Sen. Julie Gonzales

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1028 designates Friday, April 25, 2025, as "Sportsmen's Day" in Colorado. This resolution aims to recognize the contributions of Colorado's sportsmen and women to conservation efforts and the state's economy. It also encourages members of the General Assembly to join the Colorado Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus and urges public and private institutions to work with the caucus.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 25-1027 designates a specific portion of Colorado State Highway 1 in Larimer County, from East County Road 60 to Interstate 25, as the "Commissioner Lew Gaiter III Memorial Highway." It authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to accept donations for the initial placement of signs and to explore a cooperative agreement with Larimer County for sign maintenance.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 25-1030 expresses the State of Colorado's strong opposition to the use of forced labor in the production of goods. The resolution states that Colorado will use its purchasing power to support businesses that ethically source or manufacture products without forced labor. It also encourages state and local economic development offices to attract businesses that avoid these labor practices. This joint resolution aims to influence state and local government purchasing decisions and promote ethical business standards.

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1026 designates Colorado State Highway 402, from United States Highway 287 to Interstate 25, as the "Rep. Hugh McKean Memorial Highway." It also authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to accept donations for the initial placement of signs and to explore agreements with Larimer County for sign maintenance.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 25-012 commemorates Cinco de Mayo, recognizing its historical significance and its representation of pride, unity, and resilience for Mexican American, Hispano, Chicano, and Latino communities. The resolution pays tribute to the contributions and struggles of these communities in Colorado and affirms a commitment to combat discrimination.

The bill requires a subject jurisdiction, on or after December 31, 2026, to allow a residential development to be constructed on a qualifying property that does not contain an exempt parcel, subject to an administrative approval process. A subject jurisdiction shall not allow a residential development to be constructed on a qualifying property unless the residential development complies with certain affordability requirements. The bill specifies that a subject jurisdiction shall not: Disallow construction of a residential development on the basis of height if the tallest structure in the residential development is no more than 3 stories or 45 feet tall; Disallow construction of a residential development on the basis of height if the tallest structure in the residential development complies with the height-related standards for the zoning district in which the residential development will be built or any zoning district parcel that is contiguous to the qualifying property on which the residential development will be built; Disallow construction of a residential development based on the number of dwelling units that the residential development will contain, except in accordance with standards listed in the bill; or Apply standards to a residential development on a qualifying property that are more restrictive than the 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; or on-site landscaping, screening, and buffering requirements; or minimum dwelling units per acre. A subject jurisdiction shall allow the following uses in a residential development on a qualifying property: Childcare; and The provision of recreational, social, or educational services provided by community organizations for use by the residents of the residential development and the surrounding community. A subject jurisdiction may condition additional uses in a residential development on the uses being allowed only on the ground floor of the residential development and the uses occupying no more than 15% of the ground floor area of the residential development. The bill requires a faith-based organization, school district, or state college or university to notify the county assessor that a subject jurisdiction has allowed the construction of a residential development on a qualifying property within the county. (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 bill affords a plaintiff and defendant the right to trial by jury to decide all issues of fact in any action brought for unlawful detention of real property; except that, an action brought against a defendant who is a tenant of public housing that is owned or operated by a public housing agency must be tried by the court. The bill requires at least one attempt on 3 2 separate days of personal service on the defendant in an action for unlawful detention of real property. The bill requires an affidavit of service to be filed with the court. The bill requires a defendant who demands a trial by jury to make the demand in accordance with the Colorado rules of civil procedure or file a separate jury demand with the defendant's answer. The bill requires the court to set the date for trial no sooner than 10 days after the answer is filed. The bill authorizes the court to continue the trial if a party demands a trial by jury. The bill authorizes the court, upon its own motion or the motion of either party, to strike a jury demand and set the action for a trial by the court if the court determines that the defendant's answer only asserts equitable defenses and there is no dispute as to any material fact regarding the plaintiff's claim for possession of the premises or damages. The bill authorizes the court to allow either party, counsel for either party, and any witness to appear remotely by phone or video at a jury trial as an accommodation for a person with a disability or upon adequate assurances that the remote participation will not cause unreasonable delay. If either party requests a delay in a trial longer than 14 days, the bill authorizes the court, in the court's discretion upon a showing of a party's substantial likelihood of suffering serious economic harm, to require either party to give bond or other security to the opposite party for the sum that the party may be harmed due to the delay. The party required to make payment to the court must be given at least 7 days after the court's order to make the payment. If the party fails to make payment within the time required, the bill authorizes the court to extend the time for compliance or reset the hearing or trial for the next available date, but the court is prohibited from entering a default against the party. Upon a showing of indigency by the party required to make payment, the bill requires the court to waive or reduce the bond or other security, provide additional time to make payment, and permit the party to make multiple partial payments. Current law prohibits a written rental agreement from including a waiver of the right to a jury trial, except when the parties agree to a waiver of a jury in a hearing to determine possession of a dwelling unit. The bill removes this exemption. (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.)

Current law does not expressly allow for the state to recognize an arrest warrant issued by a Tribal court of a federally recognized Tribe (Tribal court). The act clarifies that a state court shall give full faith and credit to an arrest warrant issued by a Tribal court. Upon issuance of a Tribal court arrest warrant, a peace officer in the state may apprehend the person identified in the Tribal warrant if the peace officer verifies the validity of the warrant and confirms that the warrant permits extradition. The act outlines the court process for extradition cases arising from a Tribal court arrest warrant. Current law does not expressly allow for the recognition of a Tribal court behavioral health commitment order (commitment order). The act clarifies that a commitment order entered by a Tribal court that concerns a person under the Tribal court's jurisdiction is recognized to the same extent as a commitment order entered by a state court. A health-care provider may communicate with the officers of the Tribal court regarding a patient placed under the health-care provider's care pursuant to a commitment order to the same extent that the health-care provider may communicate with officers of the court pursuant to a commitment order entered by a state court. If a Tribal court issues an order rescinding the Tribal court's original commitment order, the state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies; state courts; hospitals; behavioral health facilities; health-care providers; and others within the state responsible for providing services to the person subject to the commitment order shall recognize the order rescinding the Tribal court's original commitment order and release the person subject to the commitment order. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act makes changes to the "Dental Practice Act" (act) by: Continuing the act for 9 years, until 2034; Updating and adding definitions; Changing the membership of the Colorado dental board (board); Adding to and updating the grounds for which the board may take disciplinary action against an applicant for licensure or a licensee; Allowing a licensee's submission to a mental or physical examination to satisfy the requirement to notify the board of a condition that may impair the licensee's ability to practice; Adding as exemptions to the act the volunteer practice of dental therapy and dental hygiene under specific conditions; Subjecting dentistry practiced by a professional service corporation to certain limits and requirements; Repealing exceptions that allow a dental therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant to perform certain dentistry practices and including additional tasks in the practice of dentistry; Clarifying that a dental assistant, dental hygienist, or dental therapist may perform tasks consistent with rules adopted by the board; Requiring a provider who performs itinerant surgery to develop and maintain protocols for emergency follow-up care; Clarifying the authority of a licensed dentist to prescribe orders electronically; Requiring a peer health assistance program selected as a designated provider for the dentist peer health assistance program to provide training to dentists who practice monitoring services; Authorizing a dentist to self-refer to participate in a peer health assistance program or be referred by the board; Removing a requirement that dental therapy education schools and programs must be accredited or approved by a specific entity; Requiring the board to adopt rules that allow for expedited, temporary licensure during a declared disaster emergency; Regulating anesthesia inspectors and requiring the board to design and implement expedited permitting of dentists with certain anesthesia or sedation training; Updating the business information a licensee must provide to the board and the circumstances under which providing the information is required; Repealing specific tasks that are currently authorized to be performed by a dental hygienist; Updating procedures for the construction of dental devices by an unlicensed technician; Updating the list of practices that are considered to be the practice of unsupervised dental hygiene; Repealing the specific dosages of certain drugs that a dental hygienist may prescribe; Authorizing the board to adopt rules that identify safe prescribing alternatives to silver diamine fluoride as a treatment for strengthening teeth and preventing tooth decay; Identifying tasks that constitute practicing supervised dental hygiene; Requiring a dental hygienist performing an interim therapeutic restoration to confirm a referral for follow-up care with a dentist; Limiting the number of dental hygienists or dental therapists that a dentist may supervise; and Authorizing a dental therapist to perform specific tasks.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Based on the findings and recommendations of the committee on legal services, the act extends all state agency rules that were adopted or amended on or after November 1, 2023, and before November 1, 2024, with the exception of certain rules of the state board of education, the division of labor standards and statistics in the department of labor and employment, the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety, and the state board of nursing in the department of regulatory agencies, as specified in the act. The specified rules will expire as scheduled in the "State Administrative Procedure Act" on May 15, 2025, on the grounds that the rules conflict with statute. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)