HB 25-1183: Colorimetric Field Drug Test Working Group - Colorado

Revised (04/28/2025) → PA3 (04/24/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change its status from a revised version to a preamended version, indicating it now includes committee amendments not yet adopted on second reading. The substantive text adds a new working group to study colorimetric field drug tests, including their use in criminal proceedings and carceral settings, with a focus on preventing wrongful convictions and negative correctional outcomes.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include carceral settings in addition to various stages of criminal proceedings for the study of colorimetric field drug tests.

SCOPE

Added explicit mention of carceral settings to the working group's study scope regarding colorimetric field drug tests.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new working group to make findings and recommendations about colorimetric field drug tests to improve judicial system outcomes.

TECHNICAL

Changed document status from 'Revised' to 'Preamended' to reflect inclusion of committee amendments not yet adopted on second reading.

Rerevised (04/29/2025) → Revised (04/28/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated from 'Rerevised' to 'Revised' status, reflecting its progression through the legislative process. The Senate sponsorship list was modified to remove several names (Amabile, Cutter, Jodeh, Weissman), indicating these senators may have withdrawn their support or the list was updated to reflect current sponsors. The reading status changed from '3rd Reading Unamended' to 'Revised' with a new date, showing the bill is still being processed and not yet finalized.

TECHNICAL

Document title changed from 'REREVISED' to 'REVISED' with updated language indicating amendments adopted on second reading rather than all amendments.

Removed the '3rd Reading Unamended' status line and its associated date (April 29, 2025) from the Senate section.

Removed four names from the Senate Sponsorship list: Amabile, Cutter, Jodeh, and Weissman.

PA2 (04/06/2025) → Rerevised (04/29/2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was re-revised to include all amendments adopted in the second house, adding Senate sponsors and updating committee assignments. The substantive text of the bill remains largely unchanged, with the main differences being formatting updates and the addition of a 'REREVISED' header indicating this version includes all adopted amendments rather than just committee amendments.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; changes are primarily procedural and formatting updates reflecting the legislative process.

TECHNICAL

Added 'REREVISED' header indicating this version includes all amendments adopted in the second house

Added Senate sponsors: Amabile, Cutter, Jodeh, Weissman

Added 3rd Reading Unamended date stamp for Senate (April 29, 2025)

Added Amended 2nd Reading date stamp for Senate (April 28, 2025)

Updated House Committee assignments to include Appropriations alongside Judiciary

PA1 (03/03/2025) → PA2 (04/06/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add an appropriation for staffing the new working group, clarify the working group's findings requirements, and adjust the composition and appointment process of its members. The changes ensure the working group can be funded through a contract with a nonprofit organization rather than general funds, while maintaining bipartisan oversight.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include findings on the prevalence of colorimetric field drug tests in Colorado and potential harms resulting from their administration, in addition to the original focus on their use in criminal proceedings and carceral settings.

FISCAL

Added language allowing the Director of the Legislative Council to contract with a nonprofit organization to provide staffing and facilitate the working group's duties, with no general fund money appropriated for this purpose.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the working group's duties to include findings on the prevalence of colorimetric field drug tests in Colorado and potential harms resulting from such administration.

Modified the working group's membership structure to include a majority party representative from the House of Representatives, a minority party representative from the Senate, and additional members including the Attorney General, Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and a representative from an exoneration organization.

TECHNICAL

Modified the bill title to reflect the addition of the appropriation provision.

Final Act (05/15/2025) → PA1 (03/03/2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from HB 25-1183 to LLS No. 25-0371.01 and moved from a House-only bill to a bill with Senate sponsorship. The substantive policy content regarding the creation of a working group to study colorimetric field drug tests remains largely unchanged, though the legislative history and formatting were updated to reflect its progression through the legislative process.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it still creates a working group to study colorimetric field drug tests in criminal proceedings and carceral settings.

TECHNICAL

Bill number changed from HB 25-1183 to LLS No. 25-0371.01, indicating it has been reengrossed after committee amendments.

Added Senate sponsorship (Senators Ball and Daugherty) to the bill's authorship, showing it has been referred to both chambers.

Updated legislative history headers to reflect the First Regular Session of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly and included committee assignment information.

Reformatted the text to include page numbers and line numbers consistent with official legislative document standards.

Added a bill summary section explaining the working group's purpose and duties in plain language.

Signed Act (06/02/2025) → Final Act (05/15/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted with improved spacing and indentation, but no substantive policy changes were made to the working group's composition, duties, or timeline. The legislative declaration and section 1 remain identical in content.

TECHNICAL

Added header notes about bill signing status and reorganized text spacing throughout the document.

Standardized indentation and spacing in the legislative declaration section.

Added extra spacing between working group member categories (II, X, XIV) for readability.

Reengrossed (04/16/2025) → Signed Act (06/02/2025) · 6 edits · Jun 2, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed with significant substantive changes to the working group's structure, membership, and operational requirements. The most important change is the shift from a September 1, 2025 deadline to a June 13, 2025 deadline for contracting a nonprofit organization to facilitate the working group. The membership composition was substantially expanded from 7 members to 17 members, adding representatives from criminal defense organizations, law enforcement, corrections, and individuals impacted by false positive tests. The bill also clarifies that no general fund money will be appropriated for the working group, requiring the nonprofit to cover costs through grants and donations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded significantly by increasing the number of working group members from 7 to 17 and adding diverse stakeholders including criminal defense attorneys, law enforcement, corrections officials, and victims of false positive tests.

TIMELINE

Deadline for contracting the nonprofit organization changed from September 1, 2025 to June 13, 2025, accelerating the working group's formation.

MEMBERSHIP

Added 10 new working group members representing criminal defense bar, alternate defense counsel, district attorneys, sheriffs, police chiefs, corrections, forensic science educators, and individuals impacted by false positive tests.

Added two additional members representing organizations that work to exonerate wrongfully convicted people and national experts on wrongful convictions.

FISCAL

Explicitly stated that no general fund money will be appropriated for the working group, requiring the nonprofit to cover costs through grants, donations, and in-kind gifts.

REQUIREMENT

Added provision that if a contract is not awarded and a nonprofit is not designated, none of the working group provisions must occur.

Changed the deadline for making appointments to the working group from September 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025.

Engrossed (04/15/2025) → Reengrossed (04/16/2025) · 2 edits · Apr 29, 2025

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to include an additional co-sponsor (Velasco) and updated the bill summary to indicate it is now in its third reading unamended version. The substantive content regarding contracting for a nonprofit organization to facilitate a working group's duties remains unchanged, but the formatting and status indicators were updated to reflect the legislative process.

TECHNICAL

Added co-sponsor Velasco to the list of House sponsors

Updated bill summary header to reflect 'Reengrossed' status and third reading unamended version

Introduced (02/10/2025) → Engrossed (04/15/2025) · 5 edits · Apr 29, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a Senate Appropriations committee review and change the legislative declaration to clarify that colorimetric field drug tests are presumptive only and require laboratory confirmation. The working group membership was significantly restructured to be managed by a contracted nonprofit organization rather than appointed legislators and officials, with a new requirement to award a contract by September 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope was modified to include a formal contracting process for working group staffing through a nonprofit organization, shifting from direct legislative appointments to an external contracting model.

REQUIREMENT

Added Appropriations committee to the House bill's committee assignments, indicating potential funding implications.

Added requirement that Legislative Council Director must use a Request for Proposal process to contract with a nonprofit organization to provide staffing and facilitate the working group's duties by September 1, 2025.

DEFINITION

Modified the legislative declaration to explicitly state that colorimetric field drug tests are presumptive and should be confirmed by laboratory testing, replacing detailed findings about test inaccuracies with a clearer definition.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed specific legislative appointments for working group members (Speaker of House, President of Senate, Attorney General, Bureau of Investigation Director, Public Defender, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, Alternate Defense Counsel), eliminating direct government agency and legislative representation.

FISCAL

Changed funding mechanism from unspecified appropriations to a contract-based funding model contingent on awarding a contract to a nonprofit organization.

Colorimetric Field Drug Test Working Group

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