Rep. Brianna Titone

The department of regulatory agencies (DORA) conducted a sunset review of the cold case task force (task force) in the department of public safety (department) and recommended:Authorizing the executive director of the department to appoint additional task force members;Extending the task force until September 1, 2039; andChanging the type of sunset review that is performed by DORA.     The act implements DORA's recommendations.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act changes state law to reflect changes to federal law that expand the authority of states, counties, and tribal governments to enter into good neighbor agreements with the federal government to carry out recreation and improvement services on land by:Specifying that the Colorado state forest service may enter into good neighbor authority agreements with the United States department of the interior, the United States department of agriculture, or any agency of the United States department of the interior or United States department of agriculture; andClarifying that the Colorado state forest service is required to conduct, or contract with one or more entities to conduct, demonstration projects that utilize Colorado's good neighbor authority to implement forest management projects that improve forest health, resilience, wildlife habitat, or outdoor recreation opportunities.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires the declarant of a new planned community or condominium, prior to transfer of control from the declarant to the association of a planned community or condominium, to obtain and pay for a reserve study for the planned community or condominium. The study must estimate the projected costs of maintaining, repairing, or replacing the common elements or property of the planned community or condominium over a 30-year period. The reserve study must be conducted by an independent reserve study professional or other qualified professional with knowledge of industry standards and that has no business relationship with or financial interest in the declarant and is not a affiliate of the declarant.     When an association, other than a self-managed association, changes association management companies, the former association management company shall, within 45 days, deliver to the new association management company or the association, at no charge to the association, all association property, records, money, accounts, information, and other items or information specified in the act (property and records).     Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the former association management company shall pay the association $250 for each business day that it fails to timely return the association's property and records and is liable for all interest and late fees on late payments made by the association due to the former association management company's failure to turn over the property and records, as well as any other damages incurred by the association. In a civil action to recover the property and records or the payments owed to the association for the former association management company's failure to turn over the property and records, if the court finds that the former association management company's violation was willful, the former association management company shall be liable for treble the association's actual damages, plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act prohibits a person from:Identifying an agricultural product as being produced in the state when selling, marketing, advertising, or distributing the product unless the product is grown in the state; andUsing the Colorado proud designation or logo unless authorized by the department of agriculture.     A violation of these prohibitions constitutes a deceptive trade practice. There is no private right of action to enforce a violation of the prohibitions.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The fire and police pension association (association) provides disability retirement and survivor benefits (disability and survivor benefits) for eligible members of the association (members) who become disabled or die. The act recodifies and reorganizes the disability and survivor benefits statutes, removes outdated provisions, and clarifies ambiguous language. In addition, the act makes the following modifications to the disability and survivor benefits statutes:Removes the current requirement that the association require every member who applies for disability retirement benefits to have 3 independent medical exams and instead authorizes the board of the association (board) to appoint a medical advisor to assess the needs of each applicant for disability retirement benefits;Authorizes the board to adopt rules to streamline the appeal process for disability retirement benefit applicants who are denied benefits;Allows the association to require a member who is occupationally disabled to participate in a rehabilitation and retraining program to help the member gain additional skills and knowledge so the member can earn a wage doing a job other than being a police officer or firefighter;Clarifies that a member who is a total disability retirement benefit recipient will begin receiving a cost of living adjustment when the member starts receiving a total disability retirement benefit;Clarifies eligibility for a member to apply for disability retirement benefits; Repeals the statute that makes an employer liable for the payment of disability retirement benefits if a member's disability existed at the commencement of employment, the employment was not ordered by a court, and the employer failed to require the member to complete and file a health history form prior to commencing employment; andRequires members to fill out a health history form, which notifies the association of any preexisting health conditions, prior to employment.     The act does not change the amounts of disability retirement and survivor benefits or the length of time a member must be employed to be eligible for a benefit, nor does it require additional money from the state, employers, or members.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act adds a co-responder who is part of a co-responder community response to the list of community members who may petition the court for an extreme risk protection order. Health-care facilities, behavioral health treatment facilities, school districts, the state charter school institute, K-12 charter schools, private schools, and institutions of higher education are established as institutional petitioners that may petition a court for an extreme risk protection order.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Farmers Market Association to maintain and strengthen their partnership to support farmers' market managers across the state. It recognizes that most market managers are volunteers who need expertise, training, and resources to handle tasks like event planning, food safety, and vendor coordination. The resolution aims to help sustain local farmers' markets that provide fresh produce to communities and support small-scale producers who rely on these venues for sales.

Maddy summaryHJR 1017 is a joint resolution urging the federal government to fulfill its obligations under the 1986 Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement. It specifically calls for action to address infrastructure gaps affecting two tribes: the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes, who have settled water rights but cannot access or use them due to missing pipelines (e.g., from Lake Nighthorse) and deteriorating irrigation systems (like the PRIIP, requiring $126 million in repairs). The resolution highlights federal failures to fund operations, maintain infrastructure, and enable tribes to utilize their legally secured water for agriculture, municipal use, and economic development. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests federal action to resolve these longstanding barriers.

March 31 is currently known as 'Cesar Chavez Day' and may be voluntarily observed as a state legal holiday. The act repeals 'Cesar Chavez Day' and changes this voluntary legal holiday for March 31, 2026, and March 31, 2027, to instead be known as 'Farm Workers Day'.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution establishes March 31, 2026, as Farm Workers Day in Colorado to honor the contributions of agricultural workers to the state's economy and food supply. The measure recognizes that farm workers make up a significant portion of Colorado's rural workforce, including many immigrant and Latina women who face unique challenges in the industry. The resolution acknowledges the historical efforts of farm worker organizations that fought for better pay, safety, and union rights, while celebrating the dignity and hard work of those who grow and harvest food. Copies of the resolution will be sent to state officials and the UFW Foundation to commemorate this observance.