Rep. Katie Stewart

The act requires a licensee, nurse, or certified midwife who performs a medical forensic examination to inform the victim-survivor about how to determine when the testing related to the examination is complete and how to obtain the results and records.     The act subjects a cause of action against a person arising from any protected statement by a victim-survivor to a special motion to dismiss unless the court determines that the plaintiff has established that there is a reasonable likelihood that the plaintiff will prevail on the claim.     The act makes a predispute arbitration agreement and predispute joint-action waiver void and unenforceable upon request of an individual who alleges conduct that results in a sexual harassment dispute or a sexual misconduct dispute or upon request of a named representative of a joint action, class action, or collective action that results in a sexual harassment dispute or a sexual misconduct dispute.     The act requires a judge to allow a forensic scientist to testify remotely in a criminal proceeding if a party requests and both parties consent to the remote testimony.     The act authorizes the court to order that the testimony of a victim-survivor of domestic violence, unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, human trafficking for involuntary servitude, or human trafficking for sexual servitude be taken in a room other than the courtroom and be televised by closed-circuit television in the courtroom under certain circumstances.     The act requires peace officer annual in-service training programs to include a 2-hour training to improve a peace officer's understanding of the impact of trauma on victim-survivors of crimes and the optimal way for a peace officer to respond to victim-survivors who are experiencing trauma and includes trauma-informed investigation and response training as a permissible use of peace officer training and support fund money.     The act renames the Colorado sexual assault forensic medical evidence review board as the Colorado sexual assault response review board and adds 4 members to the board.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current law provides an exemption for taxation on property acquired and developed for low-income housing by nonprofit housing providers, community land trusts, and nonprofit affordable homeownership developers. The bill expands the exemption to also include property intended for low-income residential rental property.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally recognizes the Colorado Mining Association for its 150th anniversary in 2026. It highlights the organization's historical significance and its role in supporting Colorado's mining industry, which contributes billions to the state's economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs. The resolution acknowledges the association's partnerships with state and federal agencies in promoting safety, environmental stewardship, and responsible mineral development. This measure does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of the association's contributions to Colorado's history and economy.

The bill grants the energy and carbon management commission (commission) authority over class I, class IV, and class V injection wells and allows the commission to seek and adopt rules related to primacy from the United States environmental protection agency (EPA) for these classes of injection wells. The rules adopted by the commission may only be more stringent than corresponding federal requirements if certain findings are made at a public hearing. The commission may assess and collect fees related to the regulation of class I, class IV, and class V injection wells. A person that willfully violates a rule, permit, authorization, or order of the commission related to these classes of injection wells commits a misdemeanor and is subject to certain penalties. The executive director of the department of resources (executive director) is required to propose initial spending authority in the amount necessary to enforce rules for the permitting, authorization, and regulation of class I, class IV, and class V injection wells. The office of state planning and budgeting (OSPB) is also required to submit a proposal to eliminate or minimize the impact of associated fee revenue for the first state fiscal year that the fee revenue is assessed on the state fiscal year spending limitation in the state constitution.     The bill also grants the mined land reclamation board (board) authority over class III injection wells and allows the board to seek and adopt rules related to primacy from the EPA for class III injection wells. The board may assess and collect fees related to the regulation of class III injection wells. The rules adopted by the board may only be more stringent than corresponding federal requirements if certain findings are made at a public hearing. A person that violates a rule, permit, authorization, or order of the board related to class III injection wells or that operates a class III injection well without a permit from the board is subject to certain penalties. The bill also provides that a class III injection well is not eligible for an exemption from designated mining operation status, which status subjects the operator to certain rules adopted by the board. The executive director is required to propose initial spending authority in the amount necessary to enforce rules for the permitting, authorization, and regulation of class III injection wells. OSPB is also required to submit a proposal to eliminate or minimize the impact of associated fee revenue for the first state fiscal year that the fee revenue is assessed on the state fiscal year spending limitation in the state constitution.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The act defines, and creates requirements for, portable-scale solar generation devices. In addition, the act prohibits a provider of retail electric service or wholesale energy from, among other things, requiring a customer to obtain the provider's approval before installing or using a portable-scale solar generation device. The act also prohibits a person from directly or indirectly unreasonably prohibiting the installation, use, or operation of a portable-scale solar generation device. A covenant or restriction that explicitly or indirectly unreasonably prohibits or restricts the installation, use, or operation of a portable-scale solar generation device is unenforceable and void as a matter of public policy, though a real property owner may require reasonable restrictions.     The act clarifies that a portable-scale solar generation device is considered an energy efficiency measure on and after January 1, 2027, and a unit owners' association of a common interest community is therefore not permitted to prohibit the installation or use of a portable-scale solar generation device. However, a real property owner that resides in a common interest community and installs a portable-scale solar generation device may be required to reasonably secure the device to their unit and may be responsible for all liability and costs associated with the device's installation, maintenance, or removal.     The act specifies that a provider of retail electric service or wholesale energy is not liable for any damage caused by a portable-scale solar generation device and requires that the installation of a portable-scale solar generation device be in accordance with fire code requirements and applicable building codes that pertain to health and safety.     Under current law, a utility that is subject to regulation by the public utilities commission (commission) must allow for customer ownership and use of a meter collar adapter through the utility's interconnection standards. The act requires the commission, on or before December 31, 2026, to revise existing commission interconnection rules to explicitly require commission-regulated utilities to:Maintain a public list of at least one approved meter collar adapter;Have a process for approving a meter collar adapter that is not included in the public list;Approve proposed meter collar adapters that meet certain technical requirements;If the installation of an approved meter collar adapter requires relocation of the meter enclosure or replacement of the meter housing, provide an estimate of costs associated with this work upon request of the customer;Establish and publish a process for a customer to request and install a meter collar adapter; andFacilitate the installation of a meter collar adapter by a registered electrical contractor and require that all electrical work be performed by a qualified party such as a master electrician.     In addition, the act states that the revised commission interconnection rules must allow commission-regulated utilities to require that installation work for a meter collar adapter be performed by the commission-regulated utility, a licensed electrical contractor, or a party approved by the commission-regulated utility if the installation of an approved meter collar adapter requires removal of the meter.     The act requires cooperative electric associations and customer-generators to comply with the rules adopted by the commission regarding meter collar adapters and with other commission rules regarding production meters.     Similarly, the act requires municipally owned utilities to:Maintain a public list of at least one approved meter collar adapter;Have a process for approving a meter collar adapter that is not included in the public list;Approve proposed meter collar adapters that meet certain technical requirements;If the installation of an approved meter collar adapter requires relocation of the meter enclosure or replacement of the meter housing, provide an estimate of costs associated with this work upon request of the customer; andInclude a process for a customer to request and install a meter collar adapter. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Section 4 of the bill creates the 'Building Excellent Teacher and Employee Residences Act' (BETER). BETER creates a new school district financing opportunity for the development of housing for teachers and other school district and public school staff (workforce housing).     The bill creates an application process by which a school district (applicant) may apply to the workforce housing assistance board (board) for financial assistance in connection with developing a workforce housing project. The division of public school capital construction assistance within the department of education (division of public school capital construction assistance) and the division of housing within the department of local affairs (division of housing) shall assist applicants in identifying workforce housing needs and in submitting applications to the board. No later than June 1, the board, with the support of the division of housing and division of public school capital construction assistance, shall review these applications according to guidelines that the board establishes and creates an initial prioritized list of workforce housing projects to award financial assistance. The board shall submit this initial prioritized list to the state board of education and the state housing board for comment. No later than July 15, the board shall determine a final prioritized list of projects for which the board will provide financial assistance.     The board may only award financial assistance to an applicant for a workforce housing project if:The board determines that the project complies with affordability, tenancy, and environmental and building requirements established by the board; andUnless the board grants an exemption, the applicant provides matching money in an amount at least equal to the portion of the total development cost of the workforce housing project that can be financed with and supported by net operating income generated from the project.The board may only provide an amount of financial assistance to an applicant for a workforce housing project that is equal to or less than the portion of the amount of the workforce housing project's total development cost that exceeds the amount that the applicant can finance and support with the workforce housing project's net operating income.     The board may provide financial assistance to an applicant for a workforce housing project by awarding matching grants that are paid out of the workforce housing assistance fund (fund) or by instructing the state treasurer to enter into a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement. In this context, the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement means a lease-purchase agreement between the state treasurer and a trustee pursuant to which:The state makes rental payments that include principal and interest components; andThe trustee, pursuant to an indenture of trust, creates certificates of participation evidencing undivided interests in the payments made by the state under the lease-purchase agreement. Any payment obligation of the state as part of a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement is subject to annual appropriation and does not create an indebtedness or multiple fiscal year financial obligation of the state within the meaning of any provision of the state constitution or state statute.     If the state treasurer enters into a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement, the board shall enter into a sub-financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement for the workforce housing project with the applicant that will use the workforce housing. The sub-financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement must:Require the applicant to perform for the state all duties of the state to maintain and operate the workforce housing project and to make periodic rental payments to the state or otherwise make a payment to the state in the amount of the matching money required for the award of financial assistance; andProvide for the transfer of ownership of the workforce housing from the state to the applicant upon the fulfillment of both the state's obligations under the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement and the applicant's obligations under the sub-financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement.     The board is required to present an annual written report to the education and finance committees of the house of representatives and the senate regarding the provision of financial assistance to applicants. The board is also required to post a similar report on the department of education's website.      Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8 establish the funding mechanism for the fund. The state constitution restricts the use of the principal of the public school fund and only allows for the use of public school fund interest and income. Sections 6 and 7 clarify that public school fund interest and income includes realized and unrealized gains and directs the transfer of the lesser of an amount of interest and income equal to 2.5% of the total value of the public school fund after making currently required interest and income distributions from the public school fund or $40 million to the state public school fund. Section 5 creates the public school fund income stabilization account within the public school fund and directs the treasurer to credit the difference between the amount transferred from the public school fund to the state public school fund as described in section 6 and $40 million to the account. The uses of the account are limited to supplementing payment from or the principal of the public school fund. Section 8 directs the state treasurer to annually transfer an amount equal to the amount transferred from the public school fund to the state public school fund pursuant to section 6 from the state education fund to the fund.       Section 1 expands school district powers concerning the development and financing of workforce housing. Specifically, section 1 allows for school districts to:Acquire, construct, improve, own, operate, lease, and lease-purchase workforce housing;Issue bonds to finance workforce housing;Enter into contracts with public entities and private parties to finance workforce housing; andCreate enterprises for the acquisition, construction, improvement, ownership, operation, leasing, and lease-purchasing of workforce housing.Section 1 also describes the characteristics of bonds issued by school district-created enterprises for the purpose of financing workforce housing.      Section 2 adds certain school district and school district enterprise lease agreements, lease-purchase agreements, and revenue bonds entered into or issued in connection with financing workforce housing to the state intercept program.      Sections 3, 9, and 10 grant the division of public school capital construction assistance, the state treasurer, and the division of housing the powers necessary to implement the bill.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The division of housing in the department of local affairs (division) administers an affordable home ownership program (program) that makes grants to nonprofit organizations, local governments, community development financial institutions, and community land trusts (eligible organizations) and tribal governments to support affordable home ownership, including the development of residential housing units that are described in an eligible organization's funding request (project). Current law specifies that only a household with an income less than or equal to 120% of the area median income is eligible for assistance through the program, but it is unclear whether this requirement applies to housing units constructed by an eligible organization through one of its projects. The act clarifies that only a household with an income less than or equal to either 120% of the area median income of households of that size in the jurisdiction of a local government in which the households are located, or 120% of the statewide area median income of households of that size, is eligible for housing constructed by an eligible organization through one of its projects.     In addition, the act requires the program to offer housing that costs not more than 38% of a household's monthly income unless the ownership program is providing a homeowner with assistance for home rehabilitation.     The act also requires the program to offer grants and loans to groups or associations of mobile home owners and their assignees to support affordable homeownership for households with income less than or equal to 120% of the area median income of households of that size in the territory or jurisdiction of the local government in which the households are located, and specifies that the monthly housing payment must not cost more than 35% of the monthly household income. The act allows the division to modify the maximum percentage of income that a household may allocate pursuant to the program as applied to a residential unit constructed by an eligible organization as part of an affordable housing project pursuant to a waiver process initiated by an eligible organization if a substantial need for housing the project's target population exists, the unit has been adequately marketed to eligible buyers for purchase for at least 6 months after final completion of the unit, and the unit has not been purchased by an eligible buyer within that 6-month period.     For grants from the program to support tribal government programs, the tribe is responsible for establishing limitations on household income and maximum percentage of income that a household may allocate for monthly housing costs and a tribal affordability mechanism in lieu of any state-prescribed use covenant. The tribe shall submit evidence to the division that it has satisfied these requirements but is not required to disclose confidential tribal data, including the specific limitations or mechanisms it sets.     The division also administers a land banking program (land banking program) that makes grants to local and tribal governments and loans to nonprofits to acquire and preserve land for the development of affordable housing. For grants made to local governments or loans to nonprofits, the development of affordable housing includes rental housing projects with an imputed income limit by household size not to exceed 60% of area median income. Regulated units in the project must have a gross rent limit that does not exceed 30% of the imputed income limitation applicable to the units. Current law requires that a project provide for-sale housing that may be purchased by a household with an annual income of 100% of area median income. The act changes the income limit to 120% of area median income. For land banking program grants to support tribal government programs, the tribe is required to establish income limits by household size and gross rent limits and is not required to use the limits otherwise required for eligible organizations. The tribal government is required to submit evidence that it has established income and gross rent limits but is not required to disclose confidential tribal data, including what the specific limitations are.     The division may issue a waiver with housing cost limits that are different from those requested by an eligible organization if different housing cost limits would better serve needs identified in the community, the project remains financially feasible, and there are eligible buyers that meet the division's requirements. Alternatively, the division may modify the total amount of funding to account for an increase in the sales price of the unit. In lieu of this process, the division may approve an eligible organization's process for determining when to exceed the maximum monthly household income for a unit funded by the program, which shall not require a 6-month marketing period.     The division may allow an eligible organization to rent residential units constructed as part of the project. On or before December 31, 2026, the division is required to issue guidance for when units within a project may be rented and develop a process by which rented units may return to the for-sale market. A homeowner may rent a unit funded by the ownership program as long as the unit remains their primary residence.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act declares emergency medical services as an essential service in the state and an integral part of the state's health-care infrastructure.      The act also declares that emergency medical service providers, whether responding on duty or as a volunteer and regardless of location, provide essential services when providing emergency ambulance services and nonemergency ambulance services.      The act also updates certain definitions related to emergency medical services, including the addition of a definition of 'out-of-hospital services', which term is defined to mean the furnishing of necessary health-care goods and services outside of a hospital setting but does not include prehospital setting transports.     The act clarifies that an off-duty emergency medical service provider is not obligated to respond to the scene of a medical emergency or provide emergency medical services.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires coaches of youth athletic activities to complete a biennial mental health education course. The required mental health education course must address a coach's impact on the mental health of a youth athlete, a wellness framework for youth athletes, mental health disorders, trauma, substance abuse, and suicide prevention. The act requires a coach of a youth athlete, or other designated personnel, to advise the parent or guardian of the youth athlete to seek a medical evaluation from a licensed health-care provider for appropriate medical and behavioral health guidance if the youth athlete is removed from play for a suspected concussion.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current law establishes a statewide integrated system of early childhood councils (councils) to improve and sustain the availability, accessibility, capacity, and quality of early childhood services. The act expands the powers, functions, and responsibilities of a council in implementing a comprehensive system of early childhood and family support programs and services (programs and services) within the council's community.     Current law establishes local coordinating organizations (LCOs) to increase access to, coordinate, and allocate funding for programs and services through work with the families, program and service providers, and local governments in a community and with the department of early childhood (department). Effective July 1, 2026, the act repeals provisions authorizing the creation and operation of LCOs and transfers the LCO rights, powers, duties, functions, and obligations concerning supporting access to and delivery of programs and services to the councils (transfer). If the transfer requires the consolidation, reassignment, or material modification of the duties of a council or LCO, the department may authorize a one-time extension of the transition period for up to 3 years.     Current law requires a council to develop a community strategic plan based upon an assessment of the early childhood needs in the council's designated service area (community strategic plan). The act requires a community strategic plan to address specified issues, including:Assisting families in applying for programs and services;Coordinating outreach efforts with other local entities and tribal agencies;Recruiting and coordinating providers to form a mixed delivery system that promotes family choice; andSupporting increased recruitment and retention of individuals in the early care and education workforce.     The act requires a council, in partnership with the department, to create, review, and revise a scope of work that reflects the community strategic plan and accurately represents the programs and services within the community, meets families' needs, and aligns with available appropriations and the department's statewide strategic planning process. Associated accountability metrics must also be reviewed and revised to align with the scope of work. The act specifies a council's new obligations regarding improving access to high-quality programs and services, early childhood workforce development, data-sharing agreements, outreach for holistic family services, and auditing.     The act establishes requirements for an agreement that sets forth the respective duties of a council and the department in implementing a community strategic plan (agreement). The act identifies the department's responsibilities for the coordinated distribution of public funding for programs and services; council training and technical assistance; dissemination of information about successful council strategies and innovations; and standards for communication, resolution of disputes, and contracting protocols. The act modifies the process for the department to approve or facilitate a waiver of the rules for the implementation of council projects.     The act requires the department to implement an annual performance review process for each council and solicit community feedback about a council's performance at intervals ranging from 3 to 5 years. If the department determines that a council is not meeting the requirements of the scope of work and accountability metrics contained in the agreement, the department may require the council to implement a performance improvement plan. If a council fails to make substantial progress toward addressing the issues raised in the performance improvement plan, the department may terminate the council's agreement.     The act makes substantive and technical conforming amendments to address the reallocation of responsibilities and functions from LCOs to councils, including administrative and funding provisions related to the Colorado child care assistance program and the Colorado universal preschool program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)