SB 25-039: Agricultural Buildings Exempt from Energy Use Requirements - Colorado

Rerevised (03/11/2025) → Revised (03/10/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated from a 'Rerevised' version to a 'Revised' version, indicating it has been amended during the second reading in the Senate. The most significant change is the reduction of House sponsors from 14 representatives to just Martinez and Johnson, suggesting a narrowing of bipartisan support or a procedural adjustment in the House. No substantive policy changes to the bill's content, scope, or requirements are visible in this markup.

TECHNICAL

The bill's status label changed from 'REREVISED' to 'REVISED', and the amendment history note was updated to specify amendments were adopted on second reading in the Second House.

The '3rd Reading Unamended' date stamp for March 11, 2025, was removed from the header.

Ten House sponsors (McCormick, Bird, Clifford, Duran, Gonzalez R., Keltie, Lieder, Lindsay, Marshall, McCluskie, Soper, Titone) were removed from the House sponsorship list, leaving only Martinez and Johnson.

PA1 (03/04/2025) → Rerevised (03/11/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill clarifies the definition of 'agricultural building' for energy reporting exemptions by explicitly including hay and unprocessed grain in the definition. It also adds a new exclusion stating that agricultural implements used primarily for rent or sale are not covered under the exemption. These changes ensure the exemption applies more clearly to storage facilities for farm products while preventing commercial equipment dealerships from claiming the exemption.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include hay and unprocessed grain in the definition of agricultural buildings, and the scope was narrowed by excluding implements primarily for rent or sale from the exemption.

DEFINITION

Added 'hay' and 'unprocessed grain' to the definition of agricultural buildings to clarify which storage facilities qualify for energy reporting exemptions.

Reorganized the definition structure to better separate the definition of agricultural implements from the covered building exclusions.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new provision stating that agricultural implements primarily for rent or sale are excluded from the agricultural building exemption, preventing commercial equipment dealerships from claiming the exemption.

Final Act (03/19/2025) → PA1 (03/04/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill clarifies and expands exemptions from energy use reporting requirements for agricultural buildings in Colorado. The changes define agricultural buildings more precisely to exclude those used for selling or renting equipment, and clarify that agricultural buildings are explicitly excluded from the 'covered building' definition requiring energy benchmarking.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on energy reporting exemptions for agricultural buildings, but the definition of what qualifies as an agricultural building has been refined to exclude buildings used for renting or selling agricultural implements.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'agricultural building' was modified to specify that agricultural implements housed must not be for sale or rent, narrowing the scope of what qualifies.

Added explicit exclusion of agricultural buildings from the 'covered building' definition in the energy benchmarking statute.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the exemption language to clarify that agricultural building owners may submit for affirmative exemption from energy reporting requirements.

Signed Act (03/28/2025) → Final Act (03/19/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends Colorado Revised Statutes 25-7-142 to clarify exemptions from energy benchmarking requirements for agricultural buildings. The changes correct a spelling error in the definition of 'agricultural purposes' and add a blank line for the Governor's signature, while maintaining the core exemption for agricultural building owners.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; only minor text corrections and formatting adjustments.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a spelling error changing 'purposcs' to 'purposes' in the definition of excluded building types.

Added a blank line for the Governor's signature block, indicating the bill is ready for final execution.

Adjusted spacing and formatting in the bill header and sponsor lists to align with final act standards.

Reengrossed (02/12/2025) → Signed Act (03/28/2025) · 4 edits · Mar 28, 2025

MODERATE

This bill clarifies that agricultural buildings are exempt from Colorado's energy benchmarking reporting requirements, ensuring farmers and agricultural operators are not burdened with compliance costs for facilities used to store or process agricultural products. The amendment adds a specific definition for 'agricultural building' and creates a formal exemption process for these structures under the state's energy reporting laws. This change protects agricultural operations from unnecessary regulatory overhead while maintaining energy efficiency standards for other building types.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include agricultural buildings as a category exempt from energy use reporting requirements, whereas the original version did not clearly define this exemption.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'agricultural building' as a structure used to house agricultural implements, hay, unprocessed grain, poultry, livestock, or other agricultural products or inputs.

Modified the definition of 'covered building' to explicitly exclude agricultural buildings as a separate category from other manufacturing and industrial exemptions.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an explicit exemption for agricultural buildings from the covered building energy reporting requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Established a formal exemption process requiring owners to submit an affirmative exemption request that remains valid until ownership changes or the building ceases to qualify as agricultural.

Engrossed (02/11/2025) → Reengrossed (02/12/2025) · 3 edits · Feb 12, 2025

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed after the House of Introduction adopted additional amendments, expanding the Senate sponsorship list from four to fourteen sponsors. This procedural change reflects increased bipartisan support and does not alter the substantive policy provisions of the bill.

TECHNICAL

Four additional sponsors (Bright, Carson, Catlin, Coleman, Frizell, Jodeh, Kirkmeyer, Lundeen, Pelton R.) were added to the Senate sponsorship list.

The bill header was updated from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' to reflect that amendments were adopted during the House of Introduction stage.

A note was added indicating the bill passed third reading unamended on February 12, 2025, with a link to the updated bill summary.

Introduced (01/08/2025) → Engrossed (02/11/2025) · 3 edits · Feb 12, 2025

MINOR

This bill was amended to clarify that agricultural buildings are exempt from energy use reporting requirements. The change adds specific language to ensure owners of agricultural buildings are not required to report energy data to the Colorado Energy Office. This clarification prevents confusion about whether agricultural facilities fall under the existing reporting rules for large buildings.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed to explicitly exclude agricultural buildings from energy reporting requirements, whereas the original version did not clearly specify this exemption.

ELIGIBILITY

Added language clarifying that agricultural buildings are not covered buildings and are therefore exempt from energy use reporting requirements.

TITLE

Changed the bill title from 'exemptions from energy use reporting requirements for owners of certain buildings' to 'exemptions from energy use reporting requirements for owners of agricultural buildings' to better reflect the specific focus of the legislation.

TECHNICAL

Added 'Engrossed' status and amendment dates to the document header, indicating the bill has been amended and adopted by the House of Introduction.

Agricultural Buildings Exempt from Energy Use Requirements

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