Rep. Kyle Brown

The act implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies (department) in its 2025 sunset review and report by continuing the division of securities and the securities board until 2037. In connection with continuing these entities, the act:Clarifies that deficiency letters and communications concerning a deficiency letter are not public documents that may be inspected under the 'Colorado Open Records Act';Requires that an investment adviser or an investment adviser representative doing business in Colorado must be licensed by the securities commissioner (commissioner) unless otherwise exempt;Specifies that the executive director of the department must consult with the securities board when appointing the commissioner; andUpdates statutory language to be gender neutral.     The act revises the process by which a cease-and-desist order is issued or a license is summarily suspended. Under the previous law, the commissioner issued a cease-and-desist order or conducted a summary license suspension by issuing an order to show cause as to why a cease-and-desist order or license suspension should not be issued. After appropriate notices were given, a hearing was scheduled with the securities board or an administrative law judge. At the hearing, it was determined whether to issue a cease-and-desist order or suspend the license and what form the order or suspension would take. The act changes this process to authorize the commissioner to issue a preliminary cease-and-desist order or a summary license-suspension order. If the person that is the subject of the order disagrees with the order, the person may request a hearing to resolve the issue. The hearing must take place within 45 days after issuance of the order unless both parties request an extension. The deadline for a hearing, with an exception, is changed from 35 days to 60 days. If a hearing is not requested within 15 days after issuance of the order, the order becomes final. The person that is the subject of the order must obey the order until a hearing is requested.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act increases funding for county child abuse prevention services and programs by changing the source of reimbursement money transmitted to the Colorado child abuse prevention trust fund (trust fund) from money received for all prevention services and programs identified in the federal Title IV-E clearinghouse (prevention services clearinghouse) to money received by the Colorado department of early childhood and identified in the prevention services clearinghouse.     The act continues the trust fund and Colorado child abuse prevention board indefinitely.     For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, the general assembly anticipates that the department of human services will receive $150,000 in federal funds to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The 'Colorado Licensing of Controlled Substances Act' (Act) is set to repeal September 1, 2026.     The act implements the department of regulatory agencies' recommendations to:Continue the Act until September 1, 2041;Modernize the definition of 'substance use disorder' in the Act to more accurately reflect the type of conditions being treated by behavioral-health-administration-licensed facilities and the practitioners who may diagnose these conditions; and Remove defined terms that are no longer referenced in the Act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

On and after July 1, 2027, a manufacturer of a hair relaxer product or a hairpiece product (covered hair product) is prohibited from selling or distributing a covered hair product in the state that contains an intentionally added carcinogen or reproductive toxicant unless the covered hair product has a warning label that notifies the consumer that the covered hair product contains an intentionally added carcinogen or reproductive toxicant, which warning label must comply with certain requirements depending on whether the covered hair product contains an intentionally added carcinogen, an intentionally added reproductive toxicant, or both (warning label requirement).     The warning label requirement does not apply to a covered hair product that is sold or distributed to a commercial entity for professional use. On and after July 1, 2028, the attorney general may adopt rules updating the warning label requirement. A violation of the warning label requirement constitutes a deceptive trade practice.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Section 3 of the act defines 'advanced transmission technologies' as hardware or software technologies that increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability, or resiliency of an existing or new transmission facility.     Section 4 requires the Colorado public utilities commission (commission) to adopt rules requiring a regulated electric utility to consider advanced transmission technologies in the electric utility's 10-year transmission plan and to identify strategies to reduce the costs of, and obtain financing for, new transmission. The commission is directed to minimize duplication of transmission planning processes, technical studies, or analyses conducted through an applicable regional transmission organization or independent system operator.     Section 5 requires the Colorado electric transmission authority (authority) to, as much as practicable, engage and coordinate with formal subregional transmission planning organizations.     Under current law, the authority is required to annually submit a report of its activities, including a complete operating and financial statement covering the operations of the authority for the previous state fiscal year, to certain committees of reference of the general assembly. Section 6 requires that the annual report also include a description of the activities and accomplishments of the authority during the previous calendar year.     Section 7 adds a nonvoting seat to the authority's board of directors for the director of the commission or the director's designee.     Section 8 clarifies that a project that includes advanced transmission technologies and meets certain criteria is an energy sector public works project. Section 9 states that an energy sector public works project that includes advanced transmission technologies must meet applicable prevailing wage requirements and apprenticeship utilization requirements.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act prohibits the Colorado lottery or any licensed lottery retailer from selling lottery tickets or instant scratch game tickets produced by the lottery for sale to the public on a credit basis.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryHB 1307 extends the Colorado Medical Board's existence until September 1, 2035 (replacing a prior 2026 sunset date) and implements several specific changes to medical licensing. It creates a new "administrative license" for physicians performing non-patient work (like research design or quality management) starting January 1, 2027, exempting them from continuing medical education requirements. The bill also exempts natural medicine facilitators (with a specific license) from needing a medical license to facilitate certain services, and modifies renewal rules for foreign teaching physicians and board procedures. These changes directly affect physicians seeking administrative roles, natural medicine facilitators, and the Medical Board’s operational structure.

The act allows persons who are indigenous to receive compensation for traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices and related expenses under the 'Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act', which includes:Traditional counseling and healing from an elder or spiritual healer;Traditional ceremonial practices;Ceremonial burials, including clothing for the deceased, meals, and other related expenses;Child care during burial ceremonies;Reimbursement for honoraria provided in connection with ceremonial services; andReasonable travel expenses related to the traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Under current law, the Colorado job growth incentive tax credit (credit) may only be allowed by the economic development commission (commission) through state income tax year 2026. The act amends the Colorado job growth incentive tax credit to authorize the commission to allow new credit awards through state income tax year 2034. The act also extends the commission's annual reporting requirement through September 1, 2042.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The microgrids for community resilience grant program (grant program) in the division of local government in the department of local affairs provides grants for cooperative electric associations and municipally owned utilities to purchase microgrid resources for eligible rural communities located within their service territories. Under current law, the grant program is set to repeal on September 1, 2026. The act continues the grant program indefinitely by removing the repeal date.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)