Sen. Cleave Simpson

Maddy summarySJM 2 is a memorial resolution honoring former Colorado State Senator Lewis H. Entz, who died in December 2025 at age 94. The bill formally recognizes his decades of service in the Colorado legislature (1969-2005), including eight terms in the House and five in the Senate, with focus on agriculture, water policy, and veterans' affairs. It expresses the legislature’s tribute to his public service and extends condolences to his family. As a procedural resolution, it does not enact policy changes or affect any legislation. The resolution was introduced in the Senate on February 25, 2026.

In 2024, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 24-205, which created consumer protections in interactions with artificial intelligence systems. The act repeals and reenacts those provisions with new requirements regarding the use of automated decision-making technology in consequential decisions.     The act defines an 'automated decision-making technology' (ADMT) as a technology that processes personal data and uses computation to generate output, including predictions, recommendations, classifications, rankings, scores, or other information that is used to make, guide, or assist a decision, judgment, or determination concerning an individual. The act defines a 'consequential decision' as a decision that relates to an individual's access to, eligibility for, or compensation related to education, employment, housing, financial or lending services, insurance, health-care services, or essential government services and public benefits.     The act requires the developer of an ADMT (developer) that is used to materially influence a consequential decision (covered ADMT), starting January 1, 2027, to provide a deployer of a covered ADMT (deployer) with technical documentation describing the covered ADMT's intended uses, categories of training data, known limitations, and instructions for appropriate use and human review. Developers must notify deployers of material updates or modifications to the covered ADMT. Both developers and deployers are required to retain records necessary to demonstrate compliance with the act for at least 3 years.     The act establishes consumer notice requirements, mandating that deployers provide clear and conspicuous notice to consumers at the point of interaction with a covered ADMT. A deployer is required to provide a consumer with a plain language description of a covered ADMT's role within 30 days after the covered ADMT makes a consequential decision that results in an adverse outcome for the consumer. The attorney general must adopt rules to clarify these post-adverse outcome disclosure requirements by January 1, 2027.     Consumers have the right to request personal data and correction of factually incorrect personal data used by a covered ADMT. The act also grants consumers the right to request meaningful human review and reconsideration following a covered ADMT making a consequential decision resulting in an adverse outcome.     The attorney general is directed to enforce the act through the 'Colorado Consumer Protection Act', and a violation of the act is deemed a deceptive trade practice. Before initiating an action before January 1, 2030, the attorney general must provide the developer or deployer with a 60-day notice and opportunity to cure the alleged violation, if a cure is deemed possible. The act does not create a new private right of action but establishes how fault is allocated between developers and deployers in civil actions alleging unlawful discrimination under existing law.     Specified entities are exempted from the requirements of the act to the extent the entities comply with other legal obligations.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current law requires each principal department of the state (department) to establish a schedule to review all of its rules. The act requires the review to occur at least every 5 years. Current law directs each department to make certain determinations when conducting the review of the rules. The act requires the following additional determinations:Whether the department has rules with the same or similar purpose, intent, or goal and, if so, how those are coordinated and whether redundant rules can be eliminated;Whether the rule is outdated or obsolete;Whether funding levels to support the program or function subject to the rule are appropriate; andWhether there are opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the rule in meeting its purpose, intent, or goal.     Current law requires each department to present a report at its 'SMART Act' hearing regarding its mandatory review of all rules. The act permits the committee of reference presiding over the 'SMART Act' hearing to make a recommendation whether a program or function subject to the rules should be subject to a sunset review or may make a recommendation to the legislative audit committee for an audit by the office of the state auditor.     The act clarifies the attorney general's responsibility regarding litigation discovery on behalf of the state of Colorado or on behalf of the people of the state of Colorado.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally recognizes the Colorado Mining Association for its 150th anniversary in 2026. It highlights the organization's historical significance and its role in supporting Colorado's mining industry, which contributes billions to the state's economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs. The resolution acknowledges the association's partnerships with state and federal agencies in promoting safety, environmental stewardship, and responsible mineral development. This measure does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of the association's contributions to Colorado's history and economy.

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 grants the energy and carbon management commission (commission) authority over class I, class IV, and class V injection wells and allows the commission to seek and adopt rules related to primacy from the United States environmental protection agency (EPA) for these classes of injection wells. The rules adopted by the commission may only be more stringent than corresponding federal requirements if certain findings are made at a public hearing. The commission may assess and collect fees related to the regulation of class I, class IV, and class V injection wells. A person that willfully violates a rule, permit, authorization, or order of the commission related to these classes of injection wells commits a misdemeanor and is subject to certain penalties. The executive director of the department of resources (executive director) is required to propose initial spending authority in the amount necessary to enforce rules for the permitting, authorization, and regulation of class I, class IV, and class V injection wells. The office of state planning and budgeting (OSPB) is also required to submit a proposal to eliminate or minimize the impact of associated fee revenue for the first state fiscal year that the fee revenue is assessed on the state fiscal year spending limitation in the state constitution.     The bill also grants the mined land reclamation board (board) authority over class III injection wells and allows the board to seek and adopt rules related to primacy from the EPA for class III injection wells. The board may assess and collect fees related to the regulation of class III injection wells. The rules adopted by the board may only be more stringent than corresponding federal requirements if certain findings are made at a public hearing. A person that violates a rule, permit, authorization, or order of the board related to class III injection wells or that operates a class III injection well without a permit from the board is subject to certain penalties. The bill also provides that a class III injection well is not eligible for an exemption from designated mining operation status, which status subjects the operator to certain rules adopted by the board. The executive director is required to propose initial spending authority in the amount necessary to enforce rules for the permitting, authorization, and regulation of class III injection wells. OSPB is also required to submit a proposal to eliminate or minimize the impact of associated fee revenue for the first state fiscal year that the fee revenue is assessed on the state fiscal year spending limitation in the state constitution.(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 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.)

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.

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.)