Sen. James Coleman

Current law requires an individual to be at least 18 years old in order to obtain a marriage license; except that a minor who is 16 or 17 years old may obtain a marriage license with judicial approval. The bill repeals this exception, therefore requiring that an individual be at least 18 years old to obtain a marriage license.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The producer responsibility program for statewide recycling (program) provides recycling services to covered entities in the state and is financed through annual dues assessed against producers of products that use packaging materials and paper products (producers).     The bill reaffirms the authority of the solid and hazardous waste commission in the department of public health and environment (department) to direct an appeals process whereby producers may contest the program dues assessed against them by requesting a hearing before the producer responsibility program for statewide recycling advisory board (advisory board). If a producer requests a hearing before the advisory board, the advisory board is required to hold the hearing and issue written recommendations to the department as to whether the dues assessed against the producer should be adjusted. The department is required to make a determination whether to approve or reject the advisory board's recommendations regarding the assessed dues within 45 days after receiving the advisory board's recommendations on the matter. The department's determination is a final agency action subject to judicial review.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill requires the state treasurer, on behalf of the state, to execute, no later than December 31, 2026, financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements (financing agreements) to finance a portion of the capital costs related to the capital renewal of a facility at the Colorado school of mines. The financing agreements are to be issued in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $13 million plus reasonable and necessary administrative, monitoring, and closing costs and interest, including capitalized interest. The anticipated annual state-funded payments for the principal and interest components due under the financing agreements must not exceed the difference between $17.5 million and the amount of the annual state-funded payments for the agreements entered into pursuant to House Bill 24-1231, with principal amortization not occurring before July 1, 2027. The proceeds from the financing agreements will be used for the renewal of critical building systems of Guggenheim hall at the Colorado school of mines.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill creates the Colorado nuclear workforce development and education council (council) in the Colorado school of mines to help meet growing workforce demand in the nuclear energy sector. The bill establishes a related grant program (grant program) to provide grants to institutions of higher education for the development or expansion of nuclear engineering degree or certificate programs or course offerings. The council shall convene advisory sessions with stakeholders from the nuclear, educational, and workforce development sectors; implement the grant program; and contract with one or more third-party entities for staffing and operational assistance.     The council may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations for council-related purposes. The state treasurer shall credit the gifts, grants, and donations to the Colorado nuclear workforce development and education cash fund (cash fund), which is created in the bill. The general assembly shall not appropriate general fund money to implement or maintain council operations or grant awards. The council shall convene and begin awarding grants only after the balance of the cash fund reaches or exceeds $500,000 (threshold) .     The bill imposes requirements to report to the Colorado commission on higher education and the general assembly about the council's funding sources, grant program implementation, and other uses of the grant program money. If the cash fund balance does not reach the threshold on or before September 1, 2027, the council is repealed and the money in the cash fund is refunded to the grantors or donors. Otherwise, the bill repeals the council, effective September 1, 2033, unless the council is extended following a sunset review.(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.)

Beginning July 1, 2027, the bill prohibits the immediate release of a patient's sensitive test results to the patient's electronic health record or through a patient portal. Instead, the bill requires that sensitive test results, once they are finalized, not be released as part of the patient's electronic health record or through a patient portal for 3 business days.     The bill establishes 2 exceptions one exception to this requirement: Sensitive test results may be immediately released as part of the patient's electronic health record or through a patient portal immediately and without delay if the patient's health-care provider authorizes immediate release of the results or if the patient requests to receive the sensitive test results of a particular test without delay the sensitive test results to be released before the end of the three 3-business-day period .     The bill defines 'sensitive test results' as:A pathology or radiology report that is ordered for the purpose of diagnosing or monitoring a patient for cancer; orTest results that may reveal a genetic marker that relates to a cancer condition.     The bill specifies that a custodian of person that administers and controls a patient's electronic health record that contains sensitive test results is responsible for implementing the requirements of the bill. The bill states that compliance with the requirements of the bill is not information blocking under the federal '21st Century Cures Act'. A person that fails to comply with the requirements of the bill is not subject to civil, criminal, or administrative liability or professional disciplinary action.(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.)

The act acknowledges the human-animal bond as a life-enhancing resource that impacts the length and quality of human life. The act authorizes the health disparities and community grant program (grant program) to award grants to entities that support the human-animal bond if the grant program is appropriated additional funds for that purpose by the general assembly.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month to highlight the impact of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease. The measure calls on Coloradans to support research, advocate for funding, and show solidarity with patients and their families who face challenges such as muscle weakness and limited life expectancy. While the resolution does not change laws or allocate funds, it formally recognizes the importance of multidisciplinary care and clinical trials in managing the disease. Copies of the resolution are sent to medical leaders, advocacy groups, and a caregiver to emphasize community support for those affected by ALS.

Under Colorado law, a private property owner is prohibited from retaining more than 5% of a construction contract as retainage if the contract is at least $150,000. The act authorizes a contractor to submit a retainage bond in lieu of withholding retainage, and a private property owner must accept the retainage bond and not withhold the retainage if the retainage bond meets the act's standards. A subcontractor may require the contractor to submit a bond in lieu of retainage for the subcontractor's portion of the retainage. The contractor may require the subcontractor to submit a like bond to the contractor.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act defines critical infrastructure material as any component or part used in covered infrastructure that is made of or contains a commodity metal, the theft of which poses an imminent threat to life or the physical safety of a person, including through serious harm to the basic supply of covered infrastructure to the population or to the exercise of a core function of covered infrastructure. The act adds critical infrastructure materials to regulations in existing law on the sale and possession of commodity metals.     The act prohibits an owner, keeper, or proprietor (owner) of a junk shop, junk store, salvage yard, or junk cart or other vehicle, and every collector of or dealer in junk, salvage, or other secondhand property who buys a critical infrastructure material (buyer) from paying cash for the critical infrastructure material unless the seller is paid by means of any process in which a picture of the seller is taken or the transaction is worth less than $300.     The act prohibits a buyer from possessing critical infrastructure material without an affidavit from the seller or donator of the commodity metal. Unlawful possession of critical infrastructure materials is a class 2 misdemeanor if the amount is less than $1,000, a class 2 misdemeanor if the amount is $1,000 to $2,000, and a class 6 felony if the amount is $2,000 or more.     A buyer who unknowingly takes possession of critical infrastructure material as part of a load of otherwise noncritical infrastructure materials with an affidavit stating they can transfer the noncritical infrastructure material has a duty to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency or municipal code enforcement agency. Failure to report stolen critical infrastructure materials is a class 2 misdemeanor if the amount is less than $1,000, a class 2 misdemeanor if the amount is $1,000 to $2,000, and a class 6 felony if the amount is $2,000 or more.     An owner of a junk shop, junk store, salvage yard, or junk cart must make their book or register available to a law enforcement agency or municipal code enforcement agency upon request.     The act modifies existing criminal penalties related to the theft of commodity metals so that it is a class 6 felony for any amount that is $2,000 or more.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act defines, and creates requirements for, portable-scale solar generation devices. In addition, the act prohibits a provider of retail electric service or wholesale energy from, among other things, requiring a customer to obtain the provider's approval before installing or using a portable-scale solar generation device. The act also prohibits a person from directly or indirectly unreasonably prohibiting the installation, use, or operation of a portable-scale solar generation device. A covenant or restriction that explicitly or indirectly unreasonably prohibits or restricts the installation, use, or operation of a portable-scale solar generation device is unenforceable and void as a matter of public policy, though a real property owner may require reasonable restrictions.     The act clarifies that a portable-scale solar generation device is considered an energy efficiency measure on and after January 1, 2027, and a unit owners' association of a common interest community is therefore not permitted to prohibit the installation or use of a portable-scale solar generation device. However, a real property owner that resides in a common interest community and installs a portable-scale solar generation device may be required to reasonably secure the device to their unit and may be responsible for all liability and costs associated with the device's installation, maintenance, or removal.     The act specifies that a provider of retail electric service or wholesale energy is not liable for any damage caused by a portable-scale solar generation device and requires that the installation of a portable-scale solar generation device be in accordance with fire code requirements and applicable building codes that pertain to health and safety.     Under current law, a utility that is subject to regulation by the public utilities commission (commission) must allow for customer ownership and use of a meter collar adapter through the utility's interconnection standards. The act requires the commission, on or before December 31, 2026, to revise existing commission interconnection rules to explicitly require commission-regulated utilities to:Maintain a public list of at least one approved meter collar adapter;Have a process for approving a meter collar adapter that is not included in the public list;Approve proposed meter collar adapters that meet certain technical requirements;If the installation of an approved meter collar adapter requires relocation of the meter enclosure or replacement of the meter housing, provide an estimate of costs associated with this work upon request of the customer;Establish and publish a process for a customer to request and install a meter collar adapter; andFacilitate the installation of a meter collar adapter by a registered electrical contractor and require that all electrical work be performed by a qualified party such as a master electrician.     In addition, the act states that the revised commission interconnection rules must allow commission-regulated utilities to require that installation work for a meter collar adapter be performed by the commission-regulated utility, a licensed electrical contractor, or a party approved by the commission-regulated utility if the installation of an approved meter collar adapter requires removal of the meter.     The act requires cooperative electric associations and customer-generators to comply with the rules adopted by the commission regarding meter collar adapters and with other commission rules regarding production meters.     Similarly, the act requires municipally owned utilities to:Maintain a public list of at least one approved meter collar adapter;Have a process for approving a meter collar adapter that is not included in the public list;Approve proposed meter collar adapters that meet certain technical requirements;If the installation of an approved meter collar adapter requires relocation of the meter enclosure or replacement of the meter housing, provide an estimate of costs associated with this work upon request of the customer; andInclude a process for a customer to request and install a meter collar adapter. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)