Sen. John Carson

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 allows the state department of education (CDE) to issue a professional teacher license to a teacher with at least 3 years of successful teaching experience in another state or country for which CDE has granted reciprocity. The act eliminates the requirement that an applicant have the successful teaching experience within the previous 7 years.     The act creates a temporary licensing process for teachers from states that participate in the 'Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact' (Compact). The process requires that CDE:Issue an initial teacher license within 30 days of receiving a complete teacher license application from a person licensed by a Compact state when the applicant passes a criminal history record check and holds an unencumbered eligible license issued by a Compact state that is equivalent to an eligible license in Colorado; and Publish an annual table showing how out-of-state licenses correspond to Colorado endorsement areas.     The act repeals the temporary licensing process when CDE begins issuing licenses pursuant to the Compact.(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 changes the term 'death reimbursement' to 'death benefit' and changes the term 'maximum death reimbursement' to 'combined reasonable charges' related to county payments for the reasonable funeral expenses or reasonable final disposition expenses of a deceased public assistance or medical assistance recipient if the decedent's estate is insufficient to pay and the persons legally responsible for the support of the deceased are unable to pay the reasonable expenses.(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.)

Current law requires a legal notice or advertisement (notice) to be published in a newspaper within the county in which the notice is required to be published that satisfies certain requirements, including a publication period requirement and a periodicals license with paid distribution (legal newspaper). If a legal newspaper does not exist in a county, the notice may be published using certain alternatives.     The act clarifies the order of priority of the type of newspaper in which the notice should be published. First, the notice should be published in a newspaper in the county that satisfies the requirements for publication and that has been published for at least one year. Second, the notice should be published in a newspaper in the county that would otherwise satisfy the requirements for publication but for the fact that it lacks a periodicals license, and that has been published for at least one year. Third, the notice should be published in a newspaper in the county even if it does not have a periodicals license or has not been published for at least one year. If there is no newspaper in the county or an adjoining county, notice may be published in a newspaper that satisfies the requirements for a legal newspaper chosen with primary consideration for geographic proximity.     Additionally, the act gives municipalities and special districts with territory in two counties permission to publish notice in a newspaper in either county, so long as the newspaper meets the legal requirements for publication.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution recognizes Nowruz, the traditional Iranian New Year, as a celebration of renewal and hope for Middle Eastern communities in Colorado and around the world. The bill extends solidarity with the Iranian people and specifically honors the Women, Life, Freedom movement advocating for gender equality and civil rights in Iran. It also mourns civilians lost to violence and expresses hope for a future where all people in Iran can live with freedom, justice, and full protection of their human rights. This resolution does not change laws or policies but serves as a formal statement of recognition and support from the Colorado General Assembly.

The act expands eligibility for mortgage loans through the Colorado housing and finance authority to first responders. The act also defines the term 'first responder' to include peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians, and defines the term 'peace officer' to include a noncertified deputy sheriff, an emergency communications specialist, a corrections officer, a port of entry officer, or a wildlife officer.The act also sets an income limit for families made eligible for mortgage loans by the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Interstate 25 in Denver County, stretching from Mile Marker 204.51 to 213.13, as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway to honor his public service. The legislation authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept donations and place signs marking this stretch of road, while also allowing for cooperation with local authorities to maintain those signs. This measure directly affects the state's transportation department and the communities along the designated highway by creating a permanent tribute to former Governor Roy Romer.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and designates April 29, 2026, as Colorado Denim Day. The resolution commemorates the global campaign where people wear jeans to protest victim-blaming attitudes toward sexual assault survivors. It also acknowledges the work of organizations like the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault in supporting survivors and addressing sexual violence. The measure is a symbolic gesture that does not change laws or allocate funding, but instead raises public awareness about the issue.