Sen. Dylan Roberts

If certain conditions are met, the act requires health benefit plans that provide hospital, surgical, or medical expense insurance to provide reimbursement for health-care services provided by a pharmacist that are within the pharmacist's scope of practice without entering into a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement. Similarly, under the medical assistance program (medicaid), the act authorizes reimbursement for services that are within a pharmacist's scope of practice and not duplicative of other pharmacist services or programs reimbursed by medicaid.     Further, solely on the basis of the type of license or certification, a health benefit plan or health insurance company (carrier) shall not discriminate against a pharmacist who is acting within the scope of the pharmacist's license or certification under state law, with respect to participation, referral, reimbursement of covered services, or indemnification, or prohibit a pharmacist from membership in a provider network; except that, in selecting pharmacist providers, the act does not:Prohibit a health benefit plan or carrier from including providers in its provider network only to the extent necessary to meet the needs of the plan or from limiting referrals or establishing quality control measures;Require a health benefit plan or carrier to contract with any provider willing to abide by the terms and conditions for participation established by the health benefit plan or carrier; orRequire coverage for any health-care service that is not otherwise covered.     The act makes changes to the definitions in the pharmacy practice statutes to include a definition for 'final product verification'. For drug, device, or product orders that are not for controlled substances, final product verification may be delegated by a supervising pharmacist to a certified pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern. A pharmacy or other outlet shall have a continuous quality assessment system in place to periodically verify the accuracy of the final drug, device, or product and must create a plan for final product verification, including how pharmacists' hours will be maintained to provide direct patient care. The state board of pharmacy is required to adopt rules relating to final product verification no later than December 31, 2026.     Under current law, a pharmacist may administer certain tests to patients who are 12 years old or older for certain conditions and prescribe drugs to treat the tested conditions. The act adds to the definition of the 'practice of pharmacy' independent prescriptive authority for drugs that are not controlled substances, drug categories, or devices that are prescribed to patients who are 5 years old or older but under 12 years old for conditions that do not require a new diagnosis, that are minor and self-limiting, or that have a test that guides diagnosis and are not medications that may only be prescribed pursuant to a certified education program and a limited distribution network. If a pharmacist tests or treats any patient who is under 18 years old, the act requires a pharmacist to notify the patient's primary care provider consistent with health-care privacy laws or, if the patient does not have or disclose a primary care provider, refer the patient to a primary care provider for further care.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act defines school zones as all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school property boundary, except state highways unless they are designated as part of a school zone with the written approval of the Colorado department of transportation, and including school zones established before August 12, 2026, that are 200 feet or more from a school property boundary. A school zone must have appropriate signs posted indicating it is a school zone and that the penalties and surcharges within the school zone will be doubled.     The act allows a local government that has jurisdiction over a school zone to reduce the size of a school zone after first holding a public hearing, but the act does not allow a school zone to be reduced to less than 200 feet from a school property boundary. Additionally, the act does not prohibit local governments from expanding school zones to beyond 1,000 feet from a school property boundary.     The act limits requirements the state, a county, a city and county, or a municipality must complete regarding placing and using an automated vehicle identification system along a safe route to school.     The act allows a local government to designate a portion of a roadway immediately adjacent to a school property boundary as a school street and requires the local government to post signs indicating it is a school street if the local government has jurisdiction to do so. The local government may close a school street to traffic. If there is traffic on the school street, the maximum speed limit is 10 miles per hour and vehicles must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists, or micromobility users. The local government may suspend additional traffic provisions on the school street that endanger pedestrians, bicyclists, or micromobility users.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act appropriates the following amounts for the 2026-27 state fiscal year from the Colorado water conservation board (CWCB) construction fund to the CWCB or the division of water resources in the department of natural resources for the following projects:Continuation of the satellite monitoring system, $380,000 (section 1 of the act);Continuation of the floodplain map modernization program, $500,000 (section 2);Continuation of the weather modification permitting program, $500,000 (section 3);Continuation of the Colorado Mesonet project, $200,000 (section 5);Continuation of the water forecasting partnership project, $2,500,000 (section 6);Continuation of Colorado decision support system operation and maintenance, $750,000 (section 7);Support for water plan agency actions, $1,350,000 (section 9);Continuation of the Colorado watershed restoration and flood mitigation projects, $5,000,000 (section 10); andContinuation of the upper Colorado river commission planning, $750,000 (section 11).     Section 4 directs the state treasurer to transfer up to $6,000,000 from the CWCB construction fund to the CWCB litigation fund on or before July 1, 2026.     Section 8 restores the fish and wildlife resources fund balance by transferring $2,000,000 from the CWCB construction fund to the fish and wildlife resources fund.     Section 12 authorizes the CWCB to make a loan in an amount of $151,500,000 from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the city of Fort Collins to support the Halligan water supply project.     Section 13 authorizes the CWCB to make a loan in an amount of $20,166,670 from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the Lower Latham Reservoir Company for the Jurgens reservoir construction project.     Section 14 appropriates $37,700,000 from the water plan implementation cash fund to the CWCB to award grants that will help implement the state water plan.     Section 15 clarifies that the money that is currently in the turf replacement fund is appropriated for designated purposes to the CWCB until June 30, 2028. Any money remaining in the turf replacement fund on July 1, 2028, is transferred to the CWCB construction fund.     Section 16 makes technical corrections so that money appropriated in 2025 is available to the department of natural resources executive director's office for the purpose of paying for a study by the Colorado water center at Colorado state university.     Under current law, the CWCB may authorize loans up to $10 million from the CWCB construction fund or severance tax perpetual base fund without legislative authorization. The act increases that amount to $30 million (section 17).(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act updates county enforcement authority in connection with:Providing for and compelling the removal of rubbish, including trash, junk, and garbage, from property within the county;Providing for and compelling the removal of weeds and brush from property within the county;Providing for and compelling the removal or securing of any building or structure in the county, with specified exceptions, that, due to its condition, presents a substantial danger or hazard to the public health, safety, or welfare; andThe unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, or use of any building or structure in the county or the use of any land in the county in violation of a zoning resolution or ordinance adopted by the board of county commissioners.     For the removal actions described above, the act requires county ordinances to include provisions for applying for and exercising an administrative entry and seizure warrant. The act also allows counties to assess the reasonable costs of removal, including a 10% fee for inspection and incidental costs, as a lien against the property.     The act modifies the civil penalties that a court may impose and the factors that a court must consider in determining the appropriate civil penalty when a property owner violates a county ordinance or building code regarding the removal of rubbish or weeds and brush from property within the county, the removal or securing of a building or structure in the county, or the unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, or use of a building or structure in the county.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies' sunset review and report in continuing the registration program for vessels until September 1, 2036.     The act also makes changes to definitions of 'vessel' and adds a definition of 'vessel livery'.     Current law requires that the records of a vessel livery related to hired vessels be preserved for at least 30 days after the vessel is to be returned to the vessel livery. The act extends this period to 3 years after the vessel is to be returned to the vessel livery.     Current law provides that an individual who violates provisions related to the minimum age of motorboat operators is subject to a fine of $100. The act changes 'individual' to 'person'.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act prohibits a school district, a charter school authorized by a school district, a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute, the state charter school institute, or a board of cooperative services that operates one or more public schools (LEP) from discriminating against an individual who has a disability and who is entitled to a free public education (qualified student with a disability) based on the student's disability.     The act requires an LEP to allow a qualified student with a disability to participate in and enjoy the benefits of the provider's programs, services, or activities in the same manner as a student without a disability. When providing any aid, benefit, or service, an LEP shall not, based on disability:Deny a qualified student with a disability an opportunity to participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service in a manner that is equal to that afforded to other students;Provide a qualified student with a disability with an aid, benefit, or service that is not as effective as that provided to other students;Provide different or separate aids, benefits, or services to a qualified student with a disability unless such action is necessary to provide a qualified student with a disability with aids, benefits, or services that are as effective as those provided to other students;Aid or perpetuate discrimination against a qualified student with a disability by providing significant assistance to an agency, an organization, or a person that discriminates on the basis of disability in providing any aid, benefit, or service to beneficiaries of the LEP's educational program or activity; orOtherwise limit a qualified student with a disability in the enjoyment of any right, privilege, advantage, or opportunity enjoyed by students without disabilities who receive an educational aid, benefit, or service.     The act prohibits an LEP from using criteria or methods of administration that:Have the effect of subjecting a qualified student with a disability to discrimination on the basis of their disability;Have the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing accomplishment of the objectives of the LEP's program or activity with respect to a qualified student with a disability; orPerpetuate the discrimination of another LEP if both LEPs are subject to common administrative control or are agencies of the state.     In determining the site or location of a facility, an LEP may not make selections that:Exclude a qualified student with a disability from a facility or deny a qualified student with a disability the benefits of a facility, or that otherwise subject a qualified student with a disability to discrimination; orHave the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing the accomplishment of the objectives of the program or activity with respect to a qualified student with a disability.     The act requires an LEP to:Adopt a disability rights grievance process that incorporates appropriate due process standards and that is satisfied by following the grievance procedures in section 504 of the federal 'Rehabilitation Act of 1973' and to designate at least one responsible employee to oversee compliance with the provisions of the act relating to discrimination and to serve as a point of contact for students and families;Make a reasonable modification to a policy, practice, or procedure when the modification is necessary to avoid discriminating against a qualified student with a disability on the basis of disability;Provide a reasonable accommodation to a parent with a disability who is seeking appropriate access to programs and activities for parents in relation to that parent's child;Ensure that a communication to a qualified student with a disability is as effective as a communication to a student without a disability and to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford a qualified student with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a service, program, or activity of the LEP;Ensure that a qualified student with a disability is not denied access to the LEP's services, programs, or activities because of facilities inaccessible to a qualified student with a disability;Provide a free and appropriate public education to each qualified student with a disability who is in the LEP's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the student's disability, and if necessary, ensure adequate transportation to and from any placement premises;Provide for the free and appropriate public education of each qualified student with a disability with students without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of the qualified student with a disability; Place a qualified student with a disability in the regular educational environment operated by the LEP unless it is demonstrated that the education of the student in that environment with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily;Provide nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities in such a manner as is necessary to afford a qualified student with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in the services and activities;At least annually, identify and locate every qualified student with a disability residing in the LEP's jurisdiction who is not receiving a free and appropriate public education and take appropriate steps, with the permission of the qualified student with a disability and their parent, to evaluate the student; Ensure that a qualified student with a disability is free from harassment that is sufficiently serious to create a hostile environment or interfere with or limit the student's ability to participate in or benefit from the LEP's services, activities, or opportunities; andConduct evaluations and reevaluations of a student in the student's primary language, communicate with a parent with limited English proficiency in a manner that provides meaningful access to information, and provide interpretation and translation services for communication with a parent with limited English proficiency.     Subject to sufficient funding or resources, certain provisions of the act take effect, which:Allow the department of education (department) to provide training and technical assistance to LEPs about the requirements of the act;Establish a complaint process and specifies that the department may investigate and resolve complaints of alleged violations of the provisions of the act pursuant to the complaint process;Specify the circumstances under which an individual may file a complaint with the department;Allow the department to order specified remedies as determined necessary by the department to remedy violations occurring pursuant to the act and to prospectively ensure compliance, if the department finds a violation; and Allow the state board of education (board) to withhold state funds from an LEP if the board determines that the LEP has intentionally violated the provisions of the act and demonstrated an unwillingness to enter into a corrective action plan to address the violation. No later than December 31, 2026, the board shall adopt rules that establish procedures for the withholding of funds. The board must provide due process to an LEP before state funds are withheld.     The act prohibits an LEP from coercing, intimidating, threatening, or discriminating against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by the act, the federal 'Individuals with Disabilities Education Act', the 'Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990', the 'Exceptional Children's Educational Act', or the 'Protection of Students from Restraint and Seclusion Act' (anti-discrimination laws) because an individual:Makes, has made, or because an LEP believes an individual has made or will make, a complaint pursuant to an anti-discrimination law; orTestifies, assists, or participates in any manner in an investigation or proceeding regarding an allegation or complaint pursuant to an anti-discrimination law.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Section 3 of the act defines 'advanced transmission technologies' as hardware or software technologies that increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability, or resiliency of an existing or new transmission facility.     Section 4 requires the Colorado public utilities commission (commission) to adopt rules requiring a regulated electric utility to consider advanced transmission technologies in the electric utility's 10-year transmission plan and to identify strategies to reduce the costs of, and obtain financing for, new transmission. The commission is directed to minimize duplication of transmission planning processes, technical studies, or analyses conducted through an applicable regional transmission organization or independent system operator.     Section 5 requires the Colorado electric transmission authority (authority) to, as much as practicable, engage and coordinate with formal subregional transmission planning organizations.     Under current law, the authority is required to annually submit a report of its activities, including a complete operating and financial statement covering the operations of the authority for the previous state fiscal year, to certain committees of reference of the general assembly. Section 6 requires that the annual report also include a description of the activities and accomplishments of the authority during the previous calendar year.     Section 7 adds a nonvoting seat to the authority's board of directors for the director of the commission or the director's designee.     Section 8 clarifies that a project that includes advanced transmission technologies and meets certain criteria is an energy sector public works project. Section 9 states that an energy sector public works project that includes advanced transmission technologies must meet applicable prevailing wage requirements and apprenticeship utilization requirements.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryHB 1307 extends the Colorado Medical Board's existence until September 1, 2035 (replacing a prior 2026 sunset date) and implements several specific changes to medical licensing. It creates a new "administrative license" for physicians performing non-patient work (like research design or quality management) starting January 1, 2027, exempting them from continuing medical education requirements. The bill also exempts natural medicine facilitators (with a specific license) from needing a medical license to facilitate certain services, and modifies renewal rules for foreign teaching physicians and board procedures. These changes directly affect physicians seeking administrative roles, natural medicine facilitators, and the Medical Board’s operational structure.

The act allows persons who are indigenous to receive compensation for traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices and related expenses under the 'Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act', which includes:Traditional counseling and healing from an elder or spiritual healer;Traditional ceremonial practices;Ceremonial burials, including clothing for the deceased, meals, and other related expenses;Child care during burial ceremonies;Reimbursement for honoraria provided in connection with ceremonial services; andReasonable travel expenses related to the traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Under current law, the Colorado job growth incentive tax credit (credit) may only be allowed by the economic development commission (commission) through state income tax year 2026. The act amends the Colorado job growth incentive tax credit to authorize the commission to allow new credit awards through state income tax year 2034. The act also extends the commission's annual reporting requirement through September 1, 2042.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)