Sen. William Lindstedt

A speech language pathology assistant (SLPA) is defined in the act as an individual who has a bachelor's degree or higher in speech-language pathology, communications disorders and speech sciences, or any other field that includes at least 24 semester hours in speech-language hearing sciences granted by an accredited institution of higher education. Only an individual who practices as an SLPA in accordance with statute or who is a school speech-language pathology assistant (school SLPA) authorized by the department of education may use the title "speech-language pathology assistant" or other terms that indicate that the individual is an SLPA or a school SLPA. An SLPA shall practice speech-language pathology only in collaboration with and under the direction and supervision of a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP). The act establishes requirements and guidelines for an SLP supervising an SLPA. The act prohibits an SLPA from engaging in certain speech-language pathology tasks, such as the diagnosis of patients and preparation of a treatment plan. An SLP may be disciplined for failing to properly direct and supervise an SLPA. The act repeals the regulation of SLPAs on September 1, 2033, subject to sunset review by the department of regulatory agencies. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 25-015 designates a specific portion of Colorado State Highway 58 as the "Officer Evan A. Dunn Memorial Highway." This action honors Officer Evan A. Dunn, a Golden Police Department officer who died in the line of duty. The bill authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept donations for the initial placement of memorial signs and to explore a cooperative agreement with the City of Golden for their maintenance.

The act expands the veterans mental health services program to provide grants to local nonprofit organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs that provide behavioral health services to service members, veterans, and family members of service members and veterans. The act reduces the reappropriated funds appropriation made in the long bill to the department of military and veterans affairs for use by the division of veterans affairs for veterans mental health services by $5,000,000; except that the reduction is not made if: The amount of reappropriated funds made in the long bill to the department of military and veterans affairs for use by the division of veterans affairs for veterans mental health is less than $5,000,000; or The long bill does not include an appropriation to the department of military and veterans affairs for use by the division of veterans affairs for veterans mental health.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Under current law, a parent who wants to relinquish their child must satisfy certain requirements. If the parent who wants to relinquish their child is a victim of sexual assault that resulted in the conception of the child to be relinquished, the act: Allows the relinquishment petitioner (petitioner) to provide the juvenile court with documentation concerning the sexual assault or conception, including a sworn affidavit; Exempts the petitioner from having to satisfy certain relinquishment requirements if the court finds that the petitioner is a victim of sexual assault that resulted in the conception of the child to be relinquished; and Exempts the petitioner of all legal obligations they may have with respect to the child if the court grants a final order of relinquishment. On or before January 1, 2026, the state court administrator shall develop a, or modify an existing, standardized form for a petitioner to file to terminate another person's parent-child legal relationship because the child was conceived as a result of sexual assault. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill designates Colorado American Indian Recognition Day as an observed, but not a legal, state holiday. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Provides for the payment of expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions, for and during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, except as otherwise noted. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill enacts the "Swipe Fee Fairness and Consumer Safeguards Act" (act), which prohibits a payment card network from: Fixing or conspiring to fix an interchange fee with, or on behalf of, a covered credit card issuer or another payment card network; Establishing, putting forward, or implementing a fee schedule that the payment card network knows, or reasonably should know, has been used by a covered credit card issuer other than the payment card network to determine the amount of an interchange fee charged or received by the covered credit card issuer in the current or previous calendar year; Establishing, charging, or putting forward on a fee schedule an interchange fee if the fee includes a percentage multiplied by the amount of a transaction and the fee does not exclude any amount attributable to a tax or gratuity on the transaction, or increasing fees in an attempt to or in a manner that would circumvent such interchange fee prohibition; Requiring a merchant that accepts credit cards that are enabled for processing over the payment card network to accept all credit cards issued by a covered credit card issuer that are enabled for processing over the payment card network; Distributing, publishing, or otherwise using data from an electronic payment transaction, except in certain circumstances; Charging a fee to a consumer or merchant related to a disputed credit card transaction until the dispute has been resolved and the consumer or merchant has been provided written notice of the determination; or Imposing a penalty on a merchant for setting prices in a manner that complies with state and federal law. The bill prohibits a payment card network from establishing, putting forward, or implementing a fee schedule that the payment card network knows or reasonably should know has been used by one or more issuers other than the payment card network to determine the amount of an interchange fee received or charged in respect to a charitable contribution, unless the interchange fee does not exceed: 0.2% of the amount of a charitable contribution made by means of a debit card; or 0.3% of the amount of a charitable contribution made by means of a credit card. If a payment card network violates the act, a merchant, consumer, or other individual or entity that is injured as a result may bring a civil action. A payment card network that is found to have violated the act as a result of a civil action other than a certified class action is liable in an amount equal to the sum of: The greater of: The amount of actual damages sustained plus interest; or $500; or 3 times the amount of actual damages sustained if the payment card network engaged in bad faith conduct; plus The costs of the action plus reasonable attorney fees. If a payment card network is found liable in a certified class action, a successful plaintiff may recover actual damages, injunctive relief allowed by law, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 25-022 is a commemorative resolution concerning the remembrance of the Holocaust. It declares the General Assembly's commitment to remembering the Holocaust and encourages school districts and universities to promote antibias, bullying prevention, and Holocaust and genocide education programs to prevent antisemitic incidents, particularly those targeting Jewish students.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 25-1025 is a commemorative resolution by the Colorado General Assembly. It officially recognizes the week of April 6-12, 2025, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Colorado. The resolution aims to honor crime victims and those who serve them, and encourages Colorado citizens to seek justice and show compassion for victims.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 25-1024 authorizes the installation of a memorial on the State Capitol Grounds to honor the victims of the Sand Creek Massacre of November 29, 1864. The bill designates the former location of the "Union Soldier" statue on the west grounds of the capitol as the appropriate site for this memorial. Its purpose is to respect and memorialize the Cheyenne and Arapaho people and their ancestors, promote cross-cultural understanding, and educate the public about the massacre.