Sen. Cleave Simpson

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Monday, January 27, 2025, as "Colorado 4-H Day" to recognize the Colorado 4-H Youth Development program. It is a symbolic resolution honoring 4-H's work with youth aged 5-19, including its role in community engagement, leadership development, and STEM education through Colorado State University Extension. The resolution has no legal effect or new requirements - it simply encourages public acknowledgment of the program. (HJR 25-1006, passed by both chambers on January 27-30, 2025)

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJR 25-1007) is a commemorative resolution designating a specific segment of Interstate 25 in Colorado - southbound from mile marker 199.4 and northbound from mile marker 194.8 - as the "Firefighters Memorial Hwy in Memory of Chief Troy Jackson." It honors Troy Jackson, a 30-year firefighter with South Metro Fire Rescue who developed cancer prevention programs for first responders before passing in 2019. The resolution allows the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept donations for signage and coordinate with Arapahoe and Douglas counties for sign maintenance. As a naming resolution, it has no policy or funding changes beyond this memorial designation.

Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. The bill broadens the definition of "ranch" for purposes of property taxation to include a parcel of land used for grazing or raising livestock for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit rather than a parcel of land used only for grazing livestock for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit. The bill also eliminates the limited definition of "livestock" included in the definition of "ranch" and replaces it with the general definition of "livestock" used for property tax purposes that includes all animals.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill repeals standards created in House Bill 20-1343, enacted in 2020, regarding confinement standards for egg-laying hens whose eggs are sold. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1003 is a procedural resolution that schedules a joint session of the Colorado General Assembly for January 16, 2025, to hear a message from representatives of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe tribal councils. It directs the appointment of a committee consisting of three House members and three Senate members to escort tribal representatives to the session. The resolution does not create new laws or alter policies but formalizes a ceremonial meeting to recognize the tribes' historical and cultural contributions to Colorado. This is a standard procedural step for legislative recognition events, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1005 is a ceremonial resolution encouraging Colorado communities to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, 2025 - the 41st anniversary of the state holiday. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies but urges cities, schools, counties, and local governments to hold commemorative events. The resolution honors Dr. King’s legacy, noting Colorado’s early adoption of the holiday in 1985 and its ongoing observance through events like the annual Marade. This is a non-binding call for community engagement, not a substantive legislative change.

Local government floodplain management regulations for development in floodplain areas must equal or exceed the federal emergency management agency's national flood insurance program's (national flood insurance program) minimum design and construction criteria and must comply with the Colorado water conservation board's (CWCB) rules and regulations for regulatory floodplains in Colorado. Not all local governments participate in the national flood insurance program. The act requires the office of the state architect, in coordination with the CWCB, to develop a state floodplain management program (program) by June 30, 2025, which will ensure compliance with the minimum floodplain management criteria of the national flood insurance program and with the CWCB's rules and regulations for regulatory floodplains in Colorado. The program applies to development on state-owned land in counties and municipalities that do not participate in the national flood insurance program. At the discretion of the office of the state architect, the program may also apply to state-leased properties in counties and municipalities that do not participate in the national flood insurance program. The act appropriates $49,383 from the general fund to the department of personnel for use by the office of the state architect. APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act makes any annexation of lands within the exterior boundaries of a reservation of a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the state into the boundaries of a municipality invalid unless there is a resolution or ordinance approving the annexation by the tribal council or other governing body of the federally recognized Indian tribe within whose reservation the annexation will occur. APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 6, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The underfunded courthouse facility cash fund commission (commission) is set to repeal on September 1, 2024. The act continues the commission until September 1, 2035. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act suspends the statutory process for the distraint sale of a mobile home to collect delinquent property tax and creates a task force to make recommendations for statutory changes in order to bring state law into compliance with the United States supreme court's recent decision affirming a property owner's constitutional right to the value of their property in excess of their tax debt. The task force on mobile home ownership and taxation (task force), created in the division of housing of the department of local affairs (division), consists of the following 17 members: 4 members from the general assembly; A current or former county treasurer; A current or former county assessor; Either a current or former county clerk or an individual who has expertise related to mobile home policy; 3 individual mobile home owners; A county commissioner from an urban county; A county commissioner from a rural county; A representative from a trade association that represents the mobile home industry; A representative of an advocacy group for affordable housing including mobile homes; A representative of the division; A representative of the department of revenue; and A representative of the banking industry. In addition to recommending changes to the statute governing the distraint sale of mobile homes to ensure that any sale proceeds in excess of the owner's tax debt are paid to the owner, the task force is also charged with studying and making recommendations related to the valuation for assessment, titling, and taxation of mobile homes. The division shall consult with the task force regarding its collaborative effort with the office of information technology to develop the initial scope of work for a system for titling and registering mobile homes, including tiny homes. The task force is required to: Convene by June 15, 2024; Meet at least once a month during the 2024 legislative interim, or more often as directed by the chairperson; and Submit a report with its findings and recommendations for legislation concerning mobile home ownership and taxation to the legislative oversight committee concerning tax policy on or before October 1, 2024. The task force is repealed, effective January 1, 2025. The act appropriates $53,995 from the general fund to the department of local affairs for use by the division in implementing the act. APPROVED by Governor May 31, 2024 EFFECTIVE May 31, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)