Colorado 2025 Bills

No Liability If Landowner Grants Free Access Land

Under current law, a landowner that grants access to another person, without charge, to use the landowner's land for recreational purposes, such as hunting, fishing, or camping, is not liable for any injuries the person sustains while using the land; except that a landowner is liable to the person for the landowner's willful and malicious failure to guard or warn against a known dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity on the land likely to cause harm. The bill removes the exception.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-11 · House

Safety And Accountability In School Contracts

Beginning October 1, 2019, before entering into a professional services contract with personnel costs of $200,000 or more, school districts are required to: Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of contracting for the services rather than using district personnel to perform the services, to be completed prior to making a recommendation to contract for services; Hold at least one public hearing conducted by the school district prior to soliciting bids to provide professional services and before entering into a contract for professional services; Allow competitive bidding for the contract; Review of all bids in a regularly scheduled school board meeting, unless a special meeting is authorized; and Provide an opportunity for affected employees to counter the competitive bid. The bill defines the types of professional services to which the contract requirements apply and excludes educational services and professional services procured in the normal course of business for school construction. The contract requirements do not apply to a small rural school district, board of cooperative services, time-limited contract that the school district enters into because of an emergency, or the renewal of an existing contract entered into before October 1, 2019. The bill also requires a contractor for a contract in any dollar amount to provide proof of liability insurance equivalent in amount and scope with that provided by the school district for the contracting activity. Further, a school district shall not enter into a contract for professional services with a contractor that has committed unfair labor practices within the 5 years preceding the date that bids are solicited. In addition, the school district shall not enter into a contract that takes effect prior to the expiration of an existing collective bargaining agreement concerning the employees impacted by the new contract. The contractor may offer available employee positions to the existing employees. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-11 · House

Remove Fee Cap Electrical Inspection Local Government Higher Education

Electricians - local inspection fees - limitations. The act repeals the prohibition against local governments and state institutions of higher education charging more than 15% more than the state charges to perform an inspection of electrical work, and instead subjects the inspection fee to a $120 cap that is adjusted annually for inflation with a potential additional 8% tiered charge based on the size or valuation of the inspected improvement. Specified provisions of the act are contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-10 · House

Public Hospital Boards Of Trustees

Public hospitals - boards of trustees - membership - acquisition of real and personal property by lease. Under current law, not more than 4 of the 7 trustees of a public hospital board of trustees (hospital board) may be residents of the city or town in which the associated hospital is located. The act removes this restriction. Current law states that a hospital board may acquire real and personal property by lease only with the approval of the board of county commissioners. The act clarifies this requirement and creates an exception to it; that is, a hospital board that has designated its public hospital as an enterprise for purposes of section 20 of article X of the state constitution is not required to obtain such approval. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-10 · House

Aeronautical Reporting Requirements

Intrastate air carriers - reports to aeronautics division. The act removes the requirement that air carriers providing intrastate air service within Colorado file semiannual reports with the aeronautics division regarding the on-time performance and the number of passengers denied boarding on intrastate flights by the air carrier.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-10 · House

Regulation Of Online Schools

Multi-district online schools - enrollment data - accountability. The act directs the online division in the department of education (department) to prepare an annual report concerning students who withdraw from enrollment in an online school after the annual count date. The report must include the date on which the student withdrew from enrollment, the grade level at which the student was enrolled at the beginning of the school year and when the student withdrew, and, to the extent known, whether during the same school year the student enrolled in another school or graduated or completed high school. The department must submit the report to the state board of education and the education committees of the general assembly. Before passage of the act, the statute required a school district, a group of school districts, a board of cooperative services, or the state charter school institute that seeks to authorize a multi-district online school to first obtain certification for the multi-district online school from the department. Under the act, if an existing multi-district online school changes authorizers, the new authorizer must obtain a new certification of the multi-district online school. An online school is subject to the same accountability requirements as apply to other public schools. The act states that if an online school is on performance watch and changes authorizers, either in its original form or as a successor school, or if the online school is created as a successor school with the same authorizer, the online school remains on performance watch. If an online school is closed because of actions taken as a result of accountability, the online school must apply for a new certification before it can operate again either as the original online school or as a successor school, regardless of whether the online school changes authorizers. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-10 · Senate

Legislative Council Temporary Appointments Ex Officio Members

Legislative council - executive committee - appointment of temporary replacements. An ex officio member of the legislative council may make a temporary appointment to replace himself or herself at a meeting of the council. A temporarily appointed member cannot replace the ex officio member at a meeting of the executive committee.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-10 · House

Fiscal Year 2019-20 Legislative Appropriation Bill

Legislative appropriation - reappropriation from general assembly to legislative council. $51,308,908 is appropriated to the legislative department for the payment of expenses in the 2019-20 state fiscal year. Additionally, the act appropriates $25,000 to the youth advisory council cash fund within the legislative department. For the 2018-19 state fiscal year, the act reappropriates $125,780 from money appropriated for use by the general assembly to the legislative council and adds 0.5 FTE to the legislative council for purposes of printing legislative bills, memorials, resolutions, calendars, and journals of the general assembly. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-10 · Senate

School Employment Background Check Clarification

School employees - background checks - fingerprinting. Under current law, school employees are required to undergo a fingerprint-based background check. In most statutes, the fingerprints can be taken by a qualified law enforcement agency, an authorized employee of the school or school district, or a third party approved by the Colorado bureau of investigation, but a few statutes do not authorize fingerprints to be taken by an authorized school or school district employee. The act adds that authorization to those statutes. The act requires a law enforcement agency that has fingerprinting equipment that meets federal bureau of investigation image quality standards to take the fingerprints of an applicant if an approved third-party vendor is not operating within 20 miles of a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school in the agency's jurisdiction. The act states that a school or school district employee can use any fingerprinting equipment that meets the federal bureau of investigation image quality standards.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-10 · House

Disability Symbol Identification Document

The bill adds an option for people with disabilities to place a discreet disability identifier symbol on the face of a driver's license or identification card. A listed medical professional must verify the disability by signing a form created by the department of revenue. The symbol must represent all types of disabilities, such as cognitive, neurological, or physical disabilities. No fee is charged for the symbol.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-10 · House

Voluntary Housing Agreements Unincorporated Areas

The bill authorizes the board of county commissioners of any county, by duly enacted ordinances, resolutions, or other forms of binding law, to establish and create a program that implements voluntary housing agreements within an unincorporated area of the county. The bill defines "voluntary housing agreement program" to mean a program adopted by a county government that enables agreements between the county and a developer that increase the supply of housing stock within the county that is priced as affordable for low- and moderate-income households. Nothing in the bill is intended to challenge or affect the legal status of any such program implemented and in effect prior to the effective date of the bill. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-09 · Senate

Local Government Recycling Standards For Food Containers

Currently, state law preempts local governments from restricting or mandating containers for any consumer products. The bill allows a local government to set a standard for a retail food establishment's use of ready-to-eat food containers that may be discarded through recycling or composting.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-09 · Senate

Child Welfare Allocations Committee Composition

Child welfare allocations committee - membership composition. The act increases the number of voting members on the child welfare allocations committee (committee) who are appointed by county commissioners from 8 to 10. The act decreases the number of voting members on the committee who are appointed by the department of human services from 5 to 3. The act requires the 2 additional county commissioner appointed voting members to come from the 2 counties with the greatest percentage of the state's child welfare caseload, with one appointee coming from each county. The act creates 2 nonvoting member positions on the committee who are appointed by the department of human services. The 2 nonvoting members must have knowledge and experience in the following areas, including but not limited to: Federal funding related to child welfare; The federal "Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018"; Interests of individuals with a disability; or Interests of individuals experiencing poverty.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

Organized Retail Theft Prevention

Secondhand dealers - gift card transactions - record-keeping. The act requires secondhand dealers who purchase gift cards to keep a record of those purchases. Failure to record the purchases in an electronic database is a class 3 misdemeanor. The act requires pawnbrokers to record the identification number, retailer name, and value of each gift card sold. The act adds a gift card to the definition of a "valuable article", which triggers certain record-keeping requirements.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

Innovation School Operating As A Community School

Innovation schools - community schools. "Community school" is defined as a public school that implements an annual asset and needs assessment that engages families, students, and educators in the community; a strategic plan that includes the creation of problem solving teams; a process to engage partners who bring assets and expertise to implement the school's goals; and a community school coordinator who is a staff member at the community school site. A public school is permitted to include in its innovation plan that it will operate as a community school.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

Adjust Damages Limitations For Inflation

Limitations on damages - adjustment for inflation every 2 years. The limitations on the amount of damages for unlawfully serving alcohol, for noneconomic loss or injury, and for wrongful death were last adjusted for inflation on January 1, 2008. The act adjusts those damage limitations for inflation on January 1, 2020, and each January 1 every 2 years thereafter.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

Electronic Prescribing Controlled Substances

Prescribing health care practitioners - electronic prescribing of controlled substances - exceptions. The act requires health care practitioners with prescribing authority to prescribe schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances only via a prescription that is electronically transmitted to a pharmacy unless a specified exception applies. The requirement to electronically prescribe starts on July 1, 2021, for podiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and optometrists, and on July 1, 2023, for dentists and practitioners serving rural communities or in a solo practice. Prescribing practitioners are required to indicate on license renewal questionnaires whether they have complied with the electronic prescribing requirement. Pharmacists need not verify the applicability of an exception to electronic prescribing when they receive an order for a controlled substance in writing, orally, or via facsimile transmission and may fill the order if otherwise valid under the law. Specifies that certain sections take effect only if HB 19-1172 becomes law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

Space Symposium

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Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

National Crime Victims' Rights Week

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Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

Health Insurance Contract Carrier And Policyholder

Health insurance - required contract provisions between a carrier and a health care provider - payment of premiums - provision of benefits. The act requires a contract for a health benefit plan between a carrier and a policyholder to state, as an alternative to existing premium payment requirements, that a policyholder must pay premiums to the carrier through the date that the individual covered under the policy is no longer eligible or covered if the policyholder notifies the carrier within 10 business days after the date of ineligibility or noncoverage because the individual left employment without notice to the employer or the employee was terminated for gross misconduct. The act also clarifies that: If the policyholder notifies the carrier within the 10-day period, the carrier is not required to provide benefits to the individual after the date that the individual is no longer eligible or covered; and A carrier and a policyholder may agree to a different date where premium payments are not required.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

Hazardous Materials Transportation Routing

Hazardous materials - routing for transport. The act authorizes a public highway authority or a governmental partner in a public-private partnership to apply to the Colorado state patrol (CSP) for a new or modified hazardous materials route designation for a road or highway that it directly or indirectly maintains. The act also requires the department of transportation (CDOT) to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of allowing the transportation of hazardous materials through the Eisenhower-Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel and prepare a study report no later than December 1, 2020, that includes findings and recommendations as to whether and under what conditions the transportation of hazardous materials through the tunnel should be allowed. CDOT must solicit input from representatives of specified counties, towns, communities, ski resorts, industries, organizations, and emergency services providers and from the department of public safety, including representatives of the division of fire prevention and control and the CSP, regarding the scope of the study and must consider specified information and criteria and conduct specified types of analysis when conducting the study.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

PERA Public Employees' Retirement Association Board Assess Climate-related Financial Risks

The bill requires the board of trustees (board) of the public employees' retirement association (PERA) to retain an organization with experience in public sector pension plans to conduct a study to analyze any climate-related financial risk to the total assets of PERA (fund). The board is required to administer a competitive selection process to solicit unbiased and independent third-party organizations with the necessary credentials to bid for the study and to enter into a contract with the selected organization. The organization selected by the board is required to include the following in its study: A comprehensive analysis of the climate-related financial risk of PERA's portfolio and the exposure of the fund to long-term risks; A summary of climate-related financial risk-related engagement activities undertaken; and A description of additional action that should be taken, or planned to be taken, by the board to address climate-related financial risk, including a list of proxy votes and shareholder proposals initiated by the board. The board is required to deliver a report to the general assembly detailing the findings of the organization's analysis. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · House

Unauthorized Disclosure Of Intimate Images Act

Uniform civil remedies for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images act. The act creates the "Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act". An individual whose body is shown in whole or in part in an intimate image and who has suffered harm from a person's intentional disclosure or threatened disclosure of that intimate image without the depicted individual's consent has a cause of action against that person if the person knew: The depicted individual did not consent to the disclosure; The intimate image was private; and The depicted individual was identifiable. The act provides an exception to the civil action if the disclosure is made in good faith under various circumstances or if the person disclosing the image is a parent or guardian and has not disclosed the image for purposes of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, humiliation, degradation, or monetary or commercial gain. A successful plaintiff may recover: The greater of: Economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the defendant's disclosures or threatened disclosures, including damages for emotional distress whether or not accompanied by other damages; or Statutory damages not to exceed $10,000 against each defendant found liable for all disclosures or threatened disclosures by the defendant; An amount equal to the gain made by the defendant from disclosure of the intimate image if applicable; Punitive damages; Reasonable attorney fees and costs; and Additional relief, including injunctive relief. The civil action has a 6-year statute of limitation. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-08 · Senate

Colorado Mountain College And Direct Grants Annexation

Colorado mountain college - authorization for baccalaureate degree program - local college district annexations - funding. The act changes the role and mission of Colorado mountain college from authorizing no more than 5 baccalaureate degree programs, as determined by its board, to authorizing a limited number of baccalaureate degree programs, as determined by its board. Colorado mountain college should confer with regional education providers to determine the feasibility of cooperative delivery of new bachelor's programs in adjacent localities. If a local college district annexes a school district or group of school districts into the local college district, for at least 5 years after annexation, the act requires the Colorado commission on higher education to consider annually recommending increases to the direct grant amount appropriated to a local college district to reflect increases in resident enrollment. Prior to recommending the increase, the commission shall consult the affected local college district. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-05 · House

Agriculture Commissioner Farm Produce Safety

Food safety - produce - regulation - continuation under sunset law. The act establishes a state law to implement federal regulations regarding produce safety on farms. To implement this, the act: Authorizes the commissioner of agriculture to enter into a cooperative agreement with the United States food and drug administration and seek, accept, and expend federal funds; Authorizes the commissioner to cease implementing the state law if the commissioner does not receive adequate federal funding; Requires farms that are subject to federal law, selling more than approximately $25,000 of produce annually on average over a 3-year period, to register with the commissioner; Requires the commissioner to promulgate rules adopting 21 CFR 112, concerning produce safety, and gives the commissioner rule-making authority to administer the act; Authorizes the commissioner to enter farms and farm facilities during regular business hours to implement or enforce the act if the commissioner obtains consent from the farm or an administrative search warrant; Authorizes the commissioner to inspect records during regular business hours to implement or enforce the act and to subpoena witnesses and records; Authorizes the commissioner to issue cease-and-desist orders; Prohibits an officer, employee, or agent of the commissioner from misusing information gained during the course of the person's duties under the act; Authorizes the commissioner to impose administrative penalties; If requested, requires the commissioner to hold a hearing to issue a cease-and-desist order or impose an administrative penalty, and this process is subject to judicial review; Authorizes the commissioner to enforce cease-and-desist orders and administrative penalties in court; and Repeals these provisions in 2034, but requires a sunset review before the repeal.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-04 · House

Protect Water Quality Adverse Mining Impacts

Hard rock mining - mined land reclamation board - reclamation plan - water quality treatment - financial assurance. Current law does not address reliance on perpetual water treatment as the means to minimize impacts to water quality in a reclamation plan for a mining operation. Section 1 of the act requires most reclamation plans to demonstrate, by substantial evidence, a reasonably foreseeable end date for any water quality treatment necessary to ensure compliance with applicable water quality standards. Current law allows a mining permittee to submit an audited financial statement as proof that the operator has sufficient funds to meet its reclamation liabilities in lieu of a bond or other financial assurance. Section 2 eliminates this self-bonding option and also requires that all reclamation bonds include financial assurances in an amount sufficient to protect water quality, including costs for any necessary treatment and monitoring costs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-04 · House

Correcting The Definition Of Police Working Horse

Current law prohibits cruelty to certain animals, including a certified police working horse. However, there is no certification process for police working horses. The bill clarifies this by removing the term "certified" from the definition of police working horse and revises the definition accordingly. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-04 · House

Five-year Review Of Higher Education Funding Formula

Commission duties - funding formulas - 5-year reviews. The act requires the Colorado commission on higher education (commission) to conduct a review of the funding formula for institutions of higher education every 5 years and to submit a report on recommended changes to specified committees of the general assembly on or before November 1 of the year in which the review was conducted. It also specifies certain steps that the commission shall take in conducting the review.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-04 · Senate

Additions To Definition Of Sexual Contact

Sex offenses - sexual contact definitions. The act adds the following conduct to the definition of sexual contact for the purposes of defining sex crimes: The knowing emission or ejaculation of seminal fluid onto any body part of the victim or the clothing covering any body part of the victim; and Knowingly causing semen, blood, urine, feces, or a bodily substance to contact any body part of the victim or the clothing covering any body part of the victim if that contact is for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-04 · House

Nurse Practitioner Workers' Compensation

Advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority - workers' compensation - ability to obtain level I accreditation. The act allows an advanced practice nurse with prescriptive authority to obtain level I accreditation under the "Workers' Compensation Act of Colorado".(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-04 · House

Reclaimed Domestic Wastewater Point Of Compliance

Water quality - water quality control commission - reclaimed domestic wastewater - point of compliance. In 2018, the general assembly authorized the use of reclaimed domestic wastewater for irrigation of food crops and industrial hemp and for toilet flushing if, at the point of compliance in the water treatment process, the reclaimed domestic wastewater met certain water quality standards. The act authorizes the water quality control commission (commission) to adopt rules requiring a point of compliance for disinfection residual related to the treatment process for reclaimed domestic wastewater used for toilet flushing within a building where the general public can access the plumbing fixtures used to deliver the reclaimed domestic wastewater. If the commission adopts the rules, the rules must establish a point of compliance for disinfection residual at a single location between where reclaimed domestic wastewater is delivered to the occupied premises and before the water is distributed for use in the occupied premises. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-04 · House

Early Childhood Development Special District

Early childhood development service districts - creation - powers and duties. The act authorizes the creation of early childhood development service districts (districts) to provide services for children from birth through 8 years of age. Early childhood development services are defined to include early care and educational, health, mental health, and developmental services, including prevention and intervention. Districts are authorized to seek voter approval to levy property taxes and sales and use taxes in the district to generate revenues to provide early childhood development services. The district must be organized pursuant to the "Special District Act" as modified by the act. All eligible electors in the proposed district, rather than only property owners, are able to vote on the organization of the district and related ballot issues. The service plan for a proposed district is not required to be submitted to the planning commission for each county in which the special district is proposed to be located, and instead is submitted directly to the board of county commissioners (board) for such counties. In addition, the board is not allowed accept or act upon the request of a person owning property in the proposed service area to have his or her property excluded from the special district. The court conducting a hearing for the petition is also directed to not accept or act upon such a petition to exclude property from the district. The districts are governed by the "Special District Act"; except that they are not subject to provisions concerning the inclusion or exclusion of property, procedures for the levy and collection of taxes, the certification and notice of special district taxes for general obligation indebtedness, property tax reduction agreements, and public improvement contracts. A district is authorized to contract with or work with another district or other provider of early childhood development services to provide services throughout the district. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-03 · House

Equal Pay Day

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Last action: 2019-04-03 · House

Sunset Standing Efficiency Accountability Committee

Sunset Process - Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. The bill implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies to sunset the standing efficiency accountability committee.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-03 · Senate

Limit Encryption Of Dispatch Radio Communications

The bill requires each entity of the state government and each entity of the government of each city, county, and city and county, including special districts, (governmental entity) to broadcast its dispatch radio communications without encryption such that the communications may be monitored by commercially available radio receivers and scanners or online; except that: A governmental entity may encrypt all tactical radio communications or investigative radio communications so long as the encryption is necessary to preserve the tactical integrity of an operation, protect the safety of law enforcement officers or other emergency responders, or prevent the destruction of property; and An investigative unit of a governmental entity engaged in the investigation of criminal conduct or potential criminal conduct may encrypt its radio communications. The bill does not restrict the encryptions of the department of corrections or the division of youth services within the department of human services. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-03 · House

Equal Pay Day

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Last action: 2019-04-02 · Senate

Child Abuse Prevention Month

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Last action: 2019-04-02 · Senate

Repeal The Death Penalty

The bill repeals the death penalty in Colorado for offenses charged on or after July 1, 2019, and makes conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-02 · Senate

Medical Marijuana Condition Autism

Medical marijuana - disabling medical conditions - autism spectrum disorders. The act adds autism spectrum disorders to the list of disabling medical conditions that authorize a person to use medical marijuana for his or her condition. Under current law, a child under 18 years of age who wants to be added to the medical marijuana registry for a disabling medical condition must be diagnosed as having a disabling medical condition by 2 physicians, one of whom must be a board-certified pediatrician, a board-certified family physician, or a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist who attests that he or she is part of the patient's primary care provider team. The act removes the additional requirements on specific physicians to align with the constitutional provisions for a debilitating medical condition. The act states if the recommending physician is not the patient's primary care physician, the recommending physician shall review the records of a diagnosing physician or a licensed mental health provider acting within its scope of practice. The act encourages the state board of health, when awarding marijuana study grants, to prioritize grants to gather objective scientific research regarding the efficacy and the safety of administering medical marijuana for pediatric conditions, including but not limited to autism spectrum disorder. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-02 · House

16-year-olds Voting School District Elections

The bill allows a person who is preregistered to vote in school district elections beginning at 16 years of age. A school district election is defined as an election to recall a school district officer or an election called under title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, including elections for: The state board of education; School district officers; Referred measures to impose or increase mill levies or to raise and expend property taxes; Referred measures relating to the organization of or plan of representation for school districts; and Referred measures related to the financial obligations and indebtedness of school districts. A preregistrant's voter information is required to be kept confidential. When a person preregisters, they must receive information concerning their eligibility to vote in school district elections, how to update their preregistration information and obtain and cast a ballot, and their confidential status and actions that could cause their information to become public even while in confidential status. A preregistrant is automatically registered to vote in all elections upon turning age 18. Individuals committed to juvenile detention facilities must be given information about their right to preregister and vote in school district elections. A preregistrant can circulate and sign petitions to nominate or recall a school district officer or to initiate an election under title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes. A preregistrant cannot run for office or be appointed to fill a vacancy. If a juvenile is charged with an election offense and no other crime is charged, the juvenile court is prohibited from transferring the charge to a district court. For any election in which preregistrants are eligible to vote and in which the county clerk and recorder has responsibilities for the election, the state is required to reimburse the county for the direct costs associated with ballots sent to preregistrants. The school district's share of the costs of the election in a cost-sharing agreement must be reduced by the amount of the state's reimbursement. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2021, and applies to elections conducted on or after that date. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-02 · House

Freedom To Vote Act

If a major political party charges a delegate or alternate to a party assembly a fee or other cost to participate in the party assembly, the bill requires the major political party to waive the fee or charge, without further inquiry, upon request of a delegate or alternate. The bill specifies that a delegate or alternate's inability to pay such fee or charge shall not prevent his or her participation in the party assembly. In addition, the bill requires major political parties to notify electors at party caucuses that electors who are chosen to be delegates or alternates to any party assembly are not required to pay any fee or other charge to participate in the party assembly.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-01 · House

Severance Tax Operational Fund Distribution Methodology

Severance tax operational fund - distribution - core departmental programs - natural resources and energy grant programs - reserve requirement - cap - transfer to the severance tax perpetual base fund. The act makes the following changes related to the distribution of the money in the severance tax operational fund (operational fund): Defines programs for the department of natural resources that are funded from the operational fund and that were known as "tier-one programs" as "core departmental programs"; Defines transfers that are made after the core departmental programs and a reserve requirement are funded and were known as "tier-two programs" as "transfers to the natural resources and energy grant programs"; Separates an existing reserve into 2 separate reserves, the core reserve and the grant program reserve, while maintaining the overall purpose of each reserve; Establishes a cap on the grant program reserve equal to the maximum transfers to the natural resources and energy grant programs required by law; Requires the state treasurer to make the transfers to the natural resources and energy grant programs on August 15 after a fiscal year and to base the transfers on actual revenue as opposed to estimated revenue; Permits money from the grant program reserve to be used for the transfers to the natural resources and energy grant programs; and If all of the appropriations and transfers have been made and both reserves are full, then requires the state treasurer to transfer any money remaining in the operational fund to the severance tax perpetual base fund.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-01 · Senate

Legalizing Minors' Businesses

Prohibition on local government requiring license or permit for a business operated on an occasional basis by a minor - minor business must be located sufficient distance from commercial entity - general police powers still apply. The act prohibits any county, municipality, or city and county (local government) or any agency of a local government from requiring a license or permit for a business that is: Operated on an occasional basis by a minor (a person under the age of 18 years); and Located a sufficient distance from a commercial entity, determined by the local government, that is required to obtain a permit or license from the local government or an agency of the local government to prevent the minor's business from becoming a direct economic competitor of the commercial entity. The act defines "occasional basis" to mean the business does not operate more than 84 days in any one calendar year. The act specifies that it does not prohibit a local government from enacting and enforcing local laws under the local government's general police power in regard to the manner in which a business may be conducted by a minor with the exception of a requirement that the minor obtain a permit or license prior to engaging in the business. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-01 · Senate

Expand Disclosure Electioneering Communications

Electioneering communications - disclosure during period between primary and general election - disclaimer requirement. The state constitution defines an "electioneering communication" to mean certain communication that unambiguously refers to a candidate that is disseminated to the public within 30 days before a primary election or within 60 days before a general election. For purposes of campaign finance disclosure, the act expands the definition of this term in the "Fair Campaign Practices Act" to include any communication that satisfies all other requirements of the definition of the term specified in the state constitution but that is broadcast, printed, mailed, delivered, or distributed between the primary election and the general election. The act also requires any person who expends $1,000 or more per calendar year on electioneering communications or regular biennial school electioneering communications to state in the communication the name of the person making the communication in accordance with existing statutory requirements for communication constituting an independent expenditure. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-04-01 · Senate

Local Governments May Regulate Nicotine Products

Regulation of cigarettes, tobacco products, or nicotine products - local government regulation - state cigarette tax revenue apportionment to local governments - local governments' special sales taxes. Sections 1, 2, and 4 of the act authorize a county to enact a resolution or ordinance that prohibits a minor from possessing or purchasing cigarettes, tobacco products, or nicotine products. Sections 1 and 2 also authorize a county to impose regulations on cigarettes, tobacco products, or nicotine products that are more stringent than statewide regulations, including prohibiting sales to a person under 21 years of age, and section 4 expressly authorizes a county to enact a resolution or ordinance regulating the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, or nicotine products to minors. Section 3 expressly authorizes a statutory or home rule city or town to enact an ordinance regulating the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, or nicotine products to minors. From state income tax money, the state currently apportions an amount equal to 27% of state cigarette tax revenues to cities, towns, and counties in proportion to the amount of state sales tax revenues collected within their boundaries. In order to receive their allocation of this money, cities, towns, and counties are prohibited from imposing their own fees, licenses, or taxes on cigarette sales or from attempting to impose a tax on cigarettes. Section 5 removes this prohibition with respect to fees or licenses that a city, town, or county imposes or with respect to a tax that a city, town, or county attempts to impose, thus allowing cities, towns, and counties to impose fees or licenses or to attempt to impose taxes on cigarette sales without losing their apportioned state cigarette tax revenues. A city, town, or county that successfully imposes a tax on cigarette sales loses its apportioned state cigarette tax revenues. Section 6 authorizes a statutory or home rule city or town, city and county, or county, if approved by a vote of the people within the statutory or home rule city or town, city and county, or county, to impose a special sales tax on the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, or nicotine products. Section 6 also provides a mechanism by which a county's special sales tax applies to a municipality within the boundary of the county unless the municipality, if approved by a vote of the people within the municipality, enacts its own such special sales tax; however, the county and municipality may then enter into an intergovernmental agreement authorizing the county to continue to levy, collect, and enforce its special sales tax within the corporate limits of the municipality.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-03-28 · House

Expand Teacher Cadet Program Include Early Childhood Education

Teacher cadet program - early childhood education. The act clarifies that high school students who are interested in early childhood education may participate in the teacher cadet program in high schools.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-03-28 · House

Repeal Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment Preparation Operational Planning

State board of health - preparation of department operational planning - repeal. The act repeals the requirement that the state board of health comply with certain statutory requirements concerning the preparation of operational planning functions as if the state board were the executive director of the department of public health and environment.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-03-28 · House

Advance Behavioral Health Orders Treatment

Advance behavioral health orders for scope of treatment form. Under current law, an adult may establish advance medical orders for scope of treatment, allowing an adult to establish directives for the administration of medical treatment in the event the adult later lacks decisional capacity to provide informed consent to, withdraw from, or refuse medical treatment. The act creates a similar order for behavioral health orders for scope of treatment so that an adult may communicate his or her behavioral health history, decisions, and preferences. The act: Lists the requirements for a behavioral health orders for scope of treatment form; Details the duties and immunities of emergency medical services personnel, health care providers, and health care facilities with respect to treating an adult with behavioral health orders for scope of treatment; Details how a behavioral health orders for scope of treatment form is executed, amended, or revoked; and Prohibits an effect on a health insurance contract, life insurance contract, or annuity, by executing or failing to execute a behavioral health orders for scope of treatment.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-03-28 · House

Water Rights Easements

Property - rights-of-way and ditches - extent of right-of-way. The act clarifies that a ditch right-of-way, unless expressly inconsistent with the terms upon which the right-of-way was created, includes the right to construct, operate, clean, maintain, repair, and replace the ditch, to improve the efficiency of the ditch, including by lining or piping the ditch, and to enter onto the burdened property for such purposes, with access to the ditch banks, as the exigencies then existing may require, for all reasonable and necessary purposes related to the ditch.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-03-28 · House

Change Maximum Criminal Penalty One Year To 364 Days

Criminal sentencing - misdemeanors and municipal violations - change maximum penalty from one year to 364 days. Under current law, the maximum sentence for a class 2 misdemeanor, level 2 drug misdemeanor, a misdemeanor without a fixed statutory penalty, and a municipal ordinance violation is one year. The act changes the maximum sentence to 364 days.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-03-28 · House