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.)
Sponsored bills
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.)
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.)
Current law establishes a statewide integrated system of early childhood councils (councils) to improve and sustain the availability, accessibility, capacity, and quality of early childhood services. The act expands the powers, functions, and responsibilities of a council in implementing a comprehensive system of early childhood and family support programs and services (programs and services) within the council's community. Current law establishes local coordinating organizations (LCOs) to increase access to, coordinate, and allocate funding for programs and services through work with the families, program and service providers, and local governments in a community and with the department of early childhood (department). Effective July 1, 2026, the act repeals provisions authorizing the creation and operation of LCOs and transfers the LCO rights, powers, duties, functions, and obligations concerning supporting access to and delivery of programs and services to the councils (transfer). If the transfer requires the consolidation, reassignment, or material modification of the duties of a council or LCO, the department may authorize a one-time extension of the transition period for up to 3 years. Current law requires a council to develop a community strategic plan based upon an assessment of the early childhood needs in the council's designated service area (community strategic plan). The act requires a community strategic plan to address specified issues, including:Assisting families in applying for programs and services;Coordinating outreach efforts with other local entities and tribal agencies;Recruiting and coordinating providers to form a mixed delivery system that promotes family choice; andSupporting increased recruitment and retention of individuals in the early care and education workforce. The act requires a council, in partnership with the department, to create, review, and revise a scope of work that reflects the community strategic plan and accurately represents the programs and services within the community, meets families' needs, and aligns with available appropriations and the department's statewide strategic planning process. Associated accountability metrics must also be reviewed and revised to align with the scope of work. The act specifies a council's new obligations regarding improving access to high-quality programs and services, early childhood workforce development, data-sharing agreements, outreach for holistic family services, and auditing. The act establishes requirements for an agreement that sets forth the respective duties of a council and the department in implementing a community strategic plan (agreement). The act identifies the department's responsibilities for the coordinated distribution of public funding for programs and services; council training and technical assistance; dissemination of information about successful council strategies and innovations; and standards for communication, resolution of disputes, and contracting protocols. The act modifies the process for the department to approve or facilitate a waiver of the rules for the implementation of council projects. The act requires the department to implement an annual performance review process for each council and solicit community feedback about a council's performance at intervals ranging from 3 to 5 years. If the department determines that a council is not meeting the requirements of the scope of work and accountability metrics contained in the agreement, the department may require the council to implement a performance improvement plan. If a council fails to make substantial progress toward addressing the issues raised in the performance improvement plan, the department may terminate the council's agreement. The act makes substantive and technical conforming amendments to address the reallocation of responsibilities and functions from LCOs to councils, including administrative and funding provisions related to the Colorado child care assistance program and the Colorado universal preschool program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires measures to improve equity in maternal health, including:Requiring the Colorado medical board to consider, as part of its stakeholder process for continuing medical education, a requirement that a physician complete continuing medical education on cultural competence and equity in maternal care;Requiring the state board of nursing rules relating to continuing education to include rules relating to health-care provider attention to cultural competence and equity in providing health-care services;Authorizing the department of public health and environment (CDPHE), subject to available appropriations, to provide a health survey to additional birthing parents, beyond those currently surveyed, and to compile the data if surveyed;Requiring a health facility that provides labor and childbirth services to make available to a birthing parent and a birthing parent's companion, electronically or in writing, a statement on respectful labor and childbirth regarding rights and components, including freedom from harm, privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, and allowing a birthing parent to have a birthing companion present at the birth, and to make available information, including telephone contact information, for the appropriate state or federal agency to receive a complaint alleging discrimination in labor and childbirth services;Subject to available federal grant funding for the maternal health task force (task force) established by CDPHE, ensuring that the maternal health task force includes at least one advocate representing populations with the worst maternal mortality outcomes in the state; andBeginning October 1, 2026, with respect to CDPHE's Colorado maternal mortality review committee, changing the reporting to the general assembly every 3 years concerning maternal health outcomes and equity from July to October and requiring the reporting of certain maternal health outcomes for populations known to have the worst maternal mortality outcomes in the state.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act prohibits a person who possesses a record or report (record) of child abuse or neglect from releasing identifying data or information contained in the record to a person who is not authorized to receive the information or data. The act clarifies what constitutes identifying data in a record. The act adds an assigned designee of a person named in a record who is acting on the person's behalf as a person who may have access to child abuse or neglect records if the assigned designee presents a valid release of information signed by an authorized person. The act allows a person named in a record as an alleged abused or neglected child who is in possession of a record in which they are named or, with the person's consent, the person's attorney or guardian ad litem, to disclose and make use of the record, including for the purpose of litigation or to obtain treatment or services. Except as expressly authorized in law, a criminal defendant may only access a record after an in camera review by the court in which the court finds that access to the record is necessary for the resolution of an issue. The act requires each county department of human or social services to establish and submit to the state department of human services a process current and former clients may use to obtain access to their case records. The act repeals the penalties associated with a person who improperly releases or willfully permits or encourages the release of data or information contained in the records to a person not permitted to access the information and makes it a petty offense for the department of education or a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school to release data or information contained in a record to a person not permitted to access the information.(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.
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.
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.