Sen. Matt Ball

The act makes multiple changes to procedural requirements for the administration of property tax in 2 broad categories: Deadlines and requirements for transmitting information.      Modifications to deadlines. The act modifies property tax-related deadlines as follows:Aligns the regular and late application dates for the qualified-senior primary residence real property classification and the property tax exemption for qualifying veterans with disabilities and their spouses with those for the property tax exemption for qualifying seniors and their spouses. The regular application deadline is July 15, and late applications may be accepted until August 15.Increases from $10,000 to $20,000 the current threshold for a board of county commissioners (board) to recommend, or a county assessor with the approval of a board to settle, an abatement or refund of taxes. The threshold for the board being required to submit recommended abatement applications to the property tax administrator (administrator) for review is similarly increased from $10,000 to $20,000. The board is not required to submit an application to the administrator in the case of an abatement or refund caused by a valuation change made to ensure matching values within the same reassessment cycle.Clarifies the timeline for a petitioner to appeal a decision of the board of county equalization to the board of assessment appeals or submit the case to arbitration;Changes the real property protest deadline from June 8 to June 1;Changes the deadline from June 15 to July 15 for a county assessor to send a notice of valuation of personal property and changes the personal property protest deadline from June 30 to July 31 for a county that uses alternate protest and appeal procedures (alternate procedures) to determine objections and protests for taxable property;Clarifies that a county's use of alternate procedures may apply to real or personal property, or both; andAligns the protest deadline for personal property with the date that county assessors must conclude their hearings on such protests so that both the protest and hearing conclusion dates for personal property are June 30, or, for a county that uses alternate procedures, July 31.      Modifications to requirements for transmitting information. The act modifies requirements for transmitting property tax information as follows:Clarifies that a county assessor or the board may transmit a required abstract of assessment, certification of taxes levied, or application for a recommended abatement or refund in excess of $20,000 to the administrator in a paper or electronic format;Reduces the number of copies of an application for a recommended abatement or refund in excess of $20,000 that the board must send to the administrator for review to one;Repeals the requirement that the administrator conduct a public hearing on proposed changes to property tax manuals, appraisal procedures, instructions, and guidelines, which are still required to be reviewed by the advisory committee to the administrator;Requires the administrator to prepare and publish standardized forms, including a letter of authorization, for all levels of property tax appeals;Reduces the number of copies of a notice of determination that an assessor must send to a taxpayer who has objected to the valuation of the taxpayer's property to one; andReduces the number of copies of an abstract of assessment that needs to be prepared to one.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Under current law, a person may be arrested and detained for level 1 drug misdemeanor possession.     The act requires that when a colorimetric field drug test was used to test for the presence of a controlled substance and a person is solely suspected of a level 1 drug misdemeanor for possession or solely suspected of a municipal drug possession charge, a peace officer shall not arrest the person and instead shall issue a summons.     The act also requires that when a colorimetric field drug test was used, before accepting a plea from a person charged with a drug possession for level 4 drug felony possession and lower, the trial court is required to issue an advisement with specified language, including language stating that colorimetric field drug tests have known error rates and that the defendant has the right to enter a not guilty plea and to request drug testing from an accredited forensic laboratory.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires a subject jurisdiction to, on or after December 31, 2027, subject to an administrative approval process, allow the construction of a residential development on a qualifying property that does not contain an exempt parcel; except that, if on December 31, 2027, a subject jurisdiction is actively in the process of updating the subject jurisdiction's zoning or development code to comply with the act, the subject jurisdiction is required to complete the updates and allow the construction of a residential development on a qualifying property that does not contain an exempt parcel by June 30, 2028. A qualifying property is real property that contains no more than 5 acres of land and is owned by:A school district;A state college or university;A board of cooperative services;A housing authority;A local or regional transit district or a regional transportation authority serving one or more counties;A nonprofit organization with a demonstrated history of providing affordable housing; orA nonprofit organization that has entered into an agreement with another nonprofit organization with a demonstrated history of providing affordable housing, provided that the agreement requires the nonprofit organization with a demonstrated history of providing affordable housing to develop a residential development on the property.     If a subject jurisdiction requests, as part of an initial development application, that a nonprofit organization with a demonstrated history of providing affordable housing provide documentation that the nonprofit meets required criteria, the nonprofit organization shall provide the documentation. A subject jurisdiction is not required to allow a residential development on a qualifying property if the subject jurisdiction implements a transferable development rights program on the qualifying property and if the transferable development rights program includes a policy for affordable resident housing that is restricted in ownership and occupancy in perpetuity.     A subject jurisdiction shall not:Disallow construction of a residential development on a qualifying property on the basis of height if the tallest structure in the residential development is no more than 3 stories or 38 feet tall, except in certain circumstances;Disallow construction of a residential development on a qualifying property on the basis of height if the tallest structure in the residential development complies with the height requirements of the zoning district in which the residential development will be built or the height requirements that apply to any parcel zoned to allow for residential development that is contiguous to the qualifying property on which the residential development will be built;Disallow construction of a residential development on a qualifying property based on the number of dwelling units the residential development will contain, except in accordance with standards listed in the act; orApply site design standards to a residential development on a qualifying property that are more restrictive than the site design standards the subject jurisdiction applies to similar housing constructed within the subject jurisdiction, including standards related to structure setbacks from property lines; lot coverage or open space; on-site parking requirements; numbers of bedrooms in a multifamily residential development; on-site landscaping, screening, and buffering requirements; solar access; minimum dwelling units per acre; or other objective setback standards that apply to residential dwellings, including setbacks from oil and gas facilities, oil and gas operations, stream corridors, riparian areas, wetlands, and sensitive wildlife habitats.     Provided that the uses are allowed conditionally or by right within the zoning district in which a qualifying property is located, a subject jurisdiction shall allow the following uses in a residential development on a qualifying property:Child care; andThe provision of recreational, social, or educational services provided by community organizations for use by the residents of the residential development and the surrounding community.     On or before December 31, 2027, the department of local affairs is required to publish guidance to assist subject jurisdictions in verifying the status of a nonprofit organization with a demonstrated history of providing affordable housing.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution recognizes October 2026 as Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado to promote peaceful dispute resolution methods. The bill directly affects Coloradans by encouraging community events, workplace discussions, and educational programs focused on mediation, arbitration, and restorative justice practices. Key provisions invite residents to reflect on and resolve conflicts responsibly while asking leaders and officials to participate in celebrating this month. The resolution also calls for increased awareness of conflict resolution benefits among judges, government staff, and local communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill reappoints Kerri L. Hunter as Colorado's State Auditor for a five-year term from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031. The reappointment follows a unanimous recommendation from the Legislative Audit Committee, which reviews candidates for the position based on qualifications and experience. Under Colorado law, the General Assembly appoints the State Auditor, and this resolution formally approves Hunter's continued service after her initial term ended in 2026. The measure directly affects the State Auditor's office by extending its leadership while maintaining the existing appointment process.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 8, 2026, as International Women's Day in Colorado and acknowledges the historical and ongoing contributions of women to society. It recognizes women's achievements across various fields, including politics, business, and social movements, while highlighting Colorado's early history of women's suffrage and female leadership in state government. The resolution encourages continued celebration of this day and commits the legislature to supporting policies that promote gender equality and women's empowerment.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves specific updates to eligibility lists for two Colorado water funding programs. It adds new drinking water projects (like Delta County's distribution system) and modifies existing entries (such as adding "green infrastructure" to Loveland's project), while deleting completed projects (like Kiowa's). These changes determine which local water districts, municipalities, and property associations can access financial assistance from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund and Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund. The bill does not create new funding rules but formally adopts the Commission's proposed list adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution expresses Colorado's legislative support for maintaining national public lands under federal stewardship and opposes efforts that would reduce public access or weaken environmental review laws. The resolution specifically targets potential erosion of bedrock federal laws like NEPA and FLPMA, which require public input and balanced resource management. It calls on state and federal officials to defend statutory safeguards that ensure public lands serve broad public benefits rather than narrow special interests. This non-binding resolution does not change any laws but serves as a formal statement of legislative intent and values regarding public land management.

The 2025 general appropriations act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated to the department of military and veterans affairs. The general fund and cash funds portions of the appropriation are increased and the federal funds portion is decreased.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summarySJR 11 is a commemorative resolution designating a specific segment of U.S. Highway 34 (between Wilson Ave. and North County Rd. 23H) as the "Sgt. John 'Jack' Thurman Memorial Highway" in honor of a World War II Marine Corps veteran. The bill, which has no policy or funding provisions, simply names the highway section to recognize Sergeant Thurman's service at Iwo Jima, his military awards, and his post-war contributions as an architect and community leader in Colorado. It authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept donations for signage and explore maintenance agreements with local governments. This is a ceremonial designation with no direct impact on residents or new laws.