HB 1252 Colorado House · 2026 Regular Session

Updates to State Emergency Response Departments & Divisions

Summary

The act requires the division of homeland security and emergency management (division) in the department of public safety to create and implement a state preparedness goal and system to improve state and community preparedness and responses to threats to Colorado. The division will perform other duties to support homeland security initiatives, including consolidating and coordinating homeland security-related training, education, and professional development; coordinating and updating homeland security and critical infrastructure protection plans; administering state and federal grants; and coordinating all-hazard public risk communication products. The act designates the office of emergency management (office) as the primary state agency responsible for coordinating disaster recovery, planning, training, exercise, and integration of the state recovery annex within the state emergency operations plan and reorganizes the office by:Moving the auxiliary communications unit from the office to the office of public safety communications in the division;Creating the state recovery task force within the office to coordinate disaster recovery efforts within the state, among other duties;Transferring certain duties and responsibilities related to the state's preparation for, and response to, security threats from the office of preparedness in the division to the office and repealing the office of preparedness. Information related to disaster survivors is exempt from public disclosure, subject to certain exceptions. The act repeals the requirement for the state controller to report to the joint budget committee about the expenditure of federal funds for costs associated with a disaster. Application requirements for the Colorado nonprofit security grant program are relaxed during exigent circumstances. The act changes the composition of state advisory boards related to homeland security and cybersecurity, including the homeland security and all-hazards senior advisory committee and the Colorado cybersecurity council. The act moves the Colorado commission of Indian affairs to the newly established office of tribal and American Indian and Alaska Native affairs in the office of the lieutenant governor and limits the terms of the at-large members of the commission. The office of tribal and American Indian and Alaska Native affairs is tasked with coordinating with the office of emergency management during emergencies, as appropriate.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Signed Jun 4, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

Final Act → Signed Act · 4 edits · Jun 4, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates Colorado's emergency management laws to modernize state preparedness and recovery operations. It adds new duties for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to support homeland security initiatives and creates a State Recovery Task Force to coordinate disaster recovery efforts. The bill also clarifies data sharing rules for disaster survivors and expands the list of records exempt from public disclosure.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of state emergency management duties to include specific homeland security initiatives and establishes a formal State Recovery Task Force to lead recovery coordination.

REQUIREMENT

Added new duties for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to support homeland security initiatives, improve community preparedness, and coordinate training.

Created a new State Recovery Task Force within the Office of Emergency Management to serve as the lead clearinghouse for recovery operations among state agencies.

Established new requirements for the Office of Emergency Management to develop and maintain a Survivor Portal for coordinating recovery programs.

DEFINITION

Added a new exemption for disaster survivor information stored in the Survivor Portal, protecting it from public disclosure.

Floor votes · Senate May 7, 2026 · House Mar 17, 2026

How they voted

52–11

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 64

May 7, 2026

D Democratic42

41 Yea 1

97% Yea

R Republican22

11 Yea 11 Nay

50% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 4, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Jun 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by the President of the Senate

upper

Jun 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by the Speaker of the House

lower

May 7, 2026

Introduced

House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

lower

May 7, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (52-11-1)

senate

May 5, 2026

Introduced

House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

lower

May 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Introduced

Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Introduced

Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

lower

4 primary · 6 co-sponsors