Sen. Cleave Simpson

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SJR 25-009) expresses Colorado's support for federal management of national public lands, including parks, forests, and monuments. It formally opposes efforts to sell, transfer, or dispose of these lands and urges Colorado's governor, attorney general, and congressional delegation to take action against such proposals. The resolution is non-binding but directs state officials to advocate for continued public stewardship by federal agencies like the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. It was passed by the Colorado Senate and referred to the House for consideration.

Under Colorado law, a person may file a claim with the division of parks and wildlife (division) for compensation for damages to property caused by wildlife, and the division must review and investigate that claim. The act requires that the personal information of a person, information related to site assessments received by the division through the claim procedures, and personal information associated with proactive nonlethal measures is kept confidential and not disclosed pursuant to the "Colorado Open Records Act". The act excludes from this prohibition: Information about nonlethal predator-livestock conflict minimization measures that does not reveal the identity of the person or the person's business; Nonidentifying information of county-level data highlighting the number or dollar amount of claims made to the division, the number of claims that were settled and the monetary amounts of those settlements, the number of claims that are pending at the time of a request for disclosure, and the number of claims that were denied and the reasons for denial; and Personal information that becomes public by the actions of the subject of the personal information or the subject's agent. The act prohibits bringing or maintaining a private action challenging the division's determination that a person or the person's agent has taken actions or made statements that led to the person's personal information becoming publicly known. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act clarifies that the health benefits coverage for the prevention of, screening for, and treatment of behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders must be no less extensive than the coverage provided for any physical illness. The act requires that every health benefit plan provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of covered behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorder benefits, consistent with specified criteria. The act also specifies criteria to be used for conducting utilization review, service intensity, and the level of care for covered persons. In addition, the act prohibits: A health benefit plan from limiting coverage for chronic behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorders to short-term symptom reduction; and A health insurance carrier from reversing or altering a determination of medical necessity except in the case of fraud. The act requires carriers that provide benefits for mental health conditions or substance use disorders to offer meaningful benefits for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The act describes how to determine whether the benefits provided are meaningful benefits. The commissioner of insurance is authorized to adopt rules to: Establish carrier utilization review compliance; Specify data testing requirements for plan design and application of parity compliance; Set standard definition for coverage requirements; Establish timelines for carriers to provide comparative analysis information to the division of insurance; and Establish time periods for visits with a provider for treatment of a behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorder after an initial visit with a provider.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution designating March 17, 2025, as "Colorado FFA Day." It recognizes the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization's role in supporting agricultural education and youth development in Colorado. The resolution directly affects Colorado FFA members, educators, and supporters by formally honoring their contributions through this annual recognition. It does not create new laws or policy changes, as it is a symbolic gesture celebrating the organization's work.

Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the act prohibit making, distributing, advertising, selling, promoting, completing, altering, or producing or causing to be made, distributed, advertised, sold, promoted, completed, altered, or produced a document that simulates or closely resembles an official document related to the administration of the motor vehicle or identification statutes (vehicular document piracy). A person does not commit vehicular document piracy if the person received the express written permission of the department of revenue (department). A violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000. Sections 5 and 6 make the "Uniform Power of Attorney Act" apply to the motor vehicle statutes. Section 7 repeals the requirement that a military service-connected disability be permanent in order for a veteran to be eligible to register a motor vehicle without paying fees. Section 7 also repeals the license plates issued to foreign governments, consuls, or other official representatives of a foreign government. Section 8 repeals the Navy SEAL special license plate and the North American aerospace defense command commemorative special license plate, and section 9 repeals the "Alive at Twenty-five" special license plate. Under current law, a minor who is under 18 years of age must submit a log showing the minor drove at least 50 hours with a driving supervisor to be issued a driver's license. Section 10 authorizes any responsible adult to sign the log. Section 11 corrects a provision that describes a minor as being 21 years of age or older. Section 12 repeals a provision that incorrectly states the length of time a person must agree to register a vehicle after moving to Colorado. Under current law, the department may require a person to obtain a written medical opinion from certain medical professionals concerning medical criteria for driver licensing. Section 13 authorizes an advanced practice registered nurse to issue such an opinion. Section 14 authorizes the department to round fee increases to the nearest dollar. Under current law, a person who is not lawfully present may, to obtain an identification document, use an identifying document issued by an agency of the United States government or its contractors or subcontractors in accordance with rules adopted by the department, but this provision is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Section 15 changes this effective date to the earlier of January 1, 2027, or when the department is able to implement it. Section 16 authorizes the use of a mobile driver's license, which is an official electronic extension of a department-issued physical identification document, to verify age or identity. The provider of a mobile driver's license must comply with the standards adopted by the department by rule. The department is given rule-making authority to approve and implement mobile driver's licenses. Section 16 takes effect January 1, 2026. Section 17 authorizes the motor vehicle investigations unit (unit) to cancel, deny, or deny the issuance or reissuance of an official document upon determining that the person was not entitled to the issuance of the official document for: Failure to give the required or correct information in an application or for committing fraud in making the application or in submitting any proof for the application; or Permitting an unlawful or fraudulent use of the official document or for being convicted of an offense involving misuse of the official document. If the unit cancels, denies, or denies the issuance or reissuance of an official document, the affected person may request a hearing. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current law allows the use of the Colorado coordinate system of 1927 and the Colorado coordinate system of 1983 established by the national geodetic survey to state the geographic positions or locations of points on the surface of the earth within the state. The act allows the use of the most recent or a prior version of the state plane coordinate system for the same purpose. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution declares February 28, 2025, as Rare Disease Day in Colorado to raise awareness about rare diseases. It directly affects Colorado residents living with rare diseases - over 500,000 people - and their families, recognizing the challenges they face, including high medical costs and limited treatments. The resolution makes no new policy changes but symbolically honors those impacted by urging the state to "show our stripes" in solidarity. It references national statistics (e.g., 1 in 10 Americans affected) and the "zebra" awareness symbol for rare conditions, without creating any legal obligations or funding.

Under current law, certain evidence of a victim's prior or subsequent sexual conduct is presumed irrelevant and inadmissible in a civil proceeding, but there is an exception for evidence of the victim's prior or subsequent sexual conduct with the defendant. The act eliminates this exception. The act prohibits the admission of evidence of the victim's manner of dress, hairstyle, mode or manner of speech, or lifestyle as evidence of the victim's consent, credibility, or the existence or extent of damages or harm. The party moving to admit evidence presumed irrelevant is required to raise the issue at a pretrial conference and make a prima facie showing that the evidence is relevant for an admissible reason and that discovery is likely to rebut the presumption of inadmissibility. The court is required to allow the nonmoving party to object. If the court allows discovery, the court must issue a protective order that limits the scope of discovery to relevant issues and protect against unwarranted, irrelevant, or overly broad discovery into the alleged victim's sexual conduct or history. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill authorizes the owner or operator of a water quality green infrastructure project (project) to sell or trade any greenhouse gas credits (GHG credit) created by the project in the GHG credit trading program (trading program) that is established by the air quality control commission (AQCC) by rule. The owner or operator that is conducting a project shall pay an independent third-party auditor to certify the GHG credits created by the project in order to sell or transfer those GHG credits in the trading program. The division of administration in the department of public health and environment (division) shall monitor the sale and transfer of the GHG credits created from a project in the trading program and permit owners and operators of facilities that are regulated by the AQCC and the division and participating in the trading program to purchase the GHG credits in order to reach certain greenhouse gas compliance targets. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Sections 1 and 2 of the bill prohibit a state agency from imposing a personal qualification requirement in order to engage in a profession or occupation unless the agency can show that the requirement is demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored to address a specific, legitimate public health, safety, or welfare objective. On or before July 1, 2026, every agency must review occupational regulations and determine whether the regulation should be repealed or amended. Any person may file a petition with an agency requesting that an occupational regulation be repealed or amended. Regardless of whether a petition is filed with an agency, any person may file a civil suit requesting that the court enjoin the adoption or enforcement of an occupational regulation. When an agency files a notice of proposed rule-making with the secretary of state, if the proposed rule-making includes a proposed occupational regulation, the agency must also submit a statement to the secretary of state describing how the proposed occupational regulation complies with the bill's requirements. Section 3 repeals the industrial and manufacturing operations clean air grant program, the cannabis resource optimization cash fund, the community access to electric bicycles grant program, and the electrifying school buses grant program, which were enacted in 2022 by Senate Bill 22-193. Section 4 repeals the energy code board and its associated model codes, an energy code training grant program, the building electrification for public buildings grant program, the high-efficiency electric heating and appliances grant program, and the clean air building investments fund, which were enacted in 2022 by House Bill 22-1362. Section 5 repeals the air quality enterprise, which was enacted in 2020 by Senate Bill 20-204. Section 6 repeals the environmental response surcharge, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances cash fund, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances grant program, the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances take-back program, and certain civil penalties for violations of certain air quality control regulations, which were enacted in 2020 by Senate Bill 20-218. Section 7 repeals certain requirements, including requirements regarding fenceline monitoring and community-based monitoring of air toxics, for covered facilities, which requirements were enacted in 2021 by House Bill 21-1189. Sections 8 through 20 make necessary conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)