HB 1303: Technical Changes to Energy & Carbon Management Statutes - Colorado

Final Act → Signed Act · 4 edits · May 5, 2026

MODERATE

This bill introduces technical corrections to the text of HB 1303, primarily fixing formatting errors, typos, and inconsistent capitalization in the statute regarding welder certification requirements. It also corrects the signature page layout to reflect the Governor's signature, changing the status from a prepared draft to an officially enacted law.

Scope change

The substantive scope of the bill remains unchanged; the legislative intent and requirements for welder certification are identical to the original version.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a typo in the certification exam description where 'Intemational' was changed to 'International' and 'standardjotttneyman nrechanical' was corrected to 'standard journeyman mechanical'.

Fixed inconsistent capitalization in the statute text, changing 'SECTION' and subsection labels to match standard legal formatting.

Corrected a typo in a cross-reference within the statute, changing '(Ill)' to '(d)(III)' to accurately reference the correct subsection.

Updated the signature page to reflect that the Governor has signed the bill, replacing the placeholder draft text with the Governor's name and title.

Rerevised → Final Act · 5 edits · Apr 24, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates the certification requirements for welders working on oil and gas process lines by replacing the previously referenced 'F31 exam' with industry-standard certifications from the American Petroleum Institute and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It also clarifies enforcement procedures for the Energy and Carbon Management Commission, allowing for stricter penalties like license revocation and prohibiting new permits for repeat violators. Finally, the bill changes the terminology from 'oil and gas operations' to 'energy and carbon management operations' to align with the commission's current regulatory scope.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of acceptable certifications for welders by removing a specific exam that was deemed inappropriate for the industry and replacing it with recognized standards from major engineering and petroleum organizations.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the requirement to pass the 'International Code Council Exam F31' with a requirement to pass the American Petroleum Institute Standard 1104 or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX qualification.

Added an option for welders to pass any other nationally recognized examination, certification, or qualification applicable to their work, provided it is not one of the two previously listed standards.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded the commission's authority to suspend or revoke licenses and prohibit the issuance of new permits for operators who fail to comply with corrective actions or cease-and-desist orders.

Authorized the commission to consider violations of enforcement actions started before May 16, 2024, as evidence when determining penalties for an operator.

DEFINITION

Changed the term 'oil and gas operations' to 'energy and carbon management operations' throughout the statute to ensure consistency with the commission's regulatory authority.

Revised → Rerevised · 3 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MINOR

The bill was re-revised to include all amendments adopted in the Second House, updating the version status from 'Revised' to 'Rerevised'. The Senate sponsorship list was updated to include Senator Coleman, and the document now explicitly notes a '3rd Reading Unamended' status with a specific date of April 7, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Added Senator Coleman to the Senate sponsorship list.

Changed the document version header from 'REVISED' to 'REREVISED' to reflect the inclusion of all Second House amendments.

Added a note indicating the bill was read for the third time without amendments on April 7, 2026.

Reengrossed → Revised · 3 edits · Apr 6, 2026

MINOR

The bill text has been updated from its 'Reengrossed' version to a 'Revised' version, reflecting amendments adopted during the second reading in the Senate. The primary changes involve updating the bill's title header to indicate its current legislative status and adjusting the date of the Senate reading to April 6, 2026. The substantive policy content regarding technical changes to energy and carbon management statutes for welder certification remains unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; this is a procedural update reflecting the bill's progression through the legislative process.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header status from 'Reengrossed' to 'Revised' to reflect amendments adopted on second reading in the Senate.

Changed the Senate reading date from March 13, 2026 to April 6, 2026 in the document metadata.

Adjusted the Senate committee listing to consolidate 'State, Veterans, & Military Affairs' into a single entry.

Engrossed → Reengrossed · 3 edits · Mar 16, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to replace a consumer protection law prohibiting personalized pricing and wage setting with a new regulation requiring specific welding certifications for oil and gas workers. This completely shifts the bill's focus from privacy and fair trade to workforce safety and industry standards.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a broad consumer protection statute covering all businesses to a specific regulatory requirement for welders working on oil and gas process lines.

SCOPE

Deleted the entire section prohibiting individualized price and wage setting using surveillance data, which previously defined terms like 'biometrics' and 'online behaviors'.

Changed the bill from amending the Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices Act to amending the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission's authority over worker certifications.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for welders on oil and gas process lines to pass specific national exams (such as API Standard 1104 or ASME Section IX) to obtain certification.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 13, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift from regulating welder certification in the oil and gas industry to prohibiting the use of surveillance data for individualized price and wage setting. The new version adds definitions for terms like 'biometrics' and 'individualized price setting' and establishes strict rules against using algorithms to determine prices or wages based on personal surveillance data.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed entirely from the Energy and Carbon Management Commission to a new regulatory framework under the Colorado Revised Statutes regarding consumer protection and fair trade practices.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions requiring welders working on oil and gas process lines to pass specific certification exams.

Added a new Part 19 to Article 1 of Title 6 prohibiting the use of surveillance data to set individualized prices or wages.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'biometrics', 'individualized price setting', 'individualized wage setting', 'online behaviors', and 'price or wage setting algorithm'.

REQUIREMENT

Established that using surveillance data to determine specific prices or wages for individuals is a deceptive trade practice.

Included exemptions for using location data solely to determine jurisdiction or display currency, and for pay equity studies.

Technical Changes to Energy & Carbon Management Statutes

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