Sen. Nick Hinrichsen

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.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates April 2026 as Second Chance Month in Colorado to raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with criminal records. The measure highlights how legal restrictions and social barriers, known as collateral consequences, often prevent formerly incarcerated people from finding employment, accessing housing, and participating fully in society. By honoring the efforts of various community groups and government agencies, the resolution encourages citizens to support programs that help these individuals reintegrate and contribute to their communities. The bill does not change any laws or policies but serves as a symbolic gesture to promote public understanding and compassion for those seeking a fresh start. Copies of the resolution are sent to state and federal leaders, as well as relevant organizations, to further spread the message of redemption and second chances.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 9, 2026, as "Home Education Day" in Colorado to honor parents who educate their children at home. It does not change any laws or affect how education is administered but serves as a symbolic recognition of home schooling within the state. The resolution highlights the number of home-educated students in Colorado and the estimated financial savings to taxpayers associated with this educational choice. Ultimately, the measure is a ceremonial gesture that celebrates home educators without altering existing policies or regulations.

Currently, in a county with a population of 70,000 or more (covered county) , the board of county commissioners (board) may consist of 3 or 5 commissioners. If the board consists of 3 commissioners, the county is divided into 3 districts, with one commissioner elected from each district by voters in the district or voters of the whole county. Alternatively, the board may consist of 5 commissioners, in which case the county may be divided into 3 or 5 districts, and the commissioners may be elected pursuant to numerous methods, including by district, at large, or by some combination of both methods.     The bill eliminates modifies this discretionary system and instead requires any county with a population of 70,000 or more ( so that if a covered county ) to elect has 3 commissioners, the commissioners must be elected by district only by voters resident in those districts. If a covered county has 5 commissioners , the commissioners must be elected by one of the following 2 alternative methods of election :5 commissioners resident in 5 districts elected only by voters resident in those districts (by-district method) ; or 5 3 commissioners elected by district only by voters in those districts and 2 commissioners elected at large using a ranked voting method by voters of the whole county (combination method) .      The board of a covered county that has 3 commissioners must refer a resolution to the electors of the county at the general election during each decennial census year to ask the electors whether they would like to increase the board to 5 commissioners and, if so, which of the two alternative methods of election they prefer for electing those 5 commissioners.      The board of a covered county that has 5 commissioners is required to adopt a resolution designating the 2 alternative methods of electing the 5 county commissioners no later than its first regularly scheduled meeting in the calendar year 2027 . or its first regularly scheduled meeting in the month following becoming a covered county. The board is required to refer the resolution to the electors of the county at the first general election following its adoption for those electors to select their preferred method of electing the 5 commissioners. A covered county that has a board consisting of 5 commissioners and that already elects its commissioners according to one of the 2 alternative methods using either the by-district method or the combination method of election is not required to pass a resolution. With a petition signed by at least 5% of the qualified electors of the county, the electors of a covered county that has a board consisting of 5 commissioners may also place on the ballot at a general election the question of whether to change the method of electing members of the board from one of the 2 alternative methods of election to the other.     A home rule county that elects more than half of its county commissioners by district or using a ranked voting method is exempt from the requirements of the bill.     The bill also makes conforming amendments.(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.)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution formally recognizes the 43rd anniversary of the sister-state relationship between Colorado and Taiwan while expressing support for their ongoing trade and academic exchanges. The bill highlights recent cooperation in emerging technologies such as quantum computing and semiconductors, and it advocates for Taiwan's participation in international organizations like the World Health Organization and the United Nations. Additionally, the resolution commends Taiwan's democratic system and supports the signing of a U.S.-Taiwan agreement on avoiding double taxation. As a non-binding legislative statement, it does not alter laws or budgets but serves to publicly endorse these diplomatic and economic ties.

Maddy summarySJM 1 is a joint memorial resolution honoring Senator Faith Winter, who died in November 2025. It recognizes her career as a Colorado legislator representing Adams, Broomfield, and Weld Counties, her work on environmental justice, women's leadership initiatives, and legislative achievements like the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The resolution expresses the legislature's condolences to her family and commemorates her legacy of advocacy for climate action, healthcare access, and community-centered policies. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies.

The act requires that an applicant for a teacher license disclose misdemeanor convictions that occurred in the last 7 years, except traffic misdemeanors, unless:The misdemeanor was committed against an at-risk person or a child; or The department of education has specified that the misdemeanor is grounds for denial, annulment, suspension, or revocation of a license, certificate, endorsement, or authorization.     The act requires that an applicant for a teacher license disclose any misdemeanor conviction in the 2 above categories, regardless of the date of conviction.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Colorado law exempts the owner of a motor vehicle who is a member of the United States armed forces (member) from motor vehicle registration fees and sets the specific ownership tax at $1 while the member is serving outside the United States. This applies to personal motor vehicles and intrastate trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and semitrailers used to transport property. To qualify, the member must show the military order or evidence acceptable to the department of revenue (department) demonstrating that the member served outside the United States. The act repeals a requirement that the member sign an affidavit to qualify for the $1 specific ownership fee or to be exempt from the motor vehicle fee.     Colorado law exempts members from paying late fees for failing to renew a registration for a vehicle if the member was serving outside the state when the registration period expired. The act sets the requirement to qualify for a late fee exception by requiring the member to show the military order or evidence acceptable to the department demonstrating that the member served outside of the state.     The department will notify the member that the vehicle or motor vehicle must not be driven during deployment.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act authorizes the clean fleet enterprise (enterprise) to incentivize, support, and accelerate the replacement of a truck that is part of a fleet and that is powered by a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine, is a model year of 2009 or earlier, and is registered, operable, and capable of independent roadway operation (aging diesel truck) with a diesel truck that is a model year of 2018 or later (new diesel truck) until December 31, 2031. The act also allows the enterprise to provide funding or financing through grant programs, rebate programs, revolving loan funds, or other strategies to help owners and operators of aging diesel truck fleets finance the replacement of aging diesel trucks with new diesel trucks to reduce the up-front costs of acquiring new diesel trucks until December 31, 2031.     The enterprise may use the clean fleet enterprise fund to provide money to support the replacement of aging diesel trucks with new diesel trucks, but the enterprise is required to ensure that it does not expend more than 20% of the fund's income during a state fiscal year for the support.     To qualify for any money provided by the enterprise for the replacement of aging diesel trucks with new diesel trucks, the act requires a purchaser of the new diesel truck to surrender an aging diesel truck to the seller of the new truck. The seller of the new diesel truck must decommission the aging diesel truck by drilling a hole in the engine's block and cutting the chassis rails in half. The seller must be an authorized dealer of new diesel trucks who must certify that the new diesel truck meets all state and federal emissions and safety standards for its model year.     The enterprise must prioritize applications to replace aging diesel trucks from businesses that are privately owned, independently owned, or have limited access to capital. The enterprise is not allowed to accept an application from the owner or operator of a motor vehicle fleet that owns, leases, or operates more than 50 heavy-duty motor vehicles or from a business entity with annual gross revenue exceeding $100 million. The enterprise is required to prioritize the replacement of an aging diesel truck that has a model year of no later than 2006.     The act expands the business purpose of the enterprise to include providing incentives and support for refrigerated transport units powered by zero emission technology. The act allows the enterprise to exercise its rights and powers without regard to the state 'Procurement Code'.     The act requires the enterprise to annually prepare a report that includes the estimated pollution reduction benefits of the enterprise. The enterprise must seek to ensure that all projects funded by the enterprise achieve measurable results and outcomes.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires that, beginning July 1, 2027, a death certification professional ensure that they are aware of the most recent epilepsy-related death certification recommendations from a nationally recognized and reputable organization. On or before June 1, 2027, the department of public health and environment (department) must electronically notify all registered medical certifier users of the Colorado vital events system of this requirement.     If a death certification professional determines that the cause of an individual's death is consistent with known or suspected sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, the act requires the professional to ensure that the individual's death certificate identifies epilepsy as a contributing cause or a suspected cause of death.     The act allows the department to provide online guidelines for clinicians and medical certifiers for death certificates regarding epilepsy-related deaths, including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)