HB 25-1292: Transmission Lines in State Highway Rights-of-Way - Colorado

Revised (05/05/2025) → PA3 (05/05/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill's status changed from a revised version to a pre-amended version, indicating it is now an unofficial draft with committee amendments not yet adopted. The substantive content added new definitions for 'Transmission Developer' to include transmission utilities, the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority, and generation/transmission cooperatives or associations, expanding who can apply to locate high voltage transmission lines within state highway rights-of-way.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded by adding new entities eligible to apply for transmission line placement in state highway rights-of-way through the addition of new definitions.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Transmission Developer' that includes transmission utilities, the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority, and generation/transmission cooperatives or associations.

SCOPE

Clarified that 'Public Highway' does not include public highways operated by a public highway authority under the Public Highway Authority Law.

STATUS

Changed the document status from 'Revised' to 'Preamended', indicating this is an unofficial version with committee amendments not yet adopted on second reading.

Rerevised (05/06/2025) → Revised (05/05/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted and renumbered during revision, with minor header updates indicating the bill's progress through the Senate. No substantive policy changes were made to the bill's scope, definitions, or requirements.

TECHNICAL

Header text was updated from 'REREVISED' to 'REVISED' with a note about amendments adopted on second reading.

Senate sponsor names were removed from the header section.

Page numbering and line numbers were added to the text body.

PA2 (04/10/2025) → Rerevised (05/06/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was re-revised to include all amendments adopted in the Second House, updating the definition of 'high voltage line' to apply to lines with a nominal voltage in excess of 115 kilovolts (previously 69 kilovolts). The bill authorizes a process for transmission developers to locate high voltage lines within state highway rights-of-way, with the Department of Transportation potentially imposing surcharges for co-location.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded by raising the voltage threshold for high voltage lines from 69 kilovolts to 115 kilovolts, allowing more transmission projects to utilize state highway rights-of-way under this process.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'high voltage line' was changed from lines with a nominal voltage in excess of 69 kilovolts to lines with a nominal voltage in excess of 115 kilovolts.

TIMELINE

Added '3rd Reading Unamended' status dated May 6, 2025 in the Senate, indicating the bill passed its final reading without further amendments.

Added 'Amended 2nd Reading' status dated May 5, 2025 in the Senate, showing the bill was amended during its second reading.

ELIGIBILITY

Added Senate sponsorship with multiple sponsors (Winter F., Amabile, Bridges, Cutter, Kipp, Snyder) and joint House sponsorship with Boesenecker and Joseph, Bacon, Lindsay, Marshall, McCluskie, Ricks, Rutinel, Smith.

PA1 (03/27/2025) → PA2 (04/10/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to reorganize committee assignments and clarify the definition of a 'high voltage line' by specifying it must have a nominal voltage in excess of 69 kilovolts. The definition was also expanded to explicitly include supporting structures and accessories necessary for the line. The section structure was renumbered to accommodate these changes.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified by adding a specific voltage threshold (over 69 kilovolts) to the definition of high voltage lines, which determines which transmission lines are subject to the bill's requirements.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'high voltage line' to specify a nominal voltage in excess of 69 kilovolts and added that it includes all supporting structures and accessories necessary for the line.

Reorganized the definitions section by removing the old definition of 'high voltage line' and renumbering subsequent definitions (rule, state highway, transmission developer) to fill the gap.

SCOPE

Moved the bill from the Transportation, Housing & Local Government and Finance committees to the Appropriations committee in the Senate.

Final Act (05/08/2025) → PA1 (03/27/2025) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reorganized and reformatted from a final act version to a pre-amended draft version, with substantive policy changes including the addition of surcharges for transmission developers using state highway rights-of-way, a requirement to study potential transmission corridors through a public-private partnership, and a modified definition of 'high voltage line' that now references a different statutory section. The legislative sponsorship section was also updated to reflect committee assignments and removed the final act signature language.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on allowing high voltage transmission lines within state highway rights-of-way, but the process now includes mandatory surcharges, corridor studies, and a specific priority order for site selection (existing utility corridors first, then state highway rights-of-way, then new utility corridors).

FISCAL

Added requirement for the department of transportation to impose a one-time surcharge for permit costs and an annual use surcharge on transmission developers co-locating high voltage lines.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the Colorado energy office and Colorado electric transmission authority to study state highway corridors through a public-private partnership to identify suitable transmission line locations.

Added requirement that transmission developers must consider site locations in a specific order of priority: existing utility corridors first, state highway rights-of-way second, and new utility corridors last.

Added requirement for the department to provide transmission developers with information on potential future state highway development projects that could impact line placement.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of 'high voltage line' to reference Section 29-7.5-103 (1) instead of providing a full definition within the bill text.

TECHNICAL

Removed final act signature language and formatting notes that were present in the previous version.

Engrossed (04/29/2025) → Reengrossed (04/30/2025) · 3 edits · May 6, 2025

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to add four new co-sponsors to the House and update the bill summary to indicate it is now in its third reading unamended version. The substantive content regarding utility definitions was removed, likely because the bill was amended to address those definitions differently or the section was restructured.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding utility definitions was altered by removing specific categories of entities (independent transmission developers and certain exempted utilities) from the list, suggesting a narrowing or restructuring of which entities the bill applies to.

TECHNICAL

Added four new co-sponsors to the House sponsorship list: Bacon, Lindsay, Marshall, McCluskie, Ricks, Rutinel, and Smith.

Updated the bill summary header to reflect that this is the 'Reengrossed' version with amendments adopted in the House of Introduction, dated April 30, 2025.

DEFINITION

Removed definitions for 'Independent Transmission Developer' and specific entities exempt from the Public Utilities Law (municipally owned utilities, power authorities, and cooperative electric associations) from the bill text.

Introduced (03/03/2025) → Engrossed (04/29/2025) · 3 edits · May 6, 2025

MINOR

The bill was amended to expand eligibility for transmission developers by adding 'Independent Transmission Developers' to the list of qualifying entities. The definition of 'High Voltage Line' was also updated to clarify that it applies to lines co-located longitudinally in highway rights-of-way, while explicitly excluding lines that cross highways. These changes broaden the scope of who can seek to place transmission lines on state highways and clarify the specific conditions under which the co-location rules apply.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include independent transmission developers (entities not owned by public or investor-owned utilities) in addition to existing transmission utilities and cooperatives.

ELIGIBILITY

Added 'Independent Transmission Developer' as a new eligible entity type for co-locating high voltage lines in state highway rights-of-way.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'High Voltage Line' to specify it must be co-located longitudinally in a state highway right-of-way and explicitly excluded lines that cross highways.

Added a new category (V) to the 'Transmission Developer' definition to include entities that have voted to exempt themselves from the Public Utilities Law.

Transmission Lines in State Highway Rights-of-Way

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