The act defines school zones as all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school property boundary, except state highways unless they are designated as part of a school zone with the written approval of the Colorado department of transportation, and including school zones established before August 12, 2026, that are 200 feet or more from a school property boundary. A school zone must have appropriate signs posted indicating it is a school zone and that the penalties and surcharges within the school zone will be doubled. The act allows a local government that has jurisdiction over a school zone to reduce the size of a school zone after first holding a public hearing, but the act does not allow a school zone to be reduced to less than 200 feet from a school property boundary. Additionally, the act does not prohibit local governments from expanding school zones to beyond 1,000 feet from a school property boundary. The act limits requirements the state, a county, a city and county, or a municipality must complete regarding placing and using an automated vehicle identification system along a safe route to school. The act allows a local government to designate a portion of a roadway immediately adjacent to a school property boundary as a school street and requires the local government to post signs indicating it is a school street if the local government has jurisdiction to do so. The local government may close a school street to traffic. If there is traffic on the school street, the maximum speed limit is 10 miles per hour and vehicles must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists, or micromobility users. The local government may suspend additional traffic provisions on the school street that endanger pedestrians, bicyclists, or micromobility users.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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The act establishes a bill of rights for adults subject to guardianship (ward) and details what decisions a court may authorize a guardian to make on behalf of a ward. The act updates the duties of a guardian to include a duty to notify the ward at least 30 days before the ward is permanently moved to a nursing home, mental health institution, or other facility that restricts the ward's ability to leave the facility or have visitors. On or before November 1, 2027, and November 1, 2028, the act requires the state court administrator's office to submit a report detailing the fiscal impact of this act on the judicial department to the joint budget committee, the senate judiciary committee, and the house of representatives judiciary committee, or their successor committees, and requires the state court administrator's office to create the report using existing data sources.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act updates county enforcement authority in connection with:Providing for and compelling the removal of rubbish, including trash, junk, and garbage, from property within the county;Providing for and compelling the removal of weeds and brush from property within the county;Providing for and compelling the removal or securing of any building or structure in the county, with specified exceptions, that, due to its condition, presents a substantial danger or hazard to the public health, safety, or welfare; andThe unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, or use of any building or structure in the county or the use of any land in the county in violation of a zoning resolution or ordinance adopted by the board of county commissioners. For the removal actions described above, the act requires county ordinances to include provisions for applying for and exercising an administrative entry and seizure warrant. The act also allows counties to assess the reasonable costs of removal, including a 10% fee for inspection and incidental costs, as a lien against the property. The act modifies the civil penalties that a court may impose and the factors that a court must consider in determining the appropriate civil penalty when a property owner violates a county ordinance or building code regarding the removal of rubbish or weeds and brush from property within the county, the removal or securing of a building or structure in the county, or the unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, or use of a building or structure in the county.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act extends the implementation dates for capping family copayments for child care at 7% of family income, for paying child care providers in advance of the provision of services, and for utilizing grants and contracts to improve access to child care for underserved populations to August 1, 2028. The act modifies existing reporting requirements to include the total amount of child care assistance program (CCCAP) allocation that is spent by the department and each county on administrative expenses, county indirect expenses, program implementation costs, and direct service expenses.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act prohibits a school district, a charter school authorized by a school district, a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute, the state charter school institute, or a board of cooperative services that operates one or more public schools (LEP) from discriminating against an individual who has a disability and who is entitled to a free public education (qualified student with a disability) based on the student's disability. The act requires an LEP to allow a qualified student with a disability to participate in and enjoy the benefits of the provider's programs, services, or activities in the same manner as a student without a disability. When providing any aid, benefit, or service, an LEP shall not, based on disability:Deny a qualified student with a disability an opportunity to participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service in a manner that is equal to that afforded to other students;Provide a qualified student with a disability with an aid, benefit, or service that is not as effective as that provided to other students;Provide different or separate aids, benefits, or services to a qualified student with a disability unless such action is necessary to provide a qualified student with a disability with aids, benefits, or services that are as effective as those provided to other students;Aid or perpetuate discrimination against a qualified student with a disability by providing significant assistance to an agency, an organization, or a person that discriminates on the basis of disability in providing any aid, benefit, or service to beneficiaries of the LEP's educational program or activity; orOtherwise limit a qualified student with a disability in the enjoyment of any right, privilege, advantage, or opportunity enjoyed by students without disabilities who receive an educational aid, benefit, or service. The act prohibits an LEP from using criteria or methods of administration that:Have the effect of subjecting a qualified student with a disability to discrimination on the basis of their disability;Have the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing accomplishment of the objectives of the LEP's program or activity with respect to a qualified student with a disability; orPerpetuate the discrimination of another LEP if both LEPs are subject to common administrative control or are agencies of the state. In determining the site or location of a facility, an LEP may not make selections that:Exclude a qualified student with a disability from a facility or deny a qualified student with a disability the benefits of a facility, or that otherwise subject a qualified student with a disability to discrimination; orHave the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing the accomplishment of the objectives of the program or activity with respect to a qualified student with a disability. The act requires an LEP to:Adopt a disability rights grievance process that incorporates appropriate due process standards and that is satisfied by following the grievance procedures in section 504 of the federal 'Rehabilitation Act of 1973' and to designate at least one responsible employee to oversee compliance with the provisions of the act relating to discrimination and to serve as a point of contact for students and families;Make a reasonable modification to a policy, practice, or procedure when the modification is necessary to avoid discriminating against a qualified student with a disability on the basis of disability;Provide a reasonable accommodation to a parent with a disability who is seeking appropriate access to programs and activities for parents in relation to that parent's child;Ensure that a communication to a qualified student with a disability is as effective as a communication to a student without a disability and to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford a qualified student with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a service, program, or activity of the LEP;Ensure that a qualified student with a disability is not denied access to the LEP's services, programs, or activities because of facilities inaccessible to a qualified student with a disability;Provide a free and appropriate public education to each qualified student with a disability who is in the LEP's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the student's disability, and if necessary, ensure adequate transportation to and from any placement premises;Provide for the free and appropriate public education of each qualified student with a disability with students without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of the qualified student with a disability; Place a qualified student with a disability in the regular educational environment operated by the LEP unless it is demonstrated that the education of the student in that environment with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily;Provide nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities in such a manner as is necessary to afford a qualified student with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in the services and activities;At least annually, identify and locate every qualified student with a disability residing in the LEP's jurisdiction who is not receiving a free and appropriate public education and take appropriate steps, with the permission of the qualified student with a disability and their parent, to evaluate the student; Ensure that a qualified student with a disability is free from harassment that is sufficiently serious to create a hostile environment or interfere with or limit the student's ability to participate in or benefit from the LEP's services, activities, or opportunities; andConduct evaluations and reevaluations of a student in the student's primary language, communicate with a parent with limited English proficiency in a manner that provides meaningful access to information, and provide interpretation and translation services for communication with a parent with limited English proficiency. Subject to sufficient funding or resources, certain provisions of the act take effect, which:Allow the department of education (department) to provide training and technical assistance to LEPs about the requirements of the act;Establish a complaint process and specifies that the department may investigate and resolve complaints of alleged violations of the provisions of the act pursuant to the complaint process;Specify the circumstances under which an individual may file a complaint with the department;Allow the department to order specified remedies as determined necessary by the department to remedy violations occurring pursuant to the act and to prospectively ensure compliance, if the department finds a violation; and Allow the state board of education (board) to withhold state funds from an LEP if the board determines that the LEP has intentionally violated the provisions of the act and demonstrated an unwillingness to enter into a corrective action plan to address the violation. No later than December 31, 2026, the board shall adopt rules that establish procedures for the withholding of funds. The board must provide due process to an LEP before state funds are withheld. The act prohibits an LEP from coercing, intimidating, threatening, or discriminating against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by the act, the federal 'Individuals with Disabilities Education Act', the 'Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990', the 'Exceptional Children's Educational Act', or the 'Protection of Students from Restraint and Seclusion Act' (anti-discrimination laws) because an individual:Makes, has made, or because an LEP believes an individual has made or will make, a complaint pursuant to an anti-discrimination law; orTestifies, assists, or participates in any manner in an investigation or proceeding regarding an allegation or complaint pursuant to an anti-discrimination law.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
On and after July 1, 2027, a manufacturer of a hair relaxer product or a hairpiece product (covered hair product) is prohibited from selling or distributing a covered hair product in the state that contains an intentionally added carcinogen or reproductive toxicant unless the covered hair product has a warning label that notifies the consumer that the covered hair product contains an intentionally added carcinogen or reproductive toxicant, which warning label must comply with certain requirements depending on whether the covered hair product contains an intentionally added carcinogen, an intentionally added reproductive toxicant, or both (warning label requirement). The warning label requirement does not apply to a covered hair product that is sold or distributed to a commercial entity for professional use. On and after July 1, 2028, the attorney general may adopt rules updating the warning label requirement. A violation of the warning label requirement constitutes a deceptive trade practice.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Section 3 of the act defines 'advanced transmission technologies' as hardware or software technologies that increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability, or resiliency of an existing or new transmission facility. Section 4 requires the Colorado public utilities commission (commission) to adopt rules requiring a regulated electric utility to consider advanced transmission technologies in the electric utility's 10-year transmission plan and to identify strategies to reduce the costs of, and obtain financing for, new transmission. The commission is directed to minimize duplication of transmission planning processes, technical studies, or analyses conducted through an applicable regional transmission organization or independent system operator. Section 5 requires the Colorado electric transmission authority (authority) to, as much as practicable, engage and coordinate with formal subregional transmission planning organizations. Under current law, the authority is required to annually submit a report of its activities, including a complete operating and financial statement covering the operations of the authority for the previous state fiscal year, to certain committees of reference of the general assembly. Section 6 requires that the annual report also include a description of the activities and accomplishments of the authority during the previous calendar year. Section 7 adds a nonvoting seat to the authority's board of directors for the director of the commission or the director's designee. Section 8 clarifies that a project that includes advanced transmission technologies and meets certain criteria is an energy sector public works project. Section 9 states that an energy sector public works project that includes advanced transmission technologies must meet applicable prevailing wage requirements and apprenticeship utilization requirements.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act allows persons who are indigenous to receive compensation for traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices and related expenses under the 'Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act', which includes:Traditional counseling and healing from an elder or spiritual healer;Traditional ceremonial practices;Ceremonial burials, including clothing for the deceased, meals, and other related expenses;Child care during burial ceremonies;Reimbursement for honoraria provided in connection with ceremonial services; andReasonable travel expenses related to the traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act exempts pilates and barre teacher training courses, programs, and schools from regulation under the 'Private Occupational Education Act of 1981'.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires a school district that is considering submitting to its voters a ballot question concerning capital construction to solicit proposals from its charter schools about their capital construction needs. The act specifies the solicitation process requirements and requires the school district to notify a charter school that submitted a proposal whether the school district will include the charter school's capital construction needs in the school district's ballot question or questions. If the school district decides not to include the charter school's capital construction needs in the ballot question, the notification must include the school district's reasons for the exclusion and must include an opportunity for the charter school to address issues raised by the school district. If the school district and charter school mutually agree to the content of the charter school's proposal, a school district that voluntarily submits to its voters a ballot question for the charter school's capital construction needs is not required to comply with the required solicitation process.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)