Colorado Bills

in committee · Colorado · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 25-1143: Open-Source Software in Voting Systems

Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill requires any voting system used in an election in the state to use open-source software that allows a voting system provider to incorporate end-to-end verifiability into its voting systems. The secretary of state is required to adopt rules to establish minimum standards for the certification and oversight of any open-source software used in a voting system, and each county is required to ensure that open-source software is incorporated into its voting system within the county's existing resources. Beginning in January 2028, and in January every year thereafter, the secretary of state is required to include information regarding the incorporation of open-source software in voting systems as part of the secretary's presentation at a "SMART Act" hearing. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Colorado · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 25-1047: Veterans Benefits Claims Deceptive Trade Practices

Federal law governs whether, when, and how much a service provider may charge for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting a claim for veterans' benefits (veterans' benefits matter). However, criminal penalties for violations of the federal law are no longer in force. The bill makes it a deceptive trade practice under the "Colorado Consumer Protection Act" for a person to: Solicit, contract for, charge, or receive compensation for providing certain services to an individual claiming veterans' benefits (individual), unless the charges are reasonable and otherwise permissible under federal law; Charge for a referral for assistance with a veterans' benefits matter; Guarantee a particular outcome in a veterans' benefits matter; or Fail to memorialize in a written, signed agreement all terms regarding an individual's payment of fees for the service.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Colorado · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 25-1107: Rule Adoption & Review Requirements

The bill modifies the existing process by which principal departments of the state, including agencies and officials within each principal department of the state, adopt and annually review their rules by making the following changes: Requiring that a cost-benefit analysis be performed for each proposed new rule or amendment of an existing rule; Removing an exception that exempted rules relating to orders, licenses, permits, adjudication, or rules affecting the direct reimbursement of vendors or providers with state money from a cost-benefit analysis; Requiring, in each principal department's review of its rules, an emphasis on the cost burden of the rule on the state and its residents; Requiring legislative committees of reference to take a recorded vote on whether to support or modify the principal department's recommendations included in the department's report on the results of its mandatory review of rules as presented to the committee in the departmental regulatory agenda; and Requiring each principal department to include, in its department regulatory agenda distributed to legislative committees of reference, a report on the revenue generated in the previous fiscal year from permit and license fees for which the amount of the fee is determined by rule.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

in committee · Colorado · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 25-1134: Insect Production Human Consumption

The bill prohibits: Engaging in commercial insect production for human consumption; Selling or offering to sell insect products derived from commercial insect production; and Transporting insect products with the intention of selling or offering to sell the insect products for human consumption. An existing business may continue to produce the same quantity and type of insect products made on the effective date of the bill but may not expand production. District attorneys may enforce the bill, and the commissioner of agriculture may refer suspected violations to the local district attorney. A person may bring a civil action against a person that violates the bill. In the civil action, the court may award to a prevailing plaintiff actual damages, costs of litigation, reasonable attorney fees, and any other relief the court deems appropriate. A person that violates these provisions commits a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 per day of violation. The bill amends the misbranding law to require food that contains insects or insect parts to be labeled with the words "contains insects". (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

in committee · Colorado · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SB 25-012: Financial Assistance for County Jails

Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Colorado Jail Standards. Current law tasks the underfunded courthouse facility cash fund commission (commission) to evaluate grant applications and issue grants to counties for underfunded courthouse facilities through master planning services, matching funds or leveraging grant funding opportunities, or for addressing emergency needs due to the imminent closure of a court facility. The bill changes the name of the commission and the underfunded courthouse facility cash fund and expands the responsibilities of the commission to include jails in addition to court facilities. Additionally, the bill allows grants to be issued for up to 50% of a county's annual voter-approved debt service on any county-approved financing of the construction or remodeling costs of a court or jail facility.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Colorado · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SB 25-044: Synthetic Opiates Criminal Penalties

The bill makes it a level 1 drug felony if a person manufactures, dispenses, sells, or distributes, or possesses with intent to do the same, (manufactures or distributes) any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof (qualifying controlled substance). Because manufacture or distribution of any amount of a qualifying controlled substance is a level 1 drug felony under the bill, the bill repeals penalty level provisions involving manufacture or distribution of a qualifying controlled substance that are weight- or circumstance-dependent, and related immunity and sentencing requirements. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill makes the possession of a qualifying controlled substance a level 4 drug felony. The bill repeals the following provisions of law related to the penalties for possessing a qualifying controlled substance: A provision that reduces the penalty if the fact finder in the case finds that the possessor made a reasonable mistake of fact and did not know that the material, compound, mixture, or preparation contained fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof; and A provision that requires a court to vacate the drug felony conviction and enter a conviction for a level 1 drug misdemeanor upon the defendant's successful completion of a community-based sentence to probation or to a community corrections program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed both · Colorado · House Feb 8, 2025

HJR 25-1009: Black History Month February of 2025

This bill is a formal resolution recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month in Colorado. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of the significance of Black history and contributions to Colorado and the nation. The resolution references historical milestones, including Black laborers, community builders, and civil rights efforts in Colorado, to underscore the importance of this observance. It affects all Coloradans by formally designating the month for recognition and education.

in committee · Colorado · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 25-1051: Repeal Recycled Paper Carryout Bag Fee

Under current law, retail establishments are prohibited from providing plastic carryout bags at the point of sale, but may provide recycled paper carryout bags for a fee of at least 10 cents per bag. The bill repeals the requirement that retail establishments charge a fee for providing recycled paper carryout bags. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

in committee · Colorado · Senate Feb 6, 2025

SB 25-032: Naturopathic Doctor Requirements Formulary

The bill clarifies that the existing naturopathic doctor formulary (existing formulary) includes prescription classes of medicines and clarifies what the practice of naturopathic medicine includes. In addition, the bill creates a new formulary for certain naturopathic doctors, which new formulary includes: All legend drugs, other than schedule I or II controlled substances or devices identified in the federal "Controlled Substances Act"; For a naturopathic doctor with a federal drug enforcement administration registration, anabolic steroids listed on schedule III of the "Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013"; and All drugs listed on schedules IV and V of the "Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013", except for benzodiazepines, oncological chemotherapeutics, and narcotics (new formulary). Before obtaining, dispensing, administering, injecting, ordering, or prescribing any of the medicines or devices included in the new formulary, a naturopathic doctor who is registered with the department of regulatory agencies (department) must provide proof of: Completion of 12 hours of pharmacological continuing education pertinent to or reflective of the naturopathic formulary; Passage of the elective pharmacology examination of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations; or Licensure in good standing in another state that has equivalent prescribing authority. A naturopathic doctor who does not provide such proof is limited to the medicines and devices contained within the existing formulary. The bill prohibits a naturopathic doctor from prescribing: A medicine or device to an individual under 18 years of age; or Antipsychotics or ketamine to an individual of any age unless recommended by the naturopathic medicine advisory committee and approved by the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department (director). The bill requires an individual applying for issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of a registration as a naturopathic doctor on or after September 1, 2025, to pass a pharmacology examination administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners or a nationally recognized, director-approved successor entity. Upon passage of the exam, the individual is able to obtain, dispense, administer, inject, order, or prescribe any of the medicines or devices included in the new formulary. For the renewal of a naturopathic doctor's registration on or after June 1, 2026, the bill requires a naturopathic doctor to complete 8 hours per year of continuing education in pharmacology. Lastly, the bill prohibits a naturopathic doctor from administering intravenous therapy without first being certified by a nationally recognized, director-approved entity. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Colorado · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 25-1068: Malpractice Insurers Gender-Affirming Care Minors

Under current law, a medical malpractice insurer (insurer) is prohibited from increasing premiums for, refusing to issue, canceling, terminating, or refusing to renew a medical malpractice insurance policy (prohibited actions). The bill permits an insurer to take prohibited actions against an applicant or named insured, including an individual health-care professional or business, or against a health-care facility, such as a hospital or clinic, that allows the use of facilities, equipment, or supplies for, or provides, prescribes, orders, or performs, gender-affirming health-care services for an individual who is a minor under 18 years of age. The bill also prohibits an insurer from accepting state money for the payment of premiums if the malpractice policy covers actions relating to providing gender-affirming health-care services to minors. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Topics ✗ Healthcare

in committee · Colorado · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 25-056: Reduce Premium Cigar Excise Tax Rate

Effective July 1, 2025, the bill defines "premium cigar" and reduces the statutory rate of excise taxation of this particular tobacco product from the current rates for all non-cigarette tobacco products other than moist snuff of 36% of the manufacturer's list price (MLP) from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027, and 42% of the MLP on and after July 1, 2027, to 20% of the MLP, effectively rolling back the increases in the statutory taxation rate for such tobacco products since 2005. The bill does not affect taxation of premium cigars under the state constitution, which imposes an additional 20% tax.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

passed both · Colorado · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SJR 25-005: Missing Persons Day

This procedural resolution designates February 4 of each year as "Missing Persons Day" in Colorado. It formally recognizes the issue of missing persons through state-wide awareness, encouraging public support for families and law enforcement efforts without creating new legal requirements or funding. The resolution aligns with Colorado's existing AMBER Alert and Missing Indigenous Person Alert programs.

Bill results