Rep. Tammy Story

Colorado law exempts the owner of a motor vehicle who is a member of the United States armed forces (member) from motor vehicle registration fees and sets the specific ownership tax at $1 while the member is serving outside the United States. This applies to personal motor vehicles and intrastate trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and semitrailers used to transport property. To qualify, the member must show the military order or evidence acceptable to the department of revenue (department) demonstrating that the member served outside the United States. The act repeals a requirement that the member sign an affidavit to qualify for the $1 specific ownership fee or to be exempt from the motor vehicle fee.     Colorado law exempts members from paying late fees for failing to renew a registration for a vehicle if the member was serving outside the state when the registration period expired. The act sets the requirement to qualify for a late fee exception by requiring the member to show the military order or evidence acceptable to the department demonstrating that the member served outside of the state.     The department will notify the member that the vehicle or motor vehicle must not be driven during deployment.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies in its 2025 sunset review and report to sunset the kidney disease prevention and education task force.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act authorizes the clean fleet enterprise (enterprise) to incentivize, support, and accelerate the replacement of a truck that is part of a fleet and that is powered by a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine, is a model year of 2009 or earlier, and is registered, operable, and capable of independent roadway operation (aging diesel truck) with a diesel truck that is a model year of 2018 or later (new diesel truck) until December 31, 2031. The act also allows the enterprise to provide funding or financing through grant programs, rebate programs, revolving loan funds, or other strategies to help owners and operators of aging diesel truck fleets finance the replacement of aging diesel trucks with new diesel trucks to reduce the up-front costs of acquiring new diesel trucks until December 31, 2031.     The enterprise may use the clean fleet enterprise fund to provide money to support the replacement of aging diesel trucks with new diesel trucks, but the enterprise is required to ensure that it does not expend more than 20% of the fund's income during a state fiscal year for the support.     To qualify for any money provided by the enterprise for the replacement of aging diesel trucks with new diesel trucks, the act requires a purchaser of the new diesel truck to surrender an aging diesel truck to the seller of the new truck. The seller of the new diesel truck must decommission the aging diesel truck by drilling a hole in the engine's block and cutting the chassis rails in half. The seller must be an authorized dealer of new diesel trucks who must certify that the new diesel truck meets all state and federal emissions and safety standards for its model year.     The enterprise must prioritize applications to replace aging diesel trucks from businesses that are privately owned, independently owned, or have limited access to capital. The enterprise is not allowed to accept an application from the owner or operator of a motor vehicle fleet that owns, leases, or operates more than 50 heavy-duty motor vehicles or from a business entity with annual gross revenue exceeding $100 million. The enterprise is required to prioritize the replacement of an aging diesel truck that has a model year of no later than 2006.     The act expands the business purpose of the enterprise to include providing incentives and support for refrigerated transport units powered by zero emission technology. The act allows the enterprise to exercise its rights and powers without regard to the state 'Procurement Code'.     The act requires the enterprise to annually prepare a report that includes the estimated pollution reduction benefits of the enterprise. The enterprise must seek to ensure that all projects funded by the enterprise achieve measurable results and outcomes.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires that, beginning July 1, 2027, a death certification professional ensure that they are aware of the most recent epilepsy-related death certification recommendations from a nationally recognized and reputable organization. On or before June 1, 2027, the department of public health and environment (department) must electronically notify all registered medical certifier users of the Colorado vital events system of this requirement.     If a death certification professional determines that the cause of an individual's death is consistent with known or suspected sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, the act requires the professional to ensure that the individual's death certificate identifies epilepsy as a contributing cause or a suspected cause of death.     The act allows the department to provide online guidelines for clinicians and medical certifiers for death certificates regarding epilepsy-related deaths, including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Beginning July 1, 2026, if a petitioner is under 18 years old at the time of filing a petition seeking to change the petitioner's name, the act requires the court to suppress the record unless the petitioner was previously convicted of a felony. The act authorizes the court to use the suppressed court record for administrative purposes, but the court is prohibited from publishing the petitioner's name or the petitioner's new name online. A petitioner who is under 18 years old is not required to give public notice of the name change. The act authorizes an individual to access a suppressed court record without a court order if the individual obtains verbal consent from a party to the case and submits an affidavit to the court, upon penalty of perjury, that the individual has obtained the verbal consent.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Existing law allows voters to circulate a petition for a ballot question requiring a local government to engage in collective bargaining with the fire department for the local government and extend coverage of the 'Colorado Firefighter Safety Act' to firefighters employed by the local government (question). The question may be added to the ballot for any general election, as defined in the 'Colorado Firefighter Safety Act'. The act changes the definition of a general election for the purpose of determining when a question may be added to the ballot to include a coordinated election as defined in the 'Uniform Election Code of 1992'. The act also changes the definition of a general election to refer to a regular municipal election rather than a general municipal election to align the language with other municipal elections law.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution recognizes Nowruz, the traditional Iranian New Year, as a celebration of renewal and hope for Middle Eastern communities in Colorado and around the world. The bill extends solidarity with the Iranian people and specifically honors the Women, Life, Freedom movement advocating for gender equality and civil rights in Iran. It also mourns civilians lost to violence and expresses hope for a future where all people in Iran can live with freedom, justice, and full protection of their human rights. This resolution does not change laws or policies but serves as a formal statement of recognition and support from the Colorado General Assembly.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Interstate 25 in Denver County, stretching from Mile Marker 204.51 to 213.13, as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway to honor his public service. The legislation authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept donations and place signs marking this stretch of road, while also allowing for cooperation with local authorities to maintain those signs. This measure directly affects the state's transportation department and the communities along the designated highway by creating a permanent tribute to former Governor Roy Romer.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and designates April 29, 2026, as Colorado Denim Day. The resolution commemorates the global campaign where people wear jeans to protest victim-blaming attitudes toward sexual assault survivors. It also acknowledges the work of organizations like the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault in supporting survivors and addressing sexual violence. The measure is a symbolic gesture that does not change laws or allocate funding, but instead raises public awareness about the issue.

Maddy summaryThis House Joint Resolution formally asks the people of Colorado to remember the Holocaust and acknowledges specific survivors, including Fred Bryner, Samuel Weinberg, and Silvia Weinberg. It encourages schools and universities to promote antibias and bullying prevention programs to stop antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish students. The resolution also declares that citizens should understand the power of words and commit to preventing future atrocities, and it directs copies of the document to various local and national organizations focused on Holocaust education and remembrance.