Colorado 2025 Bills

State Funding for Colorado School of Mines Capital Construction Costs

Senate Bill 26-183 is a Colorado state law that allows the state treasurer to provide up to $13 million in funding for the Colorado School of Mines to renovate Guggenheim Hall. This money will help cover critical building system upgrades and related costs, with the state paying back the loan over time through annual payments not exceeding $17.5 million. Since the bill has been signed into law, it means that the funds can now be used for the renovation project as planned.

Last action: 2026-04-29 · Senate

Barre & Pilates Teacher Training Regulatory Exemptions

Senate Bill 26-173, which has been signed into law, exempts barre and Pilates teacher training programs from being regulated under the Private Occupational Education Act of 1981. This means that individuals and organizations offering these types of fitness instructor courses won't have to follow certain regulations set by this act. The bill affects anyone involved in teaching or running barre and Pilates training programs, making it easier for them to operate without additional regulatory requirements. Since the bill has been signed, it is now law and its provisions are in effect.

Last action: 2026-04-21 · Senate

Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act Testing Entities

HB 26-1417, also known as the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act Testing Entities bill, expands the definition of "testing entity" to include any person, business, or government agency that offers exams or courses related to education, professional, or trade purposes. This means these entities must provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities, such as offering accessible testing locations or alternative arrangements, if those individuals meet the requirements for accommodation. The bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now enforceable and will affect anyone involved in administering exams or courses that lead to educational credentials, professional licenses, certifications, or trade qualifications in Colorado.

Last action: 2026-04-20 · House

Adding Repeal Dates for Certain Higher Education Programs

House Bill 26-1371, which has been signed into law, plans to end several higher education programs and funding sources in Colorado. Specifically, it will stop the multidisciplinary health-care provider access training program, the career pathways program, and the career and technical education and apprenticeship programs alignment by June 30, 2028. Additionally, fee-for-service contract funding for cybersecurity, distributed ledger technologies, and the food systems advisory council will end on June 30, 2026. This bill affects students, educators, and professionals involved in these programs and funding areas. Since it has been signed, these changes are set to take effect as scheduled unless further action is taken by lawmakers.

Last action: 2026-04-02 · House

Eliminate Limited Gaming Fund Transfer

House Bill 26-1368, which has been signed into law, stops a yearly transfer of $2.1 million from Colorado's limited gaming fund to the innovative higher education research fund. This change means that money intended for higher education research will no longer come from this specific gaming fund starting in the next fiscal year. The bill affects both the state’s gaming industry and institutions involved in higher education research, as it alters how funds are allocated between these sectors. Since the bill is signed, it has become law and the transfer of funds will cease as planned.

Last action: 2026-04-02 · House

Appropriations to Auraria Higher Education Center

HB 26-1372 is a bill that extends existing requirements for how money appropriated by the state to the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) must be used. These rules ensure that funds are spent according to agreements made between AHEC and its member institutions, and they will now apply until July 1, 2027, instead of ending in 2026 as previously planned. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these requirements are now legally binding for another year. This affects the operations funding for higher education at Auraria and ensures continued financial stability and adherence to agreements among its institutions.

Last action: 2026-04-02 · House

Colorado National Guard Tuition Waiver Funding

HB 26-1386 changes how Colorado pays for tuition waivers for members of the National Guard. Instead of the state covering all costs directly, colleges and universities will now cover any remaining tuition after scholarships or financial aid are applied, and then the state will reimburse these institutions for half of what they pay. This means that both the state and the schools share the cost of supporting National Guard members who want to go to college in Colorado. The bill has been signed into law, so it is now official policy.

Last action: 2026-04-02 · House

Higher Education Funding Allocation Model Changes

House Bill 26-1345, which has been signed into law, changes how Colorado funds its state universities starting from the 2027-28 fiscal year. The bill updates the way funding is calculated by renaming "performance funding" to "results-informed funding," changing some of the criteria used for this funding, and altering the order in which different types of funding are considered. This affects how Colorado's public universities receive state money and could influence their operations and priorities moving forward. Since it has been signed, the changes will be implemented as planned.

Last action: 2026-03-31 · House

Unified Postsecondary Talent Development System

House Bill 26-1317, known as the Unified Postsecondary Talent Development System, aims to create a committee that will integrate and oversee higher education and workforce development programs in Colorado. This committee will start meeting by July 1, 2026, and must submit a plan to combine various offices and functions under the Department of Higher Education by November 1, 2026. The bill also plans to rename the executive director position of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as part of these changes, effective July 1, 2028. Since the bill has been signed into law, it will now move forward with its implementation timeline.

Last action: 2026-03-04 · House

Missing Person Training & Higher Education Reporting

Senate Bill 26-120, which has been signed into law, requires police officers in Colorado to receive training on missing person alerts. It also mandates that colleges and universities conduct a wellness check for up to six hours if a student is reported missing or immediately contact local law enforcement if there's any risk to the student’s safety. This bill affects both peace officers seeking certification and higher education institutions, ensuring better protocols are in place to handle cases of missing students. Since it has been signed into law, these requirements are now enforceable rules that institutions and police departments must follow.

Last action: 2026-02-23 · Senate

Sunset Process Forest Health Council

House Bill 26-1184 is a Colorado law that extends the existence of the Colorado Forest Health Council until September 1, 2033. The bill also requires a review before it ends and removes two legislative members from the council. This means the council will continue its work to improve forest health without interruption for at least another decade, but with a smaller group of lawmakers involved. Since the bill has been signed into law, the changes are now in effect.

Last action: 2026-02-09 · House

Modify Fourth-Year Innovation Pilot Program

House Bill 26-1176 modifies a Colorado program that helps students who graduate early from high school with funding for college. The bill stops the state from giving money to schools for these students graduating in the 2025-26 academic year and instead requires those students to start their postsecondary education by December 31, 2026. It also removes the requirement for a final evaluation report on how well the program worked. The bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now official state policy and affects eligible high school graduates and their schools.

Last action: 2026-02-06 · House

College Opportunity Fund Working Group

HB 26-1093 establishes a working group in Colorado to explore how incarcerated individuals can access the College Opportunity Fund, which provides financial support for higher education. The group will look into whether changes are needed in contracts between educational institutions and the state to make this possible. Once their work is complete, they must report back with their findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026. Since the bill has been signed, it's now official policy, though the working group hasn't started its activities yet.

Last action: 2026-02-03 · House

Off-Campus Courses & Concurrent Enrollment Programs

House Bill 26-1078, which has been signed into law, allows off-campus college courses offered by higher education institutions to be included in concurrent enrollment programs if they meet certain requirements set by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This change will affect students who take these courses and could provide more opportunities for high school students to earn college credits before graduating. The bill also allocates funding adjustments, setting aside $66,056 from the general fund for the state’s education department while reducing funds for another program by $80,178. Since it has been signed, this law is now in effect and will guide how these programs are administered going forward.

Last action: 2026-02-02 · House

Tuition Waiver for Dependents of Veterans

Senate Bill 26-67, which has now been signed into law, offers free tuition for the children and dependents of disabled veterans who want to attend state colleges or universities in Colorado. This benefit aims to help those whose lives have been impacted by a family member's military disability. The law is designed to support veterans' families financially as they pursue higher education. Since it has been signed, this program is now active and eligible students can start applying for the waived tuition.

Last action: 2026-01-28 · Senate

Changes to Institutions of Higher Education Statutes

Senate Bill 26-78 modifies laws related to Colorado's state universities by changing how fiscal impact information is shared, updating definitions for electric and plumbing work on university campuses, creating a data advisory group to manage institutional data policies, adjusting capital construction project review thresholds, and refining bond requirements for the University of Colorado. This bill affects state institutions of higher education and their governing boards. Since it has been signed into law, these changes are now in effect and will impact how universities operate regarding financial reporting, building projects, and data management.

Last action: 2026-01-28 · Senate

Nuclear Workforce Development & Education Program

Senate Bill 26-45 establishes a council at the Colorado School of Mines aimed at developing and expanding nuclear engineering education programs. The bill sets up a grant program for colleges and universities to create or enhance degree or certificate programs in nuclear engineering. It requires the council to work with various stakeholders, manage grants, and seek funding from donations and grants. However, the council can start awarding grants only once it has at least $500,000 in its fund. If this amount isn't reached by September 1, 2027, the council will be dissolved. The bill is now signed into law, meaning these provisions are officially enacted and will begin to take effect as specified.

Last action: 2026-01-27 · Senate

Auraria Board Student & Faculty Participation

Senate Bill 26-34 changes how students and faculty are represented on the Auraria Board. It makes student and faculty representatives voting members, allowing them to have a say in decisions. The bill also reduces residency requirements for student board members from three years to one year and increases the size of the faculty advisory committee from six to nine members. This means that both students and faculty will now have more direct influence over how Auraria Higher Education Center is run. Since the status is "signed," this bill has been approved by the governor and is now law.

Last action: 2026-01-26 · Senate

Colorado State University Ordinance Compliance

Senate Bill 26-38, which has been signed into law, requires the Colorado State University system’s board of governors to follow local noise and sign regulations set by cities or counties where university property is located. This means that universities must adhere to rules about loud noises and signage as defined by local governments. The bill affects both the universities within the state system and the communities surrounding them. Since it has been signed, the bill is now law and universities are expected to comply with these local regulations.

Last action: 2026-01-26 · Senate

Thriving Institution Designations for Higher Education

HB 26-1006, also known as the Thriving Institution Designations for Higher Education bill, aims to recognize Colorado higher education institutions that meet certain performance standards. The Department of Higher Education will identify these institutions and notify them if they qualify; then, each institution can decide whether it wants to be officially recognized as a thriving institution. Once an institution agrees, its name is posted on the department’s website and reported to the state legislature. Additionally, an advisory committee will help set standards for recognition and submit reports to support statewide education goals. Since this bill has been signed into law, these processes are now in effect.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · House

Student Representation Commission on Higher Education

HB 26-1029, titled "Student Representation Commission on Higher Education," aims to increase student involvement in higher education by adding two nonvoting student members to the Colorado commission on higher education. One member will represent graduate research universities or four-year institutions, and another will represent community colleges, local district colleges, or area technical colleges. The bill also slightly adjusts the advisory committee's composition but only if a related Senate bill does not pass. Since it has been signed into law, this means that students now have more direct representation in decisions affecting higher education policies in Colorado.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · House