Rep. Monica Duran

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 25-017 designates the North Academy Bridge spanning Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs as the "Naval Aviation Pilot and Aviation Machinist Mate Petty Officer First Class Daniel T. Griffin Bridge." This resolution honors Daniel T. Griffin, recognized as the first Coloradan killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. It also allows the Colorado Department of Transportation to explore a cooperative agreement with the Colorado Springs City Council for the maintenance of the bridge's signs.

The bill requires the public utilities commission (commission) to evaluate electrical generation and grid resilience against geomagnetic storms (evaluation) and report the findings of the evaluation to the general assembly. The bill requires each electrical utility that is subject to the jurisdiction of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to annually submit a critical energy infrastructure information request to the federal energy regulatory commission. If the utility receives the permission, each of these electrical utilities must annually brief the general assembly on the utility's contingency action plan and any information necessary to: Evaluate the ability of and identify shortfalls to restoring electrical power operation, fuel delivery, and equipment function within specified time frames following certain types of geomagnetic storms; and Evaluate the certification of hardware and software monitoring and controlling systems for energy generation and distribution. The bill sets standards for the evaluation. Based on the evaluation, the commission shall adopt rules requiring an electrical utility to meet resiliency standards for geomagnetic storms. The rules include: Requiring the monitoring of the space weather prediction center of the national oceanic and atmospheric administration in order to isolate large power transformers and power generation from the grid; Mechanically isolating critical components if or when a coronal mass ejection is likely to cause geomagnetically induced currents; Restricting or closing fuel pipeline valves to mitigate damage in a sectional failure; Installing automatic neutral ground blocking devices in large power transformers; Ensuring that computer equipment can be mechanically isolated from the grid and sheltered from geomagnetically induced surges; Requiring all networked systems that operate electrical generation and distribution to be electronically and physically separable from the outside networks; and Requiring the cyber-certification of hardware and software that operate electrical generation and distribution. (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.)

The act requires a facility that uses animals for health-related research (health-related research facility) to offer a dog or cat to an animal shelter or a pet animal rescue for the purpose of adoption before euthanizing the animal. If the health-related research facility has an internal adoption program, the facility may first offer the dog or cat for adoption through the internal adoption program before offering the dog or cat to an animal shelter or a pet animal rescue. A health-related research facility that acts in good faith to transfer or adopt out a dog or cat to an animal shelter or a pet animal rescue is immune from civil liability for acts or circumstances related to or resulting from the transfer or internal adoption of the dog or cat. A health-related research facility must submit an annual report to the department of agriculture that includes the following information for the previous year: The total number of dogs and cats that the health-related research facility transferred to an animal shelter or a pet animal rescue for the purpose of adoption; The total number of dogs and cats that the health-related research facility adopted out through an internal adoption program; and The name and address of each animal shelter or pet animal rescue to which the health-related research facility transferred a dog or cat for the purpose of adoption.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act: Prohibits a person from offering, displaying, or advertising pricing information for a good, service, or property unless the person clearly and conspicuously discloses the maximum total (total price) of all amounts that a person may pay for the good, service, or property, not including a government charge or shipping charge unless voluntarily included (total price disclosure requirement); Prohibits a person from misrepresenting the nature and purpose of pricing information for a good, service, or property; Requires a person to clearly and conspicuously disclose the nature and purpose of pricing information for a good, service, or property that is not part of the total price; and Prohibits a landlord from requiring a tenant to pay certain fees, charges, or amounts or including in a written rental agreement a provision that requires the tenant to pay a fee, charge, or amount that is prohibited by the act. A person complies with the disclosure requirements if the person does not use deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable acts or practices related to the pricing of goods, services, or property and if the person: Is a food and beverage service establishment that includes a disclosure in the total price for a good or service the amount of any mandatory service charge and how the mandatory service charge is distributed; Can demonstrate that the total price of services the person offers is indeterminate at the time of the offer and clearly and conspicuously discloses the factors that determine the total price, any mandatory fees associated with the transaction, and that the total price may vary; Can demonstrate that the person is governed by and compliant with applicable federal law, rule, or regulation regarding pricing transparency for the particular transaction at issue; Can demonstrate that any fees, costs, or amounts in addition to the total price are associated with real estate settlement services and are not broker commissions or fees; Can demonstrate that the person is providing broadband internet access service or is a cable operator or broadcast satellite provider and is compliant with specified federal law; or Is a delivery network company that clearly and conspicuously discloses that an additional flat fee, variable fee, or percentage fee is charged, any mandatory fees associated with the transaction, and that the total price for the services may vary and complies with other requirements related to disclosure of the additional fee. A landlord or landlord's agent is not required to include, in the required disclosure, the actual amount charged for utility services provided to a tenant's dwelling unit. Additionally, a person is exempt from the act if the person is governed by federal law that preempts state law. A violation of the act constitutes a deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable act or practice and is subject to penalties under the "Colorado Consumer Protection Act". In addition to any other remedies available by law or in equity, in a dispute regarding property, a person aggrieved by a violation may send a written demand to the alleged violator: For reimbursement of any fee, charge, or amount unlawfully imposed and for any actual damages suffered; or To notify the alleged violator of their refusal to pay a prohibited fee, charge, or amount unlawfully imposed. If an alleged violator declines to make full legal tender of all fees, charges, amounts, or damages demanded or refuses to cease charging the aggrieved person within 14 days after receiving the written demand, the person is liable for actual damages plus 18% interest, compounded annually. The attorney general may adopt rules to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act makes the following changes to current law regarding individuals to whom the department of labor and employment (department) provides vocational rehabilitation services (services): Eliminates the requirement that an individual with a disability requires financial assistance to participate; Allows the department to consider financial need before providing services during a period of cost containment to prevent or manage a wait list for services due to insufficient financial resources; Eliminates the requirement that an individual with a disability, or the individual's legally and financially responsible relative, must contribute toward the cost of their services to the extent that they are financially able; and To align Colorado law with federal law, eliminates the requirement that the department provide services only to individuals who are present in the state at the time of filing an application for the services and can satisfactorily achieve rehabilitation.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires that ammunition sold at retail must be accessible to a purchaser or transferee only with the assistance of the vendor, and the act prohibits the retail sale of ammunition to a person who is younger than 21 years of age. The act includes exceptions for in-person sales to persons who are 18-20 years of age at shooting ranges, who are members of the military and veterans, who have a hunter education certification, who are protected by a protection order, or who were born on or before January 28, 2007; sales to on-duty peace officers; and sales of rimfire ammunition. Unlawful sale of ammunition by violating either requirement is a civil infraction; except that a second or subsequent violation is a class 1 misdemeanor. The act requires a retail ammunition vendor who is shipping ammunition to use a delivery service that verifies that the person receiving the ammunition is 21 years of age. The act requires a retail ammunition deliverer to comply with federal law regarding the labeling and packaging of ammunition. When delivering a package containing ammunition sold at retail, the act requires a retail ammunition deliverer to verify that the person receiving the delivery is 21 years of age or older and obtain written acknowledgment of receipt from the recipient. Notwithstanding the age verification requirement, a retail ammunition deliverer may verify and deliver ammunition to a person who was born on or before January 28, 2007. The age verification and written notification requirements do not apply to a retail ammunition deliverer who does not know that the package contains ammunition because the sender failed to notify the deliverer that the package contains ammunition. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Under current law, a "preneed contract" is a contract, agreement, or mutual understanding, or any security or other instrument that is convertible into a contract, agreement, or mutual understanding, whereby, upon the death of the preneed contract beneficiary, a final resting place, merchandise, or services are provided or performed in connection with the final disposition of the beneficiary's body. The act states that a preneed contract does not include a transportation protection agreement, which is an agreement that primarily provides for the coordination and arrangement, by a third party that is not a general provider, of services related to: The preparation of human remains for the purpose of transportation; or The transportation of human remains. The act also makes it a deceptive trade practice under the "Colorado Consumer Protection Act" as well as an unlawful act under the "Mortuary Science Code" for a funeral director to commit theft of money that a client or prospective client paid for funeral services. The act also changes the date by which an applicant for a provisional funeral director, mortuary science practitioner, embalmer, cremationist, or natural reductionist license must demonstrate at least 4,000 hours of work experience from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires a gun show promoter to prepare a security plan and submit the security plan to each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the gun show. The act places certain requirements on a gun show promoter, including requiring the promoter to: Have liability insurance for the gun show; Implement security measures at the gun show, including monitoring all entrances and exits and providing video surveillance of the gun show parking area and main entrance and exit; Prohibit persons under 18 years of age from entering the gun show unless the person is accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian; For each customer who leaves with a purchased firearm, verify that the firearm has been delivered in compliance with the required the 3-day waiting period; and Post certain notices at the gun show. Violating any of the above provisions is unlawful gun show management, which is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor and, in addition to the criminal penalty, the promoter is prohibited from acting as a gun show promoter for 5 years. The act defines a "gun collectors show" as an event sponsored to facilitate the purchase, sale, offer for sale, or collection of only curios or relics or antique firearms, and not any other type of firearm. Gun collectors shows are not gun shows under the act. The act prohibits a person from participating in a gun show as a gun show vendor if the person is not a federal firearms licencee, does not hold a valid state firearms dealer permit, has been convicted of a second offense of unlawful gun show vendor activity as described in the act, or has not completed a gun show certification for the gun show promoter as required in the act. Unlawful participation in a gun show as a gun show vendor is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor. Before participating in a gun show, a gun show vendor is required to certify to the gun show promoter that the vendor satisfies the requirements to be a gun show vendor and will comply with federal, state, and local laws while participating in the gun show. While participating in a gun show, a gun show vendor shall display copies of the vendor's federal firearms license and state firearms dealer permit, keep firearms unloaded and securely affixed to the vendor's countertop or wall, display ammunition in accordance with state and federal law, and include with each sold firearm written information describing secure storage and lost or stolen firearm reporting requirements. Violating any of these provisions is unlawful gun show vendor activity, which is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor and the person is prohibited from participating as a vendor at a gun show. The act maintains the requirement in existing law that a gun show vendor conduct a background check for each firearm transfer at a gun show, but removes the maximum fee a licensed gun dealer may charge for each background check conducted at a gun show. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act creates an additional framework for insurance rebate law to allow usage of insurance rebates and related practices in a manner that meets specified criteria to maintain consumer protections. In provisions regarding unfair and deceptive trade practices in insurance, the act identifies, as an additional practice that shall not be construed as falling within the definition of discrimination or rebates, the practice of offering or providing a value-added product or service not specified in the insurance policy, at no cost or at a reduced cost, if the product or service: Relates to the insurance coverage; and Is primarily aimed to: Provide loss mitigation or loss control; Reduce claim costs or claim settlement costs; Provide education about liability risk or risk of loss to individuals or property; Monitor or assess risk, identify sources of risk, or develop strategies for eliminating or reducing risk; Enhance health; Promote financial wellness through items such as educational or financial planning services; Provide post-loss services; Encourage behavioral changes to improve the health or reduce the risk of death or disability of a customer; or Assist in the administration of employee or retiree benefit insurance coverage. The act implements additional provisions governing the usage of insurance rebates, including requirements to offer such rebates at a reasonable cost and in a manner that is not unfairly discriminatory and that provides certain other customer protections. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires the department of public health and environment (department), to the extent that funding is available as part of the department's green business network, to: Provide annual training that includes food waste prevention and reduction strategies; Develop a food waste reduction guidance document (document); Place the document on the department's public website; and Update the document at least annually. The act suggests means by which retail food establishments may donate or resell safe food. The act states that, on and after January 1, 2026, grocery stores are encouraged to: Clearly display the ingredients of items of prepared food; and Use "best if used or frozen by" dates rather than "sell by" dates upon prepared items of food. Current law provides civil and criminal immunity to a farmer, retail food establishment, correctional facility, school district, hospital, or processor, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of food that donates items of food to a nonprofit organization for use or distribution in providing assistance to individuals in need. The act extends this immunity to apply to: Faith-based organizations that donate food; and Food donations to faith-based organizations and individuals. The act also clarifies that the immunity from liability applies regardless of whether the donated food is alleged to have caused illness or death. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)