HB 25-1245 Colorado House · 2025 Regular Session

Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Improvement Projects in Schools

Summary

The act requires a school district, a charter school, an institute charter school, a board of cooperative services, or the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind (local education provider) to satisfy certain requirements concerning installation, inspection, and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in schools if the local education provider undertakes HVAC infrastructure improvements using money from the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund. The requirements established in the act concern: Ventilation verification assessments, which include assessments of an HVAC system's filtration, ventilation exhaust, economizers, demand control ventilation, air distribution and building pressurization, general maintenance requirements, and operational controls ; The preparation of HVAC assessment reports; The review of HVAC assessment reports by mechanical engineers, who make recommendations regarding necessary repairs and improvements, suggest pathways to reduce emissions, and estimate associated costs; HVAC adjustments, repairs, upgrades, and replacements; and The preparation of HVAC verification reports, which must be maintained for at least 5 years and made available to the public upon request. The act establishes mandatory criteria that an HVAC contractor must satisfy in order to perform work described in the act. A local education provider that undertakes HVAC infrastructure improvements using money from the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund must do so using only contractors on the certified contractor list established by the department of labor and employment, unless the local education provider determines that there were no responsive, eligible subcontractors available to fulfill the mechanical, electrical, or plumbing portions of the contract. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Signed Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Rerevised (04/23/2025) → Revised (04/22/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated from a 'Rerevised' version to a 'Revised' version, indicating that the Senate has adopted amendments on second reading. The substantive content of the legislative declaration remains unchanged, focusing on improving indoor air quality and facility conditions in Colorado schools.

TECHNICAL

Header metadata changed from 'REREVISED' to 'REVISED' with updated text indicating amendments were adopted on second reading in the Second House.

Senate sponsorship list was significantly reduced, removing names of senators who were previously listed as sponsors (Ball, Coleman, Cutter, Exum, Gonzales J., Jodeh, Kolker, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Winter F.).

Reading status changed from '3rd Reading Unamended' dated April 23, 2025 to 'REVISED' dated April 22, 2025, reflecting the bill's progression through the legislative process.

Final Act (05/16/2025) → PA1 (03/10/2025) · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered and restructured from a Final Act version to a preliminary House Bill version with committee amendments. The core legislative intent remains focused on improving school HVAC infrastructure, but the text now includes a detailed bill summary explaining requirements for ventilation assessments, certified contractors, and grant administration. The bill establishes a new statute (22-32-153) that would require school districts using federal or combined federal-state funding for HVAC improvements to use certified contractors and submit verification reports to the state.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on HVAC infrastructure improvements in schools, but the applicability is now more clearly defined to apply specifically when local education providers use federal funding or combined federal-state funding for HVAC improvements. The bill also establishes a new administrative role for the public-private collaboration unit to provide grant writing support and retain 2.5% of awarded funds for administrative costs.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that HVAC contractors must be on a certified contractor list established by the Department of Labor and Employment when using federal or combined federal-state funding.

FISCAL

Added provision transferring money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act cash fund to the unused state-owned real property fund for grant administration.

Added provision authorizing the public-private collaboration unit to retain 2.5% of federal dollars awarded to cover administrative costs.

TECHNICAL

Added detailed bill summary explaining ventilation verification assessments, HVAC assessment reports, mechanical engineer reviews, and periodic inspection requirements.

Removed Final Act formatting notes and signature instructions, converting the document to a preliminary bill version with committee amendments.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for ACCA, ASHRAE, Certified Contractor, Certified TAB Technician, CO2, Department, HVAC, HVAC Assessment Report, International Mechanical Code, ISO/IEC 17024 Personnel Certification Standard, Local Education Provider, Mechanical Engineer, and MERV.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement for HVAC verification reports to be submitted to the state board of education.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 23, 2025 · House Mar 26, 2025

How they voted

22–12

Passed

Total votes 34

Apr 23, 2025

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican12

12 Nay

100% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 3, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Refer Amended to Finance

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced

Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs & Labor

lower

4 primary · 32 co-sponsors