The act includes approved facility schools in the definition of 'employer' for purposes of the public employees' retirement association (PERA) and allows an approved facility school to apply to the PERA board to affiliate with PERA.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act authorizes an occupational therapist to perform dry needling on and after September 1, 2027, if the occupational therapist:Has the knowledge, skill, ability, and documented competency to perform the act;Has successfully completed a dry needling course of study that meets supervisorial, educational, and clinical prerequisites to be established by rule; andObtains a written informed consent from each patient for dry needling, including information concerning the potential benefits and risks of dry needling and a statement that the occupational therapist performing dry needling is not an acupuncturist. The act requires the director of the division of professions and occupations within the department of regulatory agencies to adopt rules to implement the authorization for an occupational therapist to perform dry needling. At a minimum, the rules must establish requirements for dry needling performed by an occupational therapist that are equivalent to the requirements in rules adopted by the state physical therapy board for dry needling performed by a physical therapist.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The bill establishes the adult mental health services program (program) to facilitate access for adults to mental health services, including substance use disorder services, and to respond to identified mental health needs. The program reimburses providers for up to 6 mental health sessions with an adult and may provide additional reimbursement, subject to available money. The adult mental health program enterprise (enterprise), created in the bill, creates, operates, and funds the program. The enterprise is required to enter into an agreement with a vendor to create or use an existing website or web-based application as a portal that is available to adults and providers to facilitate the program. The department of human services is required to annually report to the general assembly about the program.The bill establishes the internet-enabled mental health access grant program (grant program) to award grants to entities that use the internet to facilitate mental health services. The enterprise administers the grant program. The enterprise shall annually report to the health and human services committees of the house of representatives and the senate about the grant program.The bill creates the mental health services enterprise as a government-owned business within the behavioral health administration for the business purpose of imposing and collecting a surcharge on internet service account holders in Colorado and to use the surcharge revenue to create, operate, and fund the adult mental health services program and internet-enabled mental health access grant program. Each internet service provider shall collect from its account holders located in Colorado the mental health services access surcharge and remit the surcharge to the enterprise.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Under current law, certain boards of county commissioners must appoint county commissioner redistricting commissions to adopt plans to divide the relevant counties into as many county commissioner districts as there are county commissioners elected by voters of their district (plan). The bill requires these boards of county commissioners to appoint independent county commissioner redistricting commissions (commissions) , modifies the criteria for who may serve on these commissions, allows these boards of county commissioners to remove members from the commission for cause, allows these boards of county commissioners to direct a commission to modify a proposed plan under certain conditions, and requires the these boards of county commissioners to adopt a final plan that was one of the final plans approved by an independent county commissioner redistricting a commission. The bill also removes the role of advisory committees in the process of adopting a plan and divides that role among staff and the independent county commissioner redistricting commissions. The bill explicitly allows any qualified elector of a county to challenge the adoption of a plan by an action in the district court.Further, the bill requires an independent county commissioner redistricting commission a commission to adopt a numerical measure of county commissioner district competitiveness and to use that measure , and any other measure of competitiveness adopted by the commission, in determining county commissioner districts.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
For the purpose of criminal restitution, the act excludes from the definition of 'restitution' losses for which a victim may be compensated through a private insurance policy, except for worker's compensation insurance. Current law defines a 'victim' as any person who has suffered losses because of a contractual relationship, including an insurance company. The act excludes a person from the definition of 'victim' because of a contractual relationship but clarifies that an insurance company is a 'victim' if the insurance company is a victim of a scheme to defraud the insurance company or when the insurance company's property is damaged or stolen through a criminal act. The act authorizes the court to award a victim restitution for a deductible amount under the victim's insurance policy. The act does not prohibit an insurance company from filing a civil action or pursuing any other civil action against a defendant to recover losses the insurance company has suffered.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires that the state court administrator create a process for evaluating bond hearing officers. An evaluation must include input from the district attorney and regional public defender and allow the opportunity for input from court staff and other interested parties within each judicial district in which a bond hearing officer presides.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The bill makes street takeovers, coordinated street takeovers, racing and drag racing, and stunt driving (prohibited motor vehicle activities) illegal on highways and roadways. More specifically, the bill states that a person shall not:Intentionally engage in a prohibited motor vehicle activity;Coordinate or facilitate an event the person should reasonably know is a street takeover, a race or drag race, or stunt driving;Ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle the person should reasonably know is participating in a street takeover, a race or drag race, or stunt driving;Intentionally cause the movement of traffic to slow, stop, or be impeded in any way because of a street takeover, a race or drag race, or stunt driving;Drive a motor vehicle to carry fuel for a motor vehicle the person should reasonably know is involved in a street takeover, a race or drag race, or stunt driving; orKnowingly be a spectator to a race, drag race, or street takeover prohibited by the bill. The bill imposes penalties for a person that engages in a prohibited motor vehicle activity. The bill also imposes penalties for a person that engages in a prohibited motor vehicle activity and then eludes or attempts to elude a peace officer. Lastly, the bill states when and how a peace officer may, or a presiding court may issue an order to, impound, immobilize, or seize a motor vehicle involved in a prohibited motor vehicle activity.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
This bill urges the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Farmers Market Association to maintain and strengthen their partnership to support farmers' market managers across the state. It recognizes that most market managers are volunteers who need expertise, training, and resources to handle tasks like event planning, food safety, and vendor coordination. The resolution aims to help sustain local farmers' markets that provide fresh produce to communities and support small-scale producers who rely on these venues for sales.
The bill requires each policy or contract of homeowner's insurance (policy) issued or renewed in the state on or after January 1, 2027, to include a mandatory and binding appraisal process, if requested by either the insured or the insurer, for determination of disputed claims for damage to property, including a determination of the amount of loss, causation, and necessary scope of repair or replacement of the property. The appraisal process does not determine coverage under the terms of the policy.The bill specifies the appraisal process requirements, including who can serve as a fair and competent appraiser and umpire, the selection of an appraiser by each party, and the joint selection of an umpire by the parties' appraisers, prior to commencing negotiations, in the event the insured and insurer cannot resolve the dispute. The affirmative vote of the appraisers or of an appraiser and the umpire determines the loss amount. The insured and insurer each pay their own expenses for their appraiser and share the expenses of the umpire. The bill includes a timeline for completing the appraisal process, including completion within 4 months after the umpire is selected. The bill tolls the timelines for certain contract provisions while the appraisal process is pending.The bill also specifies information that must be provided to an insured with respect to an insurer's initial review of a claim. An insurer shall provide written evidence supporting an initial coverage determination. If the amount of loss is disputed, the insured may submit third-party damage assessments and the insurer shall reprocess the claim, taking into account the third-party damage assessments.The bill declares that it is an unfair method of competition and unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance to willfully or repeatedly violate the provisions of the bill concerning the appraisal clause process for policies.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
HJR 1017 is a joint resolution urging the federal government to fulfill its obligations under the 1986 Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement. It specifically calls for action to address infrastructure gaps affecting two tribes: the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes, who have settled water rights but cannot access or use them due to missing pipelines (e.g., from Lake Nighthorse) and deteriorating irrigation systems (like the PRIIP, requiring $126 million in repairs). The resolution highlights federal failures to fund operations, maintain infrastructure, and enable tribes to utilize their legally secured water for agriculture, municipal use, and economic development. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests federal action to resolve these longstanding barriers.
March 31 is currently known as 'Cesar Chavez Day' and may be voluntarily observed as a state legal holiday. The act repeals 'Cesar Chavez Day' and changes this voluntary legal holiday for March 31, 2026, and March 31, 2027, to instead be known as 'Farm Workers Day'.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
This House Resolution establishes March 31, 2026, as Farm Workers Day in Colorado to honor the contributions of agricultural workers to the state's economy and food supply. The measure recognizes that farm workers make up a significant portion of Colorado's rural workforce, including many immigrant and Latina women who face unique challenges in the industry. The resolution acknowledges the historical efforts of farm worker organizations that fought for better pay, safety, and union rights, while celebrating the dignity and hard work of those who grow and harvest food. Copies of the resolution will be sent to state officials and the UFW Foundation to commemorate this observance.
