The act authorizes the Colorado energy office to award grants for retrofitting existing buildings for installation of geothermal systems for heating and cooling under the single-structure geothermal grant that the office administers, and for generating geothermal energy through direct air capture technology under the geothermal electricity generation grant that the office administers. The act establishes labor standards for thermal energy public projects that a state agency or a state institution of higher education procures. In Colorado, a gas distribution utility providing gas service to more than 90,000 retail customers is required to file with the public utilities commission (commission) a clean heat plan, which plan demonstrates how the utility will use clean heat resources to meet clean heat targets for reducing carbon dioxide and methane emissions. The act adds thermal energy as an eligible clean heat resource for helping to meet clean heat targets. A gas utility that the commission regulates is authorized to apply for review and approval of the use of thermal energy networks in the gas utility's service area. A gas utility that the commission regulates and that serves more than 500,000 customers is additionally required to propose pilot thermal energy network projects for the commission's review and approval. The commission shall initiate a proceeding on or before January 1, 2025, to determine if rule-making or legislative changes are needed to facilitate the development of thermal energy in the state. The act repeals the "Geothermal Heat Suppliers Act", which requires geothermal heat suppliers to obtain operating permits from the commission. APPROVED by Governor May 11, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Sponsored bills
The bill modifies the accessible housing standards and specifications exception process for housing for which building plans are submitted to a governmental unit on or after July 1, 2023. A governmental unit may only grant exceptions to any particular accessible housing standard or specification when the governmental unit determines that the standard or specification is technically infeasible and would create an undue hardship. The determination must be in writing and must articulate the relevant undue hardship. Similarly, the bill requires that the alteration of walls or defining boundaries in housing that was under construction prior to July 1, 2023, must comply with certain minimum alteration requirements, unless there is a determination of undue hardship by the relevant governmental unit. However, even if a governmental unit makes a determination of undue hardship, the alterations must still comply with the minimum alteration requirements to the maximum extent feasible. The bill establishes that failure to comply with certain standards for accessible housing constitutes discrimination on the basis of a disability jointly and severally by the owner of the relevant property and any construction professionals who participate in the noncompliant construction or alteration of the relevant property. The bill creates a civil action for an individual with a disability subject to a failure or the attorney general. The bill requires that certain new construction projects and alterations provide a certain number of type B dwelling units or type B multistory dwelling units, and in some cases at least one type A dwelling unit or type A multistory dwelling unit, based on the number of dwelling units in the construction project or alteration. The bill prohibits a landlord from refusing a request by an individual with a disability to make modifications, at the individual's own expense, necessary to afford the individual the full enjoyment of the property. The bill requires newly constructed housing to have: At least one building entrance on an accessible route, unless doing so would be an undue hardship; Fire alarms that are accessible to individuals with a disability, so long as the dwelling unit does not require individuals to purchase their own fire alarms; and Emergency exits that are accessible to individuals with a disability. The bill also states that a failure to ensure the following qualifies as discrimination against an individual with a disability: That all mailboxes assigned to dwelling units are fully accessible to any individual with a disability who lives in those dwelling units; and That all signage in dwelling units, including directories and elevator buttons, is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Lastly, the bill authorizes a court to extend: The answer date in an eviction proceeding if the defendant files a written request with the court for a reasonable accommodation pursuant to prohibited unfair housing practices; and The hearing date for a hearing required during a foreclosure proceeding if the borrower files a written request with the court for a reasonable accommodation pursuant to prohibited unfair housing practices.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
In 2019, the general assembly created the Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory (directory), established by the department of labor and employment (department), that lists registered apprenticeship program sponsors that operate programs in Colorado. The act expands the information the department requires apprenticeship programs to submit to include the credits, certificates, or other credentials earned or prepared for through a program; program completion metrics; and wage-related information. The directory must also include information regarding each program's registration information and registered apprenticeship program standards. The act requires the department, in its efforts to promote awareness of the directory, to conduct annual outreach that includes providing technical assistance and resources to promote apprenticeship openings. APPROVED by Governor April 17, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act updates information associated with Prader-Willi syndrome to conform to current laws and regulations. APPROVED by Governor March 31, 2023 EFFECTIVE March 31, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)