Rep. Rebecca Keltie

The 2024 general appropriations act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated to the department of public safety. The general fund and cash funds portions of the appropriation are increased and the reappropriated funds and federal funds portions are decreased. The 2023 general appropriations act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated to the department of public safety. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act transfers all the unexpended and unencumbered money in the financial literacy and exchange (FLEX) fund to the general fund on June 30, 2025, and repeals the FLEX program on July 1, 2025. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The general assembly recognizes that for the 2024-25 budget year, the actual funded pupil count is higher than anticipated when the appropriation was established in the 2024 legislative session for total program funding for the 2024-25 budget year. In addition, local property tax revenue and specific ownership tax revenue are lower than anticipated, resulting in a decrease in the local share of total program funding for the 2024-25 budget year. The act declares the general assembly's intent to increase the state share of districts' total program funding by $64,076,611 for the 2024-25 budget year. The act adjusts a repeal date for the total program reserve fund. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current law requires mandatory sentencing to at least the minimum of the prescribed range for a person who, within the immediately preceding 4 years, was twice convicted of felony theft from a store and who is once again convicted of felony theft from a store. The bill requires a state court to sentence a person convicted of burglary, robbery, theft, or a related property crime from or of a store, who was convicted of any 2 of the specified property crimes or comparable municipal offenses from or of a store within the preceding 4 years, to at least the midpoint term for the current offense. The bill adds language to the existing theft statute clarifying how a gift card's value is determined for purposes of determining the offense level and associated penalty. If the stolen item of value is a gift card, then the value is the full monetary face value or, in the case of a variable load gift card, the maximum potential value, regardless of whether funds have been transferred to the gift card at the time of the theft. The bill adds gift cards to the list of written instruments subject to forgery. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill grants a person who is at least 18 years of age and permitted to possess a handgun pursuant to federal and state law the same authority to carry a concealed handgun as a person who holds a permit to carry a concealed handgun (permit). A person who carries a concealed handgun without a permit has the same rights, limitations, and authority to carry as a person who holds a permit. A person may obtain a permit for the purpose of using the permit to carry a concealed handgun in another state that recognizes a Colorado permit. The bill makes the minimum age to obtain a permit 18 years of age. Under existing law, Colorado recognizes permits issued in other states that meet certain criteria, including that the holder of the out-of-state permit is at least 21 years of age. The bill changes the minimum age for recognition of an out-of-state permit to 18 years of age. Under existing law, a permit is valid for 5 years. The bill makes a permit valid for the life of the permit holder. Existing permits, other than temporary emergency permits, are converted to lifetime permits. Because the bill makes permits valid for the life of the holder, the bill repeals provisions relating to the renewal of permits. The bill repeals the temporary emergency permit to carry a concealed handgun. The bill repeals local government authority to regulate open or concealed carry of a handgun, including repealing the authority of special districts and the governing boards of institutions of higher education, as applicable. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill prohibits an individual, organization, or entity from: Permitting a minor to attend events, performances, or activities explicitly involving sexual content or pornographic materials; or Exposing a minor to pornographic materials in any form, including digital, print, or broadcast mediums. The prohibition does not apply to: Educational materials or school programs explicitly designed for age-appropriate sex education in accordance with local and federal regulations; or Parental or guardian discussions about sexual health and development appropriate to the child's maturity level. A violation is an unclassified misdemeanor, and for the first violation the penalty is a fine of up to $10,000. A second or subsequent violation is subject to a sentence of up to 2 years in jail. A violator is also subject to revocation of a business license if the violator is an establishment that knowingly permits such exposure. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2026, the bill allows a veteran who is honorably discharged, possesses a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%, and owns and occupies a primary residence in the state (eligible veteran) to claim a refundable income tax credit (tax credit) in an amount equal to a percentage, based on the eligible veteran's service-connected disability rating, of the amount of property tax that the eligible veteran paid on their primary residence during the income tax year. To claim a tax credit, a taxpayer must apply to the county assessor for the county in which the taxpayer's primary residence is located and submit a decision letter from the U.S. department of veterans affairs that sets forth their service-connected disability rating. The county assessor is required to determine whether the taxpayer is an eligible veteran and if so, the amount of the income tax credit the eligible veteran may claim, based on the property tax paid by the eligible veteran and the eligible veteran's service-connected disability rating. The county assessor is required to issue a tax credit certificate to an eligible veteran in an amount equal to the amount of the tax credit that may be claimed. Upon the death of an eligible veteran, the eligible veteran's surviving spouse or legal dependents are eligible to claim the tax credit until specified events have occurred. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) designating September 14-20, 2025, as "Co-Responder Units and Behavioral Health Crisis Professionals Week" in Colorado. It honors professionals who work alongside law enforcement in crisis situations involving mental health or substance use, recognizing their role in de-escalating emergencies and connecting individuals to resources like counseling and housing. The resolution expresses legislative appreciation for their service but does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes.

Maddy summarySJR 25-007 is a ceremonial resolution proclaiming February 14 as "Colorado Read to Your Child Day." It does not create new laws or allocate funding but aims to raise public awareness about the importance of reading aloud to children for early literacy development. The resolution cites research linking early reading exposure to future academic success and reduced educational disparities. This resolution directly affects Colorado residents by designating an annual observance to encourage family reading habits, without implementing any concrete policy changes.

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.)