Colorado 2025 Bills

Adjust Redistricting Commission Procedures

Executive Committee of the Legislative Council. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a delay in the ability of the United States Census Bureau (Census Bureau) to deliver to the state the population and demographic data necessary to redraw election districts. The Census Bureau has indicated that the final census data will not be available for at least 6 months after the deadline contemplated in federal law. Under the current definition of "necessary census data" contained in state law, this delay prevents the independent congressional redistricting commission and the independent legislative redistricting commission (commissions) from completing their work by the deadlines in the constitution. An extended delay in finalizing the commissions' redistricting plans will make it impossible to complete all of the steps in the 2022 election procedures in time for the general election. For the commissions convened in 2021 only, the bill amends the definition of "necessary census data" to allow the preliminary and staff plans to be developed using the data on the total population by state that will be released by the Census Bureau on April 30, 2021, and other population and demographic data from federal or state sources that are approved by the commissions. Once final census data is released by the Census Bureau, the nonpartisan staff of the commission must complete adjustments for incarcerated populations required by current law within 5 days. All as soon as practicable, but no later than 10 days after the data is released. Nonpartisan staff are required to use the final data as adjusted to prepare all staff plans presented to the commissions or submitted to the Colorado supreme court after that date must use the final data as adjusted. A plan approved by the Colorado supreme court must be based on the final data as adjusted. (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.)

Last action: 2021-06-03 · Senate

Coverage Levels For Occupational Accident Insurance

Under current law, common carriers and contract carriers may use independent contractors for transportation services. The contract must provide for coverage under either workers' compensation or an occupational accident insurance policy that provides "similar coverage" to that available under workers' compensation. "Similar coverage" must meet or exceed standards set by the division of insurance and is defined to require benefits that are at least comparable to the benefits offered under the workers' compensation system. The bill amends the definition of "similar coverage" by repealing this "comparable benefits" requirement.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-06-02 · Senate

Workers' Compensation Physician

The bill provides injured workers control over the selection of the primary treating physician in workers' compensation cases, allowing them to choose from any level I or level II accredited physician through the division of workers' compensation. The bill creates the mechanism by which the injured worker may select the treating physician, and requires the employer or insurer to choose the physician when an injured worker is unable or unwilling to select the treating physician.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-05-27 · Senate

Appointment To The Independent Ethics Commission

Last action: 2021-05-24 · Senate

Driver's License Electronic Renewal By Seniors

Current law allows renewal of a driver's license by mail only every other renewal period. The act eliminates this restriction and allows renewal by mail only if the photo of the person that is on file with the department of revenue (department) is at least as recent as required by federal law.Under current law, to renew a driver's license by mail, a person who is under 66 years of age must attest under penalty of law that the person has had an eye examination within the preceding 3 years. A person who is 66 years of age or older must obtain a signed statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist attesting that the person has had an eye examination within the last 6 months and attesting to the results of the examination. For both of these requirements, the act changes the threshold from 66 to 80 years of age. The act also requires a person who is under 80 years of age and renewing by mail to attest that the person has had an eye examination within one year before the renewal.Current law allows electronic renewal of a driver's license only for drivers who are 21 to 65 years of age and only for 2 consecutive driver's license renewal periods. The act eliminates the upper age limit for electronic renewal and the renewal period restriction and allows a person to renew a driver's license electronically only if the photo of the person that is on file with the department is at least as recent as required by federal law.Current law requires a person renewing a driver's license electronically to attest under penalty of law that the person has had an eye examination within the preceding 3 years. The act requires a person who is under 80 years of age and renewing electronically to attest that the person has had an eye examination within one year before the renewal. A person who is 80 years of age or older and renewing electronically must obtain a signed statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist attesting that the person has had an eye examination within the preceding 6 months and attesting to the results of the examination.Current law allows an applicant to renew an identification card electronically if the applicant is 21 to 64 years of age. The act allows applicants who are 65 years of age or older to renew an identification card electronically.Under current law, the department may not issue a driver's license to a person under 18 years of age unless the person has submitted a log or other written evidence certifying that the person has completed a minimum amount of actual driving experience, and the form must be signed by the person who signed an affidavit of liability for the person. The act allows this form to be signed by the person's parent or guardian or by a responsible adult.The act requires the department, on or before June 1, 2022, and on or before June 1 each of the next two years thereafter, to provide to the general assembly a report concerning motor vehicle accidents in Colorado, which report includes data, organized by the age of each at-fault driver, concerning the cause of each such accident, including data related to driver actions and the most apparent human contributing factor of each accident.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-24 · House

Cost Thresholds For Public Project Bidding Requirements

The requirements of the "Construction Bidding for Public Projects Act" (CBPPA) generally apply to a public project if the cost of the project is reasonably expected to exceed $500,000 for any fiscal year; except that a public project supervised by the department of transportation (CDOT) is subject to the requirements of the CBPPA if the cost of the project is reasonably expected to exceed $150,000 for any fiscal year. The act:Increases the lower cost amount for CDOT projects to $250,000, which means that the requirements of the CBPPA, including the requirement that CDOT prepare a bid estimate when it proposes to undertake a project itself rather than awarding the project to a contractor through competitive bidding, will apply to a CDOT project only if the cost of the project is reasonably expected to exceed $250,000 for any fiscal year; Increases from $50,000 to $150,000 the maximum cost for a CDOT project that is exempt from transportation commission approval; and Requires CDOT to annually identify in a report to the transportation commission and the transportation legislation review committee of the general assembly all highway maintenance projects for the reporting year costing more than $150,000 but not more than $250,000 that: CDOT is completing using CDOT employees; CDOT awarded by invitation for bids or competitive sealed best value bidding; or For which CDOT solicited but did not receive bids. The act also limits the existing requirement that CDOT pay all employees performing work on any public project local prevailing wages in accordance with specified federal acts to projects that cost more than $250,000 and requires all electrical work on a CDOT public project to be performed by licensed electricians or registered apprentices properly supervised by electricians.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-24 · House

Winery License Include Noncontiguous Areas

The act allows a winery that holds a manufacturer's or limited winery license to maintain licensed premises comprising up to 2 noncontiguous locations within a 10-mile radius. The department of revenue must approve an application for the use of a proposed noncontiguous location if the alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau of the United States department of the treasury has approved the description and diagram of the premises at that location, subject to proof of compliance with local codes and zoning requirements. Application and renewal fees are to be established by rule, subject to a limit of $500 per location.Any additional noncontiguous locations that fall outside the approved boundaries of an entertainment district or a common consumption area are excluded from that district or area, and any noncontiguous location that is to be used as a sales room is subject to individual approval for use as a sales room. Only one sales room may be located at a noncontiguous location.To implement the act, $13,247 is appropriated from the liquor enforcement division and state licensing authority cash fund to the department of revenue for use by the liquor and tobacco enforcement division.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-21 · House

Gender Identity Expression Anti-discrimination

The act adds the terms "gender expression" and "gender identity" to statutes prohibiting discrimination against members of a protected class, including statutes prohibiting discriminatory practices in the following areas:Membership of the Colorado civil rights commission; Employment practices; Housing practices; Places of public accommodation; Publications that advertise places of public accommodation; Consumer credit transactions; Selection of patients by direct primary health care providers; Sales of cemetery plots; Membership in labor organizations; Colorado labor for public works projects; Issuance or renewal of automobile insurance policies; The provision of funeral services and crematory services; Eligibility for jury service; Issuance of licenses to practice law; The juvenile diversion program; Access to services for youth in foster care; Enrollment in a charter school, institute charter school, public school, or pilot school; Local school boards' written policies regarding employment, promotion, and dismissal; The assignment or transfer of a public school teacher; Leasing portions of the grounds of or improvements on the grounds of the Colorado state university - Pueblo and the Colorado school of mines; Enrollment or classification of students at private occupational schools; Training provided to peace officers concerning the prohibition against profiling; Criminal justice data collection; Employment in the state personnel system; The availability of services for the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections; Membership of the health equity commission; The availability of family planning services; Requirements for managed care programs participating in the state medicaid program and the children's basic health plan; The treatment of and access to services by individuals in facilities providing substance use disorder treatment programs; Employment practices of county departments of human or social services involving the selection, retention, and promotion of employees; Practices of the Colorado housing and finance authority in making or committing to make a housing facility loan; The imposition of occupancy requirements on charitable property for which the owner is claiming an exemption from property taxes based on the charitable use of the property; Practices of transportation network companies in providing services to the public; and The determination of whether expenses paid at or to a club that has a policy to restrict membership are tax deductible.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-20 · House

Create Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

The act creates the outdoor recreation industry office in the office of economic development. The director of the outdoor recreation industry office is designated by and reports to the director of the office of economic development.The outdoor recreation industry office serves as a central coordinator of outdoor recreation industry matters.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-20 · House

Sunset Special Education Fiscal Advisory Committee

The act continues the Colorado special education fiscal advisory committee until 2031.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-17 · Senate

Sunset Continue Council Higher Education Representatives

The act continues the council of higher education representatives (council) and extends the repeal of the council for 10 years, to September 1, 2031. Prior to the repeal, the act requires the department of regulatory agencies to conduct a sunset review of the council.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-17 · Senate

Regulation Of Child Care Centers

The act eliminates duplicate fire or radon inspections for a child care center that provides child care exclusively to school-age children on the property of a school district, charter school, or institute charter school if a satisfactory inspection was completed within the preceding 12 months.The act requires an annual inspection of playground facilities on the property where a child care center operates and prohibits a duplicate inspection if a satisfactory inspection was completed within the preceding 12 months.The act permits the possession and self-administration of medication for asthma, a food allergy, or anaphylaxis if certain requirements are satisfied and if:The child is a school-age child enrolled in a child care center that provides child care exclusively to school-age children on the property of a school, district, charter school, or institute charter school; or The child is enrolled in a large child care center. The act provides for staffing flexibility during emergency circumstances, so long as certain requirements are satisfied.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-13 · Senate

Prohibit Discrimination COVID-19 Vaccine Status

The bill prohibits an employer, including a licensed health facility, from taking adverse action against an employee or an applicant for employment based on the employee's or applicant's COVID-19 immunization status. The bill allows an aggrieved employee or applicant for employment to file a civil action for injunctive, affirmative, and equitable relief and, if the employer or health facility acted with malice or wanton or willful misconduct or has repeatedly violated the law, the court may also award punitive damages and attorney fees and costs. Additionally, the bill specifies that the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory, that the state cannot require any individual to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine, and that government agencies and private businesses, including health insurers, cannot discriminate against clients, patrons, or customers based on their COVID-19 vaccination status. A person aggrieved by a violation of these prohibitions may file a civil action for injunctive and other appropriate relief and may be awarded punitive damages and attorney fees and costs for wanton, willful, or repeated violations. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-05-12 · House

Extend Deadline For Training To Teach Reading

The law existing before the passage of the act required school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative services to demonstrate that, by the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, the kindergarten-through-third-grade teachers they employ have completed evidence-based training in teaching reading. The act extends the deadline for completing the training until the beginning of the 2022-23 school year.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-10 · House

U Visa Certification Requirements

To be eligible for U nonimmigrant status (U visa) from the federal government, a requestor must receive a certification form from a certifying official attesting that the person has been the victim of certain criminal activity and has been, is being, or is likely to be helpful to the detection, investigation, or prosecution of the criminal activity. The act sets a required time frame for completion or denial of the certification request and sets forth the factors that may and may not be considered in the certification process. The act also prohibits certain disclosures to immigration authorities and requires law enforcement to provide crime victims with information about the U visa.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-10 · House

Donated Alcohol Beverages For Special Events

The act authorizes a person with a club license (licensee) that allows the sale of alcohol beverages by the drink to members of the club and their guests for consumption on the premises of the club to commingle any alcohol beverages purchased by the licensee for the purpose of a special event with alcohol beverages in the licensee's inventory.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-07 · Senate

Special Fuel Farm Equipment Sales Use Tax

The act removes an unused definition of "agricultural compounds" and a redundant reference to a sales and use tax exemption for poultry and livestock. The act also reorganizes special fuel and farm equipment sales and use tax exemptions so that they are in the same location.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-07 · House

Professional Fire Fighters License Plate Standards

With regard to the Colorado professional fire fighters special license plate, the act:Reduces from 20 years to 15 years the length of time an organization must be in existence to qualify to issue the license plate; and Specifies the evidence an organization is to submit to demonstrate compliance with the requirement that an organization have at least 3,000 members residing in Colorado.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-07 · House

Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Advisory Board

The act amends the composition of the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative advisory board.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-07 · Senate

Repeal Recovery Audit Program

The act repeals the state recovery audit program, effective July 1, 2022, and reduces the state fiscal year 2021-22 general fund appropriation to the department of personnel for use by financial operations and reporting for personal services by $64,714 and the related FTE by 1.0 FTE.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-05-04 · Senate

Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund Transfer

On June 1, 2022, the state treasurer is required to transfer $100 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the public school capital construction assistance fund (BEST fund).(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-04-30 · Senate

Remote Supports For Elderly, Blind, And Disabled Waiver

Joint Budget Committee. The bill expands the definition of "electronic monitoring services" to include other remote supports as the definition relates to the home- and community-based services waiver program for the elderly, blind, and disabled.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Last action: 2021-04-30 · Senate

Cooperative Electric Associations Governance Requirements

The act:Makes current laws concerning governance and transparency for cooperative electric associations (associations) applicable to nonprofit generation and transmission cooperative electric associations that provide wholesale electric service directly to Colorado cooperative electric associations that are its members; Eliminates an exemption to those requirements for associations with fewer than 25,000 members; Allows an association to authorize, in its bylaws, its members and directors to participate in meetings electronically; Allows an association to authorize, in its bylaws, members to vote in an election through a secure and verifiable electronic voting system; Clarifies that members voting or participating in a meeting electronically are considered present in person for the purpose of establishing quorum; Defines joint memberships and clarifies how joint memberships can vote; Amends the deadlines and requirements for notice of an election; Requires an association to adopt written policies concerning the compensation of board members and disclosures of conflicts of interest for board members; Requires board members to fulfill their duty of loyalty to the cooperative association at all times; except that, if a director serves on the board of both a generation and transmission association and a distribution association, the director owes fiduciary duties to both associations and shall not be required to give priority to the duties the director owes to one association over the duties the director owes to the other association; and Requires associations to post on their websites information about their rates and net metering requirements and to make financial audits available to members on request.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-04-29 · House

Capital-related Transfers Of Money

For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act transfers:$191,289,178 from the general fund to the capital construction fund; $110,000,000 from the general fund to the controlled maintenance trust fund to be appropriated in the 2022-23 state fiscal year for controlled maintenance budget requests prioritized by the office of the state architect as level one and level two priority projects; $8,000,000 from the emergency controlled maintenance account to the capital construction fund; $27,040,302 from the general fund to the information technology capital account of the capital construction fund; and $500,000 from the general fund exempt account of the general fund to the capital construction fund.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-04-29 · Senate

Modification To Child Care Tax Credit To Address Defects

House Bill 00-1351, enacted in 2000, removed the provision permitting a child care contribution income tax credit for an in-kind contribution. Accordingly, the act removes all references in the statute to an in-kind contribution. The act also repeals an obsolete provision that was only applicable to the income tax year that commenced on or after January 1, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2000.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-04-22 · House

Add Use Tax Exemption To Some Sales Tax Exemption

All of the current law sections presented in the act provide sales tax exemptions for specific items. None of the sales tax exemptions in the act authorize corresponding use tax exemptions. As a result, an item could conceivably become subject to use tax the instant the tax-exempt sale occurs. Most statutory sales tax exemptions have corresponding use tax exemptions to prevent this. Consequently, the act addresses defects in statute by clarifying that an item that is subject to a sales tax exemption is actually exempt from both sales and use tax and makes those statutory sections compatible with the fundamental principles of use tax and Colorado supreme court decisions on the subject.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-04-22 · House

Hospital Patient Long-term Care Resident Visit Rights

The bill specifies that a patient admitted to a hospital for inpatient care and a resident of a nursing care facility or assisted living residence may have at least one visitor of the patient's or resident's choosing during the stay or residency. A hospital, a nursing care facility, and an assisted living residence (collectively referred to as "health-care facility") must have written policies and procedures regarding the visitation rights of patients and residents, including policies and procedures setting forth any clinically necessary or reasonable restriction or limitation that the health-care facility may need to place on patient and resident visitation rights and the reasons for the restriction or limitation. The bill prohibits a health-care facility from adopting policies or procedures that prohibit visitation of a patient or resident if the sole reason for the prohibition is to reduce the risk of transmission of a pandemic disease, but a health-care facility may impose specified requirements and limitations for visitors to reduce the risk of transmission of the pandemic disease. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-04-21 · House

Voluntary Reduce Greenhouse Gas Natural Gas Utility

The bill requires the public utilities commission (PUC) to adopt by rule, no later than July 31, 2022, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction programs (reduction programs) for large natural gas utilities (those that have at least 250,000 customer accounts in Colorado) and small natural gas utilities (those that have fewer than 250,000 customer accounts in Colorado) (collectively, utilities). Municipally owned utilities may, but need not, participate in a reduction program. The rules must include reporting requirements and a process for utilities to fully recover qualified investments, which are prudently incurred costs associated with a reduction program. The bill establishes the following GHG emission reduction targets, using a utility's 2019 GHG emissions as a baseline: By January 1, 2025, at least 5%; By January 1, 2030, at least 10%; and On and after January 1, 2035, at least 15%. GHG emission reductions from the delivery of natural gas to other utilities and transportation sector retail customers are excluded from the reduction programs. The following sources of GHG emission reductions are included in the reduction programs: Methane leaked from the transportation and delivery of natural gas from natural gas distribution and service pipelines; and Carbon dioxide emitted by the utility's retail customers (other than those in the transportation sector) as a result of the combustion of natural gas delivered by the utility. GHG emission reductions can be achieved by: Using renewable natural gas, which must account for at least 35% of the emission reductions; Emission offsets; Methane emission reductions from a variety of mechanisms; and Other programs developed by the utility and approved by the PUC that demonstrate GHG emission reductions. If a large utility's total incremental annual cost to meet the GHG emission reduction targets exceeds 2% of the large utility's total revenue requirement for a particular year, the large utility shall not make additional qualified investments under the reduction program for that year without approval from the PUC. Small utilities may opt in to the reduction program as established by the PUC by rule. The rule must include tradeable credits and a rate cap limiting the small utility's costs of making qualified investments. For included emission reductions and until 2025, a utility participating in a reduction program is not subject to any additional GHG emission reduction requirements or required to incur any additional costs under Colorado's generally applicable GHG emission reduction requirements if the utility: Files with the PUC a plan that contains approvable and cost-effective programs that make progress toward the GHG emission reduction targets and are projected to meet either the applicable emission reduction targets or the applicable retail rate impact; Reports GHG emission reductions consistent with the accounting methodology established by the division of administration in the department of public health and environment; and Is either projected to meet the GHG emission reduction targets in an applicable year or the PUC finds that the projected costs to achieve the emission reductions have met the applicable retail rate impact. The bill gives the oil and gas conservation commission the authority to authorize class VI injection permits, which authorize the deep sequestration of carbon dioxide. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-04-20 · Senate

Equal Access Services For Out-of-home Placements

The act requires a provider of services related to child and youth out-of-home placement (service provider) to provide fair and equal access to all available programs, benefits, and services offered by the service provider. Services related to out-of-home placement must be provided in a manner that is culturally responsive to the complex social identity of the child or youth receiving such services.A service provider is prohibited from denying any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or a foster parent, or delaying or denying the placement of a child or youth for adoption or into foster care, on the basis of the real or perceived disability, race, creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, or any communicable disease, including HIV, of the prospective adoptive or foster parent or the child unless the delay or denial of the placement is not detrimental to the health or welfare of the child or youth.The act requires that foster parent training include instruction on the right of a foster child or youth to have fair and equal access to all available services and other health and educational services available to foster children and foster youth, including siblings in foster care.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-04-19 · House

Former Inmates With Fire Service Experience

In general, current law provides that a felony conviction or other offense involving moral turpitude does not, in and of itself, prevent a person from applying for or obtaining public employment. The bill extends this to persons applying to positions within the wildland fire management section in the department of public safety. The bill requires the division of fire prevention and control (division) to develop materials to increase awareness of wildland fire career opportunities for persons who acquired experience in wildland fire services through the inmate disaster relief program (program). The bill states that the division is encouraged to hire persons who acquired experience in the program for positions performing wildland fire services. The bill requires the division to develop and implement a peer mentor program for persons hired who acquired experience in wildland fire services through the program so those persons may develop and sustain professional skills. The bill requires the wildfire matters review committee to review and permits the committee to propose legislation or other policy changes relating to maximizing the utilization of wildland fire services through the inmate disaster relief program and creating wildland fire career opportunities for persons who acquire experience in wildland fire services through the inmate disaster relief program. (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.)

Last action: 2021-04-15 · Senate

Ski Area Safety Plans And Accident Reporting

The bill updates the "Ski Safety Act of 1979" by: Requiring each ski area to adopt and publish, in printed form and on the ski area's website, if any, a safety plan specifying the governance, management, and operational roles, responsibilities, and practices of the ski area to prevent accidents and reduce the frequency and severity of injuries; and Requiring ski areas with an elevation drop of 500 feet or more and at least one elevated lift to: Collect and disseminate seasonal data on ski and snowboard accidents and deaths, including those occurring while boarding or exiting lifts; and Collect and make available, upon request, specific information about each accident, including where and when it occurred, the conditions at the time, the type of injuries and whether death occurred on site or following medical transport, and specified nonprivate information about the injured person. The bill makes any failure to create, maintain, and publish a safety plan or provide the required reports or data grounds for discipline by the passenger tramway safety board. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-04-15 · Senate

Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act

The act defines and exempts a financial organization loyalty card from the property that is subject to the "Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act". The act also repeals the presumption of abandonment in the act that took effect on July 1, 2020, for demand, savings, or time deposits with a financial organization, and replaces it by reenacting the similar version that was in effect prior to July 1, 2020, which has the same 5-year period for property to be presumed abandoned but has different owner activities that rebut the presumption of abandonment. The act also delays the time that a financial organization is required to deliver this property to the administrator if a penalty or forfeiture in the payment of interest would result from the delivery of the property. With respect to the administrator's reporting of information about an apparent owner, the act:Repeals the requirement that the administrator's record of persons, which includes the apparent owner's name and last-known address, be available for inspection; and Repeals the administrator's authority to identify the physical address of an apparent owner in published notices and on the website.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-04-15 · Senate

Recognize MLK Assassination Day

Last action: 2021-04-07 · Senate

Military, Veterans, And MIA/POW Appreciation Day

Last action: 2021-04-07 · Senate

Modifications To Qualified State Tuition Programs

The federal "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act", which became law in December 2017, added distributions for elementary or secondary tuition expenses as qualified distributions from a qualified state tuition program (529 account), thereby allowing, on the federal level, income tax-free distributions for elementary and secondary tuition expenses in addition to already authorized income tax-free distributions for higher education expenses. Similarly, the federal "Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019", which became law in December 2019, expands the qualified distributions from a 529 account to include repayment of qualified education loans and payments for registered apprenticeships. The bill creates the foundational learning experience savings program (FLEX savings program). The bill also specifies that distributions from FLEX savings program accounts are not counted as federal or state taxable income and that contributions to FLEX savings program accounts for qualified elementary or secondary tuition expenses may not be deducted from state taxable income. The accounts created under the FLEX savings program are defined by the following characteristics: Account owners may only use distributions from the accounts for qualified elementary or secondary tuition expenses; Anyone may contribute to the account, irrespective of their relationship to the account's designated beneficiary; An account owner may transfer money to the FLEX savings program accounts from a 529 account, if the total of all amounts transferred does not exceed $10,000 and is less than or equal to the lowest balance in the 529 account at any point during the previous 2 years; and Money in the account can be transferred to a different 529 account. The bill also allows for expenses for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the participation of a designated beneficiary in certain apprenticeship programs to be treated as "qualified higher education expenses" and subtracted from federal taxable income. The bill clarifies that "qualified higher education expenses" does not include repayment of qualified education loans. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-04-07 · House

Induced Termination Of Pregnancy State Registrar

The bill requires health-care providers that perform induced terminations of pregnancies to report specified information concerning the women who obtain the procedure to the state registrar of vital statistics in the department of public health and environment. The reported information must not include information that could identify the women who obtained induced terminations of pregnancies. The bill requires the state registrar to annually create a summary report of the information reported by health-care providers and to make the report available to the public. The bill places limitations on how and to whom the state registrar may release the information reported to the state registrar. A physician or physician assistant who falsifies or fails to submit the required information engages in unprofessional conduct pursuant to the "Colorado Medical Practice Act". An advanced practice registered nurse who falsifies or fails to submit the required information is subject to discipline pursuant to the "Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act". (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-24 · House

Department of Personnel Supplemental

The 2020 general appropriation act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated to the department of personnel. The general fund portion of the appropriation is increased and the cash funds and reapproprated funds portions are decreased.The 2019 general appropriation act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated to the department of personnel. The general fund portion of the appropriation is increased.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-03-21 · Senate

Restrict Nondisclosure Agreements State Government

The bill prohibits the state and any of its departments, institutions, or agencies (state) from making it a condition of employment that an employee or a prospective employee execute a contract or other form of agreement that prohibits, prevents, or otherwise restricts the employee or prospective employee from disclosing factual circumstances concerning the individual's employment with the state (nondisclosure agreement) except where the nondisclosure agreement is necessary to prevent disclosure of: Factual circumstances relating to the employment that reasonably implicate privacy interests held by the employee who is a party to the agreement; and Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or rules or by state statute or matters bearing on the specialized details of security arrangements or investigations. The bill prohibits nondisclosure agreements that prohibit state employees from disclosing factual circumstances concerning their employment. To the extent that an employer includes any such provision in any employment contract or agreement, the provision is deemed against public policy and unenforceable against a current or former employee who is a party to the contract or agreement except where the provision is intended to prevent disclosure of factual circumstances implicating the employee's privacy interests or matters required to be kept confidential under federal or state law or matters bearing on the specialized details of security arrangements or investigations. The bill prohibits the state from taking any retaliatory action against an individual on the grounds that the individual does not enter into a contract or agreement deemed to be against public policy and unenforceable under the bill. Any person who enforces or attempts to enforce a provision deemed against public policy and unenforceable under the bill is liable for the employee's reasonable attorney fees and costs in defending against the action. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-18 · Senate

Uniform Easement Relocation Act

Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws. The bill enacts the "Uniform Easement Relocation Act", drafted by the Uniform Law Commission. The bill sets procedures to relocate an easement established by express grant, reservation, prescription, implication, necessity, estoppel, or other method, but the procedures may not be used to relocate a public utility easement, conservation easement, or negative easement. To relocate an easement, the relocation must not: Encroach on an area of an estate burdened by a conservation easement or interfere with the use or enjoyment of a public utility easement or an easement appurtenant to a conservation easement; Lessen the utility of the easement; After the relocation, increase the burden in the reasonable use and enjoyment of the easement; Impair the purpose for which the easement was created; During or after the relocation, impair the safety of the use and enjoyment of the easement; During the relocation, disrupt the use and enjoyment of the easement, unless the servient estate owner substantially mitigates the duration and nature of the disruption; Impair the physical condition, use, or value of or improvements on the dominant estate; or Impair the value of the collateral of a security-interest holder in the servient estate or dominant estate, impair a real property interest of a lessee in the dominant estate, or impair a real property interest of any other person in the servient estate or dominant estate. To obtain an order to relocate an easement, a servient estate owner must commence a civil action and serve a summons and petition on: The easement holder; A security-interest holder in the servient estate or dominant estate; A lessee of the dominant estate; and Any other owner of a real property interest if the relocation would encroach on an area of the servient estate or dominant estate burdened by the interest. Service of a summons and petition is not required for the owner of real property interest in oil, gas, or minerals unless the interest includes an easement to facilitate oil, gas, or mineral development. The petition must state: The intent of the servient estate owner to seek the relocation; The nature, extent, and anticipated dates of commencement and completion of the relocation; The current and proposed locations of the easement; The reason the easement is eligible for relocation under the bill; The reason the proposed relocation satisfies the conditions for relocation under the bill; and That the servient estate owner has made a reasonable attempt to notify the holders of any public utility easement, conservation easement, or negative easement on the servient estate or dominant estate of the proposed relocation. At any time before the court renders a final order in the action, a person who was served may file a document to waive its rights to contest or obtain relief in connection with the relocation or subordinate its interests to the relocation. On filing of the document, the court may order that the person need not answer or participate further in the action. A court order approving relocation of an easement must: State that the order is issued in accordance with the bill; Identify the immediately preceding location of the easement; Describe the new location of the easement; Describe the mitigation required during relocation; Refer in detail to the plans and specifications of improvements necessary for the easement holder to enter, use, and enjoy the easement in the new location; Specify conditions to be satisfied to relocate the easement and construct improvements necessary for the easement holder to enter, use, and enjoy the easement in the new location; Include a provision for payment of expenses required by the bill; Include a provision requiring the parties to the civil action to act in good faith; and Instruct the servient estate owner to record an affidavit, if required by the bill, when the servient estate owner substantially completes relocation. Before a servient estate owner proceeds with relocation of an easement, the owner must record, in the appropriate land records, a certified copy of the order. The servient estate owner is responsible for reasonable expenses of relocation of an easement. Each party to the civil action is obligated to act in good faith. If an order requires building an improvement to relocate an easement, relocation is substantially complete, and the easement holder is able to use the moved easement, the servient estate owner is required to: Record, in the appropriate land records, an affidavit certifying that the easement has been relocated; and Send, by certified mail, a copy of the recorded affidavit to the easement holder and parties to the civil action. Until the affidavit is recorded and sent to the parties, the easement holder may use the easement in the current location, subject to any court's order approving relocation. If a court order does not require building an improvement, recording of the order constitutes relocation. The bill clarifies that relocation of an easement: Is not a new transfer or a new grant of a property interest; Is not a breach of a security instrument, except as otherwise determined by a court; Is not a breach of a lease, except as otherwise determined by a court; Is not a breach by the servient estate owner of a recorded document affected by the relocation, except as otherwise determined by a court; Does not affect the priority of the easement with respect to other recorded real property interests burdening the area of the servient estate; and Is not a fraudulent conveyance or voidable transaction under law. A servient estate owner may not waive the right to relocate an easement. The bill should be interpreted in such a way as to promote uniformity among the states. The bill supersedes the federal "Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act" except for consumer disclosures. The changes apply to easements created before, on, or after the bill takes effect. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-18 · Senate

Cancer Screening Services Through Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment

Current law appropriates $5 million annually from the tobacco tax cash fund to the department of public health and environment (department) for breast and cervical cancer screenings. The bill expands the use of the funds for additional cancer screenings. The bill changes the name of the breast cancer screening fund to the cancer screening fund and authorizes the money in the fund to be used for breast and cervical cancer screenings, colorectal cancer screenings, and screenings for additional screenable cancers. The bill changes the makeup of the existing advisory board from persons interested in health care and the promotion of breast cancer screenings to include persons who are interested in health care and the promotion of services for other screenable cancers. When making recommendations to the executive director of the department concerning cancer screening services, the bill requires the advisory board to allocate, at a minimum, $2.5 million annually for breast and cervical cancer screenings, $1 million annually for colorectal cancer screenings, and, if feasible, money for screenings for additional screenable cancers. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-17 · Senate

Department Of Regulatory Agencies Regulator Authority During Declared Emergency

The bill authorizes the director of the division of professions and occupations or the applicable regulatory board in the department of regulatory agencies (regulator) to suspend or waive statutes or rules governing a health care profession or occupation over which a regulator has authority during a disaster emergency declared by the governor. The suspension or waiver of a statute or rule is limited to those in which strict compliance would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with or responding to the disaster emergency and may not suspend, waive, or modify any supervisory requirements. The bill allows a regulator to promulgate emergency rules commensurate with the nature of the disaster emergency and within the limits of the declaration and the applicable practice act for a health care profession or occupation. The emergency rules automatically expire 60 days after the termination of the declared disaster emergency. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-17 · Senate

Private Sector Enterprise Protections

The bill prohibits state government from passing or implementing any law or rule restricting the natural rights of a private sector enterprise or its customers to use and exercise their free will and free choice to conduct business, exchange goods and services, and take risks in any manner, time, or condition that is acceptable by the private sector enterprise, its customers, and any private sector individuals. The bill authorizes a private sector enterprise to assert a violation as a claim against state government in any judicial or administrative proceeding or as a defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding without regard to whether the proceeding is brought by or in the name of state government, any private sector enterprise, private person, or any other party. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-17 · House

Pregnancy-based Parking Placard

The bill creates a pregnancy-based parking placard. The placard is available to a person during the last trimester of the person's pregnancy through the first 2 months after the person gives birth. The placard authorizes the person to park in reserved disability parking spaces. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-16 · House

Suspend State Assessments In 2020-21 School Year

The bill suspends the administration of state assessments, contingent on a change to federal law or a waiver of federal law from the federal department of education, for the following instructional areas for the 2020-21 school year: Science administered to students enrolled in grades 5, 8, and 11; Math administered to students enrolled in grades 3 through 8; English language arts administered to students enrolled in grades 3 through 8; and Social studies administered to students enrolled in grades 4 and 7. The bill prohibits a school district from using student academic growth measures or student performance measures when evaluating teachers and principals for the 2020-21 school year. The bill requires a school or a school district to implement the school plan type that was assigned in the preceding school year. The bill requires the department of education, in determining the number of school years that a school or school district is on performance watch, to exclude the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, and count the 2021-22 school year as if it were consecutive to the 2018-19 school year. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-05 · House

Local Government Authority Statewide Disaster Declarations

The bill permits the majority of the governing body of any county or municipality by adoption of a resolution, ordinance, law, or rule to abrogate all or any portion of a disaster emergency order applying to the county or municipality that has been issued by the governor under the governor's emergency management powers when the disaster emergency lasts longer than 30 days. Upon the enactment by the governing body of such a resolution, ordinance, law, or rule the order, or any portion of the order, has no legal force and effect within, as applicable, the municipality or within the unincorporated portions of the county where the resolution, ordinance, law, or rule has been approved by the governing body of a county. The bill prohibits the state and any state department, institution, or agency from taking any action against a county or municipality, including without limitation any action resulting in denial of a monetary payment or the provision of any other form of financial assistance in retaliation for action by the governing body of the county or municipality to abrogate the governor's order. The bill requires the governing body of the county or municipality to notify the governor and any affected state departments, institutions, or agencies of the adoption of such resolution, ordinance, law, or rule. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-03-05 · House

Nonpublic Education And COVID-19 Relief Act

The bill establishes a private school tuition income tax credit commencing on or after January 1, 2021, that allows any taxpayer to claim a credit when the taxpayer enrolls a qualified child in a private school or the taxpayer provides a scholarship to a qualified child for enrollment in a private school. The private school issues the taxpayer a credit certificate and the amount of the credit is: For full-time attendance, an amount equal to either the tuition paid or the scholarship provided to a qualified child, as applicable, or 50% of the previous year's state average per pupil revenues, whichever is less; and For half-time attendance, an amount equal to either the tuition paid or the scholarship provided to a qualified child, as applicable, or 25% of the previous year's state average per pupil revenues, whichever is less. The bill also establishes a home-based education income tax credit commencing on or after January 1, 2021, that allows any taxpayer who uses home-based education for a qualified child to claim an income tax credit in an amount equal to: $1,000 for a taxpayer who uses home-based education for a qualified child who was enrolled on a full-time basis in a public school in the state prior to being taught at home; and $500 for a taxpayer who uses home-based education for a qualified child who was enrolled on a half-time basis in a public school in the state prior to being taught at home. Both credits may be carried forward for 3 years but may not be refunded. In addition, the credits may be transferred, subject to certain limitations. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-02-25 · House

Add Health Maintenance Organizations Life And Health Insurance Protection Association

The bill amends the "Life and Health Insurance Protection Association Act" as follows: Adds health maintenance organizations (HMOs) as members of the association and subjects HMOs to assessments from the association; and Allocates responsibility for long-term care insurance assessments between health insurance and life insurance association members.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Last action: 2021-02-24 · House

Temporary Adjournment For Longer Than Three Days

Last action: 2021-02-17 · Senate

Extending Limitations On Debt Collection Actions

The act extends the time in which debtors experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 emergency may have extraordinary debt collection actions suspended. Existing law required a judgment creditor (creditor) to provide a notice to a judgment debtor (debtor) before instituting an extraordinary debt collection action, which includes an action in the nature of a garnishment, attachment, levy, or execution to collect or enforce a judgment. The debtor may suspend the collection action by notifying the creditor that the debtor is experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The obligation to provide notice and the suspension of the collection action were effective through February 1, 2021. The act extends the effective period for the notice and the suspension to June 1, 2021. If a collection action has already been suspended by the debtor, the suspension is now effective through June 1, 2021.In addition, under existing law, up to $4,000 cumulative in a depository account or accounts in a debtor's name is exempt from levy and sale under a writ of attachment or execution through February 1, 2021. The act extends that date to June 1, 2021.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-01-21 · Senate

Recreate Occupational Therapy Practice Act

The act recreates, with amendments, the "Occupational Therapy Practice Act" (Act), which repealed September 1, 2020. Specifically, the act:Recreates and extends the Act for 9 years, until 2030; Modifies the legislative declaration and definitions related to the scope of practice of occupational therapy; Designates "occupational therapy consultant", "M.O.T.", "M.O.T./L.", "occupational therapy assistant", "O.T.A.", and "C.O.T.A." as protected titles and clarifies that individuals who legally practice temporarily as occupational therapists in Colorado may use protected titles; Reorders and amends certain provisions concerning examinations and applications for licensure by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants; and Adds certain prohibited behaviors as grounds for discipline.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-01-21 · Senate