SB 25-055: Youth Involvement in Environmental Justice - Colorado

Rerevised (04/17/2025) → Revised (04/16/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill underwent minor revisions between two versions, primarily involving formatting adjustments to the header and sponsor lists. A substantive change was made to the youth appointment section, clarifying term limits for voting members while adding a specific restriction that youth voting members aged 14 to 21 may serve only a single term.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on youth appointments to a committee, with no change to the overall applicability of the legislation.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific term limit language for youth voting members, restricting them to a single term if appointed between ages 14 and 21, while maintaining the general four-year term structure for other members.

TECHNICAL

Removed several House sponsors from the sponsorship list, reducing the number of co-sponsors.

Updated the revision status header from 'Rerevised' to 'Revised' and adjusted the amendment status description to reflect adoption on second reading.

PA2 (04/11/2025) → Rerevised (04/17/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was re-revised to include all amendments adopted in the Second House, expanding the list of House sponsors and updating committee assignments. Substantive changes include removing a provision that limited youth voting members to a single term and deleting related term length specifications, while adding new House sponsors and updating the bill's reading status to reflect its progression through the legislative process.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on youth involvement in environmental justice, but eligibility rules for youth voting members were modified by removing the single-term limitation for those aged 14-21.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the restriction that youth voting members aged 14-21 could serve only a single term, allowing them to serve up to two terms like other voting members.

REQUIREMENT

Deleted subsections specifying term lengths and appointment rules for youth members, simplifying the appointment structure.

TECHNICAL

Added new House sponsors (Boesenecker, Brown, Carter, Clifford, Froelich, Jackson, Lieder, Lindsay, Mabrey, McCluskie, Rutinel, Sirota, Smith, Stewart K., Story, Valdez, Velasco, Willford) and updated committee assignments.

TIMELINE

Updated bill status markers to reflect 3rd Reading Unamended on April 17, 2025, and Amended 2nd Reading on April 16, 2025.

PA1 (02/28/2025) → PA2 (04/11/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify its title by adding a provision for making an appropriation. The main substantive change involves restructuring how youth members serve on the environmental justice advisory board. Previously, youth members served nonvoting roles, but the amendment now allows them to become voting members after serving one year of their two-year term.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include funding provisions through an appropriation, and the advisory board's composition was modified to include voting youth members.

FISCAL

Added language to the title indicating the bill includes an appropriation for environmental justice initiatives.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed youth advisory board member status from nonvoting to voting after one year of service during their two-year term.

REQUIREMENT

Updated appointment requirements to specify that one voting member must be an individual aged 14 to 21 years old.

Final Act (04/29/2025) → PA1 (02/28/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reorganized to reflect its official passage and committee amendments, with the House adding a summary explaining the bill's purpose. The substantive policy content regarding youth representation on the Environmental Justice Advisory Board remains consistent between versions, establishing a youth voting member (ages 14-21) and a youth nonvoting member to advise on environmental justice issues.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on involving youth in environmental justice through the advisory board structure; no substantive changes to applicability were made.

TECHNICAL

Removed preliminary notes about bill preparation and signatures; added official session headers and committee information.

Reorganized bill structure to match final act format with proper page numbering and section formatting.

SUMMARY

Added a bill summary explaining the bill's purpose and key provisions, including youth board membership and clean energy best practices.

POLICY

Substantive policy provisions regarding youth advisory board composition, terms, and clean energy best practices remain identical to the previous version.

Signed Act (05/20/2025) → Final Act (04/29/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was finalized with minor formatting and text corrections, including the addition of a note about the bill's status for signatures and adjustments to the bill's title and introductory language. The substantive policy content regarding youth involvement in environmental justice and clean energy best practices remains unchanged from the signed version.

TECHNICAL

Added a note indicating the bill is prepared for signatures and directing readers to consult legislative status sheets for Governor action.

Corrected formatting and text in the bill title and introductory sections, including reordering the bill number and sponsor information.

Adjusted spacing and line breaks in the text of the bill, particularly in the appointment timeline section and signature page.

Reengrossed (02/05/2025) → Signed Act (05/20/2025) · 5 edits · May 20, 2025

MODERATE

This bill adds a youth voting member to Colorado's Environmental Justice Advisory Board and creates a new requirement for the Colorado Energy Office to develop best practices for clean energy in schools. The changes expand youth participation in environmental decision-making and establish new guidance for schools adopting clean energy resources.

Scope change

The bill expands the Environmental Justice Advisory Board from 12 to 14 members and adds a new statutory section requiring clean energy best practices for schools.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new youth voting member position (ages 14-22) to the Environmental Justice Advisory Board, initially appointed as a nonvoting member for one year before becoming a voting member.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new requirement for the Colorado Energy Office to develop and post best practices for adopting and financing clean energy resources in schools by December 31, 2025.

Added specific content requirements for the clean energy best practices document, including descriptions of resources and costs, recommended providers, available financing sources, and student resources for developing proposals.

FISCAL

Appropriated $5,042 from the community impact cash fund to the Department of Public Health and Environment for environmental justice program costs.

TIMELINE

Changed the initial youth member appointment deadline from an unspecified date to on or before September 15, 2025, with a repeal provision effective July 1, 2026.

Engrossed (02/04/2025) → Reengrossed (02/05/2025) · 3 edits · Feb 5, 2025

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to include additional Senate sponsors and updated the header to reflect that amendments were adopted in the House of Introduction. The substantive text was amended to remove a specific appointment deadline for the Youth Nonvoting Member, which was previously required to be made on or before September 15.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on youth advisory representation, but the specific timeline for appointing a Youth Nonvoting Member was removed.

TECHNICAL

Added five new Senate sponsors (Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Coleman, Cutter, Exum, Gonzales J., Jaquez Lewis, Jodeh, Kolker, Michaelson Jenet, Sullivan, Weissman) to the sponsorship list.

Updated the document header from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' and added a note indicating the summary applies to the reengrossed version.

TIMELINE

Removed the requirement that the Governor must make the initial appointment of the Youth Nonvoting Member on or before September 15.

Introduced (01/16/2025) → Engrossed (02/04/2025) · 3 edits · Feb 5, 2025

MINOR

The bill was amended to reflect Senate approval, changing the status from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed' and adding the Senate sponsor. The House sponsorship was updated from 'None' to 'Joseph and Bacon'. A new section was added requiring the Colorado Energy Office to develop and post best practices for clean energy resources in schools by December 31, 2025. The bill also includes a repeal provision for a previously added subsection effective July 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a requirement for the Colorado Energy Office to create and publish best practices for clean energy resources in schools.

TECHNICAL

Changed bill status from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed' and updated Senate and House sponsorship information.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the Colorado Energy Office to develop and post best practices for clean energy resources in schools by December 31, 2025.

TIMELINE

Removed a repealed subsection that was set to be repealed effective July 1, 2026.

Youth Involvement in Environmental Justice

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors