Colorado 2025 Bills

Updated Clean Energy Plan Municipally Owned Utility

Senate Bill 26-182 updates Colorado's Clean Energy Plan for municipally owned utilities, allowing these entities more flexibility if they face challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from their electricity sales by 2030. The bill lets such utilities submit an updated plan to the Department of Public Health and Environment by December 31, 2026, aiming for emission reductions as soon as possible after 2029 but no later than 2032. It also requires these utilities to stop burning coal by the end of 2032 and provide annual reports on their progress. The bill has been signed into law, meaning municipally owned utilities in Colorado now have a clearer path for meeting clean energy goals with extended deadlines if needed.

Last action: 2026-04-28 · Senate

Wind Energy Facilities Light-Mitigating Technology

HB 26-1420 is a Colorado bill that requires new wind energy facilities to install special lights or other technology designed to detect and warn airplanes. These facilities must get approval from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and FCC (Federal Communications Commission) before installing this technology. If these approvals are delayed, local governments can grant extensions of at least 24 months for the facility owners to comply with the requirements. Since the bill has been signed, it is now law and wind energy facilities in Colorado must follow its guidelines.

Last action: 2026-04-21 · House

Financing Utility On-Bill Repayment Program

Senate Bill 26-148 is a law that provides $50 million in low-interest funding from the state's unclaimed property trust fund to the Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) by August 15, 2026. This money will help finance energy upgrades like solar panels or insulation for homes and businesses through their utility bills. The bill also requires the CCEF to submit yearly reports on how this program is being used. This funding aims to make it easier and more affordable for Coloradans to improve their energy efficiency, benefiting both residents and utilities that participate in the program. Since the status of the bill is "signed," it has been approved by the legislature and signed into law by the governor, meaning the provisions will take effect as planned.

Last action: 2026-03-25 · Senate

Development of Thermal Energy Resources

Senate Bill 26-142, titled "Development of Thermal Energy Resources," allows industrial and commercial facilities to sell thermal energy that they recover as a by-product from their main operations. This bill also permits local governments to enter into agreements for thermal energy networks and issue bonds to finance related infrastructure. Additionally, it increases the capacity limit for community geothermal gardens and removes voter approval requirements for certain heating and cooling systems built or acquired by municipalities. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these changes are now in effect.

Last action: 2026-03-19 · Senate

Facilitating Nuclear Energy Development

HB 26-1337, known as the "Facilitating Nuclear Energy Development" bill in Colorado, aims to streamline the process for developing nuclear energy projects by assigning the Colorado Energy Office to coordinate with developers and regulatory agencies. The bill requires large investor-owned electric utilities to engage communities and potential partners to identify suitable sites for nuclear projects by 2035 and start construction by 2040. It also allows these utilities to seek approval from the Public Utilities Commission to spend up to $20 million on studies related to nuclear energy development. The bill is now signed into law, meaning it will be implemented as intended to support the growth of nuclear energy in Colorado.

Last action: 2026-03-17 · House

Sunset Public Utilities Commission

HB 26-1326 is a Colorado bill that extends the Public Utilities Commission's term for another eleven years and updates its operations to improve transparency and efficiency. It allows commission members to discuss cases privately after evidence has been presented but requires final decisions to be made public, and it also permits utilities to use email for communication. The bill includes provisions related to renewable energy standards, utility customer programs, and transportation network companies (TNCs), such as requiring TNCs to prevent driver impersonation and share safety data with the commission. Signed into law, this means its updates are now in effect and will impact how utilities and transportation services operate in Colorado.

Last action: 2026-03-09 · House

Technical Changes to Energy & Carbon Management Statutes

House Bill 26-1303 in Colorado updates existing laws related to energy and carbon management. It changes the requirements for welders working on oil and gas equipment by specifying new exams that are relevant to their work instead of outdated ones. The bill also standardizes terminology used in regulations, replacing "oil and gas operations" with "energy and carbon management operations." This means that the bill has been signed into law and is now active, affecting workers who need certification for welding on energy-related equipment and the regulatory language used by the Energy and Carbon Management Commission.

Last action: 2026-02-27 · House

Requirements for Tenant Utility Billing

HB 26-1284 is a Colorado bill that sets rules for landlords and property managers on how they can charge tenants for utilities. Starting in 2027, new buildings must have individual water meters for each unit, and existing properties can use either submeters or a ratio billing system based on the size of the units to calculate utility costs. Landlords are required to inform tenants about their billing method upfront, and there are penalties if they don't follow these rules correctly. Since it has been signed into law, this bill is now enforceable and will affect all new residential buildings and existing properties that manage utilities for tenants.

Last action: 2026-02-20 · House

Local Government Approval of Transmission Infrastructure

HB 26-1278, also known as the "Local Government Approval of Transmission Infrastructure" bill, requires electric companies to get approval from both the state's Public Utilities Commission and local governments before they can start building high-voltage transmission lines. This means that these companies must first receive a certificate proving their project is necessary for public use and then secure all needed permits from local authorities before taking any legal action to acquire land for construction. The bill has been signed into law, meaning it will now be enforced as part of Colorado's regulations.

Last action: 2026-02-19 · House

Public Utility Notice to Real Property Owner

House Bill 26-1279 requires public utilities in Colorado to notify property owners at least 90 days before starting any new construction or extension that will affect their land. The utility must also publish a notice in local newspapers and hold an in-person public meeting between 30 and 60 days after sending the initial notification. This bill is now signed into law, meaning public utilities are required to follow these steps when planning new projects that impact private property.

Last action: 2026-02-19 · House

Renewable Energy Development on Disturbed Lands

HB 26-1268, titled "Renewable Energy Development on Disturbed Lands," allows local governments to designate specific areas within their jurisdiction as zones for renewable energy and storage projects. These designations must involve public hearings and community engagement, especially with disproportionately impacted communities, and ensure that projects can be approved based on objective standards without needing additional permits. The bill also requires utilities to provide interconnection information within 30 days of a request from project developers or local governments. Additionally, it mandates the Colorado Energy Office to publish and update resources for developing these renewable energy projects online. Since the status is "signed," this means that the governor has approved the bill, making its provisions official law in Colorado. This will affect local governments, utility companies, and communities interested in renewable energy development on disturbed lands.

Last action: 2026-02-19 · House

Manage Emissions from Electric Generating Units

HB 26-1226, a Colorado bill that has been signed into law, aims to reduce harmful emissions from large power plants. It requires these plants to limit their release of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide by installing pollution control systems by the year 2034. The law also mandates regular reporting on emissions and costs for certain utilities if federal orders keep old units running past their retirement dates. This bill affects electric utility companies operating in Colorado, particularly those with large power plants that emit significant amounts of pollutants. Since it has been signed into law, these regulations will now be implemented by the Department of Public Health and Environment to improve air quality across the state.

Last action: 2026-02-18 · House

Consumer-Regulated Electric Utilities

HB 26-1246 is a Colorado bill that allows certain businesses to set up their own electricity systems for their facilities without needing approval from the state's public utilities commission. This applies to new industrial, commercial, and data center buildings that don't already have an electric provider. The bill lets these companies build their power systems in existing public spaces as long as they follow safety rules. Since it has been signed into law, businesses can now start setting up these independent electricity systems according to the guidelines laid out by the legislation.

Last action: 2026-02-18 · House

Distributed Energy Resources Requirements

HB 26-1225, also known as the Distributed Energy Resources Requirements bill, aims to improve community solar programs and streamline interconnection processes for renewable energy systems in Colorado. Starting July 1, 2026, it requires annual adjustments to fixed credits given to subscribers of community solar gardens to keep up with changing electricity rates. Additionally, the bill prevents utility companies from charging customers for interconnection costs until just before those costs are incurred and encourages utilities to work with third parties on studies and upgrades needed for connecting new energy resources. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these changes will take effect as scheduled unless further action is taken.

Last action: 2026-02-18 · House

Correcting Defects in Statutes Administered by Department of Revenue

HB 26-1216 is a bill that fixes some technical errors and outdated references in Colorado’s tax laws managed by the Department of Revenue. It makes sure that taxpayers can correctly claim certain business credits, clarifies how much assistance can be claimed for property taxes or heating expenses based on when the application was made, and removes unnecessary definitions related to electric vehicles from a specific statute. Since it has been signed into law, these corrections are now part of Colorado’s official tax laws and affect anyone who files taxes or applies for tax-related assistance in the state.

Last action: 2026-02-17 · House

Large-Load Data Centers

Senate Bill 26-102, now signed into law in Colorado, sets new rules for large data centers that use a lot of electricity. These centers must generate or buy enough renewable energy to match their total yearly usage starting January 1, 2031, and they need to work with local utilities on long-term contracts to support infrastructure costs. The bill also requires these data centers to report annually on their energy and water consumption and mandates environmental impact studies for those in disadvantaged communities. This law aims to ensure that large data centers are environmentally responsible and do not harm the community or electricity grid reliability.

Last action: 2026-02-11 · Senate

Local Government Renewable Energy Development Fee

Senate Bill 26-82, known as the "Local Government Renewable Energy Development Fee," allows local governments in Colorado to set their own fees and timelines for approving renewable energy projects. It offers two application tracks: a standard track with lower fees but no guaranteed timeline, and an expedited track that charges higher fees but guarantees a decision within 120 days (with partial refunds if delayed). The bill also lets local governments hire outside experts to review applications and requires developers to pay additional success fees based on the time it takes for approval. This bill has been signed into law, meaning local governments can now implement these processes for renewable energy projects.

Last action: 2026-02-06 · Senate

Public Accessibility of Emissions Records

HB 26-1121, which has been signed into law, requires owners or operators of buildings and facilities that emit air pollutants to make their emissions records publicly available on their websites starting January 1, 2028. This means that any entity responsible for a structure that emits air pollution must publish the relevant data online according to state or federal requirements, with updates following the same schedule as those provided to government agencies. The law applies only to records generated from December 1, 2027, onward. This will affect industries and businesses in Colorado that are involved in emitting air pollutants.

Last action: 2026-02-04 · House

Electrical Generation & Distribution Resiliency

HB 26-1124, known as the Electrical Generation and Distribution Resiliency bill, establishes a task force in Colorado to study and improve the state's electric grid resilience. The task force will assess transformers across the state, develop plans for hardening the grid, and recommend funding methods and regulations to enhance reliability. This affects electricity transmission companies which must participate in assessments and provide data. Since the bill has been signed into law, these measures are now set to be implemented with regular reports to legislative committees until 2031 when the task force will dissolve.

Last action: 2026-02-04 · House

Gas Utility Service

House Bill 26-1129, also known as the Gas Utility Service bill, requires gas companies in Colorado to exclude carbon dioxide emissions from residential customers when creating their clean heat plans. This means that these utilities won't have to account for the CO₂ produced by homes using natural gas for heating and other purposes in their emission reduction goals. The bill also allows gas companies to recover costs for safety improvements to their distribution systems and removes a previous restriction on offering incentives to new customers who set up gas service. Since it has been signed, this bill is now law and its provisions are enforceable.

Last action: 2026-02-04 · House

Optimize Colorado Electric Transmission System

HB 26-1081, also known as "Optimize Colorado Electric Transmission System," aims to improve how electricity is transmitted across Colorado by encouraging utilities to use advanced technologies that can make the system more efficient and reliable. The bill requires the state's Public Utilities Commission to create rules for electric companies to plan ahead using these new technologies and suggests ways to lower costs when building new transmission lines. It also updates reporting requirements for a state authority involved in managing electricity transmission, ensuring they provide detailed information about their activities each year. Additionally, it adds a representative from the Public Utilities Commission to the board overseeing this authority. The bill has been signed into law, meaning its provisions are now active and being implemented by relevant agencies.

Last action: 2026-02-02 · House

Clean Energy Permitting Processes

Senate Bill 26-33, known as the Clean Energy Permitting Processes bill, establishes a new Colorado office dedicated to helping developers and local governments navigate the permitting process for clean energy projects. This includes organizing meetings to coordinate permit applications and creating schedules that outline necessary permits and approvals. The bill also requires developers to engage with communities affected by these projects and submit plans addressing safety, emergency preparedness, community benefits, and grid reliability. Signed into law, this means the provisions will take effect starting July 1, 2027, helping streamline the development of clean energy facilities across Colorado.

Last action: 2026-01-26 · Senate

Removal of Wind Energy from State Energy Goals

Senate Bill 26-28, which has now been signed into law, removes wind energy from Colorado’s renewable energy goals and clean energy targets. This means that wind energy will no longer be considered as part of the state's efforts to meet its renewable energy requirements. The bill affects how Colorado plans for and incentivizes renewable energy sources going forward, potentially reducing support for wind power projects in the state. Since it has been signed, the law is now in effect and impacts future energy planning and policies in Colorado.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · Senate

Data Center & Utility Modernization

HB 26-1030, also known as the Data Center and Utility Modernization bill, aims to boost data center development in Colorado by creating a new program that offers significant tax incentives for companies building large-scale data centers. To qualify for these benefits, companies must invest at least $250 million within five years, create jobs, meet energy efficiency standards, and comply with labor requirements. The bill also helps utilities adapt to the growing needs of such large customers by allowing them to propose new methods for meeting their demands. Signed into law, this means that data center operators can now apply for tax exemptions and other incentives as outlined in the legislation, potentially leading to significant economic growth and job creation in Colorado.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · House

Energy Affordability

Senate Bill 26-2, known as the "Energy Affordability" bill, aims to help low-income residents by requiring investor-owned electric utilities to offer two programs. The first is a FARE service program that provides basic electricity at reduced rates for income-qualified customers. The second is a Percentage-of-Income Payment Plan (PIPP) program, which caps utility bills at a percentage of the customer's income and covers any excess costs with credits funded by all customers through a PIPP charge on their bills. This bill has been signed into law, meaning these programs will now be implemented to assist eligible residents with their electricity expenses.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · Senate

Improve Customer Use Distributed Energy Resources

HB 26-1007, a Colorado bill that has been signed into law, aims to make it easier for people to use portable solar panels by removing restrictions from electric providers and property covenants. This means customers can install these devices without needing approval from their electricity provider or facing unreasonable limitations set by neighborhood rules. The law also requires utilities to allow customers to own meter collar adapters, which are important for connecting small-scale renewable energy systems to the grid, without demanding additional meters as a condition of interconnection. Overall, this bill supports individuals and communities in adopting more solar power and other distributed energy resources.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · House

Continue Microgrid Community Resilience Grant Program

HB 26-1051 is a Colorado bill that extends a grant program designed to help rural communities build microgrids, which are small-scale power grids that can operate independently of the main electrical grid. This program provides funding for cooperative electric associations and municipally owned utilities to purchase necessary resources for these microgrids, enhancing community resilience against power outages. The bill removes the previous expiration date set for 2026, making the grant program available indefinitely. Since it has been signed into law, this means that rural communities will now have ongoing support to improve their energy reliability and sustainability through microgrid technology.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · House

Challenges Meeting 2030 Emissions Reduction Goals

Senate Bill 26-22 in Colorado allows certain energy companies that are voluntarily or mandatorily working towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030 to inform the state’s Department of Public Health and Environment about any challenges they face. The bill extends the deadline for these entities to report their issues from March 31, 2026, to May 31, 2026. If a cooperative electric association or municipal utility encounters difficulties, it can submit an updated plan by December 31, 2026, with a later target year for achieving the emissions reduction goal without raising electricity rates more than 1.5% annually. The bill has been signed into law and is now in effect.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · Senate