SB 25-031: Single Point of Contact Wireless Services - Colorado

Revised (04/11/2025) → PA1 (02/26/2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a 'Revised' version (incorporating all adopted amendments) to a 'Preamended' version (including committee amendments not yet adopted). The substantive policy changes include renaming a new statute section from 24-33.5-719 to 24-33.5-432, updating references from 'emergency messaging systems' to 'broadcast emergency alerts,' and adding a new subsection (5) that defines key terms like 'alerting authority' and 'broadcast emergency alert.'

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on government agency assistance for wireless communication services and emergency alert systems, but the terminology and definitions have been expanded to include broadcast emergency alerts and wireless providers more explicitly.

TECHNICAL

Bill version status changed from 'Revised' (all amendments adopted) to 'Preamended' (committee amendments pending adoption).

New statute section number changed from 24-33.5-719 to 24-33.5-432.

DEFINITION

References to 'emergency messaging systems' were updated to 'broadcast emergency alerts' to align with modern alerting technologies.

Added new subsection (5) defining 'alerting authority' and 'broadcast emergency alert' to clarify which entities and systems are covered by the bill.

Added definition for 'emergency alert' to specify it means critical life safety information disseminated by alerting authorities.

Rerevised (04/14/2025) → Revised (04/11/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to update its version status from 'Rerevised' to 'Revised' and removed a note indicating it was read unamended on April 14, 2025. Substantively, new language was added to authorize the 911 Services Enterprise to distribute grants to municipal or county alerting authorities for implementing language and accessibility services for emergency alerts.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a new grant program for emergency alert accessibility services.

FISCAL

New provision added allowing the 911 Services Enterprise to distribute grants to municipal or county alerting authorities for implementing language and accessibility services for emergency alerts.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that the 911 Services Enterprise Board of Directors must determine the total grant amount and distribution method, with enterprise funds used to support grant distribution.

TECHNICAL

Removed the '3rd Reading Unamended' date stamp and the 'Rerevised' version header, updating the document to reflect 'Revised' status with amendments adopted on second reading.

Removed the names of additional House sponsors (Bacon) from the sponsorship list.

PA2 (04/04/2025) → Rerevised (04/14/2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to update terminology from 'Broadcast Emergency Alert System' to 'Emergency Messaging Systems' and to clarify language requirements for emergency alerts. The revision also removes provisions related to the 911 Services Enterprise grant distribution for language and accessibility services, while adding a note indicating the version includes all amendments adopted in the Second House.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on government agency assistance for wireless communication emergency alerts, but the specific mechanisms for funding and implementation were modified.

REQUIREMENT

Updated terminology from 'Broadcast Emergency Alerts' to 'Emergency Messaging Systems' in the requirements for sending emergency alerts in a timely manner.

Clarified that emergency alerts sent in English via an Emergency Messaging System must also be sent in predominant minority languages supported by the system.

FISCAL

Deleted provisions allowing the 911 Services Enterprise to distribute grants to municipal or county alerting authorities for implementing language and accessibility services.

DEFINITION

Removed definitions for 'Alerting Authority' and 'Broadcast Emergency Alert' from the bill text.

TECHNICAL

Added version headers indicating the bill is 'Rerevised' and includes all amendments adopted in the Second House, replacing the previous 'Preamended' status.

Final Act (04/25/2025) → PA2 (04/04/2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the Colorado Broadband Office's responsibilities to include wireless services alongside broadband, and adds new requirements for emergency alert systems to provide multilingual support. The changes affect how technical assistance is provided and establish new rules for emergency communications in minority languages.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from broadband-only services to include wireless services, and added new emergency alert language requirements.

SCOPE

Broadened the Colorado Broadband Office's duties to include wireless service deployment assistance, not just broadband.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for emergency alert authorities to provide alerts in predominant minority languages when certain population thresholds are met.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'broadcast emergency alert' and 'wireless emergency alerts' to clarify the scope of emergency communication systems.

FISCAL

Established new grant distribution mechanisms through the 911 Services Enterprise for language and accessibility services in emergency alerts.

TIMELINE

Set a July 1, 2027 effective date for new emergency alert language requirements.

Signed Act (04/30/2025) → Final Act (04/25/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was reformatted with the title and sponsor information moved to the top, and the legislative history note added at the beginning. The substantive policy content regarding wireless communication assistance, emergency alert definitions, and language requirements remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

The bill's title and sponsor information were repositioned from the bottom to the top of the document for better organization.

A note was added at the beginning explaining that the bill has been prepared for signatures and directing readers to consult legislative status sheets for official action.

The bill's title was changed from 'CONCERNING GOVERNMENT AGENCY ASSISTANCE IN SERVICES RELATED TO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION' to 'SENATE BILL 25-031 CONCERNING GOVERNMENT AGENCY ASSISTANCE IN SERVICES RELATED TO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION' for clarity.

The petition and effective date section (Section 6) was removed from the final version, though the substantive policy content remains intact.

Reengrossed (03/19/2025) → Signed Act (04/30/2025) · 6 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand wireless service assistance, clarify emergency alert language requirements, and establish new definitions for alerting authorities. The changes ensure emergency alerts are sent in minority languages when needed, create a funding mechanism through the 911 Services Enterprise, and clarify how prepaid wireless services are treated under state law.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily broadband assistance to explicitly include wireless services, and added new definitions for emergency alerting systems and minority language requirements.

SCOPE

Expanded Colorado Broadband Office duties to include wireless services alongside broadband deployment assistance.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for emergency alerts to be sent in predominant minority languages when at least 2,000 residents or 2.5% of the population speak that language and have limited English proficiency.

FISCAL

Created new grant authority for the 911 Services Enterprise to fund language and accessibility services for emergency alerts at local alerting authorities.

DEFINITION

Added new statutory definitions for 'alerting authority', 'emergency alert', 'emergency messaging system', 'emergency notification system', and 'predominant minority language'.

TECHNICAL

Clarified that prepaid wireless telecommunications services are subject to the same provisions as other telecommunication services under the applicable statute.

TIMELINE

Established July 1, 2027 as the effective date for minority language emergency alert requirements.

Engrossed (03/18/2025) → Reengrossed (03/19/2025) · 3 edits · Mar 19, 2025

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed with minor formatting updates and a correction to the sponsor list, adding four new sponsors (Cutter, Jodeh, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, and Weissman). The definition of 'Broadcast Emergency Alert' was slightly restructured to clarify that wireless providers primarily use cell broadcast technology for message delivery.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; changes are primarily administrative and definitional clarification.

TECHNICAL

Added four new sponsors to the Senate sponsorship list: Cutter, Jodeh, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, and Weissman.

Updated the bill status header from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed' and adjusted the bill summary note to indicate a new summary will be available after third reading in the House of Introduction.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the definition of 'Broadcast Emergency Alert' to clarify that wireless providers primarily use cell broadcast technology for message delivery, while retaining the original meaning.

Introduced (01/08/2025) → Engrossed (03/18/2025) · 6 edits · Mar 19, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift focus from wireless emergency alerts to broadband and wireless service deployment, while adding new requirements for emergency alerts to be sent in minority languages. The changes also introduce new definitions and grant mechanisms for emergency alert accessibility.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely addressing wireless emergency alerts to include broadband deployment assistance and minority language emergency alert requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the statute from requiring wireless emergency alert coverage to requiring broadband office technical assistance for wireless service deployment.

Added new requirements for emergency alerts to be sent in predominant minority languages when at least 2% of residents are 18+ and speak the language less than very well.

FISCAL

Created new grant mechanism through 911 Services Enterprise for municipalities and counties to implement language and accessibility services for emergency alerts.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'alerting authority' and 'broadcast emergency alert' to clarify who must comply with language requirements.

TIMELINE

Set July 1, 2027 as the effective date for minority language emergency alert requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed eligibility criteria from general statewide coverage to specific population thresholds based on American Community Survey data.

Single Point of Contact Wireless Services

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