The act requires the state board of veterinary medicine (board) to review and update the existing process by which an individual who has a license to practice veterinary medicine in another state may be licensed by endorsement to practice veterinary medicine in Colorado. The board shall adopt rules with the intent to expedite the licensure by endorsement process, including eliminating duplicative requirements and streamlining the pathway to licensure. The act clarifies that a veterinarian who administers, dispenses, distributes, or prescribes medicine to a patient in an emergency situation is not acting as a pharmacist or conducting the practice of pharmacy, and, as such, is not subject to discipline by the state board of pharmacy. The act relocates certain provisions specific to the practice of veterinary medicine from regulation by the state board of pharmacy to regulation under Colorado's veterinary practice act. Under current law, the board must approve a credentialing organization for the purpose of credentialing veterinary technicians, which credentialing organization must require the completion of an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited program for veterinary technicians. The act updates the requirement to require the completion of an accredited program for veterinary technicians offered by other associations. The act also establishes a veterinary prescription drug donation program. An owner of an animal may donate unused veterinary drugs that have been prescribed to the owner to a licensed veterinarian or an animal shelter. A licensed veterinarian may use any drugs accepted through donation if the veterinarian and drugs meet certain conditions.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Sponsored bills
Under current law, a pet store in Colorado is permitted to sell or offer for sale dogs or cats if the pet store abides by certain requirements. The act removes the existing permission so that, beginning January 1, 2028, a pet store is no longer permitted to sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat. Nothing prohibits a pet store from providing space for the display of dogs or cats available for adoption if the pet store does not collect a fee from the display and if certain requirements are met. The act defines 'broker' as a person that, for profit, sells, leases, offers to sell or lease, barters, auctions, or otherwise transfers ownership of, in person or online, a pet animal bred by another person. A broker does not include a person that transfers no more than 3 single pet animals per each calendar year if the person transfers each single pet animal no more than once. The act states that a broker is not permitted to sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat. The act clarifies that the following are still permitted:The sale, transfer, or adoption of an animal, including a law enforcement animal, to a governmental agency;The sale, transfer, or adoption of a guide, signal, or service dog;The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by an animal shelter or pet animal rescue;The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog bred or trained for lawful hunting to or by an individual who possesses a current hunting license;The sale or transfer of a dog or cat by the original breeder of the dog or cat; andThe sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by a health-related research facility.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Under current law, consumers in Colorado have a right to repair all digital electronic equipment, which could include equipment that is considered critical infrastructure. The bill exempts information technology equipment that is intended for use to be used in critical infrastructure from Colorado's consumer right to repair laws. Critical infrastructure is defined as a system or asset, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of the system or asset would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. The bill authorizes the attorney general to review an exemption from Colorado's consumer right to repair laws for certain information technology equipment (equipment) that is intended to be used in critical infrastructure. In reviewing whether the equipment is exempt, the attorney general shall consider whether the equipment is actually intended to be used in a manner that qualifies as critical infrastructure and whether the equipment is sold under a business-to-business or business-to-government contract and not customarily sold in a retail setting. Any determination made by the attorney general regarding an exemption may be appealed by the manufacturer of the equipment.(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 enacts the 'Uniform Mortgage Modification Act', drafted by the Uniform Law Commission. The act provides that, in the event that a mortgage is modified:The mortgage continues to secure the obligation as modified;The modification does not affect the priority of the mortgage;A mortgage retains its priority regardless of whether a modification agreement is recorded; andThe modification is not a novation.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act clarifies that municipal court defendants have a right to counsel and that municipal defense counsel have the same notice requirements, case information, and opportunity to meet with their clients as do state-level defense counsel. Current law prohibits paying indigent municipal defense counsel on a fixed or flat-fee payment structure if the municipality prosecutes domestic violence cases. The act applies the prohibition to all municipalities and allows a flat fee arrangement if the flat fee is the same or higher than a resulting fee based on hourly compensation. Current law requires municipal court proceedings to be open to public observation. The act requires virtual observation for all in-custody proceedings and prompt resolution of municipal cases.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
If a mental health provider, substance use disorder provider, or psychiatric nurse (provider) has not submitted a claim for a period of at least 12 months, the act requires a commercial insurance carrier (carrier) to contact the provider to confirm the provider's participation in the carrier's provider network and to determine whether the provider is accepting new patients. The act includes mental health providers, substance use disorder providers, and psychiatric nurses as providers who may participate in a carrier's provider network. The act requires carriers to admit prelicensed providers into the carrier's network and to reimburse prelicensed providers for services rendered when provided under the supervision of a mental health provider, substance use disorder provider, or psychiatric nurse. The act requires a clinical social worker to complete 3,000 hours of practice prior to licensure.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Under current law, a political party must ensure that any person, upon request, is able to participate in a precinct caucus or a party assembly with the use of a video conferencing platform or alternative means of participation. The failure of any political party to make a reasonable effort to comply with these accessibility requirements constitutes discrimination on the basis of disability in a place of public accommodation. The act clarifies that only a person who is otherwise eligible pursuant to statute to participate in a precinct caucus or a party assembly may request video conferencing or another alternative means of participation. The act also clarifies that a person who is subjected to a violation of a political party's duties regarding these accessibility requirements may file suit only against the central committee of the political party holding the caucus or assembly. An individual, including a member of the central committee of the political party or a volunteer for a political party, may not be held liable for a violation of these accessibility requirements. Upon a finding of a violation of these accessibility requirements, a court may require compliance with the applicable accessibility requirement and either actual monetary damages or a statutory fine of $3,500 for each violation.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Beginning July 1, 2027, the act requires municipal jails to comply with existing jail data collection requirements, standards, and oversight. The act requires a keeper of a municipal jail to release a pregnant person charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance from custody if jail staff have a reasonable belief the person is in labor unless remaining in custody is necessary for the health or welfare of the person. If the pregnant person in labor is not released, the use of restraints is prohibited during the labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery, and the jail staff shall make a written record that the labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery occurred at the jail and record the reason the pregnant person was not released from custody. The act requires council members of a city that has a city jail to examine the jail's management and sufficiency at least once a year and allows the attorney general to conduct assessments of municipal jails to identify gaps and deficiencies based on the jail standards. The act adds a nonvoting member who represents a municipality to the jail standards advisory committee.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Under current law, a parent can voluntarily relinquish their child to a firefighter or hospital or community clinic emergency center staff member if the child is less than 72 hours old. The act allows a parent to voluntarily relinquish their child if the child is 30 days old or younger and requires the department of human services to adopt rules establishing a process for either parent of child who was relinquished to reunify with the child.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The 'Traveling Animal Protection Act' permits the use of certain animals as part of an environmental education program if certain requirements are met. The act clarifies that an environmental education program is a program that is conducted by a professional who is qualified to impart environmental education information. The act defines 'professional' as an individual or an organization that has obtained at least one specific professional accreditation or certification.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)