Sen. Lisa Frizell

The bill enacts the softbound volumes of the Colorado Revised Statutes 2025, the subsequent changes approved by the voters at the statewide election on November 4, 2025, and the 2025 Colorado First Extraordinary Session Supplement as the positive and statutory law of the state of Colorado and establishes the effective date of said publication.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Under current law, a person may be arrested and detained for level 1 drug misdemeanor possession.     The act requires that when a colorimetric field drug test was used to test for the presence of a controlled substance and a person is solely suspected of a level 1 drug misdemeanor for possession or solely suspected of a municipal drug possession charge, a peace officer shall not arrest the person and instead shall issue a summons.     The act also requires that when a colorimetric field drug test was used, before accepting a plea from a person charged with a drug possession for level 4 drug felony possession and lower, the trial court is required to issue an advisement with specified language, including language stating that colorimetric field drug tests have known error rates and that the defendant has the right to enter a not guilty plea and to request drug testing from an accredited forensic laboratory.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution recognizes October 2026 as Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado to promote peaceful dispute resolution methods. The bill directly affects Coloradans by encouraging community events, workplace discussions, and educational programs focused on mediation, arbitration, and restorative justice practices. Key provisions invite residents to reflect on and resolve conflicts responsibly while asking leaders and officials to participate in celebrating this month. The resolution also calls for increased awareness of conflict resolution benefits among judges, government staff, and local communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill reappoints Kerri L. Hunter as Colorado's State Auditor for a five-year term from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031. The reappointment follows a unanimous recommendation from the Legislative Audit Committee, which reviews candidates for the position based on qualifications and experience. Under Colorado law, the General Assembly appoints the State Auditor, and this resolution formally approves Hunter's continued service after her initial term ended in 2026. The measure directly affects the State Auditor's office by extending its leadership while maintaining the existing appointment process.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates March 21 as "Single Parent Day in Colorado" to honor single parents who raise children alone due to divorce, death, or other circumstances. The measure directly affects single-parent households in the state, which include over 10 million households nationally and represent nearly a quarter of families with children under 18. The resolution contains no new laws or funding, serving instead as a symbolic gesture to recognize the dedication and challenges faced by single parents. It was signed by the Senate President and sent to Janice S. Moglen, a longtime Colorado advocate for Single Parent Day.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves specific updates to eligibility lists for two Colorado water funding programs. It adds new drinking water projects (like Delta County's distribution system) and modifies existing entries (such as adding "green infrastructure" to Loveland's project), while deleting completed projects (like Kiowa's). These changes determine which local water districts, municipalities, and property associations can access financial assistance from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund and Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund. The bill does not create new funding rules but formally adopts the Commission's proposed list adjustments.

The bill defines "noncompliant state agency" with respect to the implementation date for an audit recommendation and requires the legislative audit committee (committee) to determine, by majority vote, whether or not a noncompliant state agency has made a good faith effort to comply with an audit recommendation by the implementation date. If the committee determines that the noncompliant state agency has made a good faith effort, the committee may accept an extended implementation date provided by the noncompliant state agency. If the committee determines there has not been a good faith effort, the committee may direct the state auditor to notify the state controller of the noncompliant state agency. The bill also requires the state controller to, upon receipt of notice from the state auditor, restrict, in an amount equal to 3% of the total amount of the noncompliant state agency's general fund appropriations, the noncompliant state agency's appropriations for the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the state controller receives the notice from the state auditor. This restriction may only be released if the general assembly enacts a bill to do so, or if the committee directs the state auditor to notify the state controller to rescind the restriction. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Maddy summarySJR 11 is a commemorative resolution designating a specific segment of U.S. Highway 34 (between Wilson Ave. and North County Rd. 23H) as the "Sgt. John 'Jack' Thurman Memorial Highway" in honor of a World War II Marine Corps veteran. The bill, which has no policy or funding provisions, simply names the highway section to recognize Sergeant Thurman's service at Iwo Jima, his military awards, and his post-war contributions as an architect and community leader in Colorado. It authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept donations for signage and explore maintenance agreements with local governments. This is a ceremonial designation with no direct impact on residents or new laws.

The act broadens the definition of 'ranch' for purposes of property taxation to mean a parcel of land that is predominantly used for grazing livestock for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit. A ranch must operate through a pasture-based operation, which is newly defined as a method of livestock management where pasture-grazed livestock have regular access to open pasture and derive a majority of their diet through grazing.     The act also broadens the definition of 'farm' for purposes of property taxation to mirror the predominant use language in the definition of 'ranch'. With this change, a farm means a parcel of land that is predominantly used to produce agricultural products that originate from the land's productivity for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill requires that an investor-owned electric utility receive a certificate of public convenience and necessity (certificate) from the public utilities commission and obtain all necessary local government land use approvals and permits prior to initiating any condemnation proceedings related to a high-voltage transmission infrastructure project requiring the certificate.The bill does not change existing application and review processes related to the development of transmission projects that have been established by the public utilities commission or a relevant local government.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)