Currently, the controller is required to adopt fiscal rules requiring the state to make disbursements in the payment of any liability incurred on behalf of the executive branch of the state within 45 days of receiving a correct notice that this liability was incurred. The bill modifies this requirement so that either a correct notice of the state's liability or a demonstration of a good faith effort to provide a correct notice of the state's liability initiates the 45-day period. A state agency that awards a grant generally requires the grant recipient to access the grant amount awarded by applying for the reimbursement of costs incurred in completing the activity for which the state agency awarded the grant. The bill directs the controller to adopt fiscal rules requiring a state agency to award a nonprofit organization a retainer when entering into a contract with or awarding a grant to a nonprofit organization. The retainer amount must equal at least 35% of the grant amount or 35% of the amount to be disbursed by the state to the nonprofit organization in the first year of a contract between the state and the nonprofit organization. A nonprofit organization is required to spend the retainer amount within a year of the state awarding the grant to or entering into the contract with the nonprofit organization. A nonprofit organization may only expend a retainer on expenses the nonprofit organization incurs in connection with the relevant grant or contract. The bill also requires a nonprofit organization that receives disbursements from the state to provide the following information to the controller and requires the controller to make that information available upon request: The ethnicity of the nonprofit organization's leadership; The business structure of the nonprofit organization; and Whether the nonprofit organization has previously received a disbursement from the state.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the septic-system replacement enterprise (enterprise), which operates as a government-owned business imposing and collecting a fee charged on septic-system permits and using the fee revenue to provide loans to replace failing septic systems (loan program). The enterprise is governed by a board that consists of 7 members appointed by the governor as follows: One member who is a county commissioner in a county that has rural areas; One member who is a member of a county board of health in a county that has rural areas; One member who is a member of a governing body of a municipality that has septic systems; One member who represents the department of public health and environment (department); One member who represents the department of local affairs; One member who represents an association of counties within Colorado and who lives in a rural area; and One member who is a rural homeowner with a septic system. Each member of the board serves at the pleasure of the governor. The term of appointment is 4 years, with some members having staggered terms. Members of the board serve without compensation but are entitled to receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the members' duties on the board. The board will meet as necessary. The enterprise will impose a fee on septic-system permits and administer the collection of the fee, and the enterprise may issue revenue bonds, buy and sell property, enter into contracts, sue or be sued, hire employees, set up an office, place liens on property, adopt rules, and take any action necessary to implement the bill. Starting January 15, 2027, and by January 15 each year through 2029, the enterprise will submit a written report to the governor, the joint budget committee, the house of representatives transportation, housing, and local government committee, and the senate local government and housing committee. The report must include: An accounting of the number of loans made under the loan program, the total amount of the loans, the average amount of a loan, and the number of septic systems replaced as a result of the loan program; An evaluation of the loan program; and Any legislative recommendations for the loan program. The enterprise will impose a septic-system enterprise fee on each permit to install or replace a septic system. The fee is: $10 if the fee for the septic-system permit is less than $500; $50 if the fee for the septic-system permit is $500 or more but less than $1,000; $100 if the fee for the septic-system permit is $1,000 or more but less than $1,400; and $200 if the fee for the septic-system permit is $1,400 or more. The enterprise must consult with and coordinate with the water quality control commission (commission) and local boards of health that issue septic-system permits. The division of administration within the department and the local government that issues the permit may retain up to 5% of the fee to cover administrative costs. When the fee revenue is projected to exceed the amount reasonably necessary to implement the loan program and administer the bill, the enterprise shall adjust the amount of the fee so that the revenue will equal the amount of money needed to reasonably administer the loan program. The commission may adopt rules to implement the division of administration's collection of the fee. The fee will be used by the enterprise to establish the loan program, which makes interest-free or low-interest loans to low-income or low-credit-score households to replace failing septic systems. The enterprise will contract with at least 2 community development financial institutions (financial institutions) to administer the loan program. Standards are set for a financial institution to qualify to administer the loan program. The financial institution must enter into a contract with the enterprise. The bill sets contract standards, including authorization for a financial institution to include an administration fee in an amount reasonably calculated to cover the costs to implement the contract. A financial institution will use the money collected from the fee to make loans to eligible homeowners in low-income or low-credit-score households for the purpose of replacing septic systems. The financial institution may establish reasonable standards and procedures to make loans in compliance with the bill and the contract. The enterprise or the department may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources to fund the bill. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Current law requires a motor vehicle to be designed for operation on a highway to be covered by the "Uniform Motor Vehicle Law", which governs driver's licenses, registrations, and traffic regulation. The bill authorizes the owner of a surplus military vehicle to register the vehicle and be issued a license plate. If the vehicle is registered, it may be driven on the road but must comply with the registration provisions. The driver's license provisions and the traffic regulations apply to these vehicles.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the fallen firefighter special license plate. An applicant becomes eligible to use the plate by providing a certificate to the department of revenue (department) confirming that the applicant has made a donation to a nonprofit organization (organization) chosen by the department based on the organization's provision of services to the families of firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty. In addition to the normal fees for a license plate, a person must pay 2 additional one-time fees in the amount of $25, one of which is credited to the highway users tax fund and the other to the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Currently, a lobbyist may be either a professional lobbyist or a volunteer lobbyist. A professional lobbyist must register with the secretary of state before conducting lobbying activities with one or more covered officials. For each month in which a professional lobbyist lobbies one or more covered officials, a professional lobbyist must complete and submit a disclosure statement to the secretary of state. The bill creates a new category of lobbyist for nonprofit lobbyists and exempts nonprofit lobbyists from the registration and disclosure statement requirements for professional lobbyists. A nonprofit lobbyist is a lobbyist who is exclusively employed by a single nonprofit entity and who lobbies as an incidental part of the lobbyist's duties with the nonprofit entity. A nonprofit entity may use a nonprofit lobbyist to lobby a maximum of 30 days during a state fiscal year, with a maximum of 20 of those days occurring when the general assembly is in session. A nonprofit entity that employs a nonprofit lobbyist must report to the secretary of state the following information within 72 hours of engaging in lobbying of one or more covered officials: The name of the nonprofit lobbyist; The full legal name of the nonprofit entity on whose behalf the nonprofit lobbyist lobbied; The date on which the nonprofit lobbyist engaged in lobbying; Any matter about which the nonprofit lobbyist lobbied for the reported day; and The bill number of the legislation about which each nonprofit lobbyist lobbied for the reported day and whether the nonprofit entity is supporting, opposing, requesting amendments, or monitoring the legislation. A nonprofit entity may submit a single form for more than one nonprofit lobbyist if more than one nonprofit lobbyist lobbied for the nonprofit entity on the same day. A lobbyist who was a nonprofit lobbyist but no longer qualifies as a nonprofit lobbyist or who is employed by a nonprofit entity that does not comply with the timing limitations, and who meets the requirements of a professional lobbyist, must register and file disclosure statements with the secretary of state beginning in the month in which the lobbyist first lobbied as a professional lobbyist and must comply with the regulations imposed on a professional lobbyist. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy. The bill changes how income tax expenditures that benefit individuals engaged in military service are provided as follows: Beginning with income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2027, section 2 of the bill eliminates the state income tax subtraction for an amount equal to any compensation received for active duty service in the armed forces of the United States by an individual who has reacquired residency in the state to the extent that the compensation is included in federal taxable income; and For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2027, but before January 1, 2032, section 3 allows a refundable income tax credit (credit) as a form of tuition assistance to an actively serving member of the Colorado National Guard who is eligible for tuition assistance (eligible member) under an existing statutorily-authorized program (program) administered by the department of veterans and military affairs (department). To claim the credit, an eligible member must obtain a tax credit certificate issued by the department for each academic semester or quarter for which tuition assistance is awarded in the form of the credit. The criteria for receiving a tax credit certificate are generally the same as the criteria for receiving other tuition assistance under the program; except that, to be eligible for a tax credit certificate, an eligible member must apply for all federal government tuition assistance that is not required to be repaid and that is generally made available to eligible members and not to the general population and must use all federal government tuition assistance received. The total amount of tuition assistance that an eligible member to whom the department has issued a tax credit certificate may obtain under the program, including the credit, is subject to existing program limits. In addition, the department may issue no more than $1 million in tax credit certificates for any income tax year. Section 1 makes conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
When a catalytic converter mechanically fails or is stolen from a motor vehicle, current rules of the air quality control commission require the replacement to comply with the rules of the California air resources board. The bill creates a temporary exception that allows a person to use a replacement catalytic converter that complies with the standards established by rules of the federal environmental protection agency if: In the case of the theft of a catalytic converter, the theft has been reported to a law enforcement agency; and The owner or operator of the motor vehicle has made a reasonable effort to obtain the required replacement catalytic converter and has been unable to obtain the replacement catalytic converter. The exception is repealed, effective July 1, 2027. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the missing and murdered Indigenous relatives license plate. An applicant becomes eligible to use the license plate by providing a certificate to the department of revenue confirming that the applicant has made a minimum donation of $25 to the office of liaison for missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. In addition to the normal fees for a license plate, a person must pay an additional one-time fee in the amount of $25, which money is credited to the highway users tax fund.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
On or before January 1, 2026, the bill requires each institute charter school, district charter school, and local board of education to adopt and implement a written policy that authorizes , or update an existing policy if applicable, concerning options for a youth service organization to present to students on school campus during the school day communicate with students about the opportunities available for extracurricular programs and enrichment activities through the youth service organization. (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.)
Under current law, the air quality control commission is tasked with developing an effective air quality control program (program), including adopting rules necessary to carry out the program. The bill requires a person that owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises (owner or operator) a building, structure, facility, or installation that emits or may emit an air pollutant (stationary source) to maintain records that will help the public determine whether the owner or operator is in compliance with rules establishing applicable air quality control regulations (records). The bill requires an owner or operator of a stationary source to make the records publicly available and accessible through a link on the owner or operator's public website. The department of public health and environment is required to include a link on its website directing members of the public to the website of an owner or operator where the records are available. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, but before January 1, 2027, the bill allows a refundable state income tax credit, which is intended to offset the various expenses that licensed teachers often incur throughout an academic year for classroom supplies, professional development costs, supplemental educational materials, field trips, and other items that improve the quality of the educational services that they provide, to a licensed teacher who is employed as a teacher in a public school on a full-time basis for at least one-half of an academic year (eligible teacher) during the income tax year for which the credit is claimed. The amount of the credit is $1,000 for an eligible teacher who is employed for the equivalent of an entire academic year and $500 for an eligible teacher who is employed for one-half of an academic year. Two eligible teachers who file a joint income tax return may each claim the credit.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Section 1 of the bill enacts the "Mold Awareness and Registration Act", which requires the department of public health and environment (department) to establish a public awareness campaign (campaign) to assist the public in understanding the health dangers of mold and the importance of removing mold from indoor environments. The department is directed to establish the campaign, and the state board of health is directed to adopt rules governing the campaign. As part of the campaign, the department is required to: Inform the public on the health dangers of mold; Provide the public with contact information for organizations or government agencies that can provide further information relating to the health effects of mold, mold testing methods, or accredited industry standards for mold remediation; and Every 5 years, perform a review of the technology or treatment techniques for mold identification and remediation that protect public health and safety. Section 1 also requires the executive director of the department to issue a registration to a person that provides mold remediation or assessment services in the state if the person applies for registration and provides evidence of an active third-party remediation or assessment certification, as well as evidence of financial responsibility. The executive director is required to maintain on the department's website a public database of all persons that have been issued a registration. Sections 2 and 3 require a contract to sell residential real property to contain, and a landlord of residential real property to provide to prospective tenants, in writing: A warning statement about the health dangers of mold; Any knowledge the seller or landlord has of the residential real property's mold concentrations and history, including assessments performed, reports written, and mitigation or remediation conducted; and The most recent brochure published by the department that provides information about the health dangers of mold in indoor environments.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
