Sen. Adrienne Benavidez

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 8, 2026, as International Women's Day in Colorado and acknowledges the historical and ongoing contributions of women to society. It recognizes women's achievements across various fields, including politics, business, and social movements, while highlighting Colorado's early history of women's suffrage and female leadership in state government. The resolution encourages continued celebration of this day and commits the legislature to supporting policies that promote gender equality and women's empowerment.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution expresses Colorado's legislative support for maintaining national public lands under federal stewardship and opposes efforts that would reduce public access or weaken environmental review laws. The resolution specifically targets potential erosion of bedrock federal laws like NEPA and FLPMA, which require public input and balanced resource management. It calls on state and federal officials to defend statutory safeguards that ensure public lands serve broad public benefits rather than narrow special interests. This non-binding resolution does not change any laws but serves as a formal statement of legislative intent and values regarding public land management.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 3) designates March as "Arts Education Month" in Colorado. It does not create new laws or funding but symbolically recognizes the importance of arts education (including dance, music, theater, and visual arts) for students' development and academic success. The resolution aligns Colorado with national observances in March and acknowledges the state's lack of data on arts education access and the need to expand equitable opportunities. It is a non-binding recognition, sent to the Governor and State Board of Education, with no direct policy changes or requirements for schools.

Maddy summaryHJR 1018 designates the 61-mile stretch of State Highway 86 through Elbert County, Colorado, as the "Plains-to-Pines Scenic Corridor." The resolution authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to accept donations for signage, markers, and landscaping to promote this scenic route connecting the eastern plains to the Rocky Mountain foothills. It specifically enables CDOT to collaborate with Elbert County and the towns of Kiowa and Elizabeth for maintenance of these promotional elements. This is a commemorative designation without new regulatory requirements, focusing on tourism and regional identity.

Maddy summaryHJR 1019 designates February 20, 2026, as Caregiving Youth Day in Colorado, with an official observance on February 27, 2026. The resolution recognizes children and adolescents under 18 who provide care for family members with health needs (such as chronic illness, disability, or aging-related care) and encourages schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations to identify these young caregivers and offer appropriate support. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to increase awareness of this underserved population.

The act updates provisions of the existing article 1.9 of title 18, Colorado Revised Statutes, concerning the treatment of persons with mental health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Substantive changes include: Broadening the name and scope of the legislative oversight committee (committee) and associated task force (task force) from concerning the treatment of "persons with mental health disorders" to "persons with behavioral health disorders"; Allowing the task force to research topics for members of the committee upon request; Adjusting task force membership and creating term limits for task force members; Further defining issues for the task force to study; and Extending the repeal date to July 1, 2027. The act appropriates $108,131 to the legislative department from the general fund to implement the provisions of the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

If the trier of fact finds a defendant not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) for a crime that is not a class 1 or class 2 felony, resulted in another person suffering serious bodily injury or death, involved the defendant using a deadly weapon, or involved felony unlawful sexual behavior, the act authorizes the court, at the request of the defendant, to allow the defendant to remain at liberty or set a hearing to modify the bond and delay final disposition, delay formal entry of the finding of NGRI, and stay the commitment of the defendant to the custody of the department of human services (state department) until the conclusion of the initial release hearing. If the defendant is on bond, the act requires the court to order the state department to conduct a release examination on an outpatient basis. Upon an initial commitment following a finding of NGRI, or upon delaying the final entry of the finding of NGRI, the act requires the court to schedule an initial release hearing no later than 120 days after the initial commitment. The act requires the court to conduct the initial release hearing. The act requires the court to order the state department to complete a release examination no later than 30 days prior to the initial release hearing. The act authorizes the court to continue the hearing beyond 120 days upon a finding of good cause or if necessary to conduct a second evaluation of the defendant. Beginning September 1, 2022, the act requires the chief officer of the institution at which the defendant is committed to annually submit a release examination report to the court certifying whether the defendant continues to meet the criteria for ongoing inpatient hospitalization or meets the applicable test for release. The act describes what must be included in the release examination report. The act appropriates $868,271 to the state department from the general fund for use by the office of behavioral health. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice information sharing grant program provides grants to assist local law enforcement agencies in gaining access to the information sharing system created in the Colorado information sharing consortium (CISC). Grant recipients can use the money to pay for computer hardware, software, and programming costs necessary to connect to the CISC's information sharing systems. There is money remaining in the law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice information sharing grant program fund (fund), and multiple law enforcement agencies need additional time to join the CISC because their budget timelines differ from the state budget timeline. The act extends the deadline for using money in the fund from June 30, 2022, to June 30, 2023, to allow those law enforcement agencies enough time to join the CISC and use the fund. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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.)

Under current law, a defendant may be awarded reasonable attorney fees in tort actions if a case is dismissed on a motion of the defendant prior to trial. The act states that a defendant may not be awarded reasonable attorney fees in cases dismissed prior to trial in which the plaintiff brought non-frivolous claims in order to challenge precedent or for a similar reason. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)