Current law prohibits a person licensed to sell alcohol beverages at the retail level (licensee) from selling, serving, or distributing malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. The bill allows a licensee to allow customers to consume malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on the licensed premises if the licensee: Stops selling malt, vinous, or spiritous liquors and closes out all open charges no later than 2:30 a.m.; and Removes all purchased malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors from the consumption area of the licensed premises no later than 3 a.m. The bill only applies to a licensee if the county, city and county, or municipality that the licensee is operating within adopts a law opting into the application of the bill to their jurisdiction. The local law may be more strict than the bill. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
In Colorado's wildlife statutes, the legislative declaration commits the state to use hunting, trapping, and fishing as the primary methods of effecting wildlife harvests. The bill requires the parks and wildlife commission to use the best available wildlife and ecological science to adopt rules that benefit wildlife, whole ecosystem health, and all Coloradans. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill makes the owner or person in control of a property who prohibits persons from bringing arms of self-defense onto the property liable for damages for harm suffered by a person while on the property that could have been prevented by the person if the person had the person's arm of self-defense. The bill waives sovereign immunity in an action for harms under the conditions described in the bill against a public entity that owns or controls property.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill authorizes a fire station, hospital, or community clinic emergency center (authorized facility) to install a newborn safety device on its premises for parents who voluntarily relinquish their child who is 60 days old or younger. A newborn safety device must be installed in a conspicuous location at the authorized facility and be equipped with a dual alarm system. An authorized facility that installs a newborn safety device is responsible for the cost of the installation and maintenance, shall ensure the dual alarm system is functioning, and shall make information available to the relinquishing parent. Under current law, parents can voluntarily relinquish their child if the child is less than 72 hours old. The bill allows voluntary relinquishment up to 60 days. The bill makes conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill prohibits an individual, corporation, association, organization, state-supported institution, or individual employed by any of these entities from procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, or performing a surgical procedure, or providing other medical or mental health services to a minor without written or verbal consent from the minor's parent. Parental consent is not required if the minor is in the custody of a county department of human or social services or the division of youth services, in a medical emergency situation, or there is a valid court order directing the provision of the medical service.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Current law authorizes the executive director of the department of early childhood (department) to adopt all rules for the administration of the department, for the execution and administration of department functions, and for the programs and services managed by the department. The bill repeals the executive director's rule-making authority and creates the state board of early childhood services (state board). The bill authorizes the state board to adopt all rules for the administration of the department, for the execution and administration of department functions, and for the programs and services managed by the department. Current law allows a local coordinating organization (LCO) to participate in the Colorado universal preschool program (program) by allocating funding to school- and community-based preschool providers (preschool providers), ensuring a mixed delivery system of preschool providers, and coordinating with preschool providers and the early childhood and family support programs and services. On June 1, 2026, LCOs will no longer participate in the program, but LCOs will continue to support families who apply for early childhood and family support programs and services, coordinate with county departments and tribal agencies, and work with early child care providers to increase recruitment and retention of individuals in the early child care workforce. The bill requires the department to modify the unified application to grant administrative access to a preschool provider who participates in the program to help families enroll their children in the program and to assist families with their administrative needs, including with the completion of their first program application and maintaining the continued enrollment of their children who have been receiving preschool services from the preschool provider. Administrative units will also have access to the unified application to help families enroll children with disabilities in the program and to assist families with their administrative needs. Current law requires the executive director to adopt rules for the maximum allowable educator-to-child ratios and group sizes (ratios and group sizes) in alignment with national best practices. The bill requires the state board to adopt rules for ratios and group sizes in alignment with state licensing standards. When the department adjusts ratios and group sizes, and prior to adopting rules for the preschool program, the department is required to coordinate with preschool providers to determine the ratios and group sizes. The bill requires the department to distribute funding to preschool providers in advance of services provided throughout the school year based on enrollment data. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill authorizes the owner or operator of a water quality green infrastructure project (project) to sell or trade any greenhouse gas credits (GHG credit) created by the project in the GHG credit trading program (trading program) that is established by the air quality control commission (AQCC) by rule. The owner or operator that is conducting a project shall pay an independent third-party auditor to certify the GHG credits created by the project in order to sell or transfer those GHG credits in the trading program. The division of administration in the department of public health and environment (division) shall monitor the sale and transfer of the GHG credits created from a project in the trading program and permit owners and operators of facilities that are regulated by the AQCC and the division and participating in the trading program to purchase the GHG credits in order to reach certain greenhouse gas compliance targets. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the "Medical Ethics Defense Act" (act). The act recognizes that a health-care professional, health-care institution, and health-care payer (health-care provider) has a right of conscience. The act: Defines "conscience" to mean the ethical, moral, or religious beliefs or principles held by a health-care provider and recognizes institutional entities or corporate bodies as also having a conscience as determined by reference to the governing documents of the entity or body; and Allows a health-care provider to refuse to participate in or pay for a medical procedure, treatment, or service that violates the health-care provider's conscience. The right of conscience is limited to a particular medical procedure, treatment, or service. Further, a health-care payer is prohibited from refusing to pay for services that are specified in the health-care payer's contract. The act shall not be construed to conflict with the requirement to provide emergency medical treatment. A health-care provider: Shall not be discriminated against in any manner as a result of the health-care provider exercising its right of conscience; and Is immune from civil, criminal, or administrative liability for exercising its right of conscience. The act authorizes a religious health-care provider to make employment staffing, contracting, and administrative decisions consistent with its religious beliefs if it holds itself out to the public as religious and has internal operating procedures that implement its religious purpose or mission. The act provides protection against discrimination to a health-care provider that provides information about a violation of the act or other law to an employer or a state or federal agency or official or that testifies or participates in proceedings relating to the violation. Additionally, the act prohibits: Administrative agencies from denying or revoking a license, certification, or registration, or threatening to do so, based upon an individual health-care professional engaging in free speech under the United States constitution (constitution) or section 10 of article II of the state constitution; or The state from contracting with, recognizing, approving, or requiring an individual to obtain certifications or credentials from a specialty board or other recognizing agency that refuses to certify or revokes credentials based upon an individual's engagement in free speech under the constitution. A state entity that regulates the provision of medical treatments, procedures, or services shall promptly notify a health-care provider of any complaint received by the entity that is based on an exercise of free speech and that may result in revocation of the health-care provider's license, certification, or registration. A party aggrieved by a violation of the act may commence a civil action and, if a violation has occurred, is entitled to injunctive and declaratory relief and an award of monetary damages and attorney fees. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Sections 1 and 2 of the bill prohibit a state agency from imposing a personal qualification requirement in order to engage in a profession or occupation unless the agency can show that the requirement is demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored to address a specific, legitimate public health, safety, or welfare objective. On or before July 1, 2026, every agency must review occupational regulations and determine whether the regulation should be repealed or amended. Any person may file a petition with an agency requesting that an occupational regulation be repealed or amended. Regardless of whether a petition is filed with an agency, any person may file a civil suit requesting that the court enjoin the adoption or enforcement of an occupational regulation. When an agency files a notice of proposed rule-making with the secretary of state, if the proposed rule-making includes a proposed occupational regulation, the agency must also submit a statement to the secretary of state describing how the proposed occupational regulation complies with the bill's requirements. Section 3 repeals the industrial and manufacturing operations clean air grant program, the cannabis resource optimization cash fund, the community access to electric bicycles grant program, and the electrifying school buses grant program, which were enacted in 2022 by Senate Bill 22-193. Section 4 repeals the energy code board and its associated model codes, an energy code training grant program, the building electrification for public buildings grant program, the high-efficiency electric heating and appliances grant program, and the clean air building investments fund, which were enacted in 2022 by House Bill 22-1362. Section 5 repeals the air quality enterprise, which was enacted in 2020 by Senate Bill 20-204. Section 6 repeals the environmental response surcharge, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances cash fund, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances grant program, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances take-back program, and certain civil penalties for violations of certain air quality control regulations, which were enacted in 2020 by Senate Bill 20-218. Section 7 repeals certain requirements, including requirements regarding fenceline monitoring and community-based monitoring of air toxics, for covered facilities, which requirements were enacted in 2021 by House Bill 21-1189. Sections 8 through 20 make necessary conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill mandates that a health-care provider (provider) shall not implement a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) for a minor without written consent from the minor's parent or legal guardian. However, if a provider makes a reasonably diligent and documented effort to contact a parent or legal guardian for 72 hours without success, the provider may enter a DNR for the minor. A parent or legal guardian may revoke their consent in writing, and such a revocation must take precedence over the prior consent and be recorded in the minor's medical records. The bill states that a provider shall not hinder or delay the life-sustaining or resuscitative treatment, determined by the right of the parent or legal guardian of the minor, to be given to the minor unless there is destruction of the minor's circulatory system, respiratory system, and entire brain. A court does not have authority to require withdrawal of life-sustaining or resuscitative treatment for a minor unless there is destruction of the minor's circulatory system, respiratory system, and entire brain. The bill creates a presumption that the continuation of the life of a minor is in the minor's best interest. Under the bill, a provider shall not interfere with a parent or legal guardian of a minor seeking to obtain another medical opinion or the transfer of the minor to another health facility (facility). If the parent or legal guardian requests that the minor be transferred, the provider shall: Provide the new facility immediate access to the minor and the minor's medical records; and Not hinder or delay the necessary measures or procedures needed to facilitate the transfer. The facility receiving the minor on transfer must: Continue providing the life-sustaining measures and procedures being administered; and Make every reasonable effort to help facilitate the transfer. Lastly, the bill directs a provider, if requested, to disclose any policies the provider has relating to services involving resuscitation or life-sustaining measures. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill authorizes a credit union to purchase the assets and liabilities of a state bank. The banking board may approve up to 5 purchases by credit unions per year. Prior to approving a purchase, a prospective credit union purchaser must conduct an analysis of the anticipated impacts to small business and agricultural lending and the intended prospective credit union purchaser's current and anticipated lending data for low- and moderate-income areas, including demonstrating that the purchase will meet the needs of the community. The analyses shall be reviewed by the department of regulatory agencies and made available to the public; except that any trade secrets or other privileged information protected by the "Colorado Open Records Act" incorporated into the analyses shall not be made publicly available.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Sections 1 through 3 of the bill include nuclear energy in the definitions of "clean energy" and "clean energy resource". Sections 4 and 5 repeal the Colorado circular communities enterprise and user fees created in House Bill 24-1449, enacted in 2024, to replace the front range waste diversion enterprise and user fees created in Senate Bill 19-192, enacted in 2019. Section 6 repeals the 10-cent paper carryout bag fee created in House Bill 21-1162, enacted in 2021. Section 7 repeals the confinement standards for egg-laying hens whose eggs are sold in Colorado, which standards were created in House Bill 20-1343, enacted in 2020. Section 8 repeals the authorization for counties and municipalities to collect special sales taxes on nicotine products, which authorization was created in House Bill 19-1033, enacted in 2019. Section 9 repeals the energy assistance system benefit charge created in House Bill 21-1105, enacted in 2021. Section 10 repeals the retail delivery fee created in Senate Bill 21-260, enacted in 2021. Sections 11 through 45 make conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
