Sen. William Lindstedt

The act modifies the 'Colorado Public Trustee Act' to:Set the salary of the public trustee in counties where the county treasurer serves as the public trustee to a fixed amount of $12,500 annually to be paid monthly from the county general fund as part of the county's standard payroll process. On a quarterly basis, the public trustee is required to reimburse the county general fund for the monthly salaries from the fees collected by the public trustee or from the public trustee special reserve account.Eliminate the requirement that a public trustee make and file a full statement of all transactions of the office of the public trustee to the board of county commissioners under oath;Repeal the requirement that a public trustee appointed by the governor be subject to the state 'Procurement Code' for any purchase of more than $20,000;Repeal the definition of 'certified copy' and references thereto;Define 'nonmaterial misstatement' as a minor or inconsequential error, inaccuracy, or omission that does not significantly affect the understanding, validity, or enforceability of a document;Clarify the date by which the public trustee or sheriff conducting a foreclosure (officer) must mail the combined notice of sale, right to cure, and right to redeem to persons on an amended mailing list;Clarify that a junior lienor is entitled to cure the default if the junior lienor files with the officer;Specify that an unclaimed remaining amount for which a property is sold at a foreclosure sale that is in excess of the bid amount must either be transferred to the state treasurer for disposition in accordance with the 'Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act' or held by the county treasurer pursuant to the terms of a county resolution regarding unclaimed funds;Add a requirement regarding redemption that specifies that if a lien is assigned, the holder's rights are valid only if the assignment of the lien is duly recorded at least 15 calendar days prior to the date of sale; andSpecify the conditions under which an omitted party's interest may be terminated.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act defines 3-dimensional printing to mean additive and subtractive manufacturing. The act prohibits knowingly manufacturing or producing a potentially functioning firearm, unfinished frame or receiver, large-capacity magazine, or rapid-fire device (firearm or firearm component) by 3-dimensional printing. The prohibition does not apply to a federally licensed firearm manufacturer, an instructor or student of an accredited gunsmithing program, or an institution that operates an accredited gunsmithing program. Unlawful 3-dimensional printing of a firearm or firearm component is a class 1 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 5 felony.     The prohibitions in the act only apply to potentially functional firearms and firearm components.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The water quality control division (division) administers a program to test for and remediate water quality issues for mobile home parks (program). The program tests for water quality issues that pose a risk to not only health or safety but also the welfare of park residents. The act authorizes the division to require remediation of welfare-related water quality violations.     One of the requirements of the program is for the park owner to certify that the park owner has made certain water-quality-related notices to park residents. The act authorizes the division to issue an order requiring the park owner to comply with the park resident notice certification requirement.     Under the program, the park owner is prohibited from imposing the cost of compliance with certain remediation-related requirements on park residents. The act authorizes a park owner who is also a park resident to bear this cost.     The program authorizes the division to issue orders requiring the park owner to perform additional water testing, perform temporary measures necessary to address acute health risks, make additional reports to the division, create a remediation plan, implement a remediation plan, or respond to the division in connection with a remediation plan. The act clarifies that a park owner may ask for a hearing only regarding the orders that concern remediation plans.     The act also clarifies that:The division has authority to enforce the requirements of the program; andThe division has authority to issue cease-and-desist orders to address violations related to the program, regardless of whether the issues are related to water quality violations.     The act also provides that:An additional monthly penalty of up to $5,000 for a continuing violation may be imposed for the first 30 days of noncompliance; andA park owner is not entitled to an administrative hearing to contest an imposed civil penalty but may seek judicial review.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryHB 1305 allows remote psychiatric inpatient facilities in Colorado to operate under a main hospital's general license instead of needing separate psychiatric hospital licensing, provided they meet specific criteria. These facilities must be located within 35 miles of a main hospital in a rural area, offer 17+ inpatient beds, meet all psychiatric hospital standards, and maintain federal provider-based status. The main hospital remains responsible for all licensing enforcement actions related to the remote location, and the facility must pay a separate licensing fee. This change aims to streamline operations while maintaining regulatory oversight through the main hospital's license.

Existing law specifies that an individual must be a certified death investigator or forensic pathologist to be eligible to hold the office of county coroner in a county with a population greater than 150,000. The act changes this requirement to apply in a county with a population greater than 300,000. The act also requires a county coroner to disclose, on the coroner's website, their financial interest in businesses regulated by their office, including a mortuary, funeral home, crematory, embalming service, or other death-care business. A coroner who has disclosed a financial interest shall not participate in an official action that would directly and specifically affect the business in which the coroner has a financial interest. The act does not prohibit a coroner or candidate for coroner from operating a death-care business.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act expands the ways in which individuals may become eligible for certification as a certified public accountant (CPA) in Colorado by creating 3 new education and experience pathways that may satisfy the requirements for CPA certification. The pathways become available for applicants beginning on January 1, 2027. The 3 pathways are:Obtaining a baccalaureate degree, completing 2 years of accounting-related work experience, completing a professional ethics course, and passing the written CPA exam;Obtaining a baccalaureate degree, completing 30 additional semester hours, completing one year of accounting-related work experience, completing a professional ethics course, and passing the written CPA exam; andObtaining a post-baccalaureate degree, completing one year of accounting-related work experience, completing a professional ethics course, and passing the written CPA exam.     For each pathway, an applicant's work experience must:Meet the requirements set by the Colorado state board of accountancy (board) by rule;Include any type of service or advice representing certain accounting-related skills needed to serve the public at the time of initial certification; andBe verified by an actively licensed CPA who meets board requirements.     Section 2 of the act conforms statutory provisions relating to an applicant's eligibility to sit for a CPA examination with the pathways to certification created by the act. Section 2 also reinforces that, regardless of an applicant's eligibility to sit for an exam, the applicant must complete one of the specified pathways in order to obtain a CPA certificate.     Section 4 establishes that an individual CPA who is licensed or certified in good standing in another state or jurisdiction of the United States and whose principle place of business is located in another state or jurisdiction of the United States (out-of-state CPA) has all the same practice privileges as Colorado certificate holders, without the need to obtain a Colorado certificate, if the individual was required at their initial licensure or certification in the other state or jurisdiction of the United States to pass the uniform CPA examination and obtain a baccalaureate degree conferred by an accredited college or university. Additionally, the act continues the practice privileges of out-of-state CPAs who held practice privileges in Colorado as of December 31, 2024. Finally, the conferral of practice privileges upon out-of-state CPAs must be conducted in conformity with rules adopted by the board; except that the board shall not require an out-of-state CPA to provide a notice, fee, or other submission as a condition of exercising such practice privileges in Colorado.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Beginning with the first regular session of the seventy-sixth general assembly, the act prohibits a member of the general assembly from holding any other elected offices while serving as a member of the general assembly, with the following exceptions:The member of the general assembly holds a special district elected office;The member of the general assembly has less than one year remaining in their term in another elected office at the time they take the oath of office of the general assembly;The member of the general assembly has less than one year remaining in their term in the general assembly at the time they take the oath of office of another elected office; orThe member of the general assembly is a senator who is in the middle of their term at the beginning of the first regular session of the seventy-sixth general assembly.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes that Colorado lawmakers consider adding guaranteed lifetime income options to the state public employees' retirement defined contribution plan and voluntary savings plans. The measure aims to ensure public employees have access to a reliable income stream in retirement, similar to what is already available in the state's traditional defined benefit plan. By allowing workers to choose options that provide lifetime payouts, the bill seeks to improve retirement security and financial confidence for over 226,000 active public employees. The resolution encourages the General Assembly to study how these new options could help workers retire with dignity while maintaining the portability of their savings.

The 'Traveling Animal Protection Act' permits the use of certain animals as part of an environmental education program if certain requirements are met. The act clarifies that an environmental education program is a program that is conducted by a professional who is qualified to impart environmental education information. The act defines 'professional' as an individual or an organization that has obtained at least one specific professional accreditation or certification.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates April 2026 as National Donate Life Month in Colorado. The measure serves to raise public awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation and honors the individuals who contribute to transplant programs. Additionally, the Senate will send a copy of this resolution to the Donor Alliance to support their outreach efforts.