-005 allows county sheriffs to offer handgun safety training courses to school employees who have a permit to carry concealed weapons. After completing the course and getting approval from their local board of education or state charter school institute, these trained employees can carry concealed handguns on school grounds if they receive written permission from the relevant authorities. The bill ensures that the curriculum includes emergency response plans and meets insurability standards for armed staff. It is now signed into law, meaning schools in Colorado can implement this training and permitting process for their staff who wish to be armed while at work.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · Senate

Business Personal Property Tax Exemption

Senate Bill 17-009 increases a tax exemption for small businesses in Colorado. Currently, businesses don't have to pay property taxes on personal items worth up to $7,300. This bill raises that limit to $10,000 for the next two years and will adjust it based on inflation afterward. The bill has been signed into law, meaning businesses can now benefit from this higher exemption immediately.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · Senate

Compulsory Review Of Rules By Each Principal Department

Senate Bill 17-002 changes how Colorado's main government departments review their rules. Instead of a schedule set by another agency, each department must now complete an initial review of all its rules by November 1, 2018, and then do a thorough check every three years after that. The bill also requires these departments to give the public at least two weeks to comment on proposed rule changes before finalizing them. This means that starting in 2021, Colorado's government departments will have regular reviews of their rules to make sure they are necessary and cost-effective, with input from the public and other state agencies. The bill has been signed into law, so these new requirements are now in effect.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · Senate

Clarify Requirements Formation Metropolitan District

House Bill 17-1065, which has been signed into law, makes sure that large agricultural lands cannot be included in a metropolitan district's park and recreation plans without the landowners' permission. It also clarifies how signatures on petitions for forming these districts are counted by courts, ensuring only those collected after certain approvals count towards organizing the district. This affects landowners with large agricultural properties and the process of creating new metropolitan districts that offer parks or recreational facilities in Colorado. Since it's signed, the bill is now law and its provisions are enforceable.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Concerning the appointment of officers and employees for the Senate convened in the First Regular Session of the Seventy-first General Assembly.

Senate Resolution 17-002 is a bill that allows for the appointment of officers and employees needed by the Colorado State Senate during its first regular session of the seventy-first general assembly. This resolution affects the operations of the state senate, ensuring it has the necessary staff to function properly. Since the status of this bill is "signed," it means that the resolution has been approved and is now in effect, guiding how the senate will be organized for its upcoming sessions.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · Senate

Clarifying Deceptive Trade Practice Subpoenas

HB 17-1023, a bill that has been signed into law in Colorado, clarifies how prosecutors can investigate businesses suspected of unfair practices. It allows them to issue subpoenas to gather information from individuals or companies if there's reason to believe they are breaking the rules against deceptive trade practices. This means that law enforcement will have clearer guidelines on how to enforce these laws and ensure fair business practices in Colorado. Since it has been signed, this bill is now active law and affects anyone who might be investigated for unfair business practices by the attorney general or district attorneys.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Reporting Requirements By Health Care Policy & Financing To General Assembly

HB 17-1060 is a Colorado bill that deals with reporting requirements for health care policies. It extends some reports indefinitely while removing others, and it adds specific end dates for certain reports according to existing rules. This affects how the state department and other officials are required to report information to the general assembly about health care policies and financing. Since the bill has been signed, these changes are now in effect, meaning that the specified reports will either continue indefinitely or end on a set date as outlined by the legislation.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Repeal Obsolete State Legislative District Laws

House Bill 17-1025 is a law that removes old rules about how Colorado’s state senate and house districts were drawn by the legislature. These laws are no longer needed because in 1974, voters created a new commission to handle redistricting instead of the general assembly. The bill also gets rid of specific changes made to certain districts in 1998 to comply with voting rights laws. By removing these outdated rules, the law helps clean up Colorado’s legal code by eliminating over 20,000 words. Since it has been signed into law, these old district-drawing rules are no longer part of Colorado's statutes and have been officially removed.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Correct Statutory Citation In Rule Without Hearing

House Bill 17-1006 allows Colorado executive branch agencies to update outdated statutory citations in their rules without going through a full rule-making process, such as public hearings and comment periods. Instead, the agency can make these changes by submitting a written determination from the attorney general to the secretary of state. This bill affects how government agencies can amend their rules when underlying statutes are moved or changed. Since it has been signed into law, agencies now have this new authority to correct citations more easily and efficiently.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Clarify Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities Hearsay Exception

Senate Bill 17-024, which has been signed into law, clarifies that statements made by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can be used in court as evidence for certain crimes, even if the person isn't there to testify. This applies especially when these individuals are considered at-risk and have been victims of offenses that carry enhanced penalties under current laws. The bill ensures that such hearsay statements are admissible in cases where defendants face increased charges due to their victim being an at-risk individual with disabilities.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · Senate

Reporting Requirements By Department of Local Affairs To General Assembly

HB 17-1047 is a Colorado bill that deals with how often certain reports from the Department of Local Affairs need to be sent to the state legislature. The bill stops some reports from being required after a set period and makes others continue indefinitely. Since it has been signed, these changes are now in effect, meaning some reporting requirements have ended while others will keep going without a specific end date. This affects how local governments interact with the Department of Local Affairs and the state legislature regarding various reports.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · House

Higher Education Employment Contract Terms

Senate Bill 17-041 changes Colorado's rules for higher education institutions by allowing them to offer more flexible employment contracts and benefits to certain employees. Specifically, it exempts employees whose positions are funded through auxiliary activities (like student housing or sports) from some existing restrictions on contract terms and postemployment benefits. This means these employees can have longer-term contracts and receive certain benefits even after they leave their jobs under specific conditions. The bill has been signed into law, so its provisions are now in effect for state institutions of higher education.

Last action: 2017-01-11 · Senate