The Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) is a nonprofit institution with experience administering clean energy financing programs and is the designated green bank for the federal environmental protection agency's region 8. The CCEF administers an on-bill repayment program (program) to help finance certain energy-related upgrades installed at a utility customer's premises that are associated with the utility meter. Under the program, in partnership with Colorado-based utilities, the CCEF finances energy-related upgrades that are then repaid through a customer's monthly utility bill payments. The bill directs the state treasurer to, on August 15, 2026, execute a loan agreement with the CCEF for a low-interest loan of $50 million from the unclaimed property trust fund.The purpose of the loan is to capitalize and expand the CCEF's on-bill repayment program and to accelerate utility adoption of the program. The Colorado energy office is required to review the design of the program before August 1, 2026. The bill specifies certain requirements for the program and for a utility to access the funding for the program, including requirements related to disclosures, notices, transfers of responsibility for an on-bill repayment obligation, and interest rates. The CCEF is required to submit annual reports to the joint budget committee, the Colorado energy office, and the state treasurer detailing the deployment of the program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Sen. Kyle Mullica
Sponsored bills
The bill creates the large employer health-care support enterprise (enterprise) to impose, assess, and collect the large employer health-care support fee (enterprise fee) in the amount of $2,300 for each supported worker for the calendar year in an amount determined by the enterprise board (enterprise board) that reflects the costs of the services provided by the enterprise . A worker who is receiving medical assistance benefits under the state medical assistance program, except for a worker eligible for medical assistance benefits based on disability, is a supported worker (supported worker). An employer is subject to the enterprise fee if the employer is a large employer, which is defined in the bill as an employer that has 500 or more supported workers (large employer). An employer is exempted from paying the enterprise fee if the employer:Provides affordable health coverage to all workers working 20 or more hours per week or 80 or more hours per month;Is a franchisee of the employer;Is a nonprofit employer;Is a public employer; orHas a collective bargaining agreement with its employees that includes health-care coverage. The business purpose s of the enterprise are to use enterprise fee revenue to help large employers retain supported workers who are not provided employer-sponsored affordable health coverage by using enterprise fee revenue to:Help finance the costs for medical assistance benefits for large employers' supported workers ; and Provide reimbursement grants to large employers for some or all of an employer's costs incurred for allowing a worker to buy into an employer-sponsored health benefit plan, should the employer choose to participate in the worker buy-in program created in the bill.This These business service s reduce s lost productivity due to worker illness and training costs to replace workers who may otherwise seek employment that provides affordable health coverage. Starting with a review of the 2027 calendar year, the department of health care policy and financing (HCPF) every employer that employed 500 or more workers in the state shall prepare an annual employer report on or before January 31, 2028, and on or before the same date each year thereafter, that includes information about the employer's employees, including the employee's name, date of birth, hours worked, and dates of employment for the preceding calendar year. An employer may seek an exemption from the requirement to file the annual employer report by demonstrating that it provides affordable health coverage to all workers working 20 or more hours per week or 80 or more hours per month. Upon receipt of the annual employer report, the enterprise shall determine whether an employer is a large employer and shall issue a report by March of the following same calendar year that identifies large employers by their number of supported workers for the preceding calendar year and impose the enterprise fee on each large employer . An employer may contest the employer's identification as a large employer. Once identified, a large employer shall either pay the enterprise fee for each of the large employer's supported workers or demonstrate that it provides will offer affordable health coverage to all workers working 20 or more hours per week or 80 or more hours per month. The enterprise may adjust the amount of the enterprise fee to reflect the cost of the services, for inflation, or for other reasons. A large employer commits a petty offense and is subject to a civil penalty for The enterprise shall contract with the department of revenue to collect and enforce the payment of the enterprise fee on behalf of the enterprise, including the failure to provide information necessary to calculate the enterprise fee or to either timely pay the enterprise fee or demonstrate that the large employer offers affordable health coverage as specified in the bill. The department of revenue may collect interest and penalties and institute collection actions on behalf of the enterprise. Enterprise revenue is used to support the pay for payment of medical assistance benefits for working-age adults under the state medical assistance program, and to increase reimbursement rates for ensure access to health-care providers providing medical assistance program services, to ensure worker access to medical services and to pay for large employer reimbursement grants under the worker buy-in program for large employers that pay the enterprise fee. The enterprise is governed by the enterprise board, and the enterprise board shall report annually to the general assembly on the enterprise revenue and the enterprise's use of the enterprise revenue in support of large employers. If the enterprise determines that the enterprise to would receive more than $100 million dollars in its first 5 fiscal years, the state treasurer shall credit the additional fee revenue to the large employer fee cash fund created in the state treasury for administration by HCPF, and that fee revenue is subject to the state fiscal year spending limit imposed by section 20 of article X of the state constitution and the excess revenues cap. The money in the large employer fee cash fund shall be used by HCPF to pay for costs for medical assistance benefits to support large employers' supported workers enterprise shall reduce the amount of the enterprise fee.(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 bill creates the data center development and incentive program (program) operated by the Colorado data center development authority (authority), which is newly created in the Colorado office of economic development (office) ( section 1 of the bill). The authority consists of 9 members, as follows:2 members appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate;The director of the Colorado energy office or the director's designee;One member who has experience in water projects or water resource management, appointed by the president of the senate;One member who has experience in clean and renewable energy, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;2 members who have experience in data center development, with one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member appointed by the president of the senate;One member representing a statewide organization that represents workers in trade crafts who construct data centers, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; andOne member representing a statewide organization that represents contractors who construct data centers, appointed by the president of the senate.To incentivize efficient data center development, the program allows a 100% state sales and use tax exemption on qualified purchases to the operator of a certified data center. To be eligible for certification, the operator of the data center, or a data center operator collectively with participating data center tenants, must:Have initiated a preliminary consultation with the utility that will provide electricity for the data center project regarding interconnection feasibility, capacity, and infrastructure requirements;Commit to making a $250 million minimum investment in data center infrastructure within 5 years;Commit to creating new full-time jobs, including employees and long-term service and maintenance positions, that satisfy specified criteria and breaking ground on the data center project within 2 years of obtaining certification;Commit to complying, and ensure that the utility that provides electricity to the data center also complies, with craft labor requirements, apprenticeship utilization requirements, and prevailing wage requirements; andCommit to obtaining certification under one of several energy efficiency standards, implementing water stewardship strategies that optimize operational water management, ensuring that all backup power generation associated with the data center project meets specified requirements, and consulting with the department of natural resources.To obtain certification, a data center operator must apply to the authority in a form and manner to be determined by the authority. The authority is required to review a data center operator's application for certification and may award certification to a data center operator that has demonstrated that it will satisfy the certification criteria ( section 1 ).A data center operator that obtains certification for a data center project is eligible for a 100% state sales and use tax exemption on the purchase and use of qualified data center infrastructure and systems for 20 years from the date that the data center project was certified, so long as the data center satisfies ongoing post-certification requirements and submits annual compliance reports to the authority. As long as the data center meets post-certification requirements as demonstrated in the annual compliance reports, a data center operator of a certified data center may apply to the authority for an extension of the sales and use tax exemption for an additional 10 years. If the authority determines that a data center operator is not fulfilling its obligations and commitments to retain certification, the authority may revoke the certification and the data center operator is required to repay the state for the sales and use tax benefits that it received ( sections 1 and 5 ). The exemption for a certified data center does not apply to local sales and use taxes unless the exemption is expressly included at the time of adoption or amendment of the local sales tax ordinance or resolution ( section 4 ).The bill allows a utility regulated by the public utilities commission (commission) to submit a targeted resource acquisition application to the commission to propose methods of meeting emerging large-load customer needs. The bill also specifies how a utility may finance resource and infrastructure needs in connection with emerging large-load customers ( section 3 ).(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.)
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially recognizes the 125th anniversary of Western Colorado University and honors its contributions to higher education and workforce development in Colorado. The document commends the university's students, faculty, staff, and alumni for their dedication over the past century and a quarter. It serves as a symbolic acknowledgment rather than a law that changes policy or allocates funding.
The act makes changes and clarifications in the provisions related to the department of early childhood (department). The act:Eliminates the scheduled repeal of licensing exemptions for certain in-home child care arrangements in which the children are related to the caregiver, are siblings, or number fewer than five;Updates provisions related to early care and education provider reimbursement for services performed before final eligibility determinations in the Colorado child care assistance program;Lowers the age limit for children served by the early childhood mental health consultation program from 8 years old to 6 years old and adjusts that program's reporting requirements;Clarifies the sources of money appropriated to the universal preschool program;Requires the department to keep confidential identifying records and facts regarding children and their relatives;Clarifies that child care facilities approved, certified, or licensed by tribal governments are exempt from the department's licensing rules; andAdjusts the membership requirements and duties of the early childhood leadership commission and subcommittee membership requirements for the rules advisory council.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Under current law, the maximum amount of liability of the petroleum storage tank fund for an individual occurrence of a leak, spill, or release of a petroleum product from an underground storage tank (occurrence) is $2,000,000. The act allows an owner or operator of an underground or aboveground storage tank (owner or operator) to exceed this amount of liability with the permission of the director of the division of oil and public safety (director) and the petroleum storage tank committee (committee). If the director and the committee grant such permission, the director and committee shall establish a new maximum amount of liability per occurrence for the owner or operator. Under current law, all class I, II, and III liquid fuel products must comply with the most current applicable standards of ASTM International. The act allows the director to adopt a rule or issue policy guidance that provides exceptions to specific requirements established in an ASTM standard.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Current law includes an incorrect reference to an 'acute treatment unit', which license type was condensed into the license for behavioral health entities in 2019. The act updates the terminology from 'acute treatment unit' to 'behavioral health entity' to conform with existing license types.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
When a peace officer has reasonable suspicion that a crime of domestic violence has occurred, the peace officer is required to search the national crime information center database to determine whether a military protection order has been issued against one of the parties. If a military protection order has been issued against a party, the peace officer shall notify the military law enforcement agency that entered the protection order into the database. The act includes the existence of a military protection order as relevant evidence that the court shall consider when determining whether to issue a temporary civil protection order.(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.)