The act repeals the Colorado student leaders institute (institute), created in the department of education (department), on September 1, 2026. Before institute's repeal, the act requires the department, in collaboration with the host institution of higher education that operates the institute and the advisory committee, to return, to the extent possible, money remaining in the Colorado student leaders institute cash fund (cash fund) to each grantor, donor, or student in an amount that is proportional to the grantor's, donor's, or student's share of the total amount of gifts, grants, donations, or student contributions deposited in the cash fund. If any money remains in the cash fund on August 31, 2025, the state treasurer shall, prior to the repeal of the cash fund, transfer all unexpended and unencumbered money in the cash fund to the general fund. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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The act permits an offender to refuse placement in a community corrections program after the offender has been accepted for placement by a community corrections board and a community corrections program rather than before placement. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act reduces the portion of the salary of the assistant district attorney for each judicial district that the state must pay on and after July 1, 2026, from 50% to 25%. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires the executive director (director) of the department of corrections (department) to report specified information on inmate population, bed capacity, and vacancy rates on a monthly basis. The act also requires the director to report to the joint budget committee and the office of state planning and budgeting: When opening or closing a facility or relocating more than 20 inmates; and By August 1, 2025, and by each August 1 thereafter, information on FTEs by facility, location, and subprogram. The act requires future budget requests to include worksheets identifying calculations for FTE and operating expenses and requires the department to include a report describing supplemental budget requests and budget amendments as part of its "SMART Act" presentation. If the director or department fails to provide the information required, the act authorizes the joint budget committee to reduce appropriations for salaries of unclassified department employees. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires the state treasurer, on July 1, 2025, to transfer $842,346 from the general fund to the broadband infrastructure cash fund (fund). Current law lists the correctional facilities where the money in the fund may be used to install broadband infrastructure. The act adds the Colorado territorial correctional facility to the list. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
In state fiscal year 2023-24, the general assembly appropriated $1,400,000 from the general fund to the department of labor and employment to be used for the construction registered apprenticeship grant program. The act reverts $222,701 of that appropriation back to the general fund on or before June 30, 2025. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act repeals the roll-forward authority of a state department to use unexpended and unencumbered money from the department's utilities line item to purchase energy conservation equipment and services during the state fiscal year following the state fiscal year for which the money was appropriated without further appropriation. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Under current law, beginning July 1, 2025, the department of corrections (department) is required to cover 100% of all inmate telephone call costs. The act changes the amount the department is required to cover, beginning July 1, 2025, to 75% of all inmate telephone call costs. The act requires the department to cover 100% of all inmate telephone call costs on and after July 1, 2026. The act appropriates $1,436,165 from the general fund to the department for inmate telephone calls. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Previously, Colorado law required a bill that resulted in a net increase in periods of incarceration to include an appropriation to cover the increased cost of incarceration for 5 years after the bill went into effect. In 2022, the general assembly suspended the appropriation requirement for 3 years. The act repeals the appropriation requirement permanently. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The housing development grant fund (fund) has been continuously appropriated to the division of housing in the department of local affairs (division), and the division has been authorized to expend up to 3% of the money in the fund for its administration of the fund. Beginning in state fiscal year 2025-26, the act increases the percentage of money in the fund that the division may expend for such administration to 4% and makes the expenditure of money from the fund for administrative costs subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $187,659 to the department of local affairs for use by the division of housing for affordable housing program costs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)