The act prohibits an employer engaged in a business from taking adverse action against an employee who accepts a cash gratuity offered by a patron of the business. The act provides exceptions for: Employers regulated by the division of gaming in the department of revenue; Employees licensed, certified, or registered pursuant to the title governing professions and occupations and who are required to maintain such licensure, certification, or registration as a condition of employment with their employers; Employees working in a health-care facility regulated by the department of public health and environment; Employees working for the program of all-inclusive care for the elderly; and Employees providing housing and services to adults 60 years of age or older. VETOED by Governor May 23, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Sponsored bills
The act creates new and modifies existing state income tax credits to maximize federal government funding for taxpayers engaged in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing in Colorado. Specifically, the act creates a refund mechanism, available from fiscal year 2023-24 through fiscal year 2028-29, that allows a taxpayer engaged in semiconductor or advanced manufacturing to apply for conditional approval of one or more types of income tax credits based on a specified project in the state and includes the maximum amount of credit for which the taxpayer may claim a refund of 80% (refund mechanism). The income tax credit types that may be the basis for such a refund are: The 3 enterprise zone credits for qualified investments, business facility employees, and expenditures for research and experimental activities; The Colorado job growth incentive income tax credit; and 3 semiconductor manufacturing zone (CHIPS zone) credits for qualified investments, business facility employees, and expenditures for research and experimental activities, the zones for which are created in the act. Semiconductor and advanced manufacturers must apply to the Colorado economic development commission (commission) for a refund certificate approving their project and setting the maximum amount of income tax credits that the manufacturer may claim as the basis for a refund in connection with the project. In reviewing applications, the commission must prioritize taxpayers engaged in semiconductor or advanced manufacturing that have received or applied to receive matching funds under the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021", the "Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022" (CHIPS Act), or other similar federal legislation. The CHIPS zone tax credit program created by the act is similar to the enterprise zone tax credit program in that a local government may propose an area for designation as a CHIPS zone, which designation may promote the local economy through incentivizing businesses to locate in the area. A taxpayer located in a CHIPS zone may be eligible to claim an income tax credit under existing enterprise zone statutes for the taxpayer's qualified investments, business facility employees, or research and experimental activities. However, the tax benefits of CHIPS zones are only available to taxpayers engaged in semiconductor manufacturing, as that term is defined under the CHIPS Act. All CHIPS zone tax credits must be precertified by the CHIPS zone administrator. All such credits may be used to offset a taxpayer's income tax liability or carried forward for a period not to exceed 12 years. Or, if the credits are included in a refund certificate approved by the commission pursuant to the refund mechanism, they may be used to claim a refund of 80% of the total amount of the credits. CHIPS zones may be modified or terminated at the discretion of the commission beginning in income tax year 2023 and through income tax year 2040; however, all CHIPS zones will terminate as a matter of law on December 31, 2040. The act creates, within the office of economic development (office), a temporary task force comprised of state legislators, representatives of the office, and citizens with industry experience to study the effectiveness of financial incentives and other resources intended to attract and promote the development of advanced manufacturing and other science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) companies in Colorado during the 2023 legislative interim. The task force is required to report its findings to the general assembly and the governor by a specified date. The act amends the law regarding confidential taxpayer information to allow the department of revenue to disclose pertinent information to the office as necessary to administer the CHIPS zone tax credit program. For th 2023-24 state fiscal year, $300,1098 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of revenue and $117,583 is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the governor for implementation of the act. APPROVED by Governor May 20, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 20, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Current law requires an electric retail utility (utility) to offer a net metering credit as the means of purchasing output from a community solar garden (CSG) located within the utility's service territory and establishes the means of calculating the net metering credit. The act maintains that calculation if the CSG indicates to the utility that the CSG's subscribers' bill credits change annually. However, if the CSG indicates to the utility that the CSG's subscribers' bill credits remain fixed, the act provides a different calculation for determining the net metering credit. The public utilities commission shall allow a utility to recover costs incurred in implementing and maintaining the net metering credit billing systems. 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.)
Current law allows a legislative measure to include a greenhouse gas emissions report (report) prepared by the nonpartisan staff of the legislative council that indicates whether the legislative measure is likely to cause a net increase, decrease, or indeterminate amount of greenhouse gas pollution in the 10-year period following its enactment. A report must consider new sources of emissions, increases or decreases in existing sources of emissions, and any impact on sequestration of emissions. The department of natural resources, the Colorado energy office, and other state agencies with relevant subject matter expertise are required to cooperate with and provide information, if requested, to the legislative council staff to assist in the preparation of a report. The bill requires the director of research of the legislative council (director) to prepare a preliminary report that requires an analysis on whether a properly submitted initiative has a net change in greenhouse gas emissions that directly impacts the following sectors: Electric power; Natural gas and oil systems; Transportation; Residential, commercial, or industrial fuel use; Industrial processes; Coal mining and abandoned mines; Waste management; Land use, land use change, or forestry; and Agriculture. The director is required to provide proponents of the proposed initiative, or their representatives, and the secretary of state with the preliminary report no later than the time of the title board meeting at which the proposed initiated measure is to be considered. The bill requires the ballot title of a measure that has a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions as indicated by the preliminary report to begin with "Shall there be an increase in greenhouse gas emissions...". The ballot title of a measure that has a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions as indicated by the preliminary report must begin with "Shall there be a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions...". If it is determined in the preliminary report that the proposed initiative is likely to directly cause a net increase or decrease, excluding any de minimis net changes, in greenhouse gas pollution in the 10-year period following the potential enactment of the initiative, staff of the legislative council are required to prepare a full report. The department of natural resources, the Colorado energy office, and other state agencies with relevant subject matter expertise are required to assist the staff of the legislative council with information in preparation of the report if requested. Proponents may file a motion for a rehearing with the secretary of state within 7 days after the title board sets the initiative's title on the grounds that the preliminary report is misleading or prejudicial. The title board may modify the preliminary report based on information presented at the rehearing. If the title board modifies the report, the secretary of state shall provide the director with a copy of the amended report and the director shall post the new version of the report on the legislative council's website. The bill further requires the ballot information booklet to include any required preliminary report for any statewide measure and provide information on how to obtain the full greenhouse gas emissions report if one is available. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The act: Requires the water quality control commission (commission) to conduct outreach and gather input from disproportionately impacted communities regarding the commission's rule-making proceedings, licensing proceedings, and adjudicatory hearings (section 1 of the act); Requires the commission to utilize the criteria promulgated by rule by the commission in designating waters as use-protected (section 2); and Creates a 5-year statute of limitations for bringing actions alleging violations of the "Colorado Water Quality Control Act" (water quality control act) or any rules or orders under the water quality control act (section 3).(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Colorado law allows the department of revenue (department) to register a vehicle for less than a year so that all of the vehicle owner's registrations for all of the owner's vehicles expire at the same time. The taxes and fees are prorated. Section 2 of the act clarifies that the surcharges are also prorated. Colorado law sets the late registration fee for camper trailers and multipurpose trailers at $10. Section 3 sets trailer coaches at the same late registration fee. Colorado law prohibits transferring a license plate with a vehicle, but exempts certain plates. Section 4 adds distinctive special license plates, group special license plates, and special alumni license plates to the exemption and adds intrastate commercial vehicle, trailers, and special mobile machinery to the types of plates that cannot be transferred. Section 5 clarifies that the owner of an inoperable vehicle undergoing maintenance, repair, restoration, rebuilding, or renovation must pay an annual specific ownership tax. Upon payment of the tax, the owner will receive evidence of registration to affix to the vehicle, such as a license plate or decal, and isn't charged surcharges or fees if the owner keeps the vehicle on private property for the purposes of maintenance, repair, restoration, rebuilding, or renovation. Section 6 creates a license plate to celebrate Colorado's 150th anniversary of becoming a state. Colorado law requires the owner of a truck to present a certified scale ticket showing the weight of the truck if the truck is subject to certain weight-based fees, has not been modified, and weighs between 4,500 pounds and10,000 pounds. Section 7 authorize the owner to present a manufacturer's certificate of origin, certificate of title, certified scale ticket, or other documents or systems as determined by rule. The department uses a table to compute certain registration fees that are based on weight for vehicles that weigh less than 10,000 pounds. Section 8 lowers this weight to 6,000 pounds. Colorado law requires an applicant for a certificate of title for a motor or off-highway vehicle to provide any lien document as an original or as a copy, which must be certified by the lienholder to be a true copy of the original lien. Similarly, a lienholder that is filing a lien must file any lien document as an original or a copy, which the lienholder must certify is a true copy. Sections 9, 10, and 11 repeal the requirement that the lienholder certify the copy. Section 9 and 11 also remove language that says that vehicle lien filings are public records. To release a lien on a motor or off-highway vehicle, current law requires the lienholder to file a lien release, which must include a written declaration that is made under penalty of perjury. Section 12 adds an option that the lienholder may file a notarized declaration. Colorado law requires a motor vehicle dealer to pay a $25 fee to the executive director of the department for a certificate of title. Section 13 clarifies that the fee can be paid to a county clerk or third-party vendor, which is typically the entity that is processing the transaction. Section 14 splits this $25 dollar fee, if paid to the county clerk, so that the county clerk retains $21.80 and forwards the rest to the department. Colorado law requires a vehicle owner to obtain a bonded certificate of title if the vehicle owner cannot present the ordinary proof of ownership. To obtain a title in lieu of a bonded title on a collector's item, street-rod vehicle, or horseless carriage of 25 years old or older, the applicant must present, among other things, a notarized bill of sale. Section 15 repeals the requirement that the bill of sale be notarized. To register a motor vehicle, a vehicle owner must pay a road safety surcharge and a bridge safety surcharge. Section 16 sets the road safety surcharge at $16 for trailer coaches, which are trailers that are at least 26 feet long and used for temporary living quarters. Section 17 sets the bridge safety surcharge at $13 for trailer coaches. Section 18 appropriates $318,840 to the department to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires the office of health equity (office) in the department of public health and environment to: On or before January 1, 2023, create a culturally relevant and affirming health-care training grant program (program) to provide money to nonprofit entities and statewide associations of health-care providers to develop new, culturally responsive training programs for priority populations; and Contract with a third-party administrator to administer the program. "Priority populations" is defined as people experiencing homelessness; people involved with the criminal justice system; black people, indigenous people, and people of color; American Indians and Alaska natives; veterans; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning; people of disproportionately affected sexual orientations and gender identities; people who have AIDS or HIV; older adults; children and families; and people with disabilities, including people who are deaf and hard of hearing, people who are blind and deafblind, people with brain injuries, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, people with other co-occurring disabilities; and other populations as deemed appropriate by the office of behavioral health. The third-party administrator is required to: Issue a grant application for nonprofit entities and statewide associations of health-care providers who wish to participate in the program to develop culturally relevant and affirming health-care training for health-care professionals; and Submit the list of the qualified applicants for the program to the health equity commission in the office for approval. Each regulator in the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies for the applicable health-care professional is required to provide information concerning the training courses available to the licensee, certificate holder, or registrant. The regulator is required to encourage participation in the training courses. $900,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of public health and environment for allocation to the office to administer and support the program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
No later than January 2024, the act requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to submit a report to specified committees of the general assembly identifying: A reimbursement system with a goal to incentivize and increase transportation provider participation; How the state department will ensure compliance with applicable federal laws and waiver requirements; A system of common reporting to ensure a recipient does not exceed the medicaid benefit in a multi-provider scenario; and Best practices based on what other states have done to allow transportation network companies (TNC) to provide nonmedical transportation services for individuals receiving services. Upon completion of the report, the act requires the state department to analyze and review each operational TNC and no later than July 1, 2024, verify each TNC's viability to ensure the health, safety, welfare, cost effectiveness, and capability in expanding nonmedical transportation services for individuals receiving services under the home- and community-based services for the elderly, blind, and disabled waiver; the home- and community-based services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities waiver; the home- and community-based services for persons with major mental health disorders waiver; the home- and community-based services for persons with brain injury waiver; the home- and community-based supported living services waiver; or the complementary and alternative medicine for a person with a spinal cord injury waiver. By July 1, 2024, the state department shall authorize verified transportation network companies to provide nonmedical transportation services if the state department finds the transportation network company viable under federal requirements and within budgetary constraints and shall promulgate any necessary rules. The act appropriates $110,811 to the department of health care policy and financing. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Colorado law requires a person to register the person's motor vehicle within 90 days after moving to Colorado. Section 2 of the act requires a person who registers a vehicle after moving to Colorado to: Provide documentation of the vehicle's previous registration that contains the registration dates or the vehicle's bill of sale; Provide evidence of the date that the person became a Colorado resident; and Pay the vehicle's registration taxes and fees that are prorated from the date the person became a Colorado resident to the date the person applied to register the vehicle, unless the vehicle is used for interstate commerce or unless the owner registered the vehicle within 90 days after becoming a resident. The act requires an owner who fails to register the vehicle within 90 days after moving to Colorado to pay assessed back taxes and fees. The allocation and use of the taxes and fees does not change. Section 3 imposes late fees for failing to register a vehicle when appropriate after obtaining temporary tags for the vehicle. Section 3 also imposes prorated registration taxes and fees to capture missed revenue if a person fails to register a vehicle when required by law. Section 4 lowers the registration fee that is based on the age of a vehicle: For motor vehicles less than 7 years old, the fee is lowered from $12 to $9; For motor vehicles at least 7 years old but less than 10 years old, the fee is lowered from $10 to $7; and For motor vehicles 10 years old or older, the fee is lowered from $7 to $5. The department of revenue (department) may adjust the fees to make the act revenue neutral but may not lower a fee below one dollar or raise the fees above the original amount from which the act lowered the fees. In 2026, this fee decrease repeals, and the fees return to their original amounts. One dollar of the fee is retained by the department and used to offset the cost to the department and the authorized agents to implement the act. Colorado law imposes a fee of $1.50 on motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers. The fee is sent to the county where the vehicle is registered for its road and bridge fund. Section 5 lowers this fee to $0.94 to offset the increased taxes and fees collected by the county under sections 2 and 3. The department will annually adjust the fee amount to keep the act revenue neutral to the counties. This process is repealed on July 1, 2026, so that the fee returns to $1.50. To implement the act, $248,249 is appropriated to the department of revenue from the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account in the highway users tax fund. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Section 1 of the act relocates existing statutes that require contractors to offer certain resource efficiency options when constructing certain buildings. Section 1 also requires certain new commercial buildings and multifamily residences to include electric vehicle charging as follows: If the building is 25,000 square feet or more or the building is part of a project that is 40,000 square feet or more of floor space in more than one building, with a total of 25 or more sets of living quarters or commercial units among all the buildings: 25% of the parking spaces used by the occupants of the building must be EV capable, which means that the building is ready to run the wiring and install a 208 to 240 volt receptacle; 10% of the parking spaces used by the occupants of the building must be EV ready, which means that each parking space has a working 208 to 240 volt receptacle; and If the building is multifamily housing with at least 3 units and at least 10 parking spaces, the building must have: In 50% of the units, a parking space used by the occupants of the building that is EV capable; In 20% of the units, a parking space used by the occupants of the building that is EV ready. The act applies to the construction of a new high-occupancy building project or to the renovation of 50% or more of an existing high-occupancy building project and to: A contract executed on or after July 1, 2023, to construct a high-occupancy building project; The planning of or drafting for the design of a high-occupancy building project on or after August 10, 2022; and The laying out of or construction of a high-occupancy building project on or after August 10, 2022. Section 3 requires a project to comply with these provisions to obtain a building permit. The state electrical board is required to set standards for waiving the requirement to comply with these provisions for renovations. Local governments that perform inspections may also issue such a waiver. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)